#Aethelred/reader

[lya-dustin]

Fic masterlist

Hotd

Someone will remember us (aemond targaryen x oc, aemma velaryon) completed ,rated: M

All is Bliss (in the Court of Aemma the Great) Aemond x Aemma, completed, rated M

Whatever souls are made of (aemond x aemma one shot series)

To the ends of the earth (aemond x aemma au)

Aemond x Reader inserts

Hotd big bang spring 2024

Cupid kills with arrows (arranged marriage/loosely based on queen charlotte au)

Shock and delight (bridgerton au)

Sun (one word prompt, shock and delight)

Castle (one word prompt, rhaenicent)

Hotd bigbang road 24 prompts

Sweet mother (table sex gate ft rhaenicent) rated: M

Desperate Measures (Gwayne Hightower x Jena Mertyns(oc))

The Last Kingdom

Osferth masterlist

Aethelred x reader

Magnificent Century

Au list

Dune

Queen of Light, King of Darkness (Feyd x OC)

The Last Wolf of Lankiveil (part 2 of Feyd x Nurbanu(oc))

Broken (feyd x nurbanu one shot)

Saltburn

A Comedy of Nonmathematical Errors (Michael Gavey is secretly Felix Catton's twin) hiatus

Rings of Power

I Sang of Leaves of Gold (gil galad x maia!oc, rings of power)

the moon lives in the lining of your skin(gil galad x erinti, silmarilion)

The Stone Table (gil galad x erinti smut)

The Scion of Kings and the Lady of Flowers(Gil-galad x reader)

Balcmeg (au where Gil-galad and Erinti adopt a baby orc)

[legitalicat]

Pictures of the Heart (part 2)

AN: Thank you all so much for the love on this already! I am so grateful to have such a wonderful friend in Lana ( @zaldritzosrose ) cause without her these would not exist.

Series Masterlist here!

Some posts contain edits done by @sihtricfedaraaahvicius

CW: Language, sexual talk, flirting, friends with benefits, Æthelred, blackmail of sexual nature, in love but forced apart

Pairings: Actor!Sihtric x Photographer!Reader, Prince!Æthelred x Photographer!Reader

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Taglist: @foxyanon @zaldritzosrose @alexagirlie @acdassenza @thenameswinter99

@sihtricfedaraaahvicius

(if you want to be tagged, let me know!)

[justanoasisimagines]

Escape plan

Summary; Aethelred can't take anymore so he decides he needs to move his family away. Pairing; Aethelred x Female Reader Wordcount; 592 A/N; Hey my lovelies, back with my hero for the day! I hope you're enjoying it so far. Credit to cafekitsune for the banner and the divider!

Aethelred stormed through the grounds teeth gritted, firsts clenched. He ignored the wary glances as people moved out of his way. He was in search of you. He needed to navigate the sea of people if he had hopes of finding you.

Meanwhile, you'd heard of Aethelred's foul mood. You brushed past many. Exchanging pleasantries as you went, while your eyes searched for your husband. The elderly woman pointed when you questioned them about his whereabouts.

It would have been helpful if someone could have given you a precise location. However as you moved around in search of Aethelred, he was moving to search for you too. Like two ships in the night, the two of you kept evading each other.

Eventually, you retreated towards your chamber. If Aethelred's couldn't find you. He would surely head there. With a quickened pace. You needed to know what bothered him so.

Pushing the large oak door open, you were relieved when you noticed Aethelred sitting in a chair by the fire. His head laid heavy in his hands.

"My love., what bothers you?" You crossed the room kneeling at his fee. Aethelred refused to look at you as you placed a tender touch on his knee.

The room lay to the sounds of the fire cackling and the soft murmur of conversations outside. Eventually, Aethelred glanced up at you.

"Do you love me?"

Taken back by Aethelred's question. You moved back, Aethelred saw the pain, flash across your face. "Do you question my feelings towards you? Have I not proven myself to you as a wife." Aethelred moved towards the edge of his seat, reaching out until his hand caught yours. "It is not that I question your feelings. I know that you love me. My heart yearns for you the same way. Nothing could come close…I needed to be certain." The gap between you was too far, Aethelred tugged you towards him, pulling you into his lap as he settled into the chair. Aethelred's hands found your hips as you got comfortable. He needed to remember to remain focused. He could get lost in you afterward. You were his tiny piece of heaven upon this earth. Aethelred licked his lips before he glanced down at the ring on your finger. The single most important piece of jewelry you owned.

"I cannot bear to continue going forward like this. Mother is playing her agenda to have Alfred as King. Undermining my parentage and my legitimacy. She will get what she wants." "What are you suggesting?" Aethelred pulled you ever closer your legs on either side of his as he brought his forehead to yours. "We leave. I don't care where. We'll find a place together to build up and put it on the map, but I will not stay here. One day soon, we'll be in danger." "Your mother wouldn't do that." "I will not put it past her. To have Alfred on the throne I would need to be gone and so would Aethelwulf. I will not risk our son on the belief my other wouldn't stoop so low." Aethelred hated seeing the panic in your eyes there was no point in attempting the truth. A flash of understanding past through your eyes. "When do we leave?" "Tonight."

[mrsarnasdelicious]

TLK Christmas - Christmas with Aethelred

"Have you got a present for me?" He draws you into his lap, a cheshire grin on his face. "I do, my Lord." You nod and smile demurely. Aethelred makes to ruck up your skirts. But you shoo his hands. "It is Christmas, you must abstain, Lord." You cooe. "You will do as I want." He says firmly. "You pray and abstain during Christmas, not indulge." You tell him.

Aethelred makes a displeased little noise. "Must you be like this?" He scoffs. "Must you pretend to be the good Christian?" You retort. He grunts and rolls his eyes. "Just undress." He snaps. You shake your head and hoist yourself on his desk. "You should be repenting for your sins, my Lord." You cooe.

You place your heel against his crotch. Aethelred takes a hissing breath. "Begin the new year with a clean slate." You smirk and apply the faintest hint of pressure. He looks up at you, chest puffed out with the breath he holds. He is waiting for you to genuinely act. And you are waiting for him to stop you. You are in a stand off.

"Make me." The Lord of Mercia growls. "I will." You hiss. You press your toes into the cloth of his breeches, rubbing at where you know his cock to be. Aethelred groans, leaning back into his chair. "Is that all you got?" He taunts. You push your foot more firmly against his rapidly hardening cock. Aethelred groans loudly.

He makes to open his breeches. But you kick his hand away. "No." You say strictly. Aethelred does not like it when you tell him off. But he keeps his hands away. "Confess to me, or go pray." You smirk. "I think I will have you. We will celebrate Christmas the Heathen way." Aethelred grabs you by the ankle and puts your foot on his shoulder to kiss your ankle.

You can't help a soft moan, feeling your resolve crumble at his skilled lips.

[meadows-of-light]

YOO THEY ACTUALLY DO HAVE AETHELRED X READER

The Northern Princess

Fandom: Vikings

Genre: Fluff, a little bit of angst, AU

Pairing: Aethelred x Reader

Warnings: None

Words: 2066

Summary: This is your birthday and Aethelred has a little surprise in store for you.

A/N: This is written for @maggiescarborough​ birthday. Sorry I’m late and I hope you like it because this is the first time that write for him. This is an AU fic. Sigurd and little Siggy are not dead…and obviously Aethelred was not married to any saxon woman. 

Keep reading

[wheres-mylove]

damsel in distress | sihtric kjartansson x fem!reader

Summary: Sihtric arrives in Winchester for Aethelflaed’s wedding, and finds a princess for himself by the way - the bride’s younger sister with a feisty temper and an overpowering desire to break Aethelred's nose. But there’s a little more to the story than just that.

Disclaimer: English isn’t my first language!

Word count: 2.9k

The young warrior stared at the ground, not daring to look his lord in the eye. He had warned him. Everyone had.

“She's gone?” Uhtred asked, trying out a sympathetic tone, realizing it was not the time to mock his friend's misplaced feelings.

“Yes, my lord,” Sihtric confirmed quietly. “The silver too, before you question me about it. Gone with her.”

“No woman, no silver,” Uhtred summarized and crossed his arms over his chest. “Just so we're clear, I would have agreed to the marriage. Suffer if you're foolish. But not for too long. You need to find someone decent.”

“We would have named our first son Uhtred, lord,” he said, absentmindedly staring ahead.

“No, you would not,” the older warrior replied, visibly grimacing.

“It doesn't matter now,” Sihtric muttered, earning a comforting pat on the shoulder and a reassuring smile from Uhtred.

“Find Finan, we'll meet in the main square.”

Sihtric Kjartansson walked gloomily ahead, pondering why he had such bad luck in life. He took out his anger on a few pebbles scattered on the dusty road. The gods were not too kind when it came to sending him a woman who...

“Sorry, sorry!” He heard a girl's voice behind him and several other irritated grunts or a hushed 'Watch out.' He turned his head slightly and it was a miracle he avoided colliding with a cloaked figure in a visible hurry.

“If you'll excuse me, lord,” the girl quickly spoke, not even bothering to give him a passing glance, squeezing past him and running into a narrow passage between a stable and a nearby dwelling.

