#uhtred imagine

[mystic-shadows42]

Trying to Ignore The Last Kingdom Men’s Advances Would Include:

For the past several weeks that Uhtred and his men have resided with you as they hid, you’ve been trying your hardest to keep the men from the young ladies when you should’ve been looking after yourself. Sister Mary had her hands full being an elder nun who often sheltered young ladies who were in need of repairing their reputation wherever they came from.

You yourself were not a nun but one that enjoyed the sheltered life and helping out others. As sister Mary would state, “might as well take the sacred oath.”

It never occurred to you that since Uhtred and his men arrived that he always tended to flock to your side. It caught you off guard that one of your girls nudged you and subtly gestured in Uhtred’s direction that you understood what she was hinting at.

Uhtred had his eyes on you. Not a lustful look but one with keen interest that scared you even more. Once dinner was over Uhtred was the one that volunteered to help you clean. You could feel him staring, making your hands shake in nervousness.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?” He asked with the biggest smile on his face.

“I don’t very much appreciate the way you look at me the way you do. It is inappropriate.”

“It’s hard not to look considering you are very beautiful. Where else am I supposed to place my attention? Certainly not on sister Mary.”

You couldn’t help but stifle a laugh and tried covering your mouth with your hand once sister Mary looked over trying to oversee that nothing of sin occurred in her household. You cleared your throat and waited until the attention was away from you both.

“Flattery can only get you so far my lord Uhtred.”

He placed his hand over yours before taking the dirty bowls from your hands. “It’ll take me far enough.”

Uhtred and his men made it inside the alehouse. It was hard to ignore the group of men especially when they all looked over to where you stood and ended up pushing Finan to where you were.

Finan certainly was no stranger to the alehouse. You and him often chatted igniting the spark that you both felt but never acted on. You were a barmaid from a little town and he was a warrior that was constantly traveling.

It went nothing beyond the casual flirting whenever he came here. After serving him and his companions all night Finan had dragged you away from prying eyes.

“Come away with me.”

You looked at him and chuckled. It was so sudden that you thought he was joking.

“I think you’ve had too much to drink.”

“I haven’t. I swear on my life that you needn’t want for anything.”

The smile on your face dropped knowing he was serious. No one had ever offered to take you away from this place. It was all you’ve ever known but still, you would deny it.

“This is my home.”

“Take a look around. This place offers you nothing but little coin to get by. Come with me and you’ll see the world. Beautiful places beyond what you can imagine. Isn’t that your dream? To see the world? You can see it with me.”

Apprehension filled you. There was nothing more you wanted than to see the world with Finan but you hardly knew the man besides seeing him now and then. You saw men every day of your life at the alehouse and heard how they spoke. All men ever wanted was to bed women and move on. There was no commitment to anything.

Finan held onto your hands. 

“If your fear is that I’ll abandon you, I won’t. I’ll swear it on my lucky sword.”

“Finan,” you whispered.

He unsheathed his sword and knelt down on the floor raising his sword up to you with both hands. “I Finan swear to you that I will honor my word. I will keep you safe and never lie.”

Your heart felt incredibly full like never before.

“Okay.”

Finan’s whole face seemed to light up at your answer.

“You need to stop with all the gifts and coins.” You stated giving Sihtric a serious look when all he was doing was smiling.

“I only wish to provide for you.”

“Why must you do so? I’ve done nothing to deserve such kindness nor your affection. It must stop now. I have children that I must take care of. I don’t have time to get into something that isn’t meant to be.”

He cocked his head to the side regarding your words. He didn’t seem bothered or phased by what you said. No, he looked more determined than ever.

“You think that’s going to stop me from pursuing you? Then you’re sorely mistaken.”

He took a step forward that made you hold your hands up to stop him.

“I have children Sihtric.” You spoke hoping that would deter him just as it did to other men.

“I love children.”

“They don’t very much care for strangers.”

“I’m very entertaining. I carry a sword and have plenty of stories to tell from my adventures. I think that’s enough to capture their attention.”

“You travel constantly. Even if you were to be in their lives they would miss you immensely.”

You were reaching by this point. Anything to try to distance yourself from this man starting to invade your life and into your heart.

“No matter where I go or for how long I will always find my way back to you. That’s a promise and I’m not one for breaking my promises once I’ve made one.”

Osferth barged through the doors of the church in what seemed to be a hurry. He breathed heavily and his eyes widened when he saw you smiling back at him amused by his actions.

He cleared his throat. You tried to hide your smile by biting your lip. You found Osferth to be cute and his nervousness around you was amusing.

“Pardon the intrusion, my lady. I was hoping to see father Beocca or Hild.”

“Neither are here but I am if you need anything.”

He looked down and shuffled his feet.

“I’m afraid it’s private.”

You smiled even more. Osferth was more than welcomed to confide in you after all you were the apprentice of Hild herself.

“Your in God’s house among friends. I’m offering guidance if you’ll allow me to.”

He seemed to debate it then sat down next to you visibly gulping.

“I’m afraid my thoughts have been impure as of late.”

His honesty caught you off guard at first. It was so unlike Osferth to have any impure thoughts considering he was one of the nicest and humblest of men you’ve ever met.

“Impure in what way?”

“I know I’ve made an oath to God when I was young but now there’s a part of me that is beyond my control.” You nodded and allowed him the time to continue. “There’s this woman whom is quite beautiful and whenever I’m around her I want to act on these urges I’ve been having.”

You took a deep breath trying to settle your own thoughts. Could this woman he speaks of possibly be you? It was bad to think so but you so badly wanted it to be.

“How far do these desires go?”

“All I want is to kiss her but in my dreams I’m,” he gulped before licking his lips. “Doing more than that. Then I wake up, inflamed, in need of relieving myself all the while my thoughts are of her still.”

“This woman in question,” you inquired. “Is she aware of your thoughts?”

He silently turned his head and looked right at you. “Now she does.”

Now it was your turn to appear as nervous as you felt. It felt as if your heart was leaping out of your chest and your body was hot all over. He was now looking at your lips and like a trance both of you closed the space between your bodies until your lips met.

It was all new and foreign to both of you. Purely from watching others embrace their lovers you parted your lips allowing his tongue to invade yours. His hand grazed your leg reaching higher.

It was all escalating until someone cleared their throat loudly. That’s when Osferth jumped from his seat and stood up clearly not helping the situation with his apparent erection appearing from beneath his robes. He seemed to notice it too and folded his hands before himself.

It was Hild who had walked in on you both but she stood quiet. Now judging with her eyes which to you seemed just as worse.

Osferth’s cheeks reddened. He quickly looked over at you before he departed past Hild who you knew would reprimand you later.

[komotionlessqueenmm]

Lokabrenna

(1-?)

Short story # 16

✨Fandom(s) - Vikings & The Last Kingdom

💍Pairing - Osferth X Reader

🕯Summary - After many years, you and your brothers are reunited with your father, King Ragnar. Along side him are two men you've never met. And when met face to face with your father, you unleash your rage of being abandoned.

⚠️Warning(s) - Talk of mutilation, near death experience, abandonment, and that's about it I think.

📝Note(s) - Okay so I randomly started brewing this story in my head. I've watched all but like the last season of Vikings, and this story will have little to do with the storyline up until the point Ragnar comes back. Now I've never watched The Last Kingdom, I want to start watching it soon, but as I am writing this piece I haven't watched any. So this crossover will be interesting to say the least. Oh and I apologize but I am writing this with the idea that the reader is about 6'7", and in time I'll explain why in later notes. But for the most part this won't be mentioned, but it will pop up every so often. Reader is also described to have emerald green eyes, dark hair the first two things being things from her mother, and scars she obtained as a girl. Other than that the readers image is up to you. So the read is kinda like an OC but with your name, and the majority of your image. Oh and in this story the Norse Gods are real, and several will be involved in this story. But some things to do with the Gods isn't actually a part of Norse mythology, I'm just bending some of it to work best with the story. (Thank you for taking the time to read the notes if you have.)

🗝Key information - Lokabrenna meaning Loki's Torch in this story. (Eventually it will make perfect sense.)

🌬Year posted - 2022

📖Reading time roughly - Ten minutes.

🙈Rating - SFW/NSFW

◈ Part 1.) | Part 2.) |

🎧Playlist to listen to while reading.↓↓↓

Sparing with Björn was something (Y/n) indulged with most days, as he was the only one of her brothers willing to spar with her, and the only one that would push her to better her skills. Though her twin, Ivar would likely spar with her and push her to be the best, his legs prevented him from being able to do as much as Björn could. The others watched their eldest brother fought with their little sister, who wasn't quite so little, as she stood roughly four inches above Björn. Ubbe chuckled when (Y/n) slammed her shield into Björns, making the blond stumble back several inches. "You can do better than that." (Y/n) taunted her brother, blocking his sword and countering swiftly, her blade resting beside his neck. "Honestly I'm beginning to think you are getting old brother." She teased, making the others snicker on the sidelines. Björn scoffed with a grin, breaking away from her and beginning the fight again.

"King Ragnar has returned." A voice called out, the words making (Y/n)'s stance falter, giving Björn the opportunity to trip her, making her land face first into the dirt. "Shit." Björn muttered under his breath, realizing his mistake, he tossed his shield and sword aside. The others approaching as she rolled onto her back, looking to the blue sky with glossy emerald eyes. "I didn't mean to-" She cut Björn off. "It isn't that." She closed her eyes for a moment, only opening them again when Ivar brushed her hair away from her eyes. "He doesn't know she is alive." Ivar reminded their brothers in a soft tone, making the eldest sigh with realization. Björn offered his hand to (Y/n), pulling her to her feet when she accepted his offer. "Well then, he will be surprised hm." The blond patted her shoulder affectionately, smiling when she chuckled at that. "Come on then, let's go see the old man." She dusted herself off then followed behind her brother's, keeping pace with Ivar as she always would.

The growing crowd parted for the arrival of the Princes and Princess, allowing Ragnar to see his children for the first time in many years. The shock apparent when his eyes laid on (Y/n), who stood tall beside her brother's, trying to suppress her emotions. "(Y/n)." Ragnar breathed out her name, tears welling in his eyes at the sight of his only surviving daughter. Ragnar approached her with slow steps, as if he was afraid she would vanish if he approached to quickly. "Little (Y/n)." He smiled taking in the sight of her. "Not so little any more." He remarked with a grin, his eyes casting to her left where Ivar sat, his pointer finger curled around (Y/n)'s, something they had done since birth for comfort. "Hello Ivar." Ragnar smiled down at his youngest son, and for a moment Ivar mirrored his smile, until (Y/n) suddenly shoved Ragnar away. The crowd grew deathly silent, watching the scene unfold before them.

"You left me." She hissed lowly, looming over her father. "I didn't-." Ragnar tried, but she stalked forward, putting her face into his. "You left me for dead." (Y/n) growled quietly, fire practically glowing within her emerald orbs. "I thought you had died." He argued. "I called out to you, I screamed so you would hear me. And yet you left me to burn in that dragons fire." Her gaze cast to the two strange men accompanying the King. "Let me guess, this is the boy you took in after you abandoned me?" She accused, Ragnar's eyes shimmering with shame. "You left all of us, but you would raise this stranger as if he were your own." She scoffed. "You think we did not know? That we didn't keep an eye on you? That we wouldn't hear about the young warrior claiming to be another son of King Ragnar?" She straightened her back, looming over her father once more. "You are no King, and you are no father, you are just an old man wallowing in self pity." She hissed before turning her back on him.

"I am your father, and I am your King!" Ragnar yelled, his anger only fueling (Y/n)'s rage. She quickly spun on her heel, and Björn tried catching her arm as she moved to swing. He failed in holding her back, instead he only pulled two of her rings off before her fist collided with Ragnar's jaw, the warn man fell to one knee, blood oozing from his lip. "You stopped being my father when you left me for dead, and you are a worthless King that even the Gods do not recognize." Her voice boomed over the crowd, and as quickly as she had said that, she stormed off. Shoving her way through the crowd, unaware of her brother's following her. Björn crouched down to pick up (Y/n)'s rings, which had fallen to the ground. While Uhtred and Osferth helped Ragnar to his feet, despite the old King's demands to be left alone. "You are not the man I once knew." Björn commented as he rose to his feet, looking his father in the eyes. "Like (Y/n)... I cannot forgive you for what you did to her." He added before walking away, intent on joining his siblings again.

(Y/n) began her trek into the woods, her sword secured to her hip, and her large grey cloak fastened around her shoulders. "Princess wait a moment." Uhtred called out as he and Osferth jogged after her into the woods. "Why should I even speak to you?" She glowered at the man, who looked almost sheepish before her. "I'm sorry." He offered, which only confused her. "Why are you sorry?" She questioned. "Because of your father." He explained. "I am not angry at my father for raising you... I am angry that he so easily abandoned me and my brothers. And yet instead of coming home, with or without you, he stayed out there and pretended as if he wasn't a King, as if he didn't have his own children to care for." She turned away and began walking again, only for the men to follow her. "You said he left you for dead? I had assumed he left you here with your brothers." He spoke up again, his words causing her to stop again. "My father took me with him when he ran away from Kattegat, I was to young to understand what was happening." She pulled her hood down, properly observing the two.

"I was with him for two years, we lived in a cabin far from here. One evening while he was out hunting a dragon descended upon the cabin. It set the cabin on fire while I was trapped inside, I cried out for my father to save me, but he never came. The dragon had left as quickly as it came, and I was left alone to burn alive." The smaller of the two grimaced at her words. "I found myself trapped in the best place however, as the smoke could not reach me. When part of the wall finally crumbled to the ground, I crawled as best I could out of the cabin. I was weak, and burnt badly. The sky was dark by this point, and my father nowhere in sight." She licked her lips before continuing. "I did the only thing I could think to do, I wept for the Gods. Praying that one of them would hear me, and offer me aid. The wolf God Fenrir heard me, and sent his sons Hati and Sköll to aid me. They found me and used what little magic they could to mend my wounds, which did very little, but it kept me alive long enough for them to bring me home."

She pulled to cord of her cloak, allowing it to fall to the ground. "They ran for seven days and eight nights with me atop Hati until they reached Kattegat. They broke into my families long house, with me on the brink of death, and the moment my mother laid eyes on me she knew what had happened. For she dreamt about it the very same night it happened. She sent for healers from far and wide, and with their help I was nurtured back to health. I bare the scars of my father's negligence, and can never forgive him for it." She turned her back to the men, and quickly swept her shirt up to show them, the mass amount of burnt skin stretched across the expanse of her back. "Gods." Uhtred muttered under his breath, the both of them stunned by the sheer amount of tattered skin, each wondering how she could survive such a thing. The sound of a branch snapping caught their attention, and just as her brothers walked into view (Y/n) dropped her shirt, now facing her brother's.

"You are going to see him aren't you? To pay tribute?" Ubbe asked as she picked up her cloak. "I am." She nodded her head in agreement. "We're coming with you." Björn stated. "Why?" She wondered. "We wish to give thanks to the ones who saved you." Ivar cut in, moving around Ubbe to sit at her feet. "Hvitserk, Sigurd, why are you coming? Neither of you have ever seemed to care much about me." She tilted her head, her words making Hvitserk scoff. "You are still our sister." Sigurd argued. "We care more deeply than you think." Hvitserk added. "Okay... You can all come with me." She smiled at her brother's, her gaze casting to Uhtred and Osferth when Uhtred cleared his throat. "Who are you going to see?" He questioned. "Fenrir wolf." Her words stunned them both for a moment. "We shall come as well." Uhtred insisted. "And why is that?" (Y/n) questioned. "I feel that we must." He vaguely explained, making (Y/n) arch a brow at him.

"If that is what you wish, then so be it." She turned her attention then to Ivar. "I shall carry you Ivar, this is a long journey, and I do not wish for you to suffer." She knelt before him. "So you shall suffer instead?" Ivar argued stubbornly. "I will happily suffer for you dear brother." She assured him, before playfully bumping her forehead against his. Only turning her back to him when he grinned at her, and effortlessly she hoisted her twin onto her back, and rose to her feet. "We will not be back until tomorrow evening." She warned them, half expecting Uhtred and Osferth to turn back. A faint grin ghosting her lips when they continued to follow her lead deeper into the woods. "I didn't expect Fenrir to be so close to Kattegat." Uhtred remarked. "He isn't. But one of the passageways to him is." (Y/n) explained, the entire encounter leaving Osferth confused in his silence, though he continued to follow his friend regardless of his doubts.

← Previously | Continue →

◈ Part 1.) | Part 2.) |

⚜ Leave a comment and let me know what you think, and if you'd like to be tagged in future parts of this story. - Jaded Monkey🐒

[agreyraincloudd]

Hey, I wanted to tell you that I really love your block!!! 💞💞💞

And I would love to have a prompt with Uhtred 4 and 22

Uhtred x Reader

Prompt 4. You're not jealous are you?

Words 784

Just a short one this time as I get through the hundreds of prompts you guys have requested :)

You and the boys were celebrating. It was Blood Month and you had spent half the day with a flagon in your hand and now, as you sat in the ale house, your face ached from laugher. Finan and Sihtric were upon the table yelling and banging their feet as Osferth stood below ready to catch as the two men swayed.

"Which do you bet will fall first?" Uhtred joined you on the bench watching over his men. His arm brushed yours as the touch set you alight. You had finally acknowledged the way you felt around him a few months ago and yet you couldn't bring yourself to tell him. He was a Lord. He had so much presence and will, power and prospect, why would he waste it on you?

"Sihtric?"

He laughed into his cup.

"Finan surly, he is always the first to fall after drink"

You shook your head, pointing over at the table. As the song the men were yelling came to an end, Sihtric threw up his arms and cheered - the motion sending him stumbling as he lost his footing and dropped off the table. The place erupted in more laugher.

"Told you" You stood up, his proximity setting you on edge as you feared the ale in your veins would loosen your lips around him.

"Y/N?" Both you and Uhtred looked across the table. One of Uhtreds men, a dane, was making his way over to you. You were a scout like him and had often spoken when you joined him on the road before battle.

"Fich you're back"

You felt Uhtred stand up behind you.

"You bring word of the North?"

The man looked to your right.

"Yes my Lord. The Scots remain within their fortresses but we should be wary the winter doesn't cause them to move south for provisions"

"Good. You've done well Fich, go grab yourself a drink"

"Yes my Lord"

The man hesitated before he looked your way and smiled.

"Would you like another Y/N?"

You looked down at your empty cup.

"I would-"

"We were just about to go grab another ourselves Fich" Uhtred stepped in. Somewhere along the way his hand touched the back of yours.

You turned you head to face him, whispering to each other -

"We are?"

His fingers linked with yours pulling you along.

"We are."

By the barrels was quiet. Most relied on the barman to replenish their cups so as you and Uhtred stood in the corner of the room, half cast in shadow, you smiled to yourself as the ale stirred within you.

"Fich could have got me my drink"

Uhtred shrugged, his hand on the spout of the barrel.

"I needed to fill mine too"

You looked down at his cup. I was already full before his faked topping it up.

"You're not jealous are you?"

His hand stopped and he grinned.

"Of a scout?"

You took a step toward him.

'Of his attention on me"

He avoided your eyes, brining his cup to his lips with his other hand resting on the amber hilt of his sword.

"Why would I be jealous? I'm a Lord I have everything I could ever want"

You took a step back and crossed your arms as you lent against the barrel.

"And yet you don't have me" Your gaze remained toward the floor.

He didn't quip back so you pressed further.

"Would you like me?"

He considered before tuting, smiling to himself. "You are too good for me"

"You are a Lord"

"And you are a goddess"

You laughed "In who's eyes"

"Mine"

Neither of you said anything until you took a step toward him.

"Uhtred"

He pushed off from where he stood.

"Forgive me lady Y/N"

"Uhtred-" He didn't let you finish as he marched toward you, his hands cupping your face when his lips met yours. You gasped into it. His lips were soft as he captured you. His thumb brushed your cheek when you leaned in further, the fire between you burning you up. Uhtred pulled back slowly as you broke for breath.

"Do you admit you were jealous?"

His smile was bright as he spoke between another kiss.

"Yes. I do."

You heard commotion on the otherside of the room as Uhtreds arms wrapped around your waist. Looking over, you both laughed when you saw Finan and Sihtric back on the top of the table dancing.

Uhtred lent to your ear.

"Finan or Sihtric?" His hands slide around your waist, his voice sending a shiver down your neck.

You considered when both of you spoke at the same time-

"Finan" "Finan"

Just as the Irish man tripped over Shitric and rolled off into Osferth laughing.

[moonlight-rider25]

Ale House Maiden

Purely TLK sumt! Featuring reader, Finan, Sihtric, and Uhtred. 

Word count:  6019

Warnings: Rated X, swearing, light bondage, unprotected sex, all the jazz...

You've been serving at the Cookham ale house for as long as you can remember; a career choice your mother thought would fit you well seeing as your greatest qualities in life were your big bosoms and your ability to flirt with any man near. She wasn't wrong; and through the years the job served you well. Especially when intoxicated men became regulars leaving handsome tips for you. A few of those regulars in more recent years were none other than Lord Uhtred and his men. 

The moment they stepped through the ale house door your heart nearly leaped out of your chest. They were all devilishly handsome; their hair, their voices, their demeanor and the courageous ways they carried themselves, their huge toned bodies that towered over normal towns folk… not to mention their especially kind tips of silver. There was nothing that you loved daydreaming more, than the mere image of one of those strong men taking you in their arms and having their way with you up against the wall, or on a table, or even outside behind the ale house…

It was an especially rowdy night at the ale house, and you were nonstop from the moment its doors opened. A celebration of sorts was happening within the town and along with it, many eager paying individuals ready to celebrate by getting drunk. Your forehead damp from the hustle in the ale house, you poured several more cups full of fresh ale, gathered them in your arms and set out for the table to place them at. Squeezing your way through the crowded ale house and over a few passed out drunk on the floor, you made your way over, and set the large cups of ale down with a thud. You felt the eyes of the men heavy on you, as they usually were, while you unloaded your arms of the cool drinks.

"Is there anything else I can get you gentlemen?" You ask without looking up.

"I'll take a tall drink of you lassy!" His thick Irish accent cuts through the rowdy ale house as he speaks.

You glance up towards him, his glistening brown eyes peer up at you. You try your best to compose yourself after realizing who it is that's speaking to you; Finan. You'd know that voice anywhere. You smirk and dramatically toss your hair back behind your shoulders exposing your well rounded and exposed chest.  His eyes light up, and the other men near him lean closer getting a better view.

"Make that two!" Shouts another man near Finan.

"Ayee, yer married, ya fool!" Finan teases the Dane looking man you know of as Sihtric.

You giggle to yourself and bite back your bottom lip, eyeing them dangerously.

"Perhaps after closing, darlings." You wink as you tell them flirtatiously.

A few of the other men begin cheering, hooting and whistling towards your comment but you dismiss it to natural manly behavior. You smile pleasingly and begin to depart from the table when you bump into a rather large man.

"My apologies." You say discreetly, trying to weave through the sea of men. 

But he stops you. His giant rough hands on your shoulders; you stare up in disbelief before you. His piercing blue eyes stare down at you, turning your insides to goo just being so close to him.

"My lord!" You say clearing your throat. 

He chuckles to himself and eyes you devilishly. 

"What can I..do for you?" You ask sheepishly.

"Oh, no! No not at all.." You reassure him in a shy voice.

"Are my men giving you a hard time?" He asks with a smirk though his huge calloused hand.

You swallow hard peering into his deep blue eyes and try to maintain a steady breath. He releases your face, his thumb trailing down across your chin, he slips between you and others heading back to his table. 

He releases your shoulder with one hand and traces his thumb along his bottom lip, deep in thought as his eyes trail up and down you.

"Well let me know if they do.." He says, finally; in a raspy whisper. 

Stunned, you fumble your way through the crowd back to the bar and down a lonely cup of ale. You wipe your hands on your apron and begin pouring more drinks for the eager men sitting before you. Your mind spins from the events that just happened but your muscle memory kicks in and drinks are being served as usual. Men smiling and ogling over you leaving you handsome tips in the process. 

