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

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

They had been defeated.

They had escaped Bebbanburg.

They had lost a few men.

They had lost Beocca...

And they had lost their ship.

Athena shivered as she pushed the broken wood away from her, swimming toward the sand.

She ignored the burning pain in her hands as she placed them down on the sand, her body racking with coughs.

She carefully turned herself around, lying her back on the sand as she stared up at the sky. They had lost everything.

She swallowed thickly as she sat up, watching as the remaining men pulled themselves out of the water.

Reaching to her side, Athena's heart dropped. Her sword was not there. She looked down at her sheath, finding it empty. "No, no." She mumbled to herself, looking around her for any sign of her sword.

But there was none.

Abruptly, Athena stood from her spot on the sand, moving back towards the water and ignoring the questioning eyes. 

She ignored the shots of cold that ran through her body as she lowered herself into the water, trying to find the sword that meant so much to her.

But it was gone.

The only thing left she had of her father.

Her body practically shivered as she remained in the water, frantically searching for her sword. She could not loose that sword.

"No, no, no, no." Athena uttered, shaking her head frantically as she raised her wet hands to her head. "Fuck!" She cursed, throwing her hands down into the water in anger.

Her lips trembled, just as her body did. If she stayed in the water any longer, she would freeze to death. But she didn't care.

She needed that sword.

Athena continued to splash around in the water, praying to the Gods that she would find her sword. She could not loose it.

She ignored the worried eyes that burned into her back, not knowing she was doing or why. Truth be told, she looked like a mad woman.

"Athena, Athena," The Dane jumped as a soft hand pressed against her shoulder, trying to urge her out of the water. "You need to get out of the water, you'll freeze to death."

Athena frantically shook her head at Finan's words, still looking around with heavy breaths. "I cannot. Not until I have found my sword." She uttered, her eyes still wide as her body trembled. "I need it."

"We can get you a new one, come-"

"No!" Athena quickly turned her chin to the side, looking at Finan with teary eyes. "No, I need my sword." She said more softly, turning her gaze to Uhtred. "Uhtred, please tell him. I need my sword." She pleaded. Uhtred was the only one whom knew how special that sword was to her.

But Uhtred was just as broken as she was.

He had lost one of the most important people in his life. And as he watched his sister go mad over her sword, he simply casted his gaze down.

Athena's lips parted at that, a quiet scoff leaving her lips. "I am not leaving the water until I have found it." She muttered, turning back to the water as she blinked away her tears.

Finan sighed as his grip tightened on her shoulder, staring at her with sympathetic eyes. He knew the sword was dear to her, but he did not know why.

As Athena continued to search the water, Finan stayed behind her as he moved to wrap his arms around her waist, pulling her back onto land and ignoring her protests.

"No, no, no, no." Athena rambled, holding onto Finan's arms around her waist, shaking her head once more. "Finan, please." Her voice broke as he carefully pulled her away from the water and down onto the sand.

"I am not going to let you get yourself sick trying to search for something that is lost, Athena." Finan sent her a firm look as he crouched down beside her, holding onto her arm.

Athena's body trembled as she looked away from his eyes, lowering her head with teary eyes.

They were all lost—broken, even.

The remaining members of the group had moved from the ocean side, moving to grassy land.

Gods know where they were.

Uhtred had split off form the group, evident grieving over to the loss of Beocca. Athena felt her brother's pain.

All Athena could do as watch as her brother crumbled and broke. She didn't know what to say or do, especially when she wasn't in the right mind after loosing her sword.

The only thing she had left of her father.

The group did not know what to do with themselves. So, they all sat in the grass in small groups.

Athena remained glued to Finan's side, resting her head on his lap with a solemn expression, fidgeting with her owl ring.

All Finan could do was stare down helplessly at his wife, running his hands through her frizzy hair. He then cleared his throat, making Athena glance up at him with a soft expression. "You never told me the story behind your sword, just that you've had it since a young age."

Athena sadly smiled at his words, glancing back down at her owl ring. "It was my first sword—the only sword I've ever fought with." She stared to explain as Finan intently listened. "My father helped me craft it—carving the owl into the handle for me."

"Why an owl?"

Athena softly chuckled at Finan's confusion. It was evident the woman had been obsessed with owls, painting them on shields, an owl on her ring and sword.

"They symbolise luck." Athena softly said, looking up at him once more as she placed her clasped hands on her stomach. "It seemed fitting, after being named after the godess Athena. They say owls reveal truths of the world, and thus also represent the literal wisdom and knowledge."

Finan listened to her talk of the Gods and Goddesses with a look of intent, not pausing his movements as he continued to run his hand through her hair, gently unknotting it. "Then why not name your sword after an owl?"

