Trigger Warning: this chapter contains depictions of death/gore/blood. Reader discretion is advised.

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
Chapter Thirteen: Beamfleot
─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Eawynn flinched as Sigefrid's hoarse voice echoed through the hall. As the doors opened and men filed out, she could already feel the warmth from the quickly spreading fire in the surrounding buildings. Her eyes were blown wide as she grabbed at the collar, looking around and finally letting her eyes fall on Aethelflaed who still hung above her.

"We're going home. I can feel it." Aethelflaed whispered, her fingers grasping the metal cage she had been in for already well over a few hours.

Eawynn was not sure what she meant by this. Home had different meanings. Going home to God was the only thing running through her mind as she struggled with the chain on the floor. Sigefrid and his men had rushed out of the hall, leaving the girls behind. Death by fire was not her fate. Eawynn refused to give up. Not after she had gone through what she did to die this way. It wasn't right. This wasn't how she was going to leave the world and meet her maker.

She yanked and yanked but the chain barely moved. She was unsuccessful at figuring it out and the emotions she had kept bottled up inside of her started to bubble at the surface. She only looked up when she felt the floor shake beneath her. And the first face she saw sent a wave of relief to wash over her.

"Clapa!" She cried out the moment the big, gentle brute came into vision. Even through the tears she would recognize that man anywhere. His bald head and distinguished facial hair helped set him apart of the others.

"Lady Eawynn, you sure are a sight for sore eyes." Clapa grinned, already inspecting the contraption around her neck.

"Uhtred!" Aethelflaed grasped the metal bars of her cage tighter as the Dane-Slayer entered the hall quickly after Clapa.

Eawynn stood up and back from the spot on the floor she had been chained to. Clapa was incredibly strong, but he was still having a hard time breaking the chain.

"Clapa, I need you to get Lady Aethelflaed down." Uhtred instructed him, gesturing to the chain that held the cage up in the air.

She usually felt winded when the collar was on. Eawynn, though weaker than ever before, was used to the weight and discomfort. Her hands rested on the top rim of the collar, taking in a deep breath as she finally saw the man who was standing behind Clapa.

"Finan." She breathed out, a soft sob escaped her lips as the Irishman rushed forward and took her in his arms. She cringed from discomfort, the metal pressing into her collarbones as her head tilted forward and laid on Finan's chest.

"I didn't think I would ever see ya again." He whispered down to her. There was a whirlwind of emotions going on between both of them. The world around them dropping off the edge of a mountainside. One large piece of earth remained and it was only them. There was no fire, no rescue mission, just an intimate reunion between the two lovers who never really had a chance to love. That chance had been cruelly ripped away from them.

"You have to get me out of this. Before Sigefrid comes back." She pleaded to him, pulling away and yanking at the chain. "He has the only key."

Finan knew they would have an official reunion later and that he needed to get her out of here first. He yanked at the chain, pulling as hard as he could to break the metal from the clasp in the ground. It was no use and in a panic, he started looking around before calling to Clapa for his axe.

Lady Aethelflaed's cage was coming down now, Uhtred working on getting it open and freeing the King's daughter. Clapa handed Finan his axe and the moment Finan turned to face her, her blood ran cold. Her skin prickled as the sharp blade faced her. Finan was talking but she couldn't hear him. Everything was jumbled up, her ears were metaphorically clogged because all she thought of was dying when she only just found her way back to Finan. She slowly pried her eyes away from the shining blade and met his gaze.

"Yer goin' to be alright, Eawynn. Listen to the sound of my voice. We have to hurry. I'm bringing you home." Finan told her, his free hand grabbing onto her face as he stared down at her. The spell finally broke and she shook her head in agreement.

"Do ya trust me?" Finan asked her, letting go of her face before she answered.

"Of course I do. With my life, Finan." She admitted.