He stands still for a moment still eyeing you. Then cranes his head down closer to yours and places his hand on your chin gently pulling your face towards him.

A little while later you hear the shouting of men begin to start a brawl in the middle of the ale house; you roll your eyes and sigh looking around to see if anyone is breaking it up. Of course per usual, the onlookers are doing no such thing; other than shouting them on, and encouraging the behavior. You toss your arms full of ale onto the closest table and rush to the center of the room. Two very drunk individuals are shoving each other around the circle of shouting men. 

"Out, come on we can not have this in here!" You shout over the crowd.

Shoving your way through the formed circle of men you reach the center and see the two inebriated trouble makers.

"ENOUGH!" You try to yell louder over the noise "GET OUT, OUTSIDE WITH YOU! NOT IN HERE!" You shout louder.

You yell in pain and cover your face. You pull your hand back and see the bit of red dripping from your fingers. Your eyes wetten as you swallow the mouthful of blood. You spit on the floor and grip your white apron with shaking fists. 

"STOP IT NOW!" You demand as loudly as you can.  Your voice is still not heard. But instead the larger of the two is cast in your direction and his big bald head smacks into you.

"GET THE FUCK OUT YOU BASTARDS!" 

Your words are of no use as the two men grasping each other by the shoulders fling one another around the circle. 

The crowds yelling settles a bit as the attention has been taking from the men to you. And swiftly you see a table of men get up at once and grab the unruly men in the middle of the circle. Their presence opens a wide hole in the sea of men and they pluck the belligerent fighters from the floor and drag them outside. 

A dark figure emerges from behind, casting a large shadow on you.  You hear him plunk himself down at a seat by the bar without a word.

"Damnit!" You yell as you spit again. 

"Sorry…I'll be right with you.." You inform them over your shoulder, still trying to steady the bleeding. Your rag finally turning less and less red, you spin around and spy Uhtred sitting at the bar waiting patiently with a handsome smile painted across his face.

You breath wavers, uncurling your clenched fists, you wipe your face again with shaky hands. Seeing more redness still forming at your lip, you storm off back to the bar and rinse your mouth a few times with some water. But the redness still remains. 

You bite back your grin, trying not to wince at the pain as you eye the heroic warrior sitting so patiently watching you tend to your bloody lip. 

"Oh dear", you snicker "Can I help you?" You ask, your voice full of laughter. 

"Perhaps.. but I believe I should help you first." Uhtred grins and extends his arm out towards you. 

You inch closer to him and he reaches out grabbing a clean rag from behind the wooden bar. He dips it in a nearby cup of ale and gently dabs it over your swollen bottom lip. You cringe at the sting and instinctively reach up clutching his huge arm.

"It's alright." He whispers to you calmly. 

You release his arm and he cautiously tries to dap at your lip again, even softer this time.

"...Thank you." You tell him.

He smiles and continues to cater to your swollen lip, you can't help but stare madly into his gorgeous blue eyes, watching his two perfect pink lips turn up a little as he tends to you. 

"What's your name?" He asks.

"...Y/N" you tell him faintly. 

"Well, Y/N…" He allows his words to linger in the air for a moment.  “You’re going to be swollen and sore for a bit but I do believe you’ll recover just fine…” A smirk turning up at the corners of his lips. 

You relax against him a bit, comforted by the tone in his words. A smile spreads across your face instantly stinging your lip and flees, all too quickly. 

"Thank you, my lord.. I suppose I am in your debt…" 

His smirk grows into a smile.

"Please, call me Uhtred.'' He tells you with a grin.  His eyes twinkle in the dim light as they peer back at you. “..Though I hate to inform you, your debt will have to be paid to my men.." 

He pulls his hand away and drops the stained rag on the table before you. You cast him a look of suspicion and he laughs leaning against his elbows on the bar. His face only inches from yours; he sits peering into your eyes for a moment and it makes your mouth go dry.

"Your men?"  You ask, swallowing down the harsh lump as best you can.

"Mmm, mmhmm" He hums quietly before taking a long dip of ale.

You peer around the side of Uhtred's head and spy Finan and Sihtric standing watching you from a distance. 

"They were hoping since they cast those bastards out; as you so lovely put it…" Uhtred places his ale cup back down on the table. "...That you would make good on your promise…" He says with a mischievous smirk.

Your eyes peer back towards the incredible handsome man addressing you.

"What promi…." 

Your face fills with redness and you feel the heat rising in your chest. Uhtreds stares at you with a charming and equally malicious look as you come to the realization. 

You run your hand through your hair and take a long sip of Uhtred's ale holding it in your mouth wondering how you landed yourself in such a spot. If only all things were as easy to conjure if only by daydreams and imaginings. 

"Your men?" You ask after a large gulp.

"Mmm"

"Sihtric, and Finan?" You take another large gulp of the ale.

"Mmmmhmm."

"Wish me to bed!?" 

Uhtred casts his look down towards the table and you finish his remaining ale in his cup for him. He shakes his head and looks back up grinning ear to ear at you.

You pour another full cup of ale for Uhtred and grab another for yourself as well, gulping its coolness down in disbelief. 

"...I can't disagree with them." He says, shaking his head again.

"No?" You ask him, bringing the cup to your lips again.

"Why do you sound so surprised?.." he asks, staring back at you. "You’re beautiful, tough,…bonnie, as Finan would say." He chuckles as the words escape him.

Uhtred leans back in his seat and taps lightly on the table.

"Well…" you say before taking another long sip.

His face is soft but still smiling and you can't help but stare back into his delicious blue eyes.

"..Well?" Uhtred asks in a smooth mysterious voice.

"No, I can't.."

"...Well they're going to have to wait till I shut down the house.." You tell him with a sly smile, reminded by the stinging of your lip instantly. 

You place your cup down by his hand and allow your fingers to graze past his huge calloused knuckles. He grabs your hand and pulls you closer toward him in a smooth, gentle motion.

"We'll be back then.." He says only inches from your face. 

He releases you and stands gesturing to the others before heading out the door. Finan and Sihtric keep their eyes on you till the last second before disappearing into the darkness. 

"And no more brawls tonight!" Uhtred calls out over his shoulder before disappearing along with them.

You slump down behind the bar and clutch your chest. Your head whizzing in every direction. (What on earth have I gotten myself into...)

*******************************

The rest of the night spirals by in a furry. You do your best to keep your focus on the tasks at hand, but it's nearly impossible to keep calm knowing what's in store for the end of the night. You keep replaying the conversation in your mind wondering if it was all just a bluff, then your heart drops out of your stomach thinking about standing and waiting for no one in the darkness after you lock the ale house up. Drink after drink floats from the bar by your hands and before you know it, the bar has died down. You try your best to cast the rest of the men out and tidy up the few remaining cups from the tables. Your mind is almost at ease before you hear the door open and footsteps entering. 

You turn and see them standing and watching you; lust and wonder heavy in their eyes.  You clear your throat and dump the cups into a pail. Sihtric and Finan stride towards you and lean up against the bar.; slick smirks on their face as they eye you devilishly. Uhtred appears from behind them, his arms crossed and not so impressed looking. You swallow hard meeting his eye. 

"Why the long face?" You ask leaning forward against the wooden bar on your elbows.

 Finan and Sihtric carefully watch your movements and seem to be pleased.

You allow your hips to dip and dance for their amusement and you hear the two whistle and hoot in response. Uhtred, clearly unamused by their comments, slams his fist upon a nearby table, and you spin around startled. 

"Well, come boys…" you tell them, waltzing out from behind the bar and towards the back rooms of the house. 

"She is a lady and will be treated like so!" He commands them in a deep low voice. 

Uhtred smirks but says nothing. 

You feel the smile creeping up across your lips and bite it back.

The men look at you, and you point them in the direction down the hall.

"Second room on the left.." You tell them.

They skitter away eagerly and you turn your head back to Uhtred. He inches closer gripping at your waist.

"You don’t have to do this, you know..." He tells you quietly.

He shakes his head a bit, the smirk emerging at the corners of his lips. You roll your eyes, leaning in against him, playing with the straps on his chest.

“Is that a hint of jealousy I detect in your voice?” You ask him with a giggle.

" ..I would.." you pause staring up towards him wondering if you should utter the words on your tongue. He returns the mournful look towards you and you swallow hard trying to gather the words once again.

You suck a deep breath in and exhale with a sly grin on your face.

"...I would gladly take you over those two, anyday…" you tell him quietly. 

He grips your hand in his and brings it to his mouth pressing a soft kiss on it. You pull your hand away and replace it with your own lips. The touch instantly hurts your lip from earlier. Uhtred pulls back gently feeling your swollen lip graze against his.  You peer up into his glimmering blue eyes and he watches as your chest rises and falls with each deep breath. You reach up and pull his head closer, colliding your lips together again, regardless of the pain it's causing you. He pecks gentle kisses on you at first. Being mindful of your swollen lip, but before long, has his mouth enraged upon yours. His tongue tangles with yours as you moan into him. 

His hands slide up your sides gripping the ties of your dress before unlacing the back and prying it from your body. You gasp against him and he pulls his head back taking in the view of your naked chest as he peels your dress down over you. He chuckles under his breath and licks his lips before pulling you back towards him; sucking and kissing at your neck and shoulders. You wrap your hands around his neck and moan softly against him as your core quivers from his touch. 

He breaks his mouth from your chest and spins you around. Tightly held in his arms against him you feel his hard eager cock pressing gently against your ass. He unties the rest of the ribbons down your back and allows your dress to fall to the ground. He presses hot wet kisses over your bare shoulders.  You reach up entwining your hand in his hair; his hands come out from behind cupping and groping at your tits. He spins you back around and looks you up and down in your nakedness. His hand winds down over your bare ass, and he pulls your thigh up around him. His fingers graze against your wet core and he snickers watching you groan and pant at his touch. 

"Go settle their needs…" He tells you, his fingers edging into your wet core. 

You groan against him as you feel his warm blunt fingers slide inside you for a brief moment.  

You meet his eye and smile brightly at him, he places you softly down on the ground unwrapping yourself from him and smacks your ass as you stumble down the hall before him. 

“..Keep that for me, yeah?”

Your legs wobbly as you make your way down the dark hall; a grand grin painted across your face.  You wrap lightly on the door and Finan opens it with a lustful smile. He swings the door open and pulls you in admiring your body. You swallow hard and he takes your hand gently in his. You stand naked in between the two tall muscular men, they've striped their outer clothes off but only you stand naked between them.

“But that mouth…” he tells you in a whisper, then pecks a small gentle kiss on your lips. 

Sihtrics fingers trace long gentle strokes down your shoulders followed by light wet kisses. He grips your hips firmly and grasps at your naked perky ass. Finan stands a few steps back, enjoying the view.  You smile flirtatiously at him, enjoying Sihtrics mouth; hot and eager upon your sensitive skin. You bite back a gasp as Sihtric presses himself against you forcefully, his hands slither out from behind you and go in opposite directions.  One up to cup your breast and the other down between your legs at your wet core. 

Sihtric mumbles low against your ear.

“She's ready for us, already.” he informs Finan with a chuckle.

Finans tongue darts out of his mouth and licks his lips. You meet his eyes and gleam at him, allowing Sihtric mouth to caress down your neck and shoulder. Finan shifts in place and swiftly removes his thin shirt swiftly up over his head. His chest speckled in hair gleams with a thin layer of sweat and he tosses his shirt to the side watching you. His arms flexing as he does and you giggle quietly watching him with a smirk. Finan smiles back at you and makes sure your watching him while he tugs at his waistband.  His cock stands protruding against the thin layer of fabric. He pulls his pants taunt against himself and thrusts dramatically in your direction before smiling and reaching his hand down into the thin layer of fabric against his hard cock. 

Finan sucks a deep inhale in and meets your eye, while his hand in his waistband strokes his hard cock slowly. 

“Oh no,” Sihtric purrs seductively in your ear. “He likes to watch…” 

“Ay I think she also likes to watch…” Finan says in a low husky tone.

Sihtrics fingers creep down between your legs and make small quick circles around your swollen mound. You groan quietly, instinctively reaching out towards Finan, but Sihtric keeps you in his grasp.

Sihtric cups your ass and you instinctively jump up into his arms. He engulfs your nipples with his mouth and you let a low moan escape you. He sucks and laps eagerly at your chest, backing you towards a tall standing workbench and places you carefully on it. His mouth swiftly moves down the front of your body and you tangle your fingers into his hair as he makes his way slowly down between your legs. You lean back against the cold bare wall, arching your core towards him and he moans happily nipping at your thighs.  You watch as Finan admires the sight of your bare chest rising and falling rapidly.

“..Can’t disappoint him now can we?” You giggle against Sihtrics' neck.

Sihtric begins slowly at first, licking soft laps at your wet core. You moan against him pulling at his head, but he takes his time and builds you up slowly.  You feel his warm soft tongue dart out and drag across your sensitive clit and gasp. He reaches up with a hand and begins tracing tiny quick circles around your bud. Lapping and sucking gently around his fingers. You pant against him, eagerly trying to edge him on to move harder or faster. Finan is busy at work in his pants, breathing heavily as he watches you enjoy Sihtric.  

You flash Finan a devilish smile and turn yourself around against Sihtric. His arms caging you as he takes in the view of your nakedness.

You feel Sihtric smile against your wet throbbing core; and he stops. He rises up meeting your face, his hand still circling your eager clit. He presses his hard cock springing from his pants against your wet entrance and you wrap your arms around his neck desperately trying to encourage him towards you. He snickers, then plunges his fingers in between your wet aching walls and you cry out against him. 

“She's ready for you.” Sihtric laughs over his shoulder. 

Your eyes burst open as his touch escapes you. Sihtric is quickly replaced by Finan approaching you. His gleaming chest rising and falling as he places his hands firmly against your thighs. You pant against him and he grabs a handful of your hair, snapping your head back staring deeply into your eyes.

“Easy there kitten,” Finan whispers. “We're just getting started…” 

His huge rough fingers dance across your wet mound swirling and rubbing against your already so sensitive clit.  He reaches his hand up and sucks your wetness from his fingers. You swallow a heavy moan down your throat watching him eye you viciously as he does. He releases your head, grabbing at your ass and scooting you towards the edge closer to him. You buck towards him feeling his hard cock press gently into your thigh.  He cups your face, keeping your eyes set on his. 

“You have very beautiful eyes, my lady” He tells you slowly.  “I want to see what they look like with my cock resting deep inside you.”

You groan against him, bucking forwards still, searching for his cock with your hands, you line him up with your entrance and buck against him. His strength outweighs yours but the tip of his cock urges you to push further. You dig your fingers into his trim waist pulling at him to get closer. He beams down at you, holding himself back from you. 

A low chuckle erupts from deep within him. 

“We can do this all night, if you'd like…” He says with laughter dancing in his tone. 

You swallow a hard dry lump down your throat and try to relax against him. He smiles devilishly and takes your hands pressing a light kiss on both of your knuckles.  You watch him as he wraps a piece of rope around your wrists intricately, binding your hands together.  Your breath slows a bit, he watches you carefully. 

He places your bound arms around his neck onto his huge broad shoulders. Unable to do much more, you intertwine your fingers in his thick hair, tugging at it watching his eyes flutter as he growls low.  He holds your jaw with one of his hands and digs his fingers into your waist with his other. 

“...Behave..” He says in a low growl.  

His eyes are full of lust and determination. You lick your lips, eyeing his twitching cock only inches from you.  You buck towards him and he pulls out of reach.  You bite your lip meeting his eyes and buck towards him again, your ass nearing the edge of the table; yet he pulls away further. You grip another handful of his thick black hair and pull harshly at it.  He smiles as he groans out. You release your fist of hair and his head curls back with a grand smile on it.

“...That… is not behaving…” he tells you through a smirk.

You grasp huge handfuls of his hair with both hands this time, pulling him towards you with all your might.  

“..Then give me what I want, damnit��” You breathe heavily against him.

He smiles and reaches down between your legs, watching your eyes flutter open and closed as you moan softly against him. You feel his hot tip finally at your entrance, your core aching with anticipation. You swallow hard peering back into his deep brown eyes filled with lust and he watches you carefully…presses himself ever so slowly between your sore soaking folds. You groan against him, biting at your bottom lip trying to keep your eyes open for him to watch. His face studies you carefully watching as you take him inch by inch. Finally you feel him pressed against you and you explode with a moan against him. 

His face turns up into a devilish smile and he sits for a moment pressed as deep as he can be inside you. You pant against him and he pulls back a little before starting to thrust slowly and harshly against you. Your body jolts with each thrust and you moan against him, digging your fingers into his sweaty scalp as you buck towards him.  

“Faster!!” you pant against him. 

Your core slowly builds and twists up into a long awaiting spill.

He grunts against you, his mouth catching your neck and sucking hard against your damp sensitive skin.  He grips your thighs and pounds harder against you, your moans and his grunts filling the thick air around you. 

“Right there Finan!” You cry through your breathlessness. “Don’t stop!” Your walls clench tight  around his cock inside you knowing your own climax is just upon you. He groans a loud moan and stops abruptly.

“No! Don’t stop!” You cry again, thrashing against him.

He pulls himself out, his cock dripping with the murky white seed. He pants watching you with a smug smile as you squirm angrily aginst him. He picks you up and you buck against him, your wetness covering him as you twist insatiable in his clutch. You pant against him and he drops you to your feet. You collapse against him, your legs tingling and unable to hold you. He steadies you carefully before unhooking your arms from around his neck and uniting your wrists. He flashes a final devilish grin before inching aside while you almost collapse completely, before grasping onto Sihtrics' now bare body taking Finans place. 

Sihtrics fingers dance at your soaking core and you groan while squirming against his huge hand. He flips you around onto your stomach and gently bends you against the table. You pant against the hard wooden surface and feel his fingers trace carefully between your slick throbbing folds. 

“Do it!” you demand through your breaths. “Do it now!” 

You moan against the table arching your back up towards him and feel his throbbing cock as he lines up with your soaking entrance.  He plunges himself deep into your wetness, you groan loudly as your body jolts against his. You brace yourself. He squeezes your ass as it jiggles against his thrusts and arch your back as he dips in and out of your aching core. 

“I’ll have to personally thank all the Gods for your plump little feisty ass when I meet them” he tells you before smacking your other cheek.

He grunts as he slams wildly deep within you. You feel the waves building within you again and push harder against him with every thrust. Your breath staggers as he collides against you, he smacks his hand harshly against your ass again and you cry out against the table. Your climax builds more and more with each thrust as you moan out in pleasure. His thrusts quickly turn sporadic and ravenous as you hear him grunt from behind you. 

Sihtric smacks your ass hard and you groan out.

“I’m so close!” You moan out.

Your body quivers against him and the table.

“Cum, Sihtric, cum for me!” 

“Tell me to cum!” He shouts through his grunts.

He smacks your ass hard and your cry out

He slows and pulls himself out, you feel the hot seed spill out over your ass and lower back and squirm under him, your own orgasm quickly disappearing away as he pins you between himself and the table. You moan against the hard surface and pant wildly. 

“Christ, tell me to cum!” He demands again.

“Fucking bastards!” You mutter to yourself, while prying your shaky body from the table. 

They chuckle as they clothed themselves and you grab someone's nearby shirt before fleeing the room. 

“Thank you, my lady!” Finan calls happily down the hallway after you with a laugh. 

You wrap the man's shirt around you barely covering yourself and step out into the lit main room of the house. A smile grows across your face when his eyes shoot up and meet yours. He sits shirtless against a large wooden chair covered by a large fur, his blue eyes sparkling; peering back at you, his chest sculpted perfectly and his muscles bulging as he shifts restlessly in the seat. 

(Fuck) you whisper to yourself as you step cautiously towards him. He extends his hand out to you and you intertwine your fingers with his as you seat yourself carefully down, straddling one of his legs and gently rubbing your wet core against his huge string thigh. He groans softly gazing at you with heavy lust filling his eyes. You lean in against him and he catches your mouth with his finger. 

“...Keep that pretty little mouth for me?” he asks in a husky groan, tracing little circles around your lips with his thumb.

You reach up caressing his strong jaw in your fair little hands, and smile.

“Of course.” You answer him with a giggle.

He smiles back and pulls you against him, capturing your mouth hungrily and forcefully. You moan against him and he plucks the shirt down over your tits, his hands kneading and stroking them. You trace your hand down his toned chest to the opening in his pants. You eagerly pry at the ties concealing him and finally his huge hard cock springs free. He groans against you as you carefully grab his cock and feel him twitch slightly against you. He grasps your tiny face and his tongue invades your mouth hungry and wanting. He groans against you as you stroke him up and down. 

You pry your lips from his, and quickly replace your fair little hands with your hot wet mouth. He bucks up towards you and groans happily; his huge hand gently urging your mouth down further around his throbbing cock. You moan against him, your own core pulsating and eager to feel him inside you finally bring you to your long awaited orgasm. He sucks in a sharp breath as he thrusts himself down your throat. You choke back his throbbing cock, squealing slightly and he releases his hand from you. You pop up panting and place yourself on top of him, he inches down in the chair against the fur allowing you better access to him.

You hover over him, aligning yourself with him, and he twitches his throbbing cock against your soaking entrance. You whine out and he sucks your nipple into his mouth. 

“Uhtred!'' You moan as you lower yourself down on top of him. 

You feel your walls quiver as they wrap eagerly around him and he squeezes his rough fingertips into your hips. He grunts and thrusts up against you, sending a shudder through your body. You grind yourself hard against him, bouncing up and down on him. You pant and groan loudly as you ride him and he thrusts with you, making your orgasm grow quickly and wildly.  With each motion, you feel your stomach clenching tighter and your walls clutching faster against his cock. You dig your nails into his shoulders, riding him hard, he grunts with you and soon you feel your climax coming to a head. 

“Look at me Y/N, look into my eyes.” he pants breathless against you. “I want to see your face..”

He grasps your face and pulls you down close to his, sucking at your neck and jaw.

He thrusts up against you as you come undone on top of him. He moans watching you spill over his throbbing cock and you feel him shift his pace faster. You collapse against him, panting as you come undone on top of him. He holds you carefully, still plunging deep within you, letting you ride out your high limply on top of him. You shiver and then relax against him, before he lifts you effortlessly and spins around setting you on the table. His mouth catches yours and he devours your sweet sounds as he thrusts hard and fast against your aching core. You cling against him, wrapping your legs around his waist and pant as he fills you completely again. 

“Uhtred!” you cry bucking hard against him. "I'm so close!"

“Right there!” you squeal.

“Do it again” He says in a husky moan.

You grind against him and pant trying to keep your eyes open as you feel the knot inside you begin to erupt. 

You reach up clutching his huge strong neck and grind against him as he plows hard against you. He carefully clutches your throat with his huge hand sending a whole new kind of sensation down to your core. You gasp quietly as he rocks in and out of you watching your eyes flutter open and closed. Another orgasm tightening up in your stomach as he bucks against you. 

“Uhtred!” you squeal again. 

He thrusts sporadically, finally releasing his hand from your throat and you moan out loudly.  You buck up against him as the waves crash through your core again, leaving your legs tingling and your stomach uncurling. You rock against him as he moans into your bare shoulder. You feel the hot heat burst out inside you and groan happily against him. He gradually slows his pace, panting against you. You pull him back, colliding his lips with yours again. He pants heavily against you, resting his forehead to yours. After a long moment of catching his breath, he slowly pulls out; his tip dripping in cum as he leans over you panting. You reach down and grasp his twitching cock and he groans low against you. Your core throbs from pleasure and he leans down, capturing your mouth a final time with his. 

“Uhtred..” You pant against him.

He smiles coyly against your lips exhaling heavily.

“...One more time?..”

[lexyleblancc]

Prank wars -TLK headcanons

Summary: The men of coccham are growing restless in their downtime, so Finan comes up with the most brilliant idea; prank the baby monk. 

If you have any other suggestions for headcanons regarding the TLK men or the TLK men x reader then let me know!

