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

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

Athena was beyond stressed for Uhtred. In the morning, he would fight against Bloodhair for Skåde. Athena could not loose Uhtred after she had just lost Ragnar.

The blonde haired Dane leaned into her brother's side, resting her head on Uhtred's shoulder. "You do not have to do this, brother. We can leave." She lifted her chin up at him, her lips pursed. "Leave Skåde, you do not need to fight."

Uhtred let out a deep sigh as he looked down at her, shaking his head. "I have to, I agreed." Athena groaned at that, biting her inner cheek. "Do you not have some faith in me?" He tried to make her feel better with a jest, knowing she was worrying.

"T'is not that I do not have faith in you, brother." Athena bit her tongue with a troubled expression, lifting her head up off of his shoulder. "I do." She slowly nodded her head as she looked up at him. "But I cannot let you risk your life for a seer, whom has placed a curse on you."

"I have to." Uhtred shook his head with an insisting look. "I cannot back down, not to likes of Bloodhair."

Athena pursed her lips as she glanced down at her hands, her thoughts eating away at her mind. Uhtred noticed her weary expression, squeezing her arm with a soft frown. "What else is in your mind, sister?"

Blinking heavily, Athena glanced back up at him once more, shaking her head with a sigh. "Just what Ragnar said." She lied, her brows pinching together as she sent him a reassuring look.

Uhtred suspected her lie, but did not push on the matter, pulling her back into his side. Athena rested her head on his shoulder once more, biting her inner cheek. "Perhaps I could speak with Ragnar." Athena hesitantly said, keeping her eyes on her hands. "Tell him to call it off."

"I could not ask you to do that." Uhtred shook his head, frown still on his face as he glanced down at her. "He will not listen."

Athena bit her cheek once more, her brows pinching together In thought. Untred was right, Athena did not know if Ragnar would even let her speak to him. "I have to try." She uttered, blinking heavily as she shrugged her shoulders. "If there is a chance, I have to." Her voice broke slightly as she looked up at him once more. "You are still my brother, you are still Untred Ragnarson."

Uhtred did not respond as she embraced Athena into a hug, and Athena instantly hugged him back, resting her chin on his shoulder.

Athena's heart raced like a wild stallion, her palms slick with a sheen of nervous sweat as she anticipated the impending conversation with Ragnar.

Anxious thoughts swirled in her mind like a turbulent storm, each worry amplifying the next, creating a cacophony of doubt and fear.

Her breaths came in shallow gasps, her chest tight with the weight of unease. Every step closer to the encounter felt like a mountain to climb, the pressure building with each passing moment.

Despite her best efforts to calm her racing mind, the grip of nerves only tightened, threatening to overshadow her resolve and confidence.

Athena gripped onto the cloak around her shoulders, walking through the yard of Dunholm. Everyone was still awake, drinking and waiting for the fight tomorrow.

A sigh left her lips as she spotted her familiar group sat around the table, excluding Uhtred. Athena quickly turned to walk towards the table, sparing them all a faint smile as she sat down, her eyes landing on a tired Melusine.

"Where is Uhtred?" Sihtric was the first to speak, his worried eyes on Athena, whom bit her thumb.

"He's resting." Athena simply said, slowly nodding her head as she tried to stop her leg from shaking. She was evidently stressed. "He was not in the mood to drink ale, I suppose."

Melusine's eyes softened as she glanced over towards Athena, lifting her head from Sihtric's shoulder. "How are you feeling? About everything?" Melusine hesitantly asked with a soft look.

Athena shrugged her shoulders, pursing her lips as she placed her hands on the table. "Oh, you know, amazing." She sarcastically said, not meaning for her tone to be harsh, but her mind was a whirlwind at the moment. Her eyes immediately widened as she pulled a sheepish look. "Sorry."

But Melusine shook her head with a soft smile, knowing Athena was going through a lot. "You're practically shaking like a leaf." Athena turned her head as Finan spoke from beside her. "You cold?" He asked with a frown.

Athena shook her head as she bit her cheek. "No, I'm preparing myself to speak to Ragnar." She let out a deep sigh, raising her hand to scratch the side of her neck. "Thought a few friendly faces would help with my nerves." She shrugged her shoulders as she glanced around the table.

"Are you sure that is a good idea?" Osferth carefully asked with a hesitant look. "He did threaten to kill Uhtred."

Athena glanced over to the boy, sucking on her teeth as she shrugged once more. "He is still my brother, whether I am his sister or not." She pursed her lips as she uttered the last words. "I just have a few things to say."

Finan turned his head towards the evidently worried woman. He didn't hesitate to reach out and squeeze her thigh, giving her a reassuring look.

