Chapter Text
Hvitserk nursed his wine as he watched his daughter Audrey run about the hall with the servants' children after the Feast of Candlemass, the after service supper being cleared up. He saw his daughter toddle around on chubby legs as she chased a boy and squealed with delight, her honey-blonde hair loose from her braid. "Soon she will have to learn to be a lady", said his friend Brother Ambrose.
"She is a child of four summers and has just learned her letters", he told the monk.
"The Lady Audrey is a lovely child, intelligent child and she ought to learn ladylike things, not run about like a peasant. Ladies do not run around and scream", chuckled the monk.
"My brothers and I ran wild until we were old enough to fight and receive our arm rings, the girls we knew played rough as well. We were princes wild as any peasant child", said Hvitserk with a chuckle.
"Saxon peasant children run wild, not the daughters of Saxon princes. Edith is doing her best, but she is betrothed to the blacksmith's son and soon she will not be able to her nurse. She needs a mother, not just a nursemaid", said Brother Ambrose.
Hvitserk sighed and looked down into his goblet of wine. "I know I need a wife, but every lordling in East Anglia throws their simpering little daughters at me. I have never seen so many foolish, empty-headed girls in my life, many of them can't read and only know how to sew and pray. I cannot marry a stupid girl, and many of them clearly don't want to be a stepmother", he fumed.
"The previous lord didn't care if his wife was a fool, as long as she was fertile. Lord Athelstan, you one of the smartest men I have ever taught amongst the many Norsemen I have met. A stupid woman would bore you senseless", said Ambrose.
"When we go to Winchester for the Witan, I will ask the king about finding a bride. Audrey is a clever girl, but many in East Anglia do not want a woman to rule them", said Hvitserk with a shake of his head.
"Saxon women are not reared to be rulers or fighters, unlike Norse women. And you have mourned long enough, Lord Athelstan. Lady Anna was a good woman who sacrificed her life to birth Audrey, you ought to move on and find another wife", said Ambrose kindly.
"I know, I did not love her passionately like I did with Thora, but I was fond of her. I was starting to really love her when she died birthing Audrey, perhaps I am unlucky with women", he said ruefully.
"Perhaps God did not intend for you marry these women, Lord Athelstan. Your first love was your brother's wife and then your betrothed Thora was murdered by your brother, your insane brother. Lady Anna was a kindly woman but she would have bored you within a few years, maybe God did not intend for her to be your true wife", said Ambrose.
"Maybe, it wasn't fated. I realize I sinned by coveting Ubbe's wife, Margarethe was the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. Now I realize she was manipulating us, she hated being a slave and wanted to land a son of Ragnar. I loved Thora madly and I really thought she was the love of my life, we would have been happy but Ivar was so paranoid and jealous, being married to that slattern Freydis who poisoned his mind. And how does a monk know so much about women?", he teased, a sly look in his green eyes.
Ambrose just laughed, his brown eyes holding both sadness and mirth. "Remember I was married before I took orders, Mildred and I could never have children. When she died, I took orders since I could not live in the world again. But you are a handsome young man, Lord Athelstan. You are a prince who runs East Anglia and a personal friend of King Alfred himself, you would make a fine catch for any woman. At the Witan in Winchester, there will be many noble families from around the realm and you can ask the king to make you a match. Surely not every noble girl in England is an idiot", quipped the monk.
"I hope so, or perhaps one of the Welsh or Cornish families have a suitable daughter. But I will speak to the king, Audrey needs a mother and I do not want to commit fornication", he chuckled.
Hvitserk finished his wine and went to find Audrey. A soft grin formed on his face when he saw his daughter happily playing with the servants' children, her stockings falling from their garters. Audrey turned in his direction and her big green eyes widened in delight as she ran towards him. Hvitserk laughed and scooped her up into his arms and as she giggled, her blonde hair loose from her braid. "Papa, I have a lot of fun. I'm not tired", she pouted, stifling a yawn.
'You are tired, min litli svan. Little girls cannot stay up too late", he chided.
"Would you like me to put her to bed, my lord?", asked her nurse Edith.
"You ought to enjoy the festivities, Edith. Edward the blacksmith's son has been looking for you, you ought to spend time with your betrothed. I can take care of her tonight", he told the nurse kindly.
Edith giggled and blushed as she went to look for her fiancé. Hvitserk chuckled as he took Audrey in his arms and brought her to her room after bidding good night to his guests. "I not tired, Papa", she repeated.
"You are tired, and I am taking you to bed because you are ready to droop, min litli svan. Edith is spending time with her betrothed and soon she will get married", he said.
"What is married?", she asked.
Hvitserk frowned as he brought Audrey inside her room. "That's when a mother and father wed and have children, I was married to your mother", he explained.
"You married to Mama?", she asked.
"Not anymore, she died when you were born. I am going to find a wife so you can have a Mama, and maybe some brothers and sisters as well. I had four brothers, I don't want you to be lonely", he said.
"Edith is Mama", she said.
"No, Edith is your nurse. She is going to marry Edward, the blacksmith's son and soon she cannot be your nurse since she will have her own children. I need to find another wife to be your Mama and give you brothers and sisters", he said.
"Is she pretty?", she asked.
Hvitserk just chuckled as he helped his daughter undress and put on her nightgown. "I hope so, but I want her to be smart and kind too. I want a wife who can read and likes children, I do not want a mean lady who is stupid. Soon we are going to Winchester for the Witan and see the king, he will help me find a wife", he said.
"Can I play with the princesses?", she asked.
"Of course, Alfred adores his girls. But we are going because I am going to attend the Witan with the other lords of England, you will need to behave. You are the daughter of Lord Athelstan of Swanford, Lady Audrey", he chuckled.
"I want to play, Papa. And see the king, I like his hat", giggled Audrey.
"It's called a crown, the king and queen wear crowns", he teased.
"I want a crown", she declared.
Hvitserk just laughed as he kissed his daughter good night. "Then I will find you the finest prince for your husband when you grow up, min svan. But now you need to sleep, you are tired and you cannot stay up late like an adult. I will be in my chambers next door", he said as she hugged him.