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

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

The whole of Winchester was was celebrating the royal wedding. But Athena had to sit and listen to Æthelwold speak.

Athena rubbed her forehead, practically leaning into Uhtred's side as she tried to block out any noise from Æthelwold. But it was no use. "The point I make is simple. All of the power, all of the wealth, all the land that could belong to you, will now belong to him."

Athena rolled her eyes at the man, taking a sip of her ale as she glared at Æthelwold. "Should I hit him?" Finan uttered, leaning his head on his hand as he spoke from behind Athena.

"Yes." Athena immediately answered, looking over her shoulder at the Irishman. "Best thing I've heard all day." She grinned, turning back around to look at Æthelwold, who stood in front of the group.

Æthelwold shook his head at the Dane. "Yes! Yes, by all means, strike me." He sarcastically said. "But in your heart, in your purse, you know I speak the truth."

"Yes, hit him."

Athena grinned at that, almost falling back on the step as Finan moved forwards. Æthelwold flinched as he backed away, making Athena chuckled into her cup, amused.

Æthelwold quickly recovered, watching Finan wearily as he sat back down. "All I will say, again, is that the dead man speaks the truth." He continued, making Athena groan in annoyance.

"Lord?"

Athena turned her head, looking over to where the voice was heard. She frowned as she looked over at the boy, who shifted at her stare. "Some would say it is treason." Finan shook his head at Æthelwold.

"Lord?"

"No, no, this wedding is treason!" Æthelwold shook his head in annoyance. "This wedding is a betrayal of Wessex and the men of Wessex."

Athena rolled her eyes, placing her cup down on the step. "Meaning you?" She looked up at the man.

Æthelwold let out a dramatic sigh. "Should the king die, I have a strong and rightful claim!" He defended himself, making Athena scoff. "Alfred is working to make a new line of succession."

"Excuse me, lord Uhtred." The boy said from before.

Æthelwold didn't even look at the boy, shaking his head in annoyance. "Go away."

"Does anyone have something I can throw at his head?" Athena turned to the men on the step, a pleading look on her face.

Nobody replied to her, making her slouch her shoulders in defeat, muttering words as Finan nudged her back with his knee. "I am Osferth." The boy introduced himself, fidgeting with his hands.

"You are a monk." Finan pointed out, making Athena frown, looking over at Osferth. "A baby monk."

"Go away." Æthelwold harshly said to the boy once more. Athena almost went to tackle the man, but Uhtred's hand on her arm stopped her from doing so.

Osferth looked around at the group once more, the boy trying to act calm. "Lord, Lady, you knew my uncle." Athena frowned at that, sitting up off of Finan's leg. "His name was Leofric."

Athena's eyes widened as her lips parted, turning her eyes to her brother, whom had the same reaction as her. "Leofric was a great man." Uhtred slowly nodded his head at Osferth.

"You are Alfred's bastard son." Æthelwold practically grinned as he turned to Osferth. Athena narrowed her eyes once more.

"Shut up." Athena quickly said, glaring at Æthelwold as he raised his hands up in defence.

Osferth was clearly uncomfortable at Æthelwold's words, but grateful for Athena's input. "No, but—but I wish to join you, Lord, Lady." He looked between the two siblings. "Be by your side as my uncle was."

"No, we have no need for a monk." Finan shook his head, making Athena look over her shoulder at Finan with a raised brow.

"As a warrior, Lord." Osferth corrected, still fidgeting with his hands. "I wish to serve you as a warrior—both of you."

Athena couldn't help but softly smile at the boy, turning to look at Uhtred. She didn't mind if the boy joined them. Sure, maybe he didn't know anything about being a warrior, but he was Leofric's nephew.

"Uhtred." Æthelwold uttered, nodding behind Uhtred and the group. Athena frowned, looking over her shoulder and moving Finan's head out of the way so she could see. It was Steapa.

"Uhtred, you are wanted." Steapa said, looking down at the man. Uhtred rolled his eyes at that, looking away from Steapa. "The king!"

"Enjoy the wedding feast." Æthelwold cleared his throat, quickly turning and walking away from the group.

Athena childishly mimicked his words, fighting the urge to throw her cup at his head. "You." Uhtred nodded at Osferth as he took off his belt with his dagger in. "Find me again, bring a sword and lose your cross." He instructed the monk.

Osferth's face lightened up at Uhtred's words, frantically nodding his head with a grin. "Thank you, my lord." He looked up at Uhtred. "I will." He smiled, turning to walk away.

"Isn't he sweet." Athena smiled, only to let out a hiss as Uhtred placed his stuff on her lap. Athena glared at him as he grinned, following Steapa. "Idiot." She uttered, shaking her head as she folded his belt up.

