▃▃▃▃▃ ‧₊˚⊹ ‧₊˚⊹ ▃▃▃▃▃
THE LAST KINGDOM
𝐀𝐂𝐓 𝐓𝐖𝐎 ─── ❛ oaths

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

Athena was beyond thrilled to see young Ragnar, reuniting with him once again. She was grateful to how quickly he accepted Alfred's task, but when he laid his eyes on his sister, he could not say no.

Athena rode on her horse beside him, squeezing the horses reigns. She could help but worry for Uhtred and Halig. She couldn't imagine what torture they could be facing, being used as slaves.

She just wanted to save them—help them. "You're worrying, sister." Athena lifted her head at Ragnar's voice. She quickly frowned, shaking her head. Before she could speak, Ragnar spoke again. "You frown." He added, pointing to her face.

Athena let out a sigh, biting her inner cheek. "Of course I worry." She uttered, squeezing the reigns tighter, making her knuckles turn white. "Uhtred has been sold as a slave—god knows what he is having to go through." She sadly said, her brows pinching together.

"Our brother is strong, Thena." Ragnar nodded his head, sadly watching his sister. "Nothing could break him, not even being a slave."

Athena sucked in a breath, nodding her head. But she didn't believe him—she couldn't. She remained silent as they rode into Eoferwic. Athena's eyes looked around for two familiar faces, but she couldn't see them.

Athena kept beside Ragnar, looking up to see Abbot. Her gaze hardened, her eyes narrowing at the sight of the man. "Sister Hild, Athena, and company, what is your purpose?" He asked, making Athena bite back a scoff.

"We're here on the orders of Alfred of Wessex." Ragnar answered, looking up at the man. "I want to see King Guthred."

Abbot looked him up and down, grimace on his face. "You are a Dane." He noted, making Athena tilt her head.

"I am." Ragnar grinned. "I am Earl Ragnar Ragnarson." He said, watching as the Abbot looked between him and Athena. "This is the warrior Steapa, Alfred's man." He pointed to the man beside him. "And you are already well accommodated with my sister." He nodded his head at Athena, who gave the abbot a disgusted look.

"And Guthred's sister, Lady Gisela." Athena then spoke, knowing how much the woman meant to Uhtred. "Is she here?" She raised her brow at the man. "Me and Hild would like to see her."

"She is not." The abbot quickly shook his head. "She did abandon the city." He hesitantly said, making Athena frown. "I am yet to find out, but I shall find out." He confidently said.

Then Athena's glare hardened, her jaw clenching as she watched Guthred walk out, a look of terror on his face. "You are their brother?" He wearily asked, his eyes wide. "Uhtred's brother."

Athena turned her head to Ragnar. "It is Guthred. The man who sold Uhtred." She uttered, so only Ragnar could hear.

Ragnar tilted his head, turning back to Guthred. "I am, Lord." He nodded his head.

"Alfred sent you to do what?" Guthred sheepishly asked, his eyes holding fear as he stared down at them.

"To find Uhtred." Athena spoke, her eyes narrowing at the man. Guthred swallows thickly at her stare, standing back. "The king is in Uhtred's debt, he doesn't not want to see him harmed." She harshly hissed.

Guthred swallowed thickly, lifting his head high. "Uhtred is lost." Guthred simply said. "I'm truly sorry to say that. My apologised to both you and to Alfred." He looked in between the siblings.

"Uhtred is lost because you sold him." Athena voice was like venom. She had to squeeze the reigns to keep her from murdering him. "As well as Halig."

"You've had a wasted journey." The abbot quickly spoke, glaring down at Athena.

"But rest, please, here, by all means." Guthred quickly added with fear.

Athena scoffed, her eyes narrowing. "So you can take us in our sleep and sell us as slaves?" A sarcastic chuckle left her lips. "I fear not, Lord." She shook her head. "But you will tell me and my brother the name of the man who took Uhtred and Halig."

But Athena felt a tap on her leg, making her look down to see a young girl. Athena's features softened at the child, looking down at the apple in her hands. Athena gently took the apple, thanking the child by ruffling her hair up.

Athena looked down at the apple, from on her face as she looked at the paper in the apple. She followed the child with her eyes, her gaze landing on Melusine and Sihtric. She was relieved they were safe.

She sent them both a smile, nodding her head as she looked down at the apple in her hand. She knew she could trust Sihtric to help them, and Melusine. He was true to his words.

