#battle of Stamford Bridge

[grayjoy15]

Day 24: Elisiv (or Elisaveta) of Kyiv. Potentially the eldest daughter of Prince Yaroslav, Elisiv married Harald Hardrada who had also been in exile at Yaroslav’s court. During his time in the Byzantine Varangian guard (and before they were married), Hardrada would compose love poetry addressed to Elisiv. She is sadly the sister we know least about despite her husband being by far the most famous of Yaroslav’s in-laws. The sagas say she accompanied her daughters and husband as far as Orkney in 1066, but even that is debated.

[maypoleman1]

14th October

St Selevan’s Day

Harold Rex Interfectus Est; scene from the Bayeux Tapestry. Source: Wikipedia

Today is St Selevan’s Day, but unfortunately this saint almost certainly didn’t exist. His only claim to fame is to have caught two fish on the same single line on three consecutive occasions. It is thought this story was invented to explain two fish carvings on a bench-end at the chapel in St Levan, near Land’s End in Cornwall.

What definitely did take place on this day in 1066 was the momentous Battle of Hastings, which saw King Harold Godwinsson’s army decisively defeated by that of the invading Normans under Duke William. Although the resultant Norman Conquest forever altered the dynastic, political, linguistic and land ownership characteristics of England, it was no foregone conclusion. Harold’s army had already comprehensively defeated a Norwegian Viking army under King Harald Hardrada at Stamford Bridge in the north east. The English levies then made a forced march to meet William’s soldiers who had in the meantime landed at Pevensey Bay. The battle was lost when the English fell for a Norman feint and abandoned their advantageous position on Senlac Hill to pursue apparently fleeing Normans only to be cut down by William’s cavalry when the trap was sprung. In Anglo-Saxon martial tradition, Harold’s elite nobles, his housecarls, refused to desert him and they died to a man alongside their king. This was very valorous, but made the ultimate conquest much easier for William as all who may have resisted the Normans perished on the battlefield.

Although the English Witan made Harold’s heir, Edgar, king, he immediately abdicated in favour of William, who was crowned King William I on Christmas Day, bringing to an end what historians term “Anglo-Saxon England”.

[theancientwise]

My honest and humble opinions(i don't mean to offend anyone) about the teaser trailer of "Vikings Valhalla Season 3"

Emma and Canute are the most brilliant and interesting as always. They steal every scene they are in, whether they are together or not.

Freydis is "Lagertha 2.0" more and more... and i don't mean it in a good way.

Well, Leif seems like becoming more interesting than he was in season 2. I hope they will do this character some justice.

Harald and Helena = Bjorn and Elsewith... Am i having a dejà-vu?

And the most important thing: No Harold Godwison, No Battle of Stamford Bridge, but above all, No Battle of Hastings and No William the Goddammit Conqueror.

I think this gif embodies perfectly my idea and feelings about it:

[mapiforpresident]

Could you please do a Leah Williamson x Reader fic? Enemies to lovers. Reader captains Germany & as a striker often gets into exchanges with Leah during international games. The reader eventually transfers to Chelsea & now that they're in the same city a relationship starts to blossom.

