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

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

Northumbria was Athena's destiny. That was her and Uhtred's path. That is what Iseult told them.

Athena was driven on saving her sister. And if she was to travel everywhere to find her with Uhtred, Hild, Melusine and Halig, she would.

It had been a couple of years since the battle against the Dane's. Athena hadn't changed much, besides the few tattoos she had gained as they traveled.

Uhtred was right when he warned her, it hurt like a bitch. But she got past that pain. She had gained more jewellery also, her and Melusine having a common interest in it.

The pair would go through villages, finding pieces of silver that they liked. It something they did regularly.

Melusine, the once nun, changed her life. She still prayed to her God. But she had gotten into being a healer, something that the small group needed.

Athena sighed as she dropped her arm, her other hand on her hip. "You have to swing your body with your arm." Athena instructed the struggling Melusine.

Melusine let out a defeated groan, shaking her head as she dropped the sword to the floor. "I cannot, Thena." The brunette complained, sitting herself down on the grass. "I cannot wield a sword."

Athena rolled her eyes, sheathing her sword as she moved to sit beside Melusine. "That is because you have never practiced." Athena nudged her arm against hers, an encouraging smile on her face.

Melusine only turned to her, raising her brow. Athena mimicked her expression, crossing her arms over her chest. "You're such a fool sometimes." Melusine sighed, shaking her head as Athena grinned.

"I know." Athena chuckled, moving to lay back on the grass, narrowing her eyes as she looked up at the sun. "I've been called worse, Mel."

"Like what?" Melusine asked, looking down at the laid down Dane.

Athena hummed, pretending to think as she laid her hands on her stomach. "Like words lady should hear." Athena grinned up at her, making Melusine roll her eyes. "T'was a compliment!"

"T'was an insult!"

Athena narrowed her eyes at Melusine, the brunette doing the same. They stayed like that for a minute until Athena broke into a laugh, her nose scrunching up as she did so. "I cannot." She said between laughs, shaking her head.

Melusine chuckled also, flicking Athena's arm as the Dane yelped, wafting her hand away. "When did you become so violent?" Athena asked, rubbing her arm. "It's like Leofric all over again." She uttered, a fond smile on her lips as she thought about her passed friend.

"Athena! Melusine!" Both girls turned their heads, Athena quickly sitting up to see Uhtred. "We're going!"

"Finally!" Athena groaned, scrambling up as she held out her hand for Melusine, who gracefully took it. "I've had enough of you and your whores." She told Uhtred, making Melusine hide her laugh into the blondes shoulder.

Athena looked around with a frown, her eyes landing on the dead bodies. They had found a village that was set aflame.

Melusine was the first to spot it on her horse, making the five travel towards the village. "It reals of death." Athena grimaced, looking away from the bodies and towards the gate.

Uhtred continued to look around. "Danes." He realised, looking at the bodies of the Danes. "Dane's would not slaughter Dane's like this."

"Perhaps, brother, it is a bad idea for us Dane looking warriors to continue into this village." Athena uttered, gesturing to herself and Uhtred.

"Nonsense." Uhtred shook his head with a faint smirk, making Athena let out a groan, shaking her head.

Athena quickly ducked, seeing a body hung upside down from the gate. A grimace decorated her face as she warned the others.

When they got into the village, the five climbed off their horses and towards the yells. Athena frowned as she watched a couple of Saxons poke and prod a Dane, who happens to be chained up.

They watched as the Dane tried to fight off the Saxons attacks, the crowd booing immediately as the Dane dodged a blow.

Then, Uhtred went to push past the Saxons, making Halig follow as the three woman stayed in their place beside the horses.

Uhtred walked up the steps, pulling a Saxon back, who was about to attack the Dane. Then, Uhtred pulled out his own sword, pointing it at one of the Saxons. "If it is a fight you want, it can be with me!" He told the Saxon, making Athena roll her eyes, leaning into her horses side.

Halig was quick to follow Uhtred, pulling out his own sword and aiming it at the crowd. "This is Lord Uhtred of Bebbanburg and of Wessex!" Halig yelled, daring the Saxons to move.

"I cannot deal." Athena uttered to the two women beside her, watching as a fat man walked towards Uhtred, fear evident on his face.

Uhtred then let the Dane go. Athena, Hild and Melusine slowly made their way towards the men, moving away from the Dane.

