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"Apologies for keeping you waiting in the cold, my dear, your father is to blame after deliberation, he has decided not to attend." Æthelred said once they entered. Rúna wasn't in the mood to hear him, she leaned against Sihtric as Uhtred and the princess stepped forward.
"I am here in place of the king. I'm here to speak for the king." Edward said to them.
"Our business is with Alfred." Aethelflæd spoke.
"Edward is Alfred."
"On this occasion." Beocca corrected.
"We are all curious about what you have to say, my dear. Speak." Æthelred mocked his wife with a condescending smile.
"Danes are near."
"Yes, which is why we are gathered. This is not some hunting party." Æthelred said.
"Hæsten is with them. His army is allied with them."
"But it was Hæsten who first advised the king that the Danes were marching south." Edward said in confusion.
"He would do that, Lord." Uhtred claimed quietly.
"Hæsten also advised the king this dane army included yourself, Uhtred Ragnarsson."
"It does not, father." Uhtred answered.
"Which we can clearly see."
"Hæsten has betrayed the king. He rode to Mercia to kill me, and Uhtred saved me." Aethelflæd spoke defending him.
"God is good, praise him."
" I am at a loss. How is it that you knew of this danger How is it he knew exactly where to find you?" Aethelred leaned forward.
"An interesting question, lord."
"An irrelevant question." Aethelflæd snapped.
"Uhtred made a plan with this dane, this Hæsten to save you, to gain your trust, gain entry to this estate."
"No." Aethelflæd said turning to the old man.
"A spy."
"An assassin." Men murmuring with opinions.
"No, saved me."
"I should've expected nothing different." Uhtred said in disbelief. Rúna frowned at her brother and wished they could mourn as normal people would.
"Uhtred has risked everything for me—"
"That's what he wants you to believe, I am sure." Æthelred interrupted.
"Seems a rather grand strategy, lord Æthelred. And for what?" Edward asked looking at the lord.
"He is here, among us." Sigebriht spoke.
"And under guard."
"Then let us get to the truth of the matter, let us hear exactly why Uhtred is here," Alfred speaks as he steps into the room and slowly walks to Uhtred. "What do you have to say to me?"
"I wish to speak to you alone."
"This is a Witan, we are one people. What you have to say affects all of us." Æthelred motions around them.
"These men are my friends and allies. I have nothing to hide." Alfred said as Aethelflæd and Uhtred share a look.
"I saved your daughter's life. It was Hæsten's intention to kidnap her. If that could not be done, he would have killed her. And you claim he, too, is your ally." Uhtred explained to the king.
"I have never made that claim. I have listened to Hæsten but I have never believed him fully." Alfred walks to Aethelflæd. "That you are here with Aethelflæd, is the only reason you are alive." Alfred glanced at Osferth briefly before turning away. "Do not tell us what you have done. Tell us all what it is you want, you always want something."
"I want one thousand men. One thousand men and I will give you Beamfleot." Æthelred scoffed.
"I do not need Beamfleot."
"I will give you peace, I will defeat Hæsten. I will prevent him from joining with the Earls Cnut and Bloodhair." Uhtred added.
"Not forgetting the Earl Ragnar." Rúna flinched back as if she were punched and Sihtric didn't hesitate to pull her into an embrace.
"My brother is dead, lord. That is to your advantage, with Hæsten defeated and Ragnar gone, the Danes will have half the army and no leader. To prevent a great war, you must attack Hæsten." Uhtred said and glanced at his sister who was in his friend's arms.
"Seems viable, lord."
"You wish me to divide my army?" Alfred asked.
"Yes."
"Send one thousand men east?" Alfred questioned.
"Yes."
"That is too great a risk to Wessex, lord." Sigebriht interrupted.
"Hæsten sits inside a fortress, one thousand men could die upon its walls easily. And then what?" Alfred questioned the Dane.
"We are overrun."
"We devise a plan." Uhtred said.
"Why? What is at stake for Uhtred Ragnarsson? Is it Mercia you care for? Is it Wessex or is there another reason for this attack?" Alfred snapped looking over at him.
"Vengeance, lord. Do you require the details?"
"You seek vengeance?" Alfred stated bluntly.
"I do."
"The man is a fool, who believes all of us to be fools!" Aethelhelm shouted.
"You arrived here under the protection of the lady of Mercia. I shall not undermine that protection. You are free to leave when you are ready and rested. You remain an outlaw of Wessex." Alfred ordered and left. Uhtred gently pulled his sister outside to speak with her, upon gaining some peace and quiet she broke down into sobs.
Uhtred pulled her into a hug as he fought back his tears, hearing her cry broke his heart in ways he thought weren't possible. He leaned his head against hers as he held her, neither wanted to let go.
"Do not blame yourself, Rúna. If anyone should be blamed, it's me." He whispered into her ear as he rubbed her back. He knew her well enough to know the guilt of leaving was eating her up inside. He knew that because it was happening to him too.
"No, it's either both of us are to blame or neither. We both abandoned him to save Aethelflæd and that's something we will always wish in the back of our minds to change. My big brother is dead, he will never see the golden gates of Valhalla." She said quietly and Uhtred used the back of his knuckles to wipe the tears away. His heart ached at the thought.
"Do you regret leaving with me?"
"No, Uhtred. I would never regret you." She answered with a sad smile.