New Beginning

Leah Williamson x reader

~~~

The streets of London buzzed with life as you navigated through the chaos. Your phone had decided to malfunction just when you needed it most, leaving you hopelessly lost in a city that felt foreign despite the countless times you had dreamed of playing here. With each turn you grew more and more confused and lost.

You had recently transferred to Chelsea after a stellar career with Wolfsburg, where you had captained the team to multiple titles. Leaving your old club had been bittersweet, the camaraderie and success you had shared with your teammates were hard to let go of. Yet the thrill of a new challenge in a city that loved football was exciting. You were excited for the big games at Stamford Bridge against big teams like Arsenal

Leah had always been a formidable presence on the pitch. As the captain of the Lionesses and a standout defender, she was known for her strategic mind and adorable frown. Your history with her was complex, marked by battles on the field where you often found yourselves in heated exchanges. As a striker, you had tangled with her more times than you could count. The tension between your national teams was intense especially after your loss to her in the Euros final, but there was also a mutual respect.

As you turned a corner, a familiar figure caught your eye, Leah was strolling casually down the street. You felt surprise mixed with apprehension, your rivalry had always felt more like a sports one than a personal one. But here she was, looking effortlessly put together, her hair slightly tousled in the cool breeze.

“Lost, are we?” Leah’s voice broke through the noise, a teasing smirk on her face.

You hesitated. “Yeah, my phone decided to give up on me,” you admitted, a hint of annoyance creeping into your voice.

“Need a hand?” she offered, the warmth in her tone surprising you.

“Uh, sure,” you replied, skeptical about if she was actual going to help you or lead you in the wrong direction. “I’m trying to find my way to Stamford Bridge for my tour. ”

“Not far from here, actually. Follow me,” Leah said, turning on her heel. You fell into step beside her, the initial tension still hanging in the air.

As you walked, the awkwardness began to dissipate. Leah was surprisingly engaging, telling you things about London and pointing out places she likes. You found yourself laughing with her, completely forgetting your previous apprehension. The cheeky smile that played on her lips lingered in your mind long after you parted ways.

You exchanged numbers, before she said goodbye outside of the stadium. But as the days turned into weeks, you encountered Leah more often than you anticipated—at a charity photoshoot, in a café after training, even at a local grocery store. Each time, the energy between you shifted slightly, subtle flirting and teasing becoming more frequent.

The real turning point came during a match between Chelsea and Arsenal at the Arsenal. The atmosphere was amazing, fans of both teams had sold out the stadium. But as the match unfolded and Arsenal won 3-2, you felt incredibly frustrated that you couldn't score a second goal.

Just as you turned to leave the pitch, you heard Leah call your name, her voice cutting through the noise of the stadium. You spun around, catching her gaze. “Hey! You played amazing out there,” she said, her expression softer than you had seen before.

“Yeah, you played well too,” you conceded, trying to keep your tone light, masking the disappointment of the loss.

“Want to grab a drink?” she suggested, her signature frown on her face even though her team just won an important game.

You raised an eyebrow. “Are you asking me out?”

“Maybe” she replied, her frown turning into a slight smirk.

You hesitated for a heartbeat, your mind racing through all the possible implications. “Alright, I’m in,” you finally said, a rush of excitement coursing through you.

As you walked to a nearby bar, you shared stories and laughter, the conversation flowing easily as you discussed everything from football tactics to your favorite cities you have traveled to. There was a very calm and comfortable atmosphere between you, and you felt at ease.

You had an amazing night at the bar only having a drink each before switching to water, but still spending hours talking.

That night, as you parted ways, Leah leaned in, her breath warm against your ear. “We should do this again. This was even more fun than beating Chelsea?”

“Deal as long as you stop bringing up that we lost,” you replied, a smile creeping onto your face.

In the weeks that followed, you began to see Leah in a new light. You found yourself thinking about her more and more often, replaying moments from your night at the bar. Embarrassingly you also found yourself stalking her instagram and watching tiktok edits of her.

~~~

The streets of London were draped in a misty rain as you sat curled up on your couch, lost in a novel Lucy had recommended you. It had been a day off for you, having won a game the previous day against Roma. Suddenly, your phone buzzed, pulling you from your book.

It was a text from Leah: “Hey want to grab a drink? I could use the company.” You knew that she had just lost a game against Real Madrid at the Emirates, having gotten a notification that the score was 2-1.

A mix of excitement and nervousness fluttered in your stomach. You quickly typed back, “Of course. Where do you want to meet?”

Less than an hour later, you found yourself at a small, intimate bar in the heart of London. You remembered Leah saying this was the bar she came to Leah walked in, her shoulders slightly hunched against the rain, but she gave you a small, shy smile as her eyes met yours.

