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

Chapter 25

Ragnar

"Ragnar!" my wife screamed, as men pulled us apart. I attempted to lunge at the two holding her, but was forced back onto my knees by others.

"Uhtred?" I looked up to my brother whose face was crestfallen.

"They will take you prisoner," he said solemnly.

I nodded my understanding and took another glance at Nadia. The fear in her eyes ripped my heart apart. Any thought of sparing her being a slave was wiped away as chains were quickly thrown on me. My wife was no stranger to being held prisoner by Saxons or Danes and I did not know what was running through her head as she struggled against her captors. "Uhtred, please," she pleaded, twisting the knife further into my soul. Uhtred's eyes said it all. He was in pain. He could do nothing to help us. Nor would he send us to Valhalla. We were to be made slaves.

The men dragged us off and I was chained to the other Danes they had rounded up. Nadia looked defeated as she was walked behind us back towards the battlefield. I received a blow to my head each time I tried to look back to make sure she was still with us.

Back on the field, we were forced to sit and wait amongst the fallen, as our captors looted the dead for whatever treasure they could take. Nadia was several feet away, too far for me to reach. Two men leered over her, and I felt my blood boil. I struggled against my chains, but being attached to other men did not help.

One of the men got too close, and she headbutted him hard, cursing him in Danish. I saw blood flowing from his nose and through his fingers as he tried to stop the bleeding. His companion laughed at him before smacking her across the face, knocking her onto her side.

Anger flared in my chest, but the man next to me stayed me with his arm. "They'll only make it worse if they know you care," he whispered in Danish. I nodded at him, unable to take my eyes off of where she was.

Nadia

My Welsh captors steadily grew bored, and ignored me, talking in their own language. I couldn't see Ragnar with my face pressed into the ground, and hoped he would not do anything foolish. I watched as King Edward and the Welsh King, Hywel, loudly proclaimed their victory, not too far from where I lay. A familiar voice came from above, and I soon found myself being propped back up into a seated position by the Lady Aethelflaed.

"Nadia," she smiled sadly at me, wiping blood and tears off my sticky face.

"Lady," I smiled back.

"Thank you for saving me," she said softly. "It will not be forgotten." I felt my face burning with embarrassment. "I will talk to Edward. He will have you freed."

"Lady, you cannot..." But she was gone to find her brother. A spark of hope ignited within my chest, but I quickly squashed it. How was she to get the Welsh to give Ragnar and I up? I let my mind drift away from our current situation and thought about our dear children. What would they do without us? I trusted Rorik to ensure Young Ragnar was safe and made Lord of Dunholm. But what of Hilda? She was to be no lord. Ragnar would not be there to secure her a good match. I would not be there to put fear in her future husband. Would her brother who was only a child himself be able to? I felt more tears well to my eyes. I did my best to wipe the falling ones on my shoulder, but could not quite reach the source.

I was pulled out of my worries as the Kings grew loud in argument. I realized that their attention was on me. My heart pounded with anticipation. I glanced over to where Ragnar sat. He looked back at me, sorrow in his eyes. "I love you," he mouthed. I gave him a small smile.

I watched as men came for Ragnar. He was roughly released from the chain of Danes and brought to stand with the kings. Aethelflaed was by my side once more and motioned for her man, Aldhelm, to cut my bonds. "What's happening?" I asked her.