▃▃▃▃▃ ‧₊˚⊹ ‧₊˚⊹ ▃▃▃▃▃
THE LAST KINGDOM
𝐀𝐂𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄 ─── ❛ Dane slayer

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

The small group, along with the priests, travelled to Winchester. Athena had not been banished, but she did not know how Alfred would react to the news of her being there.

She knew the king was growing iller by the day, and he was on his deathbed. Athena couldn't help but feel a hint of sadness at that, having grown to like the King.

Athena held onto her horses reigns as the walls of Winchester came into view. She held an anxious look on her face as she looked up at the Saxon men.

She rode beside Melusine and Hild, the three talking inbetween themselves until they stopped outside of the Winchester gates.

The priest walked ahead as he stood infront of the gates, asking for the gates to be opened. But they never were.

Athena let out a huff as she leaned her chin in her palm, looking up with a bored expression. "Steapa." The priest called, knowing the man would be there. "Steapa!" He repeated. Athena watched as Steapa walked towards the bannister, looking down at them. "Do you not recognise me, Steapa? Why have the gates not opened?"

"Bishop Erkenwald, you have guest." He nodded to the five on their horses, making Athena roll her eyes.

"They did ride with us from Coccham." The purest informed Steapa, slowly nodding his head as he looked at the five.

"Where my brother remains." Athena added, looking up at Steapa with a tight-lipped smile. "And he'll be going directly to Mercia."

"Steapa, he had hoped to visit his children there." Hild added with a sigh, pursing her lips as she looked up at Steapa.

Steapa looked between the two woman, his eyes falling on the priest. "Is this true, Lord?" He asked the priests.

Hild frowned at that, raising her brow. "You do not believe me?"

"It is true that Uhtred Ragnarson remains at Coccham." The priest nodded his head as he looked up at Steapa. "That is all I know to be true."

"It is Uhtred's intention to return to Mercia." Hild continued. "He asked me to petition the king to have his children follow." She explained with a sigh. "Now open the gates and let us rest."

Steapa simply looked down at them, biting into his apple. Athena scoffed at that as she shook her head, turning her head to the side to share a look with Finan.

"Hey, big man!" Finan turned to call up to Steapa. "We're guilty of being hungry and tired, my friend. That is all."

Steapa continued to look down at them, taking a drink from his cup as he turned to one of his men. "Open the gates."

Athena sighed at that, mumbling a, "finally", as she held onto her horses reigns, riding through the gates.

Athena was thrilled to see Thyra, and her kitten. She had split up from the three and gone to see Thyra.

Holding Snow in her arms, she looked up at Thyra, whom sat across from her. "How has life in Winchester been without your favourite sibling, sister?" Athena grinned, running her hands through the kittens fur.

"It has been well." Thyra slowly nodded her head, eating some of the food she had made for herself and Athena. "I have missed you."

"As have I." Athena softly smiled, nodding her head in agreement. "I am sorry you had to hear of Ragnar's passing through Beocca." She added as a sad look made its way onto her face, her brows pinching together.

Thyra sadly smiled at that, reaching out to take Athena's hand in hers. "I know, but he is in Valhalla." She nodded her head, making Athena purse her lips.

"I am afraid he did not, sister." Athena sighed, rubbing her thumb against the back of her hand. "He was slain in his sleep. We have to kill the man whom murdered him with Ragnar's blood—our blood."

Thyra frowned at that, tilting her head to the side. "What do you mean?" Thyra asked, evidently confused.

A sigh left Athena's lips as she looked over at Thyra. "We must wet the blade with the blood of Ragnar, kill the man whom took Ragnar's life, and he will go to Valhalla." Athena softly explained.

"All of it?" Thyra eyes grew wide at Athena's words.

But Athena softly chuckled, shaking her head. "Only a small bit, sister." She softly said, smile on her face. "I agreed to use my blood. If I come across the man whom killed Ragnar, all I have to do is cut my hand." She simply shrugged. "That is if Uhtred will let me fight."

Thyra frowned at that, tilting her head to the side once more. "Why would he not?" She asked, making Athena purse her lips in realisation. Thyra did not know.

She moved her hand from Snow's fur, gaining a whine from the cat as she cuddled onto Athena's lap. Athena held both of Thyra's hands in hers. "Well...I am with child." She said, slowly nodding her head as Thyra's eyes grew wide once more. "And I am to be married."

"What?!" Thyra gasped, squeezing into Athena's hands with an excited smile. "When? Whom?" Thyra had not expected those two words to come out of Athena's mouth, and certainly not together.

Athena chuckled at her excitement, squeezing Thyra's hands back. "The babe, I do not know." She smiled, continuing to stoke her thumb against Thyra's hand. "And I am to be married once this war is fought and over." Athena added, the smile not dropping from her face. "With Finan."

