The Dawn of the Lost

13

When the rain let up we carried on our journey to Mercia. I was met by guards at the gates. "What is your business here Dane?" one asked.

"I have business with your King Aethelred," I said. They exchanged glances and let me in, however, when I crossed that threshold I wasn't exactly welcomed. Most people only glared at me, as soon as I reached the palace I was escorted with guards. It was when I reached the throne room that the hostility amplified.

"Astrid!" Aethelflaed exclaimed and ran to me, she wrapped me in a hug and I noticed a look of disgust on her husbands face. She let go and she invited to sit at the table with them, but her husband stood immediately.

"I will not sit with a dirty hound like her!" he exclaimed.

"Then I will only talk to your wife about the news from her mother and father," I replied.

"I will hear what you have to say, but then you leave," he said.

"Well, you'll be leaving with me. As your parents, Aethelflaed wish to discuss some business with you, and they need you to return," I said.

"What business?" he asked.

"They wish to make an alliance with you," I answered.

"An alliance?" he asked.

"Yes, they would like a stronger army," I replied, my eyes locking with Aethelred. "May I speak to Aethelflaed alone?"

"No, most certainly not. Whatever you have to say to her you can say in front of me," he answered.

"No sir I can't. You won't like what I have to say," I replied.

"Fine," he said and stormed out.

"My dear, you're not happy in this marriage are you?" I asked. "She shook her head.

"How can you tell?" She asked.

"A woman just knows, but you're far quieter and he seems to do all the talking," I said. "Has he ever harmed you?" She shook her head. "Aetheflaed?" She lifted her sleeves from her arms and showed the bruises of his hand marks on her. "Why haven't you said anything?"

"Because he said he will make things worse," she said.

"The sooner we get you back home the better," I replied. Her husband came back in and I glared. "We leave now," I walked to the door with Aethelflaed following me.

"But we're not ready," Aethelred exclaimed.

"We'll be waiting in the courtyard," I said. We both walked out and waited on the backs of fidgeting steeds.

When Aethelred joined us he wasn't alone but had another man with him. "Aldhelm meet Astrid, Uhtreds dirty hound," he said.

"If you want to keep that tongue I suggest you don't wag it," I said nudging my horse in the ribs and we took off back to Winchester. Aldhelm rode next to me he kept trying to talk to me but I kept my mouth shut, I didn't want to talk to him.

"I thought Danes were talkative?" he said. I could see the gates of Winchester and galloped to them, as we reached the courtyard I dismounted my still moving horse and walked into the hall with Aethelflaed, Aethelred and Aldhelm, as soon as her parents laid eyes on her they hugged her.

"Thank you so much," Alfred and his wife said.

"It's the least I could do, I do like to see a family reunited," I said.