As she settled into the seat next to you, you quickly fell into easy conversation. Leah spoke candidly about the disappointment of Arsenal's recent loss in the Champions League, and her frustration with Jonas and their tactics not working. You listened wishing you could help her and make her feel better or take her mind off the loss.

After a drink and a water, you both decided to head out, the rain still misting in the wind. “Let me walk you home,” you offered, and Leah nodded appreciatively and secretly just wanting to spend as much time with you as possible.

“Thanks for walking with me,” Leah said, her voice quiet. Throughout the walk your hand kept accidentally brushing hers and you blushed as Leah didn't pull her hand away. As you approached the door of her flat, the mood shifted slightly, and Leah turned to you, her eyes searching yours. “Can I kiss you?” she asked, a hint of vulnerability in her voice.

“Yeah, I’d like that,” you replied, heart racing.

She leaned in, and your lips met in a gentle kiss. The world around you faded—the rain, the city, everything but the two of you in that moment. When you pulled away, Leah’s cheeks were flushed, and a grin spread across her face. Just then the rain started to pour down soaking both of you as you shrieked and Leah let out a genuine laugh.

“Want to come inside?” she asked trying to quickly find her key and get out of the rain.

You stepped into her flat, the warmth enveloping you like a comforting hug. “It’s cozy in here,” you remarked as you kicked off your shoes.

“Let me get us some tea,” Leah said, moving toward the kitchen. You went to the bathroom to freshen up and came back and sat at her small dining table.

After a few minutes, she returned with two steaming mugs, and sat across from you. “You know, I really enjoy spending time with you,” Leah said, her gaze sincere.

“Same here. This has probably been my favorite night in London so far,” you replied.

As the rain continued to pour outside, Leah glanced nervously at the couch. “I can take the couch if you want to stay the night,” she offered hesitantly.

You shook your head, your heart racing at the thought of sharing a bed. “I don’t mind sharing with you, I promise not to bite.”

“Are you sure?” she asked, wanting to make sure you were completely comfortable.

“Definitely,” you affirmed, a grin spreading across your face.

In her bedroom, you changed into a pair of her pajamas—soft and cozy, and they smelled like Leah. As you climbed into bed, Leah nestled beside you, her body warm and inviting.

The silence that followed was comfortable yet you could feel the nervous energy radiating from her. You glanced over, noticing the way she bit her lip, and decided to break the silence. “I really like you, Leah. I’d love to go on more dates and see where this goes.”

Her eyes lit up, and she let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. “I’d like that too,” she replied, her voice soft and genuine.

You leaned in, capturing her lips again in a tender kiss, but this time she deepened it loving the feeling of your lips on hers.. When you finally pulled away, a content smile spread across your face.

The rain continued to fall outside, the sound soothing as you cuddled together under the covers. As you drifted off to sleep, you felt an overwhelming sense of peace, knowing that this was just the beginning of something beautiful. You realized that you would love nothing more than to fall asleep next to Leah every night.

[blueiscoool]

1,100-Year-Old Viking Sword Found in UK River

A corroded sword pulled from an English river by a magnet fisher is a Viking weapon dating to between A.D. 850 and 975, experts have confirmed.

Trevor Penny was searching for lost and discarded objects in the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire in November 2023 when he made the discovery. The magnet fisher had been down on his luck that day and only pulled scaffolding poles from the water, he said in a message on Facebook. When Penny lugged out the sword, he didn't immediately recognize what it was.

"I was on the side of the bridge and shouted to a friend on the other side of the bridge, 'What is this?'" Penny, who is a member of the Thame Magnet Fishing Facebook group, recalled in the message. "He came running over shouting, 'It looks like a sword!'"

Penny immediately uploaded images of the sword to Google to try to identify it. "Whatever photo angle I tried was coming up with Viking sword," Penny said. The magnet fisher then contacted the Oxfordshire county liaison officer responsible for recording archaeological finds made by the public, and took the sword to be examined by experts.