Sihtric furrowed his brow and observed the stranger leaning against the wall, anxiously looking towards the main street. With her slightly tilted hood, he was certain she was a young woman, clearly running away from something or someone.

What was he if not a hero?

“My lady,” he began, but faltered at the sight of her angry gaze.

“Are you crazy? Go away,” she snapped, waving her hand at him dismissively. The hood fell back, revealing the girl's face in all its glory.

Sihtric didn't know what to do. The lady was beautiful. But also pissed off.

“God, you idiot,” the girl said with a heavy sigh. Then she grabbed his arm forcefully, pulling him into a dark alley with her and positioning him with his back to the street.

Sihtric still didn't quite understand what was happening. Being pushed around by a mad gorgeous woman was not part of his plans for today. He didn't have any plans at all since the last one ran off with the remnants of his wealth.

“If someone is hiding, they have a reason for it and don't want someone standing in front of them, announcing it to the world,” she scolded him like a disobedient child, and Sihtric felt himself blushing.

“Right. Makes sense. I apologize, my lady,” he stammered, not taking his eyes off her.

She was even more beautiful up close.

“Discreetly look behind you and see if a monk is coming this way,” she instructed him gravely, to which he gave her a half-surprised, half-amused look.

“A monk is leading the chase?”

“Yes, you see, I'm a witch, and I was about to be burned at the stake this afternoon.”

Sihtric chuckled softly, but he complied with her request. He thought the girl was joking, but indeed, a monk was heading their way. Slightly bewildered but definitely annoyed, he was looking around vigilantly.

“Are you really a witch?” Sihtric suddenly asked with a hint of uncertainty.

“I sacrifice boys like you,” she replied without a trace of a smile, but mischievous sparks danced in her eyes. He smirked. “But seriously, you might come in handy. The holy man won't sniff around here for long. Let’s make him look away.”

She threw her arms around his neck, and without hesitation, Sihtric placed his hands on her hips.

Only after a few heartbeats did the absurdity of the situation dawn on him. He stood very close in a dark alley with a girl whose name he didn't know, protecting her from the wrath of a monk.

“But honestly, what about your troubles?” he asked gently.

“Brother Ceolwulf sometimes gives me calligraphy lessons. My father says I scribble rather terribly. I ran away to avoid that pleasure. And apparently, Lord Aethelred is due to arrive soon,” she almost spat the name as if it left a foul taste. “Maybe I'll go see that prick. Quite a commotion over a simple farce.”

“You don't fancy lords from Mercia and royal weddings, my lady?”

The girl didn't answer; instead, she scrutinized Sihtric intently. He felt a wave of embarrassment under the piercing gaze of her sharp eyes.

“And what business does a Dane have here?” she asked after a while, smiling slightly at the sight of his blush. Brother Ceolwulf flashed behind Sihtric, so she tightened her grip and rested her head on his chest. The warrior held his breath. A stream of muffled words reached him. “No, no, you can talk; that rascal is just behind you. You could also use a bath, you know? Great, he went searching on the other side. You could also tell me your name, for the sake of appearances and decency.”

“I'm Sihtric, lady,” he said with a laugh, which (Y/N) not only heard but also felt. “Together with my lord Uhtred, we arrived…”

“Uhtred?” the girl interrupted, raising her head with surprise. “You serve Uhtred?”

“Do you know him?” Sihtric tilted his head, intrigued.

“Oh, I'm in trouble,” she said barely audible, more to herself than to him. “I have to go. I apologize for the assault.”

She took a few steps back before Sihtric panicked. He didn't know her name. He didn't know where to find her. And he definitely wanted to see her again.

“What's your name, lady?” he called after her, but she had already blended into the crowd heading to the main square. He wasn't sure if she had gone to greet Aethelred. Even if she had, he wouldn't find her in that mass.

Brother Ceolwulf came to the same conclusion. The reprimand for the princess of Wessex would have to wait.

The delicate fabric of her blue dress fluttered with each touch of the wind as she gracefully crossed the courtyard. They strolled towards the main hall.

“I only have two options: jump out the window or become a nun,” Princess (Y/N) announced in a calm manner.

“Only jump out the window, my dear,” Father Beocca specified. “Nuns would chase you with crosses and torches in their hands.”

(Y/N) looked at the priest. He had an amused expression. And a soft spot for the princess. According to Alfred's commands, he shouldn't tolerate certain behaviors and opinions. But how dull it would be if he asked her to stifle her carefreeness and restrain her sharp tongue.

“I was just praying a moment ago.”

“Yes, with the intention of our heavenly father making your sister run away from the altar.”

Aethelflaed didn't run away from the altar. She paid no mind to her sister's efforts, who, with sheer willpower, tried to steer her away from it. (Y/N) saw that the bride was enchanted by her groom, and she wanted nothing but all the happiness this world could fit for her. But something in the back of her mind warned her about Aethelred. An unbearable premonition. She blinked a few times, telling herself that she simply didn't consider any man worthy of her dearest sister's hand.

She scanned the gathered guests with her gaze. At the back of the hall, she spotted Uhtred. She nodded at him slightly. He raised an eyebrow with a smile. They had last seen each other when she was a little girl and kicked him in the leg. She wondered if he still limps.

And then she noticed Sihtric.

The warrior paled the moment he saw her standing side by side with the king.

His stranger. The king's daughter. The princess.

Only he could have such damn luck.

“It's her. The girl I told you about. It's her!” He nudged Finan's arm, to which the latter chuckled.

“Sure. Your whole story sounds shady already. Don't involve noble families in it.”

“I'm telling the truth!”

“I believe ya. Yesterday, for example, when little ol’ me was drinking beer with king Alfred…”

Sihtric sighed, but he didn't try to convince his friend anymore. He didn't register the entrance of the bride or a word spoken during the ceremony, and especially not Finan's mocking. His eyes were fixed on the princess in the blue gown. He held his breath when she finally looked at him. She smiled faintly but immediately averted her gaze, with a violent blush on her cheeks.

Sihtric Kjartansson felt his heart beat stronger.

Uhtred embraced the princess with laughter, still wondering how she had transformed so quickly from a snotty child into a breathtaking woman.

Sihtric paid special attention to that breathtaking part, as he was having trouble with that.

“The older you get, the uglier you become. Good to see you, Uhtred,” she greeted him politely. The man snorted and gestured towards his companions.

“Princess (Y/N), these are my friends…”

“Sihtric,” she greeted, bowing her head. He smiled widely, and Finan's jaw dropped, before he realized he should probably bow too. The idiot wasn't lying. Unbelievable.

“Do you know each other?” Uhtred furrowed his brow, looking at the young Dane, then at the princess. “Is there something I don't know?”

“Yes, we've been secret lovers for the past year,” she replied, rolling her eyes. Sihtric's face took on various shades of red, much to Finan's delight.

“You haven't changed at all,” Uhtred commented with a wave of his hand.

“I would be more at ease if this reception wasn't so dull,” she said, wistfully glancing at the cup in Uhtred's hand. “Is he watching?”

Uhtred glanced at the king and nodded. (Y/N) groaned.

“So, after Edward, it's your turn?” Uhtred inquired, earning himself a murderous glance from the princess.

“He'll probably be a twat or at least hundred years old,” she grumbled in disappointment. “Beocca presented me with a list of potential candidates. About each one, he says they are pious, as if I were looking for a personal priest and not a husband. Why can't he say that one of them is kind? Wise? Or handsome.”

She shifted her gaze to Sihtric and smiled mischieviously.

“We only hope to be invited to your wedding, Princess,” Finan laughed, observing his friend's bashful demeanor. "I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he'll be no older than ninety-nine.”

“That's kind of you. By the way, Sihtric, did you take that bath-”

“Princess!” Father Beocca called out as he passed by. “Maybe nunnery isn't the worst idea.”

Humorous remarks and a grin froze on her lips when (Y/N) looked into her sister's eyes. The food tray nearly slipped from her hands.

Aethelflaed didn't have to say anything. She didn't have to scream or complain about her misfortune. (Y/N) understood everything from that one look and felt the unpleasant sting of tears.

“I will kill him,” she declared forcefully, slamming the tray onto the wooden table with a loud bang. “I will kill that arse.”

“(Y/N), please...” Aethelflaed whispered. “It won't do any good. And I am capable of handling it myself.”

“You shouldn't even say that,” her sister protested, getting closer and gently placing her hands on Aethelflaed's cheeks. They were wet. “It's alright, sweetheart, it's alright.”

She planted a kiss on the top of her head and headed towards the door.

“Don't tell anyone, (Y/N). Especially not father,” she begged, getting up.

“I'll only speak to those who already know,” (Y/N) replied, barely containing her anger towards Aethelflaed's pathetic husband. “You're the Princess of Wessex, for God's sake. You're his woman, and he shouldn't treat you like this. He won't have a cock if he lays a hand on you again, trust me.”

“You'll get into trouble, (Y/N),” Aethelflaed warned, shaking her head nervously. “He can hurt you as well-”

The princess didn't listen, for she had already left the chamber. Blind rage consumed her, but so did a sadness so great that it was even more dangerous than her anger. She knew there was something wrong with him. She shouldn't have allowed this marriage to happen.