"You going soft on a monk?" Finan leaned down to speak, his head as beside hers. Athena scoffed, shoving him back as she looked over her shoulder at him.

"He seems sweet." Athena shrugged her shoulders, picking up her cup from the step. "And Leofric was a good friend to me and Uhtred." She simply explained with a soft smile.

"You've grown soft."

Athena slapped his chest once more, shaking her head in annoyance. "Hush." She told him, turning her head back around. But a smile made its way onto her face as she saw Melusine and Sihtric. "Has he asked yet?" Athena leaned back against Finan's leg with a grin.

Finan frowned, looking over to where Athena was looking. Then a chuckle left his lips as he saw the pair. "Nope." He shook his head. "I think he's scared to do so."

"Well, he must hurry up and ask." Athena hummed, bringing her cup to her lips with a grin. "I'm sure many suitors would love to marry her."

Athena didn't really understand why Æthelflæds new husband, Æthelred, had to join them to Lunden.

"They say Lunden is dangerous." Sihtric spoke, walking in front with Finan.

Finan grinned, wrapping his arm around Sihtric's shoulders. "Oh, it is, but Lunden is alive with every kind of life." He explained, looking around at the people.

"I hear women do not walk the streets unguarded, that bodies are found in the river daily." Sihtric continued, making Athens raise her brows, subtly holding onto the hilt of her sword.

"Twice daily." Untred added with a grin, making Athena roll her eyes. "With each and every tide."

Athena slowly nodded her head, moving closer to Untred. "You will not leave my side." Athena wearily looked around at the people, making Uhtred chuckle at her unease. She had been to Lundene before when she was young, with her father and Uhtred.

"Lunden is not Winchester." Finan continued, his arm still around Sihtric's shoulders. "But one year here is worth ten elsewhere."

"Then why do you not live here?" Sihtric asked with a slight frown.

Finan chuckled, shaking his head. "And end up dead in the river? Do I look like a fool?" He asked, making Athena turn her head to him.

"Yes." Athena nodded her head with a subtle grin, quickly dodging his hand that went to smack the back of her head. "Missed!" She grinned in victory, moving to hide behind Uhtred.

The group slowly made their way into Lunden, Uhtred leading the way as they trailed behind him. "Uhtred, how is it that you know these streets so well?" Æthelred asked, his words sharp.

Athena carefully avoided the people walking by, turning her body to the side as she continued to walk forwards. "I stayed here for a time." Uhtred informed with a simple shrug. "With Earl Ragnar the fearless and Athena when I was a boy."

"When you were a Dane?"

Both Athena and Uhtred looked over their shoulders at the man, both with sharp glares. Æthelred sallowed thickly at their stares, lowering his head. "Remind me, why are you here again?" Athena bitterly hissed, only turning around when Uhtred grabbed her arm.

"As you can see, the one fact in our favour is that the whole of Lunden cannot be defeated." Uhtred started, ignoring Æthelred's comment. "It is too big." He added as he looked around the buildings. "Even the walls surrounding the old Roman city would need many hundreds of men."

"So the brothers' position is weak?" Aldhelm asked from behind them.

Uhtred shook his head at his words. "Not weak, but Lunden's been open to all tribes for a reason." He turned around to look at him and Æthelred. "The ground is not far now. I shall speak." He pointedly said, making Æthelred roll his eyes.

"You should ask for food and ale, Lord." Clapa raised his axe with a grin. "My belly believe my throat is cut." Athena chuckled at that, following Uhtred around the corner.

Athena's eyes slightly widened as she looked up at the sight in front of her. It was a priest tied to a cross, dead. "God preserve us." Æthelred uttered from behind them.

"It is a death, nothing more." Finan then said, his eyes on the cross. Athena shook her head as she continued to walk forwards, walking around the cross with a slight grimace.

"Uhtred Ragnarson!" Athena turned her head at the voice, looking over at Sigefrid and Erik. "The future king of Mercia!" Sigefrid grinned as he stepped forwards. "And Athena Ragnarsdóttir, a pleasant surprise!"

Athena grimaced at the stare she received, edging closer towards Uhtred. "Welcome to Lunden, your new home, should you want it." Sigefrid continued.

"Sigefrid." Uhtred nodded his head as they stepped towards them. "I thought you might want to kill me still."

Sigefrid slowly nodded his head with a grin. "Oh, for a long time, I did." He then raised his arm, making Athena look at the sword attached to his stump. "But then I grew to like my new hand. Though I have to be careful when wiping my arse."

Athena pulled an unimpressed look, her arms crossed over her chest as she looked the man up and down. She then turned her head when Uhtred stepped towards Erik. "It is good to see you here, Uhtred." Erik slightly smiled as he shook Uhtred's hand. "Though your friends are not familiar." He looked over to the Mercian king.