The small group had been searching everywhere for the man who Guthred sold Halig and Uhtred to.

They had been travelling for days, not finding a single sign. But fortunately for them, they came across a slave village.

They came across a man, who had a child stand beside him. "We would appreciate some water, for ourselves and the horses." Ragnar was the first to speak, looking down at the man from his horse.

The man nodded. "It's yours." He gestured to the side. "There."

Athena followed Ragnar's lead, climbing off of her horse and standing beside her brother. "You are Jonis?" Ragnar asked the man, who nodded his head. "I've been told that you took a man, a warrior, from Guthred of Eoferwic." Ragnar continued, watching their horses being taken away. "You sold him as a slave."

"I see the faces of so many creature." Jonis simply said, shrugging his shoulders.

Athena merely narrowed her eyes, hand on the hilt of her sword. "I'm not here to open your belly, Jonis." Ragnar calmly said.

"Not yet, anyways." Athena hummed, lifting her chin as she stared at the man in front of her.

Ragnar placed a comforting hand on her back, knowing she could easily snap at the man. "I'll pay." Ragnar offered, using his other hand to grab the bag of silver.

"You will not feed the slaves!" Jonis then yelled, pointing over to Hild, who was feeding the people. Athena followed his gaze, tilting her head to the side at his tone.

Hild was quick to turn around, her eyes narrowed. "And you will not bark like a great fat hound!" She spat back, making Athena lower her head, silencing a laugh.

The man watched as Hild dropped the food, making the slaves drop to her feet, picking up the crumbs. Athena sadly stared at them. "You said you will pay?" Jonis then said, eyes on Ragnar.

"Yes, I did." Ragnar said, opening the bag and throwing the kid a coin. Athena felt someone stand beside her, smiling at Hild.

"The warrior slave, called himself Osbert." Jonis started, making Athena frown. Why was Uhtred using his old name? The man then paused, waiting for Ragnar to toss another coin. And the Dane did. "There was another man, smaller, Saxon." Halig. "A sea trader named Sverii took them both."

"And here is this Sverii now?" Athena asked, arms crossed over her chest.

"Wherever the sea and promise of silver takes him." Jonis told her, making Athena sigh. She didn't care, she'd find a boat and find this ship herself. "Life at the oar is hard and short. Sverii will return, I'm sure. Refresh his crew."

"When?" Ragnar eagerly asked, tilting his head to the side.

Jonis shrugged. "Autumn and winter will pass, but come spring, the first moon after Sigr Blot, we will gather for business at the beach." Athena squeezed her eyes shut at that. A year? "Sverri will be there, I swear."

Athena looked up at Ragnar, fidgeting with the rings around her finger. "And between that time Sverii sails where?" Athena carefully asked, her voice hesitant.

Ragnar kept his hand on her back, trying to comfort the woman. "His ships plough the roughest sea, he could be any place." Jonis shrugged his shoulders.

"You tell us nothing." Hild scoffed, slapping her hands against the side of her legs in defeat.

"I tell you what I know to be true." Jonis corrected her. "All you can do is watch the beaches and wait." He told them, making Athena bite her inner cheek.

She would wait. She would wait at every beach to insure they would find Uhtred and Halig.

And waited they did. Through autumn to spring. Athena would not leave until she had her brother and Halig.

It was soon spring, and they waited to go back to the place they met Jonis. Athena sat upon her horse, hoping that Uhtred and Halig would be there.

She fidgeted with the reigns of her horse, eyes looking everywhere. "He'll be here, sister." Ragnar persisted, looking over at her worried sister. "I'm sure of it."

Athena lifted her chin, looking over to him with a sad smile. They had been waiting and waiting to find Uhtred. She had also been worrying about Melusine and Sihtric. Were they okay?

But Athena holted. She heard men. She raised her hand up, silencing the men behind her. "There." Athena quietly uttered, pointing over to the group of men surrounding a group of slaves. She couldn't properly see, she couldn't see who the slaves were.

But she gritted her teeth, her eyes landing on Sven Kjartan. He was holding his sword, getting ready to attack one of the slaves.

"Now!" Athena yelled, unsheathing her sword and kicking her tongue, signalling for her horse to charge forwards.