She should have protected her sister.

Aethelred appeared just in time. He strode down the corridor, his posture straight, absentmindedly trailing his hand along one of the tapestries.

“Lord Aethelred,” she snarled, making no effort to be polite. “I was hoping to have a word with you.”

The man turned slowly, bestowing upon her the sweetest and most deceitful smile.

“Little princess.”

(Y/N) tried to calm herself, but she wasn't making much progress.

“Let's get to the point,” she hissed, finally getting Aethelred to reveal his true face from behind the mask he wore daily at the royal court. “I saw my sister and the state she's in. I will not tolerate such insolence or cruelty. Who do you think you are? Hurt her again and I...”

That pile of shit started laughing.

“Terrifying is the barking of an angry bitch.” He took a few lazy steps in her direction. “I almost pissed myself in fear.”

“And you should, because I promise that...”

Aethelred rushed forward, pressing her against the wall with a hand around her throat.

“Well, what? What will you do? Maybe you'll switch places with her to spice up this tedious life of mine a little bit."

Sihtric wandered through the palace, looking for lord Uhtred his excuse, but in reality he hoped for an encounter with the princess. They were about to head out from Winchester soon. Leaving without saying goodbye was not something he wanted.

He found them just in time as (Y/N) pushed Aethelred back with all her might and punched him in the face. They all heard the unmistakable crunching sound.

Lord of Mercia was trying to regain his balance, clinging to his bloody face in shock.

“You whore,” he snapped, but Sihtric was already nearby, placing his hand warningly on the axe.

“Hope I misheard something,” he said to Aethelred, voice dripping with venom, and then looked at the princess. “Are you alright?”

“She broke my nose, of course she’s fine,” the man snorted, trying to stop the flow of blood. “You will answer for it. Just wait. And your heathen friends won’t rush to your rescue, I assure you.”

(Y/N) took a deep breath, holding on to the fist that struck Aethelred. She watched him leave with an absent look in her eyes, and then as if she finally registered Sihtric's presence.

If he had come a few moments earlier, he'd surely fling himself at that arsehole in her defense. But it turns out she was perfectly able to fight back. Sihtric felt a sudden surge of admiration and respect for the princess in a beautifully embroidered dress, who did not hesitate to throw a punch.

“Are you sure he didn’t do anything to you? Shall I go after him?” he asked, but instead of answering, (Y/N) slid slowly down the wall. Sihtric crouched beside her, worried as never before. He gently held the injured hand. He raised her bruised knuckles to his lips, but left only the ghost of touch on them. “Princess?”

“He hurt her,” (Y/N) sobbed helplessly. She wasn't supposed to tell anyone, but she had a feeling Sihtric would know how to keep a secret. “He hurt her and he will hurt her again, and there’s nothing I can do. He will hide behind his title, behind his lands, wealth and nobility. He was right. I can't do anything."

She was shaken by a wave of tears, and Sihtric instinctively embraced her with one arm and supported the back of her head with the other. She cried there on the cold floor, in the arms of a warrior who couldn't stand the sight.

He knew what was going on. And his heart ached at the thought.

“You were very brave,” he whispered, letting her lean on his chest. “Others would look away. You confronted him. You are a brave, brave girl.”

He kept saying it like a mantra, holding her in his arms until the crying subsided. He wiped the tears from her face with the thumb of his hand when she finally lifted her head.

“I won’t run away from that either,” she whispered in a faint voice. Sihtric raised his eyebrows in a questioning gesture. “I can laugh about it and put it off, but I’m just a woman with a cursed title before my name. They'll hand me over to a man I won't choose. And he will have the right to violence as soon as we tie the knot.”

Sihtric shook his head. This fate wasn’t meant for her. There was strength and courage in this lady’s heart that demanded freedom. And demanded love, the wild and untamed kind. 

“It can not be like that. I won’t allow it.”

“You don’t have much power in this matter, Sihtric. You don’t make the rules.”

“Let me decide for myself.”

He looked into the eyes of the princess and knew that the battle he would have to face was beyond his means. The only witnesses to this promise were the faces on the ancient tapestries. Men's faces behind unbreakable laws, traditions and customs.

But Sihtric Kjartansson was a warrior. And if there’s one thing that warriors can do, they can fight.

[whitedarkmoonflower]

Caged bird

Pairing: Sihtric x reader (female)

Authors note: I felt so sorry for the load of angst I dumped on you this week. Have this little treat as a compensation.

Warnings: SMUT 18+

Summary: It had been only a week since the handsome Dane, strength and danger emanating from his every pore, had evaded your secluded life, turning it upside down in the blink of an eye. 

Word Count: 2,3 K

A startled yelp escaped your lips as you felt two strong arms encircle your waist, swiftly pulling you into one of the nearby empty rooms. Your arms were laden with fresh beddings as you were swept away. 

A hand promptly covered your mouth, muffling any sound, while searingly hot breath caressed your neck, followed by hungry lips that sent shivers coursing up and down your spine,  as you struggled to catch your breath. Words were unnecessary; you would always recognise those lips, the rough yet tender touch of those hands, and the heat of that familiar breath against your skin.

You let go of the bundle of linens, allowing them to scatter across the floor, disregarding them entirely. Your fingers found solace in the soft, thick strands of hair, urging the eager mouth closer as you arched your back against the sturdy wooden door.

"This is madness, Sihtric," you murmured softly, barely audible, as the hand that had covered your mouth now ventured downward, caressing your breasts through the fabric of your dress. Hot lips followed, leaving a trail of kisses from your collarbone to your shoulder and back down to the curve of your cleavage.

"We can't... I can't... Oh, God, Sihtric," your protest dissolved into a gasp as an eager hand boldly gathered the fabric of your skirt, slipped beneath it and delved behind the hem of your undergarment, reaching your core.

"Don't deny me," a throaty whisper, laden with longing, brushed against your ear, eliciting a soft whine from your lips, as your legs spread on their own, without waiting any conscious command from you, the heat in your belly hitting you with the force of a thunderstorm. "I know you crave me as much as I crave you."

Thick fingers parted your folds, ravenously ravaging your dripping cunt. As much as you tried, you were unable to suppress the lewd moan, clawing through you as Sihtric pushed one finger inside you. 

"God, forgive me," you panted breathlessly, your fingers entwining in Sihtric's hair, pulling firmly, as you shamelessly rolled your hips into his hand. "More... I need you. Please, give me more," you pleaded into Sihtric's ear. With a mischievous glint dancing in his eyes, he obliged, adding another digit and starting to pump them in and out of your tightness, his thumb brushing against your sensitive bundle of nerves..

“Such a needy little girl. Missed me so much,” Sihtric’s breath was picking up, a low groan reverberating in his throat, as you clenched around his fingers. “Let it go, my little bird. My sweet, beautiful girl. Give it to me. I want to see you flying again, I want to hear you calling my name.” 

And you did as you were told, not that you had any choice, you were already crumbling, falling apart, your eyes rolling back in your head, his power over you beyond your comprehension, as you had never felt anything like this before. Breath catching, you dug your fingers into the thick leather covering Sihtric’s shoulders, whimpering his name between panting breaths.

It had been only a week since the handsome Dane, strength and danger emanating from his every pore, had evaded your secluded life, turning it upside down in the blink of an eye. 

The looming threat of war hung heavy in the air. A large army of Danes was gathering at the borders of Mercia. The word had been spread that Lady Aethelflaed was rallying forces to defend the kingdom from the impending Danish invasion. The prospects appeared grim, with Lord Aethelred and his household troops delayed in East Anglia. Your husband, wary of sending his men to certain death, as he repeatedly voiced, preferred to await the outcome from the shadows. 

The choice was taken from him one rainy day with Lady Aethelflaed at his doorsteps, demanding lodging for herself and her war council, the scarce army setting up a camp in the nearby field.

As the lady of the house, you stood in the yard, welcoming esteemed guests and trying to offset your husband's stern demeanour with a warm smile. You courtseyed Lady Aethelflaed and greeted Lord Aldhelm, and Lord Uhtred, as introduced by the Lady. Your attention then shifted to the three other men dismounting their horses, and it was then that you saw him for the first time.

Tall, athletic, with broad shoulders and muscular arms, he stood in stark contrast to your husband and any other man you had encountered, not that you had encountered many.  

You couldn't help but stare at him, feeling a blush creeping onto your cheeks and a slight shiver down your spine, as your eyes scanned his handsome sharply defined face with a strong jawline, involuntary stopping at his crazy haircut - dark curls cascaded to his right eye, while the other side of the head was shaved with beads and pearls woven into the hairline. 

He casually handed the reins to a stable boy and joined his companions, his hearty laughter momentarily distracting you from the solemn reason for their presence in your husband’s estate.

Sihtric’s lips crushed against your parted ones, eagerly swallowing your moans and whines, his kiss searingly hot, as he kept fucking you with his fingers through your high. 

"We must stop this, Sihtric. It's not right. It's a sin," you whimpered, your chest rising and falling heavily. Yet your hands spoke a different language, clutching onto him, drawing him nearer, a soft whine escaping your lips as Sihtric withdrew his fingers.

