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

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

Although Uhtred had told the King of the Dane's plans against Wessex, Alfred ordered his guards to seize Athena, Uhtred and Brida.

They had been locked in a cage whilst the Saxons went to fight the Danes. Athena was starting to hate the Saxons more and more. They should've never come to Wessex.

Athena hoped the king and Alfred would fall in battle for what they had done. Uhtred had offered them help, and they threw it back in his face.

Athena fiddled with the chain around her neck, leaning her head on Brida's shoulder. She was bored out of her mind.

She looked up when she saw Uhtred stand. "Apologies, lord." Athena stood at Beocca's words, her eyes on her brother. "This was the best I could do without speaking to Alfred." The priest walked towards the cell, a bowl in his hands.

Brida and Uhtred were quick to move to Beocca, Brida quickly taking the food. "I have brought food and ale, and more importantly, good news." Athena tilted her head to the side at that.

"Alfred is dead?" She asked hopefully, arms crossed over her chest as she leaned on the wall.

Beocca turned to her, a look of bewilderment on his face as he shook his head. "The opposite. He is alive and he is victorious." He told them, making Athena groan, throwing her head back and leaning her forehead againt the wall. "We defeated the Dane's."

Brida turned out, throwing the bread towards Athena, who caught it. Brida then grabbed the blankets, throwing them around in rage.

Athena pulled a awkward look, bitting into the bread as she still stood against the wall. "Why is this good news?" Uhtred asked Beocca, drinking the ale.

"Alfred acted upon your advice." Beocca nodded his head. "You share his glory."

"Glory?" Brida scoffed, turning to face the priest with a glare. "Then why is he caged and left to shit in the corner?" She harshly asked, panting heavily as she threw the blanket down. "You call that glory?"

"Can she not hold her tongue for just one moment?" Beocca asked Uhtred, making Athena raise her brow at his tone.

"She is free to speak, is she not—"

"No she cannot and she will not!" Brida suddenly yelled, taking Athena by surprise as she threw the food at Beocca. "Keep your food!"

Athena shared a look with Uhtred, her eyes wide as she slowly took a bite of the bread, turning back to Brida.

"Only Alfred can order your release!" Beocca breathed out heavily, ignoring the food that had been thrown at him. "I will speak with him!" He shook his head at Brida and her actions. "You should spend this time, girl, to contemplate improvement!" He harshly said as Brida narrowed her eyes, bringing her face close to the bars.

"I will use this time to curse you." She slowly promised the Priest, her eyes still narrowed.

"Then do it."

"Alfred refused mine and my sister's sword." Uhtred started, making Athena raise her brow. She did not promise Alfred anything. She had promised Uhtred that she would stay by his side, besides, Uhtred was the only family Athena had left, Young Ragnar being in Ireland. She would not use her own sword to kill Dane's. "We won't be offering it again unless he begs."

Athena sighed, grabbing her blanket and walking towards the wall, sitting down and continuing to eat the bread.

"Lord, sometimes I wonder whether your pig-headedness is not simple stupidity." Beocca said as Uhtred moved away from the bars. "He'll send for you when he had scraped the mud and blood from his mail."

"We will give thanks to Odin for our deliverance." Brida bitterly said, her head still between the bars as she spoke to Beocca.

"Thanks for the bread!" Athena called out as she watched Beocca leave, making Brida turn to her with a raised brow. "What, I am hungry?" She simply said, taking another bite of the bread. "Beocca seems kind, it is not his fault we are trapped in here." She uttered, shrugging her shoulder.

She did not fully trust the priest, but Uhtred spoke so highly of him, and Athena trusted Uhtred. So she trusted whoever Uhtred did.

Brida slowly sat down beside Athena, looking down at her hands as she looked at Uhtred. "You are a hero of Wessex." She bitterly spoke, shaking her head as Athena offered her some food. "Congratulations."

"We're alive." Uhtred said, picking up the apple from the floor and biting into it.

"For now." Athena uttered, nibbling the bread as Uhtred threw her the ale towards her.

Later, Beocca had let them out of their cell and brought them to the room they had been in with Alfred before.