"You!" Athena looked over her shoulder as a priest pushed through the crowds, pointing at Uhtred. "You! State your name and your business." The man declared at Uhtred, looking up at him, but not beside gazing at the three woman. "You keep the company of a nun, yet look every piece of you a dane!" He harshly said, looking between Uhtred and Athena.

"My business is my own and not that of a priest." Uhtred simply said, looking down at the priest with a frown.

"He's Uhtred of Bebbanburg, Father." The man from before said, pointing at Uhtred.

The priest eyes widened as he looked up at Uhtred. "Uhtred?" He uttered, remembering the name. "You are Uhtred who served with Alfred at Ethandun? With your sister?" He then turned to Athena, the blonde Dane looking him up and down.

"Yes."

"Praise him." The priest sighed, looking up as he spoke. "Praise God! It is a sign!" He turned to the Saxons, then turning back to Uhtred.

"You know of Ethandun?" Uhtred asked, a frown on his face as he stared down at the priest.

The priest moved up the steps quickly. "Not only do we know of this battle, Lord, we have risen because of it!" He looked at his people. "And just days ago, Alfred has sent his very own priest."

Athena frowned at that, looking over to Uhtred. Who was the priest? "You killed all the Dane's that ruled Eoferwic?" Hild stepped forwards, looking at the priest.

The priest nodded his head. "We have. All those that did not flee." He simply said, looking over at Hild. "The holy city of Eoferwic welcomes you!" He grinned up at Uhtred. "We will give you food and shelter and thanks, Lord Uhtred."

Uhtred had informed Athena that the priest Alfred sent was Beocca. And Athena didn't mind, she liked Beocca.

Athena softly smiled, welcoming Beocca into a hug. "It is good to see you, Father." She patted his back, pulling out of the hug, smile still on her face. "You have grown old." She jested, making Beocca chuckle.

"And you, nor your tongue, had changed." Beocca jested back, making Athena grin as she nodded her head, moving to sit down In between Uhtred and Melusine.

There was another priest at the table, a man who Beocca knew. "We are travelling nothing with Alfred's blessing and silver." Beocca started, leaning his arms on the table as he spoke to Uhtred. "It is a ransom to be laid to free a slave, but he is no ordinary slave. This man is marked to become a king."

Athena frowned at that, nibbling at the food on her plate. "Of Cumberland." The priest Trew added.

"His name is Guthred." Athena frowned once more at Beocca's words.

"A Dane?" Athena quickly asked, swallowing the food in her mouth as she looked across at Beocca.

Beocca nodded his head at her words, watching as the siblings shared the same look of confusion. "But a good man, a man of God."

"The spirit of Saint Cuthbert had decreed that Guthred shall be king." The priest beside Beocca added. Then, both priests crossed their hands over their chest and head, a symbol of a pray. "A prophecy."

"Oh, my good lord." Hild uttered as herself and Melusine did the same gesture. Athena subtly rolled her eyes, looking over to Uhtred, who did the same.

"He appeared in a dream to the Abbot Eadrrf of Cumberland." Father Trew spoke once more. Athena didn't have a clue what he was on about, but pretended to listen as she ate her food. "He named Guthred as king of both Saxons and Danes."

"How many men is that?" Uhtred asked, hands clasped in front of him as he looked at the Priests.

"Hundreds." Beocca spoke, turning to Uhtred as he continued. "Thousands, perhaps."

"Warriors?"

"Some, yes." Trew nodded his head at Uhtred.

Athena turned to her brother once more, frown still decorated on her face. "Alfred would not be context with this man being solely king of Cumberland." Uhtred raised his brow, turning to Beocca.

"Well, yes, Alfred would wish for Gutyred's influence to speed across the whole of Northumbria." Beocca explained.

"Including here, in Eoferwic." Uhtred realised, reaching out to grab his cup.

"Come with us." Beocca immediately said, looking at Uhtred. "Help us to free Guthred, protect the ransom until it's delivered, and I'm sure there will be a reward."

"Your bargain is with whom?" Uhtred then asked, titling his head to the side.

"A slave-master." Trew answered.

"The village in which we are meeting sits on land that belongs to someone from your past." Beocca carefully looked between the two siblings before speaking up once more. "Kjartan."

