▃▃▃▃▃ ‧₊˚⊹ ‧₊˚⊹ ▃▃▃▃▃
THE LAST KINGDOM
𝐀𝐂𝐓 𝐎𝐍𝐄 ─── ❛ alliances

SKIN AND BONES ₊˚.༄𖥸 ──
𑁍₊𓄹 -- ❪ the last kingdom ❫. 𓄹
╭ ‧₊˚⊹ 你好，欢迎光临
╰ ✦ Wessex╭ ᘒ ✦

Sighs left Valeria's lips as she lifted her arm, her sword clashing against Aldhelm's. Their words clashed together as Valeria stepped back, almost tripping over her own feet.

That gave Aldhelm the opportunity to swiftly move his sword to the side of Valeria's neck, a pant leaving his lips. "Dead."

Valeria groaned, lowering her arms as she panted heavily. "You are more experienced than I." She pushed her curls out of her face. "I am better with my bow." She complained, sheathing her sword in its holder around her waist.

"You cannot attack a Dane with an arrow from a close range, Lady." Aldhelm grinned as he sheathed his on sword, clapping his hands behind him.

Valeria rolled her eyes, shaking her head as she stared at him. "I can if I willed it." She hummed, shrugging her shoulders with a grin. "And it is not like I will be in battle, my brother would not let me." She crossed her arms over her chest with a sigh. "He only allows me to train with you."

"Incase you happen to run into a Dane." Aldhelm simply explained, grin on his face as he stepped forwards. "And if that will ever the case, you need to get better."

Valeria scoffed, moving forwards to whack his arm with a grin. "You are lucky you are my friend." She chuckled, tilting her head to the side. "Now, I mush excuse myself and get ready." She sighed, looking up at him. "We have a wedding on our hands."

Valeria had arrived at Winchester, having watched how everyone reacted to seeing her brother.

She firmly remained beside Aldhelm, smiling down at the children that waved at them with joy.

It was evident everyone had shown up for the wedding, wanting to behold the union between the Kings daughter and Æthelred.

Valeria was glad that nobody in Winchester knew her name or that she was a bastard born. It gave her freedom.

That is why she sat in a nearby Alehouse. Perhaps it was not a good idea to drink the night before her brother's freedom, but she didn't care. She couldn't handle her ale.

Valeria held a cup of ale in her hand, a grin on her face as she watched the rowdy Saxon men move around the Alehouse. The wedding was an excuse for the men to get drunk. A celebration to all.

Sipping the ale, Valeria remained in the corner of the alehouse, her hood over her head as her curls dangled in front of her face.

She hadn't been there long, only on her third cup of ale. Once she had finished her third, she decided she'd have one more before she left back to the palace.

Valeria made her way towards the front, placing a coin down on the table as she waited for another cup of ale.

Smiling politely at the barmaid, reaching for her cup as she placed a coin on the table. Without thinking, Valeria abruptly turned around, only to slam into a chest, her ale spilling onto her cloak.

A curse left her lips as she looked up at the man with an apologetic look, her hood falling. "I am so sorry." Valeria immediately apologised, shaking her head and placing her now empty cup on the table as she looked up at the man.

"I should be the one apologizing, my apologies, m'lady." He replied with a soft smile, his eyes briefly scanning her. Valeria noticed his accent, one that did not belong to Winchester.

Valeria awkwardly chuckled, trying to dry her cloak with her hands, seen as though she now had ale soaking her arms. "I should have looked before I turned."

He chuckled along with her. He noticed her attempts to dry her cloak with mild amusement, raising his eyebrow before grabbing a cloth from the table. "Oh, here, don't use y'ur cloak." He said, offering the cloth to her.

Valeria pursed her lips, sending him a small smile as she took the cloth from his hands. "Thank you..." She trailed off, as if waiting for him to tell her his name.

He nodded as he noticed her expectant look and chuckled once more. "Finan. I am Finan." He replied, returning her smile with a warmer one of his own.

She hummed, nodding her head with a smile as she wiped her arms with the cloth. "Valeria." She introduced herself, placing the cloth down on the table.

"Valeria?" Valeria hummed at his words. "That's a beautiful name." He replied, his smile widening. He nodded to the nearby seats, raising an eyebrow in an unspoken question.

Valeria raised her brow at the offer, but nodded her head with a smile. She reached for her cup of ale, moving to follow him.