The sword, only provisionally dated until now, has been authenticated as Viking and estimated to date as far back as 1,200 years ago.

The weapon dates to a period when the Vikings, who were originally pagans from Scandinavia, traveled to the British Isles to plunder, conquer and trade with the ruling Saxons. The Vikings set foot on British soil in the eighth century, having raided a monastery on Lindisfarne, an island off Britain's northeast coast, in 793. Similar raids in Britain occurred for several centuries and escalated after 835, when larger Viking fleets started arriving and fighting royal armies. British kings gradually reconquered territory seized by the Vikings throughout the 10th century and unified what was a patchwork of kingdoms into a new realm called Englalond.

Viking incursions and periods of rule continued until the 11th century, but the Viking Age ended following the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066, with the defeat of the king of Norway, Harald III Sigurdsson, by the Saxons.

The newly discovered Viking sword is in the care of Oxford museum services and may eventually be put on display, the Oxford Mail reported.

"The officer said it was archaeologically rare to find whole swords and treasure of historical importance still intact," Penny told the regional newspaper last week. "There was a little dispute with the landowner and the rivers trust who don't permit magnet fishing. The latter sent a legal document saying they wouldn't take action on the condition that the sword was passed to a museum, which I had done."

By Sascha Pare.

[alltoolewis]

Enough for you (part 1) - Mason Mount

I missed you guysssss..... finally logged back into my account after 2 months and began typing & I'm so happy!!!! I am sorry for the absent, uni and my personal life has been a living hell but I am back for now to speak and write to all you lovely lot... which I've just now discovered I now have 2,000 followers! Thank you soooooooo much I really can't believe it

This one isn't the best as I'm a little rusty but I think it's a good opener for a new series I am going to write! Currently it's called 'enough for you' however this might change the more I write of it! The next part will be uploaded tomorrow but for now feel free to fill my inbox with 'hello's' and questions as I missed you all sooooooooo much! Enjoy 💕

Summary- After your dad, frank lampard, gets assigned to manage his old team again and wants you to join him as the head counsellor, your mind fills with dread and flashbacks of a possible reunion with your ex...

“Theres no way…” You whispered, staring at your father in disbelief as he spoke the words that you thought you’d never hear again “Your managing Chelsea… again”.

“Only for the rest of the season, it’s nothing permanent yet” You could hear his own surprise in his voice, as if he too couldn’t believe what he was saying. “But it went awful last time” You gasped “Why would they want you back?”

 “Cheers kiddo, I needed that confidence boost…” rolling his eyes he came closer to you, ruffling your hair slightly before walking pass you towards the kitchen.

“I didn’t mean it like that dad” You sighed, following him “They just treated you so badly last time… is it worth it?” It’s not that you didn’t want your dad to go back into managing his old team, of course you wanted him too! Goosebumps rose on your own arms just thinking about Frank Lampard’s, your dads, big return to Stamford bridge. But the excitement fades away quickly once you the memories of last time flood in your mind.

The headline that he left…

The face he made when he got the call…

The hours and hours he spent preparing to head HR to fight a losing battle…

Seeing the nervousness in your eyes, he wrapped his arms around you “Theres no need to panic, eh? It’s a couple of weeks that’s all… they need me”.

Sighing, you knew that he was right. You didn’t have to live under a rock to know how poor Chelsea was at the minute. “I suppose you couldn’t make them any worst than they are…” You giggled, a smirk on your face as you pulled away from the hug, his laugh echoing across the marble walls of the kitchen “That’s the spirit! Now let’s get a glass of wine to celebrate our return!”

Just as you were about to grab the glasses, you froze “Our return…”

“Yeah, that’s the thing…” Your dad spoke hesitantly “The board had asked if you’d also come back as the head of the wellbeing team. All the players and staff have been going through a rough time and really need a team on site to help… that’s why they need you!”

