Ch 37 Stolen Bride

As we walked through the torch lit hallways the Cardinal said prayers over every one of the dozen slain guardsmen.

Their heads crushed and bodies hacked apart Viciously but he simply prayed for their souls and moved on to the next one.

The nobles all looked at the corpses and realized that was where the guards on this side of the castle had gone...all massacred and cleaved to peices like animals.

The few nobles who thought of using their dagger on me quickly thought over their actions after seeing the bloody path I had carved across the Castle.

Before long we reached the chapel, as we all entered I noticed many of the people breathed a sigh of relief, their believed God would keep them safe withim this holy room.

Omce everyone was seated I removed my helmet and placed it on the pulpit then moved to stand in front of the Cardinal who held a fancy Bible in his hands.

Judith cried as she stood in front of me and the Cardinal spoke to her. 

"Do not worry child, wherever you go God will walk with you....And I doubt Thenn will mistreat you even if he is a Heathen...Who knows, maybe someday he might find the light of God Almighty..." The Fat Cardinal spoke reassuringly to the heartbroken Princess.

"B...But..But I wanted to be a Queen...And Marry A Prince...No Prince would want me after t...tod...today..." She spoke and wiped her face.

"God tests our faith and piety in different ways Princess, Our Father In heaven never gives us a challenge that is too hard for us to overcome, This Marriage is for your own good....if you don't marry and he takes you for himself out of wedlock a grave and terrible Sin would stain your soul."

The Cardinal spoke and Judith nodded and cleaned her crying face with a handkerchief as the Courtiers watched on in pity of the Gentle Princess.

Before long our wedding ceremony began

"We gather here on this Auspicious night to join in holy matrimony these two souls, Thenn Odinson Of Norway and Judith, Princess of Northumbria." He spoke and many of the Courtiers shifted in their seats at the thought of the princess being stolen by this monster....

but there was nothing they could do, even all of them together would only end up like the armed and armored guards outside.

"Thenn Odinson do you take Judith Daughter Of Aelle, King of Northumbria as your wife, to provide and protect her, To take her advice and live as one til death do you part?" The Cardinal asked seriously.

"I Take Her For My Wife And Shall Do My Duty.... From This Day Until My Last." I spoke seriously while looking at Judith's soft face, her big brown eyes looked at me with anguish for what I was forcing her to do.

Then the Cardinal turned to Judith. "Judith Princess of Northumbria, Do you take Thenn Odinson of Norway as your Husband, Do you promise to keep his confidence, Raise his Children, And Obey Him in All Things until death do you part?" The Cardinal Asked and I saw a line tear run down her cheek while she stared up at me.

After this day she would never love the life she was promised, her dreams since childhood had been reduced to ashes in the wind.

Judith swallowed in a vain attempt to clear the lump in her throat then spoke while clutching the shiny silver cross around her neck.

"I take this Man as my husband, I swear to keep his company...a..a..and raise his children...I swear to o..obey him in all things until death do us part." She spoke and the pain in her heart only grew worse.

"Very well, before I join these two souls in holy matrimony, an eternal bond of both the flesh and the soul, is there anyone who objects to this union? Speak now or forever hold your peace...." The Cardinal spoke.

I looked at the crowd of noble Lords and Ladies, they trembled under my animalistic gaze as if daring them to say something.

"Then you may now kiss and seal your Love and Marriage in the name of The Father, And The Son, And the Holy Spirit Amen" the Cardinal spoke and everyone present stared as I gently grabbed Judith's face and brought her lips to mine.

She closed her eyes as if expecting something horrible but only received a light peck on the lips.

I separated and she opened her big brown eyes to look into mine, I could feel the fear in her but she stopped trembling.

Then I turned to the Fat Cardinal who had tears in his eyes as he patted my shoulder. "Treat her well, her father's Sin is not her own." The Cardinal spoke and I nodded.

"Thank you for everything, but it is time I leave before the guards return from putting out the flames...take care of yourself cardinal." I spoke and he nodded then walked me out of the chapel.

I held Judiths soft hand then walked off down the hallway.