Finan made his way to an empty table before he sat. He watched as she followed and sat across from him, his smile still on his lips. "And what might be a pretty lady like y'urself doing in here alone?"

Shrugging her shoulders, Valeria placed her cup of ale down on the table as she looked over at him. "Boredom, mayhaps." She chuckled.

Finan chuckled along with her. He tilted his head slightly at her answer, his eyes studying her face for a moment before he spoke again. "And y'ur not scared of some drunken fool attempting to harass ya?"

Valerie shrugged her shoulders once more, looking around at the men in the alehouse. "They all seemed too focused on their ale." She chuckled, turning back to him as she moved her curls from her face.

He chuckled at that, nodding in agreement as he glanced around the alehouse as well. He then glanced back to her, watching her brush her curls out of her face. "Y'ur observant, I'll give ya that."

Valeria hummed in agreement, slowly nodding her head as she brought her cup of ale to her lips, taking a sip. "That I am." She chuckled once more. She then pointed to him with a raised brow. "You are not from Winchester." She noticed, referring to his accent. "Irish?"

She was observant indeed, Finan thought to himself. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips and he chuckled again. "I am indeed. How did ya figure?" He playfully said. "The accent?"

"The accent." Valeria nodded at his words. "T'is giveaway." She chuckled, leaning back in her seat with a grin.

He smirked and raised an eyebrow at her. His eyes briefly roamed over her face before he spoke, a hint of mischief in his voice. "And where are ya from?"

"Mercia." Valeria answered, bringing her cup to her lips once more, speaking before taking a sip. "I have come for the royal wedding." Which wasn't a lie, but she didn't want to be known to be the Lord of Mercia's sister.

He raised an eyebrow, and chuckled, leaning back as well. "Ah, yes, that wedding. That explains it." He paused for a moment, his eyes roaming her face once more before he spoke. "Do you often go to public ale houses by y'urself?"

"In Mercia, yes." She nodded her head, grin still on her face. "Even when I am not aloud to." She tsked, shrugging her shoulders.

Valeria would often sneak out to be able to go to the ale houses is Mercia, when her brother did not let her. She was glad Aldhelm hid that from him.

Finan chuckled, his smirk only widening as he listened to her words. A hint of mischief appeared in his eyes again as he spoke. "And why aren't ya allowed?"

She pursed her lips as she stared down at her cup. "Well, I am, just not alone." Valeria corrected, a chuckle leaving her lips.

Finan hummed in acknowledgement. He leaned forward slightly, his eyes studying her face intently. "And how come y'ur alone tonight?"

"My brother is preoccupied." Valeria simply said, not going into much detail. "As is my usual friend."

He tilted his eyebrows slightly, his expression showing that he was still curious about her answer. He reached for his own cup, taking a sip of his ale before he spoke again. "Ah, I see... and ya brother wouldn't be too happy with his pretty sister alone at night would he?"

"Perhaps not." She hummed, grin still on her face as she tilted her head. "But he will not know." She shrugged her shoulders, her grin not faltering as she shared at him.

Finan chuckled again, leaning closer to her. "A mischievous one, aren't ya?"

Valeria tilted her head to the side with pursed lips. "So I've been told." She raised her brows with a grin, bringing her cup to her lips and taking a sip.

"Oh, I've no doubt about that" Finan replied in a playful tone, his smile widening with her grin. He paused for a moment before continuing, his voice now slightly lower. "And what if I'd have been some drunken fool wanting to take advantage?"

Raising her brow at that, Valeria placed her cup down on the table, a sigh leaving her lips as she looked over at him. "Well, I can protect myself." She simply said, shrugging her shoulders. "And you do not seem like the a fool, perhaps a drunk, but no fool."

Finan smirked at that. He was not surprised by her answer. He chuckled at her comment about being a drunk, but not a fool, his smirk widening further before he spoke again. "Y'ur quick. Witty. I like tha'" He said with a nod, his eyes staring at her intently, almost studying her.

"Oh, do you?" Valeria raised her brow with a grin, running her finger around the rim of her cup.

He chuckled once more, his smirk never leaving his lips. He leaned back slightly in his chair again. "I do" He replied. His eyes followed her finger around the rim of her cup, his smirk widening. He was enjoying the little game she was playing, that much was obvious.