Working for Chelsea was the first job you had ever gotten when you graduated from university with a counselling degree. It obviously helped that your dad was the manager of the team, however every loved having you around and you loved being there. But when your dad got fired from the team in such a cruel way and the management of the team collapsing, there was no way that you were going to stay… so you left with him… despite everything you were leaving behind… despite leaving him!

“No way dad!” You quickly rejected, placing the glasses back down as you headed back into the living room “I am happy for you, I really am! But I’m not going back!”

“Why not?”

“I have a job!”

“You can leave it” He pushed, causing your eyes to widen “I can’t just leave my job dad! What am I supposed to say, ‘sorry guys I’m going to work with my dad for a few weeks and then I’ll return when they throw us away again’”.

“They never asked you to go” Your dad interjected. It was true, if anything the team wanted you to stay more than Frank!

“They wanted you to leave… so I did too! End of!”

“(y/n) …” Frank spoke hesitantly “This isn’t about Mason, is it?”

You didn’t realise your body could go more into shock than before until he spoke his name. The name that at one point caused your heart to burst into a thousand butterflies, but now makes it shatter into a million shards of glass that was impossible to piece together again…

“No” You spoke just above a whisper, trying to convince not only your dad but yourself. It wasn’t a secret that you were once in love with Chelsea’s number 19… to the public it might have been but to everyone in your life it was clear to see the effect that his presence had on you, and even now almost 2 years later remains on you! You were perfect together, the mix of your existences together had meaning, a love so strong that it could be seen a mile away… that was until he broke your heart.

“Don’t lie to me (y/n)” Frank sighed “Why else wouldn’t you come back?”

“Why do you even care about that?” You exploded, anger tracing in your veins “You hated us together… it was one of the reasons he broke up with me!”

Flashback

“What do you mean you can’t do this anymore?” You breathed out, looking over to him as he placed his hands over his face in anger, sitting on the edge of the sofa. What was supposed to be a night enjoying watching your boyfriend play in one of the toughest tournaments in football, turned into a surprisingly sour one. The second you returned home from the win, Mason turned bitter, his face scrunched together in thought as he refused to acknowledge your presence. “You won Mase… I don’t what is wro-“

“We’re wrong!” he screamed back, standing up from the sofa as he turned to face you “It’s not about the game… It’s about us!”

“Mason I don’t know what you mean?!?” you shouted back, confusion etched in your voice as he huffed “Us, (y/n) … it shouldn’t be happening it can’t happen!”

“We’ve been together for months Mason! Why now?”

“People are going to find out about us and then what? I’m just the player who got in the team cause he’s shagging his managers daughter!”

“Who cares what they say?!” You pushed “Who gives a fuck? I’m happy, your happy… my dad’s okay with it!”

“Oh please!” He laughed sarcastically as you raised your eyebrows in confusion “Your dad hates us together and you know it!” “He did at first but not anymore” You tried to convince him, knowing that it did indeed take your dad awhile to warm to the idea “He accepts us Mason… so what’s this really about because I know what you are saying is full of shit!”

Mason turned back around, not wanting you to see any more of the cracks showing “I’m telling the truth (y/n)!”

“No. Your. Not.” You said, voice getting angrier and angrier “You wouldn’t do this now, you wouldn’t end us over something so simple… so easy to fix! So what is it?”

“I CHEATED OKAY!” he shouted back, causing your heart to stop. “Your lying…” You mumbled, shaking your head as you refused to let the tears go “Your lying… you’d ne-never do th-that to me… with who?”

“Does it matter?” He sighed, pulling his hair as he glanced over to what once was your happy figure, but is now destroyed. “Yes it does…” You whispered, a tear ruining down your cheek against your will “of course it does, so with who?”

“Just a girl at the club” he spoke with no emotion “I got drunk, she was there, it happened”

“Why?”

“Why what?” He tutted “Why did I fuck her? Like I just said, we got drunk she was there, you wasn’t it’s that easy-“

“No… not that” You stopped him, not wanting to hear anymore “Why wasn’t I good enough for you?”