Athena's face slightly dropped as she turned to Beocca. "Kjartan's land will be full of men, warriors?" Hild spoke, sensing the anger off of both Uhtred and Athena.

"Father, who's protected you so far?" Halig spoke up for the first, cup in his hand as he looked over at the priest. "Do you have no guard?"

"We have gathered a group of sickly men who suffer with the white riff." Beocca sighed as he looked over at Halig.

"Leprosy is a terrible curse." The priest beside him uttered.

"Put these poor creatures in a cart and no man dare approach." Beocca explained with a shrug, turning his head to Uhtred. "No one can imagine the treasure sitting beside the disease."

"Your king, Guthred." Uhtred spoke, still on edge at the mention of Kjartan. "Kjartan would be his enemy?"

Trew nodded his head. "He would." He told Uhtred. Athena sat up as realisation dawned on her. "It was Kjartan's men killed his father. Guthred himself was captured and sold as a slave."

Athena's lips slightly raised as she turned to Uhtred, then to Beocca. "So, this Guthred would be prepared to raise an enemy against Kjartan?" Athena asked, reaching forwards to grab her cup and bringing it to her lips.

"He would be an ally, I'm sure." Beocca nodded his head at the blonde Dane. Athena smirked as she turned to Uhtred, who understood what she was thinking.

"Wise, sister." Uhtred squeezed her shoulder, nodding his head at the agreement.

"And I'm sure Uhtred is but one man." Hild then spoke, making the siblings turn to her. "Against many."

Beocca quickly shook his head. "No." He immediately said, casting his eyes towards the nun. "No, Uhtred is more than just one man. And he is here for a reason. As is Athena." Beocca gestured to the two Danes.

The moon, with its enchanting silver glow, hung majestically in the night sky like a celestial guardian, casting a gentle light upon the Earth and people below.

Its serene presence evoked a sense of wonder and mystery, captivating all who gaze upon its beauty. And Athena was one who gazed upon the light in the sky.

Her eyes fluttered shut at the contact of Uhtred's hand against her face. Their plan was to disguise themselves the best they could.

Hild, Halig, Beocca and Trew had already rode towards the place where Guthred was being held, whilst the two siblings stayed back in the trees, watching closely.

Uhtred pulled back his hand, finishing the dark war makeup on Athena's face, "Done." He uttered, making her flutter her eyes open, giving him a thankful smile. "Now your eyes look as dark as ever." He jested, making her roll her eyes and hit his arm.

"And you're still ugly." She replied back, grabbing a hold of the skull and passed it to him. "Now cover your face, it is scaring me." She added, smirk on her face as he took the skull out of her hand.

A sigh left Athena's lips, her hands coming to pull the hood over her head and covering her face.

Whilst the siblings were getting ready, Sven Kjartan told Hild and Melusine to get off their horses.

The brunette bit her tongue, standing close to Hild in fear. Athena had warned her that Dane's do not treat women fairly, but Melusine persisted she could handle it.

Melusine watched Sven like a hawk, but she felt like she was the prey and he was the hawk, his one eye gazing upon the two women.

Melusine slightly recoiled as Sven reached up to cup the side of her face—his hand was fire, threatening to burn her porcelain skin.

A hand reached out to firmly and gently take hold of her wrist, and she didn't need to look to know it was Hild. "I'll keep her." Sven sickly smirked down at Melusine, who slightly cowered under his gaze. "That one's too old to keep." He discarded Hild a look better returning to Melusine's alarmed stare. "Take off your skirts."

Melusine's heart dropped as Hild squeezed her wrist. The brunette Saxon swallowed thickly, breathing out of her nose as she stared up at the one eyed man. "I will not." She didn't know where she got the confidence from. Maybe it was Hild's presence beside her.

Or maybe, it was the fact she knew Uhtred and Athena would be here to scare the shit out of him.

And as if Melusine's prays had been answered, the man behind Sven spoke. "Lord, there are horsemen missing." He told the blonde Dane, looking around with a questionable frown.

Sven frowned, turning his chin in the direction of the man. "What are you saying?"

"Men are missing." The man repeated, his words firm. "I counted seven more horses than are here." He nodded his head. "They must be hiding, Lord."

Sven slowly nodded his head, turning back to the two priests. "Priest? Is my man correct?" Melusine lifted her head to look over at Beocca. "There are further horsemen?"

