Warriors at Heart (The Last Kingdom Fanfic)

Chapter 12

The day before the wedding had come. That evening we were to have a great feast before the official festivities would begin the next day. Thyra was happily wandering around the hall in her dress, showing off her necklace to anyone who would look. I was hanging garlands of flowers around the beams, balancing rather precariously on two barrels.

Ravn was sitting nearby, talking to Ivar about his travels. My seventeen-year-old brother had been away beginning his training as a skald. He witnessed battles and practiced retelling the great tales. Ravn listened intently and seemed to be captivated by the things Ivar had seen. I quietly listened and was impressed at the amount of detail Ivar retained. He spoke of Lord Ubba's great victory further south and the pillaging of a great church there. His description of the treasure would've made any man drool and the heroic feats of Ubba and his men would make any man lust for adventure.

I was so ensnared by Ivar's words that I didn't notice I had leaned too far and was slowly toppling over. I braced myself for hitting the hard ground but instead felt hands on my waist and was pulled into a set of strong arms.

"Hello Uhtred," I clamored, my face no doubt turning slightly pink.

"What happened to dying a warrior's death?" he laughed, setting me onto the solid ground.

"I didn't mean to," I stammered.

"You're welcome," he chuckled, poking me in the side.

"Ta," I said, returning my attention back to hanging garlands.

I grabbed the next unsuspecting one and slid the barrels a way down. Uhtred followed me and helped me stand up on the barrels once more. He held his hands out, ready to catch me should I fall again. I felt secure having him there.

"Where have you been?" I chided jokingly.

"Washing," he responded happily.

"So, we've all been working our butts off and you've been washing?" I teased.

"I was dirty," he laughed.

"When has that ever bothered you?"

"A warrior needs to be clean," he smiled.

I rolled my eyes and allowed him to help me down. He helped me push the barrels back into their corner and we carried the final garland up the stairs and hung it off the railing. Satisfied, I indicated we could return to the main floor. Thyra came rushing up to Uhtred asking him if he liked her necklace.

"It's very beautiful," he smiled at her.

"Don't listen to him, he wouldn't know beauty if it bit him in the arse," Ravn laughed.

I giggled along and soon Uhtred had to admit that was pretty funny. I sat next to Ravn and Ivar as Earl Ragnar entered the hall.

"Tara the eggs. Uhtred with me, I need your help slaughtering the goats."

"But I just bathed," Uhtred whined jokingly.

"I'm sure the goats will be appreciative then," Earl Ragnar chuckled.

I laughed at this and gave Ravn a quick kiss on the cheek and ruffled Ivar's head before grabbing a basket from the table behind us. Uhtred followed Earl Ragnar out, taking a swipe at Brida after she whispered something at him. She squealed and dove out of his way. I watched her continue her way towards the back of the hall with her milk pail. I followed Earl Ragnar and Uhtred outside. They went off towards the goat pen and I the chicken coop.

That day was just not my day. I was pecked and squawked at by a great number of the hens. They did not want me near their eggs. I heard a laugh behind me. "If you find this so damn funny how about you come in here and try and grab some eggs."

"I am fine watching you from out here," Uhtred laughed.

"Some warrior you are. Scared of a few chickens?" I teased.

"You think I'm scared?" Uhtred challenged.

"I do," I replied, smiling.

He jumped over the fence and took the basket from me. "Watch how this is done," he said.

I rolled my eyes and watched as Uhtred had worse luck that I. One chicken pecked him so hard it broke the skin on his hand. I laughed and held my hand out for the basket once more. "Not so easy huh?"

Uhtred shrugged and handed me back the basket. I finished collecting the eggs while he lifted the fighting hens off their nests. We exited the pen and began making our way back to the hall.

"What did Earl Ragnar want?" I asked.

"What makes you think he wanted anything? We were slaughtering goats," Uhtred replied.

"You are not covered in blood," I raised my eyebrow. "Besides, you still smell clean."

Uhtred laughed, "you are too smart sometimes."

I chuckled, "so what did he want?"

"He wants to see me find a wife," Uhtred said, the smile still on his face.

"And do you want a wife?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Warrior and husband."

"Like many a man, and do you wish to find a husband?"

"No. I don't want to get married. I want to be free and carry a sword."

"Only the right man would let you do both," Uhtred smiled at me.

"When you meet him, send him my way," I laughed.

"I will," he chuckled.

"Is there a particular woman?" I teased.

"What do you mean?"

"Earl Ragnar wants you to find a wife, did he mention anyone?"

Uhtred turned slightly red and ran his fingers through his hair, "Yeah he might've mentioned someone."

"Who?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

"Brida," Uhtred half smiled, his face getting pink.

"She would make a good wife," I said a bit more bitterly than I had meant to.

"What's wrong?" Uhtred asked.

"Nothing," I replied quickly recovering, "I think you should become a great warrior first, then take a wife."

"I agree," he responded, wrapping his arm around my shoulder and pulling me into him, nosing my hair with his face.

I playfully shoved him away and he laughed. I shook my head and rolled my eyes. I went back into the hall and delivered the eggs to the cooks. Uhtred slunk off who knows where. I sat back down with Ravn who seemed to know everything before anyone else did.

"Don't let your ambitions shadow what lays right before you," he said abruptly.

"What?" I questioned, turning to look at the old man.

"Young people are so quick to miss what they have by constantly wanting more," he half scolded, half stated.

"I guess we are," I agreed.

Ravn took my hand in his and patted it gently. "Would you mind taking me for a turn in the wood?"

"Of course not," I said,  jumping up to assist him.

"You are a good woman Tara Melgaard," he said, gripping my arm.

"Andyou are a great man Ravn," I replied, leading him out of the hall.