"Tell me to stop, and I will. Say you are happy in your gilded cage, that you don’t love me, don’t desire me, and I'll disappear from your life forever," Sihtric's forehead pressed against yours, his hands on your waist. Was he holding his breath?

Your teeth grazed your lower lip as you reached out, tracing your fingers along the scars on his face. How could you deny what was so obvious?

"I love you," you breathed, drawing him into another kiss, allowing the fervour of his eager lips to carry you away from this place, from the mundanity of your existence, into another world where you were free to choose your own path, where you were free to love and be loved, if only for this fleeting moment of happiness.

“I want you to be mine,” Sihtric groaned against your mouth, “I want you to come with me, to leave this place and that old coot you call your husband. I’ll provide for you, care for you,  worship the ground you walk on.” His covetous hands roamed your body, words flowing from his lips like a sweet wine, dizzying and inebriating. 

He lifted you effortlessly in his strong arms, your legs instinctively wrapping around his waist as he carried you to the table at the back of the room and settled you onto it, hastily pulling your undergarment down your legs.

"The mere thought of him touching you, makes my blood run cold," he hissed, positioning himself between your thighs. "You are mine. Do you hear me? Mine to claim, mine to cherish, mine to love. I need you like I need air to breathe. You cannot deny me."

You licked your lips as you watched him freeing his hard cock from his breeches, giving it a few strokes and aligning himself with your entrance.

“Come to me, claim me,” you purred, your eyes half lid as you reached out for him.

The force with which Sihtric sinked into you made you whine out loud, your nails digging into his shoulders for support. With a throaty moan he sheathed himself to the very end of his shaft, his lips on your neck, arm around your waist to hold you in place, and started thrusting into you with a maddening pace. 

“Say it again,” he demanded, voice low and hoarse, his hips moving against yours, forcing himself deeper and deeper with each thrust, “I need to hear it.”

“I love you,“ you whimpered between your panting breaths.

“Say that you are mine.”

"I'm yours," you mewled, clinging to him as if your life depended on it. Lost in the throes of pleasure, you would have said anything he desired without a second thought. Yet, it was not a lie, in this fleeting moment you were indeed his, wholly and willingly.

You were but a girl, tightly gripping your mother's hand, your curious gaze fixed upon the stranger seated at the table with your father.  You had no idea that this was the moment your future was decided, sealed with a simple handshake.

Your father had meant well, eager to secure a husband and livelihood for his youngest daughter. Grateful, as a dutiful daughter ought to be, you accepted his decision. Five years later, just after your first bleeding, you found yourself murmuring prayers outside the church, pondering what your husband might be like.

The slight silver glinting in his hair and the wrinkles etched around his eyes went unnoticed by you as you placed your hand in his, obediently casting your eyes downward—a dutiful daughter transforming into a dutiful wife.

Apart from the vows exchanged at the altar, he hadn't truly spoken to you; instead, he observed you with the detached gaze of a horse trader appraising a fine mare. It was only later in the night as your new wed husband grunted in your ear, slapping his hips at your bare ass from behind, that you wondered whether this was how love was supposed to feel. 

He wasn't cruel, nor was he kind. He simply possessed you. Your life flowed on like a tranquil river—no hidden currents, no waterfalls, not even the playful splash of waves against a rocky shore. There was no affection, only indifference and emptiness. But you had nothing to compare to, you couldn’t even tell why those hot tears trailed down your cheeks in the evenings as you curled up in your bed, watching your husband tug himself back in his breeches and depart without a backward glance. 

"I'm yours. I'll always be yours," the words flowed effortlessly from your lips, not daring to think, not daring to tear your eyes away from the mismatched gaze, burning you, consuming you. The throaty groan they coaxed from Sihtric made a smile curl on your parted lips and you rolled your hips against him, meeting his thrusts with eagerness matching his.

The sound of flesh slapping against flesh filled the small room, your moans mingling with Sihtric’s panting breaths. His hand slipped between your bodies, finding your clit and rubbing against it. You bit your lip trying at least to somewhat muffle the cries of pleasure pulsing through you.

“My greedy princess, my little caged bird, taking my cock so well,” Sihtric breathed in your ear. “So fucking tight around me. You are made for my cock, you are made for me. Made to be fucked into oblivion every night, to be filled up with my seed, to carry my children.”

You had never been loved like this. In truth, you had never really been loved at all. You were starving and you were lost from that very first moment your eyes locked with his piercing gaze.

You attempted to evade him, striving to stifle the tempest of emotions raging within you. Your knees throbbed from hours of prayer, beseeching salvation from the sinful yearning he ignited, yet your pleas remained unheard. 

In the evening, despite your efforts, your eyes kept seeking out his familiar figure in the grand hall, torn between dread and longing for your gazes to meet.

And meet they did. Initially, fleetingly, causing your cheeks to flush pink once more, just like the first time in the yard. Hastily, you averted your eyes, diverting yourself with meaningless conversations. Yet, as the evening unfolded, it happened repeatedly—the moments your gazes lingered on each other lengthening with each time.

You lacked the strength to turn him away when he found you later that night, seated in the small garden, seeking solace in the cool night air to banish thoughts of the handsome stranger from your mind. Your resolve crumbled as he tenderly kissed your palm, drawing you closer against his muscular frame. The touch of Sihtric's lips upon yours left you breathless and trembling, excitement coursing through your veins, torn between the desire to flee and the urge to surrender to his embrace.

That night you actually made love for the first time in your life, hot tears streaming down your cheeks as you whispered his name into the darkness like a fervent prayer.

Never could you have imagined that this would evolve into something more than just a single night of passion and regret yet here you were struggling for breath, the most sinful sensation ripping you apart, as Sihtric was fucking you senseless, again. 

You wrapped your arms around his neck and pressed your lips to his, moaning into Sihtric’s mouth, as your walls started clenching around him and you came on his cock, your head snapping back, his name rolling over your lips and mingling with the wild moans of pleasure you were unable to control. A few thrusts later he followed you, groaning in the crook of your neck as he spilled deep inside you.

"I love you, my little caged bird. I love you, and I'll come for you, take you with me," Sihtric breathed heavily, pressing his forehead against yours, his eyes searching, pleading for agreement.

"Sihtric, you know it's impossible," you whispered, holding onto him tightly, wishing to prolong this moment just a little longer.

"I don't care about your husband. He doesn't deserve you. He treats you like you're a piece of furniture. He shows more affection to his horse than to you," venom dripped from Sihtric's voice. Though everything he said was true, it didn't change anything.

"Stop it!" you cried out, tears welling up in your eyes. "Stop it," you pleaded, your voice breaking into soft sobs. "If you truly care for me, then stop. It will be hard enough to see you leave for battle tomorrow."

"I will come back," there was not a hint of doubt in his voice as his lips sealed his promise with a tender kiss.

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Tags: @sihtricfedaraaahvicius @hb8301 @zillahvathek @alexagirlie @gemini-mama @verenahx @mysteriouslydeafeningwerewolf @willowbrookesblog @thenameswinter99 @ellabellabus07 @mcbuckyyyy @kirtseinw @siimonesvensson @sigtryggrswifey

[lord-aldhelm]

Recommended Fic List

I honestly haven't read very many fanfics (I know, shame on me! 🫣) in The Last Kingdom or otherwise. I am starting to go through AO3 and actually read the ones I had bookmarked. I thought it might be nice to make a rec list of the fics that I really enjoyed. Most of these are rated M or E so be forewarned when you read them. I will add to this as I actually read more stuff.

Aethelflaed x Aldhelm:

Come Go with Me by Perennial (restricted to accounts only): A lovely post Season 4 fic that gives them both what they, and Mercia, deserve. Rating: M (@vinca-majors) More than Mercia by ToBebbanburg: Another lovely post Season 4 happy ending fic. (@torch-the-throne) Clever-Tongued by TheBrokaryotes: a very poetic and descriptive exploration of their first time together. (@tsukkinami) Day Out by cocchamscrew: Aldhelm has a nice day outside the castle away from Aethelred with Lady Aethelflaed. (@osferth) Duty & Decency by ToBebbanburg: Aldflaed in the universe of Pride and Prejudice. (@torch-the-throne) Meanwhile in Mercia by adamwhatareyouevendoing: A wonderful multipart series with a happy ending! (@skatingthinandice and @remembertheskittles)

Other TLK fics:

In His Father's Footsteps by holy3cake: Aethelstan x Osbert post SKMD (@holy3cake) Visions of Helheim by TheNamesWinter99: Sihtric x Reader and learning about his past and mother (@thenameswinter99) Wolf-Heart by Gemini_Mama: Finan x OC, part of a series, Wolf Warrior is the second part. (@gemini-mama)

[illtakeyoutowonderland]

The One (Part 14)

The one with the wedding

Sihtric x Reader

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The journey was, once again, uneventful until they made it to the gates of Winchester. It took some convincing to Steapa to make him finally open the gates. But once he did no one wasted time to enter the walls

Finan, Sihtric and Y/N were the last ones and Steapa was already down the stairs and next to the big doors when the three crossed them "Lady Y/N" Steapa greeted her with a big smile "Nice to see you doing well"

"Nice to see you, too, Steapa" She returned his big smile with one of her own only to turn and find Sihtric and Finan giving her a confused look "What?" She said shrugging but the men said nothing

Once they got off their horses she stood close to both men, not really wanting to get lost in this unknown place

"Is that Aethelwold the sword-Dane I see?" Finan said to a man that sat on a table near by drinking "Looks like you've mislaid an eye" And Y/N took notice of the short blonde man

"I see you perfectly, Finan" The man replaied unamused "Though I do not see your master. Uhtred, where is he?"