Your words caused him to freeze as he stopped his pacing, and for a moment you could of sworn you seen the cracks to yet another lie but of course it was hidden quicker than it was seen “You know what they say… the game is the game, and sometimes your just not good enough to play!”

His words caused your body to tense up like you just got a million paper cuts, you wanted to push him… to fight him… to prove that the crack you seen was a lie, a doubt… but why would you, when the man you loved, the man you thought was your haven, just told you that you weren’t good enough.

Without another word, you nodded, walking past him to collect your belongings. Only once you were past him did you let the tears run…

“Mason?” You whispered, needing to say one more thing to him before you left

“Yes…” You didn’t look at him when he replied but you knew he was crying… but why?

“Thank you for letting me play the game with you…” and with that you left… one of you hoping to see the other one again while the other one prayed.

End of flashback

 A shiver ran down your back as you remembered the horrid memory, but it was brushed off as your dad began to speak again “I didn’t hate you together!” He protested, sitting beside you on the couch “Did I hate the idea of my oldest child falling in love? Yes. Did I hate the idea that one of my best players was seeing my daughter behind my back? Of course.”

“dad…” You tried to stop him, but he obviously ignored you.

“But did I hate seeing my daughter so happy? No.” tears streamed down your face as he spoke the truthful words “I know it hurt you. The hiding… the breakup… the secrecy. But that’s what love is, and deep down I know he really did love you.”

“Then why did break up with me then?” you sniffled “If he really loved me that much then why?”

“That’s something we’ll never know unless you speak to him.”

Of course you didn’t tell your dad he cheated on you, although after the reveal you couldn’t stand to even look at him, your love overpowered the hatred of ruining his relationship with your dad and his chances of remaining in the first team.

“I’m not seeing him dad… no matter what I’m not facing him again” Your body went into reject mode at the idea of just seeing him, nevermind having a vulnerable conversation with him. “I’m not asking you too honey, he can be booked in with someone else and you’ll have your own office… but please come back with me? I need you”.

 ‘I need you’

The three words that held so much but little meaning. The three words that you held onto so tightly for so many years. The three words that you can never refuse.

“Fine…” You sighed, as your dads’ arms wrapped around you once more in celebration. “Thank you… thank you… thank you! The teams going to be so happy…”

“You don’t have to thank me, I’d do anything for you and you know that” You chuckled, getting off the couch to collect the glasses you put down a lifetime ago “but dad?”

“Yes?”

“You make sure Mason Mount stays the hell away from me!”

[lfcslut]

no touching

hakim ziyech x reader

words: 2.3k

request: FILTHY ziyech smut where you show up to his game with another chelsea players shirt 🤞🏼

warnings: 18+ ONLY! smut, angst, fluff at the end. dom!hakim, sub!reader, jealousy, possessiveness, established relationship, name calling/degradation, bdsm undertones (reader gets tied up), unprotected sex, creampie, oral (m and f receiving), dirty talk, choking, slapping, hair pulling i think that's it. please don't read if you're against the idea of smut about hakim.

“What the hell is that?” Hakim asks as he comes up to you after the match.

You were currently standing in Hakim’s box at Stamford Bridge after an exciting game in which Hakim had assisted a beautiful goal, assuring that Chelsea won the match after what had been a difficult start to the season. Given this, you had been expecting a much warmer greeting from your fiance when he came up to you in the stands, but Hakim was currently staring you down cold. 

“Huh?” You ask, genuinely confused as to what he was talking about.

“Your jersey. Why are you wearing his kit?”

It’s at that point that it hits you. You had been a Chelsea fan long before you had even met Hakim, and so while you owned several different number 22 jerseys, you also had some jerseys belonging to other players. You had been in a rush to get to the match, so you had simply grabbed a jersey from your closet without looking at it, assuming that it was one of Hakim’s. Now, you quickly realized that this wasn’t the case.

“Oh,” you say. “I didn’t realize-”

“We’re leaving,” Hakim says suddenly, and before you can get in a word, he’s grabbed your purse and begun heading towards the exit. Stunned by his reaction, you hesitate for a moment and then quickly follow suit behind him. 

