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

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

The travel to the village where the seer, Skåde, was didn't take long. The group hit behind one of the burnt huts, looking over to the men guarding the building.

"Shes in there, lord." The man they had captured from the village told them. "Inside the church. Am I still needed?"

Uhtred shook his head. "Go find your family." He simply instructed the man, making him quickly walk away.

Athena looked over Uhtred's shoulder, looking over towards the men. "Go on, Osferth." Athena uttered with a grin, turning to the young man behind her. "Introduce yourself."

Osferth's eyes widened at her words, making Sihtric and Finan push him forwards and out of cover. Athena bit back a chuckle as she saw the look Osferth gave them before walking towards the group of Danes.

Whilst Osferth walked towards the building, the group split up into different directions, sneaking around the burnt camp.

Athena led the way in front of Uhtred and Finan, gripping her sword in her hand as she stealthily moved towards the building.

One of the Dane's laughed as he looked up at Osferth, clearly entertained. "Who are you? What do you want?"

"I would like you all to surrender." Osferth slowly nodded his head, hands clasped in front of him. Athena had to lean her head on the burnt wood in front of her to stop herself from laughing. "Or I will smite you."

"What did he say? Smite?" The Dane raised his brow at Osferth. "What is smite?"

"Well, it's a word, isn't it?" Osferth sarcastically said with an obvious look. Osferth had grown very sarcastic from being around Athena a lot more. "A word from the Holy Book. It means slay or kill." Osferth continued. "I will kill you."

The Danes chuckled at that, making Osferth turn to the side to look towards the three, but they were all biting back their own laughter. "You will smite all of us?" A Dane asked with a chuckle.

"Yeah, most." Osferth nodded his head at the men. "Some of you might run away, hopefully." The Dane's stepped towards him at that, making Osferth reach out towards his sword. "I've got...I've got a sword." He gripped onto the hilt of his sword. "A very sharp sword."

"Kill him!"

Athena squeezed the hilt of her sword, nodding towards Uhtred with a grin. "Now!" Uhtred yelled, moving out of cover and to attack the Danes.

The Danes started dropping like flies as they attacked the group of Danes. Athena watched as Osferth stood and watched the scene, making her chuckle and move towards him, ignoring the fighting. "Smite, really?" Athena asked, grin on her face. "Was that all you could think of?"

Osferth rolled his eyes at her teasing, pushing her forwards as she chuckled, watching as Uhtred killed the last Dane. "Hæsten says she is of the devil." Uhtred panted as the group came together.

"Then it might be an idea to bar the door and burn the place down." Finan suggested with a shrug, leaning on the wall. "Why not?"

"Seers are useful, Finan." Athena gave him a pointed look, sheathing her sword as she turned to the door. "Shes priceless." She shrugged, opening the door before stepping into the building.

The smell of burnt flesh hit her nose, making her grimace as she looked around, her eyes falling on a blonde woman, Skåde.

Skåde looked over at them, not even moving as she looked back down to the heart in her hand. "You are Skåde?" Uhtred called out to the woman. The Dane beside Skåde unsheathed his sword. "You!" Uhtred immediately said, pointing to the man. "You will do nothing except go to your lord!" He dropped his arm, looking back over to Skåde. "You will tell him that Uhtred of Bebbanburg has his witch."

"I knew it was you." Skåde leaned off of the table she sat on, her eyes on Uhtred. She was not fazed by the group whom had barged in.

"There will be a ransom to pay." Uhtred continued, a weary look on his face.

Athena stared at the seer, a look of interest on her face as she looked the woman up and down. "No. You will go to my Lord and you will tell him that from this moment forth, Uhtred of Bebbanburg is cursed." She said, raising the heart in her hand.

Finan and Osferth reached for their crosses at the woman's hex, clearly anxious as they stared at the Seer. "The witch holds his heart in her hands and she will squeeze it." Skåde tilted her head, smirk on her face. "And break it." She threw the bloodied heart to the ground before turning to her man. "Go."