Athena traced her fingers on the shelves, looking at the rolled up scrolls when the door opened. She turned to see Alfred and a redhead maid behind him. "My lord." Beocca instantly stood.

"Ah, Uhtred." Alfred nodded his head at Athena's brother, crossing his arms in front of him. "Please accept my apology for the delay in your release." He apologised as Athena rolled her eyes. "I had matters to attend."

"Ale, Father?" The redhead asked Beocca, holding out the cup with a smile.

"A little, and for our guests." Beocca nodded as he turned to the maid, helping her pour the ale.

"It seems you spoke the truth." Alfred sighed, eyes still on Uhtred.

"I did."

"Though I realise our victory is temporary, I am indebted, Wessex is indebted." Alfredtom him. Athena took the cup from the maids hand, nodding her head with a weary look. "Is my apology enough?"

"It is not, Lord." Uhtred slightly smirked as Beocca quickly turned to Uhtred.

"What Uhtred means is that it is not necessary." Beocca instantly butted in, side-eyeing Uhtred.

"I wish to be seen as an ealdorman, because I am." Uhtred simply said, making Brida and Athena share a look.

"In Northumbria. This is Wessex." Alfred frowned, tilting his head to the side.

"This is England." Uhtred smugly said. "One kingdom, that is what you said." He slowly nodded his head.

"You are without lands, completely." Alfred pointed out, raising his brow as he looked Uhtred up and down.

"Then that's what I want—that's what I deserve, land."

Alfred sighed, shaking his head at Uhtred's words. "I brought you here solely to convey my thanks, but we shall talk further at some point, now I have other more important matters to attend."

Alfred quickly walked past Uhtred and Beocca, making Uhtred turn around. "I gave you victory, lord." Uhtred reminded Alfred. "What to more important than that?"

"The king is dead."

Athena slowly turned around, her eyes wide as she listened to his words. She had to bite back the smirk that was itching to make its way onto her face.

"Since when?" Beocca asked, frown on his face.

"I have not long left him." Alfred explained, turning back around and holding his hands in front of him. "My first act as king will be to offer the Danes a peace." Athena raised her brow at that.

"They will think you spineless..." Brida started, rolling her eyes as she noticed the look Alfred sent her. "Lord." She quickly added.

"Then I just convince them otherwise." Alfred said, his eyes on Brida as Brida raised her brow. "Girl, bring some fruits to my chamber, some chopped apples and milk." He told the maid. "Rest, wash, eat well, you have earned it." He told the three before walking away.

"What are you saying?" Beocca asked Uhtred in a hushed whisper. "You do not speak to a future king in that matter."

"He's not my lord and he won't be my king." Uhtred quickly said, rubbing his hand across his forehead as he turned to Beocca.

"Hear me clearly, Uhtred. Alfred is the man to follow." Beocca persisted, his words strong as he looked up at Uhtred. "He is your way back to Bebbanburg, as Lord and master."

"Uhtred's path is Uhtred's business, not that do a priest." Brida hardly said, moving to stand in front of Beocca.

"Forgive me, Lord." Beocca slowly turned back to face Uhtred. "I must leave, pray for strength and to expunge these unholy thoughts that fill my mind." Beocca glared at Brida, who grinned.

Beocca was quick to leave, Athena watching as he stormed away. Athena breathed out, looking over at Uhtred with a confused stare.

Athena didn't understand Uhtred's thoughts. She did not want to stay in Wessex. She was a dane through and through. Nothing would change that.

She would not side with the Saxons—Christian's at that. She would not go againt the Danes.

And she knew Brida would not either.

Athena was happy to be reunited with her sword, and to change out of her mud and blood stained dress.

Uhtred decided that they should stay at Wessex, but Athena was not to sure. She feared that Alfred would betray them, but she trusted Uhtred.

And she promised she would stay beside Uhtred, but not for the sake of Wessex or the Saxons. Athena could not leave her little brother, so she had agreed to help Alfred.

She would not be seen as a Saxon warrior, she would always be a Dane warrior, nothing more, nothing less.

She wished Young Ragnar wasn't not in Ireland—that he was here, with herself and Uhtred. Be a family once more.