Beocca was the first to speak, nodding his head. "He is correct, Lord, but these horsemen, they came from nowhere." He slightly stuttered as he spoke, staring up at Sven. "And asking us to where we were travelling and we prayed that they would leave us, vanish."

"You wanted rid of them?" Sven asked, turning his chin flutter, looking at Beocca with his only eye.

Beocca stared at the people around him, before turning back to Sven. "Belive me when I say this, they were not of this world, lord." Beocca spoke in fake fear. "They were not men, like you and I are men." He then gestured a cross, using his hands to do the gesture.

"What do you mean, they're not men?" The man behind Sven asked, raising his brow in confusion.

Sven frowned, watching the two priests do the gesture, making him hold his hand up. "W-what? Why are you doing that?" Sven pointed at the two priests. They didn't reply, making him speak once more, mimicking their gesture. "This, singing your god?"

"We are asking his protection, Lord, from the horsemen." Beocca simply said, turning his eyes to the blonde Dane.

"If they are not men, what are they?" The man continued to pester them with questions, holding genuine confusion.

"Please." Beocca breathed in, shaking his head. "To speak of them may summon them."

Sven frowned once more, slightly shrugging his shoulders. "From where?" He asked. "You tell me nothing."

"Can we not simply give you the silver and be in our way, Lord?" Beocca quickly asked, his voice trembling with fake fear. "Please?"

Sven rolled his one eye at that. "There is nothing to fear but the lies of a priest." He shook his head, side-eyeing Beocca. "I know it."

There was a sound in the distance, making the man behind Sven slowly turn around. "Lord?" He uttered, his eyes on the entrance.

"Oh, dear God in heavens, it is them." Beocca uttered with fear once more, his eyes wide. The man quickly spun his head around and looked over at the priest.

"It is who?" Sven frowned, eye still on the priest as he ignored the distant shouting. Sven then slowly turned around, walking towards his man, eyes on the entrance.

Melusine couldn't help but grin, leaning closer towards Hild. Their plan had worked, well, Athena's plan. Athena was crafty when it came to multiple things, she could craft things with her hands, and she could craft plans in her mind—being the wise woman she was, like the goddess she was named after.

Sven continued to tread carefully, his eye on the light that grew lighter. Then, his eye widened as he looked at three people on top of horses, torches in hands.

Shouts left their lips as they surrounded the Dane's, aiming the torches at them. Athena gripped onto her horses reigns, staying beside Uhtred as her head hung low.

But with her hair and hood in the way, her eyes landed on Sven. Her eyes suddenly became like fiery orbs, blazing with intensity. The warmth she had showed her brother moments before, turned icy ad she stared down at the one eyed man.

"Who are you?" Sven yelled out, turning around in a rapid paste, until his eye landed on the two masked figures on their horses.

"We are Odin's messengers to command!" Uhtred spoke, the skull on his face making his voice muffled, but it still echoed. "We come from Corpse Hall!"

Athena then raised her sword, slowly aiming it towards the blonde Dane, her eyes narrowed into slits. All Sven could see as he looked up at her, was how her icy eyes stuck out like a torch in a dark room. "You are Sven Kjartan?" She said in a fake accent, not in her usual Dane tone, but one she use to fake with Young Ragnar when he told her she was going to Ireland.

Sven didn't answer, his singular eye holding fear as he stared up at the two masked figures. His eye darted around frantically as if he was searching for an escape. A haunted look decorated his face, a reflection of dread gripping his soul. "You will answer me!" Athena hissed, the Irish accent slipping out like it was natural to her. She could not let him know whom she was. And she was grateful Young Ragnar had taught her the Irish' accent.

Sven opened and closed his mouth, the words not coming out until he stuttered. "W-what do you want with Sven Kjartanson?" He fearfully asked.

"We've been sent to take the souls of both Kjartan and his son." Uhtred answered this time, his words still muffled, due to the mask suffocating his face.

Sven fearfully stepped back into his men, his eye watching the figures. "Attack." He uttered to his men. When nobody did anything, he sucked in a breath and threw his hands up. "Attack!"

Athena smirked, a sickening smirk it was as she watched the men go to attack them. Athena let out a cry as she brought her blade to one of the men's throat, dragging the silver across the delicate skin.

