▃▃▃▃▃ ‧₊˚⊹ ‧₊˚⊹ ▃▃▃▃▃
THE LAST KINGDOM
𝐀𝐂𝐓 𝐎𝐍𝐄 ─── ❛ king vs danes

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

Her brother was to marry, which Athena didn't understand. Why should he have to marry a woman he does not know to show loyalty to Alfred.

She just hoped Alfred wasn't planning to wed her off to show her loyalty, because she would just deny and argue.

Athena stood next to Uhtred, arms crossed over her chest as they stood in the praying room, Leofric with them also.

They turned when the door opened, revealing Father Beocca. "Shes here, praise God." He smiled at Uhtred, walking towards the three. "You should stand and look respectful, if not entirely clean."

"How does she look?" Uhtred immediately asked.

"Terrified, I bet." Leofric uttered, making Athena chuckle as she turned to the door.

"I would be if I was being married off to a man I did not know." Athena hummed, looking up at Uhtred, who nudged her arm.

Then, in walked Odda and young Odda, a woman with her face covered by their side. Athena frowned at that, raising a brow.

"If you could be brief with the ceremony, Father Beocca, I would be grateful." Odda told the priest, standing beside Athena. "I have business with the King."

Beocca nodded his head at the man. "The bride has been given her price?" Uhtred asked, nodding at the woman, who still had her face covered.

"She will."

Young Odda handed something to the woman, making her nod her head. "If the betrothed couple would like to join me at the altar..." Beocca nodded at the pair with a smile. "And join hands."

Athena gave Uhtred a nod, a slight grin ok her face as he rolled his eyes, walking up to the altar, as did the woman.

Athena moved to stand beside Leofric, looking at Uhtred and the woman, arms still crossed over her chest.

The woman reached up to take the hood down, revealing her face. Athena had to admit, the woman was pretty. But she had always seen Uhtred marrying Brida.

The betrothed held hands, looking at each other with a slight smile. "May God I'm his heaven look down with mercy upon his devoted servants, Uhtred and Mildrith." Beocca started, gesturing to the pair. "May he bless their union with love, and children, and wealth."

"And may they, in turn, be sure to give thanks and praise, and live each day according to his hold word." Athena rolled her eyes at that, bowing her head down. "Amen."

"Amen." The woman uttered.

"Amen." Uhtred nodded his head.

"You are now joined as man and wife in the eyes of God." Beocca told them, clasping his hands together. Athena frowned as the woman bowed her head, sniffling. "Tears of joy." Beocca quickly said.

Athena quietly breathed out, staring at Uhtred, who also looked confused. "I'd be crying too if I was to marry him." Athena quietly uttered to Leofric, who suppressed a laugh.

Athena rode on her horse, Uhtred and Leofric in front, as Athena rode beside Uhtred's new wife, Mildrith.

The four rode in an awkward silence, Uhtred and Leofric often sharing words. Athena looked to the redhead beside her, a soft look on her face.

"Was this what you had dreamed of?" Athena softly asked, making Mildrith turn to her with a frown, not understanding. "Marriage." Athena added as Mildrith understood, slowly nodding her head.

"I had never really thought about marriage." Mildrith told her, shaking her head with a smile. "What about you?"

Athena chuckled at that, shaking her head as she smiled at Mildrith. "Gods, no." She breathed out. "Marriage is not for me." She softly said as Mildrith nodded her head, understanding. "It was always my sister who loved the idea of marriage, she was so excited about it." Athena sadly smiled as she talked about Thyra.

"Lord." Athena and Mildrith turned at the voice of Leofric. "Danes." He nodded his head up the hill.

Athena frowned as she looked up the hill, seeing a lot of Danes on horses. "Who are they?" Mildrith asked, frown on her face.

"Foragers, most likely." Leofric told her, eyes still on the Danes. "But Danes all the same." Athena raised her brow at his comment.

"Will they attack?" Mildrith carefully asked, her eyes wide as she looked up at the Danes.

"They have no reason to." Athena softly said, sending her a reassure smile, making Mildrith slowly nod.

"We walk on." Uhtred said as he tapped his horse and moved forwards, the three following.

But the Dane's continued to follow them, making Mildrith speak up again. "They're following us."

"We walk on." Uhtred told her, ignoring the Danes. "They won't attack." He reassured her. Then, he took out his sword.

"Then why have you drawn your sword?" Mildrith asked, her eyes still wide as she stared at the back of Uhtred.

"To show them at least one of them will die." Uhtred said, and Athena could tell he was wearing a grin as he spoke.

Leofric copied him, taking out his own sword. "One or two." He said as Athena rolled her eyes, keeping her sword attached to her hip. "Foragers are deep into Wessex."

"They're Guthrum's men." Uhtred realised, hand still on his sword. "They're a long away from Lundene."

Athena's eyes stayed on the Dane's, a small frown on her face as she held onto her horses reigns.

The four had arrived in Lyscombe, where Mildrith had grown. Athena slowly got off her horse, pulling her cloak tighter around her as she ran her hand over her horses fur.

"Your new home, my Lord." Mildrith smiled at Uhtred, who was looking around wearily. "The land is good. But the buildings are in need of repair." She softly said. "Look, the families who live on the land come to wish us well." She grinned as the people around made their way towards them.

