▃▃▃▃▃ ‧₊˚⊹ ‧₊˚⊹ ▃▃▃▃▃
THE LAST KINGDOM
𝐀𝐂𝐓 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑 ─── ❛ battle of tenttenhall

SERPENTS TONGUE ₊˚.༄𖥸 ──
𑁍₊𓄹 -- ❪ the last kingdom ❫. 𓄹
╭ ‧₊˚⊹ 你好，欢迎光临
╰ ✦ a hostage ╭ ᘒ ✦

Once Athena knew Hæsten had hidden Eadith somewhere safe, she let the man guide her towards the palace, boasting about how he had captured the famous Athena Ragnarsdóttir.

She had given all her weapons to Eadith, not wanting to loose her sword that Osferth had made for her.

Athena pursed her lips, her hands tired in front of her as Hæsten dragged her through the halls of the palace.

His grip on her upper arm was tight, pulling her along. Athena eyed the Danes around, not liking them being in Winchester.

"You remember the story, you oaf?" Athena uttered, glancing at Hæsten with a raised brow.

Hæsten nodded his head with a grin, pulling her towards the throne room. "I do." He hummed. "And the silver."

"Is with Eadith." Athena told him, telling the truth. He let out another hum, satisfied.

Once they got to the throne room, he passed her to one of the Danes, opening the door with the grin still on his face.

"Lord, I hope you do not mind the interruption." Hæsten spoke, arms crossed over his chest as he walked into the throne room, Athena still behind the doors. "But, I have brought a gift."

Sigtrygrr sat up in his seat, his brow raising as he looked over at Hæsten. Hæsten stood with a smug look, glancing over his shoulder. "Bring her in."

Athena grunted as the Dane pulled on her arm, practically pushing her towards Hæsten. "Bastard." She uttered, glaring at the Dane as Hæsten held her arm once more.

Sigtrygrr leaned forwards in his seat, eyeing Athena with his brow still rose. "And whom is she?" He asked, confused.

"The infamous Athena Ragnarsdóttir, Lord." Hæsten smirked, squeezing Athena's upper arm before kicking her to her knees.

A hiss left her lips as she glared up at Hæsten, her eyes wide. He simply shrugged with a grin, standing back as Sigtrygrr walked towards them.

"And how did you come across her?" Sigtrygrr questioned, walking towards them with a tilted head, glancing down at Athena.

"Caught her sneaking around Winchester, Lord. No doubt trying to find her daughter." Hæsten chuckled as he spoke, crossing his arms over his chest.

Sigtrygrr hummed, moving to stand in front of Athena, whom held her head high. "You may leave." He waved his hand at Hæsten, whom nodded his head, turning around and leaving as he closed the doors behind him.

Athena watched him leave with pursed lips, fidgeting with the rope around her wrists. "What they say about your beauty is no lie." Athena turned back to Sigtrygrr at his words, her brows raising.

"Not interest." Athena grimaced, shaking her head as she looked him up and down. Sigtrygrr raised his hands in defence, moving to circle around her. "Where is my daughter?"

"She is safe and has been taken care of, I assure you." Sigtrygrr told her, his words truthful as he continued to stare down at her. "She is with Brida."

Athena swallowed thickly at the mention of her old friend, slowly nodding her head. It calmed her nerves, slightly. "Well, are you going to kill me now?" She lucidly asked, her brows raising.

"And why would I do that?" Sigtrygrr let out an amused chuckle, moving to stop in front of her once more. "Your beauty is not all people speak about."

"I am flattered." She sarcastically said, sending him a sardonic smile as she looked up at him. "What use would you have for me?"

Sigtrygrr shrugged his shoulders, hands clasped behind his back as he stared down at her. "You have title, you have skills..." He grinned down at her. "Join us, the Danes are where you belong. You are no Dane-slayer."

"I have killed many Danes." Athena scoffed, shaking her head with pursed lips. "How am I no Dane-slayer?"

Sigtrygrr let out a deep sigh, moving to crouch down in front of her, leaning his forearms on his knees. "You are a Dane, it runs through your blood. Your family are the greatest Danes known."

"But I am all remains." Athena tilted her head to the side, her brows pinching together as she shook her head. "I am the last standing person out of my blood."

"Exactly." Sigtrygrr nodded his head, pointing a finger in her direction with a grin. "You have survived many battles, coming out stronger each time."

Athena rolled her eyes, but his words were boosting her ego completely. "Your point?" She sighed, shrugging her shoulders.

"My point is, you are fighting for the wrong side." He stated, standing to his feet once more as he kept his eyes on her. "You belong with your people, your kin—Danes."

Athena narrowed her eyes slightly, looking down at her tied wrists. "I am a Dane, that is a fact." She slowly nodded her head, glancing up at him once more. "But I stopped fighting for the Danes many years ago, and it will remain that way."

"Why?"

Athena was slightly taken back by his words, not expecting him to ask such a thing. But, she swallowed thickly, tilting her head to the side. "Danes killed my family—my father and mother. Danes plotted against both my brothers, plotting their downfall. Our cousin guided my brother's death. Danes tortured my sister for years." She hissed, keeping her eyes on Sigtrygrr. "Kjartan, Cnut, and many Danes wished to see me dead." She then grinned. "But, as you said, i survive."

"That you do." Sigtrygrr nodded his head, staring down at her with interest. "But I do not wish to see you dead, you are more worthy alive than six feet under."