Athena chucked once more at his slight jest, raising her brow with a grin. "Serpents—tongue has a better ring to it." She shrugged with a him. "When Uhtred was little, he gave me the idea." Finan raised his brow in interest. "He claimed that snakes in Christian tradition associates with lies, evil and temptation." She simply shrugged her shoulders with a soft smile.

"So you decided to name your sword after a Christian meaning?"

Athena's covered her mouth with a slight grin, looking up at her husband with a nod. "I was only a child." She defended herself.  "I thought it was fitting." She uttered, pursing her lips as she looked down at where clasped hands, shrugging her shoulders. Her brows then pinched together as she kept her head on his lap, looking around. "Where is my brother?" She asked, looking back up at Finan.

Finan let out a sigh at her words, looking over his shoulder and nodding into the direction Uhtred had gone. "He just took off, did not tell anyone."

Athena slowly nodded her head as she slowly sat up, facing her husband with a sad smile. "I'll speak with him." A sigh left her lips as she stood, flattening down her dress and wafting the grass off of her trousers. "Check on everyone else." She added, holding out her hand to help him up. "I'll be back." She said, lifting her chin to press a kiss against his lips.

Athena had left her husband's side, searching for her younger brother. She continued to treck up the grassy hills, making her way through the trees. She sadly smiled as she saw the back of Uhtred.

Silently, Athena move to sit beside him on the log, looking out into the distance as she clasped her hands on her lap.

The siblings sat in comforting silence for a while. Athena's gaze flickered to the right, her eyes landing on her brother, whom had tears in his eyes.

Pursing her lips, Athena raised her hand to pull Uhtred's head to her shoulder, holding onto the side of his face as she continued to stare out into the distance. "He will be with his god now—he'll be with our sister." Athena softly cleared her throat, resting her chin on his head.

"His body is with traitors, he deserves a proper burial." Uhtred's voice broke as he rested his head on her shoulder. "This is my fault. I led my men to die."

"No." Athena immediately shook her head, turning to him and holding onto the sides of his face with a sad smile. "Beocca's death is not your fault. Do not say otherwise." She pursed her lips as she lowered her gaze, keeping her hands on his cheeks. "Uhtred, I need to tell you something."

Uhtred frowned at her hesitant tone, reaching up to hold her hand that lay against his cheek. "What is it?"

Athena swallowed thickly as she looked up at him with weary eyes, a heavy sigh leaving her lips. "Before we left for Bebbanburg, Thyra told me something that I didn't understand." Athena stared as Uhtred listened intently. "Someone would fall to an arrow. A trusted friend." Her gaze flickered up to him, watching as his brows pinched in confusion. "I did not understand, not until Wihtagar revealed himself with a crossbow."

"What are you trying to say?"

Athena sucked in a breath at his words, biting her inner cheek as she dropped her hands from his face, fiddling with her owl ring. "Thyra found runes outside the walls of our home. She bore them around her neck, finding them fascinating." Athena explained, keeping her eyes on her rings. "I did not know where they came from or why. Or whom they belonged to..."

Uhtred sucked in a breath as he looked away from Athena, closing his eyes for a moment. They only have had one run in with a woman whom had runes. "Skåde." It was bitter in Uhtred's tongue as he said the name of the seer whom tormented him. "Thyra is no seer."

"But what if she is?" Athena turned to him, reaching for his hands with her own with wide eyes. "How could she predict such a thing? She is a mere child!" She breathed out, shaking her head with parted lips. "It does not make sense, I understand. But there is no other reasonable explanation. She believes in the Gods, and the runes..."

Athena tried to think about all the possibilities as to why her daughter could have such a power. Nobody in their family had ever been a seer. Except from her grandfather.

She tried to recall all the times she had with Skåde. How the woman had seen her daughter in visions. Her brows pinched together as she stared down at hers and Uhtred's hands.

"What if Skåde cursed me?"

Athena looked up at Uhtred, whom held a confused expression as he squeezed her hands. "She would have made it known."

"She revealed that I was with child—she saw it. In her visions. She made sure I was safe at all times, not because of me..." Athena uttered as she tried to understand and connect the dots. "Because of the child that grew inside of me..."

"That is impossible." Uhtred quietly argued, shaking his head as Athena let out a sigh, squeezing his hand.

"It is not. Grandfather told me all about seers and what they were capable of." Athena pursed her lips as she stared at her brother. "How every seer was different from the other. Skåde needed the blood of her lovers to see their future..." she trailed off, think g if what may happen to her daughter. "But Thyra did not. The Gods are whispering in her ear." She slowly nodded her head. "If Skåde knew of her demise, perhaps she wanted to ensure she would come back."

Uhtred frowned, not understanding his sister's tangent. "Are you trying to say Thyra is Skåde reborn?"