Turning her head to the side, Athena softly smiled up at him, grateful for his touch. "He's over there, with Brida." Melusine spoke up, looking behind Athena with pursed lips.

Athena looked over her shoulder, her nerves taking over her once more as she let out a deep breath. She turned back to the table as she slowly nodded her head.

She stood up from the table, holding onto her cloak as she glanced down to the table. Athena quickly reached out, taking the cup of ale out of Finan's hand and quickly downed it.

Melusine and Sihtric shared a look, watching as Athena placed the cup down, smiling down at Finan with an innocent look. "That was half full." Finan complained, making Athena shrug her shoulders and pat his back before walking away from the table and towards Ragnar and Brida.

Athena let out a deep breath as she fidgeted with her rings, walking across the yard to her brother and Brida.

Brida was the first to notice Athena, her eyes softening for a moment as she turned to Ragnar, nodding her head over to the woman.

Glancing down at her hands, Athena let out another deep breath, trying to control her breathing as she made her way to stand in front of the pair. "Ragnar, a word?" Athena hesitantly asked, glancing up to her brother with a soft look.

Ragnar glanced down at Athena, a hesitant look on his face. But Brida nudged his arm, slowly nodding her head, wanting him to talk to Athena.

A sigh left his lips as he nodded his head, making Athena send him a grateful look. "I'll be in the hall." Brida told him, glancing back over to Athena and nodding her head.

Brida moved to walk past Athena, but she reached out to hold her arm, whispering in her ear. "You should tell him, Athena." She pulled back, and insisting look on her face.

Athena hesitantly nodded her head, pursing her lips as Brida sadly smiled, squeezing her arm as she walked away from the siblings.

Still fidgeting with her rings, Athena looked up at him with an awkward look. She knew he was still angry about Athena and Uhtred choosing to help Æthelflæd, leaving him once more.

Athena sucked in a breath as she dropped her hands to her sides. "Ragnar, you cannot let Uhtred fight against Bloodhair." Athena immediately said, getting to the point. "Bloodhair will listen to you, tell him to back down and forget about his witch."

"I cannot do that, Athena." Ragnar shook his head with a stern look. "They both agreed. There is nothing I could do."

Athena raised her brow at that, biting back a scoff. "Nothing you can do? Or you just do not want to?" She crossed her arms over her chest. "Uhtred is still your brother—"

"If he was my brother, he would not abandon me or the Danes." His eyes narrowed slightly as he cut Athena off. "But he has chosen the Saxons once more, as have you."

Athena shook her head with pinched brows. "I have not chose the Saxons over you!" Athena scoffed, turning her head to the side for a moment. "I told you, I would come back to you and the Danes, with or without Uhtred!" Her chest heaved as she continued to speak. "We just need to do this."

"You need to save a princess?" Ragnar scoffed at her words, shaking his head as he placed his hands on his hips. "You have chosen a princess over your family."

Athena let out a groan, running a hand over her face as she shook her head. He wasn't listening to her. "Ragnar, she is my friend." Her words were muttered as she looked back up at him. "She needs help and has only called upon me and Uhtred." Athena pointed to herself, watching as Ragnar continued to shake his head. "We cannot deny her."

"You can, but you won't." Ragnar gave her a pointed look, his eyes slightly narrowed as he looked down at her. "The first time you chose the Saxons over the Dane's, you were doing it for Uhtred—"

"Because he's my brother!" Athena hissed, her eyes tearing up slightly as she shook her head. "I could not leave him on his own." Her words were much softer as she spoke. "He is my brother." She repeated one more, watching as Ragnar closed his eyes for a moment.

"Oh, Uhtred's your brother?" Ragnar slowly shook his head, stepping towards her. "No, I am your brother."

Athena bit her inner cheek, blinking away her tears as she tilted her head. "So, now I'm your sister?" Her voice broke as she glanced up at him. Ragnar's face dropped slightly at her words, breathing in. "Ragnar, If you care for me, you will speak to Uhtred." Athena hesitantly reached out to hold his arm. "He is still your brother, despite what you said."

Ragnar kept his eyes on Athena, his eyes slightly softening as she stared down at his teary eyed sister. "I cannot."

Athena slowly nodded her head, letting go of his arm with a heavy sigh, wiling the tears away from her cheeks. "I do not want my child to grow without its uncles." She muttered, looking away from Ragnar as his eyes widened. "So please, if not for me, or for Uhtred..." She let out a heavy breath, sparing him a soft smile as Ragnar glanced down to her stomach. "But for my unborn child."