The Dane didn't hesitate to leave them alone in the room, making everyone turn to the seer. "It is you whom are my prisoner now, Uhtred." Skåde continued with a sly smirk, stepping forwards.

"Seize her." Uhtred uttered towards the group, on guard as he stared at the seer. "I said seize her, Sihtric." Uhtred quickly said as the seer stepped closer. "Now, bind her hands!"

"I have aligned myself with the three spinners of fate and taken hold of your life." Skåde said as Sihtric and Finan moved forwards tying her hands together. "You belong to me."

Athena looked Skåde up and down, her brows slightly pinched together as she looked at the seer. "And her mouth." Athena uttered, tilting her head to the side as she watched Finan wrap the gag around the seer's mouth.

Athena wearily watched the seer behind her. They traveled to Æscengum Burh, Skåde tied up and gagged at Uhtred's orders.

Athena had met some Seers in her years of living, and she never got use to them. They were cunning and manipulative, you never know what their next move would be.

"I think she may have got herself inside his head." Finan voiced his opinion with a look of discomfort on his face. "He should kill her and be done with it."

"That will not kill the curse." Sihtric shook his head with a frown, making Athena nod in agreement.

"There is no curse." Osferth confidently said, making Athena turn her head into his direction with pinched brows.

"Have you ever met a seer, baby monk?" Athena asked, shaking her head as she held onto her horse. "A curse is no jest, Osferth. You'll do good to remember that." She added, looking over to Skåde, the seer already looking at her with a smirk.

Athena swallowed thickly, turning back around as she fiddled with her horses reigns. She did not like the stare Skåde gave her, like the seer was unfolding every secret Athena had. Even unfolding things Athena didn't even know...

"I have seen woman throw a curse and the next day a man is dead." Sihtric continued to speak, looking over to Osferth.

"Right, that is enough talking." Finan quickly said, shaking his head with a discomforted look. "To speak of it makes it stronger."

"Her presence makes it stronger as it is." Athena uttered beside the man, a troubled look on her face as they rode towards the gate. "We do not go near the seer, got it?" Athena looked at the three men with a pointed look.

Athena would not let the seer get in her head, nor the people she cared about. And she would make sure Uhtred would not get entangled with the seer.

"Uhtred, Athena, we have been discussing strategy and I have decided that we shall remain here, within the Burh, and wait." Alfred informed the two siblings who stood in front of the fire.

Uhtred frowned at that. "For what?" He asked the king, arms crossed over his chest.

"For Bloodhair to attack." Alfred simply said with a shrug.

Athena frowned at Alfred's words, looking down at the man. "What makes you believe that he will attack?"

"Is that not what Dane's do, Athena?" Edward asked from beside his father. "They cannot help themselves." Athena ignored his little dig, biting her inner cheek.

"Why should he not attack? I am here." Alfred continued, looking up at the two siblings.

Uhtred nodded his head. "You are here, and so too is your guard." He nodded over to Steapa and the King's guards. "Why throw men against the walls of Burh when Winchesters riches are unprotected.

"Would he do that?" Edward quickly turned to his father, his weirds uttered.

Beocca shook his head, voicing his oke opinions. "He doesn't have a large army to hold Winchester."

Athena and Uhtred shared a look, clearly not agreeing with the Kings way. "What is Hæsten were to join him?" Uhtred then asked, shrugging his shoulder.

"You seem to be saying we should've stayed home, Uhtred?" Æthelwold said from his seat, making Athena bite back a groan, wondering why he was here.

"If you believe the Burh's advantage dismissed, lord, you must have an alternative." A man from behind them spoke, standing up as Athena and Uhtred turned to him.

"I don't know you." Uhtred looked the man up and down, frown on his face.

