When Brida came to Saltwic with news of Ragnar's death, Finan and Osferth had been sparring outside the walls.
Sihtric and Ghylena however, had to be fetched from their room, interrupted by Finan's raucous knocking, "HEY! Lovebirds, put some clothes on! We have a visitor."

Watching on as Finan comforted Uhtred, Ghylena shared a look of concern with Sihtric; from the look on his face, she knew he thought this to be Skade's curse striking yet again. That witch had taken too much from them all, and now Lena knew there could be no outcome other than her death. If it was not Uhtred who killed the blonde bitch, it would be her.

<>

Marching up to the gates at Aylesbury, intending on collecting an army from Alfred to fetch Skade, Ghylena raised an eyebrow at the less-than-warm welcome presented to them. A line of spears and shields greeted them, and it was some time before Steappa relented in letting all of their group enter the city— on one condition: they had to leave their weapons at the gates.

Lining up to unburden themselves of blades, Ghylena's turn came after Finan's and before Sihtric's.

Smiling at the soldier who stood awaiting her weapons, she handed him first her bow and quiver which she had collected from Shaeda's saddle.
Next came her trusty axe, which she spun in the air with grace before dropping it in his arms.
The sword Sihtric had gifted her all those years ago followed, it's blade glinting in the afternoon sun.
Then it was both the daggers at her back and thigh, to the sound of giggles from Finan and the huffing soldier who wobbled under her weaponry.

Smiling slightly at Sihtric over her shoulder, she saw him shake his head at her antics, and it was then that she remembered the needle-like knife in her hair; twisting the lone braid in her hands, she dropped the pretty silver dagger inside her quiver.

Sihtric stared, "How long has that been in there?"

"Ghylena, stop playing with the man." Uhtred chastised.

"Lord Aethelred said no weapons, Uhtred, and I wouldn't dare defy such a man." She mocked.

"Lena," Sihtric's tone teased as he stood up to drop his weapons next, nearly as many as her own, "Sarcasm is unladylike."

Ghylena pointed to him as she stared at Uhtred, "He's just as bad!"

"How can you both be married and act like such children?" Uhtred shook his head.

Finan shot in, "I think that may be exactly why they married, Lord."

Uhtred's comment about children had made her wince but Finan had saved her from darker thoughts with his usual self. She did her best to keep up.
"Shut up, Finan. At least Sihtric doesn't have to pay a woman to sleep with him." Ghylena smacked him upside the head as they walked through the gates.

"Enough, you two." Uhtred grabbed both their cloaks, dragging them like a mother cat would it's kittens, with the pair leering at each other like idiots as they laughed the whole time.

<>

Osferth sat with Sihtric and Ghylena whilst Edward made his proposal to Uhtred. Having no doubt that Aethelflaed and Edward's presence together had made her friend uncomfortable, a reminder of his parentage, Ghylena smoothed down the cloak on his shoulders and passed him some ale.

"Eat, Osferth," Sihtric spoke, eyes soft at Lena's motherly display, their loss still echoing, "You will need your strength."

Ghylena studied him, then looked at his royal half-siblings.
Call me crazy, but Osferth looks more alike to his sister than Edward, probably those blue eyes that make him look like a newborn puppy.

<>

They moved swiftly from Aylesbury to Beamfleot, ready to retrieve Skade and face Haesten on the battlefield, trusting in Edward's promise of men. Before approaching the fort in the hopes of baiting Haesten from it, both Uhtred and Sihtric tried to convince Ghylena into staying at the camp— somewhat worried that Edward's reinforcements wouldn't show.

"For the last time, I will fight like the rest of you. Or have you all forgotten the last time I was left at a war camp alone?" Ghylena's statement left no room for argument.

Now stood outside Beamfleot, having been there for nearly half a day, Ghylena slightly regretted her insistence on joining them; she couldn't remember the last time her nose had been so cold, nor her arse so numb.
Sat atop Sihtric's shield as he paced behind her, Ghylena twisted the jewellery in her ears— her last ties to Gisela.
"Send me strength sister, let me free your husband from this witch's curse." A whispered prayer.

She had redone her hair at Aylesbury, trying out a new braid, but her needle-knife was still there, tucked into it at the top like a crown. Rings and other hoops of jewellery were scattered throughout her brown locks, gifted her by Sihtric, and the hair pulled together at the back like a horse's mane. Her tattoos stood plain, black against her smooth skin.