- Finan and Sihtric are pretty ruthless when it comes to pranking Osferth 

- poor baby monk never sees them coming 

- coccham is quiet and the men can find themselves bored quickly most days 

- pranks vary from different extremes 

- banging pots and pans beside Osferth’s head while he’s sleeping, stealing his shoes or clothes when the warrior-monk is bathing, “forgetting” to tell Osferth that they are needed early for meeting with Uhtred 

- the pranks are almost always Finan’s idea, the man can’t sit still for longer than 2 minutes without getting antsy 

- sihtric is along for the ride, the pranks make him laugh and he’d rather be helping than be on the receiving end of finans boredom 

- osferth is typically a good sport about it, laughing with his friends after the initial shock of things. 

- however after one prank in particular leaves osferth a blushing mess attempting to hide himself behind some bushes after the two steal all of his clothes, several woman passing by while laughing, osferth goes to uhtred 

- the baby monk tattles on his friends 

- osferth comes clean about all the pranks his friends have pulled on him 

- it’s uhtred’s idea, much to gisela’s disappointment, that osferth and himself team up 

- thus the start of the coccham prank wars that will go down in history 

- the now dynamic duo go out of their way to prank finan and sihtric 10 times harder 

- finan wakes up with a baby goat in his bed 

- sihtric is greeted with a pile of horse shit on his front door, the man’s boots ruined after that one. 

- finan and sihtric retaliate just as bad 

- osferth woke up to find all his breaches gone, strung up in the streets of the little village 

- uhtred jumping back in shock when he knocks over a pile of sparing weapons, making the man deal with the cries of his children for hours until his wife finally comes to save him 

- gisela has to put an end to the prank war weeks after it started 

- the village in a state of chaos due to their four most reliable warriors running around like a group of headless chickens 

- the prank’s definitely died down for awhile 

- but on the road gisela isn’t there to scold them 

- and finan and sihtric are out for revenge

[omgkatherine01]

Heart of Darkness: Chapter 2 - Freya Ragnarsdottir

Series Masterlist

Chapter 1, Chapter 3

Pairing: Osferth x female reader

Please comment, like and share

Two weeks.

It had been two weeks since you lost your father and brothers.

Your uncle was now the new lord of Bebbanburg, to your and your mother's disappointment.

For two weeks, you had been keeping yourself inside your room, not speaking to anyone except your mother. Your uncle tried to reach out to you, but you closed yourself from him and anyone else besides the woman who gave you life.

"I was told you still haven't return eating properly," your mother muttered, both of you sat on your bed one morning.

You shrugged, and looked at the handcraft figure in your hand. It was supposed to be a warrior figure, but in your eyes, it wasn't very good. Your big brother however, complimented your work, and asked you for one weeks ago, which brought a smile to your pouty face and you immediately went on to work on making one for him.

Did he died holding your gift? you asked yourself sadly, not realizing a tear slip down your cheek while staring down at the wooden figure until your mother brushed the tear away.

"I know, my love, I miss them as well," she said softly. You released a shaky breath and glanced at her before looking down. "I will go tell the cook to make us breakfast, we'll eat here together, alright?"

You shrugged, and your mother took it as an agreement. She left you alone.

--

"What would you do with the little lady, my lord?" Scallion, your uncle's close ally, asked him when they and Father Beocca were alone in the Great Hall.

"Nothing yet," your uncle Aelfric said, "She is only seven, she needs to grow before I'll marry her off to a lord."

Father Beocca noticed a small smirk appearing on Scallion's face, and he didn't like it at all. "And who do you think of marring her to?" Scallion asked.

"Don't know, I'll find someone," Aelfric said.

Beocca opened his mouth, as if you remind them he was there but a guard walked in, "Excuse me, my lord, but you have a visiter. He claims to be a messenger."

"Let him in," Aelfric said. A man walked in and Beocca tensed, recognising him as one of the Vikings.

Aelfric tilted his head, "I don't know you. You don't have the appearance of a messenger. And Ubba's payment's not yet due."

Beocca frowned, Ubba's payment's not yet due? Did he... His blood was boiling by this thought and new information.

"No, lord," the viking said, "I was a ship's master."

"Ah, well. I have no ships. I need no ship's master."

"I have news that you will want to hear," the Viking said. Aelfric raised an eyebrow, "Well."

"I would want something in return, lord," the Viking said. Aelfric scoffed as he turned away. "Not now, not quite. But perhaps we could continue to help each other."

"Perhaps," Aelfric shrugged.

"Two days south of here..." the viking started, "Is a rat with the man I used to serve. Until he banished me. He has a slave. He treats him well. This is a slave you're entitled to buy back, if you wish to."

Aelfric frowned and repeated, "Buy back?"

"He's your nephew," the Viking said, surprising the men. "Uhtred, lord. He lives."

Aelfric had a calm expression of his face, but Beocca knew now that he was angry that the young lord had survived. He had to get to him, but first, he had to get you out of the castle, he did not trust your uncle around you. He quietly stepped out without anyone noticing, he had to inform your mother what was happening.

--

You were watching the sun setting down from your window when your mother had returned to your room again, you turned and frowned when you noticed her expression.

"Mother?" you asked quietly, blinking when she peered outside and then quickly closed the door.

"Grab your cloak," she immediately said in a hash tone as she hurried toward your bed. You stood from your window seat and stepped forward, confused and worried when she grabbed your cloak and started to tie it around you.

"What is it?" you asked, "Are we going somewhere?"

"Yes, you are leaving this place," she said. You frowned again, not understanding, "Why? Where am I going? Does uncle taking me away?"

"No," she said, placing her hand on your cheek as she kneeled down, "You listen to me, never trust your uncle. You going with your brother to Winchester, you will be safe there."

"My brother?" you repeated. "Uhtred is alive," she said quietly, "Come." She took your hand as she stood up, and quickly moved to the door. You held your wooden figure on your left hand tightly, shocked by the information while your mother peered outside before pulling you out to the hall with her.

The two of you reached to the barn where Father Beocca was waiting with Uhtred's horse, which had returned alone that day Uhtred disappeared. A guard was by his side, and when he saw you coming in, he walked out to guard outside.

"Quickly," he said in a hush tone. You turned to your mother, looking up at her with a frown and tears in your eyes, "You not coming?"

"No, my love," she said softly and bend down to kiss your forehead, "I must stay here."

"But why?" you asked. "There's no time, my dear," Beocca said and looked at your mother, "I'm sorry, but you must go now before Aelfric will notice you not there to see him off."

Your mother nodded and looked at you again. She quickly pulled you into her arms, kissing your head, "My sweetheart," she muttered and pulled away, clearing your eyes and cheeks from your tears, "Be strong. Alright? Be strong."

You nodded, "I love you, mother," you muttered. "I love you too," she said and kissed your forehead again as she gently held your cheeks, "Tell your brother, that I love him as well. Alright?" You nodded quickly and sniffed as she pulled away from you.

With one last look at you, she turned and quickly left the barn. You turned to Beocca as he placed a small bag on the back of the horse and he turned to you. He placed his hands on your arms as he bend down, looking at you with a soft expression.

"It's alright, listen to me, carefully, alright?" he asked and you nodded. He pulled the hood of your cloak on your head, "I will be riding with your uncle to meet with your brother and the Danes that have him, you will ride from a distance, alright? You must not been seen."

You nodded quickly and he continued, "You will hid far from the trees in the forest. When we get Uhtred, he will ran to your direction, you two ride to Winchester. Uhtred knows where it is. You will ride there, and I will met you both there."

You nodded again, "All right," you said quietly. He lifted you up on the horse and handed you the reins. "Remember; follow from a distance."

You nodded and watched him leaving quickly.

--

"What if I'm against being ransomed?" Uhtred asked Ravn, the blind older Dane as he led him forward in the forest by the hand. The old man who was kind to the young boy since the day he was captured by him and his clan, gently held onto his hand and spoke, "Your family has discovered that you're still alive. And they wish for you to be returned. But they must pay."

Uhtred glanced back toward the leader, who he grew to like and look up to, "Pay Ragnar?"

"Ubba takes more than half," Ravn explained quietly, referring to the blond man with tattoo on the side of his face. "It's normal."

Uhtred gently let go of Ravn's hand and watched him step away. He frowned slightly, the only one he missed in his family was you. His little sister... and Uhtred hated to admit it, but he also missed your mother.

His step mother, who he never really tried to get along despite her kind words and protectiveness over him. He knew since he was little that Gytha wasn't his birth mother, and that his true mother died when he was a babe.

But she still viewed him like her own son.

Uhtred suddenly felt guilt thinking about the past. He should have been nicer, he should have called her 'mother' with more kinder tone, and be more of a son to her like she viewed him.

Uhtred never treated you coldly like he treated your mother, you were his sister, you both shared the same father, and he loved you since the moment you came into the world.

For two weeks that he been captured, he didn't try to escape and come back to you. He now felt like he had abandoned you.

You must now know that he was alive. He was worried that you thought that he had abandoned you.

He hoped not.

Uhtred forced a small smile when Father Beocca approached. "Uhtred," Beocca greeted with a smile. "They're treating you well?"

Uhtred nodded lightly, "I am fed, yes."

Beocca nodded, "Good, good. That's all we ask." He noticed something around the boy's neck, "What is that around your neck? Some symbol?"

"Oh, this?" he asked and lifted the necklace up, showing Thor's hammer that was gifted to him by Ravn's son, the leader, Ragnar Ravnsson, "They... they make me wear it."

"May I see it?" Beocca asked, looking at Ragnar who was leaning against a tree. With a nod, the priest approached. He took the necklace, and glanced behind him to see Aelfric speaking to Scallion, so he turned to the boy and spoke quietly, "Look, I will speak plainly, your uncle will kill you. Right, you cannot go back to Bebbanburg. You must escape. He wants to be the ealdorman. He wants to be the king, in fact, like the pathetic Egbert over there. A puppet king for his Danish masters. Your sister is waiting on the north side from here, behind you--don't look back." He stopped Uhtred from turning. "She can't go back too, she will be sold off when she will grow older. You two go to Wessex. King Aethelred, real king Aethelred... and his brother, the prince Alfred... they're good men, good Christian men--"

Ragnar stepped forward, "That's enough whispering in his ear, priest." Uhtred turned to him, breathing heavily. Beocca grabbed his arms, making him turn back, "Uhtred--"

"One more word, I'll have your ball bag for a purse," Ragnar threated calmly. "I'll meet you there," Beocca whispered before stepping back and speaking calmly, "That will not be necessary."

Ragnar watched him stepping away and looked down at the boy, noticing him staring at his uncle. "What did he say?"

"He... he asked if you were treating me well," he lied, glancing up at the man before stepping back, looking a little shaken up which Ragnar and his son noticed.

They looked at each other, knowing something was off. Uhtred glanced around, and finally spotted you before you moved away to hid.

His little sister.

Uhtred let out a soft shaky breath before he quickly turned away and looked at Ragnar and Ragnar the Younger to speak quietly, "I need to go for a moment to pee."

Ragnar clearly saw through him but didn't speak of it and instead looked at his son, "Go with him."

"I can go by myself," Uhtred said. "Not at this moment," Ragnar said as he shook his head a little. Uhtred hesitated but turned and walked away with Ragnar the Younger walking beside him.

The boy let out a soft sigh and nervously looked around as they walked a little far away from the group. "So, who is the little lady who is hiding around?" Ragnar the Younger asked, a little amused when the boy looked up at him worriedly.

"She's not in trouble," he said. "No, not from you," Uhtred muttered, "She will be if my uncle finds out she's here."

Ragnar the Younger hummed, "Well, then, bring her out. I won't tell and I won't bite." Uhtred looked up at him for a moment before looking around, "You can come out, y/n," he said softly.

You stepped out from behind one of the trees, leaving the horse farther away from where the three of you were at. You looked from the young man in hesitation to your brother. He nodded and gave you a small smile, as if he was scared you weren't happy to see him.

You walked closer quickly and jumped into his arms, hugging him tightly. Uhtred hugged you back tightly, closing his eyes in relief. After a moment you two pulled away from the hug, but you grabbed into his arm when he turned to the young man.

"That's my little sister, y/n," he said and glanced at you, "This is Ragnar the Younger. I was with him and his family all that time."

You looked up at Ragnar the Younger and took a step behind Uhtred to hid behind him when the young man kneeled down. "Do not fear me, I won't harm you," he said.

"Are you going to tell them I'm here?" you asked in a small voice, "Because if you will, I will be in trouble." He nodded, "All right then. Then I won't." You looked a little relief and he looked at Uhtred, "What did the priest say to you?"

"My uncle will kill me," he said, "He's not here to bring me back, he's going to kill me as soon as he will get his hands on me, and he will get rid of my sister. He can't find out she's here."

Ragnar the Younger looked from him to you, watching you lowering your gaze to your wooden figure in your hand. He held his hand out, "Can I see it?"

You hesitantly handed your wooden figure, and he recognized it since he saw Uhtred with one like this a few times. "That's a very nice warrior figure," he complimented, remembering Uhtred saying you had made one for him. "Who made it?"

"I did," you answered. Ragnar the Younger smiled a little, "That is very good. Perhaps you would make me one as well."

That actually made you smile a little. He handed the wooden figure back to you, and let out a breath before nodding to the side, "You see that bridge?"

You and Uhtred looked to where he nodded and looked at the bridge farther away with a pond under it. "Yes," you answered softly and looked back at the young man.

"Go there, and wait for us," he said. "Am I to go with you?" you asked a little nervous as you looked from your brother to him. "Perhaps," he said, "After I will speak to my father, I am sure he will speak up to stop the ransom."

"So, will I be able to come with my sister?" Uhtred asked, his voice sounded a little hopeful. Ragnar the Younger simply smirked, "Who knows. Come on." He stood up and looked at you, nodding to the bridge, "Off you go."

You looked at Uhtred and he nodded to you. You quickly moved up the small hill and turned to watch them walking back to the others. You turned and ran to get Uhtred's horse to the bridge.

Ragnar watched his son and Uhtred walking closer. Ragnar the Younger walked toward him while Uhtred stood by a Viking, glaring at his uncle.

"Father?" Ragnar the Younger spoke quietly as he leaned closer to him. With a hum, he spoke again, this time much quieter so no one could listen, "That lord is going to kill him." Ragnar glanced at his son and then away, listening. "His little sister is waiting by the bridge, she can't go back."

Ragnar the Younger moved away a little and turned back to the rest. As they watched the ransom in fold, Ragnar was looking between Uhtred and Aelfric.

"How much?" his uncle asked. "300," Ravn said, sitting next to Ubba. Aelfric looked at them, scoffing, "That is a ridiculous amount. How can a boy be worth 300 pieces of silver?"

"Because I say so," Ravn said. "Because he is a lord and an ealdorman." Aelfric shook his head a little, "No, he is a boy. I am the ealdorman of Bebbanburg. I carry the seal and the banner."

"That seal is my father's, which is now mine!" Uhtred said, glaring at him.

"You be silent," Ubba said, "You are for sale, nothing more."

"For ransom, lord," Ravn corrected. Ubba nodded, "That's what I said."

"My lords, I have given up land, horses," Aelfric said as he sat down, "I've offered a generous supply of food as well as my sword. All I ask in return is a fair price for my only nephew."

Uhtred shook his head a little. "What would you say is a fair price?" Ravn asked.

"I will offer 100 pieces of silver," Aelfric said. "200," Ravn said. "My allegiance and 100 pieces is surely a fair price," Aelfric said.

"It is not," Ravn said. "I will give 120 pieces of silver for the boy," Aelfric said. Ravn laughed softly and shook his head, "Not enough."

Aelfric looked down for a moment, "Very well." He looked at Ubba and Ravn, "200 pieces. I agree to your terms." Ravn seemed disappointed that he agreed, since he was found of the boy and deep down he didn't want Aelfric to get him back.

Ubba opened his mouth to agree with the deal, but then Ragnar bend down and whispered something to his ear. He moved away and Ubba looked at him, surprised by what he was giving up.

Ragnar nodded, and Ubba turned to Aelfric, raising an eyebrow, "The boy is sold to Earl Ragnar."

Aelfric frowned, shocked, "What?" Beocca turned to Uhtred in surprise, and frowned when he noticed a relief expression on the boy's face.

"Ransomed, lord," Ravn corrected but he did show he was glad Uhtred will be staying with him and his family.

Ubba nodded, "That's what I said. The matter is closed." He stood up and Aelfric did as well, "My lords, I have come a long way. I have offered my allegiance."

Ragnar stepped forward, "Which is why you're allowed to breathe. If you have an argument, it's with me now." They stared at each other for a long moment, and when Ragnar saw Aelfric backing down, he smirked and walked past him, "If business is done, we have ale to drink."

"And King Egbert needs to shit!" Ubba joked and laughed at his own joke. Ragnar stopped in front of Uhtred, who looked up at him with a small relief smile.

"Let's get your sister," he said quietly and ruffled the boy's hair as he walked past him.

You waited with Uhtred's horse by the bridge for a little bit until you heard horses approaching. You stood by the horse and hold tightly into the reins as you saw people approaching on horses.

Ragnar the Younger and your brother were one of them. Uhtred was riding with the man you recognized from before the battle, who seemed to be the leader.

"Hold," he said and the four people with him stopped their horses. Uhtred jumped down from the horse and rushed closer to you, giving you a bright smile.

"It's okay," he said, "We'll be safe now." He looked at his horse and patted it softly as the leader got off of his horse with Ragnar the Younger and another blonde man with a tattoo on the side of his face.

"What is this?" the blonde man asked, frowning down at you. The leader approached to you and your brother, and stared down at you for a few seconds before kneeling down in front of you.

"Your name?" he asked. You hesitated and glanced at your brother before back at the man, "Y/n..."

He nodded and looked at Uhtred, who was staring at him. It seemed that they both were speaking with each other with only their eyes, and then, the man looked at you, and gave you a small smile, "Let's go home."

You looked at your brother who smiled brightly again, and looked at you, nodding. He stepped to his horse and got on it. You looked at the man as he got up and he offered you his hand. You hesitatingly placed your small hand on his larger hand, and let him led you to his horse.

It was a beautiful dark horse, and when you reached your hand up to it, it lowered its face so you can touch its nose. The man lifted you up to sit on his horse.

"Ragnar, you taking another?" the blonde man asked, raising an eyebrow. "She shouldn't be living apart from her brother," the man, Ragnar, said and got on the horse, sitting behind you.

"If that lord will find out the sister is with you, then what?" the man asked. "That won't happen, because she will be given a different name," Ragnar said and with that, the horse started to walk off, with Uhtred and Ragnar the Younger followed.

--

"Mother, they back!"

You lifted your gaze forward when you heard a girl calling happily. When you, Uhtred, Ragnar, Ragnar the Younger and the old man who was blind and named Ravn reached to the village, to one of the houses, two girls were outside playing when they saw you.

A woman walked outside and smiled. She looked at Uhtred as he got off of his horse and smiled at him as he moved closer. The two girls rushed closer to him and embraced him, which surprised him.

"You're back too!"

Ragnar got off of his horse before turning to you. He lifted you up from the horse and placed you down on your feet. He then led you closer to the woman, the two girls and Uhtred.

Ragnar the Younger helped his grandfather off of his horse and the two walked closer. The woman kissed Ragnar's cheek before looking down at you, giving you a kind smile.

"Hello," the young girl told you, giving you a smile, which you returned with a small shy one. "This is y/n, Uhtred's little sister," Ragnar said and looked at the woman, his wife, "And as from now on, they both will be living with us. As family."

She nodded slowly, agreeing with it. "We going to have to give her a different name," Ragnar the Younger reminded as he nodded to you, "Just in case their uncle won't find out she is here."

The woman kneeled down and reached for your arm, gently pulling you over to her. "I'm sure we'll find something that will fit you," she said softly as she brushed your hair. Her touch was soft and motherly, which made you think of your mother. "Brida, please get a fur coat for her."

The young girl nodded and ran into the house. "This is my wife, Sigrid," Ragnar said, and nodded to the other girl who greeted you, "And my daughter, Thyra."

Thyra smiled at you again as Brida ran outside. She put the fur around your shoulders to keep you warm. "Thank you," you muttered softly.

Sigrid watched you with a soft smile, "I had a sister when I was little," she suddenly said softly, "Her name was Freya."

"It's a pretty name," you said. Sigrid nodded a little, "Yes. She was also pretty as her name."

"Freya Ragnarsdottir," Ragnar said with a nod, "How would you like that?" You glanced at Sigrid to see if was alright, and she smiled at you. "I think it suits you well," she said softly. You gave her a small smile and looked at Uhtred, who smiled back at you.

[popcorn1989]

Uhtred x reader for your prompt list with 21 please?

Notes: Priests so many priests..... and I laughed at my own story while writing it. I'm going to hell.

Pairing: Uhtred x Reader

Warning: Nothing, Nah, maybe sex content, but nothing written out

Summary: Where is the priest called Albert? You and Uhtred set off and soon find him, but Uhtred is more surprised by you than by the priests.

"So this is the village?" asked Uhtred standing next to you, your horses tied to a tree behind you. "Village?" you asked in surprise, looking down at the farm, which was more like it for you. There wasn't much here, a small chapel, two larger houses and four small ones.

There was a stable next to the chapel and you saw a granary. But that's all there was. "Well, if you say so" You looked at him, "So shall we? Albert is supposed to be there, and only he knows where the princess is."

Uhtred's face contorted "When I see it like this, it makes me sick to go down there" You knew exactly what he meant, again you let your eyes wander over the people. There were only priests, monks, novices and everything male, in short, the village was as Christian as those left behind by King Alfred.

"Let's just get this over with" you said and were about to walk down the hill when Uhtred grabbed you by the arm, "You know I go through a lot, Honey, I love you. But this…" he nodded towards the village"…is a bit too…"

"A bit too Christian?" he nodded, his face twisted again. "We just have to ask if Albert is there … And then we'll talk to him and go" You reasoned that if two half Danes came to this village, the priests would start reciting prayers to you. "Hide Thor's hammer" he did as you said and also hid your amulet under your shirt.

"Or should I have asked Finan or Osferth, darling?" he raised his eyebrow, he hated it when you were alone with those two, he even told Osferth if he touched you again he would be missing a few fingers, it was a joke wasn't it?

"I'll be fine" he said looking at the horses "We'll leave them here" the walk down the hill was still the easy part of it all, but as you got closer to the village a happy looking priest was already coming towards you "Praise God" he just spoke and kept walking. Astonished, you look after him, but you don't lose any more thought about it as you pass the first house.

For what you saw did disturb you a little, a priest opened the small door and had to bend down to get in, the novice laughed and slapped the frontman on the buttocks. You stopped abruptly "Did you see that?" you asked Uhtred, but he had just looked to the other side "I was about to ask you the same thing" when he turned to you.

Even after asking, he did not tell you what he had seen. But it must have left him speechless. You shrugged your shoulders, everything normal here, you thought and tried not to let yourself be distracted from your mission, but Uhtred was the complete opposite.

"I wonder…" he said as he pointed to two novices standing so close to each other as if they were about to pounce on each other, but nothing more came out of him. "They're having a feast," was all you replied, and Uhtred looked at you in wonder. Everything is normal here.

A priest had just come out of the chapel, holding his clothes wide over his legs. "Priest?" you actually wanted to ask him about Albert, because most of the priests were "busy" but he ran past you.

"Forgot something, praise the Lord and repent" he just shouted, you looked towards the chapel, if the priests were gathering there, maybe Albert was in there.

"Well, I'm telling you, something's going on here" Uhtred said, walking so close now that you almost had trouble walking properly. "You're not usually like this, they're priests, everything's normal here" you shrugged again as you stopped at the chapel with the uncertain Uhtred.

In front of the chapel was a priest, unlike the others, dressed all in black, his nose so high that he could hardly see you, but he saw you. He began to cough, acted, and you could see that immediately.