The men and Hild followed Athena down the hill, yells of their own leaving their lips. She directed her horse in the direction of Sven, who looked frightened. "I will have your other eye, Sven!" She yelled, watching as him and his men ran away. "I promise you that!" She pointed her sword at the man, watching as he ran away on his horse. "That time will come soon!" She added, her words holding a promise and ignoring the eyes she felt on her.

She gritted her teeth, turning her horse around to find Ragnar. "Uhtred?" She heard her older brother call, making Athena spin around. "Uhtred!"

Athena's eyes widened as she looked over to the slaves, seeing Uhtred on his knees. "Uhtred!" Athena called, her voice coming out like a shriek. She quickly got off of her horse and jogged towards her brothers.

Athena paused, her heart breaking at the broken sight in front of her. She dropped her sword to the ground, her mouth agape as she stared at Uhtred. "Oh, thank the gods." Athena uttered, not thinking twice as she crouched down in front of him, wrapping her arms around him. "You're alive!" A breathy sigh left her lips. "You're alive." She uttered, gripping onto him.

Uhtred did not move. He just looked between his siblings with a broken look. "Uhtred? It's us, it's Ragnar and Athena." Ragnar carefully spoke, crouching down beside Athena.

Then, Uhtred collapsed in Athena's arms, sobbing into her shoulder. He was free. Athena burred her head in his neck, clinging onto him, afraid he'd be taken away from her once more.

She knew it was Ragnar pulling them both into a tight hold. The three sat, just holding each other. They were reunited—back together. "You're safe now." Athena uttered, sniffling as she let her own tears fall at the sounds of Uhtred's sobs. "We're here." She held onto him, right, letting him cry into her shoulder.

"Did you believe we would abandon you?" Ragnar softly asked, keeping a firm hand on Uhtred's back, his other arm wrapped around both his younger siblings.

Athena pulled her gaze away from Uhtred, resting her chin on his shoulder as she looked up at the other slaves. One of the slaves were staring down at the moment, the rest did not have a clue what was going on. "Free them all." She softly called to one of her men. "Let them go." She nodded her head at the slaves. "And I will give them coin." She promised.

And the man did as she asked, moving to break the chains around the slaves. Athena dropped her gaze back onto Uhtred, holding onto him once more.

But she lifted her head when she saw one of the slaves crouch down and grab a sword—her sword. But she didn't move, watching the man limp over to the man, Athena guessed to be Sverii.

She kept her arms around Uhtred, watching as the man pointed her sword into Sverii's neck. Then, the man pushed the blade into the man's neck, pulling it back and watching him drop to the floor.

Athena swallowed thickly, feeling Ragnar pull away. But Athena didn't move, she kept her arms around Uhtred, not wanting to leave his side.

Uhtred looked over to the man who held Athena's sword, the man with a sad smile on his face. He had killed the man who had put them through so much.

But Athena felt her heart break. Halig was nowhere to be seen. A pit formed in her stomach as she peeled herself away from Uhtred, dropping her hands to her lap as she looked around.

She slowly stood up, her eyes on her sword. The man still held it, not realising it was her sword.

Athena squeezed Uhtred's arm, slowly moving away from Uhtred and towards the other man. She was careful not to scare him, quietly clearing her throat. The man spun around at the sudden voice, almost tripping over his weak legs of Athena hadn't caught him.

"You're okay." Athena nodded her head, sucking in a breath, looking up at wide eyes. "You're safe now." She persisted, slowly letting go of the man. "I am not here to harm you."

The man slowly nodded his head, Athena's sword still in his hand as he stared down at her. "My sword." Athena uttered, pointing to the sword in his hands.

The man frowned, looking down at the sword in his hands, then up at Athena. Athena was doing her best to remain calm and gentle, not wanting to scare the man even more. But she did not know who he was. She did not want a stranger holding her sword.

The man quickly cleared his throat, slowly raising his arm and handing her the sword back. "Sorry." He uttered, his Irish accent strong, even though he looked and felt weak.

Athena sent him a soft smile, gently taking the sword from his hand and nodding her head, turning back around and sheathing her sword.

In the heart of the blaze, the fire danced with an untamed fervor, its flames reaching skyward in a mesmerizing display of chaos and beauty.

The crackling of burning wood echoed through the night, a symphony of destruction and renewal. The intense heat radiated outwards, painting the surroundings in a warm, orange glow that flickered and swirled like a living entity.

Embers spiraled into the darkness, carrying with them the essence of the inferno's fierce spirit.