"Send them back to their homes." Uhtred uttered, holding onto his horse

Mildrith's grin faltered as she turned her head to look at Uhtred. "They've come to wish us well." She shook her head. "I have known them my whole life."

"Lord. Lady." Athena turned her head to see a man walk towards them.

"Oswald manages the farmstead." Mildrith softly smiled. "He lived nearby." She informed Uhtred.

"Welcome home. And may we offer our good wishes on your marriage." He grinned at the pair. Athena looked the man up and down, feeling off about him as she moved closer towards her horse.

"Thank you, Oswald. Thank you." Mildrith walked towards the man, the smile still on her face. "And how kind of you all to gather to greet me and my Lord Uhtred." She smiled at the rest of the people.

"We have prepared a table, Lord." The man nodded at Uhtred. "For your pleasure."

"You have my thanks, but we're tired." Uhtred shook him off, looking around as he stepped beside Mildrith.

"Of course, Lord."

"Bloody hell." Athena uttered, rubbing her hands over her face at the awkward interactions, sharing a look with Loefric, the pair standing at the side.

"Thank you, Oswald." Mildrith said once again, looking up at the man. "You're kind." She then turned to the people around. "I have a wedding gift for each family."

Athena smiled at that, looking at the redhead as she gifted the silver out. Mildrith had a kind heart, which was evident.

Athena, Uhtred and Leofric made their way into one of the buildings. Athena took off her hood, shaking the snow off as she looked around.

"Now, there's a welcome sight." Leofric sighed, looking down at the various food and ale.

"I was expecting there to be a hall, and I find this." Uhtred shook his head, clearly not happy about the situation.

But Athena didn't care, she had stayed in worser places. She made her way to the food, grabbing some things for herself.

"Pay off your debts, and you can build a hall." Leofric told him, helping himself to the food and ale. "Didnt I tell you the bastard things? Alfred."

"If he believes he can make me beg, he can think again." Uhtred grunted, walking towards the pair as he ate some of the food.

"He doesn't want you to beg." Leofric shook his head as he grabbed a cup. "He wants you to obey."

"Never."

Mildrith then walked in, taking off her fur coat and placing it down. "If you have need for me, Lord, I'll be resting." She told Uhtred, a sigh leaving her lips. "It seems I am tired."

Athena pulled an awkward look, grabbing her food and ale as she looked at Uhtred. "I'm 2,000 shillings in debt to the church, and you hand out silver to your tenants." Uhtred turned to the redhead, frown on her face.

"It's my silver." Mildrith scoffed, not understanding how it was wrong of what she did. "You can have what's in my purse-"

"I do not want what's in your purse." Uhtred quickly shook his head, stopping her from going into her pocket.

"Then why scold me?" Mildrith softly asked, confused. Athena sadly frowned at the girl, it was not her decision to get married off. And Athena would give Uhtred an ear full after.

"The stoat. Your farmstead master." Uhtred said, talking about the man from before.

"His name is Oswald."

"He'll need to be watched." Uhtred quickly said, picking bits off food off of the platter and eating it.

"He was trusted by my father."

"He lives too well by the look of it."

Athena and Leofrid awkwardly stood at the door, sharing a look as the new married couple argued.

"Brother, I am going to, uh, stay in the barn." Athena cleared her throat, flashing Uhtred a grin, making him frown.

"You can sleep in the house." He pointed out, making Athena shake her head.

"I'd rather be in the company of the sheep right now, Uhtred." Athena tsked, slowly nodding her head as she gave Mildrith a soft smile. "It is your wedding night, after all." She said before quickly turning around and leaving, her boots connecting with the snow.

She turned when she head footsteps beside her, making her turn to see Leofric. "So, you decided to join me?" She grinned, taking a sip from her cup as the man grunted.

"I don't think staying in there would be good." He simply said as Athena chuckled, nodding her head as the pair walked towards the barn.

— Maddie's notes

Ayy finally a small chapter. It's just a small fill-in chapter bc there is a time skip after the scene, so yeah🎀

Athena and Leofric=brotp, sue me hoes

But yeah, writing the fourth chapter rn, bc I am so invested in this fic, as you can tell 🎀

And I can't wait to write season two bc that is when hubbies are introduced (finan and sihtric )

THEYRE SO UGHHHHHHHSHSHSHSHSHDHD

want them both so bad, should see mine and Mae's chats it's too funny. We're are #obsessed.

But nah I was fucking distraught earlier, because—SPOILER!!!!

BEOCCA FUCKINH DIES?!? WHAT

I literally started episode 3 of season four and cried four minutes in bc he gets shot with an arrow!?!? Like are you fucking joking me rn. I was ranting to Jordan about it bc I am fuming.

Proof of the fact I was absolutely fuming.

Like I'm still on season four, so if I see any spoilers for anyone else's death, I'm actually going to sob. Like THYRA, RAGNAR AND BEOCCA. Like get out of here.

Nah if Brida goes next, yeah, I'm depressed.

Like fiann, sihtric, baby monk OR ANYONE gets killed, I am throwing hands because it is unacceptable.

I'm gonna run to the people wherever made this series and tell them to sort it out, not having Beocca WRONGFULLY killed. Like when I see Uhtred's, uncles kid, yeah... IM THROWING HANDS

okay that's if peps🥰

26th July 2024
2008 words