Valeria hummed, nodding her head with a grin, bringing her cup of ale to her lips once more. Mayhaps it was the ale that was making her confident, or how relaxed she felt with him.

Finan watched her silently as she drank her ale. For a moment he said nothing, watching the way her throat moved as she swallowed the ale, an unfamiliar feeling starting to take over him. He pushed the feeling aside for a moment before he spoke again. "So, do ya plan on staying alone all night?"

Valeria hid an amused look behind her cup, quickly clearing her throat as she place the cup down. "Depends how the night goes." She shrugged her shoulders, grin still playing at her lips as she leaned her chin in her palm.

His eyebrows raised again slightly. He looked at her for a moment, the smirk still on his lips. He noticed the way she held her chin in her palm, his eyes roaming over her face until his gaze met hers again. "And how about a man keeping ya company?"

Valeria chuckled at that, tilting her head to the side as she stared over at him. "And whom would that man be?" She playfully jested.

"Me." Finan simply said, his smirk widening. He leaned forward again, resting his forearms on the table, his eyes never leaving hers.

She hummed, grin still on her lips as she slowly nodded her head. "Mayhaps." She pursed her lips, the teasing look still on her face.

"Just mayhaps?" He chuckled and tilted his head slightly. He had to admit, she intrigued him. He wasn't used to ladies who were so quick with their wit, so he found her extremely interesting... and quite attractive.

Valeria chuckled, leaning forwards in her seat as she raised her brow. "What else do you will for me to say?"

"How about something like 'yes, I would like tha'." Finan said in a playful tone, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips as he leaned in closer as well.

She rolled her eyes with an amused look, leaning her chin off of her hand. "Yes, I would like that." She said in a teasing tone. "There, better?" She raised her brow.

He chuckled again. He found her teasing tone amusing. His eyes scanned her face as a smile widened on his lips, finding her to be endearing as he leaned even closer to her, his chin resting on his palm. His voice had returned to a similar lower, seductive tone as before as he spoke again. "Much better, darlin'."

Valeria rolled her eyes at the nickname, keeping her eyes on his as she bit on her bottom lip. As Finan leaned in closer, he studied her face again.

The feeling he had pushed aside earlier was starting to become more prominent now. He didn't know why though. He had never reacted to any woman like this before...he ignored the feeling once again, trying to focus only on her.

Finan was now close enough that he could properly see her face without having to lean closer. He could see every feature of her face clearly. Her eyes, her nose, her lips, especially the dimples when she smiled—everything. He let his eyes fall onto her lips for a moment, the feeling inside him getting stronger.

Valeria pursed her lips as she tilted her head to the side, noticing his stare on her. She smirked as she took in the details of his face, including the prominent scar across his forehead. It was evident he was a warrior, by his he carried himself. And the sword around his waist.

Finan noticed the way she eyed his face, her gaze lingering on the large, prominent scar on his forehead. But that only made his smirk widen. "Like what ya see?" He teased, smirking at her.

"Perhaps." She hummed, nodding her head with a grin. "You are not that bad to look at." She quipped with a grin, leaning back in her seat as she finished the last bit of her ale.

"Just 'not bad'?" He chuckled loudly, raising a brow in her direction. He was amused with the way she interacted with him. It was not like any other woman he had met.

Finan leaned forwards to rest his chin on his hand, looking at her with an obviously playful expression.

Valeria rolled her eyes. "That is what I said, is it not?" She playfully said, grin still decorating her lips as she stared at him.

A smile returned to his lips at her playful words. He was starting to really like her. She was as quick and witty as he was. He loved it.

Finan watched her in silence for a moment, his eyes roaming over her face, as if studying her, before he spoke again in a playful tone. "Ya know, y'ur not bad to look at y'urself."

Valeria rolled her eyes with a grin. "You flatter me, Irishman." She sarcastically said, shaking her head with an amused look.

"I'm not flattering ya. I'm simply stating a fact." Finan replied in a serious tone. He then smirked, tilting his head slightly as his eyes roamed over her face once more, noticing the way her curls hung around her face.

"So you are." Valeria hummed, slowly nodding her head as she kept her eyes on him.