Uhtred nodded his head, turning to face Æthelred. "This is Æthelred of Mercia." He pointed at the man.

"Lord." Erik nodded his head. "My spies tell me you are to marry Alfred's daughter."

"Your spies are wrong, Lord." Æthelred cleared his throat, standing straight as he looked over at Erik. "I've already married Alfred's daughter." He corrected with a smug look.

"Oh, does she ride?"

Athena's eyes narrowed slightly, looking over at Sigefrid. She was surprised by his comment, but she pulled a disgusted look. "I've no complaint." Æthelred shrugged his shoulders.

"Untred, why is he here?" Erik uttered, staring at Æthelred wearily.

"That what I said." Athena rolled her eyes in annoyance, looking over at Æthelred with a glare. She turned back around and didn't missed the amused look Erik sent her way.

"I am here, lords, to ask of you your price for leaving Lunden." Æthelred simply said, clasping his hands together in front of him.

"Alfred wished to negotiate."

Æthelred glared at Uhtred's words. "I wish to negotiate." He corrected with a bitter look.

Erik chuckled at his words, looking over to his brother. "We have only just arrived. Why would we want to leave?" He asked with a frown.

"You are warriors." Æthelred pointed out, shrugging his shoulders. "You will know that Lunden is impossible to defend, so let's get this done."

"Is that a threat?" Sigefrid raised his brow at the man. "It sounds like a threat." He turned to his brother.

Æthelred sighed at this, shaking his head. "I'm asking you to retreat, lord, for a price, for silver." He continued.

"Flesh is our price." Erik paused for a moment, looking Æthelred up and down. "Your bride, Æthelflæd."

"Nonsense." Æthelred scoffed at his words. Athena pulled an awkward look, looking between the three men.

"She has great beauty, a good mind." Erik turned to his brother, slowly nodding his head. "I'm in need of a wife."

Sigefrid nodded his head in agreement. "I'm in need of a hump. We will share her." Athena grimaced once more. She had forgotten how some Dane's could be very vile.

"She is my wife." Æthelred insisted with a glare.

But Uhtred chuckled, shaking his head. "Æthelred, they are teasing you." He grinned as he turned to the brothers. "Perhaps we can begin with a cup of ale?" Athena stood straight at that. "It was a long walk from the river."

Erik nodded his head with a fond look. "A cup of ale it is, Lord Uhtred." He nodded his head, going to turn around.

"I need a whole jug of ale in this moment." Athena uttered, looking over at Finan with a grin.

Finan grinned in amusement, nodding his head in agreement. "Aye, you are right, Thena." He let out a dramatic sigh, moving to wrap his arm around her shoulders and pulling her into his side.

Athena groaned, shaking her head as she nudged her elbow into his side. "I am always right, Finan." She smugly said, following Uhtred and the brothers.

Whilst Uhtred turned to talk to the brothers, Athena and Finan turned to go get a cup of ale.

She nodded her head at Hæsten as he passed her a cup of ale, grimacing as she noticed the look he sent her. Athena shifted closer to Finan and Sihtric, moving her gaze to her brother.

"Your prisoners are from here?" Uhtred asked, leaning against the wall as he looked at Sigefrid and Erik.

"They're from Guthrum's arse." Sigefrid mocked, shaking his head.

Aldhelm stepped forwards, eyeing the brothers. "The Earl Guthrum is called Æthelstan now." He corrected harshly.

"Guthrum is a shit stain." Athena hid her laugh in her cup, lowering her head at Sigefrid's words. "He sends priests to Beamfleot begging for peace. Begging for warriors to settle and do what?" He let out a scoff. "Raise sheep?"

"Many men do, lord." Aldhelm slowly nodded his head.

Sigefrid tilted his head to the side. "There are no sheep farmers in Valhalla."

"Do you intend to put all priests on the cross?" Uhtred suddenly asked, making everyone turn to him.

Erik shrugged his shoulders at Uhtred. "It is Sigefrid's game." He simply said, leaning back in his seat.

"I do not understand his it kills a man." Sigefrid frowned, evidently confused.

"Slowly, Lord." Finan spoke up, looking over at Sigefrid. "It's a cruel death." He explained, making Athena frown herself.

"That's what the priest there said." Sigefrid pointed outside, motioning to Father Pyrlig.

Finan nodded his head. "The priest is right." He told Sigefrid, taking a sip from his cup.

"The priest looks like a pale bag of bones and dough." Uhtred then said, a small grin on his face. "You should let him fight." Athena raised her brows at Uhtred, knowing that Father Pyrlig used to be a fighter. "The Romans used this square for just that purpose. Combat."

"He will die too easily." Erik frowned at Uhtred's words, pointing out the obvious. Athena hid her smirk in her cup, knowing her brother was planning something.

