Warriors at Heart (The Last Kingdom Fanfic)

Chapter 25

We did not wait until next morning and took off the same day we'd arrived. Uhtred rode off with Brida and I following behind. He remained silent and refused to answer any of our questions. Once we were a good distance from Winchester, Uhtred finally halted and dismounted. "We make camp here and carry on tomorrow."

"Why are we doing this?" Brida demanded, sliding off our horse.

Uhtred didn't respond and she began to grow impatient. I watched the two of them argue and let out a big sigh as I climbed off my horse. I tied him next to Uhtred's and fed and watered them both. Brida had stormed off somewhere and Uhtred was working on the fire. I cautiously approached him. "Uhtred?"

"If you're going to lecture me as well, save it. Brida's done enough for the both of you."

"I want your assurance that this means Bebbanburg," I said.

"It does," he replied, purposely not looking at me.

"Uhtred," I said in a weary warning tone.

He looked up at me, "I promise Tara, it means Bebbanburg."

I slowly nodded my head and thought hard about what we were doing. Was I prepared to betray my people in order to help Uhtred? I was brought out of thought by Uhtred lightly throwing a small rock at me. "What did you do that for?" I grumbled.

"Just checking you were still with us," he laughed.

"I'm always with you."

"I know," he smiled, placing his hand gently on mine.

I felt chills run through my body and simultaneously a strange warm feeling in my chest. We stared into each other's eyes a moment too long. "Uhtred..." I began but was interrupted by Brida returning to sit by the now roaring fire.

"It's cold tonight," she complained.

"It is," I chuckled, taking my hand back from Uhtred's.

"I know how to fix that," Uhtred smiled mischievously.

I rolled my eyes and Brida playfully whacked him on the arm. We three stayed near the fire that night and I slowly drifted off to sleep as Uhtred kept first watch.

~~~~~

The next morning, we rose early and continued riding off towards Readingum. We stayed in the safety of the trees as we rode alongside the river. After what seemed like ages, we finally came across a hoard of Danish ships. Uhtred halted us and we silently dismounted. The rain poured hard and the wind wildly blew, yet we watched from a safe distance as more ships joined the already rather large fleet. I immediately recognized one. The war shields that hung off the sides of the ship were painted in Earl Ragnar's colors. We were too far away to make out the figures onboard, but I knew in an instant. "Uhtred! Isn't that Ragnar's ship?" I asked pointing to a rather fierce looking dragon mast.

"I think it is," he agreed.

"Can you see him? Can you see Ragnar?" I asked excitedly. Things were starting to look up once more. "We should go to him," I said.

Just as I had spoken, we watched a mighty surge pour into the mouth of the river, causing several of the ships to smash into one another and flood. There was shouting and we watched in horror as Ragnar's ship began to sink.

"I'm sure he's alright," I tried to remain positive.

"We Danes aren't known for swimming," Uhtred replied gloomily.

"Maybe Ragnar wasn't aboard his," I half said, and half prayed.

"If they intended to stay the winter, they wouldn't have come here. They would've stayed in Lunden," Uhtred said more to himself than me.

"Aye. I'm sure Ragnar is fine. If you're upset Uhtred, I can keep watching."

"No, Alfred needs to know what the Dane's are doing," he insisted.

Uhtred, I hope you know what you're doing," I said, unsure of why he wasn't reacting worse to the idea that Ragnar might've just died before our eyes.

"He's Alfred's spy. What's next? To kill for Alfred?" Brida glowered as she joined us. "Will you do that Uhtred?" she asked, directing her wrath towards him.

"Guthrum is over there. If we go to him now, what would happen? He'd kill us, that's what would happen. We owe them nothing," Uhtred shot back at her.

Brida scoffed in disgust and stormed off once more, calling over her shoulder, "You think he'll deliver Bebbanburg. What if you're wrong?"

"She makes a good point," I tried.

"And what would you have me do then Tara?" Uhtred snapped, glaring at me.

"Go to Ragnar," I insisted.

"We don't even know if he's alive," Uhtred shot back.

"Then find out," I replied, standing.

"Nothing changes. Alfred needs to know what the Danes are up to, and I need his trust," Uhtred replied calmer, standing to face me.

"His trust? Why do you need Alfred's trust?" I said frustrated.

"For Bebbanburg," Uhtred replied softly.

I let out a sigh and felt my shoulder's drop. "Uhtred, isn't there another way?" I asked, placing my hand on his shoulder.

"You know there isn't," he replied with a sad smile. "We stick to the plan."

"But," I protested again.

"Nothing changes. We stick to the plan," he repeated.

"I hope you know what you're doing Uhtred, I really do," I replied, removing my hand from his person and following after Brida.

What am I doing? I wondered to myself as I walked towards where the horses waited. I knew I should go find out if Ragnar was alive, yet some useable force within me was telling me to stay with Uhtred and follow him wherever he was to go. I absent mindedly packed up our camp and mounted my horse, blindly following Uhtred back to Winchester.