Athena didn't give Ragnar the opportunity to speak as she quickly walked away, wiping the tears from her cheeks as she breathed out heavily.

She just hoped Ragnar would listen to her words and speak to Uhtred, hopefully stop the square.

Athena's hands shook as she walked across the yard once more. She just wanted to sleep. She was growing tired.

She kept her head lowered, ignoring the tears that stained her cheeks. Athena only looked up when she heard someone walk towards her. 

She sighed when her eyes landed on a worried Finan, whom reached out to hold her arms. "I am fine." She uttered, pursing her lips with a weak smile, one that did not reach her eyes.

Finan knew she why lying by her tear stained cheeks and the broken look she had on her face. He let out a sigh as he sent her a soft smile, reaching up to cup the side of her face and wiping her tears. "Sure you are."

Athena rolled her eyes at that, but couldn't help but lean into his hand with a soft look. "I am just tired." She shrugged her shoulders, looking up at him. "It has been a long day."

"You're telling me." Finan quietly chuckled, stroking his thumb against her cheek. "Come on, let's get you to bed."

Athena sighed as his hand dropped from her cheek, but clasped around her wrist. But she couldn't help but grin, letting him pull her away. "Is that an offer, Irishman?" She jested, biting back a smirk.

Finan looked over his shoulder at her words, his smirk matching hers. "Perhaps." He shrugged his shoulders, making Athena chuckle. "Do you wish it to be?"

She let out a dramatic sigh, kissing her teeth as she looked up at him. "Perhaps another night." She grinned, patting his chest before walking away.

Finan was gobsmacked, to say the least, watching as she left. He shook his head with a sigh, running a hand through his hair.

Athena hit her inner cheek as she walked away. Perhaps that was a good time to tell him about what Skåde told her, but there was too much going on. It would just add to the like of worries.

Ragnar did not listen to Athena's words and let the square be formed, Uhtred and Bloodhair in the middle.

The clash of metal against metal echoed through the yard as the two men engaged in a fierce duel.

Each strike reverberated with a sharp clang, the sound of blades meeting in a dance of skill and determination.

The tension was palpable, every movement calculated and precise, as Uhtred and Bloodhair circled each other with a mix of caution and aggression.

Athena anxiously fidgeted with her rings, watching her brother closely. He had to win. The Danes cheered against Uhtred, all telling Bloodhair to kill him, even Brida.

Bloodhair head-butted Uhtred, making him move backwards in a daze, giving Bloodhair the opportunity to attack.

But Uhtred was quick to recover, raising his shield as Bloodhair brought his axe to it. Athena brought her hand to her mouth as she leaned into Melusine's side.

Sihtric and Finan cheered Uhtred on, watching as Uhtred kicked Bloodhair. But Uhtred tuned his back to Bloodhair, giving the man the opportunity to push Uhtred.

Uhtred fell back into the Dane's, falling to the ground. Athena bit her thumb with worry. But her worry soon turned to anger as she watched the Dane's hold onto Uhtred, taking away his sword. "You dirty bastards!" Finan yelled from beside Athena, glaring at the Danes.

But Uhtred quickly got up, using his shield to attack Bloodhair. Uhtred brought his shield to Bloodhair's arm, knocking his shield out of his hands. "Come on, Lord! Get his shield!" Sihtric yelled over to Uhtred, and the man did as Sihtric said, reaching to grasp Bloodhair's shield.

Athena watched as a Dane grasped onto Uhtred's sword with a grin. "Right, if you want to play that game!" Finan quickly left Athena's side, moving towards the Dane.

Uhtred continued to block Bloodhair's attack, swinging the two shields at him. Finan moved over to the Dane, grasping onto Uhtred's sword and head-butting the Dane.

"Come on, Uhtred! Kill him!" Athena yelled over the cheers, watching as Uhtred continued to block the attacks Bloodhair sent his way.

"Lord!" Finan shouted over to Uhtred, holding onto his sword. "Here!" He yelled once more, making Uhtred turn to him.

Uhtred threw a shield at Bloodhair, turning to Finan as the Irishman threw him his sword back. "His shoulder!" Finan instructed.

And Uhtred did exactly that, swiftly catching his sword and bringing it to Bloodhair's shoulder. "Get his legs!" Athena then yelled, a grin making its way onto her face as Bloodhair let out a yell.

Uhtred listened to Athena's words, taking Bloodhair by surprise and kicking the back of his legs, making the man collapse to the ground.

Reaching out for Bloodhair's axe, Uhtred threw it to the side, knocking Bloodhair onto the ground. "Finish him!" Athena yelled, feeling Melusine's hand together around her arm.