"We are looking for a priest called Albert," you said, Uhtred next to you was very quiet and had his eyes on the stable. "Albert? No, no, I don't know that name," the priest said in a pointed voice, but he looked nervous. "We know from King Alfred that he is here. He said, you meet here for prayers and to do penance".

The priest nodded quickly "He is a good king" was all he said, beside you Uhtred began to pat you on the shoulders. But you did not respond to him "Then send for Albert or I will ram the door down" You saw the priest think and swallow hard.

Beside you, Uhtred kept patting your shoulder until he got fed up and grabbed you by both shoulders and turned in the direction he was looking.

You actually wanted to say something to the priest, but you were speechless at the sight of the two priests who were in the stable next to a horse, one above the other and intertwined, doing something that you could never imagine. They were priests!

You gaped at the priest in front of the chapel, who was beginning to sweat. You try to catch yourself quickly, and you did it extremely well. "If you don't let us in and bring us to Albert, I'll tell the king what you're really doing here." The priest wiped his wet forehead.

After waiting, slowly he nodded and opened the door, he invited you inside. From within came Lust screams and - God I repent-cries… Uhtred grabbed your arm and brought his face so close, you felt his breath on your cheek, "You know I love you and we both already have seen and experienced a lot…." he looked at the door.

"Do you really want to go in there?"

You nodded, of course you wanted that, that's exactly why you came and to find the princess, who liked to run away, this was your only option, because Albert had helped her and knew where she was.

You looked at your loved one with wide eyes and nodded. "And you're coming with me!" you said, taking his arm and pulling him with you. It was hot in the chapel, you were a little surprised because there were hardly any candles. You block out everything you saw.

A priest being slapped on the bare bum by another with a riding crop and moaning in lust, a priest on his knees in front of another doing him a favor while the other moaning read him the Bible, a novice lying at the table, naked, and surrounded by other men and a number of other scenes that you didn't see or fade out, Albert was important.

Uhtred, on the other hand, looked from side to side, wide-eyed, whenever he stopped you dragged him with you. His breath caught when he saw a priest hanging on the cross and being sprinkled with candle wax by a priest.

And then you finally stood in front of Albert. To your surprise, he was tied together with several ropes, his best piece was already red from the ropes and was whipped by a novice.

No one saw you or noticed you but Albert, who now looked at you both with a twisted face. "Where's the princess?" you asked confidently, as if what was going on here was normal.

The priest swallowed, ordered the novice to stop. It took him so long that you lose patience "Tell me immediately where the princess is, Alfred wants her to come home" at the king's name the man became different "Ehm … in Sussex" you nodded

"That was easy ... keep going," you said to the Priest, Uhtred was quiet the whole time, probably blinded by the impressions. "Give my regards to my king and tell him I'm praying for him" you knew what he meant, he didn't want any of this to get in the ears of the king "I will" you said, because everything was normal here.

Confused, Uhtred followed you outside "Ehm" he cleared his throat "I've seen a lot, but that….." you turn to him and said "Everything's normal here, I don't know what you mean"

He gave you that look that said you couldn't mean it. But it was only with the horses that he found his language again. "I don't know what I find more frightening, the priests, or that you are so, so good at handling this situation…I mean…"

You started laughing, "Have you seen the priest on the cross?" at first he was amazed, but then he laughed with you.

[disasterofastory]

I don’t break (Uhtred x Reader)

I don't break Uhtred x Reader Warnings: smut

Summary: Uhtred gives you what you want.

Uhtred of Bebbanburg can seem like a beast in the eyes of the others. He is a big, hulking figure, and the furs around his wide shoulders and leather on his broad chest do nothing to hide his muscles and the strength he holds in them. Despite the place of his birth, he is a Dane, and it's enough to be a godless monster in front of the Saxons.

You can often hear the lies and gossips about him and his relentless way with women in the bed.

He hurts them.

He tears them apart without a second thought.

Oh, you wish.

Despite Uhtred's appearance, he is a gentle lover. He hovers above you like a shield while you keep him close to you with your legs and kiss him until you feel dizzy and breathless. His touches are warm and soft and something you often dreamed about as a young woman. He cocoons you in his warmth on cold nights, whispering sweet nothing into your ears as he thrusts into you until you tremble and moan under his touch.

And it drives you into the wall.

You feel like a porcelain doll in his hold, and you start to get tired of it. You need more. You need the beast in him to make you his. Is it so hard to ask for?

The fireplace keeps you warm in your thin nightgown. Your skin smells like wildflowers and herbs from your bath. The air is filled with their scent.

The woods quietly crackle under the heat, but the house is silent otherwise. Uhtred is still at the alehouse probably, trying to prove to Beocca that he is not a moron. You smile at the thought as you check on the fire.

Everything is ready for your husband to come home. And you are more than ready for your husband to come.

You can hear Uhtred's footsteps before he opens the door of your bedroom. A wide smile tugs on his lips when he notices you, but you can see some confusion in his eyes when you stand up from your seat, and he looks over at your form.

The dress you chose for the night keeps little for the imagination with the thin fabric and deep cleavage. You can feel your nipples harden as you make your way to him and his eyes travel all over your body repeatedly.

"Husband," you greet him innocently, placing your hands on his leather-covered chest.

"How was your day?" He asks, leaning down to your level for a kiss while you start to free him from his clothes.

"As usual," you answer.

He lets you undress him, watching you curiously. You move to the center of the room, leaving his clothes on the floor until he wears nothing just pants.

His pale white skin seems darker under the orange light of the fire. Goosebumps run through his arms as you pet his biceps, kissing his chest here and there.

"What is your plan?" He asks suspiciously but enjoys your attention.

"What do you think?" You ask back, still nibbling on the muscle of his left breast.

"You wicked woman," he says, smiling. He hugs your waist, pulling you closer to kiss you, but you stop him with your finger on his pouty lips.

"Nope," you tell him to his surprise. "Tonight, we play as I want."

"And what do you want?"

His amusement lessens when he notices your seriousness and embarrassment. He stares at you, waiting for you to continue.

"Y/N?"

Your skin burns under his gaze as you bite your lip, thinking how you should tell him what you want.

"I want you to be rougher," you confess.

"What?" He asks back immediately. He doesn't seem angry or disappointed, his eyebrows drawn together with confusion.

"You always treat me like a doll," you explain. "I know we come from different worlds, but you don't have to act as I break from the smallest touches. I heard you brag about your humping before we got together, I want that."

Uhtred never thought that you were dissatisfied in bed. You are a gentle woman who prefers to keep the fire burning at home and cooking for him and his men. You rather heal people than kill them, and he thought, you prefer the gentleness in the sheets too.

Uhtred can't help but smile at you. You look like a goddess in the light dress. He can see your curves thanks to the lights, your lips are almost pouty, and the glint in your eyes is stubborn.

"So you want to be with a Dane?" He asks smugly with a smirk on his lips.

"If you put it that way," you shrug, relieved that you didn't hurt him with your little confession.

Your stomach is already in a tight knot, and you can feel the wetness between your legs even if he didn't touch you yet.

"Okay then," he says, still smirking. "But tell me if it's too much," he adds, more seriously.

"Okay," you nod, looking up at him waitingly.

He starts it slowly as always. His kiss is warm and passionate as his arms curl around your waist. Your body pressed against his. His lips find their way down to your neck, nibbling on the soft flesh. Keeping your arms around his shoulders, you let him lead you to the bed. He pulls on the straps of your dress, kissing down on your shoulders. The fabric pools around your legs, forgotten.

You are surprised when he lets you go to lie down on the bed, making himself comfortable.

Should you do something, or...?

"Sit on my face," he says. "Come on, wife, smother me," he smirks.

Still in shock, but you do as he says. You climb up on top of him, above his face, embarrassed.

"I said, sit," he says but doesn't wait for your reaction.

Uhtred grabs your thighs, pulling your down on himself. His fingers sink into your flesh, keeping you there when you want to jump from the sudden feeling. His tongue licks up on your slit.

"Uhtred," you moan, gripping the wall before you.

His head is buried in your pussy, sucking and nibbling on your sensitive parts.

"Oh, God," you gasp when you feel his tongue in you, circling and thrusting. The skin on the small part between your hips and thighs is red from the force he holds you down on himself.

"Uhtred," you say his name again, leaning against the cold wall when you feel yourself cum. You coat his tongue and face with your juices.  He licks up everything you have to give, and before you know, your body shakes from another orgasm.

Your breath is still heavy when Uhtred turns you around, making you squeal. He still holds your hips, moving up to kiss you on the lips. You can taste yourself on his tongue as he pushes himself into your mouth. His face is wet, glistening with your wetness.

"Are you okay?" He asks smugly.

You hum in answer, nodding.

A smirk is the last thing you see before he turns you on your stomach, holding your bottom up in the air.

"I love it," he murmurs just to himself, spanking your asscheek for fun. You moan at the feeling, and he freezes for a second. "Did you like it?"

"Yes," you nod, hiding your face in the pillows under you.

He tugs you closer to himself, gridding his hard cock to your cunt. The rough fabric of his trousers flickers your clit, shooting small lightings through your body. Your moan is muffled by the pillows.

Uhtred backs away for a little, striking down on your bottom once again. Your cheek jiggles after his touch. Your skin is burning, making you drip onto the sheets.

Your husband grabs your pussy without warning, using your wetness for lubricant as he pushes two of his fingers inside you. His nails almost break the skin of your ass as he shakes it from time to time for his own enjoyment before he spanks you again.

"Uhtred," you moan, pushing yourself against him. "Please."

"What?" He taunts you. "What do you want, darling wife?"

"You," you breathe.

"What more?"

"Your cock," you give in. "I want your cock in my pussy. Please, Uhtred."

The man smirks, hearing your desperate voice, freeing himself from his pants, pulling on his cock a few times before he lines himself up to your entrance. He plays with your folds, smearing your juices around your pussy.

"Husband," you moan again. "Fuck me."

Uhtred thrusts into you immediately. He fills you up with one thrust, leaning most of his weight on you.

"Oh, God," You scream. Saliva drips down on your chin.

"It's Uhtred," he replies smugly, backing away and pushing himself in you again. He doesn't give time for your to adjust to his size. He fucks you into the bed, and you have to support yourself, so you don't hit your head against the wall. He slams into you feverishly, using you for his own pleasure.

He moves closer to you, so his thighs are under you as he straightens you up against his chest. His grip on your hips runs up to your breasts. His breath is hot against your neck. Through the dizziness, you can feel his teeth from time to time.

"Cum," he orders you. "Cum around me, wife. Milk my cock."

And you do. Your walls tighten and pulsate around his hard length, milking him, demanding his release.

"You can do better," he says, running one of his hands between your legs to draw fast circling on your clit.

"Uhtred," you snap almost in panic as you grab his wrist.

Your senses filled with pleasure. Your muscles twitch, and the heat in your lower abdomen is so powerful it almost makes you faint.

When the world clears out a bit around you, you are against Uhtred, who hugs you patiently. His cock is still in you, and his seed seeps out from your hole.

"How was that?" He asks. His voice is a quiet murmur next to your ear.

"So good," you sigh, still holding him. "So good."

He hums, kissing your shoulder and helping your lie down on the bed, covering you with pelts before climbing in beside you. His skin is sticky with sweat, but none of you feel the strength to get up to have a bath.

"You are my doll, Y/N," Uhtred says, kissing your hair and holding you close to himself as both of you fall asleep.

[happilyhertale]

Destiny is all - Osferth x female!reader, Part 1

Summary: You are Finan's sister. You live in a village in Scotland, near the border with Northumbria. You lead a quiet life until your brother decides to visit you with his boys and your life changes completely.

Pairing: Osferth x fem!reader

Author’s note: Hey you (:

Now I am finally sharing my little Osferth story with you. The events are a little different from the story in the series. (No, Osferth will not die either). I hope you will enjoy it! English is my second language, please forgive me if I made any mistakes (:

Word count: 2.2 k

Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7

Other stories of mine

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The sun, which has been high in the sky all day, is slowly tilting towards the earth. Four men ride silently side by side. Every now and then an exhausted grunt can be heard. As soon as the grunt is silenced, it is usually answered with another grunt. They have been riding like this for days now. Uhtred, Finan, Sihtric and Osferth are on their way from the northernmost point in Scotland back to Wessex.

The men are exhausted by the long distance they have already covered on horseback. The not very restful nights they have already spent in various forests do not diminish their exhaustion.

"Lord. We could spend the night in a village today," Finan says after another grunt.

Uhtred turns slightly in Finan's direction, "If we ride through the night, we should be in Northumbria by tomorrow"

"But Lord… We should stop and rest. I'm tired of the sight of my horse's head... his ears in particular," Osferth chimes in.

Sihtric turns to Uhtred as well, "I wouldn't say no either"

Osferth continues to nod in agreement.

Uhtred sighs, "Very well… The next village is headed for"

"We would have a place to sleep there for sure too," Finan says to Uhtred with a grin. Uhtred sees Finan's grin and becomes curious.

"Do you have a sweetheart up here?" asks Uhtred with raised eyebrows.

"Not exactly. My family lives there and we could sleep and eat there"

"What? I thought you were from Ireland," Osferth looks at him questioningly.

Finan nods, "We're originally from Ireland. But my parents moved over with me and my sister"

Uhtred just shakes his head with a smile.

The men rode on again in silence. Every now and then a grunt can be heard. But it was a done deal, they were on their way to Finan's family.

You stand in front of your little house. The evening sun shines on your face and you enjoy it. You close your eyes for a moment. Your little house is located on the edge of a village, near the forest. You enjoy the peace and quiet that the location offers you, and that you can let your gaze wander into the forest at any time as soon as the hustle and bustle of the village becomes too much for you. Slowly you open your eyes again and take a deep breath. You still want to water the flower bed before you retire for the evening. As you put the bucket down, you hear noises in the forest behind you. You turn around, but in the twilight you can't really see if anyone is there. Out of habit, you reach for the dagger tucked under the skirt of your dress.

"Who is there?" you ask in a firm voice.

But instead of an answer, you only hear the rustling of the bushes at the edge of the forest.

Suddenly a Dane steps out of the forest and you instinctively hold up your dagger. You are ready to defend yourself. Your breath catches in your throat, but the Dane just grins at you. "Finan! I didn't know that your parents can also produce something beautiful", the Dane says.

Finan? How does he know your brother...?

"Aye! Lord! Shut up!", Finan suddenly stands next to the Dane. Your lungs fill with air again as you see your brother smiling at you from a short distance away.

You don't hesitate for long. "Finan!" you shout and run towards him. You throw your arms around his neck. He wraps his arms tightly around you.

"Heey... my little one," he says softly and presses you closer to him.

You sob a little. He loosens the embrace and takes your face in his hands, "Ey... y/n.... If I had known ya missed me so much, I would have stopped by sooner," he smiles at you. You wipe tears from your face and have to laugh for a moment.

"What are ya doing here?" you finally ask your brother.

"We're just passing through and I thought we were due for a visit"

Only now do you become aware and remember the Dane. But when you look behind Finan, you see two other men standing there. But your gaze immediately falls on the blond monk. However, he immediately averts his gaze from you when he realises that he has been caught staring. Now you notice another Dane. Somehow you seem to like this mixture of the troupe. Finan turns around as well, "Sorry y/n. This is Uhtred, Sihtric and our baby Monk, Osferth"

You notice the monk giving Finan a warning look. The Danes, on the other hand, give you a friendly nod. Finan turns back to you, "Where are mother and father? Are they in the house? We are starving!" Finan is all euphoric.

You gently touch his forearm, "Finan...", you speak softly. He looks at you, but you only shake your head slightly.

"What...?" he whispers, sadness crossing his face.

"The fever took them last winter... First mother, then father..." you whisper.

He shakes his head slightly now too and you wrap your arms around him. After a short silence, you hear Finan murmur into your hair, "You're here all alone?"

You nod, "That must be enough for you now"

He just nods slowly and you can still see the sadness in his face.

You smile up at him, "Come, let's go into the house... I've put on some soup"

Together you go into the house. The men sit down at the table and you serve them the soup. There is not much talking at first, as they simply enjoy the warm meal. When they have finished, you prepare ale for everyone. Light conversation now fills the room. Osferth tries to comfort Finan, to say something nice about your parents. But Finan doesn't want to hear about it at the moment. After a while you take the dagger, which is again under your skirt and presses uncomfortably against your thigh, and put it on the table.

"Feisty... You always carry a dagger with you?", the Dane, Uhtred asks you. You look at him a little amused, "Men sometimes don't understand what 'no' means. So it can't hurt to have something with you to back up your opinion"

Uhtred grins and raises his cup "I'm afraid that's true"

You grin at him and join him in a toast.

When there is a knock at the door, you get up and go over. You open the door and your good mood is immediately dampened.

"Edward... what do ya want here?" you ask, a little annoyed. Alarmed by your tone, Finan looks at the door. From the door, there is no view of the table and so Edward does not notice that he is now being overheard by four guys.

"Y/n... I thought... maybe you'd like some company tonight...?"

He is visibly drunk and grinning at you.

"No, Edward. I told you the other day that it wasn't going to happen again"

Finan's expression darkens.

"Oh come on... Don't you miss it...?" he winks at you.

"What would she miss?"

You startle a little as Finan suddenly stands behind you. Edward looks startled too and just stammers around. Words like "nothing" and "just making sure everything is okay" leave his mouth.

"Good. And do not worry, everything is fine here," Finan lets Edward know as he closes the door.

You look at him indignantly, "Finan! I can handle it myself!"

He just walks back to the table and takes a big gulp of ale. You stand in the room a little speechless. You look at Finan and shoot daggers at him. But Finan continues to stand with his back to you and does not look at you.

Sihtric and Uhtred just grin and look at each other. But you notice Osferth looking at you again. He is probably shocked that a woman would seek the company of a man even though she is not married. You sigh softly and go back to the table. You sit down and shake your head slightly.

Finan looks at you again, "What...? You're my sister. I'll always look out for ya. And... the last time I was here, ya liked Edward, didn't ya?"

"I did," you emphasise, "Until I found him between another woman's thighs"

Osferth chokes on his ale and you look at him somewhat amused. He has to grin now, too, and he wipes the ale running down his chin with his hand. You have to chuckle a little, but somehow you like the sight.

But Finan turns your attention back to himself, "He did what? That bastard... Let me go to him..." Finan is about to get up, but you pull him down by his arm.

"No... There's no need for that. That's done and in the past. Really," you smile at him, but Finan doesn't really look convinced.

He just grumbles something to himself and drinks from his ale. You stroke his arm gently.

The later the hour gets, the louder the conversations become. You laugh a lot and talk to each other across the table. You enjoy having your brother and his friends with you. At some point, Uhtred has persuaded you to show him how you can defend yourself against men with your hands if you don't have your dagger with you. But it always ends up with Uhtred putting his arm around your neck from behind or you just giggle and somehow try to bring Uhtred down.

Eventually you sit down at the table again. You are still a little out of breath when Osferth, who is now sitting next to you, addresses you directly, "Lady... isn't it dangerous for a woman to live here alone?"

Uhtred interjects, "Well... if the possible attacker just stands still and doesn't fight back, then y/n has a chance to defend herself," Uhtred grins at you.

But you do not answer Uhtred, instead you kick him under the table.

Uhtred laughs as you turn back to Osferth, smiling.

You look at him curiously now, "Would it be safer for a woman somewhere else?"

He scratches the back of his neck, "Well... if you were at least in company... and there was no Edward lurking outside your door"

You have to chuckle a little and notice a smile forming around his lips too as it dawns on you. "Ooh yes! I'll come with ya"

Now Finan chokes on his ale and Uhtred grins again. As he calms down, he looks at you, "No way. You're safer here than being out with us"

"Finan!" you utter indignantly, but he just shakes his head.

When Sihtric speaks up, "Honestly, she's probably safer with the four of us. There's no one here to look after her"

Uhtred nods slowly in conviction.

"And if we go into battle?", Finan looks slightly overwhelmed.

"Then of course I won't be there. Then I'll cook you dinner in the meantime... Or keep the bed warm," you answer with a grin. As a sister, you know what drives Finan up the wall.

He gives you a warning look and continues to shake his head, "That's not funny... and that's out of the question"

He stands up and goes outside to pee.

Now you shake your head and stand up.

"Guys... It's late... I'm going to sleep now. This will not end well here otherwise"

Sihtric and Uhtred nod at you. Osferth smiles slightly at you, "Good night lady y/n" and you return his smile.

When Finan returns, he sees that you have gone to bed. He sighs and sits back down at the table with the boys. Uhtred's gaze is on Finan, "You know it would be the right decision. She's here all alone, and I'm sure Edward's not the only one knocking on her door"

Finan gives him a warning look.

"I'm just saying. Your parents aren't here anymore, she has no one here to look after her. And with us, she'd have four men by her side looking after her", Uhtred continues

Silence now reigns at the table as the boys continue to drink their ale. Until Finan just nods and gets up from the table again. "Okay... But if even one of ya tries to hit on my sister..." he adds warningly before disappearing into an adjacent room.

The next morning you come out of your chamber. Three men lie on furs on the floor. Light snoring fills the room. You leave the house and go into the garden behind it. Everything is still quiet, a few birds are chirping. You watch as the sun slowly rises and makes the shadows of the forest look less threatening.

Suddenly Finan is standing next to you. You are startled and flinch briefly.

"Holy Lord! Finan!", you lightly punch his arm. He says nothing, but smiles slightly. He also looks in the direction of the sunrise.

"Ya can come with us. Although I know it's dangerous for ya to accompany us... But I also have to admit that it's probably more dangerous for ya to stay here alone..."

You smile at him.

Slowly he looks in your direction, "Ya have to listen to me though"

You grin at him, "I never have Finan"

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Tag list

@aemonds-wifey @hoshi-miharu-blog @arryn-nyx @aemond-targaryenx @praline357 @chainsawsangel

[tlkfaerie]

Ribbons ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻ੈ✩‧₊˚

pairing: Finan x reader

a/n: Response to a lovely request! My first request, actually! Finally doing a solo Finan piece :) A bit soppier than I had originally planned, but I love it and I love Finan soooooo. Also the circumstance / sequence of events aren't entirely accurately in line with the events of the show but we move.

MDNI!18+ : TW finan x reader, dom!finan, virgin!reader, virginity loss, manhandling, kissing, very brief mentions of loss, fingering, p in v sex, confessions of love, slight breeding!kink

˚　　　　✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　.　　　　　 . ✦　　　 　˚　　　　 . ★⋆. ࿐࿔ 　　　.   　　˚　　 　　*　　 　　✦　　　.　　.　　　✦　˚ 　　　　

Things were tense when the men staggered back to the stronghold. They had won their latest battle involving Mercia and Bloodhair, though at the cost of a disastrous curse upon Uhtred's family. You selfishly prayed for Finan's safety, despite the two of you not being together. You were great friends, and though the others were familiar to you too, it was Finan that you truly wished to return in one piece.

You spent your time at home praying for the souls of those who had been lost, thinking about the wise words that Hild so graciously bestowed on you. You felt her absence more than ever, needing her sweet guidance, but aware that she was already spread thin. Everyone was.

As winter crept into your home, you wallowed slightly, missing everyone. But you had a duty, an alehouse to run. It was where you had met everyone originally, and had turned into somewhat of a cornucopia for Coccham. You knew that in order to keep spirits high, you'd have to open it up and welcome everyone in. Your hearth was where you had first met Finan, sitting with Uhtred as the two of them laughed. Hild had introduced you, and your speechlessness was the source of several laughs.

You had sat with them on the table that night, laughing with Hild, who you truly saw as your aspiration. Uhtred noticed this, joking about how you reminded him of his children, which had made you huff slightly. You were embarrassed of this, but Finan assured you that you were alright, muttering some joke about how you clearly had the spirit of a warrior within you to deal with these drunken men.

It had been a slow night, but you would rejoin them when you could, smiling at Finan every now and then. Finan's eyes had scrunched up too, but his lingering look had you blushing all throughout the night. From then on, the warriors had frequented your place. You and Finan would often sit and chat. He loved that he could talk to you. For once, it was not about war, or combat, or blasted shield walls. He was sick to death of hearing the names Alfred or Edward, and you gave him peace from all of that.