Thyra's smile did not falter as she reached out to embrace Athena into a hug. "I am happy for you, sister." Thyra said as Athena carefully wrapped her arms around Thyra, careful not to knock Snow from her lap. "And to think you use to hate both of those things."

Athena chuckled, nodding her head as she pulled out of the hug, holding onto Thyra's arms. "I did not hate them. I just didn't think I would experience such a thing." She explained, making Thyra chuckle.

"I cannot wait." Thyra reached up to cup Athena's face, the smile still on her face. Athena nodded her head with a matching smile, grateful for her younger sister. "We will both be married then."

Athena softly smiled once more, nodding her head as she leaned into Thyra's touch. "That we will." She hummed in agreement.

After speaking with Thyra, Athena walked through the streets of Winchester, Snow in her arms.

She knew Finan and the rest would be at an alehouse, so she made her way towards the nearest one, a soft smile on her face as she ran her fingers through Snow's white fur.

She sighed in relief when she spotted the three people she was looking for, all stood against the fence of the ale house.

"Ah, well if it isn't Athena Ragnarsdóttir." Athena paused at the voice, turning her head into the direction of the voice. Her brows immediately pinched together as she took note of his missing eye, almost laughing out loud. "Are you aloud to be in Winchester?"

"Are you?" She fired back, biting her bottom lip to suppress her laugh, watching his smug expression drop. "Who did that?" She pointed to his eye, walking towards his table where him and other men sat. "Perhaps your Dane friends?"

"A welcoming gift from my uncle, if you wish to know." Æthelwold said, lifting his head up to look at the woman, who stood beside the table. Athena did not bother to conceal her laughter, shaking her head in amusement.

"I am surprised you are not dead, Æthelwold." Athena hummed, continuing to run her fingers through Snow's fur. "You were with the Dane's, after all. All buddy-buddy."

"I was simply a spy." Æthelwold lied with a smug look, making Athena roll her eyes. "I came back to tell the king everything"

An Idea popped into Athena's head as she moved to sit in front of him, her eyes narrowing slightly. Æthelwold had not expected that, sitting up in his seat. "So, you saw and heard everything, correct?" She asked, tilting her head to the side.

"Correct."

"Then you must know whom murdered my brother, Ragnar." Athena hummed, placing her shoulders on the table as she rested her chin in her palm, Snow sitting on her lap. Æthelwold tensed at the mention of Ragnar, which made Athena frown. "Did you?"

Æthelwold was quick to clear his throat, gripping onto his cup as he looked over at her. "I am not sure, Athena." He slowly said, coming up with a lie on the spot. "I did hear some...disagreements between Ragnar and Cnut." He wearily said.

Athena frowned at that, her brows pinching together. "What do you mean? What disagreements?" She asked, confusion evident in her tone. Why would her cousin and brother be disagreeing.

"Well, Cnut didn't agree with Ragnar's ways." Æthelwold went to explain, biting back a smug look as he looked at Athena's reactions, thinking she trusted his words. But she didn't. "They had a fight, then the next morning, Ragnar was dead."

"So you are insinuating that my cousin slain my brother in his sleep?" Athena raised her brows, not believing his words. "Danes do not need to kill men in their sleep."

Æthelwold shrugged at her words, bringing the cup of ale to his lips. "I am simply informing you of what I heard and saw, just as you asked." He bit back a smirk at her troubled expression.

Athena took in his words, not believing them. Cnut would have not killed Ragnar. He might have got someone to do his dirty work, but he would not have killed his own blood. "I see..." She mumbled, slowly shaking her head. She didn't believe Æthelwold for a minute. But his words could hold a hint of truth. "If you'll excuse me." Athena could read Æthelwold's lies from a mile away, but she didn't understand why he would claim it was Cnut.

She went to stand, cradling Snow in her arms as she moved from her seat, going to walk past Æthelwold. But she came to a halt behind him when she remembered he had tried to kill herself and Uhtred.

So, with her free hand, she reached over Æthelwold's shoulders, grabbing his full cup of ale and lifting it above his head, pouring the ale onto his head with a grin. "Be grateful I am not taking your other eye. Why must you have other men do your dirty work?" She asked, leaning over his shoulder with a sarcastic smile. "If you wish to have me dead, then kill me yourself." She added, glaring at him with narrowed eyes, before moving away from the man and towards the three, that had witnessed her action.

"And what did he say to you?" Finan chuckled, pulling her into his side as she walked towards them, running her hand through her kittens fur.

"That was just for sending men to kill me and Uhtred. It is not like I can kill him in Winchester." Athena shrugged with a grin, standing beside him as she looked over her shoulder at Æthelwold, who went to clean himself from ale. "And he tied to lie to me."