"Standing at your blind side, perhaps" Finan said shrugging making Sihtric laugh

"Finan" Y/N slapped the man's arm scolding him but he just laughed and the group of three walked away, not without noticing how Aethelwold looked at Y/N

Osferth appeared out of nowhere scaring Finan a little as they all made it to a corner "So, we are inside the walls of Winchester. Where will he go? To Father Beocca?" The monk said once they were sure no one listened

"Yes. He'll find us. Be sure of it" Finan replied

"And he is free of his curse"

"She's dead?" Y/N asked in surprise and both her and Sihtric shared a look

"Very"

"Then we're all free of the curse, baby monk" Finan said and went off to talk with the Bishop, to say some excuse for them to stay so no one would find them suspicious

The three of them left went to find a table at an ale house so they could eat something and wait for Finan to figure out what to do next. This time Sihtric decided to sit next to Y/N and she suddenly felt very warm. Osferth sat across them once he made it with two jugs of ale and a few cups. They drank mostly in silence, Y/N looking around her as much as she could, taking in the new big city she was in and she saw Hild talking to some of the priests not far from them

"Apparently there is a wedding" Finan said as he sat next to Osferth and grabbed a cup for himself "Looks like you lost your chance with the princeling, Lady" Y/N rolled her eyes as he winked at her

"What do you mean?" Osferth asked

"Finan have this amazing imagination where he believes Edward was courting me somehow" Y/N explained

"It wasn't Finan's imagination, Lady" Sihtric said next to her looking at his cup and Finan gave her a I told you so look "We all saw it. Ask Lord Uhtred"

"You could've been queen" Osferth said with wide eyes

"You have all lost your minds" Y/N scoffed as she left the table to find Hild who welcomed her with a warm smile "Please let me stay with you at least for a while. I cannot stand those three any longer"

"You are more than welcome to make me company" Hild said laughing at Y/N's words "I know exactly how you feel" They both laughed in complicity "And I think someone would like to see you" She said and once inside the palace they were met with Aehelflaed and her husband who had come to the wedding

"Lord" She said to Aethelred not wanting to start a fight but he only gave her a exagerated smile and went on his way. She did not complain, on the contrary

"Oh, it is so nice to see you again" Aethelflaed said as they both hugged each other 

"We have some catch up to do" Y/N said to her hoping to have a moment alone with her friend

"We do" Aethelfaed nodded "But first we must find you a dress. For the wedding" She explained at the confuse look on Y/N's face

"Oh, I don't think I should come to the wedding..."

"Of course you should" Alfred's voice was strong, once again, on contrary to his looks. He walked with Edward at one side and a woman on the other "You would not reject the invitation from a king, would you?" He said with a warm smile on his face 

"I wouldn't dare" Y/N replied and he nodded satisfied

"Mother, this is Y/N" Aethelflaed introduced her to Lady Aelswith

"You must be the famous Y/N my husband and children keep talking about" Lady Aelswith said qith an emotionless tone

"I do not know about famous, Lady" She replied "But it is an honor to finally meet you"

"Is that so?" Lady Aelswith said with surprise 

"You are the mother of one of my dearest friends" Y/N explained as she pointed to Aethelflaed and she saw how a smile formed on the Lady's face

"She also fought bravely at Beamfleot" Edward said nodding at Y/N

"You were on the battlefield?" Aelswith asked with a disaproving tone and shock on her face "That is not place for a Lady"

"Unfortunately, yes" Y/N said to her "And trust me, Lady, I do not plan to find myself in that situation again any time soon"

"Now come, my love" Alfred said to Aelswith "We still have some preparations to make" And with that the pair were gone, followed by Hild

"It is nice to see you again, Lady" Edward said once they were gone

"And on a merrier scene as you wished" Y/N replied with honesty "I am happy for you Edward" 

"I am too, Y/N" He said and that was the first time both had said each others names, which warmed Y/N's heart to had found a new friend amongst them

"I'm sorry to interrupt, brother, but we must find Y/N a dress for tomorrow" Aethelflaed said 

"Do what you must" Edward said with a smile and the two woman were gone

After hours and hours of talking, catching up and trying dresses Aethelflaed was more than satisfied and let Y/N make her way back to the three men at the ale house 

"What's with the bag?" Finan asked as she joined them at the table

"Wouldn't you like to know" She replied as she sat next to him, only to have him reach for the bag but she slapped his hand away "Take your dirty hands of it!" She said at his smirking face "It's a dress"

"A dress?" Osferth asked "What for?"

"The king has invited me to the wedding" She simply said making them all surprised at her words "And also, I just met lady Aelswith" Y/N said with a sigh. She wouldn't rate the meeting too bad, she knew it could've gone so much worse, but there was something about that woman that frightened her a little

"Oh, you poor thing" Finan said as he handed her some ale and she could do nothing but laugh

The next day Osferth, Finan, Sihtric and Y/N made their way to Father Beocca's house so Y/N could get ready for the wedding. And also, to ask Uhtred their next steps

"Lady Y/N" Father Beocca greeted her in surprise "It is good to see you. I see you still wander with this trouble makers"

"I happen to have grown fond of them, unfortunately" Y/N replied making Beocca smile at her

"Oi! She is more troublemaker than all of us together, Father" Finan said as he sat in the kitchen table as Y/N gasped faking innocence. And once the door to his house was closed Uhtred came out from one of the rooms with a red haired woman

"Lady Y/N" Beocca said to her once again "This is my wife, Thyra. Uhtred's sister" 

"It is so nice to meet you" Thyra said and welcomed her in a big hug which Y/N happily returned "Uhtred has told me everythign about you"

"Seriously, you ask him to keep this one secret and he tells everyone" She mumbled scolding him but he only laugh

"You can trust Thyra. She is family"

"I know" Y/N gave him a look "I'm just starting to think maybe I should not trust you" She raised an eyebrow at him 

"Oh, he means well" Thyra said earning an See? I told you look from Uhtred to Y/N who just rolled her eyes at him. The arrongance of this man... "Now come, you have yet to change"

She pushed Y/N to a room and left her alone so she could change in peace. Which Y/N thanked as she put her bag on one of the tables. She sat on the bed trying to catch her breath. She didn't know why she was suddenly this nervous. 

Y/N heard Finan's voice followed by Sihtric's laugh and her heart melted a little. It wasn't very often Sihtric was loud, unlike the former Irishman. But everytime he showed this side of him made Y/N's heart grew bigger and for a second she wondered what it would be like to make him laugh that hard by herself. But, she pushed the thoughts aside as she reached for her bag and the new dress.

She walked out of the room and into Thyra and Beocca's kitchen, wearing the dress Aethelfaed had chose her not feeling entirely like herself "It is weird isn't it? I feel weird" She said and everyone went silence as they looked at her with wide eyes "I knew it!" She said as soon as she saw their reactions "It's too much, I'm changing" She started to made her way back to the room when she was suddenly stopped

"No!" Everyone said at the same time 

"You look beautiful" Sihtric suddenly said breathless and they all stared at him for a second before looking over to Y/N to see her reaction

"Thank you" Y/N said softly and she already knew she was blushing at his sincere words and intense gaze

Finan stood up and made his way to her "Let me see you" He said as he place both hands on her shoulders and looked at her to then look into her eyes again "They will be some lucky bastards" He smirked and she rolled her eyes at him "You look really nice, Lady"

"You really do, Y/N" Uhtred said to her and she saw Osferth nodding at his friend's words

"You have to let me do your hair" Thyra said with a big smile on her face and Y/n did not have the heart to tell her no

A few hours later, Y/N stood next to Thyra and Beocca watching the beautiful bride made her way down the aisle and towards Edward

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

@secretdreamlandmentality

@superawesomegeek

If you wanna be tag, let me know! 💜

[heathenarmyimagines]

Title: Captured

Summary: Ivar tries to see if (Y/N) is valuable.

Pairing: Ivar x Reader

Part One

Waking up felt like being knocked out all over again, but in reverse and much slower.

You groaned in pain as you slowly gained consciousness, and as you curled in on yourself you noticed the surface you were laying on was cold and hard. Too hard and smooth to be dirt, not splintery enough to be a wooden floor, but what set your instincts on fire was the coldness. Only one thing other than ice got this cold…metal.

A cage.

Before you could think better of doing so you sat up with far too much speed and the motion made her head spin and blurred your vision. Despite the horrible consequences you did manage to take in enough of your surroundings to confirm you were in fact in a metal cage before you closed your eyes to stop the dizziness.

‘Finally, if you didn’t wake up by sunrise we would have had to kill you before we broke camp.’

You had only heard the voice once but you quickly recognized its owner, and in doing so recall all the events that led you to be in this situation.