The man nodded his head, looking over towards the siblings. "I am Sigebriht, son of Sigelf." The man introduced himself. "It is my villages that the heathen burn. My father built these walls."

"He built them well, Sigebriht, which is why Bloodhair will not attack." Uhtred slowly nodded his head as he explained. "He will not want to loose men."

Alfred looked up at Uhtred at his words. "Not even to kill a king?"

Athena shook her head at Alfred. "He will be strategic, Lord." Athena clasped her hands in front of her with pursed lips. "If word passes that you are here, and Winchester is left unprotected, he will most likely raid Winchester." Athena hesitantly explained, biting her inner cheek. "And he will wait for us to starve here."

"If Winchester is vulnerable, lord—"

Alfred quickly cut off Beocca, looking back up at the siblings. "This woman that you have taken, why is she here?" Alfred asked, and Athena let Uhtred answer that.

"She had value." Uhtred simply said, making Athena look down at her clasped hands, fiddling with her rings.

Alfred slowly nodded his head. "And Sigurd will want her back." He muttered, shaking his head. "I refuse to call him Bloodhair."

"He will."

"She is what to him?" Æthelwold then spoke with a grin. "A wife? A lover?"

Uhtred hesitantly looked around at the men around the fire, but Athena shifted back, letting Uhtred explain. "She's a...a seer." Alfred sat up at that. "Sorcerous."

Alfred let out a hum, turning to his son. "The simple mind of a Dane believes in signs, Edward." He uttered towards his son, making Athena's brows pinch together. "If a bird flew from their camp to ours, they would see it as a sign and follow. They would march into battle all because a seer caught sight of a bird."

Athena shook her head, moving to sit down and pick up her cup of ale, looking over at Alfred. "Yes, lord, it can happen that way." Uhtred uttered, sitting down beside Athena and Æthelwold.

"Then it follows that without his seer, there can be no signs." Alfred looked over to Uhtred. "Sigurd is blind. There can be no battle."

Athena subtly shook her head, letting Uhtred fight this battle against the king, taking a sip of her ale. "You are both right and wrong." Uhtred let out a sigh.

"We wait, Uhtred." Alfred insisted, challenging Uhtred before standing up, making everyone else stand. "Now, I wish to look at her."

Athena quickly turned her head into the direction of the sickly Alfred. Athena shook her head once more, downing the rest of her ale.

Athena felt like headbutting a wall as Skåde continued to yell for her lord. The voice of the seer was aggravating Athena as she leaned on the wall of the hut, sitting in front of the fire.

"When can we bind her mouth?" Sihtric turned to Uhtred with a frown, the yells of Skåde running through their ears.

"Hopefully, she looses her voice soon, wailing like a babe." Athena uttered, her eyes watching the flames dance together.

Uhtred nudged his sister's arm that she was leaning her head on, making Athena hit the side of the wall with a hiss. "Let her sing." He simply said with a grin.

"Bloodhair! Desire me!"

Athena ran her hand over the side of her face, uttering words towards Uhtred with a displeased look. "That is not singing." Osferth grinned, looking over at Uhtred.

"Lord Uhtred!" Athena looked over her shoulder at the man's voice, seeing Sigebriht walk towards them. "Are you to allow that woman to wail all night?" He pointed up towards Skåde.

"Free me!"

"For a little while longer, yes." Uhtred nodded his head, unfazed by the seer's yelling.

"Bloodhair! There is a king for you to kill!"

Sigebriht ran a hand over his face, shaking his head as he walked away, clearly frustrated. "Come for me, avenge me!" Skåde continued to yell out into the night.

"I am going to go mad." Athena uttered, placing her head in her hands, growing tired and restless.

"Here is a bit of loose talk for you." Athena turned her at the new presence, letting out a groan as she looked over to the smug Æthelwold.

Athena muttered words about the man, pulling the cloak that was around her and Finan's shoulders as she leaned into the man beside her.