Athena leaned forwards, lifting her head off of Uhtred's shoulder. She placed her hands in front of the fire, keeping herself warm.

"Halig." Uhtred weakly uttered, making Athena turn to him, a sad look on her face at the mention of the man.

Athena softly and carefully placed her hand on his arm, resting her head back on her shoulder. "He's been taken down." Athena softly spoke, her eyes on the fire. "Wrapped and buried with shield and sword." She promised him. Athena was the one to do to herself, with Hild. "Like the warriors he was."

Uhtred didn't raise his eyes from the fire. "You will say words for him, Hild?" Uhtred weakly asked, making the nun raise her head.

"I have." Hild nodded her head, sadness written all never her face. "I will, always."

"Northumbria is torn." Ragnar changed the subject, and Athena was grateful, squeezing his hand that was connected in hers. "Aelfric did not come to Guthred's side. Erik and Sigefrid and Kjartan, they do what they please."

Uhtred did not speak, making Athena squeeze his arm wish her free hand. She knew he had gone through so much. That he was broken. "You haven't asked how we come to be here." Athena smiled softly, raising her eyes to look up at Uhtred. "Alfred, surprisingly." Athena breathed out a quiet chuckle. "Alfred helped us, letting our brother free to find you." She squeezed his arm once more. "I believe the King of Wessex cares for you. He should, he is indebted to you—us."

The man from before, who Athena learned to be Finan, looked between the siblings with a frown. "You are Uhtred's brother and sister?" He asked, making Athena turn her head to look over at him.

"We are." Ragnar nodded his head, making Athena nod hers, keeping her head on Uhtred's shoulder.

Finan grinned slightly, looking between the two. "You all look nothing like each other." He jested, his gaze staying on Athena, who softly chuckled. It was true. Even Athena and Ragnar did not look alike, even though they were blood. Maybe it was just the hair. "All three different hair."

Athena looked between Finan and Uhtred. "I like the Irish man." Athena jested, nodding her head as the group around chuckled. "Can we keep him?" Athena looked up at Uhtred, who weakly smiled at her words. Athena always knew how to lighten the mood, even when she was a raging bitch.

The Irish man himself chuckled at her words, lowering his head. The chuckled quietened down until Hild looked over at Uhtred. "Uhtred, you should eat."

Hild offered him some foot, but Uhtred shook his head. Athena sadly frowned, squeezing Uhtred's arm. Hild then turned to the Irish man. "Finan?" She offered him the food.

"Oh, we will eat lady, but our tummies are small." Finan nodded his head, a look of gratitude in his face. "And our feet have barely touched land." Hild moved the food away, placing it down. "It'll take a little time to find them."

Athena sadly looked at the pair. She couldn't imagine what they must've gone through on that boat. "Are you his brother?" Ragnar suddenly asked, looking over at Finan as he gestured to Uhtred.

Finan looked up at Ragnar, nodding his head. "We are..." Finan looked down at the ground. "We are bound, I would say."

Athena softly smiled at that, grateful that her brother had someone on the boat. She did not know if Uhtred would last on his own.

They had stayed in the camp for a while now, letting Uhtred and Finan recover. Athena had stayed by Uhtred's side, looking after him in away way she could.

But Athena knew Uhtred wanted be alone for a moment, so she took her leave. She didn't want to stray too far from him, worried that he might need her.

Athena looked around, hugging herself as she looked up at the sunrise. She crouched down, grabbing some of the food and water from the ground.

Both Uhtred and Finan had not eaten a thing since being back on land, and they needed to gain their strength back, even if Athena had to shove the food down their throats.

She stood up with a sigh, looking around to find the Irish man. Athena let out a relieved sigh as she saw the man sitting in the grass, just staring up at the sun.

Athena knew that the Irish man would be staying with them now, being with Uhtred. So, she knew she'd have to get use to his presence.

"Athena." The blonde Dane quickly turned, blinking quickly as she looked over at Hild. "I see you're hungry." Hild jested, making Athena shake her head.

"Oh, it is not for me." Athena awkwardly chuckled, shaking her head once more. "Uhtred and Finan have not ate. I am growing worried." She simply said, shrugging her shoulders. "If I have to threaten them to eat, I will."

Hild chuckled at her words, knowing how Athena could be. "I was going to see Uhtred." Hild started holding objects in her hands. "Perhaps, you could check on Finan."

