Always Be By My Side - Sequel to Always Return to Me (The Last Kingdom Fan Fic)

Chapter 11

My prayers must've been answered for we had an uneventful trip. At one-point however, Little Ragnar did almost give me a heart attack as he leaned too far over the edge of the boat, and would've fallen in if it hadn't been for Sihtric quickly grabbing him and hauling him back in. But after a few days of me at times becoming violently sick at times, we finally left the unpredictable sea and were sailing up an inlet into a river towards Uhtred's estate, Cookham.

I watched as the looming walls of Cookham came into site and a bell tolling, alerting of our arrival sounded across the air. An excited and potentially slightly drunk Finan shouted from his perch on the bow of the boat as we drew near, "Women of Cookham! We are back!" His statement drew laughter from the other men in the boat. I rolled my eyes, men. That's when I spotted him, looking slightly older, but the same bright broad smile. Uhtred, unclad in armor, a rare sight, came walking down towards the boat shouting back to Finan, "They know, they can smell you from here." His comment won more laughs than Finan's.

"You look like shit," Uhtred said as he drew closer. "What have you done to my ship?" he asked, staring at his ship.

"Now that was Osferth's fault," Finan responded.

"You call this a ship?" I asked, standing up from my seat. Uhtred's eyes shifted from looking at a disembarking Sihtric and Osferth towards me.

"Nadia?" he beamed even wider. His gaze shifted from me to Little Ragnar who was now hiding behind me and clutching the folds of my cloak. He rushed onto the dock and helped us out of what he was calling a "ship".

"Honestly Uhtred, have you never seen a Danish ship? Now that's a ship. This thing is just a flimsy..." I was cut off by Uhtred tightly embracing me, being careful of course not to squish the little bundle in my arms. "Nadia," Uhtred breathed into my hair.

"Hi Uhtred," I whispered back. He pulled away enough to look at my face.

"What are you doing here? And with your kids? Is everything alright? Are you in trouble?" He asked quickly.

I smiled back. "Yes Uhtred, everything is well. I have a message for you." He nodded, understanding from tone that this message was not for everyone to hear. "And who is this little man?" he asked, brightening his tone once more and squatting down Little Ragnar's eyelevel.

"It's me, Uncle Uhtred," Little Ragnar said boldly.

"So it is, you're so much bigger than when I last saw you!" Uhtred smiled.

"Daddy says I'm growing too fast," Little Ragnar replied. My eyes widened. His response caused Uhtred to exchange glances with me.

"Are you married again?" he asked, standing up, looking amused.

"Lord, I think this conversation is better held inside," Finan cut in, bless him.

"I see," Uhtred replied. "Very well. What news from Bebbanburg then?" he turned towards his three men.

"Good news, Lord," Finan replied for all of them.

"What? My Uncle Aelfric is dead, and you have his balls to prove it?" Uhtred smiled, winking at Little Ragnar who I hoped did not understand the joke.

The four of them laughed. Uhtred wrapped his arm around my shoulder, and we began to walk towards his fortress.

"No, but he is being attacked by the Scots pushing south," Finan replied. "He lost half his forces during the last assault."

"So, Bebbanburg is weakened?" Uhtred asked.

"Until he finds more men," an unhelpful Osferth chimed in.

"Or is slaughtered by the Scots," Sihtric smiled.

"So we can take it then. With an army we can take it," Uhtred said cheerfully.