"What do you mean?" Meluisne spoke up, her brows pinching together in confusion. "What did he lie about?"

Athena let out a dramatic sigh, leaning into Finan's side as she looked towards her friend. "He tried to say Cnut killed Ragnar." She shook her head with pursed lips. "Æthelwold cannot lie to save his life." She chuckled, shaking her head.

"Then whom did?" Sihtric spoke up. That was the one question Athena had been asking herself.

Athena shrugged with a sad frown, feeling Finan place a hand on her side and giving it a reassuring squeeze. "We will soon find out, I am sure." She sighed, slowly nodding her head as she ran her hand through Snow's fur. "But I wish to thank Alfred for what he did to his eye." She chuckled, still amused by Æthelwold's missing eye.

Skåde was dead.

Uhtred and Osferth had traveled to Winchester and snuck in. Osferth had told Athena and Finan how Uhtred had broken his curse.

Athena felt relieved that the Seer was gone, that her curse was no more. But now, they had to protect Finan from Alfred and his guards. They would kill Uhtred.

Athena knew Uhtred would rather be with Thyra or his children. Athena had already visited them both, and they were beyond thrilled to see her.

But now she sat outside of an ale house. Athena was missing the presence of Melusine, but Athena knew she was with Sihtric, talking it out.

Athena had not left Snow, taking the kitten everywhere she went. She held her on her lap, running her fingers through the kittens fur as Finan teased Osferth, a woman beside the boy.

Looking up, her eyes landed on Beocca. She softly smiled at the priest as he walked over to their table. "Are you surprised to see us, Father?" Finan jested when he noticed the man's presence.

Beocca looked at the table, tilting his head to the side. "Where is he?" Was all he asked, referring to Uhtred.

Athena and Finan shared a look, Athena pursing her lips as she nudged Finan to lie. "He was last seen with a pagan witch at Coccham, and I'm not talking of the Abbess Hild."

Rolling her eyes at his words, Athena shook her head as she bit back a chuckle. "Do you have a message for my brother, Father?" She politely asked, turning her head to look up at him.

"He knows that his children are safe?" Beocca asked, looking between Athena and Finan.

Finan nodded his head at the priests words. "He knows they were taken." He sighed, pursing his lips. "He was not best pleased."

Beocca didn't say anything as he abruptly sat down at the table. "Is he here now?" He asked once more. "I will not summon the guards." He mostly turned to Athena, knowing she could not lie to the priest she had grown tk care for. "Is he here?"

Athena pulled an awkward look as she sat forwards, slowly nodding her head. "He is." She sighed, continuing to run her fingers through her kittens fur. "Now, would you please tell me why Æthelwold is walking the streets of Winchester a free man." She added with a slight glare, her words uttered as she looked at the priest sat in front of her.

"Because rightly or wrongly, he had been forgiven, and I believe Uhtred will be forgiven." Beocca explained, making Athena roll her eyes and bite back a scoff. "Tell him to find me."

Athena nodded her head at that as Finan leaned forwards. "I think he may well be sitting at your table, Father."

Beocca stood up at that, nodding his head as he walked away. Athena knew he'd be going to his home.

Athena watched as he left, her eyes landing on Æthelwold. She glared at that, a grimace decorating her face as she looked at the man. "Can he die already." Athena uttered, turning to Finan. "His face makes me want to hurl."

Finan chuckled at her words, shaking his head in amusement. "I agree." Athena looked over once more, her brows picking together as Æthelwold and the men at his table abruptly stood and followed Beocca.

"I do not like that." Athena uttered, shaking her head as she watched them leave. Finan looked over his shoulder, frowning as the men left. "They are following Beocca." She quickly stood, holding Snow in one hand as she pulled Osferth to his feet. "He will be back." She softly told the woman he was talking to. "Would you mind?" She asked the woman, referring to Snow in her arms.

The woman nodded her head, letting Athena pass her the kitten. Athena quickly turned to Finan, reaching into his pocket to grab a coin and handed it to the woman. "I will give you more when I come back." She watched as the woman smiled, carefully holding Snow in her arms. "Come on." She told the two men, ignoring Finan's protests about the coin she had taken from him.

The three ran into Sihtric and Mel, whom had told them Æthelwold and a group of his men were making their way towards Beocca's home.

And they were right, the group arrived to Beocca's home, seeing Æthelwold and his group of men speaking to Beocca and Pyrlig.

"Is there a problem we can help resolve here, Father?" Finan asked first as he unsheathed his sword, walking towards the group.

Athena took out her own sword as she glared at Æthelwold. "It is a minor disagreement, that is all, involving a minor ealdorman." Pyrlig answered with a polite nod.

"Sigerfrid, send for Steapa and the King's guard." Æthelwold instructed the man beside him. "Tell him we have all but captured Uhtred Ragnarson."

