Warriors at Heart (The Last Kingdom Fanfic)

Chapter 47

The next morning, I awoke a bit hungover. I clumsily wandered out of the room Ragnar had at some point carried an extremely drunk me to and walked down the stone corridor in search of a barrel of water to stick my head into. Upon finding one I took a deep breath in and plunged my face in. My face stung, and the shock of the frigid water woke me right up. I flung my head backwards and looked around me. The courtyard down below was still quiet. I spotted Uhtred and the priest man talking across the way. I considered walking the other way but noticed the priest departing. I took a deep breath and swallowed my pride. I went over and leaned against the wall Uhtred was sitting on.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked.

"Aye, did you?" I replied.

"Aye." We both stared at one another, neither making a move. "When you didn't appear in the Church last night, I thought something might've happened to you," Uhtred admitted, biting his lip.

"I don't have to go everywhere you do," I snapped. He winced. I regretted my remark and tried to steer the conversation elsewhere. "You were worried about me?"

"We're in a dangerous place. Guthrum wants both of us suffering and or dead."

"But you were worried about me?" I smiled slightly.

"Aye," he replied, eyeing me curiously.

"I'm sorry for how I behaved last night," I said quickly, feeling my pride take another hit.

"No, I'm sorry," he replied, surprising me. "Come here," he smiled. My brain was screaming no, but my heart triumphed and soon Uhtred was hugging me tight and gently stroking my hair. His nose nuzzled on the top of my head. "I am sorry, for putting you through all of this," he murmured. I nodded. "When my oath to Alfred is up, we'll come back to Ragnar," he said, surprising me. I gently pushed away and looked at him. "You mean that?" He nodded. "What you said last night, you are right, I am disposable to Alfred. But I am a man true to my word so I must see my oath through. If I lose my word than what do I have left?"

"Ok," I nodded. "Then Uhtred Ragnarson, I shall remain with you until your oath is up."

"Only until then?" He chuckled.

"You know what I mean," I smiled back.

Our moment of reconciliation was soon interrupted by a burly brown-haired Dane who looked as though he hadn't slept in days, riding in on an equally tired looking big black steed. "I have a message for Earl Guthrum," he said importantly. He quickly dismounted and practically ran to the church.

I felt Uhtred tense up next to me and we walked along corridor watching the man run into the church. Uhtred shoved me against the wall and indicated to be silent. I nodded and we both watched, trying to remain somewhat hidden as Guthrum marched out of the church with the man and down the steps into the courtyard. Uhtred hurriedly rushed into the church and found the priest breathing heavily. From the doorway I noticed the blood stain on his front and knew we were in trouble.

"Father?" Uhtred asked the man, squatting down to be by his side. "Ubba has returned, did they say?" Uhtred asked urgently. The priest man wheezed a bit before weakly saying yes. He promptly died. Uhtred hovered over him a bit longer, looking sad. I shifted in the entrance of the church and looked out, readying myself for the fight that was surely to ensue.

"Men, the peace is over, prepare for battle!" Guthrum shouted. I heard men cheering and felt my heart rate go up. Uhtred looked over at me and I swallowed hard.

"We have to get out of here now," he said, drawing his sword. I nodded in agreement and drew Naegling. I followed Uhtred out of the church and down the stairs. "Stay close to me," he whispered. We attempted to calmly make our way down right as Guthrum ordered his men to kill all of the hostages. Swords were drawn, but the Saxons didn't stand a chance. I winced at their slaughter, knowing Uhtred and I were next. Guthrum looked up and saw us. He glared at me, but pointed his finger at Uhtred, yelling at his men to catch him.

Uhtred turned on his heel and shoved me ahead of him as we ran back upwards into a line of charging men. Uhtred began slashing and managed to get a hold of a shield which he used to deflect and shove men backwards. I said a quick prayer to the gods for forgiveness and joined in, momentarily confusing one man who had been charging with his axe. As we got shoved closer together by attackers on both sides, Uhtred yelled over the noise of steel clashing to jump. "Are you crazy?!" I asked. Uhtred grabbed ahold of me and yelled at me to jump again. I growled at him and clambered up onto the wall and jumped, reaching for the tree branch in front of me. I swung for a bit before dropping down to the ground. Uhtred was quick to follow but lost his grip on the branch and fell onto his back. Thank the gods he landed on a sack of something squishy.

He groaned and struggled to stand. Guthrum and a group of his men had us surrounded on one side and a wall had us boxed in on the other. I gripped Naegling tightly and readied myself for the attack. Uhtred was barely back on his feet as they pushed closer.

"Leave him! I say leave him!" Ragnar screamed aggressively. I searched for where his voice was coming from and watched him and Brida shoving through the crowd of Danes. They were both panting hard, Brida had her axe drawn as she protectively stood in front of Uhtred. Ragnar had no weapon drawn. I gripped my axe tightly as I watched Guthrum and Ragnar talk.

"Ragnar, please, step aside," Guthrum said calmly, his hand in the air like he was asking a child to do something. "You know all of the hostages have to die."

"Then kill him. You're welcome to kill him, but you have to kill me first," Ragnar replied, holding his ground, his weapon still not drawn.

"I could've happily managed without this. He's a Saxon, he's a traitor. He's an enemy," Guthrum tried.

"Well to get to him, you have to kill me," Ragnar smiled. Not a nice smile, but a fierce, I dare you to smile. Guthrum looked slightly unsettled and nodded his head slightly. Ragnar continued, "my men will not follow you," he warned.

The two men stared at each other intently, neither giving ground. I watched Guthrum's men shifting, waiting for orders. At last, the elder earl spoke, "I will give you one last charity. Release him, without a horse." With that Guthrum turned and walked away, the crowd parting for him. The crowd began to break up and Ragnar turned to face Uhtred. Relief washed over the four of us. "Are you alright?" Ragnar asked.

"I have no words," Uhtred panted.

"You should go, go see your child," Ragnar said. Uhtred enveloped him in a tight embrace and muttered something into Ragnar's shoulder. He then moved to hug Brida. "I'll be with you, both of you he sobbed.

"You will go with him Tara?" Ragnar more ordered than asked me. I nodded. "Then go," he smiled sadly at me, crushing me in another tight hug.

Uhtred and I rushed across the courtyard and out the gates before Guthrum could have time to change his mind. We ran across the open field and clambered up a steep hill to higher ground. We were both panting heavily by the time we reached the top. "Uhtred look!" I said urgently. His head turned the coastline where at least fifty or more Danish ships were moored. "We have to get to the signal fire," he said.

"Dowe though?" I asked, knowing the answer was yes.