"This might hurt. I'm going to break through the chain." Finan gestured for Clapa to help him. The tall, bald Dane held onto Eawynn's arms, pulling her back into his chest as Finan swung the axe down into the chain. He took a few swings before the chain popped open. Eawynn was glad she was atleast free from being locked down into the floor.

The moment Clapa let go of her, she flung herself forward into Finan's arms and let out a sob.

"I was terrified with the thought I would never see you again." She whispered softly, unsure if he could even hear her over all of the screaming and chaos around them. They were being rushed to the stairs to escape out the back of the building but did not move fast enough because a loud yell erupted out from behind them.

Finan didn't respond, ultimately not hearing what she had whispered to him. But he remained steadfast in holding her, protecting her now since he had been unable to do so for all of the moons that had since passed since their last encounter. "Get behind me." He hissed, reaching around with one arm to keep her hidden behind his back as they all took steps further and further away from the middle of the room.

Sigefrid continued pressing forward. A loud growl escaped his lips as he pointed his sword towards them - first swinging it towards Aethelflaed and then finally landing on Eawynn. "They belong to me. You are stealing my property." The rage behind his words was fierce. The words escaping his mouth almost as fast as flames escaping throughout a window.

Sigefrid turned his venomous stare towards his brother next. "Erik! Do not do this."

Eawynn had never seen the brute beg before and she could not help but feel a small satisfied smirk start to grow on her lips.

Erik continued to stand his ground while Uhtred held onto Aethelflaed's arm, keeping her by his side. "Brother, please." Erik begged, tears beginning to form in his bright blue eyes. "Let me have this one chance. I cannot let her go."

"She is our fortune! Our reputation!" Sigefrid exclaimed. He continued to stare down Erik for another moment before he turned to look at Eawynn, who was struggling to stand up under the weight of the collar.

"If you want your reputation, you must start by killing me." Erik unsheathed his sword, much to Aethelflaed's dismay. She verbalized her agony, reaching forward towards Erik with tears streaming down her cheeks. Uhtred remained steadfast in keeping her back.

For the next few minutes, all Eawynn could hear was the sound of her heart beating and the clashing of metal around her. She reached for Aethelflaed and they locked hands as Clapa stood infront of them, keeping back any of Sigefrid's men who tried to get close. They stumbled back and Eawynn locked eyes with Finan the moment he took a hit, the dane he was fighting chose to forgo his weapon to smash the front of the Irishman's skull with his own.

"Finan!" Eawynn cried out. Her hands were still clutching onto Aethelflaed and it was almost as if no breath entered, or escaped, her mouth as she watched Finan land on his back before Uhtred had come up behind the dirt-covered Dane. The Daneslayer, living up to the moniker he has been come to accept, moved with urgency and precision. His sword slid upwards and directly into the back of the man. He ripped the sword out, blood squirting from the gaping wound as he kicked him off to the side and took Finan's hand, pulling him off from the table.

"Uhtred!" Erik yelled over his shoulder, still going toe to toe in combat with his brother. "Get them both out of here!"

"Erik! No!" Aethelflaed fought against the Daneslayer's grip as he worked to get her towards the stairs. Eawynn had already let go of her hand to grab onto Finan's arm. Not only did she want to be near him, but she also needed the stability.

Eawynn didn't dare look back as Finan helped her walk with the extra weight of the collar around her neck. She had faith in him, and every other man in their party, that they would be able to remove the collar without the key. There was no way she was getting the key from Sigefrid now.

Finan's arm wrapped around her waist, doing his best to be gentle but also firm as they escaped. Aethelflaed's cries for Erik, and Uhtred's begging for her to keep moving, were all Eawynn needed to hear to know that Sigefrid had murdered his brother. Sadness flooded her mind. Not only for the loss of life – of a good man no less – but for Aethelflaed and the love Eawynn knew she held for Erik in her heart.

"Get the horses!"

The weight of the collar was too much to bear. Eawynn tripped onto her hands and knees following Finan, letting out a grunt at the impact on her brittle bones.