‘Get to the point, before I decide to bash my head against these bars. If not to put a permanent end to this headache I’ll do it to keep you from killing me.’ you said as angrily as you could manage as you clutch your head in pain.

‘Is it worth it to kill you?’ he asked, in English to your surprise.

‘You speak English?’ you asked.

‘Of course, I visited this lovely country with my great father when I was just becoming a man.’

‘I know. I just didn’t expect you to care enough to learn to speak a new language.’

‘Well I’m still waiting for an answer. Are you worth killing? Do you have any valuable information about Ecbert’s defenses or army?’

‘No. I am a ward of King Ecbert, I am no relative to him and no one will pay ransom for me. No other warrior even knows I stayed behind to kill you so no one is coming to save me if that’s what you’re really asking.’

‘You were not in Ecbert’s castle when I visited, that much I can be sure of. You must have come to him after he handed my father off like a pig for slaughter.’ Ivar said conversationally.

‘That’s not what happened.’ you said as you finally opened your eyes.

The more you talked the pain was slowly easing and your vision cleared enough for you to focus on the viking man sitting in front of your cage.

The cage itself wasn’t too bad, you couldn’t possibly stand up, not that you could without another dizzy spell, but you could sit up fully without hitting your head. You look around and realize that you are in a cage that was on a wagon. Ivar was sitting on the ground looking up at you with a confused face.

‘That is not what happened? Do you mean Ecbert didn’t send my father off to be butchered? Because by all accounts that is what happened. Aella, he did it, and from what I’ve heard it was a display of violence and cruelty.’

‘That is true; and despite how things are I am truly sorry for your loss, but it was not a decision that King Ecbert made out of malice. I never met Ragnar but this much I can say with certainty, Ecbert didn’t wish for any harm to come to your father.’

King Ecbert didn’t often speak openly of the times he personally parlayed with Vikings, and he never spoke of his conversations with Ragnar Lothbrok. Those were moments he seemed determined to keep close to his heart so that he could take those memories to his grave. 

However, when he had private lunches with you, Alfred and Aethelred he would drink wine and if his mood was good and if the wine was strong he would let slip little treats of information.

“This wine is the sweetest you can get, those Vikings nearly emptied our cellar when they got into it.”

“Slow down Alfred, you have the table manners of a Viking, soon you’ll be smashing our plates.”

The king would say little things like that every once in a while, but one time…when his mood was not good at all and the wine was too strong he went on a full drunken rant.

“Ruling. It is something men are killing to do, not realizing that no matter what it ends up killing you! The key to being a good king is this.’” Ecbert said drunkenly to Alfred, ignoring the sullen look Aethelred made at his exclusion.

“Know that you are nothing. What you want means nothing, the people you love don’t matter, even your own wishes mean less than nothing. Why? Dear boy, I will tell you why. Because your kingdom is paramount, your people need you to do right by them; and it is essential you understand the place you hold in their eyes. You will not be their Lord, their Liege or even their Highness; you will be their King!” he shouted, slamming his fist on the table.

“Their King ordained by God! A God you will be all but forced to question as you make unholy decisions for the betterment of your people. Horrible evil decisions that you make when you're young and full of good intentions; decisions you as King can’t publicly call mistakes. Decisions that will end lives, decisions that will haunt you for the rest of your days and may even keep you from eternal paradise.”

Poor Alfred, he was only…ten maybe eleven as Ecbert poured the worries of an old king into his childish head.

Ivar looked up at you with no true expression but you could tell he was taking in your words, but you would probably never know how he processed them.

‘Hvitserk!’ 

You were startled by his sudden yelling, but you definitely recognized the name he called for; his brother, another son of Ragnar.

A gangly viking man came from the other side of your cage and yawned.

‘I thought you would babble on forever.’ he said as he stretched sleepily.

‘So…do we have to kill her or bring her for information? Either way I hope to enjoy her first.’ he said as he observed you in the cage like a pig at market.

‘I do understand Norse as well.’ you spat.

‘I’m aware. So what will it be, Ivar? Is she useful?’

‘She is very useful, brother, but you will not be having her. She will be our hostage.’

[lya-dustin]

🩹 tending to each other's wounds - whomever you’d like!

Thanks 💙

So this inspired a prequel of sorts to Potiphar's wife

Temptation

Aethelred I of Wessex x fem!spanish princess!reader

“Do you speak our tongue?” the wounded young king asked you and you shook your head. You understood more than you spoke, but when your return home hinges on the gracious nature of Aethelred of Wessex you know better than to try your luck.

“Latin at least?” this you responded with a nod and with words.

“I would be a terrible daughter and even worse Christian if I did not, your grace.” You say as you begin cleaning the wounds he’d sustained fighting off the men who’d raided your father’s kingdom and made a slave out of you.

You were spared the indignity of rape or harsh labor after convincing them to give you to their lord on account of your nobility. But slavery is still slavery, and the daughter of Ramiro of Asturias was meant to be more than the whore of some Viking scum.

Or even the King of the Saxons.

No lady in Europe wanted to be the next Judith of Flanders either. Poor Judith passed on to father and son before she had even had her first blood and if that hadn’t been humiliating enough, forced to sell her things because either the king here before you or his late elder brother was too miserly to send her home properly.

“What is your name?” Aethelred asks, inspecting the bruises your manacles and the collar on your neck had left on you. You had been thrashing like a fiend, screaming until the Kentish nun enslaved with you translated your words.

“Y/N, daughter of King Ramiro and Paterna of Castilla, Princess of Asturias.” You wait for him to look impressed.

He looked at you with suspicion, many would claim nobility to swindle their saviors. Many a slave girl had claimed to be daughters of ealdormen in hopes of being left untouched.

But he doesn’t stop you from tending to him. Even better, he takes the soothing salve from the stand next to him and gently applies it to your neck when you finish.

“I would ask how you came to be here, but I already know about the raid in Castille. Your brother will be told of your rescue, until a ransom is agreed on, you will be my guest in Winchester.” The fingers on your wrists tell you he intends to do more than just ransom you to Orduño.

If his wife were to find herself divorced and sent to a nunnery within the month of your arrival, your ransom will become your dowry and you would only return home as an impoverished widow.

And sure your hand is worth a kingdom, but the men of Wessex fear a woman with power so much that these past kings scandalized them by giving their wives the title of queen.

“I will not become the next Judith of Flanders, the continent still talks about how terrible the Saxons were to her.” You say hoping to kill whatever idea he has about you.

Not that it would matter, your capture already put in doubt your virtue and whatever the king says is law anyways.

Although Aethelred is somewhat handsome and neither an old man nor a child, and Y/N Regina does have a nice ring to it, now that you think about it.

“That was Aethelberht, not I. Judith was like a younger sister to me.” He corrects you and began rubbing the salve on your neck.

It feels damnably good, you feel your face warm up at the feel of his calloused hands being so gentle on you.

“Besides, if I were to wed you, you would return to your brother a widow with several children or at least one in your belly, god willing.” The king adds tilting your face up to force you into looking at him in the eye.

You want to look away, feeling embarrassed at how a somewhat innocuous touch and his certainty at his own words had you tongue tied.

“You have a wife.” You say, not sure if you meant it as a way to stop him from going further or yourself.

“Had a wife, Wulfthyrth died with my eldest son of a plague months ago.” His voice remains steady and releases you now that the mood was ruined.

“I am sorry for your loss.” You should take your leave, and yet you stay. He didn’t sound much in love with her, more sad at his sons death.

Besides with only one son, he would be in need of more and while you may not be a descendant of Charlemagne, you are in the flower of womanhood and have a king for a brother.

God, what are you thinking?

This is the land of the Saxons, everything paved with mud and shit just as Judith had said when you served in her court.

And yet when you arrive in Winchester wearing cleaner and better clothes than what Aethelred found you in, you wonder if Judith was exaggerating.

It was nothing compared to your home country, but it had a hardy charm to it.

Perhaps being queen of the Saxons may be better than being handed off to some lord your brother will sell you to. Even better, the Witan chooses the next king not the order of birth, considering how your brother and father repelled the vikings they would be fools not to cast their lot with you.

The moment you are given time to write to Orduño, you make sure to hint at a match between you and Aethelred, and sure enough, it is not a ransom that arrives with your brother, it is your dowry.

A/N: when Alfred and Aethelred were 9 and 8 respectively, their dad, Aethelwulf took them to Rome, accidentally caused a civil war between his elder sons, Aethlstan of Kent and Aethelbald of Wessex, and married Judith of Flanders who was the 12 year old daughter of Charles the Bald and descendant of Charlemagne.

Judith was then widowed, married off to Aethelbald then widowed again and then forced to sell her things to get a ship back to Flanders where she married Baldwin I, Margave of Flanders.

Divorce was pretty common in this dynasty and irl Uhtred and Edward teh Elder would force their wives to take holy vows so they could divorce them and marry other women(and rinse and repeat)

Aethelred also had two sons who irl had been infants when Alfred was king. Here, Aethehelm died of the plague with the wife Aethelred didn’t particularly love.

[mirdaniaa]

20 questions for fic writers

i was tagged by the lovely @garunsdottir, thank you!!

