Warriors at Heart (The Last Kingdom Fanfic)

Chapter 51

The sun rose and the Danes were finished. Many surrendered for having been taken by surprise, and not having a leader, they were disorganized and clueless. Young Odda marched around with an air of importance giving orders. I rolled my eyes. Leofric found us sitting by the riverside and handed us water and bread. "Eat something. God knows you deserve it."

I hungrily chowed down on my bread while Uhtred desperately gulped down some water. Leofric waited a moment for us to finish before informing us that Lord Odda was badly injured, and recovery looked grim.

"He kept his word," Uhtred said, a tone of shock still in his voice.

"He would, he is a good man. A good alderman," Leofric replied.

"I want Ubba buried with his ax," Uhtred stated.

"His axe is gone. Young Odda wants him cut into pieces."

"No that can't happen."

"He would have done the same to you."

"He is Ubba as close as the Danes will ever come to having a king," Uhtred countered.

"He was a good man, despite his wanting to kill us," I added. "A fierce warrior, and a good earl, however misled he was about Uhtred."

"I'll see he's buried," Leofric promised. "You, you have a task ahead. You go directly to Alfred and you kneel at his feet and tell the bastard you have saved Wessex," he directed Uhtred.

"No, I'll go to my son."

"If you don't do it some other bastard will."

"Men have seen it. They know what I've done. Let them tell Alfred."

"I think you should listen to Leofric Uhtred," I tried.

"I need to see my son."

"You're a turd," Leofric teased.

"Is that the best you can do?" Uhtred asked.

"Nipple?"

Uhtred tilted his head in consideration, and we all chuckled.

~~~~~

I found myself pacing outside of Lord Odda's tent while Uhtred was speaking to him. I could tell I was making the guards outside nervous, but I didn't mind. After what felt like ages, Uhtred finally appeared and said we were leaving. "Why do you want to see her?" I asked him, unable to stop myself.

"I want to see my son," he replied, not looking at me.

I sighed, knowing there was no stopping him. I followed him to our horses and muttered under my breath, "where you go, I go."

We didn't have to ride too long and made it to Lord Odda's estate by the afternoon. I stood on the opposite side of the room watching Uhtred hold his son, Uhtred son of Uhtred. A pang of guilt clutched at my heart as I watched a clueless Mildreth innocently hang onto Uhtred's arm as she looked down at their son. I had nothing against the Lady Mildreth, but I did pity her. She would not give up on Uhtred for her goodness would not let her, no matter how much his actions hurt her and no matter how ill-suited the two were. The poor fool thought she could change him into a gentle peaceful man. How truly wrong she was. Uhtred was a warrior at heart. No hiding behind prayer and the Christian god could change that. Uhtred was Alfred's sword so that Alfred could remain a man of his god. For Uhtred to accept Alfred's god, he would have to betray the warrior in his heart, something Mildreth could not understand; there is no peace for a warrior.

Mildreth took me out of my train of thought by asking if I wanted to hold the baby. I objected so vehemently that I caused Uhtred to laugh, and Mildreth to repeatedly apologize for having made me uncomfortable.

~~~~~

We spent the night on Lord Odda's estate and headed to Winchester the next day. The town was in a celebrating frenzy to which Mildreth credited Uhtred. He smiled at her and dismounted outside the castle where his friend Father Beocca was trying to stop people from entering the palace with no success.

"Father Beocca!"

"Uhtred?" The priest squinted. "You are here before me now?" He looked confused.

"I am and with my child," Uhtred smiled.

"Oh god be praised you are alive. You were a hostage at Werham. We thought you were dead." Relief spread across Beocca's face.

"No father, I was a Cynuit. I fought at Cynuit," Uhtred replied, equally confused as Beocca. "Did they not say?" Beocca did not respond. "I'll see Alfred now," Uhtred said urgently as he marched forward, pushing through people.

"What is it?" Mildreth asked, concerned.

"Nothing that I'm sure cannot be resolved in time," Beocca replied, rushing after Uhtred. "Uhtred!"

"I'll see Alfred," Uhtred called back over his shoulder.

"Uhtred! Alfred is at peace. Uhtred please! You cannot disturb prayers. Uhtred!" Beocca called in vain. "Uhtred your sword!" He shouted desperately as Uhtred tore open the doors to the prayer hall and stormed in. I followed him.

I felt great discomfort as all eyes fell on us. I stayed back a few paces as Uhtred marched to the front of the room. Alfred stood and stared at him in disbelief. His wife, Aelswith's glare seemed to burn through Uhtred into me.

"Forgive me, but I am told you believe me dead?" Uhtred asked.

"Uhtred this is not the time," Beocca tried to warn him.

Uhtred ignored the warning and continued on, "Father Beocca believed me dead and yet just days ago I was at Cynuit with Lord Odda. It was Lord Odda and I who devised our battle plan. Did the boy not say?" All eyes shifted to Young Odda.

"Uhtred stop," Beocca tries again.

"Perhaps you'd like to speak now," Uhtred addressed a shaking Young Odda. Aleswith stopped Young Odda from speaking.

"Perhaps you'd like to describe Ubba's death," Uhtred continued on.

"Lord I would like to invite the alderman here to join us in giving thanks and prayer," Beocca tries.

"Give thanks? For what? For the death of the pagan? Who do you think killed The Pagan?" Uhtred rasied his voice.

"I cannot save you," Beocca relented.

"I fought Ubba man on man I killed him. It was his axe against my sword. This sword." Uhtred drew his blade, causing gasps from the crowd. Alfred's guards moved forward and surrounded Uhtred. Leofric and Wulfhere stepped in front of their king protectively. I glanced around and knew what Uhtred had just done was not a good idea. I gaged how hard it would be to attack the guards that had him surrounded if necessary. My chances looked bleak; they'd have speared Uhtred like a piece of meat the moment my blade fell. Luckily for me, Alfred finally spoke.

"Be still. Everyone be still and be silent." Alfred took a step towards Uhtred. "I've heard enough, you have said enough. This is unseemly. Now sheath your sword and remember where you stand."

"Lord, what I'm saying to you..." Alfred's guard stopped Uhtred from moving forward further.

"You have broken my peace and the peace of Christ. You have brought weapons into a sacred place," Alfred replied, glancing back at me.

"Lord I am telling you..."

"You will go directly to the courtyard and you will wait for me to pass judgement."

"Judgement for what? I've done nothing," Uhtred protested again.

"You will be quiet," Alfred asserted.

Uhtred frowned and stormed out of the prayer hall, with Mildreth and I following him. Our weapons were confiscated, minus the concealed dagger I kept on my person, and we were escorted into the courtyard, all ways out blocked by two guards each.