Now Alfred was king, and he wanted to arrange a truce with the Danes. Athena refused to be there at the meeting, not wanting to be seen a traitor to her people, but she knew her brother did not care if he was called a traitor. He worried for Athena more than he did himself.

She did not want to be seen at the King Alfred's side. He was a Saxon, she was a Dane. But, reluctantly, she promised him her sword, which the king was grateful for, having heard about her battles from when she was a young child.

Alfred had arranged peace with the Danes, even though they had asked for Uhtred's head.

It had gone well, but now they sat in a tent, listening to the Kings words. "They have been halted, but nothing more." He started, looking down at the people around him. "They are not defeated. Our task now is both simple and impossible. We determine what they will do."

"They will do what Dane's do, attack." A man spoke, making Athena turn to face him with a glare.

"How? Where? When? How many?"

"We're supposed to be celebrating peace, do we have to talk of fighting?" The kings wife asked, shaking her head at her husband.

"We do, my dear, because the peace will not last." Alfred nodded his head, hands clasped in front of him.

"It'll take them at least a year beside they can gather a second great army." Uhtred spoke up from beside Athena, looking up at Alfred.

"Do we have your word?"

"Son." Odda warned his son, a sharp look on his face.

"Is there any meat here?" Brida questioned, a look of disgust on her face as she stared at the grule in her bowl. Athena bit back a laugh, lowering her head.

"Should she even be here?" Athena raised her brow at the Kings wife, as did Brida. "Or should she?" She bitterly said, looking at Athena.

"I promised my sword to your husband, Lady." Athena cleared her throat, sitting up as she calmly stared at the woman. She would not let a Saxon get the better of her. "It is good to have a Dane warrior on your side, is it not?" She slightly grinned at Lady Ælswith's glare.

"And Brida is my guest." Uhtred added, smirking at his sister's words. He knew she didn't want to be fighting the Dane's, but they had betrayed them, trusting the words of Kjartan and believing Uhtred killed their family.

Ubba had threatened Uhtred, so Athena didn't see a problem with killing him, nor Guthrum. And if any other Dane wanted to hurt Uhtred, she wouldn't mind putting her sword through their hearts and sending them go Valhalla.

"You should have taken up the king's offer of a wife." Ælswith bitterly said as Athena tilted her head to the side. "A lady." She added.

Athena sent a sharp glare in her direction, which she caught, turning away as Athena grinned in victory, leaning back in her seat.

"What happens next is that they will come by land and sea." Alfred changed the conversation quickly. "They will split our army in two, possibly more. Now, Uhtred may be correct, this may not occur for a year or more, but what is clear is that we need ships." He breathed out, looking at Uhtred. "We are bordered by water, yet we have so few ships."

"You'll not get me on a ship." Odda grunted, shaking his head at Alfred. "I'll volunteer my son." He pointed to the boy beside him.

"To save our shores, we have to look beyond them, and to serve God." Athena bit back a groan at Alfred's words, squeezing her eyes shut. Do these people talk about anything else but god?

"Amen." Ælswith smiled at her husband. "Praise him."

"Uhtred, the beasts, on the prows of Dane's ships, they are a representation of their gods?" Alfred questioned the man, raising his brow.

"No, lord." Uhtred shook his head. "They are just beasts." He explained. "They can be lifted, so not to frighten the spirits of the land."

A chuckle made Athena turn, looking at Beocca. "Spirits of the land." He chuckled once more.

"I would like to know why some of them make their own teeth into points." Leofric uttered, shaking his head with disgust.

"They do that?" Ælswith's eyes widened as she turned to Leofric.

"It is to show that they aren't afraid." Athena sighed, looking over at Leofric. "They inflict pain on themselves, imagine what they could do to a Saxon." She cheekily said, bitting back her smirk at the fear in Ælswith's eyes.

"We will understand them more by the day, I'm sure." Alfred slowly nodded his head, clearing his throat. "Uhtred and Athena of the Dane's have promised me a year of their service."

Athena casted her head down, bitting the inside of her cheek at his words. She only did that so Uhtred would get his home back from his uncle. "Is that so?" Father Beocca uttered, looking at Uhtred with a small smile.

"It is." Alfred nodded his head as he pointed to the two. "It will be their responsibility to show our warriors how the Dane's approach battle, the construction of their shield wall, and the like." He explained to his people.