It filled you with warmth to see everyone so carefree and jolly, especially as it was your father's wish when he opened the alehouse to make an honest place of it. Every now and then, a regular face would vanish, and you felt it like a sting in your core, but you carried on nevertheless.

You lived just above the alehouse, walking down the steep wooden steps as you tried to alleviate your chill. Nothing seemed to work. Lighting candles and preparing some food for the hungry travellers that would arrive soon. You had heard news that the travelling party were returning from Winchester within the next few hours, feeling sadness at the inevitable loss and pain that would be felt all through the town, but also the deep, hidden feelings of desire that you so heavily pushed to one side.

Every time you saw Finan leave, you felt a tinge of regret within you. After all, he was Uhtred's right hand man by all accounts, and great responsibilities were often given to him. What if he were to never return? You supposed it was silly to think more of your confessions being told than him returning with his life, but you were sick of pushing down these feelings. You felt like some sort of angel when his gaze fell on you, which it did, often. And when he would come in for a final glass of ale, though what you didn't know is that he was really just looking for an excuse to talk to you.

He had seemed grave when you saw him last, trying to keep smiling at you but looking away darkly every now and then. You, none the wiser, had given him a cheerful departure, promising a full meal for him and his friends upon his return. You had assured him that the plate would be waiting for him, only if he came home in one piece. The gesture was halfhearted, though to him it was a challenge. He had left beside Uhtred, meditating upon his horse about you.

You.

Finan really, really loved you. He was always incredibly outgoing, and so you assumed he would just wed someone more like him, but Finan dreamed of you almost every night. It tortured him that he was so quick with his words, and yet they seemed to disappear from him whenever he saw you. Your plump lips, your wide eyes, full of life and unsoiled by the rot of death. You were the exact opposite of what he encountered on his missions and tasks, and though he loved his life alongside his trusted Lord, he wanted something to do it all for. And that something was you. He would make sure of that.

As both of your feelings nearly spilled over each other, it was time for someone to do something.

It seemed like you had wasted your whole day, silently waiting for the evening to come, when finally, you heard some commotion - your heart sent flashes of longing through you. You felt somewhat pathetic, watching the door of your alehouse for that specific person to come through. But, when you know, you know.

Suddenly, a stream of townsfolk walked in. Some came holding hands, some even came with their children, which you didn't mind, offering them some meat pies and ruffling their hairs. You spoke with some of the women, delighted to have their husbands back and eager to get you away to spend time with them soon. You joked about being stuck behind the brewery, handing out copious pints of ale. Within the next twenty minutes, your hands were so sticky that you started flapping them furiously.

Finally, you made your way outside, wanting to do a round of everyone sitting on the benches. There, you found Finan and Osferth. Sihtric was over in the corner, with his wife, the two of them beckoning you towards them.

Giving them quick greetings, you drunk in some of the news from Sihtric, who informed you that Uhtred was still in Winchester for some time with Hild, and that he had suffered a great loss. Your head bowed at that, not wanting or needing to know any more. You wished the both of them and their children well, before granting a weak smile to the two men now before you.

Osferth gave a weak smile, fondly remembering happier times in the alehouse and wishing he could match his previous energy. You hugged him tightly, knowing he was more sensitive and newer to the trade of being a warrior, though you didn't expect him to hold on so tightly to you. You sunk into his unfamiliar embrace for a moment, before Osferth pulled away.

And there he was. Finan. You had never seen him looking more tired, slightly long hair giving him a dishevelled look. Though equally, he was beautiful. No amount of sadness could take away the kind, observant look in his eyes. He seemed to be in his own world, and you didn't want to disturb, but then he looked at you, and the faintest smile stretched onto his lips.

You wanted Finan to hold you. You wanted his warm embrace then and there, but something told you it would take a little more time. His brows are furrowed and a strong wrinkle emerges between them, telling you that he is far from relaxed. You gulp slightly, the promise of a meal still hanging in the air.

With a hand still on Osferth's shoulder, you said nothing as you gave him an empathetic nod, tilting your head and smiling as best as you could. Your chest filled with relief when his little wrinkle disappeared. The shadows lifted just slightly, and there he was. He understood you somehow, an unspoken look flittering between you, and then you were gone.

There was so much you wanted to talk to Finan about. You ached to have your friend back, even if that dynamic did pain you. He still came to the tavern, even when Uhtred returned, though he was unusually silent as weeks flew by. Even as things picked up and spirits were back to normal, Finan seemed to be stuck somehow.

You entertained mostly Uhtred and Sihtric most nights, helping them heal ever so slightly with perhaps a little too much ale. You had even begun watering it down less, which did not go unnoticed by them. You prayed with Osferth too, mostly to keep him company.

It wasn't until a whole month had passed that you could no longer take it. Finan's usual loud voice could no longer be something of the past. You needed to tell him how you felt. You knew that you had to do something tonight.

You spent far too long in the mirror during the hour before you would open. You knew it would be a busy night, as the snow had finally ceased, and people were no longer cooped up in their homes. They would want warm drink and entertainment, and you would give them just that.

"Come on, Y/N." You nudged yourself, looping two ribbons into the two braids that you had meticulously gathered with your unruly hair, pinching your cheeks before letting out a slight laugh. You hadn't realised just how much you truly valued Finan's entire personality until it changed whenever you came near. Surely freshening up a bit would impress him?

Meanwhile, as though he was mirroring you, Finan ran his hands through his hair, sitting patiently in his own company. He had been surrounded by his loud companions all day, laughing and working, enjoying any semblance of peace that he could. The Irishman thought of nothing but you, however, and felt that if he did not do something soon he would combust into a million pieces.

Truthfully, after his last visit to Mercia, he had pulled back from you slightly. He needed you so deeply, but couldn't bear the thought of making you wait around for him, worrying if he would come home or not. There was also the additional danger of his weapons everywhere, his being at Uhtred's side constantly, and the threat of having something so precious to him be so targeted. He wanted you more than he wanted to breathe.

After that first day where you had been babbling to Hild in your alehouse, he was stunned. He was in awe of how you ran the place, even with the death of your father, never allowing anyone to step on your toes, even though he would have been more than willing to help. He admired your trust in things, never fearing of the worst, unlike he had. Since his days on the ship, all he had craved was something, anything, to come home to.

Nothing had filled that space until he saw you prancing around the alehouse, clumsily spilling drinks and shaking your sticky hands in his face to annoy him, your loud laughter echoing in his mind even now as he had tried to pull you into the mess you had made.

The memory shone in his mind, so prominent that he quite literally couldn't think straight. He didn't want to be absent towards you now, but his very existence intermingling with yours was a threat to your life, and perhaps your happiness. Could he do that to you?

As the tavern bustled into life, you couldn't stop fiddling with your braids. Some of your friends had offered to touch them up, which only worried you more, but they teased you still, pinching your cheek when you had confessed to them what you were going to do tonight.

You would your hands into the handles of at least ten cups, delivering them to the table of several hefty warriors who barely fit on your stools, making a mental note to get some warrior-friendly seating arranged.

"Here you are boys," you greeted them lightly, recognising a few, particularly Uhtred, who looked like he had seen better days. His hair was loose, strewn all over his face, but a smile graced his face, which reassured you.

"You might want to slow down, Lord," you teased, anticipating his reaction. He cocked his brow, piercing blue eyes observing you graciously. "Y/N, you're too good to me. Too good." He raised a glass to you, and you playfully rolled your eyes, a renewed sense of confidence overtaking you.

As you were about to turn around, you collided with hard leathers, belonging to a very firm chest. Towering above you was Finan. You quickly fiddled with your braid, hoping he would be enticed by them. So stupid, you thought to yourself.

"Have you forgotten what incredibly handsome men look like, or are you just surprised to see me?" said Finan, voice just above a whisper. Your eyes widened at his question, hand coming up to slap his bare arms. He hadn't been this perky in a while, and it shocked you, to say the least. You were happy to see him back to normal. Though he always carried an air of dominance with him, the softer side of him was always welcome.

There was a strange determination in his eyes, as if he had woken up. "Trust me, with you in front of me every day, I could hardly forget what a handsome man looks like." Your emboldened state of mind matched his newfound confidence, and the two of you were back to being the same people that you were when you first met. Finan forgot, just for a second, about the reek of death and its hanging in the air.

Instead, he took you in. Your fresh braids, which he suspected you had done just for him. He felt so warm, even in the bitter winter, and your eyes gazing at him as though he was the kindest man on earth brought him more security than anything else in the world.

His presence alone was enormous. You had to shake your head to remember what you were really here to say to him. He had laughed at your previous remark, taking the confident proudly.

"You look so beautiful, Y/N." he stated fondly, content to spend the rest of the night with you. Your cheeks heated at his words, and you looked away, but not before his strong hands found your chin, raising your face to meet his brown eyes once more. He simply could not wait any longer.

"You always look beautiful, and I'm sorry if I've ever made you feel like you aren't", he huffed, acknowledging his own mental absence. You felt the tenderness in his touch, against the rough scarring on his hands. You smiled sadly, wishing he didn't have to be treated so roughly. Your softer hands found his, holding them tightly.

"I suppose I sh-" but before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by a loud crash. You were quick to inspect the commotion, not realising that the two of you were still firmly holding hands. It hadn't occurred to you until his grip tightened, dwarfing your entire hand in his. You couldn't help but smile, especially when you discovered what the scene before you was all about.

Two women were having at it, fighting like animals. These were women you knew, and so you were shocked to see them go at one another, enough even to draw blood. You considered for a moment why two familiar faces would be fighting, but the two had recently mentioned their escapades with Osferth, who was a babbling mess at the scene before him.

Finan cursed. Truly, he couldn't help but laugh. Of course, this stupid baby monk would intervene in some way, he thought to himself. You giggled at Osferth's expression as the women were finally separated by Finan, who begrudgingly let go of your hand. He felt so juvenile, clinging to you like a crush, but he simply couldn't help himself.

"Umm, I thought monks weren't allowed to hump," was all he said, before leaving the poor boy to defend for himself, returning to you. As he walked over, you felt the life reemerge within him. He was smiling so much you almost couldn't take it.

"Now that's a hero," you laughed as he spread his arms out, congratulating himself. You couldn't keep yourself from moving about, however, unable to stay still in his presence. Your mind constantly filtered through possibilities of what he was about to tell you, meanwhile your own looming confession was being stuffed further and further back in your mouth. You weren't entirely sure what he was going to say to you. Perhaps he was going to tell you to stay away from him . . .

Any suspicions of his rejection, however, were entirely forgotten when both of his hands came to cup your face. The act felt so intimate that your legs almost quivered, and you braced yourself to fall over. His head leaned back slightly, and he breathed heavily, taking you in. Finan, filled with confidence, had bee brought to his knees by you. You and your ribbon braids.

"Can we talk somewhere, please. Perhaps when it's a little less busy, lady?" you understood, but couldn't help the frustration that grew within you as your conversation was prolonged yet again. You simply nodded, but that didn't seem to be enough for him, judging by his widening eyes.

"After closing, Finan, come up the stairs, I'll be in my room." You hadn't realised just how suggestive that sounded until Finan's eyes widened even more, and he cocked his head with a cheeky grin, retorting something about you being more forward than ever. You slapped his chest, mocking his childishness, though before you could fully manage to hit him, he grabbed your wrist with ease.

His arm flexed, and he quickly pulled you in, your feet stumbling to keep up with his strength, until you felt his breath on your face, and you were close enough to be touching his lips.

"Quite the invitation, lady," he half joked, but in reality, he as already counting down the hours. "I will be there, Y/N."

After what felt like the longest night in history, the last of the crowd finally retreated from the alehouse. You were itching to see Finan. Since the two of you last spoke, you had barely seen him. Uhtred was shamefully taken home by Sihtric, who you were amazed was sober. The rest of the men and women left together, and you said your final goodbyes, closing the doors. This time, however, you didn't lock them.

You trudged upstairs, tiredness hitting your body. After hours, you finally took a seat on the edge of your bed, fiddling with the silly plaits that you had worried so much over. You sensed Finan's presence when there was a slight moan of old wood being pressed as he walked up to meet you. You had so much to say to him you could hardly contain yourself, rising from your sitting position.

Finan gave a polite knock, but didn't bother waiting, bending under the doorframe before returning to his natural state, giving you an incredibly sheepish look. You stuttered slightly, but told him to sit. You quickly realised that a man had never been up to your room. It was spacious enough, with a large bed of furs and enough space for plenty of candlelight.

"Please, sit, Finan." you held your hand out as if to show him the way, guiding yourself to the edge of your bed. Finan let out a small laugh at your sudden formality, bending as if giving you a mocking bow before sitting next to you.

Even though he had been the one to initiate conversation last time, you made it your mission to get there before him, wanting to get your own point across before he said anything to you.

"Finan, I have to tell you," you started, feeling an awful mist of tension heating up your body suddenly, " I just - I hate," you sighed in frustration, groaning as you could hardly get the words out. Finan seemed heavily amused, beckoning you to continue.

"I just really enjoy when you're here." Pathetic. "And I don't like it when you're gone away for weeks. And I worry for you when you're not here, even though I have faith in you."

Once you break the seal, you can hardly stop. Finan takes in every word as though it is gospel, but you hardly notice as you babble on.

"Obviously you're strong, and umm, and handsome, and you speak well enough to get yourself out of trouble,"

"Oh, do keep going, lady. I've never been so flattered." he raised a hand to his chest, feigning shyness. You glared at him, embarrassment curling itself around your neck, blocking any clear thought from entering your head. Finan quickly sensed your frustration, placing a hand on your thigh to steady you.

But that just made it worse.

"And then I think we're good, but you don't speak to me f-for weeks, Finan. And then you touch my thigh like this!" You could almost laugh at yourself, truly, "and I just want you all of the time, and I think we . . . I think we should be together."

With your final declaration out of the way, you feel a fatal sense of worry overcome your body at his shocked face. The hand on your thigh doesn't move, however. It tightens.

"Y/N," he starts, and you brace yourself for the worst, "Please, I want to be with you too. I stayed distant, because, well because I didn't want anything to happen to you. If I am with you, then I'll have something to actually fight for," he looked down as he continued, clearly stressed, "but then if I have something to fight for I'll have something to lose as well."

You began to understand him clearly. With what he had seen, particularly with recent events, there was always a risk involved. Perhaps what made him so good is that everything he previously needed to protect was always on the battlefield with him. The two of you together would be a constant source of worry for him. You could be kidnapped, taken hostage, injured while he was away.

"But, Finan, every time you've left, nothing has happened to me. I'm here, aren't I? Entirely whole."

"But it's different, or, it would be different," he stressed, hands flying up as he spoke.

"The only difference is I'd be yours. And I want to be yours, Finan."

He looked at you then. Really looked at you. His hand ran through his beard, and any semblance of composure that he had snapped when you bit your lip. Perhaps he was being ridiculous. Perhaps he was thinking about things too deeply. After all, he was an entirely competent warrior. If anything happened, he would be able to solve it.

He could barely control himself any longer, when your hand came to fiddle with the ribbons weaved into your loosening braids. You had never looked more innocent and enticing - he physically couldn't stand what you were doing to him.

Meanwhile, you took note of his chest heaving, feeling your own heartbeat gain speed. You decided to let even more out, noticing his gaze shifting to your hair.

"I plaited these for you, I thought they would impress you." The sheepish truth had you looking down, realising that the two of you had been stupidly restricting one another whilst simultaneously trying to impress one another in a hideously drawn out back and forth. Sorrows had settled, and now you wanted him. You needed Finan.

"They do impress me, most definitely," he assured you, teasing you slightly with his reaction. He found you utterly adorable, that you had done some little change to please him, "but you already caught my attention without the ribbons, Y/N."

The cross around his neck gleamed as it dangled, moving slightly as he leaned down to meet your face as you sat beneath him on the bed. The tenderness of the moment had been replaced by burning passion.

"Finan, I-"

"Say my name again."

"Finan-" You couldn't even finish before his lips crashed into yours. Everything melted away when you kissed. Every semblance of a problem disappeared, and it was just you and Finan. He revelled in the idea that you were his woman, spoiling himself with the very thought of it.

You, meanwhile, were growing incredibly impatient. The man in front of you was something else, his muscles straining as his hands trailed down to your waist and picked you up. You instinctively wrapped your legs around his strong waist, arousal beginning to leak from within you as his grip tightened. He couldn't get enough of you, and he never wanted to let you go.

"I hope you know, love, that I'm keeping you forever." He smiled, adjusting you a little so that you felt the bulge of his crotch just underneath your sex, friction causing you to whine slightly. You weren't entirely sure if Finan was aware that you were a virgin, but the feeling of his body against yours prevented you from saying anything.

"Let me hear you." he demanded as he looked up at you, and thought he was still the Finan you knew, an air of seriousness had overcome him, and the words that came from him were dominating. You understood now how he managed to control armies the way he did.

You buried your head between his neck and shoulder, drooling slightly as you let out a moan at Finan's undying strength. With your undergarments pulled to the side by the stretch of his fingers, he made sure to move you up and down ever so slowly, rubbing against his crotch even more until your naked sex could take it no more.

The fabric of his trousers was an obstacle that you needed to be removed as soon as possible. Though the friction created waves of pleasure, the way he was holding you had you panting for more.

"Please, Finan, take them off." you looked into his eyes, which held an amused stare. He took your worn out image in, unable to believe how lucky he was. Any negative thought about the relationship between you two could be dealt with later, right now he had you securely in his arms, entirely fucked out without him even properly touching you yet.

You fastened your legs around his waist, which made him laugh. "You're telling me what to do now, is it?" truthfully, he would let you do or say anything you wanted. He was wrapped around your little fingers, and he knew it well.

"Love, I can't do what you ask if you continue to cling to me like a pup," he wore a toothy grin on his face, amusement growing in time with your own frustration. You loosened your thighs from his hold, and he set you down gently on your own bed. You fidgeted when you realised what would happen once his trousers were off, if you even managed to wait that long.

You watched him undo his breeches, only to around halfway, not even letting them slide down his legs before he came to you again. You leaned your head into his arm, nuzzling instinctively into his hold like some trained animal. You felt you would burst, declaring "I love you," before he could say anything else.

"I love you too, you and your ribbons." he flicked your braid with his finger, drawing you in to a loving kiss. You were slightly stunned at his lack of hesitation, any precaution having been abandoned by him. Finan felt it as well, the swell of pride that filled him as he announced his love for you, not even questioning the words. He knew them to be true, and he knew that with you as his woman, he was entirely complete.

Your next words, however, did catch him off guard.

"I've never been with a man, Finan." you confessed, maintaining eye contact with him as you waited for his reaction, worrying that he would be less eager to bed you with your inexperience. Finan tried to fight the impure thoughts as they wavered in his brain, unable to keep his hands off you as he thought of a way to reassure you without sounding too patronising, as he usually managed.

When he still didn't say anything, it prompted you to finally look away from him, wondering if he really cared about it as much as you thought.

"Hey, where's my lady gone?" he moved to sit beside you, feeling somewhat of a fool that his bulge was straining against the half of his breeches that still hung from his hips, and you with your dress bunched up so high that all he could think about were the stockings slipping down your delicate thighs. You didn't have the faintest idea of the impact you had on him right now.

He wasn't entirely sure how much more restraint he could exercise. "I don't care about that, I want to be the only man that ever gets to touch you from now on, anyway." he buffed his chest to try and make you laugh, but you didn't give him the satisfaction of laughing, too engrossed in lulling over the words he had just uttered.

"I want to be your only woman, Finan." and with that, you kissed him forcefully, adjusting your body so that you could straddle his frame, his heavy arms wrapping around your waist, bringing you further into his kiss. His hands moved down to your ass, squeezing firmly. Your mouth remained open when he allowed them to slip further down your thigh, toying with the hem of one of your stockings. They were cheap things, made for you with the purpose of convenience, and yet he was treating them like they were pure gold.

"I don't think I'll be sharing you with anyone anytime soon, love," he managed to whisper into your ear, your hands finding his hair and gripping tightly when he inserted two fingers into you, the promise of 'getting you ready for him' hanging in the air. The feeling was unlike anything you had experience, a welcome intrusion to your core. You felt his fingers curl, pushing up as far as they could go, meanwhile his thumb also occupied a space on your clit, rubbing ever so gently whenever he could to bring you pleasure.

You felt your thigh muscles trembling as you still straddled him on your knees, his head on your shoulder, occasionally kissing your neck, creating his own little mark on you. Finan knew he was possessive. He had to remind himself to be gentle with you, however, removing his fingers and inserting them again, wanting to tease you slightly.

You gave a quick tug to his thick hair in retaliation, which he seemed to like as he groaned and leaned back in order to see your face. You couldn't help a satisfied grin, otherwise looking rather empty as you thought of nothing but pleasure.

"Careful there," he said, returning his attention to kissing your neck, marking it with a slight bite. His warm lips on your skin affected you in ways you hadn't thought possible. You wondered why he hadn't put his fingers back inside of you, but you felt him fidget beneath you, until his cock was fully out, brushing back and forth against your sex. The two sensations together, of his lips and his cock, very nearly sent you over the edge embarrassingly soon.

The ghost of pleasure kept pulsating at your core, his hand moving his cock back and forth ever so slowly, sometimes seeming as though he was about to slip in and then releasing altogether from you. You hated it, the absence and the longing, playing tricks with your mind and turning you into some kind of depraved whore.

"Finan, I swear-"

"You swear what, lady?" he taunted you, still not close enough as his arm adjusted its claim around your waist, your breasts squishing into his own chest as you practically kneeled over the top of him, wanting to push him down to finish the job yourself.

"If you don't hump me soon, I will personally ban you from this very alehouse." shocked at your own feistiness, you hadn't imagined Finan to take your word so literally. Before you knew it, your back hit your bed of furs, and Finan now kneeled above you, playing with himself, tugging back and forth, his hard cock so prominent you felt it would break you.

And break you it did. His tip finally breached your walls, before his entire member felt your insides. Your core was so full, so unbelievably full. The pressure seemed to build before he even began to move, and you released several short pants, biting back a moan that he seemed to want to encourage out of you as he moved his hips just slightly, his muscled core meeting your soft, pliable thighs, now up in the air, hanging from his grip.

You were entirely at his mercy, so pliant for him, and so good for him. "I hadn't expected you to listen well, and you proved me right," he started, moving in and out once, so tantalisingly slowly that you felt every curve, vein and pulse going through him, "I told you to be careful, didn't I sweet girl?"

Though he was teasing, he still wanted to make sure you were okay. He didn't move until your face lost the scrunch and your eyes opened to look at him, heavy breathing turning into moans as your impatience move.

"Move, Finan." And that was all he needed to hear, moving in and out of you with some force, his hands clamping into the soft flesh of your thighs, still admiring the stockings that you wore, reminding himself to ask you to wear them more often.

Your lips fell open in a gasp when he sped up even more, soft 'good girls' coming from his lips in murmurs. He let go of one of your thighs, letting your leg fall to the bed, while his free hand now moved to your stomach, pressing down on your core and feeling exactly where he was inside of you. He pumped so rhythmically that you began to think you'd truly reached heaven, the additional pressure applied by his strong hands becoming too much for you.

He watched your face, assessing you to ensure you were still comfortable. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt you in any way. You felt funny, a strange tingling, almost like a warning, reaching your core.

"F-Finan, I think . . ."

He shushed you, understanding what you meant. Who was he to deny such a lovely maiden what she wanted? "Just breathe, Y/N, don't fight it, sweet girl," he guided you, the pressure of his hand increasing. He maintained his pace, feeling your walls tighten and squeeze around him, clamping so hard he struggled to keep up.

"Come on, there we are," he further encouraged, and normally, you'd tell him to shut up, his words embarrassing you slightly, but you were so filled with delicate pleasure that you couldn't risk losing it. The immense pinch in your core finally snapped, and you were coming around him, pumping him for all he was worth as your arousal came to its peak. Your face made him positively weak at the knees.

