Lady Luck| Finan The Agile| The Last Kingdom

FOUR

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"I am hungry," Aelfwynn mumbled weakly, "and tired. I want to go home."

I sighed softly, letting go of my bridle to pat her head, "I am sure we will find Lord Uhtred soon enough, and then, there will be food." I dared not to tell her that there would be rest because the chances were, there would not be.

I had gone where I presumed was north only to find that I had actually gone west and had been corrected by an elderly man on the road. That meant I had had to ride all night on a very bitter horse with a very frightened child towards Ceaster. I still had no idea if we were heading the right way. All I did know was that Edward would know Aelfwynn was gone by now, and he would be looking for her.

"Where is my mother?" Aelfwynn asked quietly, her face flushed red from the heat of the sun bearing down on us.

I had gotten rid of my overdress on the road to try ease the discomfort that came with the summer's heat. I remained in my tunic and surcoat and, of course, my chemise underneath all that, so I felt as though the sun was scorching me like meat in a pan. I was so warm I could barely think. "Lady Aethelflaed will come and meet us soon, I promise."

"I want my mother," Aelfwynn sniffled, her hands reaching up to wipe at her eyes.

I was sympathetic to her, or at least I wanted to be, but I was more concerned about finding water and Aelfwynn's supposed saviour, Uhtred. It seemed as though God heard our struggles for when I leaned to the side of my horse to try to adjust my grip on Aelfwynn, I caught sight of hoove marks in the dirt.

"Mare," I quipped, patting the horse's hind, "if it does not offend you, could you please trod a little faster?" I still did not know if the horse was a mare or a stallion, but I'd settled on calling it Mare because I could not bear to keep shouting 'horse' like a mad woman.

Mare snorted in annoyance but picked up its feet, dragging them faster up a small hill.

"Oh, how undoubtedly kind of you," I snapped, rolling my eyes, "so kind of you to do what a horse is supposed to do."

Aelfwynn let out another small sniffle, her hands gripping my dress tightly.

I huffed under my breath, patting her back gently, "There, there, now, all will be well soon." And may God forgive me for telling lies.

Though it seemed as though I had been a little too pessimistic because on top of the hill stood a small covered cart, and inside it, I could see a little boy about Aelfwynn's age. Beside the cart was a small patch of grass overlooking the land below the hill, and on it stood five horses.

One of the horses whipped passed me as I rode onto the grass, heading back down the hill I had come up, but I paid little mind to it. Instead, I sought out Lord Uhtred.

"Who are you?" Uhtred demanded, his eyes briefly glancing at Aelfwynn, and I was unsure if he recognised her entirely.

"I was instructed by Lady Aethelflaed to bring Lady Aelfwynn to you," I revealed, motioning to the little girl in my lap.

"You are Aethelflaed's woman?" Uhtred frowned, eyeing me up and down, seemingly trying to place if I was familiar to him or not.

"Well," I snorted, "I am hardly her whore so I must be her woman. I am Lady Aethelflaed's Lady-In-Waiting..." I trailed off before shrugging, "Sort of, she is not actually a queen or a princess anymore. It is all quite complicated."

"There's no one else, Lord," the rider who had gone passed me reappeared now, his armour dark and made of thick leather, different to the kind Saxons and Mercians wore. He was a Dane.