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

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

In a serene meadow by the gently flowing river, Athena sat gracefully on the lush green grass,

The sun cast a warm glow over the tranquil scene, dappling the area with golden light. With a focused expression, she delicately painted intricate designs on a shield, the colors blending harmoniously on the canvas.

The soft rustling of the leaves and the distant murmur of the river created a soothing symphony, enveloping her in a cocoon of peace and creativity.

By her side, a white cat lounged contentedly, its fur shimmering in the sunlight like a cascade of snow. Snow's eyes, bright and curious, followed the movements of the paintbrush with silent fascination.

Occasionally, it would stretch lazily, then settle back down, its presence adding to the tranquility of the moment.

Athena's gaze often switched from the shield she was painting, to Snow beside her, a smile bracing her lips.

It had been a couple of years since the Dane versus Saxon war. It had been a couple of years since she had avenged Ragnar.

They had returned to Coccham, and they all lived there once again, making it their home once more.

But, Uhtred still had his eyes set on Bebbanburg. And Sihtric, Finan and Osferth had been sent to scout the place for Uhtred.

Athena decided that she would opt out on the scout, remaining at Coccham. She often visited Æthelflæd's estate during the time Finan was gone, seeing Stiorra.

"Thyra!"

Athena swiftly looked over her shoulder at the name of her daughter, a grin making its way onto her face as she watched her child jog towards her.

Instantly, Athena held out her arms, letting Thyra run into her arms. A chuckle left Athena's lips as she held her daughter against her. "Hello, my sweet." Athena ran a hand over her daughter's head.

Snow had now perched up, brushing her head against Athena's lap. "Mother, can we see Stiorra today?" Thyra asked, a hint of an Irish tone in her voice. Thyra reached out to play with Athena's braids. "Aunt Mel suggested it." She pointed behind Athena, making Athena turn to see Melusine walk towards them, Atlas in her arms.

"Because, you would not stop asking me." Melusine corrected, sending the young child a pointed look. Athena merely chuckled, holding onto her daughter.

"Can we? Please?" Thyra pleaded, tilting her head to the side with the best puppy look she could make. She may be young, but she knew how to make things go her way.

Athena let out a dramatic sigh, holding onto the side of Thyra's face, her other hand brushing through her daughter's brunette hair. "Fine."

Thyra giggled, wrapping her arms around Athena's neck, making Athena hold onto her once more. "I was to go too, mother." Atlas then said as Meluisne placed him down on the ground.

"We will." Melusine smiled, ruffling her son's hair as she looked down at him. "The four of us."

"And Snow." Thyra added with a firm look, her hand reaching to stoke the cat at Athena's side. "Stiorra loves her."

"You have no idea." Athena chuckled, shaking her head with a smile as she stared down at her cat. "She would not leave Snow's side when she was a child."

"I do not blame her." Thyra giggled, watching as Snow attempted to climb onto her lap, but failed.

Then, a horn was sounded from the distance, making Athena turn her head towards the river, her eyes landing on a boat.

Melusine stepped to Athena's side, her eyes also on the boat. "Is that them?" Melusine asked, making Athena tilt her head.

"I do not know." Athena sighed, wrapping her arms around Thyra and placing her on hip. "But we will find out."

Melusine smiled at that, holding onto her son's hand as they made their way towards the dock. Snow trailed behind the four, being the curious car she was.

The horn grew louder as the boat grew closer  to the dock. Athena grinned as she watched Uhtred walk out of the walls of Coccham, joining their side.

He reached out with a grin, gently pulling on Thyra's hair, making the young child quickly turn. "Ow." Thyra complained, bringing a hand from Athena's shoulder to hold her head.

Uhtred just chuckled at his niece, shaking his head with an amused look. Athena smiled at the interaction, stopping at the dock when the boat grew closer.

Athena adjusted Thyra on her waist, rolling her eyes as she looked over at her husband. "We are back!" Finan said in a sing-song tone, leaning on the front of the boat as he held out his arms.