Uhtred moved to stand above Bloodhair, raising his sword in both hands. He let Bloodhair reach out for his axe, the man making no attempt to fight Uhtred.

But before Uhtred could bring his sword to kill Bloodhair, he was roughly pushed the ground. "What the hell?" Finan frowned, looking over to Ragnar.

Athena's brows pinched together as she looked over to Ragnar, whom had pushed Uhtred to the floor with a shield. "It's over." He simply said, throwing his shield to the ground.

"No!" Bloodhair groaned as he stood back up. "It's not over until he's dead!" Athena made her way towards Uhtred, helping him up to his feet.

"I say it is over."

"I demand my woman!" Bloodhair hissed at Ragnar, making Athena tilt her head to the side. He was loosing the fight. Uhtred would have gotten Skåde either way.

Ragnar sighed, shaking his head. "I will not lose one single man before the true battle has even begun."

"It was to the death." Uhtred panted, leaning into Athena's side as he looked over to Ragnar.

Ragnar turned at Uhtred's voice. "If you disagree with me, Saxon, then fight me." Ragnar bitterly said, making Athena scoff.

"Kill him, Ragnar, and be done." Brida called over to her lover, making Athena turn to her with pinched brows.

"It is over. It is done." Ragnar shrugged, looking back over to Uhtred and pointing to Skåde. "Take what belongs to you." Uhtred looked over to Skåde, whom looked happy at the news. "Take your witch."

"She belongs to me!"

"Need I remind you whom was about to die." Athena shrugged her shoulders as she turned to Bloodhair with a glare. "So hold your tongue."

Bloodhair gave Athena a scowl at her words, but didn't answer her as Ragnar spoke to Uhtred. "I shall see you on the battlefield. No doubt..." He breathed out. "I will kill you."

Athena leaned closer to Uhtred, a look of disbelief on her face as she stared up at her older brother. "Leave while you are still alive." Brida warned Uhtred, watching as Ragnar moved to stand beside her. "Alfred needs his arse to be wiped."

Athena narrowed her eyes at that, holding onto Uhtred's arm as she sent him a nod. Uhtred breathed out as he nodded to their people, whom all walked towards them.

Athena didn't even spare a glance towards Ragnar, nor Brida, watching as Uhtred took Skåde back, cutting the ties around her wrists. "You ride with me now." Uhtred told her.

Melusine kept to Athena's side, whom moved over to Thyra with a gentle look. Athena helped Thyra onto her horse, squeezing her leg before making her way towards her own horse.

"Skåde! He must remained cursed!" Bloodhair told the woman, watching as Uhtred helped her onto a horse. "It's your duty!"

Skåde simply grinned, holding onto her horses reigns as she looked over to Bloodhair. "He has defeated you twice over." She reminded him. "I belong to Uhtred now."

Athena sighed as she held onto her horses reigns, looking over to Melusine as Sihtric helped her onto her horse. "Never." Bloodhair grunted. "I have tasted your blood. What you see is mine!"

A grimace made its way onto Athena's face at that, guiding her horse towards the gate and beside Uhtred. "Ragnar, he cannot be allowed to leave." Bloodhair continued.

Athena quickly turned her head as a spear just missed Untred, landing into the wall. "I didn't mean to miss!" Brida yelled at Untred. "Next time, I won't." She threatened.

"The gates, now." Ragnar told his men, gazing over to Athena and Thyra. He had been thinking about what Athena had told him all night, and Brida told him it was true.

Athena ignored his look, glancing over to Uhtred and nodded her head with a soft look. The guards opened the gates, letting them ride forwards and out of Dunholm.

Athena was angered, but also saddened that Ragnar had not listened to her. He was her brother, but he had claimed she was not his sister.

But Ragnar would always be Athena's brother, but Uhtred and Thyra was the closest thing she had to family now.

— madeleines notes

Let's ignore the fact how most of this chapter is scenes I have wrote that is not from the episode. ONLY FOUR MINUTES FORTH AHAHA.

WHO cares 🥺

Nah me and Jordan have planned how the rest of them will find out about Athena, and it makes me giggle HASHA. We are cooking.

But Athena's last interaction with Ragnar... she's gonna hate herself for not saying goodbye to him and ending on bad terms..

IM SORRY.

He Never gets to meet her children either *cries*

Why do I do this to myself?

Anways, I HOPE YOU LIKED THIS CHAPTER.

I can't believe this book is ELEVEN hours long... yeah, my longest book.

That's how you know I love this series bc I have continued to write for it and not given up. And also how much I love Finan HEHEHE

30th August 2024
35568 words