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

Chapter 18

"I thought Wihtgar was dead?" I whispered to Finan.

"Aye, so did we," he replied.

We watched in silence as Uhtred eyed Aelfric's son. "Wihtgar, son of Aelfric, you're supposed drowned in the sea," Uhtred replied.

"Yet here I am, and I could kill you with this arrow in a heartbeat," he threatened.

"You can try. The arrow would miss," Uhtred replied cockily.

"Then you know nothing of arrows of the dessert," Wihtgar smiled.

"Put down the bow," Uhtred told him in a patronizing tone.

The man smirked, reminding me so much of the locked up weasel in our prison. The two would probably get a long quite well.

"Put down the bow," Uhtred ordered again.

"You have lost everything Osbert," the man taunted.

"I wont tell you again put down the bow," Uhtred replied, pressing his blade closer to Aelfric's neck.

Without warning Wihtgar fired his bow, the arrow landing in Aelfric's eye, killing him instantly. Like clockwork the men on the ground drew their swords and moved towards us. We protectively rushed Young Uhtred into the center of our circle, weapons at the ready. I stole a glance at Uhtred who looked shocked.

"A son does not always love his father you fool," Wihtgar sneered at Uhtred. "Now who's with me?" he addressed the men of Bebbanburg. To our horror, they promptly cheered in response. "Who is with Wihtgar of Bebbanburg?" More cheers erupt and I gulped, knowing we were well out numbered, for it seemed in addition to anticipated forty men of Bebbanburg, Wihtgar had brought along a slew of his own. Our score of twenty or so was badly outmatched. We faced at least three times Uhtred's original estimate. I felt Ragnar gently nudge my hand. Our eyes met and I felt a brief moment of peace. I knew what he was silently saying, "glory or Valhalla." I gently knocked my head against his shoulder and smiled.

"Get ready," Finan order us, as he moved closer to our group.

I stole a quick glance at Uhtred and could tell that he was destroyed. Chills filled me and I prayed to the gods to give Uhtred enough will to live because we would need him now more than ever. Our small band was soon encircled by the men Wihtgar now controlled. Whitgar continued to taunt Uhtred, and made us await our slaughter.

"My father's weakness drew you here as it drew me. He could not hold his lands so I have put him out of his misery," Whitgar beamed proudly. "Now, your men to the wall," he ordered.

"Go, be ready," Uhtred nodded to Finan.

"Move", Finan ushered us towards the wall.

We all cautiously made our way to the opposite side of the courtyard and now had a wall at our backs. Young Uhtred remained protected at the back of our group.

"Your father stole these lands from me when I was boy," Uhtred shouted. "And he allowed the Scots to ravage them. If you want men to call you the true lord of Bebbanburg earn it! Come down and fight me like a man," he challenged.

Whitgar smirked. "I hold the fortress. I have no need to fight you." My chest tightened as he raised his bow once more and aimed at Uhtred.

"Wihtgar! Lord," A voice calls, surprising us. "You do not know me, I was your father's priest. I knew his strength and his flaws. This feud was of his making you have settled that. Now let us make peace. You are cousins let this be a new beginning. Unite against a common foe. Secure your land for the sake of your children. For all Saxons," Beocca plead.

"You have spent too long in Winchester priest and you have forgotten the north. We do not seek peace," Wihtgar replied to Beocca. He turned back to Uhtred. "You are a stranger here Uhtred Ragnarson. But I am wiser than my father I will not leave a rival alive to challenge my birthright or my bloodline. I will kill you Uhtred but first you will watch the death of your boy al all the fools who followed you to your doom." Wihtgar whipped his bow towards our group, aiming for Young Uhtred.

"No!" Uhted shouted, in a tone that sent chills down my spine. Never had I ever heard him so afraid. "Finan drop your swords, now!" He ordered.

There was hesitation at this order, but in the end the men all dropped our swords. The shit went on and I had a feeling he didn't care if we dropped our swords. "This is the end for you Uthred. Your name will be forgotten.

"Nadia drop your sword!" Uhtred begged me in Danish.

"It doesn't matter he's going to kill us anyway," I responded in the Saxon tongue.

"She's right," Whitgar smiled something cruel. Something inhuman. He fired the arrow and without hesitation, before anyone could move a muscle, Father Beocca moved in front of it, protecting Young Uhtred.

"Beocca!" Uhtred cried out.

Chaos ensued, and weapons were hastily picked up off the ground. I heard Sihtric call for everyone to retreat to the ship, as I ran my blade through a Saxon. Ragnar and I fought our way toward Uhtred, who had now been surrounded by his own kin. I caught glimpses of him fighting his way toward's Becca's lifeless body. I watched as Finan pulled him away, shouting that we had to go. Uhtred fights mercilessly and tries to make it back to Beocca.

"Uhtred we have to go now!" Ragnar calls over the clashing of steel and shouts of men. I glance towards the exit and watch Sihtric pull Young Uhtred through. My attention turns back towards Uhtred and Finan has managed to convince him to leave Beocca. The four of us continue to fight our way out when I catch a glimpse of Wihtgar out of the corner of my eye. I turn and notice he has reloaded his bow and has it aimed at Uhtred once more. Before I know what I'm doing, I've shoved through men in my way and feel a sharp pain surging through my side as the arrow hit its mark. I exhaled heavily and felt my body grow heavy.

"Nadia!" Someone shouts. I dropped to the ground, grasping my sword as tight as I could. The rest happened in a blur. I felt myself being picked up and watched a blurry Uhtred slashing through men, making a hole. Rain began to pour on my face and men were shouting in a frenzy that we had to go before they sunk the ship. Men shouted at Uhtred to move. He must've gotten aboard because I then heard the shouts of Finan ordering men to pull. The rain began to sting my eyes and despite being told not to, I slowly closed them. Uhtred was safe.