Uhtred simply shrugged. "Give me something to fight for." He leaned off of the wall. "His freedom." He tilted his head to the side.

Sigefrid suddenly stood up, eyeing Uhtred. Athena watched wearily, subtly reaching for her sword. "Why?"

"I'd rather watch him spill his guts than nailed to a piece of wood." Uhtred moved over to Sigefrid. "Where's the fun in that?"

Athena's grip tightened on the hilt of her sword, her knuckles turning white as she watched Sigefrid move closer towards Uhtred.

But Sigefrid chuckled, hitting Uhtred's arm with a grin. "Boltan!" He then yelled, walking towards the doors. "We need to be entertained!" Athena turned to Uhtred with a slight grin. "Are you man enough to kill a priest?"

Athena watched with interest as Father Pyrlig and Boltan circled around each other, weapons in their hands. "So, when I kill him, I'm allowed to go free, that is the bargain?" Pyrlig asked as he shifted nervously.

"That is the bargain." Erik nodded his head at the man.

"Hear that, Boltan?" Sigefrid chuckled, mocking Pyrlig. "He plans to kill you!"

The crowd laughter at that, mocking Pyrlig. "I'm afraid, Lord." Boltan faked fear, but a grin rested on his face. "Spare me this trail, I beg you."

Then, in one swift motion, he raised his hand to attack Pyrlig with his sword, but the priest cowered and held up his shield.

Boltan moved back, letting Father Pyrlig get back up. Athena watched with anticipation, arms crossed over her chest as she watched the scene in front of her.

Boltan swung his sword against Pyrlig shield, pushing him into the crowd of Dane's. But father Pyrlig quickly stood back up, blocking Boltan's attacks once more.

But Boltan was faster, raising his leg to kick Father Pyrlig and knocking him to the ground. Athena bit her inner cheek as she watched the priest get back up on his feet. Beocca had told Uhtred and Athena that Pyrlig had been a warrior. Surly he could muster up one attack.

And he did, Athena grinned as Pyrlig quickly got to his feet, swinging his arm and successfully getting a hit on Boltan.

In a blink of an eye, she watched as Pyrlig got Boltan to his knees, standing behind him and putting his sword against Boltan's throat.

Athena grinned at the Priest's success, evidently amused as she brought her cup of ale to her lips. "Now I do not wish to kill this idiot as I'm sure his mother loves him." Pyrlig panted heavily as he looked over to the brothers.

Pyrlig then let go of Boltan, moving away as he pointed his sword at Boltan. "But do I have your word as warriors that I am now a free man?" Pyrlig continued, looking over at Sigefrid and Erik.

"You have my word, priest." Erik promised, clearly dumbfounded at the scene before him.

Pyrlig slowly nodded his head, moving away from Boltan, but his sword was still raised. "If all your men fight like this, Alfred will have no trouble throwing you out of Lunden." Pyrlig mocked the brothers with a grin.

"Put down your sword." Erik instructed, lowering his head for a moment.

"Thank you, Lord." Pyrlig spun the sword in his hand. "It was a bit on the heavy side." He raised his arms, dropping his sword to the ground.

Clearly, that pissed off Sigefrid. Athena watched with interest as Sigefrid pushed through the crowd, charging towards Pyrlig.

Athena did not expect Sigefrid to slit Boltan's neck as he made his way to stand in front of Pyrlig, his eyes narrowed. "Where have you leaned to fight, priest? The monastery?" Sigefrid mocked, his face close to Pyrligs.

"I am a Briton, Lord." Pyrlig simply said, his breaths heavy. "I was brought up killing Saxons."

"Then join us." Sigefrid offered, making Athena raise her brows. "Join me."

Pyrlig simply tilted his head to the side, narrowing his eyes. "Ten years ago, maybe." He slowly nodded his head. "But now I will fight for my God and my freedom, it seems." He breathed out heavily, backing away. "If it is acceptable, I will return with the Lord Uhtred."

"Not before we've settled on a price." Æthelred quickly spoke, walking towards Sigefrid. "I hope?" He nodded his head at the Dane. "How much? For you to leave Lunden?"

— madeleines notes

RAH ANOTHER CHAPTER IT SEEMS.

Nah, I've been so mad on dress go impress recently. PISSES ME OFF!!!

Copying my look, how dare thy.

Then she had the nerve to say "oh, we're doing the same..."

UH. Okay girl. 😡

But I slayed with this, as did the server.

( I was sheva from resident evil )

Okay rant over baddies, I hope you enjoyed this chapter 🙌😖

But ugh, can I say. Athena and Finan's teasing and bickering!?? hehehe

AND BABY OSFERTH AWW HES HEREEE

and can we have Æthelwold killed already?!? ( I have plans )

15th August 2024
3475 words