"You look like shit." Uhtred simply said, crossing his arms over his chest as he watched them climb out of the boat. "Now, what have you done to my ship?"

"Now, that was Osferth's fault." Finan pointed towards the monk, whom raised his hands in defence.

A chuckle left Athena's lips as she looked down at her daughter, smile on her face. Thyra's smile widened when her eyes landed on her father.

Athena placed her down on the dock with a sigh, crossing her arms over her chest as she watched her daughter rush towards Finan.

A chuckle left Finan's lips as he reached down to pick up his daughter, Thyra wrapping her little arms around his neck.

"Finally! You were gone for a very long time!" Thyra complained in a whiny tone, pulling back to send Finan a firm look.

Finan could not help but chuckle at his daughter's pout, pinching her cheeks with a grin. "And we blame Osferth for that." He jested, making the monk throw his hands up in the air with a sigh. "I hope you have been good for your mother, aye?"

Athena smiled as she stood in front of the pair, arms crossed over her chest as she looked at them both. "I always am." Thyra grinned, looking over her shoulder at her mother. "Isn't that right, mother?"

Athena chuckled, rubbing her daughter's back with a nod. "When you were not trying to attack Atlas, yes."

Thyra pouted once more, shaking her head as she looked over to the boy, whom was reuniting with his father. "That is because he would not play the princess!" Thyra innocently shrugged, turning to her father. "He wanted to be the knight and I would not let him."

"Is that because you are the knight?" Finan questioned, raising a brow at his daughter in his arms.

And Thyra hummed, nodding her head with a grin. "Aye." She continued to grin, holding onto her father's shoulders. "Mother said she'd make me a sword, father!"

Athena pursed her lips as she looked at her daughter. That was true, she did promise that. Athena had a sword when she was younger than Thyra. And Thyra wanted to learn how to be a warrior, and Athena would let her.

"Only a small one that you can wield, my love." Athena told her, making Thyra let out a dramatic sigh, resting her head on Finan's chest. "Come on, Osferth wishes to say hello." Athena reached out to her daughter, gently taking her from Finan.

"No he doesn't." Thyra complained, shaking her head as she looked over to the monk. "He did not say that."

"He didn't need to. He is all alone." Athena chuckled, placing her daughter down on the dock, crouching down to flatten Thyra's dress. "I am sure our favourite monk missed you."

Thyra grinned at that, moving towards Osferth in a hurried pace. Athena simply chuckled, watching her daughter as she stood up, turning to Finan. "You look rough." Athena hummed, stepping towards him and pointing at the dirt across his face.

"And you have been painting, so it seems." Finan pointed out, raising his hand to her cheek and brushing his thumb against the small bit of paint on her cheek.

Athena rolled her eyes, a smile on her face as she shrugged her shoulders. "I was merely painting a shield to pass time." She answered, holding onto his arm. "I did not get to finish it. Your arrival interrupted my work." She tilted her head to the side with a subtle teasing look.

"Oh, so did you miss your favourite Irishman?" Finan questioned, raising his brow as he entire to stoke his thumb against her cheek.

Athena let out a hum, raising her brow with a subtle smirk. "You are the only Irishman I know." She tilted her head to the side, her sarcastic words making Finan gently tug on one of her braids. "Fine, I missed you, my dear husband."

Finan grinned at that, nodding his head as he leaned down to press his lips against hers. "Good." He uttered against her lips, making her roll her eyes and hit her hand into his chest.

"What news from Bebbanburg?" Uhtred asked as they all moved from the dock, walking back into Coccham.

"Good news, lord." Finan grinned as he walked side-by-side with Uhtred, moving to wrap an arm around Athena, whom was holding onto Thyra's hand as Osferth held her in his arms.

"My uncle Ælfric is dead and you have his balls to prove it?" Uhtred jested, turning his chin to the side.