"There we go," he cooed, his hand coming to your clit to stimulate you more, though you began begging him not to, trying and failing to grab his wrist in the process. You bit your lip instead, eyes all glossy and strained as you looked at your lover as though he was God. Perhaps he was, because no mortal man should have been able to make you feel so good.

"Please come, Finan." you whined sweetly, and he could never deny you as he had done before. He would listen to you if you told him to do anything, let alone come, which he did gladly, pumping you full of his seed, thinking briefly about the pups you could share. The pups that you would share.

His heart pumped ten times as fast as he bred you, vowing to be the only man to touch you ever again. His possessiveness had seemed to grow in the last hour, and he lifted you suddenly onto his lap, caressing the top of your head as you panted in unison.

"We'll speak properly tomorrow," he began, stroking your now undone hair. Your ribbon barely hung on, and you wound it around his fingers, the fabric reminding him of your sweet confession, something that he knew he would tease you about for years to come, but secretly loved, "sleep for now, love."

He stayed awake for most of the night, observing you every now and then, mostly focusing on the sway of the candlelight. He had seen his lord go through so much, and now he had something too precious to lose, he vowed that the same would not happen to him. Even if it cost him his loyalty.

[icarusignite]

Hey,

Could you imagine doing an Athelstan x reader. Where the reader is the daughter of Sihtric.

Maybe the reader could be the first child of Sihtric and his first wife (I know he only has one but his wife from the series could be the second). When his wife from the series met him, he left the readers mother and got together with his new wife. Unfortunately, the readers mother died shortly afterwards.

The reader's world collapsed but she still has her best friends Athelstan and Sophia, who is Finan's daughter. (I just like the name Sophia, I hope it's okay that Finan also has a daughter in this story. Of course you can change the name)

It would be cool if sihtric's new wife doesn't like the reader because she looks like her mother.

(So she is almost the evil stepmother, but the siblings are sweet)

Of course, Sihtric loves his daughter the reader more than anything but the reader distances herself because she blames him and his new wife for the fact that her mother is gone. Maybe she could also be jealous that sihtric also spends a lot of time with his other children and his new wife, because normally it was always only her and her father against the rest of the world.

Athelstan and the reader have always had feelings for each other. They didn't want to tell the other because they were afraid to destroy the friendship.

Sophia and the reader are like sisters, the two are inseparable and do everything together. When the reader was getting worse and worse, because she became more angry because of her father and their relationship got worse and worse, Sophia made a suggestion to go away. Sophia and the reader are both shieldmaiden and always wanted to travel over the world and make a name for themselves. Even if it is difficult for both to leave their family and Athelstan behind, they go away. Sophia, of course, finds it difficult to leave her father because she has no problems with him, but for the reader she would do it.

When the fight for Bebbanburg takes place after years and Sophia and the reader hear about it, they come to help. The two have a great army. The warriors and shieldmaiden wanted to follow them because they were impressed by their fighting skills.

In the end, there might be a conversation between the reader and Sihtric and that she tells him how she feels. And of course, Athelstan and the reader confess their feelings to each other, which became even stronger than they were not together.

I'm sorry it's so long but I wanted to write down all sorts of thoughts I hope you like it.

Your reader

Go ahead and cry, little girl

A/N: Heyyyyy, I am back from the dead. I am SUPER sorry for the massive delay. I've just been off Tumblr for a bit, but I am back. This is quite possibly the longest oneshot I've written so far lol. The Aethelstan bit doesn't quite start until the end but I do like how it turned out and I hope you like what I've done with your prompt <3 (could you tell that I was listening to Daddy Issues on repeat while writing this lmfao)

Disclaimer: I haven't watched the TLK movie (and I've been avoiding spoilers lol) so I have no idea what Aethelstan is like in that one, this is just based on what I know about him in season 5. Also, I was super done with this story by the time I was done with it so it's not really proofread. If you see any typos feel free to point them out so I can fix them lol, or just enjoy it as it is ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Word Count: ~8k

Pairing: Aethelstan x Reader.

The air was crisp and filled with the scent of pine and earth, invigorating the senses. In the heart of Rumcofa, a small clearing had been transformed into a makeshift training ground. Sihtric Kjartansson stood in the middle of the clearing, his battle-worn sword resting on his broad shoulder. Across from him stood his young daughter. Although you were only a young girl of seven winters, your hands tightly gripped the wooden sword in your hand as you stood tall, shoulders set and feet wide apart as you tried to copy your father's stance. 

"Hold your sword higher, bend your elbows," Sihtric called out, circling you, and gently nudging you to correct your stance. 

"Yes, Father," you nodded. 

Once Sihtric was satisfied with your pose, he turned as if to walk away, only to lunge forward, swinging his sword with calculated precision. Your training sword met his attack, weapons clashing with a resounding thud. Father and daughter moved in harmony, your steps an intricate dance. SIhtric would feign an attack, allowing you to then parry and counter, your small frame mirroring your father's every move.

As the training session drew to a close, a beaming smile stretched across Sihtric's face, as pride swelled within him. He extended a calloused hand and ruffled your hair, affectionately mussing it. 

"You fought well today, my little shieldmaiden," he grinned. 

"Thank you, Father!"

The sounds of whoops and cheers filled the air. You turned your head toward the two children standing on the sidelines, watching you with keen interest as they clapped. There was Sophia, with her fiery red hair cascading down her shoulders, bouncing on her toes as she waited for you to approach them. The mousy-looking boy standing next to her, Aethelstan, rolled his eyes but his shy smile as he met your gaze gave him away. 

Once you were within a few paces, Sophia launched herself at you with a squeal of delight, throwing her arms around you. 

"You were incredible!" she crowed. "You'll soon be even better than Aethelstan here."

Aethelstan scoffed, "She still has a long way to go before that."

You rolled your eyes, "You know I can kick your arse right now if I want, right?"

"Cannot!"

"Can too."

You stuck your tongue out at your friend, and he returned the gesture, causing Sophia to laugh.

Sihtric cleared his throat to interrupt the bickering, "Alright, alright kids, off you go. The hour grows late and your parents must be expecting you home."

"It's alright, Father knows where I am," Sophia responded cheerfully. 

Sihtric chuckled, "Yes well I don't know about Finan, but Eadith will surely have my head if I don't send you back before dark. Off you go, you can see each other tomorrow."

Sophia gave you one last hug before departing, and Aethelstan settled on a wave of his hand which you mimicked. After they had gone, Sihtric took your hand, gently leading the way toward your own home. 

"Did you see that, Father? Aethelstan denies it but I could definitely kick his ass, couldn't I?"

"Language, little one."

"You use it all the time Father."

"Ah yes, but you know your mother doesn't like it when you use words like that."

"Your mother doesn't like what?" came a frail voice from the doorway of your house.

You looked up to see your mother leaning against the wall, arms crossed and an affectionate smile playing on her lips. There were shadows under her eyes and her skin looked sickly pale but at least she was well enough to get out of bed today. 

"Mama!" you let go of your father's hand to rush up to her, wrapping your arms around her waist and burying your face in her warm dress. 

Your mother laughed, "And what was my mischievous girl up to today, hmm?"

"Father is teaching me how to spar. He says I'm getting better every day!"

"Is that so?"

"Yes, she is," Sihtric came over to wrap an arm around your mother's shoulder and pressed a kiss to her forehead. 

She smiled and leaned against him with a sigh. 

"How are you feeling, love?"

"A lot better now that you're both here. Eadith was here earlier. She...she says that..." your mother sent a cautious glance your way.

"What did she say?" Sihtric prompted. 

Your mother was quick to flash him a reassuring smile, "Nothing too noteworthy. All is well."

"If you say so."

"Now go wash up, both of you!" your mother laughed, pinching your cheeks and gently pushing Sihtric further inside the house. "You both smell awful!"

"Mother!"

"You know I love you darling, but you need a bath."

"Get the fuck out of my house!"

You had never seen your mother this angry before. Her rage was a tangible thing, large and looming as she raged. The object of her wrath was your father, who stood there in your mother's room, eyes steeled with determination, even as she threw things at him. 

"I-I can explain," Sihtric began, his voice faltering as he ducked to avoid the book she threw at his head. 

"Explain?" your mother roared, her voice echoing through the chamber. "Is there any explanation for such treachery? After all these years of devotion, I am met with betrayal?"

Her normally gentle demeanour was replaced with a fiery fury that demanded attention. Her throat was raw and her voice cracked. Her eyebrows furrowed, knitting together in a mixture of anger and disbelief. The delicate curve of her lips, once known for only speaking words of grace and tenderness, contorted into a stern line, a testament to her righteous fury. Her complexion was paler than usual, and all colour drained from her face as tears streamed down, betraying her vulnerability. 

You watched your parents argue from the doorway, eyes darting between them. Your hands clenched, nails digging into your palms hard enough to leave marks. You would have much rather left to be with your friends, but you stayed because you worried for your mother. Your parents were not the type to fight, not explosively like this anyways. Sure they had petty arguments, they were human after all, but those were always resolved soon after, with your father bringing your mother flowers and an apology that would coax a smile from her. You worried that they might not recover from this, and if they did not recover, you wondered how your mother would even survive it. She was already so weak. These were the thoughts that consumed you, as you watched silently. You did not even dare entertain the other thoughts that whispered at the edges of your mind, thoughts about your mother's allegations against your father. 

"I offered you my love, my trust, and this is how you repay me?" your mother continued, her voice quivering with emotion. "You have shamed not only me but our entire family!"

"Listen-" Sihtric tried again, avoiding her eyes in shame.

"No you listen! If you wanted to be free to hump all the whores you liked, you shouldn't have married me. Now go. Go back to your harlot and do not let me see your face here!"

Sihtric's eyes widened with disbelief, "You...you do not mean that."

"Oh, I mean it with all my heart."

"It was a mistake. I swear it was a mistake."

"No, it wasn't." 

Your mother's voice cracked with grief as more tears flowed from her stricken eyes. She suddenly rushed up to her husband, grabbed his chin with surprising strength and wrenched his face up to meet her gaze. 

"It was not a mistake," she hissed. "You have already dishonoured me enough, do not make it worse by lying to me as well."

"I didn't mean to hurt you," was all he said, his voice small.

Your mother's hand fell away and she took a trembling step back. 

"What was it then? What was it about me that was not enough for you? Was it my sickness? I admit that I have not had much energy for anything these past few months but-"

She was then unable to finish her sentence, a choked sob escaping her lips as she clapped her hands over her mouth to stifle it. 

"Was I so awful that you had to seek out the company of another woman? Did you find my company that repulsive?"

"That...that's not true..."

"Get the fuck out of my house. I never want to see you again!"

Sihtric opened his mouth to protest but she held up a hand, silencing him. His shoulders slumped, and with tears in his eyes, he turned away from her. He brushed past you on his way out and something in your heart cracked just then. You had to stop him somehow, you thought to yourself. You had to fix this. You had to fix them. 

You sprinted after him, stopping him just as he was about to step out the door, tugging on his hand. 

"Father..."

Sihtric's eyes softened as he took in your forlorn form. 

"I-I'm sorry darling."

"Father, don't go. Please, please, please, don't go," you tugged on his hand more insistently, eyes beginning to well with tears.

"I'm sorry."

"Apologize to her. Please, just apologize. Say you didn't mean any of it. She'll forgive you, I just know she will, she loves you. Just, please don't go."

"I...I can't, I'm sorry."

"Is that all you can say?" your voice rose in frustration. "Is that all you can do? Apologize? If you're really sorry, you'd try to fix it! Please...please, please, please fix this."

Sihtric smoothed a hand through your hair, his touch tender. He brushed the tears from your cheeks and you shook him off angrily. You felt like you couldn't breathe and the walls were beginning to close in on you. Everything was falling apart and you had no idea how to fix it.

"Father, please. Please don't go. Please don't leave her, don't leave us."

"I'm sorry, but I have to go."

With one last solemn look and a pat on your head, he was gone, and as you stared dejectedly at his disappearing back, you felt as if the world had been pulled out from under your feet. You wondered if he'd ever return.

Suddenly, you were interrupted by a pained wail and your head snapped in the direction of your mother's room. Fear seized your heart as you hastily made your way back to her side. She was slumped on the floor, curled in a fetal position, hands wrapped around her knees as her body shuddered with sobs. 

"Mama!" you ran to her side, gingerly putting your hand on her shoulder.

She didn't seem to acknowledge your presence, a low keening sound coming from her throat. 

"Mama!" you shook her shoulder a little harder. "What's wrong? Are you feeling sick? Should I call for someone?"

 Your mother shook her head, still wailing. You waited a few moments, before wrapping your arms around her frail shoulders and helping her sit up. You were just smoothing her hair back when suddenly she turned her head to the side and retched, emptying the contents of her stomach right there on the floor of her chambers. She groaned in pain then, clutching her stomach wearily. 

"Shhh, it's okay. You'll be alright, mother. Let's get you to bed," you whispered. 

You had already put down your own grief, locking it away somewhere unreachable. You had to take care of your mother first, and you couldn't afford to be distracted. You allowed her to take deep shuddering breaths before wiping at her mouth with the back of your sleeve and helping her to get settled back in her bed. Almost all her weight slumped onto your small frame when you moved her, and you grunted with the effort. Then you ran to fetch a bowl of water to clean her face with, pressing a cold cloth onto her forehead to ease her suffering a little. She seemed to vibrate with pain and you didn't know if it was the emotional toll of your father leaving or the physical pain of her sickness. 

Eventually, she drifted off to a troubled sleep as you continued to run your hands through her hair. You kissed her forehead and felt her relax a fraction and you felt your heart lift with hope. You left her side only to clean up the sickness from her floor, before returning to curl up in bed beside her, wrapping your arm around her waist as you held onto her tightly, as if afraid she'd disappear. 

The next morning, she was running a fever. Her skin was scalding and she only opened her eyes for a few moments to mumble something incoherent to you before drifting off again. That is when the panic began to set in. You were just about to head out to fetch Eadith when she arrived at your door herself. She had a sympathetic smile and pitying eyes as she let herself in and set about checking up on your mother. She had heard about yesterday's commotion, almost everyone in Rumcofa had. It was a small town after all. 

"She'll be alright in no time, love. Don't you worry about her, she is a very strong woman," she told you kindly. 

You nodded, and then hesitantly, you asked her the question that had been plaguing your mind. 

"Where's Father?"

Eadith's lips thinned, "He...he has gone with Uhtred and the others."

"Oh."

"I can stay here until your mother feels better," she offered. "You are much too young to care for her on your own."

You were just about to nod when your mother chose that exact moment to wake up. 

"No!" she blurted out, her voice hoarse. "I-I would not want to impose."

Eadith squeezed her hand gently, "It would be no trouble at all. Please."

Your mother shook her head weakly, "It is just a little fever. I'll feel better in no time. You have children to take care of, and your husband isn't even home. You must go back to them. I'll be just fine."

"But-"

"Please," your mother pleaded. "I'm no invalid. I can take care of myself just fine. And besides, I have my darling here to keep me company."

She stretched out her hand which you took immediately, letting her pull you close. 

Eadith looked unconvinced but after your mother insisted several more times, she nodded. She left you with a few herbs and medicines to give to your mother depending on her various symptoms and promised to return the next day to check up on the two of you. 

"Mother..."

"Yes, my love?"

"You'll be alright, right?"

You were cuddled up next to her, but still, the house felt strangely empty. She felt like a wraith beside you, like she could leave any minute and then you'd truly be left alone. You could feel her bones through her thin nightgown and you clutched her tighter, as if you could hold her together. 

"Of course, I'll be alright, my love," she pressed a kiss to the crown of your head. 

"Promise me. Promise me you'll be alright. That you won't leave me!"

"Oh, I wouldn't leave you for the world. You mean too mu-" her words were interrupted by a fit of coughs. 

She pressed her sleeve to her mouth and it came away tinged with blood. She pulled it away quickly, folding the sleeve up so that you could not see and you pretended that you hadn't. The two of you spent the rest of the day in bed, with you reading to her as she swam in and out of consciousness. Every time her eyes would flutter open and see you, her face would relax and she'd kiss you, as if trying to impart a lifetime's worth of affection. 

Her health took a turn for the worse later in the night. Her fever had greatly worsened and although you had given her all of Eadith's medicines, nothing seemed to help. She was still awake though, so that was some comfort. 

"Let me go get Eadith please," you begged her. 

"No. We will not bother her now. The hour is late and she said she'd come by tomorrow anyways."

"But Mother! You seem to be getting worse. Please, please you need to see someone!"

"I will not make a fuss at this hour. I'll be just fine. I just need to-"

A fit of hacking coughs overwhelmed her once again, blood pooling at her lips. She was too weak to hide it and instead allowed it to trickle down her chin. You wiped at it hastily, eyes filling with tears of frustration. You yearned to rush out and fetch someone right away, but your mother kept a vicelike grip on your arm. 

"Mama, please," you begged again. 

"I-no-"

She was having trouble breathing. You could tell. She sucked in air through her mouth and it rattled painfully in her chest. Every breath hurt her and all you could do was helplessly watch. 

"You...you know I-I love you right?" she wheezed suddenly. 

"What?"

"I...I said I love you, my darling girl."

"I love you too Mama," you whispered. 

She pulled you close and you rested your head on her chest. She massaged your scalp with her fingers, whispering more sweet nothings into your ear. You felt her voice grow softer and her breathing slow down. Perhaps she'd sleep it off, you thought to yourself. Yes, she'd sleep off her fever and be right as rain in the morning. You entertained yourself with such thoughts as you drifted off as well. 

You jolted awake sometime later in the night, some unknown panic clawing in your throat as you bolted out of bed. 

Your mother had stopped breathing. You had felt it. You had felt the stillness of her next to you. You shook her, slowly at first, and then more frantically.

"Mama! Mama! Mama wake up!"

She remained listless, her limp frame rattling like a bag of bones as you shook her harder. Your pleas grew louder as well, your voice rising with every moment that passed. 

"Mama, please. Please, please, please. Please don't leave me. You promised! Remember, you promised that you wouldn't leave me!" you screamed. "You can't break your promise. You'd be a bad mother if you broke your promise...please, I am begging you don't go."

Reality set in soon. Her skin had grown cold. It was clear that she had been gone for a while. You swore at yourself for not waking up sooner, for not going to someone for help earlier, for not doing something. Eventually, you slumped down, throat raw from screaming. The house was indeed empty now, and your mother was a wraith. Your grief was your only companion and it was a quiet needling thing, stripping you raw and ragged from the inside. you wanted to scream but no more sound would come out. You would have to fester in dark silence it seemed. 

In a daze, you wondered if you should go get someone now. It made no sense to, not anymore. What could anyone do now? They'd just come to take her away and then you'd never see her again. You saw how what they did to the dead. They were often burned. Soon there would be nothing left of your mother but ashes. Your mouth tasted like ashes and you had the sudden urge to throw up. Seven years was not nearly enough time to spend with one's mother. You thought you'd have a lifetime. 

You decided not to bother anyone then. You wiped your own tears and lifted the blankets to curl up next to your mother's body, clinging to her, perhaps to share your own warmth with her or perhaps hoping that she'd share her cold emptiness with you. At least then you would receive some relief from the burning agony that lit your heart. With broken syllables, you hummed your favourite lullaby to her, the one she always sang to you, and in that moment, pressed against her ribs, you could pretend that the hollow thud in your own chest came from hers instead. 

You did not know how long you remained there, in the space between wakefulness and sleep, the space where dreams felt like reality and your mother's arms wrapped around you almost as tightly as yours were around her. You did not notice the sun rise in the morning or set again the next evening. The only thing that jolted you out of your reverie was the sharp knock on the door. 

"Anyone home?" 

It was a familiar voice.

"Hello? Sophia's mother sent me with some things," Aethelstan called out from the door, knocking again. "She apologizes for not being able to come herself but something urgent came up."

He said your name a few times too, puzzled at the lack of response. 

You ignored him. There wasn't anything he could do either, and Eadith's medicines would not be of any use anymore. You burrowed deeper into your mother, raising the covers over your face. If you ignored Aethelstan for long enough maybe he'd leave, and then you could be alone with your mother again. 

It worked for a while and no one else bothered you for the rest of the night. However, the next morning there was a larger commotion at the door. Several fists pounded on the door until eventually, they had to break it in. It gave way with a loud crack, and still, you did not acknowledge their presence. The loud voices were inside the house now, as they rummaged through all the rooms of the house, the heavy footsteps growing closer until they finally reached your mother's room. Still, you did not acknowledge their presence. 

Someone said your name, softly at first, and then more insistent. You ignored them. Then suddenly, the covers were ripped off the bed. The sunlight accosted your eyes and you winced. Someone swore and the room burst with activity. 

"By the gods, is she alright? Are they both-?"

It was your father's voice, you realized indifferently. He was finally back. 

He said your name again, more insistently, and you shook your head listlessly, face still tucked into your mother's neck. That minuscule movement was enough though, to confirm that you were still alive. Strong arms peeled your mother's arms back to lift you out of them. It was at that moment when you truly came alive.

"NO!"

You screamed, a terrible ear-piercing shriek. They were your father's arms, as they pried you away from your mother and you shrieked even louder, flailing about desperately. You were downright feral, clawing and biting to get back to your mother. 

"No. Let me go! Let me go back to Mama! I want Mama!"

Several other hands joined your father's in pulling you away. All your father's friends were there, Uhtred and Osferth, and even Sophia's father, Finan was there. They all looked at you with pitying eyes as you thrashed harder, body contorting wildly. Your mother's fingers were clutched tightly in yours and it took several minutes for them to peel you off.

"Don't take her away!" you howled. "She promised she wouldn't leave me! You can't take her away. She wouldn't break her promise, she's not a bad mother!"

"Shhh, darling, she's gone," it was Eadith's gentle voice that broke through your frenzy. 

Sihtric handed your writhing form to her and you immediately slumped in her arms. You did not have the heart to bite and claw at her, not after all she had done. She smoothed her hands over your face gently. 

"Oh, you poor darling girl. I'm so sorry, I should have come earlier," she mumbled softly. 

The time after that was a blur to you as well, lost in your grief and rage. Your mother had only been dead a month before your father married again. You were almost certain it was the woman he had been seeing when your mother had caught him, but you couldn't bring yourself to care anymore. The true fury came when he moved her into your house. The house your mother had died in, the house that you had died in. At first, you refused to live with them. It would be a mockery to your mother's memory, to live in her house with your father and his new whore. That was what she was to you anyways, you never acknowledged her as his wife. Eventually though, even you felt bad imposing on Sophia's family. Despite Finan and Eadith repeatedly assuring you that you could remain with them forever if you wished, you allowed your father to take you home. 

The next few days passed by in a haze and you barely recalled any of it. In the days leading up to and after your mother's funeral, you stayed with Eadith and her family. In any other circumstance, you would have been delighted to spend your days with Sophia, but you spent most of your days curled up in bed. You refused to eat anything, despite Eadith's best efforts and you never spoke a word. You especially refused to see your father, turning your head away from him every time he came to visit and speak to you. 

The next few years passed by quickly as well. Once a lively and energetic child, you withdrew into yourself, but the silent simmering heat burning you from the inside remained. The only people who could ever draw smiles from you were Sophia and Aethelstan, and try they did. They had made it their collective mission to see you in happier spirits. You no longer took fighting lessons from your father, instead joining Sophia's lessons with Finan or Aethelstan's with Uhtred. The chasm between you and your father grew as he began to have more children with his new wife. You watched him be affectionate with them and the bitterness began to poison you from the inside out. You made your disdain for his wife very obvious and the feeling was mutual. You looked too much like your late mother for her to be comfortable in your presence. That paired with your constant reminders that she was the other woman and had only been able to acquire your father because your mother had died, meant that she went out of her way to make things difficult for you. As your father was often away fighting, she ran the household. She made you clean up after your younger half-siblings and do all the chores in the house. Often you escaped, slipping out to spend time with Sophia and Aethelstan, but that meant another screaming match when you returned home. 

