The Promises We Make- Uhtred of Bebbanburg

Chapter Eleven

"Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name. Thy kingdom come,"

"Prayers aren't going to help you now my lady." Uhtred smirked slightly, showing the small twig clamped between his teeth.

Uhtred managed to find a hidden path way from behind the hunters cabin. You would not have noticed it until you see faded footprints frozen under the snow. Lord Uhtred suggested we take this trail. It was far from the main path, so we was safe from lord Maurice's men for now. However, Uhtred has no idea where it would lead, which makes it all the more worrying.

"Then what is going to help me?" I halted from walking. Uhtred heard the silence from behind and stopped. He twisted his head to the side to see me, standing still and shivering from the icy cold air and wrapped in what was barley a cloak.

"My family are dead, my home is gone and now I am trying to get to a place I have not been, with someone I barely know. So, my lord, excuse me if I seek comfort in prayers." A single tear fell from my eye as the fresh memories still appear so clearly in my mind.

I shook my head in attempt to sake away the hurt and anger I currently felt, and recollected myself. Despite my current situation, I am still lady Delphine of Normandy. Nothing will change that. Not even the devil incarnate, lord Maurice.

"I apologise my lord. I tend to forget myself from time to time." I could not face to look at him. People's facial expressions can tell what they thought about a person. I could not bare what Uhtred thinks of me.

Uhtred's attention was focused on me. He had not moved an inch towards or away from me. It made me feel a little uncomfortable as I did not know what to do next.

However , I could feel the regret transmitting from him, which made me feel all the more shameful for what I said. His silence had made that fact real.

His life had been far worse then what I am experiencing. He had lost both of his parents at such a age, I could not even think, let alone feel what that would be like. I was privileged to know both my parents, even is my father was so cruel.

He was taken to a strange place with people who were not from his homeland, with no help from his uncle, who gladly took the place Uhtred's father once stood. He had grown up seeing horrendous sights of torture and death. Yet, here I am, seeking sympathy from a man who needs it more then I.

I breathed out sigh. "I am sorry my lord." I finally laid my eyes on his. "I- I did not mean to o-offend you."

"You did no such thing my lady." A wisp of cold air leaving his throat as he took one step forward. Snow crunching under his heavy boot.

As an automatic response, I quickly stepped away from him. I knew, with our short time together, that he would not hurt me nor raise his hand. But my father built that fear deep inside me. He knew how to scare me and make me terrified of him. His every movement would put me on edge and it would entertain him. He would laugh as he purposely stood beside me and raise is hand in my direction, to then only call for a servant after I had be seen flinching away. 

He placed his hands in front of himself, before slowly walking forward. After a moment of confusion, realisation sank in. He was showing that he was no threat. He took slow steps, not removing his gaze away, still holding his hands high.

"Are you okay my lady?" Lord Uhtred asked with concern in his voice. I, however, was too busy. Too distracted by my thoughts and the building feeling of anxiety, that I almost forgot about Uhtred.

"Delphine?"

I instantly felt calm the moment he said my name. Like every problem washed away. I hastily looked up to his face and kept quiet. My mind had become a blur and I did not know what to say.

"Are you okay my lady?" Uhtred said with more concern in his voice. He frowned so deeply, his eyebrows nearly touched. His breaths become deeper and faster as the clouds of smoke began to escape from his mouth more quickly then what was normal.

I had worried him more then I had wanted to.

"I-I'm fine." I breathed out a forced smile. It was clear that he did not buy it.

"Shall we carry on my lord?" I spoke as if nothing had happened. Uhtred stood in confusion and shock at my sudden change of mood. I had walked a few paces in front of him. He had not moved an inch.

"Are you coming?" I shouted. He suddenly moved fast to catch up with me. Confusion spread across his face like a disease.

The day was slowly turning into night. The air began to bite at my cheeks and my stomach grumbled. I had not eaten in a while and I was beginning to feel the effects. My energy was wearing off and every step felt like an effort.

"Do you know where we are going?" I asked breathlessly. We still remained in the woods, but had somehow ventured of the tracks. I was not sure if we were in Normandy, or in any of the neighbouring counties. It had been many years since I last left my home, and if I ever had the chance, it was always in Normandy and not very far from home.

Uhtred did not answer.

Then a thought hit me. We both did not know where we were or where we were going. Uhtred was not from France, and I had not been this far into Normandy. I have to hope that my prayers will help us now.

*

"My lord! My lord!"

A soldier screamed as I heard his chain mail clashed against him. A young looking boy, no older then eighteen, came rushing through my chamber door.

"Go away! Can you not see I am entertaining!" I questioned the rude boy who had interrupted my pleasure time with a young lady I had currently in my bed. She was some whore I stumbled upon while looking for my prize procession. The women had the same black hair and delicate features that the lady Delphine showed. But to my dismay, it was not her. Not even close.

I glided my hands down her bare thigh under the sheets as she giggled from my touch. It made me smile. But my happiness was short lived as the boy still had not left.

Anger rose quickly as I turned my unwanted attention to him. He looked down to his feet. Too embarrassed at the scene before him.

"Well!" I demanded.

He shook and momentarily lost his balance. That made me laugh. This could be fun after all. It's always better to be feared then loved.

"Lord Maurice. Th-the lady Delphine w-was spotted near an abandoned hunting cabin. Yo-your men are searching th-the area now."

I grinned at the thought that Delphine would soon be mine. She had no family to stop me. She would have no choice but to come back to her home, and I will welcome her as the new Duke of Normandy. Then, I will make her my wife.

I started to laugh and soon it became contagious. Guards stationed near the chamber door began to laugh and so did the boy standing before me. I swiftly grabbed my empty wine cup perched on the side table and threw at the wall. Everyone was now silent in an instant.

"Get out!"

The two guards and the young soldier scurried out, leaving me with the whore I was now bored of. She had not moved and she had started to irritate me.

"And you!" I pushed her naked body off the bed. She had hit the stone floor hard and began to whimper and whine. She grabbed her clothes that were spread around the room and ran out the door, just about covering her bottom half with a tattered skirt and leaving her top half bare for all to see.

I filled another cup with wine before I leaned back into my bed to enjoy the bitter fruit. Just opposite was a wedding dress hanging against the wall. I had it made specifically for my lady Delphine for when she would marry me. A delicate white colour to show off her dark features. The image of her in the dress made me hard and desperate to have her.

"We will be together soon my love."