Warriors at Heart (The Last Kingdom Fanfic)

Chapter 45

The next morning, we marched across the field towards our inevitable doom. The Danish hostages selected passed us midway. A priest man was included amongst the hostages, and I really wished he'd shut up. He kept jabbering away as we made our way to a very bad fate. Foolish man to think that he'd be allowed to live. We were all doomed to die.

As we approached the gate, I spotted Brida in the watchtower looking down at us. I gave her a small wave and smiled at her cold stare. The gates opened and we entered into a stone courtyard full of jeering Danes. Rotten food was quickly thrown at the Saxons and they all covered their faces and heads. The priest screamed that they, the Danes, were all like children, which admittedly made me laugh. I stood off to the side and watched them get pummeled with mushy cabbages and other once vegetables.

Guthrum appeared out of the shadows and watched the spectacle. After a bit, he finally broke up the festivities and announced that the Saxons were their guests. He then laid down the rules that the hostages were to be locked in at night, otherwise had free run of the place and were not to be killed. Then like a moth to a flame, Gurthrum picked out and approached Uhtred, a smug look on his face.

"I didn't hear you," Guthrum smiled.

"I understand you lord," Uhtred replied, not blinking.

"Hmm. Maybe I'll give you to Ubba as a present," Guthrum mused.

"If he makes it back from Ireland," Uhtred replied calmly.

"He may not, that's possible. But then his men become my men and I will honor him by killing you myself," Guthrum continued to smile. Gurthrum looked us all over and his eyes halted next on me. "There are eleven of you. I thought we were only receiving ten," Guthrum raised his brow.

"I am not a hostage," I replied.

"Then what, tell me, are you?" Guthrum replied.

"A wanderer seeking shelter."

Guthrum seemed to ponder my words a moment. "You remember girl, I asked you a few months back if following this traitor is the path you follow?"

"Uhtred's no traitor," I spat back.

"Answer the question girl!" Guthrum yelled.

"Yes lord," I replied.

"Look where it's gotten you," Guthrum snapped his fingers and I found myself quickly seized by two large men. I eyed my captors and considered punching their faces in but caught Uhtred's eye. He discreetly shook his head no at me, and I understood I was to not start a fight.

"Earl Guthrum!" A voice I was quite relieved to hear rang out across the courtyard.

All eyes turned to Ragnar.

"Ragnar Ragnarson?" Guthrum responded.

"Release her," Ragnar demanded calmly, yet with great authority.

"And why should I?"

"Because she serves my family. Her oath was to my father and when he died it passed to me. She is mine to deal with."

My eyes darted back to Guthrum, whose lips formed a thin line and he breathed heavily before nodding to his men. They released their grip on my arms and I shook them off. Ragnar beckoned for me to come to his side which I did without hesitation.

Guthrum looked us over and his gaze went back to Uhtred. He clicked his tongue and nodded his head. "Keep these two out of my sight." Then he ordered his men to take the hostages to the church and feed them as he walked off.

Large grins appeared on Ragnar and Uhtred's faces, and they quickly embraced one another. "Now you are where you belong," Ragnar beamed at Uhtred.

"Now I'm with my brother," Uhtred smiled back.

"And you, foolish as ever Tara," Ragnar chuckled and pulled me tightly into a side hug. He kissed the top of my head and looked back to Uhtred. "We're all together again," Ragnar smiled. He looked to Uhtred, "I will remind you what it's like to be a Dane and make you stay." Ragnar's attention was caught by something or rather, someone over Uhtred's shoulder. He turned and saw Brida staring back at him. They stared at one another a moment before she approached.

Uhtred hugged her tightly and bumped his forehead against hers. They whispered to one another, and Ragnar looked off to the side. I slowly began to put the piece together and playfully whacked Ragnar on the arm.

"What was that for?" He asked, chuckling.

"You and Brida?" I asked, smiling.

"How'd you know?" he asked.

"Call it woman's intuition."

"You are about as far from a woman as a woman could be," Ragnar teased me, playfully whacking me back.

"But you and Brida?"

"Yes, she's my woman," Ragnar smiled happily.

"I am happy for you," I grinned.

"You're married?" Brida exclaimed loudly.

Ragnar's head shifted from my face to Uhtred's. "He's married?"

"Yes, he is married!" Uhtred smiled back at his brother.

Ragnar looked back to me. "Married?"

"No, not to me!" I protested.

"Oh," Ragnar looked slightly disappointed, but was quick to recover and was soon suggesting that we should nevertheless celebrate and get drunk.

"I need to be inside the church," Uhtred replied.

"No, tonight we get drunk," Ragnar insisted. "I'll take you to the church myself or we sleep where we fall," he laughed. "And we must, talk of the future."

We all laughed and hugged one another again. Brida and I looped arms and walked off ahead of Uhtred and Ragnar.

"How have you been?" She asked me.

"Fine," I replied.

"Who did Uhtred marry?" she asked.

"A Saxon woman."

"Ah. Is she pretty?"

"She's fair."

"But you are not happy for him?"

"Of course, I am," I forced a smile.

"You love him, don't you?"

"What? Don't be ridiculous Brida," I tried to laugh her comment off.

"I can see it. I've always seen it."

"Brida, I..."

"No, it's okay." I looked at her in disbelief. "I'm serious. I love Ragnar. What Uhtred and I had, has passed. It passed the moment he went to the Saxons."

"Brida..."

"But you, you've done what I could not. You've stuck by his side, no matter what. That's what love ought to be. I am happy for you. Truly I am," she beamed warmly at me.

"If only he felt the same way," I chuckled sadly, glancing over my shoulder at Uhtred laughing at something Ragnar had said.

"Uhtred is ambitious, but he will need you. He will always need you," Brida assured me.

"Enough talk, let's drink!" Ragnar gleefully shouted, grabbing ahold of Brida's shoulder, and pulling her into a kiss.

I laughed at his enthusiasm and looked at Uhtred. "Shall we?" I asked, indicating that we should follow Ragnar and Brida towards the ale. Uhtred nodded and we quickly followed suit in filling our mugs and chugging our ale. The evening was full of merriment and joy at our four's reunion.