"Wynn!" Finan rushed back and helped her up, holding her protectively by his side as he got her on the horse while Uhtred assisted Aethelflaed.

She gripped the reins as tight as she could manage, her eyes falling shut for a moment as she tried to ignore the pounding in her head.

"Clapa, with us!" Uhtred yelled, his sword raised high in the air as he mounted his own steed.

Eawynn opened her eyes once more, tears slipping down her cheeks from the smoke wafting around them. She felt Finan sit behind her, free his hand gently resting on her side while the other held his sword tightly.

More of Sigefrid's men began nearing in on them and Eawynn could sense from the look of pride in Clapa's eyes – he was not coming with them. "Clapa!" She tried to yell out to him, but her voice was hoarse and weak. The bald-headed Dane turned to give her a smirk and quick bow before he turned around and rushed forward with his weapon held high in the air. She could feel more tears threatening to escape as they started their escape through the city gates. Clapa was quickly cut down and the sobs that were once held back in her throat, escaped.

It was almost like a wail – even the protective and loving touch of Finan did nothing to quell the sadness within her.

The further they got from Beamfleot, the softer her cries got. She was leaning forward, her head hanging low. Her hair was full of knots and grime, she couldn't remember the last time Sigefrid had permitted her to bathe. She felt disgusting and diseased. There was so much happening around her but she knew her mind was not present at all.

"It's the King, Wynn. An army." Finan whispered to her, climbing down from his horse once Uhtred rushed forward to explain Sigefrid was coming after them.

"I want guards around Aethelflaed!" Alfred yelled, forbidding his daughter to join the fight she so desperately wanted to. The Kind's eyes fell onto Eawynn and he frowned, "Lady Eawynn, as well." He nodded to Finan.

"Come on, Wynn. We're going to keep you safe." Finan held onto her and moved after Steapa who was dragging Aethelflaed away. His lips gently pressed against the crowd of her head as he cradled her against his chest. The sound of incoming men on horses was the only thing that pulled the Irishman away from her.

"Shield wall!"

"Faster! Move!"

Eawynn held onto Aethelflaed's hand, fighting to keep upright as Steapa kept them back further behind the last line of the shield wall. The moment Sigefrid crashed through the shield wall, Aethelflaed held onto Eawynn tightly.

"Princess!" Sigefrid cried out, pointing his seaxe-hand towards the two women who were behind their very own shield wall. Eawynn noted Steapa's grip tightened on his weapon before she brought her eyes to Sigefrid.

"I see you too, whore!" He then cried out, pointing to Eawynn with a maniacal laugh escaping his lips. Eawynn refused to break eye contact with her captor. She took in his face, covered in blood and ash, as well as some burns. The next vile thing out of his mouth made her almost expel the bile rising in her throat. "Maybe you have my pup in your belly, Lady Eawynn. Will you raise him to be a God-fearing Christian?"

"I would never let your spawn breathe the same air as I do on this earth." Eawynn hissed, not even sure if he could hear her.

"I will have both of your heads and tits!" He shouted, spit and blood shooting from behind his lips before he was dragged down from his horse. Eawynn gasped, not feeling hopeful that there was a possibility this was the end of him. It was too easy. He was a hard man to kill. She would know – she had tried several times to hit him over the head with her night bucket, or a horn of ale. He barely bat an eyelash. The guard who had pulled him down was quickly killed by his hand. Eawynn and Aethelflaed found themselves without protection as the Danes moved closer and closer. Their hands remained intertwined. Where Aethelflaed went, Eawynn would follow.

Sigefrid soon found himself cutting down Aethelred, his weapon poised high in the air and ready to take the final blow to Aethelflaed's husband before being sideswept by Uhtred and his shield.

"A sword, lady." Eawynn hoarsely whispered, letting go of Aethelflaed's hand to point to the sword abandoned close to their feet. "I can't bend to pick it up or I may never get back up." Her eyes turned to try and find Finan amongst the chaos, but it was too much. She couldn't spot him amongst the see of men, blood, and shields.