Despite your bitterness, you couldn't find it in your heart to hate your half-siblings. By the time you were twelve, you had three. Two brothers and a sister. Your brothers were timid and easy going while your sister was a spitfire. She reminded you of yourself sometimes, often when you sat down to brush the tangles and mud out of her hair as she returned from another grand escapade. You were afraid of yourself sometimes. You were afraid that the poison inside you would come spilling out and taint them. They were innocent, blameless in their conception, and you could not blame them for the sins of their parents. Still, the resentment was difficult to erase. Watching your father spend time with his new family, you felt like an outsider. it felt like watching someone else's happy family through the window, watching how the warmth lit up their eyes while the wind hollowed out your bones and filled your lungs with ice. 

Your father was patient with you, painfully tender as if that would make up for what he did. He never raised his voice at you, even as you threw fits and screamed at both him and your stepmother in the first few years you lived with them. He was kind to you, just as he was with your half-siblings, but the distance was there. He'd avoid looking at you for too long because looking was a painful reminder of what he had lost. Everyone had always said that you were almost an exact carbon copy of your mother, and that was both a comfort and anguish. He treated you as if you were fragile, prone to breaking at any moment. You supposed you were. You felt it yourself sometimes as if you were on the precipice of doing something terrible, of releasing years' worth of resentment in one explosive moment. Your grief walked hand in hand with madness and buried things had an awful way of haunting you. 

Your breaking point came when you were just shy of your fifteenth year. Your stepmother had made you scrub the entire house clean to prepare for your father's return from yet another fighting season. You had done just that, but after you had finished, your sister had run into the house, tracking in mud and debris from the outside. You hadn't been able to clean it up again in time and when your mother returned from her errands, she screamed at you for being lazy and irresponsible as usual. She screamed at you all the time, so that wasn't what made you lose it. It was when she raised her hand and slapped you. The blow came as a surprise and you tasted blood. One of the rings in her fingers had cut you, and your lower lip trickled with crimson. You saw red then as the blood roared in your ears. You let out a string of the worst profanities, calling her all manner of insults. It was your unfortunate luck that it was at that moment that your father chose to return. 

"You will not speak to your mother that way!" he roared. 

"She is not my mother!" you screeched. "Do not ever disrespect my mother again by comparing her to this whore!"

Your father uttered your name, his tone tinged with a warning. 

"Apologize to her," he muttered. "You do not get to speak to her that way."

"Do you even know what she did? Do you even care? No of course you don't. All you care about is your perfect new wife and your perfect new kids. You don't give a fuck about me, just like you didn't give a fuck about my mother!"

"Mind your manners! I am still your father!"

"I'd rather have no father at all than one like you! You killed her, you killed my mother. I wish you had died instead. In fact, I hope your next fight kills you!"

Your stepmother gasped dramatically and your father flinched. His expression grew thunderous and he lifted his hand, almost instinctively. He pulled it back down to his side almost immediately but the damage was done. You looked at him incredulously. 

"You would raise your hand at me?" you whispered in disbelief. "Your whore already hits me at every opportunity, and now you would do? Maybe you should...maybe you should just beat me to death. Maybe it's me who should have died with my mother so that I could at least be with someone who cared about me."

"I-no...I didn't mean-" Sihtric stumbled over his words.

You didn't wait to hear his explanation, stomping out the door and sprinting away. You took refuge in the forest, slumped against your favourite tree as you sobbed. Your wish to remain alone went ungranted as you heard the sound of leaves crunching as someone approached you. A familiar voice mumbled your name. 

"Go away, Sophia!"

"You can't just push people away when you're angry you know."

"I can, and I will."

"Not me," Sophia came over and knelt on the ground next to you. "You can't get rid of me!"

You raised your head to look at her, eyes still swimming with tears, "Why are you here?"

"I saw you run out of your house and head this way. Seemed wise to follow you."

"You can't follow me forever."

"I can certainly try. Now tell me what happened."

You sighed and then straightened up, recounting your story to her, your voice taking on a sharp edge. Sophia nodded sympathetically, and then she pulled out her handkerchief to dab at your lip gingerly. 

"I'm going to leave!" you said suddenly. 

"What?"

"I'm leaving," you said again, more firmly. "I can't stay here anymore."

"You...you can come to live with my family? You know my parents adore you."

"No. I can't stay here, in Rumcofa. I can't watch my father live happily ever after with her new family and I can't watch that horrible witch erase all signs of mother from that house. I can't do it, I won't."

Sophia's brow wrinkled in concern, "Where will you go?"

"Anywhere has to be better than here. I know how to fight, I can go anywhere."

"I don't think-"

"Don't try to talk me out of it Sophia, I've made up my mind. I'm going to go and I'm going to leave tonight?"

"Tonight?" her eyes widened. 

You nodded, "They won't be looking for me for a while. They'll think I got angry and stormed off to your place as usual. That gives me some time."

"What'll you do if they do look for you?"

"I'll be long gone by then."

Sophia was silent for several long moments, pondering something in her head. Then, her eyes lit up and you recognized her expression as one she usually had when she had an idea.

"I'll come with you!" she blurted excitedly. 

"What? No!"

"Yes!"

"Sophia, no!"

"Come on, it'll be perfect! We'll explore the world together. And besides when have I ever not been by your side? Trust me, you need me."

You gaped at her as if she had grown a third eye.

"Are you insane? You have a family. A family who adores you and they would be extremely worried if you just disappeared like that."

"Technically I could say the same about you but it's clear that you're in no mood to listen to anyone. It's final, I'm coming with you!"

"No, I can't let you do that."

"Well, I can't let you go on your own."

"But...your parents...?"

Sophia looked pensive for a moment, "They'll understand. And you're like a daughter to them too. They'll be worried about you so I'm sure they'd be happier knowing we're watching out for each other."

"But you can't leave them!"

After several more rounds of back and forth between the two of you, Sophia jutted out her chin stubbornly. 

"If you refuse to let me come with you, I am going over to your father right now and telling him you're planning to run away!"

"What? You can't do that!"

"Watch me!"

You were silent for several minutes, and then you nodded hesitantly. Sophia's face split into a grin immediately. 

"What about Aethelstan," Sophia winked. "Can't leave him behind. Who knows which fair lady of lovely Rumcofa he might take as his companion if we're not here to keep him company."

Your face warmed immediately at the thought of your friend. He had been one of your best friends but in the past years, your feeling for him had grown into something else, something more. You were too much of a coward, and too consumed with your bitterness to examine those feelings. You had simply buried them somewhere deep inside where they'd never see the light of day. You shook your head frantically.

"We can't tell Aethelstan!" you whisper-yelled. "He's the son of the king and Lord Uhtred's ward. There'd be a whole search party after us if we take him."

Sophia's smile dropped as the reality of what they were about to do set in.

"But...but we can't leave him behind. Should we at least tell him where we're going?"

You shook your head again, "No. He'll only try to talk us out of it."

"But-"

"If you're coming with me, we have to do things my way."

"That's not fair!"

"Then stay here. Where it's safe and familiar, and things are fair," you shrugged. 

Sophia sighed and nodded eventually, "Alright, we'll do things your way."

And that was the beginning of a different life. The two of you left that very night, creeping out of Rumcofa using one of Sophia's father's boats. You had insisted that she write her family a note, telling them that she was safe. you also forbade her from mentioning you in her note, although everyone had known the two of you long enough to know that where one went, the other surely always followed. 

The next few years passed quickly, and both you and Sophia had made quite a name for yourselves and had amassed a small army of sorts. You had formed your own family of sorts, a band of fellow women who had run away from varying circumstances, brought together by fate. Your group of shieldmaidens was famous for protecting villages from raiders. You had taken care to travel far enough that you never ran into your father or any of his men, and over the years the fear of getting caught had worn off. 

You had first heard about Lord Uhtred's fight to retake Bebbanburg through one of your messengers. After much deliberation, you and Sophia had agreed that it would only be right if you joined the fight. Lord Uhtred had always been kind and had taken care of your family ever since you could remember. You remembered him visiting and asking after your mother's health and it was your duty to help him retake his birthright. 

Your army of shieldmaidens did not hesitate to volunteer to fight by your side. They trusted you to lead them and they would stand with you no matter what. You wondered if you'd see your father there. He had to be, he was one of Lord Uhtred's closest friends and if he was still alive, he'd be right there by his side. With a pang of regret, you remembered the last words you had said to him. You had wished for his death and you desperately hoped that the gods had not granted your immature selfish prayer. The years had cooled your anger and you were no longer as bitter. All the women you had met and the stories you had heard made you realize that there were worst fates out there and the sting of poison that ran through your veins became dilute. 

The fight itself was long and hard and you lost quite a few women, all cherished friends and companions. Everyone lost someone in the fight and after all the brave warriors had been honoured and sent on their way to Valhalla, everyone gathered within the newly conquered castle walls to celebrate Lord Uhtred's victory. You had been able to avoid facing anyone you knew so far, but now, as you sat in the corner, allowing Sophia to bandage your injured arm, you could see Lord Uhtred and his men make their way toward you both. 

Finan greeted you first, with a broad grin and a clap on your shoulder. Sophia turned around at his presence and when she saw him she squealed with pleasure.

"Father!" she crowed, throwing her arms around him.

He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her, twirling her slightly, like the used to when she was a child. 

"My girl is a warrior now," he boomed with laughter. "And leading your own army too."

Sophia's smile turned sheepish and she let go of him and lowered her gaze.

"I...I'm sorry Father. I'm sorry for leaving..." she muttered. 

Finan took a deep breath and then exhaled, sighing. He shook his head and patted his daughter's shoulder gently. 

"We will speak of that another time. For now, it is enough that you are safe and whole, and that you're home. You had us very worried you know, your mother especially. She was inconsolable."

"I am so sorry, Father."

As you watched Sophia and her father walk away, presumably to go see her mother and the rest of her family, your eyes stung and you blinked quickly, holding back the sudden onslaught of tears that threatened to spill. You felt bad that Sophia had to leave because of you, but more than that, you felt a pang of hurt at the thought of no one missing you. You had no mother who would be inconsolable at your loss. You busied yourself with the bandage on your arm, not realizing that Uhtred had left as well, leaving you alone with your father. 

Sihtric cleared his throat and you looked up at him in surprise. Both of you were silent for several long moments, neither knowing where to start. Your eyes charted the planes of his face. He looked older, with tired lines around his eyes and mouth. He seemed to have a perpetual furrow in his brow. Now that you had seen him, you were hit with an overwhelming wave of relief. His battles had not taken him from this earth, he was still alive. 

"I...I am sorry."

It was you who had mustered up the courage to speak. You looked him in the eye as you did, shoulders back, eyes blazing with defiance as if daring him to rebuke you. You waited for him to turn his head away, to make some sort of cold remark or something of the sort. He didn't though. He just stared at you and you felt rooted to the ground. Then, wordlessly, he stepped closer and pulled you into his arms. You froze in his embrace and he just held on tighter. You could not see his face but you felt his shoulders tremble and you wondered with some disbelief if he was crying. You patted his back awkwardly. 

"I'm sorry Father... for everything."

Sihtric shook his head and when he pulled away you saw the tears that had tracked down his face and soaked into his beard. He cupped your face with aching tenderness and pressed a kiss to your forehead. 

"I thought I had lost you forever," he whispered. "I thought I would never see you again. You didn't even leave a note."

The tears you had been holding back fell now, and you forced yourself to harden your eyes. 

"I didn't think you'd care," you shrugged.

He thumbed the tears from your face, "I am sorry. I am sorry I ever made you feel that way. I understand if you can never forgive me but you have to know how truly sorry I am. I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you if you let me. Please let me. Please come home."

You avoided his pleading gaze, instead letting your eyes fall on your fellow warriors. 

"I have another family as well now. They need me."

Sihtric's face was crestfallen but he nodded, "Of course. I am proud of you, you know, more than you can imagine. You have become a most fearsome warrior and I am proud to call you my beloved daughter."

"I have another family...but you will always be my father," you finally said. "The first family I ever knew. You will always have a part of my heart."

It was you who fell into his embrace this time and you could feel his joy in the way his arms wrapped around you. 

"I understand that you have another place now, but know that you will always have a place with me, should you ever wish to return," he mumbled and then he hesitated. "And...you should visit. Your siblings have missed you dearly."

"I suppose a visit won't hurt."

Sihtric chuckled and pulled away, clapping your shoulder, "We have much else to talk about, I have much else to apologize for...but for now, I think there is someone else who wishes for your attention."

He gestured toward the tall boy watching you from across the courtyard and when you caught his eye, his eyes turned cold and he turned away. 

"Ouch," you muttered.

"The two of you left him behind," Sihtric explained. "You cannot blame the poor boy for feeling hurt. Now go, make things right."

He nudged you toward Aethelstan's disappearing form with a wink and he was gone before you could question his action. You turned around to make your way toward your friend, waking fast to catch up. 

"Aethelstan!" you called after him.

At first, you thought that he didn't hear you because he didn't turn around, but then he started to walk away faster. He walked right out the front gates and into the field beyond. You dropped your sword in the grass and chased after him.

"Damnit Aethelstan, slow down!"

Your words only spurred him on, but by now you were fully sprinting after him. You caught up in a matter of moments, grabbing his arm to pull him to a halt. He kept his back to you so you circled him, meeting him face-to-face for the first time in years. His eyes remained glued to the floor you crossed your arms in frustration. 

"You won't even say hello?" you asked furiously.

He did not respond. You pinched the bridge of your nose and sighed. 

"Go away," he finally muttered, his voice sharp. "I don't want to talk to you."

"No, I will not! Why are you running from me? You were my dearest friend, and now you won't even look at me."

Aethelstan's eyes finally met hers, burning with emotion, "You're no friend of mine!"

You flinched, "Hey...that's not fair."

"Friends don't do what you did. Friends don't abandon friends!"

"I never wanted to hurt you," you pleaded, reaching out to him but he took a step back, avoiding your touch. "I had to go."

Aethelstan shook his head, "I don't want to hear your excuses. You told Sophia and took her with you, but you didn't even bother leaving me a note? You clearly didn't think of me as a friend so why should I?"

"I couldn't take you with me. You know that."

"You could have at least asked. You could have at least let me know!"

"It all happened so fast, I didn't get a chance. I-I am sorry."

"Don't bother apologizing. You don't owe me anything," he shrugged. "It won't change the past."

"No...but it's a start. I should have told you that I was leaving. I should have explained why I had to go. I never meant to hurt you, and I'm truly sorry for the pain I caused."

"You treated me like I meant nothing to you. Now you have to accept that you're nothing to me."

Tears welled up in your eyes, "You mean everything to me, Aethelstan. You're my dearest friend, and I never wanted to lose that."

"You left without saying a word. We were supposed to share everything. But you abandoned me, just like that. How dare you say that I mean something to you?"

"Please..."

Aethelstan shook his head, his eyes firm, "We are not friends. Not anymore."

"That's not fair!" you protested, voice breaking. "After all these years, after everything we've been through together, you're going to dismiss our friendship like it never meant a thing?"

"It's the truth. I can't forget the way I felt. Do you even know what I went through on my own, without you there."

The two of you stood there, locked in a tense silence. You refused to give up, your determination fueled by the urge to make things right with him, no matter what it took. You felt desperate. You couldn't lose him. Not when you had spent every day of the past few years thinking about him. 

"Fine," you said finally, voice steady and shoulders slumped. "If you don't want to call me your friend, then I'll respect that. But I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me one day. Please, give me a chance to fix this."

Aethelstan did not respond, expression guarded. You nodded, mostly to yourself and turned around, starting to walk back to where the others were. Disappointment churned in your gut and you felt sick. You had quite possibly ruined one of your most cherished relationships due to your own stupidity. You pressed your lips tightly against each other to prevent them from trembling. You knew that he did not owe you forgiveness. Whether or not an apology was accepted was entirely up to the person one had hurt and if Aethelstan decided never to forgive you, there was nothing you could do about it. Just the thought of it made your heartache.

Just then, a hand landed on your shoulder, making you stop in your tracks. You turned out, bewildered. Once Aethelstan caught sight of your reddened face, his eyes widened.  

"What's wrong with you? Why're you crying?"

You hastily swiped your hands under your eyes, shaking your head, "I'm not."

He raised an eyebrow sardonically, "You have always been a terrible liar."

You shrugged. 

"I don't know if I can forgive you," he admitted after several seconds of silence. "But I'll try."

Your eyes brightened and your lips lifted upward. You weren't a hopeless case after all.

"But I don't think we can ever be friends again," he quickly pointed out, making you deflate again. 

"Right. Of course. I understand. I'll take what I can get and you are under no obligation to...to be my friend. Just your forgiveness alone is enough."

Athelstan watched you with a peculiar expression, halfway between amused and concerned. 

"I don't think I can go back to being just friends with you."

"By the gods, I know! You don't have to keep saying it like it'll hurt any less."

He outright laughed then, and you bristled. You glared at him.

"What I meant, silly girl, is that I can't go back to being just friends when I think of you as more than that."

Oh.

Oh.

"Yeah," he reached out to brush the tears from your lashes. "So stop moping about like it's the end of the world."

He turned around and jogged back to the courtyard where everyone was gathered, leaving you to marvel at the latest development of things on your own. 

[auroracalisto]

Congratulations on so many followers! Maybe a Uhtred x reader with the prompt either “I think I’m being followed” or “I can’t help you if you don’t talk to me, love” thank you

i slightly changed the phrasing, but the idea remains! thank you ♡ also, sorry for doing this after the event.

He could have seen the worry on your face from a mile away—the way your eyebrows pinched together, your lips set in a deep frown. The way your body tensed as you walked towards his men, hands gripping onto your shirt in a nervous manner.

Sihtric and Finan continued their teasing conversation with the baby monk while Uhtred stepped away from them, chin held high as he watched you.

The closer you got, the more you looked over your shoulder—right up until you were in front of him, eyes wide and heart pounding in your chest.

"Lord Uhtred," you said, coming to a stop in front of him.

He tilted his head, a soft smile forming on his lips. He loved getting to see you; any time made his heart feel a little lighter, and his step a little faster.

But when you didn't return his smile, his own fell.

He said your name softly, looking over your shoulder. Nothing was out of the ordinary. Were you feeling well?

You looked over your shoulder once more, taking one more step towards Uhtred.

"My lord," you began, but stopped yourself, eyebrows furrowed in frustration.

"I cannot help you if you do not talk to me, love," he softly spoke, his voice low just for your ears.

Eyes growing wide, you looked back up at him.

"I... do not mean to... to sound paranoid, but I believe I'm being followed."

His solemn expression immediately fell. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," you said. "But... I... I do not know where they went."

"Well," he said, reaching out his hand to you. "Come. Stay with me for the evening."

You hesitantly reached forward and took his hand.

"If I see the person..."

"Tell me," Uhtred said. "I will make sure he pays."

With a small nod, you squeezed his hand. Uhtred smiled and pulled you towards him, leading you to his group of merry men. At least there, you'd be safe. He'd deal with whatever scum scared you, later.

[agreyraincloudd]

Could you do a Sihtric x reader with the promo “don’t act like you don’t know I’m in love with you” ??? ❤️❤️❤️

Sihtric x Reader

Prompt 22. "Don't act like you don't know I'm in love with you"

Words 1.6k

Season 5 spoilers

Thank you to @mrsaugustwalker who also requested this I hope you like ittt

Lots of you requested this with Osferth too but I felt it just fit Sihtric more and I have loads lined up for our baby monk dw

Finan and Uhtred imagines are on their way too you thirsty people

It was Aelfwyn and Cynlaef’s wedding day and your face ached with the pain of smiling so much. You were close friends with the late Aethelflaed and had sworn on her deathbed to protect and guide her child as if she were blood, a task you were willing to die for. Following the battle of Bebbanburg and the safe retrieval of your Queen’s daughter, you returned to Mercia before a Dane messenger sent word of your Godchild’s nuptials. A horrid storm in the midlands had kept you on the road longer than anticipated causing you to miss the vows but as you rode into Bebbanburg, the night creeping in, you realized the festivities had only just begun. 

The city glowed bright with the amber of bonfires and lanterns, tables lined the courtyard piling out from the ale house and the streets were filled with people dancing in arms while others raised their tankards to the happy couple laughing besides who you recognized as Lady Aelswith and her son King Edward. You swallowed, your throat grew tight as you were reminded of your lost friend, how happy she would be at the sight of her family together, her daughter happy. 

“Are you going to stay up there all day?” You looked down from your horse at the voice. Sihtric stood tall, his fingers clasped around your horse's bridle as he pulled you to a stop. Seeing him now made a flood of emotions drown you in seconds. You knew him well having fought beside him many a time. You could recall every moment you spent standing watch with him while Aethelflaed and Uhtred reunited and you could almost recount the various drunken nights Finan had shoved you into him at a table or in an Ale House, but how those evenings ended were left a blur in your memory. 

“I’m trying to consider whether you’re all real standing before me-” You pulled your leg overs your horse and slid down. Both of you knew you could easily manage such a task by yourself, but it didn’t stop Sihtric bringing his hands to your hips, helping place you on the groun as you slid down. Your eyes met his, your expression untelling. “I feel as if we should all be ghosts by now”

He laughed and as if realizing his hands remained on your side, he took a step away and tucked them behind his back. 

“You know we’re all too hard to kill”

“Oh I know” Your face was growing warm as he kept that stupid smirk on his face.  

“Y/N” A drunken voice bellowed from the otherside of the courtyard. 

Finan.

Both you and Sihtric turned as you took a step past him. 

“Trust me, I’ve tried to kill you all many a time now” 

Finan strode over to you, the ale you presumed he drank offering a more loose and smiley warrior as he met you half way with a hug. 

“You’re late. A certain someone hasn’t stopped asking for you all day” He pulled back and attempted a wink.

“Aelfwynn? I tried to send word I’d be late” 

Finan laughed as he looked behind you, smothering his smile with his ale cup. 

“Yeah-sure”

You went to question who he was on about when Sihtric shoved his way between the two of you. 

“Come, I’ll get you a drink. You’re already several behind”

“I can see that”

Sihtric led you through the crowd and with a few stops in between to reunite with friends and congratulate your Godchild, you finally made it to a barrel. The cold liquid rushed down your throat and it felt as if the ale had breathed a relief of life back into you as you looked over the crowd. 

“It’s nice isn’t it?” 

“It is Uhtred” 

The Lord engulfed you in a strong hug that squeezed you into a laughed. You had grown close with him over the years and a strange bond had formed from your protectiveness of Aethelflaed and the loss of both your friend and his lover, only your joint memories left standing. 

“You look well” He smiled as he held you back to fully take you in. 

“I am. But of course the last time you saw me I was caked in blood attempting to help retrieve your homeland”

“And for it I am eternally grateful”

You both smiled as you looked upon a dance circle formed around the biggest fire. 

Aethelstan had his arm looped with Aelfwynn as they circled each other through laughter. Their grandmother stood beaming at them from the edge of the crowd. Finan and Cynlaef’s were doing a similar sort of movement but it resembled more of a strange stumble of drunken old men as they danced. And then your stomach dropped. Sihtric became clear in the firelight, a woman you didn’t realize with her hand in his as she tried to teach him the steps. 

“You should dance with him” Uhtred took a gulp of his ale as you both watched, your arms crossed. 

“He is already dancing”

Uhtred chuckled “So go and take him. He is yours, is he not?” 

You choked on your drink, attempting to cover with a laugh.

“He is not. What makes you think that he was?”

“You are in love with him and he is you”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not-”

“I can see it with your eyes. The first moment you saw him all those years ago in Wessex, your heart burns for him”

You tried to act nonchalant “My heart does not burn-”

“You can lie to me Y/N but I can see it. The way you search for each other during battle, how he stays close to your side whenever he can, how you look at each other. You both breathe for one and other Y/N. It is about time you saw that”

You shook your head.

Uhtred sighed loudly, smiling in disbelief. 