Athena scoffed at that, shaking her head. "Are you deaf as well as blind, boy?" Athena sarcastically chuckled at Æthelwold. "Uhtred remains at Coccham." Athena's grin widened as she watched his face drop for a moment.

"I am no fool." Æthelwold turned to her, shaking his head with a faint glare. Athena chuckled at that, raising a brow.

Athena turned her head when she heard the door to Beocca's home open. "Beocca?" She heard Thyra call out for her husband. Athena's face softened at her sister as she walked out

"Stay inside, my dear." Beocca quickly said, turning to his wife with a sigh.

But Thyra didn't. "Beocca, I have been listening." Thyra softly said, looking over to Æthelwold and his men. "If these men wish to look inside our home, then we should allow it." Athena frowned at Thyra's words. "We have nothing to hide, nothing at all." She looked at Æthelwold with a polite smile. "Please, come inside, Æthelwold."

And Æthelwold did just that, walking past Thyra and Beocca. Athena watched carefully as she tightened her grip on her sword. "Come on." Finan told the group, nodding his head to Beocca's home.

Where was Uhtred?

Athena moved over to her sister, sheathing her sword as she reached out to hold Thyra's arm with a soft smile.

Æthelwold kicked the door open, standing back as it opened. Athena remained beside Thyra, her glare not faltering as she watched Æthelwold and his men.

Æthelwold wearily looked in, raising his sword as Sigefrid followed. Athena kept her arm on Thyra as they walked through the door to her home, watching as Sigefrid pushed a basket to the floor and opened a small chest.

"Yes because Uhtred would fit in that tiny chest." Athena sarcastically said, rolling her eyes at his stupidity.

The two searched around the home, obviously not finding Uhtred. Athena squeezed Thyra's arm as they remained at the door. "Are you satisfied?" Beocca asked the two, watching as they continued to look around. "I asked, are you satisfied?" He repeated when they didn't answer.

"You have my sincere apologies, Father, Lady." Sigefrid apologised, turning to the two with pursed lips.

"He was here." Æthelwold said, making Athena turn her head into his direction. "I can smell him." Athena grimaced at that, looking him up and down.

"Well, he isn't here." Athena pointed out, pointing around the house with a smug look. "Go bother someone else with your..." She pointed to his face. "Dis-formed face, you are scarring me." She wafted her hand, shaking her head as she watched him glare at her.

Finan then walked towards the door, gently moving Athena to the side as he walked in. "Will we see you at the wedding, Lords?" Finan asked, turning to the two.

They didn't say anything as Æthelwold moved to walk out of the home. Athena gave him a sarcastic smile as she moved away from the door, giving him a fake bow.

Sigefrid quickly followed, him and Æthelwold quickly leaving the home. "Bastards." Athena uttered, moving towards the basket that Sigefrid knocked, and placed it back neatly.

She then turned back to Thyra, raising her brows as if to ask: 'where is he?', referring to Uhtred. Thyra just looked down at the floor, a smile on her face.

Athena followed her glance, looking down at the wooden ground. Athena quietly chuckled as she shook her head, walking towards the door where Finan was waiting for her. "Smart, sister." Athena uttered, squeezing Thyra's arm as she left the home.

— madeleines notes.

so close to Æthelwold's death YAHHHH

But then we are close to Alfred's death....

And Thyra's...

Yeah. Athena I'm sorry queen 🥺 you're going through it.

But sorry for the long awaited chapter, I have been very busy 🥺 so have a decent sized chapter.

Athena just carrying Snow everywhere with her. THATS HER BABY. Idec. That's her first child.

It's giving Dany and her dragons.

ALSO HERES A QUESTION FOR A TIKTOK.

What characters is Athena like?!? Like personality wise!?! Bc I wanna know what you guys think of her.

AND.

What couples are Athena and Finan like, I WANNA KNOW THAT TOO PLSS 🥺🥺

BUT IM GONNA WRITE THE NECT CHAPTER, EPISODE 9!! ONE EPISODE LEFT.

And episode nine...DRAMA 🙌

But Athena will have that little talk with Alfred with Uhtred, because yeah, Alfred sees her as the baddie she is and wants her to be by Edward's side when he dies.

GET A KING THAT KNOWS THAT YOU ARE A BADDY.

But I fucking LOVE season three ong. It is my favourite season and has to be the BEST season like?!?

You'll never find someone whom love Season three more than I, because I ADORE it.

And Skåde dead. But is her spirit?

NAH.

Only Jordan understands that.. HSHE.

She be scheming, and she did just do that.

Yall probably missed when she did so, bc it was a couple chapters back. But, I am planning.

And you'll see this next act...

ANY GUESSES 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

Okay enough ranting.

13th September 2024
3712 words