𝐆𝐎𝐃𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 || ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀꜱᴛ ᴋɪɴɢᴅᴏᴍ

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐕𝐄 - ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪᴇꜱ ᴡᴇ ᴛᴇʟʟ.

A/N – the whole tlk timeline is honestly so confusing so for now, during this stage I've written Osferth as a child until of course later on.

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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐕𝐄 —
ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪᴇꜱ ᴡᴇ ᴛᴇʟʟ.
ᴀᴄᴛ ᴏɴᴇ — ᴏᴍᴇɴꜱ

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THE HOOVES OF
horses clicked a steady upbeat rhythm into the stretch of stones as they strolled through the gates of Wessex. There was a silence between them, wrapped like a safety blanket of sorts, a trailing vine that weaved between their bodies like they were stumps of a tree.

They were all tired despite having stopped for the night. Their bodies slowly, gradually coming down from the high they previously found themselves in, leaving nothing but traces of droppy eyes and heavy limbs, arms aching from the weight of swinging a sword.

Freyja blinked tiredly as they pushed through the waves of people gathered in clusters, splitting to either side to allow the gathering of saxon men through.

Her lips parted with a soft yawn, a warm gust of air pushing from her lungs into the cold chill that naturally settled upon the earth. From the corner of her eye, Leofric peered over with a curious look but otherwise remained silent, not a single word leaving his lips as he rode peacefully alongside her.

Soon, they began to split, veering off in different directions, some heading towards the tavern in desperate need to quench their thirst while others most likely left for their home to greet their wives and children.

It once again brought on the reminder that Uhtred was not here. He had left with his Queen and went home to his wife and child, leaving her alone.

The frown on her lips seemed permanent, carving lines into her cheeks and causing dimples to form between her brows. She slowed her horse by tugging on the reins. "You go to your king. I'll wait for you at the tavern."

Leofric too slowed the pace of his horse, forcing the animal to a complete stop. "I'm not going to see the king." Leofric spoke, his tone obviously as he slid from the saddle. He passed the reins off to another, wordlessly ordering them to bring the horse into the stables.

Freyja eyed him suspicious, her lips folding into a thin line as her eyes followed his movements. "That's a surprise. I assumed all you warriors bent the knee and kissed his feet."

"You assumed wrong." He strolled towards her, stepping around the grey mare and coming to stop by Freyja's left. He extended an open hand. "Care to join me?"

Her eyes flickered from his hand to his face. Memories of the previous night by the fire overlayed her thoughts. She shifted her weight, angling her body forward as she slid down from the saddle without assistance. "I may be a woman, Leofric, but I certainly do not need assistance getting down from my horse."

Leofric shrugged, his hand coming to settle on his belt as he watched her pass the reins over. "It was worth a try." A heartbeat of silence passed between them as the horses were lead towards the direction of the stables. Turning on his heel, he placed his back to her and began walking. "You have more balls than any of these men combined."

Freyja's eyes followed the path of his back. She looked away, eyeing the correct direction of the tavern with a curious frown. She pointed. "The tavern's that way."

"I'm not going to the tavern." He called loudly across his shoulder. Shifting from one foot to the other, he faced her, his pace proceeding to stroll backwards. "Are ya coming or not?"