"Lord, if I may." Leofric spoke, turning to the two Dane's with a frown. "The arseling here is barely a man, and she is a girl, you expect them to teach me how to fight?"

Athena tilted her head to the side of his words. "I'll have you know, I killed my first Saxon in battle at the age of thirteen, Leofric." She smirked as she looked at him. "When did you kill your first Dane?"

There was a silence in the tent, making Athena hum, nodding her head with a grin. "My thoughts exactly."

Athena and Uhtred had spent the morning teaching the Saxons the way of the Danes, including the shield wall. Athena was enjoying the time, if she was being frank. The Saxons listened to her words and followed her orders.

Leofric was clearly impressed by the siblings way of fighting, how they worked together as one.

Later than night, the tree sat together, Athena downing the drinks Uhtred kept getting her. "Birda." She lifted her head up at Leofric words.

"What of her?" Uhtred frowned, cutting a slice of apple before eating it.

"Well, I'm no seer, but I'd say she's unhappy." Leofric shrugged his shoulders as Athena slowly nodded her head. Brida did not enjoy being in the company of Saxons, nor did Athena, but Athena realised some of the Saxons weren't bad, and Leofric had slowly started to grow on her—as had Beocca.

"Like my sister, she prefers the company of Dane's to Saxons." Uhtred nudged his sister with a grin, making Athena glare at him. "Nothing wrong in that." He added as he looked at Leofric.

"She's been with the wrong Saxons." Leofric jested, taking a sip from his cup.

"The Danes have a hunger for life."

"Don't we all?"

Athena softly chuckled, shaking her head as she took a sip of her own ale, turning her head to see a man walking over. "Leofric the warrior, may I sit with you?" He asked, not waiting for an answer as he sat beside Leofric and in front of Athena.

"No, you may not." Leofric grunted, shaking his head at the man. "Do the monks know you're missing?" He asked as the man didn't reply, taking a sip from his cup. "Uhtred, Athena, this is Æthelwold." He sighed, pointing to the man.

"Nephew of the king." Uhtred grinned as Æthelwold shook his head.

"No, I am not the nephew of the king." He uttered bitterly. "I am the king."

Athena brought her hand to her mouth, trying to quieten the laugh that left her lips. "I do not see the crown on your head, boy." Athena cleared her throat, raising her brow as she pointed to him. Leofric let out an amused laugh, staring at the Dane, who kept her eyes on Æthelwold.

"Because Alfred stole it from me." Æthelwold smirked at her, making her look at him in disgust, moving closer to Uhtred. "What are we talking about?" He cleared his throat, taking a sip out of his cup.

"Alfred."

"He will not allow me to fight." Æthelwold quickly said, placing his cup down. "Have I told you that?"

"You can fight?" Athena looked him up and down with a slight frown. "With those twig for arms?"

Æthelwold's face dropped at her words, turning to Leofric, who was merely chuckling at her words.

"Yes, I can." Æthelwold glared at her, making her glare back, her eyes narrowing at the Saxon. "I-I would like you, Warrior Leofric, to teach me how to fight and I shall teach you how to..."

"Go on." Leofric nodded his head, wanting him to continue you.

"You will not forget to pay for this." A woman walked to their table, looking sharply at Leofric as she re-poured their drinks. Athena softly smiled at the woman, pulling her drink back and taking a sip from it.

"Have I ever?" Leofric answered with a grin, looking up at the woman.

"Once or twice." She responded, looking down at him before leaving.

"Alfred was caught humping a nun once."

Athena covered her mouth once more, fighting back her laugh, as did Uhtred, almost choking on his ale. Athena patted her brothers back, looking back at Æthelwold.

"What I ought to do is slit his gizzard—"

Athena quickly raised her cup, watching as Leofric pressed Æthelwold's face into the wooden table.

"Say that to anyone but me, boy, and you'll be hanged." Leofric warned him, the words hissing from his lips.

"You're hurting royalty." Æthelwold grunted, his head still against the wood before Leofric roughly let go of him.

Athena sighed as she placed her cup back on the table, looking between Leofric and Æthelwold.