"Sigebriht there, son of whomever, would like to trip the innards from young Edward's belly." Æthelwold continued to gossip with a smug look, making Athena close her eyes at the man's voice, resting her head on Finan's shoulders, evidently tired. "Would you like to know why?"

"No." Athena grumbled, keeping her eyes closed as she spoke towards the man, wanting him to go away.

Æthelwold rolled his eyes at the woman, whom was hid in the cloak that was wrapped around her. "I'll tell you." He looked back over to Uhtred. "Edward, the non-bastard son of Alfred." He mocked, pointing over to Osferth, making Athena look over her shoulder at Æthelwold with a warning glare. "Had whelped twins on this girl whom Sigebriht did move."

"And died Sigebriht still love this girl?" Osferth asked with a raised brow, arms crossed over his chest.

Æthelwold let out a dramatic sigh as he moved towards the fire. "Can someone not just cut her throat?"

"Can someone not just cut your throat?" Athena muttered to herself, looking down at her rings with pinched brows. Finan quietly chuckled beside her, keeping his arm around her waist as she rested her head on the side of his shoulder.

"Why are you telling me this?" Uhtred asked with a raised brow, crossing his arms over his chest. "It's of no concern to me."

Æthelwold lifted his head into the direction of Uhtred. "They will make it your concern, Uhtred. They will find a way and Edward shall become your charge." He lowered his head with a sigh. "You and your sister are kingmakers, my friend." He looked between Uhtred and Athena. "And Alfred knows it."

Uhtred had woken Athena up, claiming she had to go feed the Seer. Athena complained, saying she did not want to get cursed.

But Athena was defeated, giving into Uhtred's orders and walking towards Skåde's cell, walking down the steps and opening the gate.

The seer was laid on the ground, furs beneath her head as she slept. Athena quietly breathed in, crouching down to place the food and water in front of the sleeping Skåde.

Skåde shifted, looking up at Athena with pinched brows. Athena pulled an awkward look, moving to stand up, but Skåde reached out to grasp her hand. "Why hasn't your brother killed me yet? Or you?" Skåde quickly asked, tilting her head to the side as she analysed Athena. "I know you are capable of doing it."

"You are of worth." Athena cleared her throat, looking everywhere but the seer as Skåde squeezed her hand. "Eat, seer." Athena quickly said, pulling her hand free and abruptly standing up. "And you will leave Uhtred alone." Athena confidently said with narrowed eyes, making Skåde chuckle with a smirk.

"It is him whom wants me." Skåde shrugged her shoulders as she sat up, looking up at Athena with a smirk.

Athena shook her head with a scoff, she knew she would not be challenging a seer, but the woman was irritating her. "You are messing with his mind, I will not sit idly whilst you do so." Athena narrowed her gaze once more as she stared down at Skåde.

"Whom else am I supposed to torment?" Skåde looked Athena up and down with a subtle smirk, analysing the woman standing in front of her. "You?"

"Will that please you?" Athena asked, clasping her hands in front of her stomach. "Curse me and let my brother free?" She raised her brow at the seer.

Skåde hummed, a wicked smirk on her face as her gaze stopped on Athena's clasped hands. "I would..." She trailed off, looking back up at Athena. "But I could not curse upon an unborn life."

Athena frowned at that, about to ask the woman what she meant before bells started to ring. "He is here." Skåde uttered, grin on her face as Athena swallowed thickly, quickly tagging around and leaving the woman.

Athena quickly ran up the steps, looking around for Uhtred. "Athena! It is Bloodhair!" Athena looked up at the voice of Sihtric. "He had hostages!"

Athena's eyes widened. "Where is my brother?" She called up to him with a frown, making Sihtric nod over towards the man, whom was walking towards them.

"Every man to the walls!" Uhtred ordered the men around, moving to stand beside Athena. "Every sword and spear must be ready!"

"What do we do, brother?" Athena asked, looking towards the closed gate as people ran around them.