He hummed in agreement. His smirk turned into a smile as he continued staring at her, his eyes now noticing the way her tongue briefly wet her lips. For some reason, the action was driving him crazy. Finan couldn't resist. He leaned closer to her, so close that his face was now inches away from hers*

Valerie pursed her lips as she watched him, tilting her head to the side as she raised her brow with a knowing look. "Are you attempting to kiss me, Irishman?" She teased, but didn't move.

Finan chuckled at her comment and nodded. "Perhaps I am. What are ya going to do about that?" He had expected her to protest, push him away, anything. The fact that she didn't sent him over the edge a bit. He continued leaning in, his proximity making it look like he was really about to kiss her.

Valeria bit back a grin as she kept her head tilted. She rolled her eyes with a sigh, moving to place her hand on his cheek, giving it a tap. "I am not kissing you in an alehouse." She insisted with a chuckle.

Finan let out a small sigh, shaking his head slightly as he was brought back to reality. Her answer was reasonable. They were surrounded by drunken men, not exactly the proper place to kiss.

His smile returned to his lips when he felt her hand on his cheek, the sudden touch sending bolts of electricity through him. He leaned into her touch, the feeling only becoming stronger. "And what if I really want to kiss you?"

"Then perhaps we leave." Valeria uttered,  shrugging her shoulders as her voice trailed off, keeping her hand on his cheek. "Somewhere more suitable."

Finan nodded, a smile appearing on his lips yet again. His hand reached up to place itself slightly over hers, his eyes never leaving hers.

He didn't know what it was about her that was making him feel so... out of control. All he knew was that he needed a place where they could be alone.. "Come with me"

Valeria didn't need to be told twice as she stood up from her seat, dropping her hand from his cheek as she followed him out of the Alehouse.

She pulled her hood over her head, grin on her face as she watched the drunken men run around the streets of Winchester.

Finan smiled as he watched her walk out of the ale house behind him. He felt an unfamiliar feeling of excitement when he saw the grin on her face. He had never reacted so much to any woman before, but this one... this one was different.

He led her down the street, her hand in his, trying to get to the inn where he was staying. He needed to get her alone. They were both silent as they walked, both in their own thoughts.

Valeria kept her hand in his, letting him lead the way as she followed, continuing to look around with a smile as she watched the people of Winchester.

They kept walking, the way to the inn thankfully wasn't long. The people around them were drunken and rowdy, but none of them paid the duo any mind. It was a blessing in a way, less prying eyes, less people to notice them.

Eventually they arrived at the inn. It was more quiet here, the sound of people screaming and yelling had faded. He looked down at her. Her hood was still on, hiding her face from others. He couldn't help but smile, leading her inside.

Finan guided her through the inn, up the stairs to his room. Once they were inside, he closed the door behind them and locked it. The room was dark, only a small amount of light coming in from the window.

Valeria pulled her cloak over her head, turning to him with a grin and a raised brow. She did not know why her heart was beating in her chest as she stared up at him.

Finan was quiet for a moment, staring at her. They were alone. He could touch her now. So why wasn't he doing that? He stared at her, taking in every feature of her face, noticing her hair and eyes, now more clearly in the low light of the room. He took a few slow steps towards her, staring down at her.

Valeria's lips parted as she stared up at him, tilting her head to the side. "What?" She quietly chuckled, swallowing thickly as she clasped her hands in front of her.

Finan could feel all the feelings he had pushed aside earlier rushing to the surface as he stared down at her. The silence in the room only making it more intense.

He was staring at her lips, wanting to kiss them, to devour them. He had never felt like this before, with any woman. "Y'ur beautiful..." He said quietly, a small, almost vulnerable expression appearing on his face.

Valeria softly smiled, ignoring the rush of heat that made its way to her neck and cheeks, keeping her eyes on him. She did not understand why she felt this way. Of course she had laid with a man before. So why was this any different?

Finan took another small step towards her, now standing extremely close to her, so close that he was towering over her. The sight made him smile, how small she was compared to him.

He reached up, gently grabbing her chin with his hand, tilting her head up as his eyes roamed over her face. Valeria sucked in a breath as she continued to stare up at him.

Finan let his thumb gently brush across her lower lip, his eyes flickering from her eyes to her lips. All rational thought had seemingly left his head. All he wanted to do was touch her. He wanted her...

Valeria looked down at his hand for a moment, then back to him with a soft look. She then reached up to hold onto his arm.

