Corpus Historiae Berkiae, 1396 Wrote:…the machinations surrounding the Alban Red King, Mac Bethad mac Findlaích (~AD 1005—18 April, AD 1043), were complex. Despite the efforts of apologists who wish to paint the king as an innocent dupe of Jarl Mildew the Vicious' manipulations in his efforts to trigger war between Alba and Berk, the fact remains that Mac Bethad's hands were hardly clean. He became the Mormaer of Moray in AD 1032 after the previous Mormaer, Gille Coemgáin, was burned to death along with 50 of his men, and there is little question that Mac Bethad either participated in or organized the atrocity, although the question of his sense of guilt is open, due to his marriage to Gille Coemgáin's wife, Gruoch, and adoption of his son, Lulach, as Mac Bethad's own heir. He also killed his own cousin, the previous king of Alba, Donnchadh mac Crìonain, on the field of battle in August of AD 1040, and took the throne. While Donnchadh mac Crìonain had initiated the battle that resulted in his death, there is evidence of provocation on the part of Mac Bethad specifically to spur his cousin into invading and allow Mac Bethad to fight with the moral upper hand and on his own territory. Similarly, Mac Bethad's efforts with regard to Berk included various attempts to cripple the nascent power…
In celebration of the author's paper anniversary, this week's A Thing of Vikings chapter went up a few hours early, so Let The Games Begin! On Berk, Wulfhild thinks about expectations before meeting the expectations of Merchants' Row that the royal triple would browse their wares; Stoick and Fergus meet in open contest; in Nidaros, Ruffnut hears just enough of a conversation between Magnus and Yngvarr to put her on edge; back on Berk, Astrid and Cami watch the archery contest and congratulate the girls women they love; on the steppes, a bloody-fisted dragon hunter stalks his prey despite unbidden thoughts; and we close on Berk, where Elinor discusses courtliness with Astrid and Heather and Fishlegs participate (as staff and competitor) in an eating contest.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/104089...s/36371505
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12639117/57...Of-Vikings