Chapter 32

An ornate chamber overlooking the sea.Thor sits on the main chair or throne in the table,while Æthelwulf and Judith sits in front of him.

Thor studying both asked"Æthelwulf,you prayed for my audience and even brought your niece Judith to Kaupang,my question is why?"

Æthelwulf sighed and answered"I wanted sanctuary for my Niece here in Kaupang."

Thor's eyes widened,but he still gestured him to continue,as Æthelwulf did"My brother has allied with King Ecbert, they are making a pact: to share Mercia between them.To make sure this pact is strong,my brother sold my Niece to marry Ecbert's son."

Thor nodded and asked"You probably guessed this pact won't hold and your niece will suffer from this."

Æthelwulf nodded and replied"My brother while King in name isn't good administrator nor does he know politics well.King Ecbert is snake is every way,he is using my stupid brother to take over Mercia and after doing it,he will easily break the pact because by then the marriage with Judith and Ecbert's son would have completed,thus making Judith a prisoner."

Æthelwulf has been working overtime in gathering allies for the civil he is going to cause,his brother Aelle was a fool and envious of the fact he was able some how make truce with Vikings to leave his territory without raids,so this made a slight strain in the siblings relationship.But Aelle still trusted his brother to an extent

Thor hummed and asked"So you wanted to protect Judith from the civil war that is brewing."

Æthelwulf with sadness said"I don't want Judith to suffer in this,she has long been under her father's control and this civil war will hurt her more."

Judith had tears brimming from her eyes,she really saw her uncle as more of father figure than her actual father.

Thor was okay with it and said"I will give her sanctuary and make sure to protect her."

Æthelwulf was happy hearing this,after he was slightly worried about Lord Thor rejecting this plea with this Æthelwulf thought"With this I can rest easy."

While Judith looked down blushing up a storm after which princess hasn't dreamed about a prince protecting her.But for Judith it was god.

Æthelwulf with this went back with Heimdall's help,while Judith was led by Thor to her new room as Lagertha and Gyda showed up.

This slightly surprised Judith as Thor gesturing towards them said"This is my wife Lagertha and my daughter Gyda."

This shocked Judith who was smitten with Thor,but having broken from the daze gave a small smile and greeted"Hello my Lady."

But Lagertha gave smile too,but she was perceptive enough to notice this,Thor handed Judith to Lagertha's care.While slightly heartbroken Judith soon remembered Thor was a god and having more wives wouldn't be a issue.

After all she knew her own father having multiple lovers and most of them were servants from the castle.