Aethelflaed grabbed the sword in one hand, struggling under the weight for just a moment as she got her bearings.  "Together." The princess whispered, taking Eawynn's hand in her free one as they snuck up behind Sigefrid. Eawynn wrapped her hand around Aethelflaed's, holding the sword up and out before they rushed forward with their combined strength to pierce Sigefrid in the heart from behind.

Sigefrid let out a grunt, falling onto the ground. The blood began to quickly pool from the entrance wound in his back, his eyes staring straight up into the dark night sky.

Aethelflaed and Eawynn both lowered the sword, dripping with the blood of the man who hurt both of them albeit in different ways. Eawynn stumbled forward as Aethelflaed turned to walk away. The moment she leaned forward to look over Sigefrid, she collapsed ontop of him.

Uhtred moved to help her up and she immediately raised her hand to stop him. Her whole entire body was shaking but she worked up not only the strength, but the courage, to straddle his stomach and reach for where she knew he kept the key to her collar.

"Do you want to go to Valhalla?" Eawynn asked Sigefrid, the blood that used to pump through his veins to keep his heart alive was escaping both wounds in his back and chest at an alarming rate. She never took her eyes off his face, her fingers slipping in his blood as she grabbed the key and worked to unlock the collar.

As she struggled with the lock, Sigefrid began to sputter, blood escaping from his mouth, pouring down his beard and neck.

"Let me."

A soft voice came from beside her. Eawynn turned to look and let Finan take over. He unlocked the collar and pulled it off, ready to throw it on top of the already dying Dane's face the moment he saw the state of her neck underneath. Her skin was raw. It was bruised and broken open, and the deterioration traveled down to the tops of her shoulders and collarbone.

"Answer me." Eawynn snapped ferociously. She knew he could not answer her. He was on deaths door now, if he was not already past that threshold between life and death. The anger that had been built up inside of her for the entire time she had been held captive began to escape. Her eyes were dark and now that the collar was off, she moved with unknown strength as she reached over to pry the hilt of his sword out of his hands.

"You do not deserve Valhalla." She tossed the sword further away so he could not reach for it. She turned to Finan and slipped her hand over his, "Give me the collar." The Irishman immediately responded, leaning his hands closer to help her place the collar down and around Sigefrid's neck.

By now, a small crowd had begun to form around them. Uhtred, Sihtric, and Osferth watched in what only Finan could describe as awe. Or maybe it was shock. The Irishman was not sure himself as Eawynn stumbled off Sigefrid only to grab the sword again.

Blood gurgled up in his mouth and slipped along the rim of the collar as he tried to plead for mercy. Eawynn knew no mercy. Not now and maybe never again. There would be no mercy, especially not for the man who defiled her and subjected her to the torment for the entertainment of his men.

"Sihtric?" She called, holding the sword downwards as she pressed the tip by his top of his forearm. "What happens when you do not get to enter Valhalla?"

Sihtric stepped forward as she called his name. "We believe that when you die without your weapon, you enter Niflheim instead. The goddess Hel rules, and it is cold and dark."

"Niflheim." Eawynn repeated, pressing the sword with all her might into his forearm.

"Eawynn..." Finan reached forward to help steady her as she leaned forward a bit too far.

"I'm alright, Finan." She told him firmly.

Her eyes were still dark as she stared down at Sigefrid. His eyes were no longer staring ahead at the sky but they were now focused in on her.

She remained there for another moment before she used all of what was left of her strength to raise the sword and slice clean through his arm, removing the seaxe from his body completely. No sound left Sigefrid as the life left his eyes. Blood squirting from the now double amputated limb. Eawynn did what she thought necessary to make sure he suffered for all eternity.

"I wish you well in Niflheim, Sigefrid."

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Hi! I really hate writer's block/loss of motivation.

And also when work is busy and stresses me out - eventually causing said issues with writing.

Let me know what you all think!

Eawynn and Finan are finally reunited!
xx