Uhtred sighed, looking down at her and not missing the weary look she wore. "He will want his woman." He shrugged, hands crossed over his chest. "Osferth!" Uhtred called towards the boy. "Prepare to open the gates!" Uhtred then turned to the man walking towards them. "Finan, with us!"

Athena sighed as they walked towards Skådes cell, watching as he moved towards the steps, grabbing hold onto Skåde and dragging her up the steps.

She tensed up at the look Skåde sent her, shifting uncomfortably as she walked up the steps, practically rushing ahead. "Osferth, open the gates!" Athena swallowed thickly, walking towards the boy.

"They are killing women!" Osferth yelled over to them, looking through the crack of the gate. Athena inhaled as she nodded for Osferth to open the gates.

Uhtred dragged Skåde in front of him, walking past Athena as Bloodhair looked over at them. "Earl Sigurd!" Uhtred yelled, walking through the gates and towards the Danes. "Kill one more hostage and I shall let every man here see her nakedness!" Uhtred warned, holding Skåde to his side.

Athena moved off to the side, keeping her eyes on Skåde, the seers words replaying in her head. What did the woman mean? "And then i shall spill her guts." Uhtred continued, pointing towards the hostages. "Just one more!"

"Do it, lord." Skåde spoke to her lover, grin on her face. "I'll see you in the next life." Athena missed the look Skåde sent her. "Kill them all!" She yelled as Uhtred grabbed onto her. "Attack!"

Uhtred turned to the side to hit the seers stomach, making her groan in pain as she leaned forwards. "Bloodhair, kill them!" She yelled as Uhtred pushed her to the ground. "Attack!"

"What is your answer?" Uhtred asked the Dane, keeping his hold on Skåde. "I have a mind to kill her. She tires me."

"He cannot do it, Lord." Skåde quickly shook her head from the ground. "He's cursed!" Uhtred threw her to the floor once more, kicking her stomach.

"You will not harm her again!" Bloodhair yelled over to Uhtred, his eyes on his lover. Athena pursed her lips as she looked down at Skåde, hand on the hilt of her sword.

Uhtred hummer, reaching down to sit Skåde up. "The price had risen." He looked back over to the Dane. "You will not only spare the hostages, you will free them and send them across to the Burh."

"What I'll do is feed your own cock." Bloodhair hissed as he nodded towards Skåde. "Free her."

Uhtred sighed, shaking his head at the man. "You have until sunset to free the hostages!" Uhtred warned him, pulling Skåde to her feet. "Or each man in this fortress will take his turn."

"Until sunset!" Athena looked up at the voice of Æthelwold, her brows pinching together at his confidence.

Athena rolled her eyes, turning back around and letting go of her sword as she followed after her brother, looking over her shoulder to see Finan mock the days, raising his arms with a smirk.

Athena groaned, reaching to grab the back of Finan's armour and pull him back through the gates, nodding at Osferth to close them once more.

They have left the fortress to meet up with the Mercian army and Æthelred, intending for the Dane army to follow them.

Athena and Finan had been tasked to find the Mercians, and they did. Athena was beyond thrilled to see the Lady Æthelflæd beyond the mix of Mercians.

They rode towards the place Uhtred told them to meet, the Mercian army behind them as the rode up the hill on horse back.

Athena clicked her tongue, signalling for her horse to stop as she reached the top of the hill, looking down at the group with a grin. "They are here." Athena sighed, turning her head to the side to look over at Finan, watching as the Mercian army crowded around them.

"We are any army!" Athena heard Uhtred yell, unsheathing his sword and raising his arm in the air with a yell. "Glory shall be ours!"

Athena grinned, unsheathing her own sword with a cheer, sharing a grin with Æthelflæd beside her as she threw her arm in the air, causing the Mercian army to do the same.

Soon, they all came together, forming a shield wall as Athena instructed for them to do on-top of her horse. Athena sat on her horse on the side with Æthelflæd and Uhtred, watching as the Dane army rode towards them.