Finan chuckled at that, but shook his head. "No, but he is being attacked by the Scots pushing south." Finan nodded his head as he hit Uhtred's arm. "He lost half his men in the most recent assault."

"So Bebbannurg is weakened?" Uhtred asked with an hopeful look.

"For now, yes." Finan nodded his head, the grin not dropping from his face.

"Until he finds more men." Osferth added from the side, tickling Thyra's side which made the young girl chuckle.

"Or is slaughtered by the Scots." Sihtric added from beside Melusine, Atlas in his arms.

Uhtred nodded his head at their words, grin on his face. "So we can take it." He uttered, an hopeful look on his face. "With an army, we could take it."

"Well, perhaps." Finan tilted his head to the side with pursed lips. "It will not be easy."

"How many men does he have?"

"Barely forty."

"Can he raise a fyrd?"

Osferth was the one to speak up, shaking his head. "Oh, God, no." He scoffed at the idea. "Local lords think he's—"

"That he's a turd, yes." Uhtred laughter at that, looking over to the monk with a grin. "And they're right." He looked at the group. "We should not delay."

"No." Finan shook his head. "Go before he buys more men." He advised Uhtred.

Uhtred slowly nodded his head, biting on his lip as he turned to the side. Athena sent him a hopeful look. Bebbanburg had been Uhtred's dream, and she would help him fulfil that dream. "We head to Bebbanburg before the Scots return." The whole group agreed at that, walking through the gates of Coccham.

They would travel to Winchester to ask King Edward for an army to take Bebbanburg. But the three men whom had returned from the north wanted to clean up before their trip.

So Athena sat on the grass, plucking it as she sprinkled it onto her lap, humming a quiet tune in her head.

Finan continued to wash himself. His back was turned to her as he ran his hands through his hair. "How was everything in Coccham?"

Athena looked over at him, twirling a strand of grass in her hand as she looked over at him. "Everything was well." She answered nodding her head. "Our daughter on the other hand." She tilted her head to the side with a smile, dropping the grass from her hand and into the floor. "She is definitely your child." Athena pointed a finger into his direction.

Finan let out a slight chuckle as he heard the words. "Well, that doesn't surprise me." Finan splashed some of the water in your direction. A playful smile across his face. "What else has she been up to?"

A chuckle left Athena's lips as she wiped the water, that he had splashed onto her, from her dress, looking down at him in the water. "Well, apart from trying to attack Atlas, she tried to make Stiorra get her some ale when we went to Æthelflæd's estate."

Finan raised a brow, a smirk across his face at that. He was clearly amused that their daughter's antics. "Well that's certainly my girl, no doubt about that." Athena rolled her eyes at that, grin on her face. "Or, mayhaps, she got that from you."

Athena raised her brows at his teasing words. "You are just as worse as me with ale." She defended herself, pursing her lips. "And it is not I whom sneaks her sips of ale." She sent him a pointed look as she leaned forwards, looking down at Finan in the river.

Finan chuckled at that as he moved towards where she sat, the water lowering to his waist. He shrugged as he looked up to her. "It was just a small taste. Once or twice." Athena raised her brow at that. "How can I not  give her a little taste of ale when she kept bothering me for it? She's just as persistent as you are." He sent her a cheeky look.

Athena raised her brow once more at his words, sitting up as she continued to stare down at him. "I will not be to blame when our daughter is a drunk by the age of twelve."

Finan chuckled again, he didn't even have a response to that comment. "That'll be your fault for creating a curious little girl." He continued to wash himself. Taking his time to get all the dirt off his body from travelling
"Maybe with a bit of luck, she'll have a temper aswell. Just like her mother-" He teased. "and besides, how old were you when you had your first sip of ale?"

Athena pursed her lips at that, knowing that he was not wrong. "I am not answering that."She cleared her throat, clasping her hands together and resting them on her lap. Athena knew she was younger than her daughter was when she had her first sip of ale. She had stolen it from Ragnar and had run off.