Checking over her equipment once again, Ghylena tightened the buckles which held her quiver up on her waist and checked the string of her bow. She had foregone her sword and axe in favour of speed and agility, left with just her daggers, now sheathed at either side of her hips. She had no shield of her own, but she knew that Sihtric would always be her shield.

"It's been half a day." Uhtred sighed.

"Maybe he's scared of the priest." Finan looked as cold as Lena felt.

"We leave!" Uhtred's order rang out, and everyone moved to follow.

It was Osferth's voice which drew their attention back, his yells of warning: "Lord! Lord! LORD!"

Haesten had clearly been biding his time, gathering men and horses together so as to march on them as one now.
Turning into a sprint, Ghylena pulled ahead of the others, having no shield. Turning around when Uhtred commanded, Ghylena darted forward, unaware of just how fast she had been. Coming up beside Sihtric once more, she began to notch an arrow on its string before Sihtric's arm shoved her back.

"Behind me, Lena! Behind!" He yelled, drawing his shield up to hold against Uhtred's as he turned to face Haesten.

Haesten's warriors shouted and whooped as they complied to his orders, surrounding them and forcing Uhtred's men into a circle.
Ghylena and Osferth stood at the centre, the priest armed with just a staff and the woman with her bow drawn, pointed solely at Haesten.

"No... no, no, no." Osferth mumbled, "May the good Lord protect me. Protect us all."

"We hold!" Uhtred bellowed, "We give them no ground!"

Ghylena threw her voice forward, "We've got no ground to give, Uhtred."

"Not helpful, Lena." Sihtric crowed.

Haesten, the ugly Gossip Dane, spoke then, "Give up Uhtred, and the rest of you will live. All I want is the Dane-Slayer!"

Ghylena was breathing quickly now, trying to control her panic as she tilted her head.
"Call off your men, and I won't shoot you in the balls!" She shouted at Haesten, drawing her arm back further to prove her threat.

She heard Finan snort, then he joined in, "What you will get, Haesten, is my sword up your hairy arse!"

"As you wish. You will die on your knees!" Haesten growled, "I want the head of Uhtred Ragnarsson!"

Haesten's men charged and the others soon followed, the wave of men springing forward as carnage erupted.
Ghylena's first arrow flew straight for Haesten, glancing him in the thigh, and she heard him yell in pain before the fighting around her overwhelmed her.

One man was sent over Uhtred's shoulder, landing between her and Osferth. Her hands full, she yelled to him, "Osferth! That's your job!"

Firing arrow after arrow into the hordes of men, her quiver soon ran empty, and Ghylena had no choice but to wrap her bow over her torso before drawing her blades. A dagger in each hand, she dropped low to the earth.

Their lines had broken, and the ground beneath them had turned to mud underfoot.
Piles of men crushed in towards her— and suddenly Sihtric was at her feet, thrown there by a man she quickly killed, throwing her blade straight at his heart.

"UP!" She grabbed him with one hand, holding her other out in front of them as he got to his feet, "Up, warrior!"

Clasping her arms, he scanned her quickly for injuries as she did the same. He held his shield up, guarding her back and holding her close. Upon seeing her armed with just one knife, he pulled his out and gave it to her.
"Stay close, Lena!"

She nodded and turned back to the slaughter, Sihtric's blade held in reverse grip. As was her typical fighting style, Lena relied on quick , effective strikes, utilising her agility against foes stronger than her.
Men twice her size soon lay dead at her feet, throats slit and blood pooling around them.
She herself sported cuts and bruises, withstanding forceful strikes and blows. Blood spray decorated half her face and hair.

Sihtric fought at her side, swinging his axe with deadly precision in one hand, carving through men with the sword in his other.

Osferth had melted into the crowds and she lost sight of him, left with no choice but to focus on her own survival and her husband's.
"Where is Alfred?!" She called to Sihtric, "Where is Edward!?"

He had no answer for her, his eyes wide in dread as a rush of hopelessness washed through him. Pivoting, he searched for any sign of reinforcements, slamming his axe through another man's shoulder.

"EDWARD! IT'S EDWARD AND HIS ARMY!" Uhtred's spotted them first.

As the cavalry tore through Haesten's men, the blonde man took Skade and ran.

Leaving Beamfleot to Alfred.

Leaving Uhtred still cursed.
Ghylena screamed in frustration as she watched her hope of revenge torn away.

Word Count: 1657

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