"We stand our ground!" Uhtred yelled towards the men around him, riding back and forth as he spoke to them. "They will come to us, and we will take their heads from their shoulders!"

Athena gripped her own sword and shield, watching with a grin as the Dane warriors charged towards them.

Turning her head to the side, she nodded her head to the arrow men, watching as they stood and fired their arrows at the Danes.

The Dane army charged into the shield wall, yells leaving their lips as they swung and hit at the shields.

Athena squeezed her sword in her hand, watching carefully as the two sides attacked each other.

They were waiting for Alfred and his men to come along and attack from behind. Athena kept her eyes on the three people whom she cared for, watching as they attacked the Danes.

Athena quickly sat up as she watched a Dane push against the shield wall, making Finan fall back into the crowd.

But soon, he was back up, making Athena sigh, her shoulders un-tensing as he attacked at the Dane that pushed him backwards.

Then, a horn was sounded, making Athena grin as she looked over to the Wessex men. Soon, the Danes were surrounded, fighting back against both sides.

Athena watched with a smirk as some horses split off from the Dane's. "Bloodhair, you do not yield." Skåde uttered from beside her, her brows pinching together. "Do not yield."

And the man did. He rose off with a few men, making the other Danes run away, following their lord.

"They are beaten!"

They had won the battle, making their way back to Winchester. The people of Winchester cheered for them as they walked through the gates.

Athena couldn't help but chuckle at the people who reached out for them, patting their horses as they rode into Winchester.

She watched as Uhtred got off from his horse, making Athena do the same, her eyes landing on Hild and Melusine.

Her smile dropped completely as she looked at the saddened expressions on both women's face. And Uhtred noticed that too.

Athena watched as Uhtred walked towards the two women, Athena moving towards Sihtric, Finan and Osferth with a frown.

Hild pulled Uhtred into an embrace, making Athena's heart dropped. There was a woman holding a babe behind them.

Gisela had died in childbirth.

Athena brought her hand to her mouth, her body tensing as her feet carried towards her brother.

Uhtred looked over his shoulder as he heard footsteps approaching, a broken look on his face as he stared down at his sister.

Athena's bottom lip trembled as she looked between Hild and Melusine. Melusine looked tired and stressed, tears evident in her eyes.

Athena sucked in a breath, moving towards Uhtred and looking up at him, immediately embracing him in a hug.

Uhtred didn't hesitate to wrap his arms around Athena, crying into her shoulder as his body trembled.

Athena squeezed her eyes shut as she held onto him. His wife was gone. He had a son, but his wife was dead.

Looking over Uhtred's shoulder, Athena's eyes landed on Skåde, whose face held an ounce of remorse as she stared at the siblings. But Athena's teary eyes narrowed at the seer.

The curse was real.

And it was only just the start.

— madeleines notes.

Skåde you hot mf.. WHY?!? We loved Gisela in this house. She was like Athena's second sister.

But, erm, did anyone...erm.
Get a hint of what's to come?!? Bc yeah😖😖🙌🙌 IF YOU DID PLS COMMENT!!

I ain't explaining it... only Jordan knows .

Keep in mind, I came up with this little plot for Athena when I was asleep last night so.

Athena is just stressing about this seer, not having a clue what she means, and Skåde is just smirking evilly. She be planning fr fr.

Athena is definitely gay for Skåde. WHO SAID THAT?!? 😃😃😃😃😃😃🥺

Me and Jordan also planned that last night BAHAAH Oopsie daisies.

I'll never get over Æthelwolds and Athena's hate relationship. ITS TOO FUNNY ABAHAH.

Literally made an edit of the scene too, to check it out on my tiktok @alycialcverwp

But I hoped yall liked this chapter! Don't forget to comment bc I'm entertained by youse comments.

25th August 2024
4510 words