“Why is it Saxon women always give such retaliation to the confession of men? My friend is in love with you, you know that. He has told you many a time-”

“You are both fierce warriors but it seems your bravery falls short when it comes to words Y/N”

Those drunken nights at the ale house. 

You scoffed. Questioning your bravery? You’ll show him. 

You chugged the rest of your drink, slamming the cup down on the barrel behind you. 

Uhtred smirked. You took the bait so easily. 

The ale led you through the rows of people as you joined the clearing around the bonfire. You made your way over to Sihtric but changed in the last step, linking your arm with another man as you spun. 

“Lovely to see you again Pyrlig” 

The monk laughed at the sight of you. 

“Y/N my God’s child. I’m glad to see you have safely returned to us once more” He laughed as you both changed directions and spun away. 

“Good to see you too Father”

Pyrligs smiled as he looked over your shoulder.

“I’m afraid for my safety you must change partners”

Your brows furrowed as you turned to where he looked over your shoulder. 

“What-”

Sihtric appeared once more behind you. He stopped short before linking his hand with yours, pulling you against his chest. 

“I didn’t know you could dance?” You laughed but his face remained void of tells as he looked at you. 

“I don’t but-” God’s the way his hand slid down your back, pulling you closer. “I will dance if it means no one else will get a chance with you besides me”

“You so suddenly want to dance with me?”

He notched his head to the side trying to hide a smirk. 

“ Don’t act like you don't know I'm in love with you”

You froze. 

“Sihtric”

He pulled his hands out of yours, snatching the ale of some bystander, downing the liquid. 

“Why do you never answer me back when I say such things?” He questioned, his eyes saying far more than his forced smile did. 

“Every time you have confessed you have been drunk. How am I to believe your word?”

He pulled you out of the way of the moving dancers. 

“Because you make my mind fog. Every time I look at you it’s as if the words melt away in my mouth. I do not know fear of battle or blood” You moved further through the crowd until you both stood under an archway separating two buildings. -”But every time I have tried to tell you how I feel, I get swallowed by this this breathlessness. But it turns out drunken me forgets all about that when he sees the way you look at him”

You tried not to smile, taking a step toward him.

“And how do I look at you?”

“Like you love me too”

You responded with your lips on his. The kiss was desperate and breathless. His hands fell down your sides and held you tight as he walked back against the wall. Your fingers curled into his hair as you moved. 

“They're kissing” A cheer sounded. You broke the kiss to see Finan with his arm around Uhtred as the two of them raised their cups, the rest of your friends joining in with laughs as they looked upon you and Sihtric. 

The man before you buried his head in the side of your neck in embarrassment before trying to shoo off the others. It was only when Hild appeared, ushering her boys away, did they all disperse leaving you in the arms of the man you loved. 

“Have you really loved me since Wessex?” You looked up at him. 

He went to deny the accusation when he realised it was a lost cause and smiled, red blushing his cheeks. 

“Since the very first moment you pointed your blade at me when we met”

“And everytime after?”

His lips met the skin of your throat, moving down. “I love you more and more” 

[moonlight-rider25]

Spill the Beans

Summary: Your time on the road together is gradually coming to an end and you have to come up with a way to stop that, and fast!

Warnings: PG13+, fluff, angst,

Word count: 3700

You lay awake in your tent. Eadith steadily snoozes beside you, and the only other noise besides your constant stirring is the slight crackle from the fire outside. You sit up listening intently to the noises around you. Surely the other men are asleep by now from the amount of ale they drank earlier in the evening. No you can’t, it's a stupid idea… you remind yourself rubbing at your face. You sigh and lay back down trying to get comfortable again…

You toss around again sighing heavily as you stare at the blank canvas ceiling before you.  Your body is still, completely still.  You hold in a sharp breath and finally snap your eyes open, sit up and quietly remove yourself from the tent. 

The summer night air feels ravenous against your sensitive skin as you wrap your fur around yourself tighter. You dismiss the signals going off in your head that you're making a very bad decision and hold your breath as you crouch low along the tent lines. You walk slowly and carefully over to where you saw Uhtred make his tent earlier that night. You reach out and gently peel back the canvas flap, slowly exposing the fire light into the tent. 

A few furs cover his tall body, and you see at the top sticking out; is his carved and shirtless sculpted stomach. You bite back your bottom lip and slowly emerge through the canvass flap. Crawling towards him in his furs, he wakes with a jolt.  You freeze in panic, not knowing how he will respond, or fully thinking this part through. He sits up abruptly rubbing at his eyes and stares towards you. After a moment he sighs and pulls his furs away from his body, inviting you in, under them, next to him. You hum gleefully and crawl towards him gently placing yourself beside him.  The heat from his body radiates to you and you clasp your cold hands against his chest.  He sucks a quick breath in through his teeth.

“Your hands are ice!” He says in a whisper.

“I’m sorry!” You smile up at him and press your face against his firm bare chest.

He hums a low chuckle; wrapping his huge muscular arms around your body, pulling you closer and pecks a gentle kiss on the top of your head.  You snuggle against him, his body warming you and his sweet safe familiar scent lulls you to sleep within moments. 

All too soon you awaken; Uhtred stirring beside you. Still snuggled up next to him, he tries to remove his arm without waking you.  Your eyes blink open and you see it's still very dark.

“Where are you going?” You ask him in a sleep ridden whisper.

He smiles before pecking a warm kiss on your forehead. 

“It’s morning.” He tells you quietly. 

You peer around in the tent looking outside at the very very faint glimpse of light rising from the ground.

You look back up towards his smiling face and bury your head into his chest.

“No it can't be...” you whine quietly against him. “...Not yet at least!” 

He rubs your back apologetically and you hear a low hum of laughter escape him.  You grip him tighter and begin peppering his warm chiseled chest in soft wet kisses. He groans happily pulling you closer. You playfully push him over to his back and straddle him, still peppering him in wet kisses. You slide your hands up his thick warm neck and capture his lips in yours. He sighs heavily before indulging himself in your sweet flavor, and you let out a quiet moan into him. His hands slide up over your barely covered ass and squeeze at the perky mounds sitting on top of him.  You giggle against him and he pulls you up off his chest. His eyes glimmer as you watch him eyeing your barely concealed body on top of his. 

“Don’t make me go,” you tell him in a whisper. 

He pulls you back down and your lips meet his once again, hungry and eager.

“You know I don’t want to..” He tells you in a low groan.  “...but how will we explain ourselves?..”

You lean your head down into the crook of his broad neck and shoulder, and allow a long disappointed exhale to escape you. You sit back up, allowing him to take in the view of your faintly covered breasts as you wrap your fur around your shoulders and press your core down into his toned bare abbs. His hands slide up your thighs as he smiles through his gritted teeth while watching you. You crawl towards the tent opening; stopping when his huge hand catches your fur and you spin back around facing him.

“Will I see you tonight?” he asks with a wicked smile on his face.

You giggle softly to yourself.

“Perhaps…If I can't sleep again…” You tell him playfully in a whisper.

“You come back… I don't think either of us will have much sleep..” he replies through his wide smile.

You snicker, trying to cover your mouth, careful not to wake the others.  You both freeze, hearing another stir within their tent. You shoot him a final lustful promising look and scurry away back to yours and Eadiths tent. 

The ground is cold, cruel, and unwelcoming, compared to the warm inviting safe arms of Uhtred, but you bury your face deep within the furs and try your best to calm yourself so as to not wake Eadith. You hear another stir coming from one of the other tents. You pull your fur up into your face smelling Uhtred on it; you smile to yourself. Your heart beats steadily in your chest as you happily imagen him there with you, as you were moments ago. Only wishing you had indulged yourself more, than what time had allowed. 

~~~~~

The morning passes in a wave of usual chaos, men packing their belongings and scarfing their porridge down in a few bites while you and Eadith try to clean the cooking utensils as best you can.  Everyone packs up their tents from the night before and secures it tightly back onto their horses; who have also been fed and watered their morning share. Osferth, Sihtric, and Finan, mount their horses ready for the day's journey, Eadith and yourself; normally struggling in the back of the pack, but today they're waiting for Uhtred who waltzes over and assists you with your bags. He says nothing, as the others are far too close to hear, but he eyes you devilishly pulling firmly at the mare's straps and fastening them in place. He pats the mare kindly on the neck and begins to turn away from you, when you clear your throat.  He pauses in place for a moment, then spins back around with a smirk on his face. You extend your hand out towards him and he instinctively, he helps you up onto your horse.  You squeeze his hand a bit before letting go of his grip and try to swallow back the grin growing on your face. The others watch as Uhtred strides away from you and mounts his own horse at the head of the group.

He eyes you again before calling out to the men, and you nod slightly with a thick grin towards him. Eadiths shoots you a look from her mare, who prances eagerly in place beside you. Avoiding her look, you slap the reins setting in motion with the others. 

“What was that?” She asks finally once the group has gotten into configuration and you know they’re mostly out of earshot. 

“What?” You ask her with a giggle, avoiding her look as best you can.

“Oh no, don’t you ‘what’ me..” She tells you through her own snicker. “You’re playing a very dangerous game here girl,” She tells you through a smile.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” You cackle in response still not meeting her eye.

You slap the reins again and your horse marches off ahead of Eadith leaving her behind. You hear her cackle as she tries to join you, the two of you edgeing off the trail a bit playfully trying to beat one another. 

~~~~~

Hours pass before you stop to relieve yourself and allow the horses a quick drink of water, the summer air is still and uncomfortable as you drop down from your horse.  You hand Osferth the reins to your horse and scamper away from the edge of the woodline to relieve yourself. 

“Good God, I’m going to burst!” You tell Eadith, squatting down near a tall prickly bush.

She giggles to herself beside you as she adjusts her skirts and squats down. You both exhale a sigh of relief and gather yourselves before returning back to the horses to begrudgingly continue on your way. 

“So are you going to spill the beans, or do I have to guess?” Eadith asks quietly as you approach the group.

“Not now!” You snap cautiously.

You both approach the group and begin to mount your horses again. You hear a heavy sigh and look over to Sihtric who seems to be less pleased with the traveling than usual. Finan casts him a knowing look and you peer over to Osferth who is also seemingly upset.  You turn your head over towards Eadith and she shrugs unamused.  You smile coyly at her and begin off, staying close to the men.

“Why are we all in such high spirits?” You ask once in motion. 

The men look at eachother and you can tell an unspoken message is understood between them.

“Please, enlighten me!” You ask more eagerly this time. 

Finan sighs and turns back to you. “Just a long ride my lady.” he tells you with a huff.

“Are they not all long rides?” You ask with a slight giggle in your tone.

“Aye, they can be..” he continues. “But this one in particular is…disappointing.”

You peer over to Eadith who seems to be in agreement. Then back to the men with long faces.

“We’ve traveled three days, on many occasions!” You cry out not understanding their words. “Oftentimes even longer! I don’t understand what the..”

Eadith cuts your words off by handing you the canteen of water.  Sihtric clears his throat and begins to chime in on the others behalf.

“Y/N, you see, on most occasions of three or four days' travel, is followed by a bigger town which results in several days of staying.”

“So, Corfe is also a small town?” You mention trying to grasp their understanding. 

“These small towns scattered together, are just the beginning of a long and treacherous journey back towards Wessex.” Finan adds, his accent thick and charming as he speaks quietly beside you.

“The beginning of a very long end?” you ask almost childishly.

“Yes.” Eadith tells you. 

You let out an all too obvious sigh, your heart collapsing into your lap realizing what their words truly entail. 

“The beginning of the end…” You repeat softly to yourself.

Not if I have anything to do with it…

~~~~~~

You spend the next few hours pondering in your mind how you will approach Uhtred, without suspicion and ask him to delay your arrivals in the next town….as well as the following and so on. Ideas of how to persuade him pass through your mind like ships in the night… The groups morale, early arrival to other towns and cities allow time to roam, you simply are not ready to return back home yet… but your mind and heart settles on telling Uhtred the real reason you’re not ready for this time to end; because you love him and cannot put words to that …yet. Now all there’s left to do; muster the courage to approach Uhtred, get him alone and confess your feelings, and all within the short ride to the next day break…

Eadith and yourself remain in the back as the group carries on through the hours. The sun is steadily above you, midday and you know Uhtred, though not a creature of habit normally, will be stopping soon.

“I still have such a hard time accepting so many Gods in one religion, I'm not sure how they do it.” Eadith tells you deep in conversation.

You smile coyly, then grip at your stomach slightly.

“How can there be more than one God?” She asks with a cackle.

Your own ideas of religion have never joined up with hers but today is not the day to argue that idea.

“Oh, ow!” You cry out quietly.

“Oh no, what is it?” Eadith asks concerned.

“It’s alright, I’ll be fine.” you try to convince her.

“Are you sure?” she asks, peering over trying to read your face.

“Yes..” you tell her with a sigh.  “I’m fine, it seems to be passing already..”

Eadith keeps her gaze on you cautiously, her brow squinted up as she does looking over a new patient before her. 

“Their many Gods..” you remind her, rubbing at your stomach still.

She hesitates, but begins to delve back into her ideas of the Danes' multiple Gods. 

“It’s just madness, how can more than one God rule? What is the hierarchy of them? How do they keep them..”

“Ahhh, Christ!” You cry out from your seat.

“You’re not alright!” she demands.

This time you have drawn the attention of the others in front of you. Eadith halts her horse and helps you down as you groan in pain. She yells to the others to stop and wait for them as you are ill.  You grip your fists as you sit against the ground against a tall tree, heaving in pain waiting for the others to stop and assist. 

Within moments the group has circled back and gathered around you. Sihtric stands with the horses and gestures for Finan to help lead them to the nearby field of grass to graze and rest in. You notice the urge in Sihtric’s eye and encourage Finan and Osferth off with him as they are no help to you anyhow.  

“I believe it's just something I ate..” you tell Eadith through clenched teeth.  “I’ll be fine I'm sure. Just let me rest for a moment.”

You grasp at your belly, Uhtred stands guard nearby as Eadith kneels down next to you trying to comfort you in your time of need. You gasp again as another wave of pain strikes through you. She holds your hand tenderly and patiently talks you through the fit. 

“It’s alright, it will pass…” She tells you calmly. “You’re stronger than this!” she reminds you brushing her thumb over your knuckles. 

Suddenly… finally, she raises to her feet and stands before you. 

“I know what you need!” She tells you excitedly.  “Remember Madam Elles cure all for food poisoning?!” 

You blink back through squinted eyes up at her, still holding your belly as she gleams with the bright idea.

“Violet and clover!” she shouts out. “I’m sure I can scavenge some up for a hot tea from these woods…” 

Eadith merrily prances around gathering her pouch for collecting herbs. 

“You stay put, I’ll have you back on your feet in no time!” She cries joyfully.

“Eadith, no it's fine!” you cry out grasping at your stomach.

“Nonsense, stay put..Uh…

You cast her a knowing look..

“...Finan and I will scour the woods and I’ll prepare you the Violet and Clover tea. You’ll see! We’ll be on our way in no time.”

You reach out grasping her through her long red hair. 

“You are too kind to me, Eadith.” You tell her graciously. 

She smiles and hugs you warmly before getting back onto her feet and running over to Finan and the others in the field. 

You watch carefully as she paces amongst the trees and through the leaves towards the field; then cast your gaze up at Uhtred who's all too worried about you.

“Get down here!” you tell him in an anxious whisper.

He peers down towards you but kneels graciously beside you.

“Are you alright? What can I do to help?” he asks sweetly.

You roll your eyes in disgust. 

“I’m fine you twit!” you tell him in a ragged hush. 

He looks at you wide eyed.

“I just.. I just needed to speak to you alone..”

His eyes turned softer and a smile curled up on his lips.

“No, not for… I mean perhaps… No!” you cry playfully swatting at him.

He chuckles and sits comfortably down beside you. Palming his face carefully he looks back up to you still humming with laughter. 

“I just wanted to speak to you…without raising suspicion..” You add, trying not to show him your own smirk emerging from your lips.

He reaches out and clasps your hand in his gently. Peering over his shoulder to ensure no one is around. 

“Well… we are indeed alone now…What is it you wanted to speak of?” He asks you, squeezing your hand a bit. 

You peer up into his icy blue orbs and freeze for a moment. The words fleeing your mind as you stare blankly into the little crystal worlds that remind you of all your dreams.

“Hmm…Oh, um.” You take a moment to gather your thoughts and shake your head with a giggle.  “I’m sorry, ..it's just that…” The words are all too eager to jump off your tongue, you swallow them back down your throat and conceal them more than ever before. “...Morall…my lord…” you stumble over the words as they come to you in a panic.

Uhtred looks confused as he tries to decipher through your panicked mess of words.

You reach up, rubbing harshly at your brow.

“Let me start again..” you tell him before clearing your throat and sitting up a little straighter.

He smiles and turns his body towards you, propping his head carefully on his wrist staring deeply at you.  You exhale heavily and watch as his eyes pace back and forth between yours. 

“You know, it's really hard to have a meaningful conversation with you when you look at me like that.” You tell him through a thick grin.

“Like what?” he asks you, sarcastically.

You roll your eyes dramatically and poke him playfully in the chest. 

“With your….look Uhtred..” The words begin to roll easily now. “It has been noticed by the group that we are near ending our…trip around the cities of Wessex…”

He nods, listening eagerly to your words.

“..And they seem to be..down about that…” You add trying to word things carefully but truly. “..and I would be lying if I too, said I was saddened about..this time of ours together…” 

You look down to your lap, awaiting a response of some sort as you feel you have let too much out.

“Our time…?” he asks, raising his brow.

You whip your head up casting him an annoyed look with a smirk.

“Our time…and all of our time..times…” You foolishly try to correct yourself. “You know what I mean!” you add smirking up at him.

You both sit laughing for a moment with each other enjoying the freedom from others for a brief moment. It’s times like these that you know you will miss most of all…

Uhtred sits back against the tree wiping at his forehead with his thumb and avoids your stare for a long moment. You take a sharp inhale in and pat your other hand over top of his, reassuringly. 

“..Our time as well..” You add quietly.

He turns and smiles at you, giving your palm a slight squeeze. 

“Slow down..” He says calmly. “You want me to slow down the traveling?” 

“..Yes? I suppose.” You tell him shyly.

“Arrive back to Wessex later than expected?” He adds submissively. “Even after all I’ve pushed us through on this journey to be early? What a waste..” He says biting back his bottom lip.

“Why look at it as a waste?” You ask graciously. “You’re simply trading being on time for a few more memories, is all.” You stare down at his huge hand between your little ones; afraid of his reply. Your eyes dart back and forth between you and him trying to blink back the wetness growing heavy in your eyes.

He remains silent for a moment. You finally look up and see he is staring out at the field just ahead, where Sihtric and Osferth stand with the horses. You admire his large head; his long hair pulled back behind it, and the faint scars that mark the sides of it. Desperately you swallow the want to reach out and graze them softly.. He looks back to you and then down at your hands again.

“I shall consider it..” he says calmly in a stoic tone. “But only if you can make me an offer, right here right now that only entails us…not the others.”

He stares deeply into your eyes and you feel your insides melt as he studies you.  Your smile turns a few times as the emotions rise and you suppress them.  You sniffle and then laugh abruptly, unsure of what to tell him. For so long the truth has remained locked in your heart for fear of breaking the dynamic of the group, for fear of him turning his back and refusing to show any more interest. Yet here he sits beside you as you’ve faked an ailment and begs for you to make a vow to him, and only him.  A vow that somehow will tie you two together, for better or worse, at least for the remainder of the trip. You blink your eyes hard and a tear emerges from the edges. 

“Uhtred…” You tell him calmly.

 I love you. I love you. I love you!

You Swallow hard and blink again, trying to erase the wetness from your eyes. 

“...Will you please delay our arrival back to Wessex, so we can have more time together?”

…

Tags:@osferthsworld @emily-forever75-blog @sirenofavalon @rrtxcmt @cosmosworldd @elbereth-bluebird @chemitaromance @deadstarkblacksoul @kimi240302 @buglyberry

[lexyleblancc]

Something nicer {Sihtric}

Summary: Sihtric takes care of his family during the night of a storm. 

Dad!Sihtric x Fem!Reader

Warnings: nothing, unless you fear children and a simp of a man :)

Word count: 699 haha nice

Disclaimer: Not proof read, we die like men here. Also have decided to make this a little series of the TLK men being dads because it warms my heart

There had been rumors of a storm hitting, and Sihtric couldn’t be more happy that he had made it home before it hit. The nights had been getting colder, almost unbearably cold. Furs were piled high on all the beds at night, roaring fires hit in hearths to keep the chill at bay. You were curled into Sihtric’s side, your nose cold and red from being the only part of you visible under the mountain of furs you curled under. The man sucked in a breath as your cold nose made contact with his neck, making him shiver. The door to the bedroom creaked open, making the restless man look up, seeing the small figure of your youngest child standing there, holding a small stuffed bear tightly in her arms. 

“Da, it’s so cold.” The little girl cried quietly. Sihtric sighed, sitting up and letting the furs pool around his waist, the cold air hitting his skin. 

“It is.” Sihtric agreed, motioning for his youngest to climb onto the bed. “Lay with your mom, keep her nice and warm and I’ll go get the fires going again, okay?” He cooed softly, tugging the furs over the young girl and kissing her forehead. In your sleep you reached out for your daughter, pulling her closer to you and letting out a soft hum. Both Sihtric and your daughter let out small laughs, before the man stood from the bed and found the closest tunic he could reach. 

The wooden floors were half frozen, sending shocks through him as he quickly rushed to the living room to stoke the fire before heading down the hallway to the children’s room to stoke that one as well. Sihtric almost cursed the day you insisted on giving your children the larger room with a fireplace in it, but they would always come first. He just prayed to the Gods you would be able to move houses soon, somewhere that was much larger and had a fireplace in every room to keep the family warm. 

Your two oldest children were curled together in one bed, shivering under the furs while the man worked quickly to warm them. The middle child, your only son, had abandoned his bed at some point in the night to help keep his older sister warm during the night. Once the fire was roaring once more, Sihtric grabbed some of the extra furs from a chest beside the door and covered the children, kissing both their foreheads before leaving the room quietly. 

When he was finally back in his and (Y/N)’s room, he smiled fondly seeing his wife and youngest child sleeping soundly in each other's arms. He slowly slid back under the covers, reaching over your daughter who laid contently between you two, and pulled the both of you closer to his shivering form. 

“Where did you go?” You asked, your voice laced with sleep as your eyes opened slowly to look at your husband. 

“Just fed the fires.” He told you softly, pushing some of your hair away from your face as he smiled widely. “Gave the children some extra furs to keep them warm until morning.” 

“We need more fireplaces to keep this place warm.” You joked quietly, a small smile tugging at your lips. The walls would tend to let in drafts during the colder months, taking all the heat away when the family so desperately needed it. 

“Or a nicer home.” Sihtric mumbled, his eyes growing heavy with the sleep that so desperately called for him. “I will talk to Uhtred in the morning, see if there is something we can do about the cursed cracks in the walls until then.” He promised, placing a tender kiss on your lips before leaning down and kissing your daughter's head. “Just rest darling, the warmth will flow through the house soon.” 

“I’m not the one shivering.” You hummed, placing a warm hand on your husband's arm. He smiled softly, holding you and your daughter tightly as the both of you fell asleep once more. 

He would always wake up at night, to stoke the fires that warmed your family, just until he could provide something nicer. 

[omgkatherine01]

Heart of Darkness - Masterlist

You were the youngest and only daughter of Uhtred Uhtredson and his third wife, Gytha. The only survivor child from their marriage.

One day, your home was attacked, half of your family and people are killed, you were 'taken care of' by your uncle, until you found out your big brother was alive and went to find him with new family, who took you in. Earl Ragnar and his family had became your foster family.

But after years of peace, your new home was attacked, and you and your brother wanted revenge for the death of your foster family. You found new friends, allies, enemies, and even love on your way.

Pairing: Osferth x female reader

Masterlist (requests are currently open for now)

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4 coming soon