Her small hand on his arm made him almost growl. The simple touch of her hand set an even bigger fire in him. He brought his other hand up to cup the side of her face, tilting it up further to get a better look. "Y'ur driving me mad..." Finan muttered, his eyes roaming all over her face.

"And you I." Valeria uttered, her lips parting once more as she stared up at him, swallowing thickly.

He groaned as she spoke, his eyes falling to her parted lips again. With a sudden movement, he leaned forward and crashed his lips on hers, his hand leaving her chin as it came to rest on her waist.

Valeria didn't hesitate to reciprocate the kiss, raising her arms to wrap around his neck and pull him closer to her, deepening the kiss.

Finan let her pull him closer, his other hand now grabbing onto her waist as well, gripping her sides firmly. He could feel her against him. Her warm body against his was like fuel to the fire. He pushed his tongue inside her mouth, devouring her.

A sigh left her lips as she felt his body close to hers, her hands firmly holding onto his neck. Finan could feel her body pressed against his. She was so soft, so small compared to him... He tightened his grip on her waist, pulling her even closer, his tongue still swirling in her mouth, tasting her—devouring her.

Finan's kisses became more urgent, more intense. He needed more of her. He needed all of her... he started walking forward, pressing her backwards until she was backed against the wall. A gasp left Valeria's lips, hers still on his.

Finan broke the kiss as her back hit the wall, his breath coming in short gasps as he looked at her. She was beautiful, pinned against the wall. The urge to take her right there and then became almost overwhelming.

Valeria's breaths matched his as she stared up at him, her arms still around his neck. She swallowed thickly, her swollen lips parting.

Finan looked down at her, taking in her appearance. Her hair was slightly messy, her lips swollen from the kisses, her cheeks were flushed... she was the most beautiful woman he had ever set eyes upon.

And then, without warning, Finan leaned down and buried his head into the crook of Valeria's neck, his lips immediately finding her soft skin. He started to kiss and bite her neck, his tongue and teeth leaving marks.

Valeria squeezed her eyes shut as she leaned her head back, a heavy sigh leaving her lips. Her hands now laid on his arms, her nails digging in.

He groaned at the feeling of her nails on his arms. He continued biting and kissing her neck, alternating between the two, leaving a pattern of red marks all over the soft skin of her neck. His hands slipped from her hips, sliding down to her thighs, gently grabbing them.

Finan lifted her up, holding her against his body, Valeria's legs automatically wrapping around his waist as he held her against the wall. She squeezed her eyes shut once more, keeping her legs wrapped around his waist, her arms around his neck.

Finan could feel his self control slipping further and further away. She was driving him crazy with the way she was holding onto him, the way she was clinging to him. He nipped at the sensitive spot on her neck, lightly scratching his teeth on her skin, leaving another mark as he moved towards the bed.

He gently laid her on the bed, staring down at her. She looked incredible, laying on his bed, with the moonlight on her skin, her hair fanned out. He grunted slightly, taking in the sight. She was beautiful.

He was so far gone at this point, he was completely controlled by his desire for her. Valeria softly smiled up at him, her breaths heavy as she bit on her bottom lip.

Finan slowly laid down on top of her, supporting most of his weight on his forearms. He stared down at her for a moment, taking in her flushed face, her messy hair, her parted lips and the marks on her neck.

The sight made him growl low in his throat. She was driving him insane. All he wanted to do was take her right then and there.

Valeria's breathing calmed down as she reached up to cup his cheek, stroking it with her thumb with a soft look.

And he let out a sharp breath at the feeling of her hand on his cheek. He closed his eyes and leaned into the touch, his own hand coming up to hold her face, his palm gently resting against her skin. Her touch, her skin felt so good against his. As he laid on top of her, he realized how perfect she was... perfect height, perfect size, perfect skin... he leaned forwards again, gently kissing her.

— madeleines notes.

...

SURPRISE 🥰

this is probably so random but it's part of the PLOT 🙌

HAHAHA

that is so badly written bc I cannot write them kinds of scenes for my LIFE!

But I was watching the notebook for the first time and I was FUCKING SOBBING!!!

Now I understand why people cry over it.

BUT.

Have this really surprising chapter HAHAHS

me and Jordan were talking about it and I was giggling bc it's so unexpected but it's for the LOREEEEE 🙌🥺🤭🥰

14th October 2024
4510 words