1. how many works do you have on AO3? 108

2. what's your total AO3 word count? 1,387,558

3. what fandoms do you write for? mostly tlk and dune, but i jotted down a few lines for a hotd fic last night

4. top five fics by kudos: my daensa season 7 au, both of my giant asoiaf fics, my one foray into the magnificent century fandom with hurrem/mahidevran smut, and a jaime/margaery oneshot

5. do you respond to comments? i try to! sometimes i just don't know what to say

6. what is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? probably so this is christmas, but it's just super angsty overall.

7. what's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? i've written several equally happy endings, but i'll pick a random one and say pulled from a flood

8. do you get hate on fics? not often, but when i do, it's usually in the form of someone hating on a female character

9. do you write smut? i rarely write anything else

10. craziest crossover? Aethelred Lord of Mercia believing that Jungkook BTS was Princess Diana in his former life

11. have you ever had a fic stolen? i wish there was a way to make a tent of folders on your desk the way we used to do in second grade so we couldn't see each other's tests and cheat but for stealing fic. anyway yes.

12. have you ever had a fic translated? yes, i was so touched 🥹

13. have you ever co-written a fic before? yes in the sense that i wrote one chapter and my friend wrote the other

14. all time favorite ship? who can really say

15. what's a wip you want to finish but doubt you ever will? this fucking feydpaul omegaverse that has been haunting me since april

16. what are your writing strengths? dialogue and delivery

17. what are your writing weaknesses? setting. where the fuck are the characters? damned if i know!!

18. thoughts on dialogue in another language? i don't really think it's necessary unless specific words in that language are important to the plot and/or the readers are expected to know some of this language without translation. i think you can just as easily say, "the woman said something in french" or "she said something he didn't understand" and it gets the same point across.

19. first fandom you wrote in? it's been so long i can't remember if it was Lord of the Rings or the Hunchback of Notre Dame

20. favorite fic you've written? honestly it was probably Worse Loras

tagging @keefechambers, @skatingthinandice, @wildwren, @abnerkrill, @imagineagreatadventure, and @stannisfactions

[alexagirlie]

Writer Interview Tag Game

thank you @ladyaldhelm for the tag! I'm sorry this took me like 4 months to finish.

This was fun :D under a cut because it is loooong

About me

When did you start writing?

I start writing seriously in December of 2021. I had dabbled when I was younger but never published anything online.

None that come to mind immediately, ive dabbled in most genres or themes that I also like to read.

Are there different genres or themes you enjoy reading other than the ones you write?

Is there an author you want to emulate, or are compared to often?

Nope!

Can you tell me a bit about your writing space?

I write on my phone using googledocs ao that I can write wherever I can. Most commonly that is curled up on the couch listening to music.

What’s your most effective way to muster up a muse?

Looking at pictures of the blorbos or brainstorming with peoppe on discord.

Did the place(s) you grew up in influence the people and/or places you write about?

Not in the slightest lol

Are there any reoccurring themes in your writing? If so, do they surprise you?

Does PWP count as a theme? I write fic to smush my blorbos together so end up with smut with minimal plot the most and it does not surprise me at this point lol

Characters

Would you please tell me about your current favorite character?

To the surprise of no one who follows me my current favourite character is Sihtric from The Last Kingdom. He is kind and loyal and has a praise kink a kilometer long, no one can convince me otherwise. He is also played by the most beautiful man I have ever seen in my life

For original characters that would be my bb Xander. He is a very queer wizard who loves to paint and read and has very questionable mental health.

Which of your characters would you be friends with in real life?

I have a couple of original characters I have developed over my life which I think would be amazing friends IRL.

Xander is probably top of the list, he already fits the description of several of my irl besties lol

Tell me about the process of coming up with your characters?

Which characters would you dislike the most if you met them?

I tend to like all the characters I have created myself, characters from ny shows though... probably Aethelred or Aethelwold from The Last Kingdom.

Its something Ive done a lot over the years and just used to happen without me thining about it too hard. These days if I plan anything involving original characters then I tend to adapt either Xander, or my other bb Ellixia, to fit whichever fandom im hyperfixating on.

Do you notice any reoccurring themes/traits in your characters?

I like to create characters with tattoos, have some sort of fight training and are usually some flavour of queer.

My writing

How do you picture your characters?

.. in my head? Or I draw them

What’s your reason for writing?

It's the only way to make the voices inside my head shut up. I kept them contained for so long but now I cant put them back.

Is there any specific comment or type of comment from readers that you find particularly motivating?

Honestly any comment lol I get so few that I love any time of comment! How motivating they are does vary though.

How do you want to be thought about by your readers?

Well I know I have converted many to the m/m game and honestly that is a legacy i shall always cherish

What do you feel is your greatest strength as a writer?

I'm honestly not sure lol

Have you been told is your greatest strength as a writer is by others?

I get a lot of compliments on my characterization.

How do you feel about your own writing?

Most of the time pretty good. I know I am not the best writer out there but thats okay, I still have fun which is the most important part.

When you write, are you influenced by what others might enjoy reading, do you write purely for yourself, or is it a mix of both?

If you were the last person on earth, would you still write?

Probably not lol.

I would say its a mix of both. I write because I am compelled too fet the pictures out of my brain but I am also very susceptible to peer pressure lol that would be why i started writing readers fics lol then turns out i like writing them anyways.

Its been so long since this circulated so not sure who did it but tagging my OC loving girlies on the off chance you havent done it.

@gemini-mama @zaldritzosrose @legitalicat @foxyanon @thenameswinter99

[mrsarnasdelicious]

Alright, Yous asked for this - PART TWO

So, the list of all my drafts doesn't fit in one part...

Riding the Beasts SCP 682 smut CW: Monsterfucking

Sihtric AU-arama Just all osrts of Sihtric AUs, in a long, big list.

Some good ass edging Edging Modern!Sihtric, straight up smut

I'll Be Your Prize [Finan x Sihtric] Uhtred tells Finan he can ask for the thing he wants most, so Finan asks for Sihtric.

The Things We Do With Power - I The Boys fic, mild fix it, predominantly wicked smut.

A very old promise Once Upon the beginning of my blog, I promised to write a certain poly smut thing, so here goes nothing.

All About A Gag Sihtric x Finan x Osfert. Sihtric fakes a gag and Finan is not having it.

Domestic - Lan Mandragoran Lan x Reader, being cute.

One Big Bed Poly Wheel of Time smut. Rand is a slut in this one.

The Pantsident Mark tore his pants. Mark x Reader smut

A Long Drive [Marnas] Mark rips his pants and Arnas makes full use of the situation.

Orgasm Desperation - Stephen Colley Stephen x Reader, with reader making Stephen beg for it.

BoB Sexarama Shameless, plotless smut headcanons.

A3 - Throuple Aethelflead x Aldhelm x Aethelred headcanons

BoB Poly Family BS You get involved with Finan, Sihtric and Osferth and raise children with them. Modern verse, headcanon list

Band of Bebbanburgh - XII - Getting Ink Done Uhtred, Osferth, Finan and Sihtric are getting tatted and Sihtric likes it a bit too well.

First Kiss - Draco Malfoy Set during book six.

First Kiss - Eric Northman Simple as.

Basically every thought I have ever had about Sihtric, but in a pile Full ass headcanon dump on my very fav himbo.

Good Good Good, Good Vibrations Mr F uses a vibe on reader, in public, sorta.

Orgasm Desperation - Game!Lambert Needy Needy Lambertini.

Lambert in the Middle Lambert getting some DP from Eskel and Geralt.

Another Lovely Puppy Pile Reader x Many witchers (and Jaskier)

Band of Bebbanburgh - XI - Tetanus Uhtred 'challenges' Sihtric to catch a pigeon. Hoemboy gets pecked and scratched, but has no tetnaus immunisation, so Finan and Osferth have to wrangle him to go to the dco's. Sihtirc does not like doctors and has to be pacified with sexy times from his boyfriends.

Giving Birth to Sihtric's Child It is not reader's first and it will most certainly not be the last.

TLK Underworld AU Headcanon List about a mafia au of sorts

Finan Eating You Out He's good with his mouth, let's be real

How He Met Me - VI August POV version of The Prophet [fic]

At the Desk - Napoleon Solo Napoleon Solo fucking reader on her desk, Arranged Marriage verse.

Sex in the Changing Room - Modern!Sihtric Raunchy dirty naughty Sihtric fucking reader in the changing rooms of the local clothing store.

On the table - Sihtric Canon verse, he humps you on the table

Sex in the Bath - Captain Syverson Bath sex with Sy

Ever Curiouser - I Hellboy Longfic, polyship.

Some Bebbanboys smut, bc I am nasty Smutty stuff with Sihtric x Finan x Osferth

Ben Daimio x Werewolf Reader A beastly smut

The Bebbanboys Band AU headcanons

Ben Daimio - Sneaking Around Smutty, you and Ben avoid getting caught while fucking on the job

Sweetheart Prompt #3 Ivar Lothbrok, suprise surprise

Band of Bebbanburgh - X - What Sihtric Does Best Smut fest about Sihtric sucking dick

Ulysses Klaue Smut Does exactly what it says on the tin.