Athena rolled her eyes at Hild's tone. "I was going to, Hild." Athena rolled her eyes as Hild smiled. "I was just going to give him the food, threaten him if he says no." She innocently said.

"Maybe do not threaten the poor man." Hild tilted her head to the side, making Athena hesitantly nod her head in agreement. "Here." Athena frowned as Hild passed her some objects.

Athena looked down at her hands, looking at the small scissors with a frown. "You want me to do what, exactly?" Athena hesitantly asked, raising her brow. "What use will I have for this?"

Hild merely chuckled at the Dane's words, patting her shoulder. "You will help him. Be nice." She simply said before walking away.

Athena looked at her, dumbfounded. "I am nice." She called towards Hild, not leaning for her voice to be loud.

"You have a funny way of showing it, sometimes." Hild shrugged her shoulders, bro turning around to face her.

Athena scoffed, offended by her words as she watched the nun disappear. The Dane shook her head, kicking a few stones as she walked towards the Irish man.

She was quite on her feet, her steps gentle. She trampled on the grass, looking up at the sun. She scrunched her nose up at the sight, blinking heavily.

She hesitantly stepped forward. Although Athena appeared to be confident, she had her awkward moments. Especially with people she did not know. But, he helped Uhtred. So, she respected him and would help him.

Athena cleared her throat, standing a few feet from Finan. He looked over his shoulder at the noise, slightly smiling up at her.

"I bring gifts." Athena awkwardly spoke, moving to stand in front of him, holding out the food at water. "I promised Hild I would not threaten you to eat it." She nodded her head, fidgeting with the rings on her finger. "But...eat." She pointed to the food she had placed in front of him.

Finan looked between the Dane and the food. "Thanks." He smiled fondly at her, making her nod her head, awkwardly looking around.

"Do you need anything else?" Athena then asked, crossing her arms over her chest. "'Tis a shame be we did not bring ale, I guess that would be better than water." She slightly jested, an awkward laugh leaving her lips.

Finan chuckled at her words, moving to pick up the food. "You're not wrong." He nodded his head in agreement, his accent thick as he spoke. "Ale would be amazing." Athena chuckled at that, agreeing. "Your company would be enjoyed, though."

Athena raised her brow at that, slowly nodding her head as she moved to sit in front of him, crossing her legs underneath her.

The pair sat in a comfortable silence, Athena dragging her fingers through the grass as Finan ate. Athena held her chin in the palm of her hand, keeping her gaze on the ground.

The blonde then hesitated before speaking, raising her head to look up at Finan. "So, were you with my brother since the start?" Athena carefully asked, keeping her fingers in the grass.

Finan looked over at her as she spoke, slowly nodding his head as he brought the cup of water to his mouth. "Aye." He sighed, making Athena hum.

"I'm glad he has someone to keep him sane." Athena uttered, looking back down at the grass. "I was afraid we'd never find him."

"He's a strong lad, I'll give him that." Finan chuckled, making Athena nod her head in agreement.

A faint grin then rose to Athena's face. "He gets that from me." She childishly said, shrugging her shoulders. "I did teach him everything he knows."

"Even teach him to be an idiot, sometimes?" Finan jested, his words catching Athena by surprise. "I speak too plainly-"

But his words were cut off by her laugh, shaking her head as she brought her hand to her lips. "Do not apologise." She said in between laughs, scrunching her nose up as she did so. "You are not wrong, but he did not get that from me." She insisted, flashing Finan a smile, to which he returned. "He got that from Ragnar. I swear, it's like they shake a brain." She uttered, raising her brow as she spoke. "I taught the boy how to be a warrior." She finished with a hum.

"He has told me the fascinating stories of his sister. I did not know I would one day meet this woman whom he described." Finan spoke, making Athena tilt her head to the side, as if she was urging him to continue. "How you won your first battle at the age of fourteen."

Athena rolled her eyes, grin on her face as she continued to play with the grass. "It is nice to know of what my brother speaks about me." She jested, moving to lean backwards on the palm of her hands. "I'll never forget that day. That was when Uhtred ran out of the trees, attempting to attack my father." She chuckled at the memory, looking over to Finan, who was intently listening to her words. "He was a mere boy, a helmet too big for his head."

"Wait, so you don't share the same father?" Finan frowned, beyond confused. His confusion only made Athena laugh, tilting her head back as she did. "What?"

