Warriors at Heart (The Last Kingdom Fanfic)

Chapter 43

I watched Uhtred bid Mildrith farewell. I felt a pang of jealousy as she giggled at something he'd said. He put their heads together and I bit my tongue. What was wrong with me? I wasn't one for being the jealous type. I tore my gaze away and watched men rushing to horses. I was dragged back to Uhtred and Mildrith by Leofric shouting, "Arseling, kiss her already and get a move on!"

I looked away and propelled my horse forward before Uhtred had finished mounting his. "Someone's eager for blood," Leofric teased me, his eyes studying my face.

"Better watch your tongue or it might be yours," I shot back.

"Tsk. I was hoping for a sharper reply," he clicked his tongue at me.

"I'm not in the mood," I replied.

"Can I trust you to have my back?" he asked, a bit more serious.

"I haven't killed you yet have I?" I smiled.

"That's more like it," he chuckled, riding ahead of me to join Alfred and his Ealdormen at the front of the parade.

Uhtred brushed up beside me, staring.

"What?" I snapped at him.

"You're mad at me," he replied.

"Perhaps."

"Because I kissed Mildrith?" he smiled.

"Did you? I was too busy cutting my eyes out."

"It's complicated Tara."

"I know."

"Don't be mad at me."

"I can't change the way I feel."

"I know," he smiled, quickly brushing his hand across mine. 

I sighed and smiled back at him. We propelled our horses forward and made our way towards the front, closer to Alfred and his men.

The bells tolled as we marched through the streets of Winchester. The people lined the streets to see us off. Everyone was in a somber state. The silence of our war party was unnerving and I longed for the familiar cries for blood and cheers of my people getting ready for war. 

Due to our size we rode slow, slower than I believed to be wise.

"At this rate, they're all going to be dead by the time we get there," I whispered to Uhtred. The nosy priest heard my remark and stared at me with a disapproving look. "Well it's true," I shrugged at him.

"If it's God's will, so be it," the priest replied rather callously in my opinion.

"I don't like your god much," I replied, frowning.

"Rest assure, despite your insults and disbelief, he cares about all his children, even you," Beocca smiled wickedly at me.

I spat on the ground to advert his comment. Uhtred laughed at my expense. "Don't worry father, she means no ill."

"We'll see about that," Beocca mused, before turning forward again.

I stuck my tongue out at the back of his head which caused Uhtred to laugh once more. "You never cease to amuse me."

"I think you mean amaze," I replied.

"I meant what I said," he smiled deviously.

I rolled my eyes at him and we continued on silence, though my heart felt lighter at the brief moment of joy.

~~~~~

My prediction that we would not make it to Werham before the Danes could take it was seeming more and more correct. Night began to fall and we'd not even made it halfway towards our destination. Alfred called for camp to be made and we all dismounted and began lighting fires.