Finan chuckled again, he knew that she wouldn't answer. "You know I am right, don't you?" He teased, knowing that she wouldn't like admitting that he was correct about something. She never did. She thought she was never in the wrong. "Face it, you probably had your first sip of ale when you were around five."

Athena let out a dramatic sigh, slowly nodding her head in defeat. "But, that is not the point." She quickly said, still looking down at him in the river.

"That is exactly the point." Finan responded, smirk still on his face as he looked up at her. "If you and I had ale at a young age, there's no reason our daughter can't have a taste of it aswell." He simply said as he rested his arms on the grass, looking up at her.

Bitting her inner cheek, Athena stared down at him as she let out a sigh. "Fine." She uttered, crossing her arms over her chest.

Finan smirked at that, taking that as a win. "Told you I was right." Athena let out a groan at that, leaning forwards to tap the side of his face.

"Fool." Athena uttered, shaking her head as she leaned back slightly, keeping her eyes on him.

Finan merely raised a brow at her words, an idea popping into his head as he grinned. Athena had no time to question his idea until the man reached up, snatching her wrist in a gentle grip. He suddenly pulled her down off the grass and into the river beside him.

Athena was quick to compose herself as she rose from the water, panting heavily as she turned to Finan. "Why on earth did you do that?!" She half yelled, wiping the water from her face as she floated in the water.

He smirked to himself as he watched her rise from the water. Her hair was dripping wet, as was her clothes. A part of him found her to be rather attractive like this. Finan chuckled and shrugged at her reaction. "I wanted you to join me. That is all."

Athena scoffed as she splashed her arms into the water, her lips agape as she reached for her hair, that she had just braided beforehand. "I have just braided my hair." She complained, looking over at him with a glare. "I will not have time to re-do them. And Melusine refuses to braid my hair." She groaned, her braids completely soaked and messy.

Finan chuckled at that, moving towards her with a grin. He reached a hand to her braid, taking one of the braids in between his index and middle finger. He played with it between his fingers as he stared at her. Athena merely glared at him, evidently not amused. "I think you look even better like this."

"Oh, really?" Athena raised her brow, tilting her head to the side. She then quickly wrapped her arms around his neck as she dunked him into the water with a grin.

Finan was caught completely, as Athena had, off guard as she had dunked him into the water. He was under there for a few seconds before he rose from the water. Athena chuckled as she floated away from him, an amused look on her face. "That was unfair!" He said as he pushed the wet hair from his eyes, staring at her in disbelief.

Athena merely rose her brow, grin still on her face. "Oh, that was unfair? Two can play the game." She chuckled, tilting her head to the side as she moved away from him. "You pulled me into the water fully clothed!"

Finan narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze following her as she began to move further away from him. "Oh, it's like that, is it?" He let out a chuckle before he suddenly leapt towards her again. Athena let out a yell as the Irishman wrapped a firm arm around her waist, pulling her back and wrapping his other arm around her shoulders, effectively pinning her against him again.

Another chuckle left Athena's lips as she held onto his shoulders, stabilising herself as she looked at him. "Yes. Yes it is like that." The grin remained on her face as she tilted her head to the side. "Now, finish. I must change and re-do my hair." She sent him a firm look, bringing her hand to his cheek, his beard ticking her hand as she tapped his cheek.

— madeleines notes.

A simple cute chapter bc it's all gonna go DOWN. Because they go to Bebbanburg and.. YIKES.

But season four WOOOOOOOOOOOO

Sorry for the long awaited chapter, I have been really busy guys 🥺🥺 my apologises, do not hate me. 🙌🙌🙌

But THYRA EEE.

Im sorry but Athena would so name her child after her family, like 🙌 if it were a boy, she would have named him Ragnar, LETS BE REAL.

But Athena is a girl mother 🥰

But YEAH, HOPE YOU LIKE THIS CHAPTER👍🏼

22nd September 2024
3241 words