Athena breathed out, her laughs being suppressed as she turned to look at the Irish man. "Uhtred is my brother, even if not by blood." She softly said, turning her gaze to the sky. "Ragnar is my brother by blood." She added, trying to dumb it down for him.

"Oh." Finan nodded his head, understanding more clearly. "That does make more sence." He uttered, making Athena chuckle once more.

She hummed in agreement, a look of amusement on her face. "I just had to dumb it down for you." She jested, keeping her eyes on the sky.

The pair continued to share stories of their youth, Athena mostly sharing embarrassing ones of Uhtred. Athena was surprised she would find interest with talking to the Irish man. She was even more surprised to the similarities they shared.

Athena sat up, remembering what Hild had given here. "Hild gave me this, I do not know what she wants me to do with them." Athena shrugged her shoulders, pulling the scissors out and showing them to him. "I thought she perhaps wanted me to stab your eyes out." She jested with a grin, looking over at him.

"Isn't that nice of ya." A chuckle left his lips at that, watching the Dane in front of him.

Athena hummed, grin still on her face. "I've been told I'm a nice person." She tilted her head to the side. "Sometimes." She muttered, a childish look on her face. She sat up once more; looking down at the scissors in her hands, not having an idea what to do with them.

Finan watched the frown decorating her face. It amused him slightly. But, he would be lying if he didn't take that moment to admire the Dane's beauty.

When Uhtred had talked about his sister in the years of torture, Finan had jested, asking if she was beautiful. Uhtred had replied with a 'no', a grin on his face.

It was now obvious that he was lying. In his eyes, she looked like a goddess, even after the goddess she was named after. Her beauty was remarkable. He looked at the small scars that decorated her face. A part of him wanted to ask how she got the scars.

"Finan?" The Irish man blinked heavily, looking at Athena. "I was afraid I was boring you." She looked back down at the scissors. "I still don't know what I'm supposed to do."

A chuckle left his, leaning forwards to take the small scissors from her hands. Athena watched him with a frown, dropping her hands to her lap. "Perhaps the lass was suggesting you help a fine lad like myself."

Athena raised her brow, tilting her head to the side. "How are scissors supposed to help you?" She uttered, the confusion written all over her face as her brows pinched together.

Finan merely chuckled at her confusion, leaning forwards as he placed the scissors in her hand. Her brows pinched one more, looking between the man and the scissors. "Perhaps a haircut, lady."

Athena lifted her head, her mouth in a 'o' shape. "Oh." She slowly said, nodding her head as she understood. "Oh." She quickly said. "I see." Finan laughed at her realisation. "It is not funny." She pulled an offended look, moving closer in front of him as she bit back a chuckle.

"I think it is." Finan replied, making Athena roll her eyes as she placed the scissors in her hands, leaning forwards and giving him a look that said 'May I?' He nodded his head.

Athena gently raised her hand, her fingers ghosting beside his chin as she brought the scissors to his beard.

The Dane concentrated, carefully tilting his head to the side. "You cannot curse me if it turns out bad." She said in a firm tone, looking up to his eyes. She ignored how close their faces were as she looked back down.

"I will not." He uttered, his breath fanning against her face as she continued to concentrate. Whilst her eyes stayed concentrated, he took this time to admire her features. He noticed how her brows furrowed as she concentrated, a soft look on her face.

But, he knew that the woman was not all soft as she had shown him. He had heard what she had said to Sven, how her words spat out like venom. She was fierce, something he admired.

"There." Athena grinned, leaning back as she placed her hands on her thigh. Finan blinked once more, looking down at her with a grateful look. "I didn't take too much off, I am not as good as Hild." She sheepishly shrugged.

"It'll do." He grinned down at her, nodding his head as he ran his hand through his beard. "Not bad." He hummed as she chuckled, shaking her head at his words.

Athena had told Uhtred of Gisela's whereabouts, and he wasted no time to go find her.

The small group rid their horses towards the nunnery Sihtric and Melusine had written about in the note.

It didn't take them long to arrive, quickly getting off of their horses and towards the church. "Gisela?" Uhtred called out, the group following behind him.

"Uhtred?" They heard a woman yell. Uhtred's eyes widened as he recognised Gisela's yells. "Uhtred, I'm here!"

The group ran towards the church, Uhtred throwing the doors open. Athena quickly followed, hand on the hilt of her sword.
They looked around, Athena's eyes hardening as her eyes landed on Abbot. "You will let her go!" Uhtred quickly ran forwards, pointing at the man.

