Warriors at Heart (The Last Kingdom Fanfic)

Chapter 35

The next morning, I caught up with Brida and Uhtred by the horses. Brida was already in a fit of upset and I quietly watched, thankful it wasn't me she was upset with. "A year? It starts with a year and becomes a lifetime. And he offered you a wife?" She glowered.

"I have no need of a wife," Uhtred replied, not looking her in the eye. He seemed unusually involved with adjusting his stirrups.

"No, instead you swore an oath to kill Danes," Brida spat back at him, her head moving to highlight her dislike of Uhtred's decision.

"You know my reasons," Uhtred replied, still not looking at her. He caught my eye. "Are you here to rag on me too?" He raised his eyebrow.

I shrugged at him. Brida bit her lip and continued on, "what happens if you find yourself facing Young Ragnar in battle?"

Without hesitation Uhtred replied, "then we fight."

His words felt like someone had thrown a rock at my chest. How could he so easily brush off Ragnar? His brother? "You would kill Ragnar?" I asked him.

"If it came to that," Uhtred replied.

Brida turned her back on us and without a word stormed away, vanishing into the woods. "You don't mean that," I stared at Uhtred, unmoving. "Tell me you don't mean that," I tried again.

He ignored me and finished saddling his horse. I stared at his back, unable to process his words. The priest, Beocca, showed up as if on cue and congratulated Uhtred for deciding to help Alfred. Uhtred shrugged. I silently glared at Beocca who smiled back at me in response. "I haven't seen the other woman around," he commented.

"She's around," I growled.

"Ah," Beocca continued to smile at me, goading me to run him through. "Well, we're about to leave."

"I'll go find her," I said quickly, walking off in the direction we'd last seen her go.

I wandered a while when I heard a muffled screaming and a soft crying. "Brida?" My heart began to pick up pace and I sped up my walk in the direction of the sound. I almost tripped over her, for she was keeled in half. I saw her hand move to quickly cover a small bloody lump.

I knelt down next to her and placed my hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," she whimpered.

"Here, drink something." She accepted the water and as quickly as she'd drunk it, she spit it back up. I patted her back gently and heard twigs snapping as Uhtred made his way over to us. As he drew nearer, I saw concern cross his brow and he threw himself down next to us. "Is she okay?"

I nodded and sat back, giving them some space. Brida clung to Uhtred's arm and sobbed. She pointed to the bundle next to them. Uhtred hesitantly lifted the cloth back and stared at what was hidden beneath.

"Almost a child?" He asked her. When she didn't reply he continued on. "Did you know?"

"Huh?" Brida asked through teary eyes.

"That you were carrying? You didn't see it in your dreams?"

Brida shook her head no. Uhtred looked to me and I too shook my head no. I hadn't known Brida was with child. He looked distraught and quietly told her that he'd bury it. Brida insisted that they bury it together. I silently stood and left them in peace. I wandered back to the horses and waited. The priest approached me, and I stared at him with suspicion.

"Where's Uhtred?" he asked softly.

"In the woods," I replied.

"I know you think I'm evil, but I truly have Uhtred's best interests at heart," he said, taking me by surprise.

I stared at him. "You really believe that don't you?"

"I do," he replied, lifting his chin slightly in defense.

"Does Uhtred have no say in his own life?"

"He is young, foolish. He doesn't know what's good for him."

"So, says you."

Beocca stared at me. He narrowed his eyes, not in a threatening way, but in a considering kind of way. "Why do you follow him? You are a Dane, he is not."

"Uhtred's a Dane," I replied.

"You are quick to mark him as so," Beocca replied just as fast. "Why?"

"Why do you care?"

"Because Uhtred is not a Dane, and he'd do well to remember it. His father's father was a Christian, his father was a Christian, and he is a Christian. I baptized him myself."

I scoffed at the priest's determination to take the Dane out of Uhtred. "If bloodlines and Uhtred being a Christian means so much to you then why did you forsake him to the Danes?"

Beocca opened his mouth ready to respond but closed it as Uhtred approached. He looked from me to Beocca with slight suspicion.

"Where's Brida?" I asked him, looking at the void over his shoulder.

"She'll follow later," he replied.

"Pity, I so wished her company on the journey home," Beocca spoke sarcastically.

Uhtredclapped the priest on the back. "Finally warming up to her father?" He chuckled.I rolled my eyes and mounted my horse. I glanced back at the woods and saw nosign of Brida. I shrugged and followed Uhtred and the priest towards whereAlfred was waiting for us to join him.