Warriors at Heart (The Last Kingdom Fanfic)

Chapter 9

The ride back to Earl Ragnar's hall was cheerful and did not have the same doom and gloom feeling of the ride towards the meeting. Uhtred rode with Earl Ragnar, and I rode in the cart with Ravn, who was too tired to ride on a horse. I was happily describing the scenery to Ravn and listening to him reminisce about his days as a younger man. Earl Ragnar pulled up alongside the cart and was happily chatting away with his father. I made faces at Uhtred who returned them in kind.

"Why did you buy Uhtred?" I asked.

"He is one of us now," Earl Ragnar roared joyously. "A Dane!" The men all cheered on cue at Earl Ragnar's proclamation.

"600 pounds weight in silver is a lot," Uhtred said.

"It is indeed," Earl Ragnar agreed. "I paid good money for you. I expect great things from you, my son."

Uhtred looked flabbergasted at Earl Ragnar's comment. I beamed with happiness, and Ravn chuckled lightly.

"Son?" Uhtred barely got out before Earl Ragnar dropped him off his horse into the river below.

We all laughed and carried on marching. I looked back to see Uhtred's head bobbing in the water watching after us, a giant grin on his face.

~~~~~

It was soon made known to everyone that Uhtred was no longer Uhtred of Bebbanburg. He was now Uhtred Ragnarson, the son of Earl Ragnar Ragnarson. Uhtred the Dane. Thyra happily welcomed Uhtred as her brother and Ragnar the Younger grew fond of the idea but was clearly not completely sold on it and did not become so until we were about fourteen and he twenty. It was Ragnar's final raid with his father before his going to Ireland. We crept upon an unsuspecting town at the break of dawn. Earl Ragnar led the charge, and after much convincing of Sigrid, Brida and I were allowed to join the raid.

Before the raid, Earl Ragnar pulled me aside and gave me my father's battle axe, Naegling. "He would've wanted you to have this," Earl Ragnar urged, pushing it into my trembling fingers. "I've been saving it until you were old enough to wield it."

I took the axe into my hands and felt the weight bring my arms down slightly. The blade had been recently polished and shined. The handle incrusted with silver and gold felt comfortable in my hand. I stepped back and gave it a swing. It was if the axe was made for me and me for it. I thanked Earl Ragnar profusely and stuck the axe into my belt on the opposite side of my short sword. He looked me over and smiled, "Your father would be so proud of you."

I felt tears threaten to well and brushed them aside. "Thank you, Lord," I replied, unable to hide my joy.

Earl Ragnar gently patted my shoulder and then went off to give orders. I rejoined Brida and Uhtred who admired my new weapon. We were soon called to join the ranks of men and positioned ourselves at the front with Earl Ragnar who let out a terrifying battle cry. In that moment I understood why he was called Earl Ragnar the Fearless. In one graceful move Earl Ragnar was leading the charge with his son and the rest of us following closely behind. The unsuspecting villagers began crying out in alarm and men were attempting to arm themselves with pitchforks. Bloodshed and chaos ensued as we charged through the village upon our great steeds. We slashed and chased any man in our paths. Women were screaming in fright and children crying into the now smoky air. Thatch roofs were set ablaze and plundering was abundant. I felt sheer joy as I landed blows and sent Saxons to meet their deaths. Pretty quickly the village surrendered, and Earl Ragnar began bellowing orders to raid the grain stores and homes for anything of value. People were rounded up to become slaves and men took their prizes of women. I never much enjoyed the idea of men taking women, but I was in no position to stop it.

It was after the raid and the smoke had just begun to clear that Uhtred, Brida, and I were walking about the area looking for silver. We entered one house where an unattended pot was boiling over onto the hearth of the fire. Brida began tearing up the bed, while Uhtred and I searched a chest in the corner. Then Uhtred had the idea of checking the roof. I laughed at this idea, but sure enough small valuables came tumbling out.

"Who was right?" Uhtred asked cockily.

"Shut up," I groaned.

Brida laughed at us and exited the house to move onto another one.

"Have you ever thought of becoming a wife and settling down?" Uhtred asked me unexpectedly.

"Hah," I scoffed, "I'm going to become a great warrior remember?"

"But after that?" he asked.

"A warrior never hangs up her sword," I retorted, strolling out of the house.

I heard Uhtred laugh behind me before following me out. A man dressed like a Dane, though none I recognized stood a ways off. He spotted Uhtred and slowly made his way over to us.

"You are Uhtred?" he asked.

"Yes," Uhtred replied coolly.

The man without warning charged at Uhtred. I noticed the glint of a small knife in his hand.