Athena couldn't help but smirk even more at the gruesome cries of the man, his life flickering from his eyes as he dropped to the floor—limp.

She turned her horse when she heard a man run towards her, sword in his hand as he made his attempt to attack her.

But, Athena swiftly lifted her leg, kicking the sword from his hands before placing her sword between her teeth.

She used her free leg to wrap it around the man's neck, practically jumping down onto his shoulders.

Her teeth gritted against her sword, causing her a slight pain, but she ignored it as she brought her hands to the Dane's face.

In one swift motion, she gripped his head and twisted it. A witch-like laugh left her lips as she heard the snap. That was something Leofric had taught her.

As his body fell, she unhooked her legs from around his head and her boots connected with the ground beneath her.

She gripped her sword's handle, taking it out of her mouth and twirling it in her hand. She didn't miss the fearful gaze of Sven, who stood there in fear. It was like a force would not let him move, fear taking over his body. He had watched what he had done to the man, hearing her spine-chilling laugh.

He went for his own sword as he watched Athena made her way over to him, but his sword slipped from his clammy hands.

And Athena dropped her sword, practically charging at him and she tackled him. Sven landed on the ground with a groan, Athena on top of him.

Athena stood, kicking him to lie on his front.   Athena then crouched down, practically lying on him as she unsheathed her dagger, scarily close to his remaining eye.

"No man shall move, or Sven Kjartanson will die!" Athena declared, her knee on his back as she leaned over to look down at his face. 

"You will all hear me!" Uhtred voice grew loud as he stood behind Athena. "All of you must leave this place!" Uhtred told the Danes. "Go! Or with one touch of my horsemen, you will be cursed!"

Athena used her free hand to grip the back of Sven's hair, grinning in victory as he let out a cry of pain. Athena then leaned down, closer to his ear, her words dark but firm. "I shall kill you now." Her words were whispered, but they held promise. "Take out your other eye and feed it to your father." Her blade drew closer towards his eye, earning a whimper from him. "Then your tongue." Her hot breath fanned against the side of his face that wasn't being shoved into the ground. "Then your hands."

"No!" Sven cried out, his voice pleading. "Spare me! Please!" He continued to cry. "I will be a changed man!"

Athena laughed once more, making Sven wince at the sharp noise. "You will never change, Sven Kjartanson." She sweetly uttered, tilting her chin to the side as her fingers tightened around his hair. "You will die a slow, painful death of a coward." Her voice grew louder, still holding a promise.

Uhtred carefully watched his sister, even her words frightening him. He knew that Athena desperately wanted to avenge their family—Thyra. And she would get it.

Sven rarely showed any signs of fear, especially not to a girl. But the only time he had fear was when Ragnar's daughter had threatened him when they were merely children. How her words held a promise. Like her words did right now.

"Lady!" Athena frowned, casting her eyes up to see Beocca, a look of plead in his face. "I beg you. That he fears you is enough." He held out his hands, looking down at Athena. Athena casted her eyes behind Beocca, landing on Melusine. "Let him take that fear to Kjartan."

She held a dagger in her hands, her other hand firmly gripping onto Hild's arm. Melusine looked back down at her, a look of awe and fear evident in her eyes. She slowly nodded her head, making Athena squeeze her eyes shut.

The blonde Dane turned her head fully, looking over her shoulder at her brother, who hesitantly nodded his head. Athena looked for Uhtred's approval, then a groan left her lips as she let go of Sven's hair.

The dagger near his only eye soon left, making Sven let out a sigh of relief. Athena slowly took her knee off of his back and stood up, moving backwards to stand beside Uhtred.

Athena looked down as she felt silver in her hand, seeing her sword. Uhtred had picked up her sword and given it back to her.

— madeleines notes

Oh, Athena is a baddie and everyone knows it.  

It's the way Athena seeks Uhtred's guidance, and even Melusine. It's shows how their bond had grown since they met.

Athena thinks Melusine is smart and wise, and Melusine thinks Athena is smart and wise. They just admire each other in different ways.

Melusine admires Athena's courage, how easy it is for her to use a sword, how she can literally craft anything she put her mind to.

And Athena admires Melusine's softness and her gentle she is, how loyal she is. They're gonna teach each other a lot of things. RAH

it's just like Daenerys and Missandei 🙌

3rd August 2024
4255 words