![]() I cannot blame my daughter-in-law for being attracted to such a man." Judith is released and Ecbert commands the child be baptizes as Alfred. Æthelwulf does not believe her, but Ecbert does. Unable to bear the pain, Judith reveals that the father is Athelstan. Judith refuses and her punishment begins with the removal of an ear. Screaming for mercy, Ecbert offers her the option of avoiding her sentence if she names the father. Æthelwulf and Ecbert watch as she is found guilty of adultery and is sentenced to have her ears and nose cut off as punishment. ![]() Æthelwulf comes to Judith claiming to be there to congratulate her on her new child, but violently drags her out of the villa and ties her up outside in front of a jeering crowd. Æthelwulf is furious to discover that his wife is pregnant by another man and threatens her to reveal who the father is, but Judith refuses. Judith does not try to hide her infidelity or the results of it. Æthelwulf returns from Mercia to find his wife is suffering from morning sickness. King Ecbert, it seems, has succeeded in his goal of quietly pushing the two together. Athelstan eventually realizes that he returns Judith's feelings, and the two eventually begin having an affair. Judith confesses to Athelstan that she feels dirty because of her growing interest in him even though she knows it is not right. Ecbert and Lagertha soon begin kissing, which causes an embarrassed Judith to abruptly leave saying, "It's not right." Athelstan follows her. He takes them to his Roman baths where Judith joins them. ![]() Several days later, Lagertha and Athelstan return to the castle to see Ecbert. Ecbert notices Judith's interest and slyly warns her that "an interesting person can also be a dangerous one." Judith says the same can be said about his interest in Lagertha. ![]() She replies that him leaving is penance enough. Athelstan brings up that she did not receive her penance. The next morning, Athelstan is returning to Lagertha's settlement, and Judith is upset. She leaves before he can give her her penance. Athelstan asks who the man in her dream was, and Judith replies that it was him. Judith continues, saying that they make love to each other and that she enjoyed it. Judith tells him that she has "sinned in thought but not in deed." She confesses to dreaming of lying naked beside a man who is not her husband. Later, Judith finds Athelstan again and asks to confess to him as her regular confessor is not available. She kisses them before being interrupted by Æthelwulf, who is heading into battle with Ragnar and their men to reclaim Mercia. Judith grabs his hand anyways and sees the scars. A flustered Athelstan does not want to show her his scars or let her kiss him, even if it is just on the hand. She intentionally seeks him out, asking to kiss his hand, saying that she was told that he was crucified and that the marks are still there. Judith develops a potentially dangerous crush on Athelstan. Though a dutiful wife, Judith is much more interested in Athelstan, the monk who accompanies Ragnar Lothbrok on peace negotiations between Ecbert and the Vikings. While not particularly happy about the marriage, they don't seem that displeased with it, as both grew up knowing that they would most likely marry for political reasons and not love.Ībout a year has passed since Judith and Æthelwulf married, and Judith has given birth to a son, Æthelred. Throughout these events, Judith and Æthelwulf are merely pawns in their fathers' plans. King Ecbert then suggests that Judith and his son Æthelwulf marry to form a stronger alliance. King Ælle is wary of the agreement because there is nothing to stop Ecbert from taking over his own, smaller kingdom. Ælle and Ecbert agreed that each kingdom would send troops to help defend the other, should the Northmen attack again. Judith accompanies her parents, King Ælle and Queen Ealhswith, who have accepted an invitation to form an alliance with King Ecbert of Wessex, who seeks help resisting the advances of the invading Vikings.
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