"You're lucky Alfred hasn't had you killed." Uhtred added, looking over at the man with a slight grin.

"God will not allow him." Æthelwold shrugged his shoulders as he picked his cup back up. "I like God."

"I bet you do." Athena uttered, earning a nudge from Uhtred as he shook his head with a grin. Athena did not like Æthelwold, she felt a weird vibe from him and didn't like it.

Uhtred once again had drunk too much, making Athena help him back to his room. Athena held onto his arm as they walked through the village.

Uhtred staggered as he walked, leaning his weight on Athena. "Why must you be so heavy?" Athena grunted as she carefully avoided the chickens.

"I am not heavy, sister." He slurred, shaking his head as he laid all of his weight into Athena's side.

"You're banned from bread and ale." Athena grunted, keeping her arm around his waist as she guided him home.

Uhtred chuckled at her words, looking down at the chickens before clucking at them, making Athena roll her eyes at him.

"You fool." She uttered, dragging him away from the chickens with a smile.

"You like it here, admit it." Uhtred slurred his words, a drunken smile on his face as he looked down at her. Uhtred always knew how to analyse and read Athena, sometimes it was difficult, but they had grown up into warriors together. If her voice didn't say it, her face did.

Athena raised her brow. "I tolerate it." Athena hummed, looking up at him. "I am only here for you, brother. I have no loyalties to these Saxons, but some of them are...decent. And I keep my word." She tilted her head to the side as Uhtred chuckled once more, flicking her arm as she scoffed, smacking his arm. "Come on, I bet Brida is missing us."

The pair walked into the room, seeing Brida on the bed, the box of Ragnar's inheritance in front of her.

Athena frowned as she leaned Uhtred against the wall and shut the door behind her. "Silver?" Uhtred questioned, looking down at Brida.

"Yes." She gently smiled at the pair, fiddling with the silver in her hands.

"Why? Are you leaving us?" Uhtred asked as Brida tilted her head, looking at Athena.

"Is he drunk?" She asked Athena, making the blonde slowly nod her head, scratching the back of her head. "Are you?"

"Don't be ridiculous." Athena scoffed, dropping her hands to cross her arms over her chest. "It takes me a lot of ale to be drunk." She rolled her eyes.

Brida sighed as she looked down at the silver. "We will give half the silver to Young Ragnar." Brida told them, making Athena frown. "Half to Athena, too." She then stood up. "Tomorrow, dusk." She smiled at them.

Athena's eyes widened, a soft scoff leaving her lips at Brida's words. "He is here?" Athena asked with a smile. She wanted to see her older brother, she had missed him.

"Yes." Brida nodded her head, reaching out to hold Athena's arm and squeezed it. "We can tell him the truth, and we can join Ragnar and his men."

Athena was beyond happy to hear that her brother was okay and was here. She could tell him what had happened to their family, and his Uhtred did not kill them.

"It'll be a surprise when he sees you." Brida added, looking over at Athena, whose smile hadn't faltered.

Athena felt like jumping up and down in the spot, looking up at Uhtred, who was also smiling. Athena let out a chuckle, wrapping her arms around Brida's neck.

Athena had not slept at all since the news of Young Ragnar. She was too excited to see him. She hadn't seen him in years.

She was a mere girl the last time she had saw him—fourteen. Now she was a woman grown. She felt guilty at the fact he thought she was dead.

Athena walked in the woods, knowing where Brida had arranged the meeting. Athena couldn't wait to see him, to show him she was not dead.

Her footsteps were silent as she came across a horse, Young Ragnar's horse. She softly petted it with a smile, looking over to the three figures.

Uhtred saw her, smile on his face as he looked over Ragnar's shoulder. Athena moved closer as she watched Ragnar turn around, a frown on his face until he saw her.

He turned to Uhtred and Brida, before turning back to Athena, who was looking at him with teary eyes.

She had waited for this moment, to be reunited with her older brother. Athena didn't think twice as she quickly made her way towards him, instantly pulling him into a hug, Ragnar wrapping his arms around her.

"You're alive." Ragnar breathed out, holding onto her as if she would disappear. "I knew you couldn't be dead."