The Cardinal closed the door and turned to the Courtiers. "I know many of you detest Thenn Odinson, but to defy him would see all of us killed and the Princess defiled out of wedlock which would endanger her very soul..... And in this way that barbarian may see it with his heart to treat Judith as a Wife, and not like a Slave when he returns to his homeland." The Cardinal spoke and bowed.

One older lady stood and spoke. "You've done nothing wrong Cardinal, all we can do now is pray for both Princess Judith and Queen Ealhswith." The lady spoke.

Many murmurings of agreement were heard from the nobles.

One of them said and asked. "Where Is The King?" And everyone looked to each other for answers but none were found.

Before long they all moved past the dismembered corpses toward the King's room on the highest floor of the castle.

They neared the large double doors which were guarded by six heavily armed and armored men, the members of the Kings personal warband.

"Open The Door." The Cardinal spoke.

"The King Is Indisposed Cardinal." The Captain spoke and didn't budge.

"The Princess has been taken by Thenn Odinson, You need to open the door....if we are fast she may still be recovered." The Cardinal spoke and the Captains eyes widened and turned to one of his men. 

"Peter Go Alert The Castellan, Gather The Guards And Go Look For The Princess!!!" The captain yelled.

His subordinate turned to ask. "Where is the Castellan now Sir?" 

"He moved to supervise the fire on the north side of town, Go Now!!!" The captain ordered and his man sprinted down the hall as his heavy Armor jingled with every step.

The Heavy doors were heaved open and all the Courtiers scurried inside, immediately they found the King slumped on the carpet with ten empty flagons of Wine scattered on the floor beside him, the King had Throwup all over his face as it drenched his beard, the piss stain on his trousers did little to improve his image.

The Captain of the Guards moved beside the King and shook him gently which only elicited a groan from the fat bastard that slept in his own filth.

Then the Captain shook Aelle hard and yelled loudly at him. 

"MY KING!!! WAKE UP!!! ITS AN EMERGENCY!!!" The captain shouted but all he got in response was a loud burp to the face and the King turning over and laying his cheek right into a puddle of Throwup.

The Cardinal walked over to a nearby table and brought a pitcher of water and dumped it all over the King's Face.

*COUGH 

*COUGH 

*COUGH 

"HRMMM AWAY..GO AWAY...YOUR K..KING C..CO...COMMANDS IT...." Aelle groaned out and pushed the Captain away and immediately started snoring again.

"MY KING!!! THENN ODINSON KIDNAPPED THE PRINCESS!!!" The Captain shook and yelled the tub of lard but the King just kept sleeping soundly.

All the nobles watched their monarch in disgust, His Wife and Daughter were lost to a Heathen on the same day because of his Sins....and this is how he is when his daughter needs him the most.

The Cardinal sighed and sat on a nearby table. "I'm afraid the King is Indisposed as the good captain spoke, perhaps he will chase after Thenn in the morning when they are halfway to wherever those Heathens reside." He spoke and many of the Courtiers shook their heads while looking at Aelle in dissapointment.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 

(Elsewhere)

I cleaved and hacked my way past thirty guards that were returning from the fire in a group, their screams Resounded only for a few minutes as townspeople looked outside their windows and doors to see what looked like a demon commiting a massacre.

The townspeople fled deeper into their homes and began praying for salvation so the one eyed beast they'd heard so much about wouldn't as track them.

I moved to the main gate of the town and hacked apart the four guards stationed there and flung the gates open.

I turned to Judith who was crying for all the death and suffering I had just committed to get her out of the city...all those souls died horribly and she felt it was her fault.

I scooped up Judith into a princess carry and sprinted out of the town and toward the woods where I had left the horse.

Ten minutes of running I stopped in front of the big horse that was munching on a blueberry bush.

I climbed on with Judith and it huffed at the extra weight, the horse was strong but it still wasn't happy.

"Today is the last day I ride younso don't complain." I told the beast and it chuffed and began moving swiftly through the forest.

In the darkness as we rode I looked down at Judith and kissed her forehead softly as she wept.

"Don't cry now girl, If You are a good Wife I swear I shan't hurt you in the slightest....just because you didn't want this marriage doesn't mean you have to suffer." I spoke softly and she looked up at me with her watery brown eyes.