No Way We Are Making Homework - Modern Ubbe Modern Ubbe x Reader. You should be making homework, but you are not.

Nasty Nasty Dirty Gross Ubbe CW: Incest Ubbe uses one specific way of making Hvitserk listen.

Ubbe x Alfred - Modern AU Ubbe and Alfred shower together.

This Home I Built - TLK Poly Fest Selfish fix it fic, lotsa smut, mainly about Sihtric.

Santiago Garcia Breeding Kink V1 Santi knocking you up.

Alpha Geralt Going Feral Nasty smut with no excuses

Sihtric - Breeding Kink V1 Sihtric knocking you up

Omega Sihtric Going Feral Needy Omega Sihtric

Alpha Geralt Scenting You Scenting sesh getting out of hand.

Santiago Garcia - Rough Sex Ah yes, more shameless porn with no plot.

Scenting Omega Sihtric Scenting Omega Sihtric gets out of hand.

My Fair Lady Shameless Aldflaed smut

Expectations - Loki Shameless Loki smut

Choking Sam Winchester Reader applying some pressure to a big moose, sexually.

At Saltwick What happened between Sihtric, Finan and Osferth while the kids were asleep.

Sex in Public - Sihtric Canon verse.

Neteyam x Au'Nung Neteyam almost died and Au'Nung is distressed.

Proof That I am an Aweful Person [TLK Poly stuff] More ReaderxPretty Boys headcanons

Fjall Stoneheart - Doggystyle Shameless smut

Band of Bebbanburgh - IX - Seeking Refuge Osferth goes to Finan when his homelife starts turning for the worst.

Breeding V1 - Jake Sully Jake Sully knocking you up.

Band of Bebbanburgh - VIII - Show You How Sihtric teases Osferth how to please Finan

Band of Bebbanburgh - VII - Small Comforts Finan having himself a slice of Sihtric.

Band of Bebbanburgh - VI - Sihtric's Dream Sihtric wakes up from a bad dream and Finan and Osferth put him at ease.

By God(s) and Men - Finan x Sihtric Canon verse; Sihtric and Finan figure out their dynamic.

The Baker's Boy - Finan x Sihtric Modern AU; Finan just realised he's been in love with Sihtric all along.

The Witan - Mark/Arnas/Reader CW: RPF and RPS Established Arnas x Reader and Past Marnas. Arnas convinced reader to come along to a TLK cast vaca and things spin swiftly out on his control.

All Three of Them Reader x Sihtric x Finan x Osferth smut

Threesome with Sihtric and Osferth Shameless smut with a lil twist

Threesome with Sihtric and Finan Dirty smutty smut smut smut

[slytherincursebreaker]

Osferth Masterlist mini series.

The Healer

Warning : smut, abused, blood eagle and terrible hands

After the battle, Uhtred's army was outnumbered, Osferth manage to give Uhtred and his men time to escape which result of him being captured. He befriended the healer will help him.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

Modern Osferth and clairvoyant Reader

Till death do us part

Warning : infidelity, murder, smut, abuse physical and mental.

Uhtred was invited by his longtime frenemy invited him for he and his wife's wedding anniversary and also security details. As he threw the largest party. Then suddenly Alfred, Uhtred's long time frenemy was murdered in cold blood. Uhtred round up the list of suspects.

Suspects that wants Alfred dead and beneficial of his fortune. A witness who saw the murder and the body.

- Ealhwich : his wife.

- Aethelfled : eldest daughter.

- Edward : his heir and only son

- Aethelhelm - father of his late daughter who once married to Edward but divorced which drove her to commit suicide.

- Aethelwold : Alfred's nephew and cousin to his children.

- Beocca : Alfred's former tutor and now priest.

- Aethelred : Aethelfled's husband

- Eardwulf : Edith's older brother and lawyer of Edith's lover

Witness

- clairvoyant : hired entertainment who saw the unknown assailant murder Alfred and being target by the killer.

Part 1

Special mini series Modern Osferth.

Before the Light of Day.

Warning : smut and angst

Osferth found a letter belong to his late uncle Leoric, there was a trunk that his uncle buried in the forest in the countryside of England.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Lament of Boromir

Warning : Angst and terrible hands, smut and cutting off limbs.

A young captain of Gondor journey to the boarder between Rohan and Gondor to scout any signs of the enemy.

Part 1

Tagged @arcielee @multyfangirl @lya-dustin @lynnbeth5172 @bellaisasleep @transparent-dreamer-kingdom @humanpurposes @youraverageaemondsimp @cyeco13 @fan-goddess @boofy1998 @zae5 @magnificentsapphiresoul @aemonds-holy-milk @venmondiese @anukulee @ladythornofrivia

[maskedemerald]

In honor of Worldbuilding Wednesday... How do you present your worldbuilding to your audience without overwhelming or boring them? What techniques do you use?

Hi! Thanks for the ask! Sorry its taken a while to get to it! (I've been decorating and distracted!)

When I'm writing world building into a story I'm thinking about:

How relevant is it?

If its not very relevant to what is going on I either cut it or I only talk about it in passing. Like commenting that there are street lamps. They are there in my magic alternate 1800s setting, A Curiosity Piqued but how exactly they work or function didn't matter to my first book in the series so I mentioned them only in the context of their light not reaching a space. In a future book in the series where they matter mechanically to the mystery then I'd find a way to go into that detail of how the magical energy is moved to them, through out the story so that readers could understand how it impacts the mystery and the solution to the mystery.

How much does the POV character care or know about it?

A big thing for me even in 3rd person is using my POV character to impact what and how I describe something and that applies to the world building as well. If a POV character has a lot of knowledge about something or a big interest in something, then I tend to spend more time on it when I can.

A good example from A Curiosity Piqued is the Rune Step, its a public transport system making use of teleportation runes. Aelfraed my POV character in the first book is not very familiar with how it works, its not his area of expertise so I mostly keep to the more general knowledge things. Like describing shape and how they interact with it. However he does care a lot about how it makes him feel. He hates the experience and gets the equivalent of really bad motion sickness. So I focus on how he feels about it and integrate that into his strong desire not to go where they are going.

Like this:

The Rune Step was a bustle of activity, a flow of people in and out the wide open doorways. Inside it was loud; conductors called out last calls for a Step. Familiar and unfamiliar locations being shouted across the large room. Aelfraed weaved through the crowd to keep up with the pace of his father, trying his best as he went to not bump into anyone. Alcoves lined the walls, in them sat discs of red granite that stood out against smooth grey stone they were set into. Engraved with sharp lines resembling a compass with many extra points darting out all directions. Their edges worn down and the rune carvings rounded and chipped at the edges a little.

A few moments later liquid poured into the channels made by the carvings. Running from the edges towards the middle then through narrow channels filling up the runes. As it crested the top of the channels the world lurched. His head spun. Aethelric caught his arm. The feeling of movement was gone as quickly as it had happened but in its wake it left him feeling rather unsteady. His stomach churning, head still spinning and ears ringing. It felt no better than any previous time, no matter how many times people told him it would get easier. His family around him were no worse for wear. He knew Aethelric used to have it bad too but only a few times when they were younger. His father started moving immediately, shaking each shoe a little to clear off the few drops of liquid lingering from the Step. Aethelric supported him as they followed. They had told him before that it was just like blinking. They’d even suggested that he try to blink at the time of activation. Most didn’t experience the disorientation, lack of balance or the sickness. At least not over such short distances, the longer ones could disorient even the best travellers.

The role of the setting to the character.

This one's a little similar to the previous one but it impacts how I treat world building both in the planning and actual story as a whole rather than just specific bits of it. Basically how the world building is presented in A Curiosity Piqued that I've been talking about is going to be different from how it's presented in my Fae Pocket Dimension setting, Magic Act.

For the first one nearly everything Aelfraed encounters is going to be normal. A lot of it he will see every day. It might be things he doesn't understand or know but it is normal aside from the equivalent of new scientific discoveries. So I treat the world building like science and tech. Its understood on a user level if not a technical one. I try to treat it as mundane in how the characters react to it. I describe it maybe a bit more visually for readers than I would a computer on a desk in a modern setting but in how the characters treat it I use that as the rule. It should to them be as normal as a computer.

It also involves a lot of planning in this setting because of how the tech like magic has to work together and have structured rules to work well in a detective style story. I can go into the nitty gritty of how it works and rely on the familiar feel to help it seem normal. I try to treat for example the Rune Step a bit like the metro system in my local area or other train stations I've been in. Familiar sights, sounds and feelings.

For the Magic Act what the POV character encounters is more unfamiliar and intended to be levels of uncanny and sinister. So I focus on the feelings of off ness and get heavy into the sensory descriptions. What's different from the familiar. I think this kind of world is the only time I spend a lot of words all at once on world building in the text. Its still very WIP so that might change but the chain of unfamiliar things that don't make sense I feel helps with evoking the overwhelmed feelings of the POV character. However as he gets used to things I do less of that but still keep the world building to a very observational thing. He doesn't know how it works so the only time I get into the details of how something works is through other characters interest. Night, the other character that is at home in the world tends to focus on only explaining the social norms if they explain anything at all.