"Not exactly." Athena uttered with an unsure look, making Uhtred scoff. "It is possible!" She argued, shaking his arms. "Skåde must have left those runes for Thyra to find. There is no reasonable explanation, brother." Untred pursed his lips at her words. "She does not need a lord for it to work, that is apparent."

"Her own blood." Uhtred uttered, slowly starting to understand what was happening. Athena nodded her head as well, a heavy sigh leaving her lips.

"Thyra will not understand it, she looked confused and frightened when she uttered those word to me." She sadly frowned at the thought of her daughter. How would her daughter be able to cope? "I am sorry for not telling you sooner, maybe...maybe all of this could have been avoided, maybe Beocca would be—"

Uhtred cut her off as he pulled her into a hug, shaking his head. "You couldn't have known, sister." His voice broke once more as Athena hid her face in his chest.

All Athena could think about was her daughter. What would happen know? If she was truly a seer, if she truly was cursed at the hands of Skåde, would her life be complete and utter misery?

They were all still stranded, waiting for Uhtred's signal. But he still refused to talk or move.

So Athena suggested that Finan should speak with Uhtred, and he did. Athena chose to help Osferth with his injured arm, remembering some of the things Melusine had taught her.

Athena ripped some cloth, her lips pursed together as she placed her dagger back in its sheath.

She carefully reached out, wrapping the fabric around Osferth's neck. "Stop moving, Baby Monk." Athena uttered, carefully raising his arm to put it in the fabric.

"It is not my fault the fabric is itchy." Osferth wined as Athena leaned forward, tying a knot into the fabric.

"Well, wouldn't you rather walk around with a limp arm?" Sihtric asked from beside them, arms crossed over his chest as he looked down at the pair.

Osferth hung his head in defeat, a heavy sigh leaving his lips as Athena pulled back, patting his shoulder. "Done. Do not attempt to stretch it in anyway."

"Bless, Thens." Osferth looked down at his broken arm, Sihtric leaning forwards to ruffle up his hair with a grin before helping him stand.

Athena remained on the floor, looking up at the pair. She sat up when her eyes landed on Finan, whom walked towards them. "Where is Uhtred?" Sihtric was the first to ask, sheathing his sword.

"He walks alone." Finan told them, making Athena lower her head with a sigh.

The four stood in silence for a moment, until the baby monk spoke. "I fear his spirit is broken."

"The day Uhtred is broken is the day you grow hair down there, Osferth." Finan teased, turning to Osferth. "It'll never come." Athena pursed her like as she continued to listen to the conversation, looking over her shoulder and towards her nephew, whom say infront of the fire. "Now, he lost a friend and grieves him...as we all do."

Athena nodded her head at that, looking up at the tree as Finan turned to the rest of the men. "He told me we must return south." He started to take off some of his rings. "Well, come on. We'll need horses and provisions for the journey."

"And Athena needs a new sword." Osferth reminded, making Athena let out a heavy sigh, standing up.

"A shitty one will do, until we return to Coccham and I can make one." Athena said, looking down at the rings on her fingers.

It was evident Athena's favourite jewellery were rings. She had one on every finger. And she only had two important rings. Her owl ring and her wedding ring.

Athena pursed her lips as she looked down at her owl ring, using her other hand to take the ring off. "Gold is better than silver." She uttered, reaching to grab Sihtric's hand and placed her gold owl ring into his palm.

The three men immediately frowned as they looked at the ring in Sihtric's palm. "Athena, I cannot." Sihtric shook his head, but Athena sighed, moving her hand to squeeze his hands shut, giving him a reassuring look.

"You can and you will. We will need a lot of things to get up south." Athena softly explained, ignoring the look Finan sent her way. "I can always make a new one."

Athena squeezed his hand before moving away from the three and towards Young Uhtred. Finan watched his wife take her leave, then turning to Sihtric with a firm look.

Sihtric immediately understood and opened his hand, letting Finan take Athena's ring back. "I was not planning on selling it." Sihtric sighed.

"Good."

— madeleines chapter.

A NEW CHAPTER SORRY FOR THE LONG AWAITED WAIT. I have been extremely busy with college and other things. BUT THE CHAPTER IS HERE!

And I am trying to explain the seer situation as much as possible, BUT GOOGLE AINT HELPING.

But basically Thyra is connected to Skåde, which gives Thyra the sight of seeing the future.

So she had the runes and she can use her own blood instead of lords. But she will become so much powerful, DONT YOU WORRY!!

But Athena and her sword. That sword had been there since DAY ONE!! And her owl ring.

She made her owl ring when she was literally ten so. 🤷‍♀️ and Finan knew that so he was like "yeah, not selling that"

Finan just loves her dearly. 🥺🙌

BUT THE LORE WITH THE SWORD. CRIES.

the only thing she had left of her father. ACTUALLY SOBBING.

did I make that plot? Yes? BUT IT STILL HURTS.

4th October 2024
3013 words