Warriors at Heart (The Last Kingdom Fanfic)

Chapter 32

Greetings! Thank you for being patient with me. I've been pretty sick the past few months, and had no energy for writing. But I'm doing much better now and  updates are on their way! Bear with me and I hope you enjoy :) 

~~~~~

I played Uhtred's words over in my head and wondered why he had not realized the danger of oaths sooner, before pledging himself to Alfred. I watched in dismay as Uhtred poured back pitcher after pitcher of ale. His focus grew blearier and blearier. His words slurred together, and I knew his ability to defend himself was soon to go out the window.

Surely enough, as if on cue, Uhtred began a fight with some Saxon farmers. I laughed as he drunkenly brawled and flung punches wildly. I gulped down some ale and shook my head, smiling, at his stupid display. I caught him wink at me and realized he wasn't as drunk as he pretended to be and was in fact letting the Saxon men think they were winning.

"Fancy seeing you here," a familiar voice said lowly into my ear. My hand went to my sword. "Tck, there's no need for that," the voice said gently.

My eyes glanced sideways at Barth sitting next to me. He had cleaned up some, yet his tattooed face and animal furs gave him away as a Dane. His thick brown hair had a small braid dangle by the side of his head. The rest was pulled back off his face in a ponytail.

"What do you want?" I groaned, tossing back some ale.

"Ubba's offer still stands," he smiled at me.

"Ubba must really want Uhtred dead," I laughed.

"Aye," Barth took a sip of his drink.

"Why don't you just kill him now?" I asked, pointing to where Uhtred had just been thrown over a rather large Saxon man's shoulder onto the ground.

Barth chuckled and drank some more. "There is no honor in killing a man while he is not at his best."

"So, there is some honor among the Danes?" I sneered. It came out meaner than I meant it to, but I was still sore about Kjartan's cowardice going unpunished.

"I like to think myself an honorable man," Barth said softly.

"Well, you can tell Ubba he can come and collect Uhtred's head himself."

"Tell me, if you will, why do you follow him? Why do you betray your own people for him?" Barth stared at me intently.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat and took a long gulp. "Because he's a good man. An innocent man."

"I see."

"I know nobody believes him, but he didn't kill Earl Ragnar. It was that coward Kjartan. You want dishonor, he reeks of it." I spat, to ward off any evil of saying his name.

"You are an interesting woman," he mused.

My eyes moved from Barth to where Uhtred was whooping and hollering wildly. I noted a man near the edge of the crowd drawing his weapon. I tossed back the rest of my drink and excused myself from Barth. I felt his eyes on me as I pushed my way through the crowd and up to the man. I wrenched the man's arm behind his back and insisted he drop his knife. He obeyed and I kicked the knife away, throwing him aside. I grabbed Uhtred and marched him protesting out of the drinking hall.

"Waddya ruin me fun for?" he drunkenly rambled.

"We need to leave, Ubba's man is here."

"Right for my head," Uhtred laughed.

I scowled at him and dragged him off to an alley where he could sleep off his ale. I perched myself on a nearby crate and silently watched and waited for any signs of danger, but to my relief, none came. I closed my eyes with my hand tightly clenched around the hilt of my sword. Uhtred's drunken ramblings slowly ceased and all that could be heard in the night was the far off laughing and singing from the drinking hall.

~~~~~

The next morning, we were summoned to Alfred's chambers once more. By we, I mean Uhtred was, and I trailed along, refusing to be left out. We left our weapons at the gate, though I held onto one or two they hadn't yet discovered I carried and were led into the dim lit castle. Why anyone would want to live in such a cold and darkly lit place was beyond me. I much preferred the warm wooden halls we Danes call home. Sure, they don't stand well against fire, but they're more open, better lit, and comfortable.

We were left to wait in the large what the Saxons call, throne room. In my opinion a lavish and unnecessary display. We waited for what felt like hours. Uhtred held his head and groaned. I laughed at him, "You shouldn't have had so much to drink."

"Shut up," he moaned.

I laughed some more at his expense and abruptly stopped when Alfred and his man the Alderman Odda entered. Uhtred stood up straight and calmly waltzed over to join us.

"Ah Uhtred, how was your night?" Alfred asked, clearly knowing the answer.

"Quite well," Uhtred replied.

"Good. Have you considered my offer?"

"I have," Uhtred replied.

"And?"

"I will help you at the negotiations."

"Excellent. We ride now."

"Now?" Uhtred's brow furrowed.

"Is there a problem?" Odda asked.

"No," Uhtred replied, smoothing his expression once more.

"Then we march," Alfred said, gliding out of the throne room with Odda at his heels.

I looked at Uhtred. He shrugged at me and followed Alfred out. I glanced about the gloomy place once more and let out a breath before following the others out.