"I....I....I was going to be a Queen....and now....and now....." She spoke and I laughed heartily.

"Do you think i shall only stay a commander of forty men for the rest of my life? You can be a good Wife and live freely and happily...or you can fight against it and i promise you you'll only live to bear my children and never see the light of day unless I wish it." I spoke and she trembled in fear.

"I...I...I'll be a good wife....I swore it during the ceremony..." She spoke meekly.

"Good, then I shall uphold my vows to provide and protect you until death do us part." I spoke and kissed her cheek.

Judith was still full of angish but soon she'd become adapted to the situation, or I'd drown her in a river...I had no use for an unworthy Wife after all.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. .

(Back At Camp)

Ealhswith used Ragnar to translate a conversation between her and Hasta as they sat around a campfire while roasting a pig.

{"So Thenn was sold at birth? That's a horrible thing to happen for any child..."} Ealhswith spoke.

{"Yes, where we live the winters are harsh and many die every year when the crops fail....from what my father Sigurd told me Thenn was weak as a child, he came out half blind without even the energy to cry.....The Old Crone who delivered him saw that My Father did not want the child so she made an offer..."} Ragnar spoke with a Sad look in his eyes.

{"How could Thenn ever be considered weak....That is just unbelievable."} Ealhswith spoke and Ragnars Translated their conversation to his wife Hasta.

{"My Father regreted selling Thenn off, every year he made an. Offer and every year he was denied..... The Old Crone told my Father that Thenn was blessed by our God Odin who is also blind in his right eye....it was a mistake he never forgot until the day he died."} Ragnar spoke and a tear ran down his face while he translated his words to his wife.

{"I can see why, Thenn really is blessed isn't he....I don't know if it was God, Satan, or this Odin you speak of but he is special, I noticed it from the moment I saw him."} Ealhswith spoke with a smile and put a hand over her belly.

Hasta looked down and asked In Norse. "Do you wish for a boy or a girl?" 

And Ragnar quickly translated it for her.

Hasta spoke her response.

{"I want to bear him a Son, I heard powerful

men want Sons to fight alongside them....When Thenn is away from home, If our son is beside him then it is as if I were beside him." She spoke with a dreamy smile and Ragnar Told Hasta what she said...

Around a different campfire Balgrud, Tostig, Floki, and a few others were snacking on dry food that was too heavy to take on our voyage home.

"I WONDER WHEN THE CAPTAIN WILL COME BACK....IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO HIM ILL BURN DOWN THIS WHOLE KINGDOM..." He spoke loudly and Floki giggled from nearby.

"Hahaha.... nothing will happen to him...the Norns weave his fate with a Golden thread unlike the rest of us....He is loved by the Aesir and shall not die soon....of this I am most certain."

Floki spoke and began chewing a little piece of mushroom he brought from home.

Balgrud say the very familiar mushroom and spoke. "I HAVENT GONE BERZERKER IN SO LONG...THE BOSS ALWAYS KILLS EVERYONE BEFORE I ENTER A BLOOD RAGE...." He spoke sadly and everyone rolled their eyes.

"Nobody wants you to go Berserker Balgrud, you'd be as much of a threat to us as you would be to the enemy....and if Thenn sees you cutting us down he'd chop you in half." Tostig spoke and Balgrud scratched his head in embarrassment.

"I KNOW...I KNOW....BUT I AM BALGRUD THE BERZERKER....AND I NEVER GO BERZERKER ANYMORE." He spoke sadly and Floki patted his shoulder.

"Your time shall come to return to the Blood Rage....be patient Balgrud and await for the Norns to guide your way." Floki spoke and he agreed.

"I hope he returns soon....I want to sail away." Tostig spoke and many agreed before Floki shook his head.

"You're Mad, we have rough seas ahead of us since we shall Sail with a man whom the Gods hate.....enjoy the steady ground to rest on for it will be gone for days." Floki spoke and everyone appreciated his wise words then turned to look at Rollo who was sleeping nearby under a thick woolen cloak.... everyone had been keeping their distance lately from the traitor to his Gods.