"But my brother? Hæsten claims you want him dead." Athena questioned, her brow raising in confusion. "Why am I any different? I bear the name Dane-slayer, same as my brother."

"It is not me that wants him dead."

Athena's brows pinched together at that, her lips parting in confusion. Then, the doors opened behind her, making Athena look over her shoulder.

Her eyes widened as they landed on her daughter, whom stood beside Brida. Thyra was unharmed, hell, even had a smile on her face.

"Mother!" Athena snapped out of her thoughts at her daughter's excited voice, leaving Brida's side as she hurried towards Athena.

"Sweet girl." Athena breathed out, smile on her face as Thyra leaned down to wrap her arms around Athena. "You are okay." She let out a relieved chuckle, her eyes squeezing shut as she leaned into her daughter. "They have not harmed you?"

"No." Thyra smiled, keeping her face buried in Athena's shoulder, not letting go of her mother. "They have treated me well, I swear."

Athena nodded her head, letting Thyra pull out of the hug. "Good." Athena smiled, ignoring the other two in the room. "And Stiorra?"

"She is well—safe." Thyra confirmed, nodding her head as the smile never left her face. "Where is father? Is he okay? Aunt Mel? Atlas? Uhtred? Osferth and Sihtric?" She hurriedly spoke, making Athena chuckle.

"They are okay. They returned to Mercia." Athena lied, giving her daughter a look that signaled that she was lying.

And Thyra immediately nodded her head, understanding her mother's look as she smiled. Athena reciprocated her smile, moving to look over at Brida.

Her eyes grew wide as she noticed Brida's swollen stomach. She was with child. "It is rude to stare, Athena." Athena snapped her eyes away as she looked up at Brida, whom raised her brow.

"Sorry, I just..." Athena's lips parted as she slowly shook her head. "I am happy to see you." She then said, her words truthful. "I guess you are to thank for keeping Thyra safe."

Brida nodded her head, her hands clasped over her stomach. "You did the same for me." Was all she said, making Athena softy smile at her. "Why are you here?" She then asked.

"I wished to see my daughter." Athena admitted, holding onto her daughter as Thyra grinned at Sigtrygrr, whom grinned back at her. "I came alone, snuck away from my brother."

Brida rose her brow in suspicion, but didn't question it as she nodded her head. She was about to speak once more, but hurried footsteps made them all turn.

"Lord!" The Dane panted, his eyes wide as he looked towards Sigtrygrr. "A Saxon army is outside the gates!"

Athena's eyes widened at that, her lips parting as she stared up at Sigtrygrr, whoms eyes narrowed.

Birda immediately turned to Athena, her eyes narrowed. "You said you came alone!" Brida stepped towards Athena as she hissed.

"I did not come with a Saxon army, Brida!" Athena scoffed, shaking her head as she looked around the throne room. "I swear it on Ragnar's grave—Thor's hammer, I did not come with them!"

Birda's expression faltered, instantly believing Athena as she slowly nodded her head. "Pull her up, cut her restraints." She nodded to Sigtrygrr, quickly walking out of the throne room.

Sigtrygrr let out a sigh as he moved towards Athena, carefully pulling her to her feet and pulling out his dagger, cutting her wrist free. "You both remain beside me, understood?"

Athena nodded her head, moving to hold onto Thyra's shoulders. And Sigtrygrr nodded his head, moving Athena forwards for her to stark walking.

"Do not leave my side, sweet girl." Athena told the girl, watching as the Danes ran around the palace.

Thyra nodded her head, remaining in front of Athena as they walked. They soon caught up with Brida, whom ordered the Danes around. "That way go the walls!"

"Archers!"

Athena tightly held onto Thyra, following Brida up the stairs on onto the rampart. She could hear the screams of the Saxon men as the archers fired their arrows.

Moving to the gap, Athena looked out as she watched the Saxons retreat, her eyes landing on Edward, whom ordered his men.

"Men are coming from every corner of the Saxon kingdom!" Edward yelled up from on top of his horse. "By dawn tomorrow, you will be surrounded!" Athena pursed her lips, squeezing Thyra's shoulders. "Surrender now and avoid being massacred!"

There was silence for a moment, Athena glancing over her shoulder at Sigtrygrr and Brida, whom looked unfazed. "Do you surrender?" Edward yelled once more, his tone firm.

"Do nothing." Sigtrygrr uttered, shaking his head as he leaned against the wall. "The walls will hold. The fool built them strong."

Athena pursed her lips as she glanced back down at Edward and his men, trying to stop her usual bunch. But she could not see them.

"Attack!"

Athena's eyes grew wide as she watched the Saxon men charge forwards on their horses. They were riding straight into their deaths.

— madeleines notes.

Maddie did an oof guys. HAHAHS

I forgot that between episode nine and episode ten, Thirty days went past LMAO. I DID NOT REALISE.

And obviously this part was meant for the last chapter, but it was too long. So I started a new chapter and added this part in. NOT REALISING.

And I don't like having like a big time gap between parts in one chapter. SO HAVE THIS SHORT, ONE SCENE CHAPTER LMAO.

Bc I'm absolutely diabolical like that. Nah I'm just acoustic. 🎀 SORRY GUYS.

LMAO.

But Athena just sassing all these opps, she a real one! ☝🏽☝🏽

Nah her and Hæsten are a comedic duo and would totally be besties if she remained with the Danes. Literally prove me wrong LMAO.

But yeah, writing the next chapter now. Sorry guys 🥺🥺

10th November 2024
1948 words