Athena chuckled, resting her head on his shoulder as she blinked away her tears. "I cannot be killed." She jested, pulling out of the hug and looking up at him, keeping her hands on his arms. "You have not changed."

"You have." Ragnar grinned down at her, holding onto her shoulders, not wanting to let go of her. "You're grown." He added, culling the side of her face as she leaned into his touch.

"That is what happens when you grow up." She rolled her eyes, grin still on her face as she looked up at him.

"Still a jester I see." Ragnar shook his head at her sarcastic words, pulling her into a hug once more.

Athena kept her head on his shoulder, letting out a heavy breath. "I couldn't save them." She quietly said, shaking her head as she sniffled. "Kjartan killed them, set our home aflame." She pulled out of the hug, tears in her eyes as he cupped her face. "I am sorry."

Ragnar gently shushed her, wiping her tears as he shook his head. "Do not apologise, sister." He uttered, a gentle smile on his face. "It is not your fault."

Uhtred smiled at their interaction, breathing in as he looked down at the box full of silver. "We have Ragnar's wealth." He told Ragnar, making him and Athena turn to him, still holding each other. "We kept it for you and Athena." He nodded his head at Ragnar.

"I've seen this moment in my dress so many times." Brida softly chuckled, sniffling as she smiled at the three.

It was soon nightfall, and Athena didn't move from Ragnar's side, not wanting to leave him. Athena stared at the fire, listening to Young Ragnar's words.

"So Kjartan's story is that the English rose againt our father, encouraged by you." Ragnar explained, looking at Untred with a frown. "He claims to have revenged himself for the killers."

"Did you ever believe him?" Athena softly asked, leaning her head on his shoulder as she looked up at him.

Ragnar looked down at her with a soft smile, shaking his head as he squeezed her arm in reassurance. "Never." He chucked. "But he is Lord Kjartan now. He has three times the men, and the war of Ubba." Athena rolled her eyes, looking back at the fire. "When I kill him, it will need to be planned."

"When we kill him."

Athena looked up at Uhtred's words, who gestured to himself, Ragnar and Athena. And Athena would, wanting revenge for her family.

"It will be dangerous."

"It must be done." Athena uttered, eyes turning back to the flames in front of her, watching it dance as it reflected off of her eyes.

"Ragnar, we're with you." Birda promised, holding onto Uhtred's hand. Athena and Uhtred shared a look for a slight moment.

"Then you will sail with me?" He grinned at the three, nodding his head.

"I will." Brida nodded her head, looking at Uhtred and Athena with pleading eyes.

Athena felt herself grow pale, fidgeting with Thor's hammer around her neck. "Me and Athena have sworn to Alfred."

Athena felt Ragnar's gaze on her, and she feared he would hate her for doing such a thing. "It means nothing." Brida shook her head, still holding onto Uhtred's hand.

"Well, if you have sworn..." Ragnar breathed in, looking at the pair. "Then you must keep your word." He nodded his head as Athena bit the inside of her cheek.

Athena slowly lifted her head up, looking at Ragnar with a sad smile as he squeezed her leg before standing up.

"I need this revenge like I need water." Uhtred abruptly said, making Ragnar turn back around and look at him. "When the time is right, I swear I will be with you." Uhtred promised their brother.

"As will I." Athena softly spoke, looking over her shoulder at Ragnar, who smiled at the pair.

"I know."

And with that, he turned around, going to his horse. Athena sadly watched. She had to stay with Uhtred, she could not let anything happen to him, even if that meant helping the Saxons—helping Alfred.

But Athena knew where her loyalties lie: with her family. Athena had started to think that she had no place anywhere. The Dane's saw her as a traitor. The Saxons saw her as a cold-blooded Dane.

But all she had was Uhtred. And young Ragnar. And Brida.

— madeleines notes

I didn't realise how hard it would be with this plot of Athena being a Dane and not liking Saxons, but 🤷‍♀️

My girl just wants revenge for her family, and if that means she'd have to join the Saxons, she would.

But my girl is still a Dane through and through. And she will not let the Saxons forget that.

UGH she literally loves her siblings so much, makes me cry that she's not with Ragnar. But.. crying.

Long as chapter yet again, Oopsies...

AYE WELL.

26th July 2024
4938 words