#ethelfled

 Judith? She murdered her own son, whom she really didn’t love anyways, because she didn’t believe he wouldn’t try to take the crown from Alfred if provided the slightest chance. And that’s after both Alfred and Aethelred told her what happened at the Battle of Marton. Aethelred saved Alfred’s life. IF he wanted to take over, he wouldn’t have had to lift a finger. The Viking raider would have done it for him. No scheme or coup would have ever been easier.  But he CHOSE to step in and save his little brother because he LOVES HIM and is loyal to him. He just proved that. Alfred, the one who’s life was threatened by his own brother, had already forgiven him and knew Aethelred was going to support him, even if it cost him his own life. Honestly he was, and still is, the only person Alfred could really trust other than his Vikings. Alfred needed him by his side for his council, not to mention these were brothers who loved each other dearly. And yet, she still killed him. and did she never love Aethelwulf? from what i recall they had a decent marriage. He continued to treat Alfred like his own son after figuring out about the affair with Athelstan, and seemed to care for her as well. But not only did Judith have an affair with Athelstan, but with Ecbert, her own Husband’s father.

Elsewith? Weak. You’re a queen for Pete's sake, act like one. I guess i might be more used to the stronger female tropes that we usually get on this show, but this is becoming too much for me. 90% of what she does is to act frightened, upset, teary eyed, and way too dramatic.  a real damsel in distress, but in distress ALL THE TIME.  not to mention she would be quite useless if you ever needed her to do something other than that. Alfred has a condition that makes him pass out at various times, and this condition hits him sporadically. If this happens, she is going to need to step up and keep Wessex at least from burning to the ground in his stead, even if it has to be in the background. Where she is right now, Wessex is a lost cause. Also,I’m pretty sure she had something to do with Aethelred’s death. I’m pretty sure that Judith didn’t tell her “hey, i’m going to kill my eldest son because i’m paranoid that he’s going to take over” but I’m pretty sure she thought that Aethelred was a threat to Alfred. That small comment of hers? that’s laced with suspicion and maybe even Jealousy? after Aethelred calmed the Lords ?“Aethelred is very popular” , that one? That’s what planted the idea in Judith’s head. Judith’s answer, “I had somehow hoped he would not be quite so popular.” even though I don’t think Judith told her what she was doing, I think Elsewith figured out what the queen mother was planning to do before she did it. last thing,  I get at the time when she spent the night with Bjorn that Alfred was not as appealing as he is now. He was a new King, young, not really interested in love at the time, and was what many people would have considered weak and frail at the time, BUT 1) She was already betrothed so having sex with Bjorn was a double taboo, 2) She actively sought it out? like seriously, what the heck did she see in Bjorn? don’t get me wrong, he was one of my favorite characters in this show, up until they came to Wessex. He literally has done nothing except pout and be a sourpuss  since arriving. He’s also old enough to literally be her father, and to put that in perspective it would be like a 20 year old actively seeking out and being bedded by a 40 year old that used to be a decorated war hero but now just sits out on his porch, does nothing all day but yell/complain about everything and everyone, reminiscing about the good ol’ days. 

Ethelfled? I actually liked her up until 5bx16, when she was talking to Aethelred about becoming king. she asks him that if Alfred dies, would that mean he would be crowned king. he answers yes. She then laughs, yes laughs, and says that she hopes that Alfred dies then. If your husband was scheming, bitter, and hated his brother, then yes, that’s what you should say. But Aethelred wasn’t any of those things anymore. Could she not see how much he loved and cared for Alfred? how worried he was when he saw him unconscious on the bed? did any of the Saxon wives have any kind of love for their respective brother-in-law? Even then, why on earth would you tell your husband, that you love, that the brother he loves and is quite worried about, dies just so your husband can become king, even if that title is his by birthright?