Warriors at Heart (The Last Kingdom Fanfic)

Chapter 16

I entered the hall to find Uhtred and Brida tearing up the floor and pulling out Earl Ragnar's hoard. I silently watched Uhtred break open the box and sift through its contents.

"By right it belongs to young Ragnar," he said.

"We will spend what we need to, to stay alive," Brida said, looking at it.

"We tell the story and then what?" Uhtred asked.

"We wait for Ragnar," I replied, walking over to them.

"We find a new lord to serve," Brida offered.

Uhtred slowly shook his head as he looked at her. "I will not stand by and have everything taken from me," he said sternly.

"And I will not serve a new lord," I added.

"Earl Ragnar is dead," Brida said softly.

"Then I will serve Ragnar," I replied stubbornly. "My family has served the Ragnarsons for generations. I will not be the first to break that tradition."

We stared harshly at one another until Brida finally sighed and let her shoulders drop, she knew there was no convincing me to serve anywhere else. Her gaze did not leave mine though, as if she was daring me to keep contradicting her.

"I'm going back," Uhtred said, drawing our gazes to him.

"Where?" Brida asked.

"To the beginning," Uhtred replied, standing to his full height looking more determined than I'd ever seen him before.

"He means to Bebbanburg," I quietly chimed in, realizing Uhtred's intent.

"Yes," he smiled at me.

"Uhtred, are you insane?" Brida protested.

"Kjartan will spread his lies that we are all dead. He lives unafraid. My uncle lives unafraid. I want them to live in fear. Fear that Uhtred of Bebbanburg will come for them," he said, the fire returning to his eyes, and the taste of blood to his lips.

"But isn't it better they think us all dead? We have the upper hand," I tried.

"I agree with Tara," Brida frowned.

"I go to Bebbanburg," Uhtred said firmly, looking me straight in the eyes.

My shoulders fell slightly, and I let out a small sigh, "I go where you go Uhtred Ragnarson," I replied with a small smile.

Uhtred returned my smile, but Brida wasn't yet done trying to sway us otherwise. I knew she had no love for Saxons, but she also did not wish to leave this earth quite yet.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" she tried.

"There is no other option," Uhtred replied.

"There are lots of other options," she protested. "And you," she said, wheeling on me. "What about serving Ragnar?"

"I said I serve Ragnarsons. Uhtred is a Ragnarson," I replied calmly, adjusting my axe on my belt. "Besides, Ragnar isn't back yet, now is he?"

Brida let out a frustrated groan and called us both mad before storming off. Uhtred and I exchanged a small laugh at her expense.

"We should lay them to rest properly," Uhtred said, referring to Earl Ragnar and what was left of whoever we could find.

"We will," I agreed.

Uhtred let his head fall back and he looked to the sky. He let out a terrifying scream and swore his oath to avenge his family.

We went about putting the Ragnarsons to rest the best we could. Uhtred and I built small pyres out of fire food and what was left of the hall timber. Brida went about dressing the remains. The three of us stood in that somber afternoon. Uhtred took the torch from me and one by one set the pyres on fire. We watched them burn and Brida quietly cried into Uhtred's chest. He held her tight, resting his head on hers. I stood off to the side praying to the gods to accept the Ragnarsons and my brother into Valhalla.

We found an old horse that Kjartan had left behind. Another horse I did not recognize also remained. I assumed that it must've been the Saxon man's. Uhtred helped Brida up onto one of the horses and he watched as I walked towards the animal pens. I opened the doors to all of them. I walked back towards the horses and Uhtred looked at me curiously.

"No point in leaving them locked up," I said, swinging myself up onto the old horse.

He nodded before climbing up behind Brida. We all looked once more at our home before riding off into the great unknown. A little way into the wood Uhtred halted us. He dismounted and came to my horse, taking the small chest of silver off its back. He stuffed some into his pouch and relocked the chest, handing me the key. Silently I watched him burry it under an old oak tree. Specifically, the old oak tree we used to climb as children. Once he'd finished, he remounted without saying a word and spurred his and Brida's horse onwards. I glanced behind me once more before following. We rode in silence, none of us really knowing what to say. After a while I broke it. "How far is Bebbanburg?"

"A day's ride from here," Uhtred replied.

We were all silent once more and rode towards the horizon. My heart ached for our loss, but it also beat wildly with anticipation the journey ahead.