Warriors at Heart (The Last Kingdom Fanfic)

Chapter 62

My chest burned as I heaved heavily. Despite the Danes only being able to cross the path one by one they appeared to be endless. Where one was felled, at least three seemed to take his place. Uhtred, Leofric, and I took turns beating them back. We were drenched in blood, which only made us colder. At last sense kicked into them and they stopped coming. They huddled on the other side of the makeshift barricade and seemed to be pondering what to do. Uhtred stood guard at the head of the path, watching. Without warning, one of the Danes stirred near him. A blade flashed in his hand as he rose and charged Uhtred from the side. "I want him alive!" The priest shouted but not in time, for Naegling sang and spliced her target open.

Everyone stared open mouthed and I shrugged as I scooped her back up. Uhtred smiled and turned his attention back to where the Danes were waiting. At last Guthrum, dressed in black on a matching steed emerged. His eyes were of fire, and the fury that emanated from him upon seeing the slaughter of his men before him could've warmed all of us to the core.

"Uhtred Ragnarson!" He bellowed across the swamp.

"Earl Guthrum," Uhtred replied calmly.

"I'll give you one last chance boy," Guthrum sneered. His words more of an insult than an actual offering.

"I'd sooner plow your ugly mother's dead body," Uhtred fired back. His words hit their mark. Guthrum roared with rage and ordered his men forward. They hesitated, but obeyed after he struck on of them down himself.

"If he didn't hate you before, he definitely hates you now," I hissed at Uhtred, who grinned like a child.

"We should probably run," Leofric suggested, as the Danes swarmed the narrow pathway. Now coming two by two, not letting the cold marsh water seeping into their boots stop them.

We nodded in agreement and our party tore away from the narrow path and deeper into the marshes. We had gone a little ways, and soon were being flanked. Uhtred and I turned around and began to hold back our attackers. Two small punts pulled up alongside us and shouted for us to jump in. Hild, the two women and children loaded into one. The priest stood stock still, watching the massacre behind him. The final two men in his party were quickly cut down. Leofric gripped the priest by the collar and hauled him into the punt.

"Run Tara, I'll be right behind you," Uhtred shouted over the noise. I nodded and lunged into the departing craft. Uhtred ended his final opponent before turning on his heel and rushing after the now quickly departing punt. He jumped in, almost losing his footing. If Leofric and I had not grabbed a hold of him and hauled him onboard, he would've found himself in the swamp water. He panted heavily and laid on his back as we watched the Danes cursing us from the shore.

"I said I wanted him alive," the priest complained from the bow of the punt.

Uhtred sat up and stared at the man in disbelief. "A thank you would be nice."

"There was no need to kill that man," the priest replied sternly.

"He was going to kill Uhtred," I snarled. The man flinched at the harshness of my voice.

"I hope you are carrying silver priest, we have saved your life," Uhtred replied stubbornly.

"I am saved by ghosts it seems," the man replied, pulling his hood back. We were face to face with the last man I expected to see in the marsh.

"My lord," Leofric bowed his head. "Thank god you are unhurt."

Alfred sat before us looking like a defeated man, not a king. His eyes as pathetic dull mess. He looked like wounded animal. He spoke in a quiet voice. "I was blessed."

"And your family?" Leofric asked.

"They are safe," he looked towards the punt in front of us. "We are hoping to find sanctuary in these marshes."