"You are too late." Eadred declared, stroking forwards towards Uhtred. Athena clenched her jaw as she watched one of the men bring a sword to Gisela's neck.

"You will let her go!" Uhtred hissed, his wide eyes on Gisela.

But the abbot shook his head. "She is married now." He simply said. "She belongs to Aelfric."

"It is a lie, Uhtred!" Gisela called out towards her lover, shaking her head.

Uhtred looked around, his breaths heavy. "Where is Aelfric?" Uhtred asked, raising his arms. "If he's not here, then he cannot be married."

"By poxy, you fool." The abbot hissed, making Athena squeeze onto the hilt of her sword. "This man stood beside her in place of Aelfric." He pointed toward the man beside him.

"Untred, in the eyes of God, she is married." Another man spoke, making Athena look over at him.

"Did you bump her for Aelfric?" Uhtred suddenly asked, looking over at the man beside the abbot.

Gisela looked disgusted, shaking her head. "He did not."

"Then there is no marriage, abbot." Athena smugly said, her smirk onto widening at the glare the abbot sent her.

"She is married and it cannot be undone." The abbot persisted, making Athena let out a groan in annoyance, onto to be silenced by Hild's nudge.

"Make her a widow." Ragnar shrugged, making Athena quietly chuckle at his words.

The man beside the abbot panicked. "No!" He quickly said, his eyes wide.

"Gisela is married to Aelfric, not to Aidan." One of the men said, shaking his head.

"I have a wife already." Aidan quickly spoke, his eyes still wide. He then turned to Gisela. "A different wife."

Athena sighed, clapping her hands together as she looked at the abbot. "See? No marriage. So if you'll just hand us the woman, we can be gone." She grinned at the Abbot. "Or...we can kill them all." She shrugged her shoulders, stepping forwards.

Then, the man let Gisela go, the woman quickly running towards Uhtred. "See. That was not hard." Athena crossed her arms over her chest, a smirk on her face.

The group went to leave, but the Abbot spoke once more. "Do as you wish. In sight of God she's married."

Clearly, Uhtred was not happy at his words, quickly turning around. "Say she's married again." He threatened.

"Shes married."

Uhtred let go of Gisela, his steps threatening as he walked towards the Abbot and roughly grabbed a hold of him. "Shes what?" Uhtred asked, raising a threatening hand to his face.

"She is married."

Uhtred shoved his hand into the man's face, making Hild step forwards. "Uhtred!" Ragnar placed a firm hand onto her shoulder.

"Is she married?" Uhtred uttered to him, his hand still on his face.

"Yes!"

Uhtred gritted his teeth, grabbing the back of the Abbots head and bashing it against his knee. "He is a man of God!" Hild cried out.

"Stay it one more time, priest, and I swear the devil will take you." Uhtred hissed, his face in the Abbots face.

"You're nothing but a heathen and the bitch is married!" The priest cursed, making Athena grab the hilt of her sword.

Uhtred let out a yell, taking out his knife and stabbing it into the priests chest. Athena bit back a smirk, listening to the man cry out in pain.

She watched as the man dropped to the ground, lifeless. "I guess the devil did take him." Athena uttered, raising her head as she turned around, earning a nudge from Finan. "What? That is what Uhtred said."

— madeleines notes.

AYYYYYY FINAN AND ATHENA

they're already babies

They're literally the same but different at the same time HAHHEHEEHEHE

I can't wait to write them even more YAY

but. I've finally finished the last kingdom. And OMg. Literally crying I was crying every episode of season 5. Literally Jordan has to listen to me.

I literally cried omds I actually love this show and it will probably have to be my favourite show ever omds. And that's saying slot.

But I literally decided to write a fic about it before every finishing it so I guess that shows HAHSH.

Like I have cried so much in this show omds.

I literally have season five planned already HAHSHS sorry, all in notes.

But I was so mad when finan got a wife, I was literally heartbroken. I was crying to my friend like "NAWWWW"

As you can see, we are not happy. Smh.

But aye well. He's mine 🙌🎀

But I'm having time of my life, eating pomegranate whilst writing and watching gravity falls. HAHAHA

sorry for the massive rant but yall move me anyways.

Keep commenting bc I love reading comments, it makes my day!!

8th August 2024
6020 words.