“Hakim, wait,” you say, jogging to catch up to him. “I swear I didn’t know-” 

“I don’t want to hear it,” says Hakim coldly. You’re too taken aback by his harsh tone to say anything in response, so you simply follow him in silence to the car. 

Neither of you exchange a word during the car ride from the stadium back to your house. Hakim has a tendency to become jealous easily, but even for him, this was a bit of an overreaction. It was a genuine mistake. You normally always make sure to wear one of his jerseys to his matches. To be honest, you weren’t even sure whose jersey you were currently wearing. 

When you arrived home, Hakim immediately exited the car and walked through the front door, not even bothering to wait for you like he normally did. By this point, you were more frustrated than anything by his behavior. As soon as you entered the house, you confronted him. 

“Listen, you know that I have a bunch of different Chelsea jerseys. I was running late to the game, so I grabbed one and just assumed it was one of yours. I don’t even know whose number I’m wearing-”

“Number 24. That’s who you’re wearing,” says Hakim, not making eye contact with you. 

“Oh.” Number 24 belonged to a certain Reece James. A certain Reece James who you had a short fling with years ago, before you had even met Hakim. Fuck, you thought to yourself. You suddenly realized why Hakim was so upset. 

“Baby, I swear it was a mistake. You know that there’s nothing between the two of us anymore, that was forever ago-”

“Then why the fuck do you still have his jersey?” asks Hakim, finally turning to look at you. 

“I just never got around to getting rid of it. I have lots of players’ jerseys-” 

“Upstairs. Now,” Hakim commands before you can finish your sentence. You hesitate for a moment, considering arguing back, but you realize that you’re not going to win this battle so you begrudgingly head upstairs to your bedroom. You sit yourself down on the bed, arms crossed in front of you. Hakim follows you upstairs shortly afterwards. 

“Why are you still dressed?” he asks, closing the door behind him. His question surprises you. 

“Hakim, baby, I think we should really talk about this-”

“No, I don’t want to talk. Now, strip.” His voice is deep and commanding, and his eyes are icy cold. You have never seen him like this before. You know that it would be useless to argue, so instead, you stand up and begin taking off your clothes. You start with your pants and then take off your jersey. Once the kit is off your body, Hakim takes it from your hand and tosses it into the trash. 

“Hakim!” you say in protest, thinking about how much that kit had cost.

“You’re lucky I didn’t rip it to shreds,” he says. “Now take those off, too.” He gestures towards the bra and panties that you’re still wearing. 

“Are you not going to join me?” you ask flippantly. 

“Patience, darling,” says Hakim, smirking. The way he says darling makes your insides tingle. You unclip your bra and toss it onto the bed before taking off your panties and letting them fall to the floor. Hakim looks you up and down once while licking his bottom lip. 

“Good girl. Now get on the bed.”

You’ve been naked in front of Hakim many times before, but this time he’s fully dressed, which makes you slightly nervous. It’s cold in your room, and you shiver as you climb onto the bed and lie down on your pillow. You expect Hakim to join you, but instead, you hear him rummaging around in his closet. You look up and see him heading towards the bed with one of his ties in his hand. 

“What-”

“Shh,” he interrupts you, as he climbs onto the bed. He towers over you with his legs on either side of your body.  “I don’t want to hear a word from you.” He uses his teeth to undo the tie and then uses it to bind your wrists above your head. You feel the wetness begin to collect at your core as he does so. “You did something bad. And bad girls deserve to be punished.” You can’t help but let a whine escape from your lips at his words, but you know this was a mistake when you feel Hakim tighten the grip of the tie on your wrists in response. 

“What did I just say?”

“I’m sorry, sir,” you say, and he can’t help but smirk at your obedience. You know that Hakim loves it when you call him sir, and you can feel the tent in his pants become harder. 

“Now,” says Hakim as he takes off his pants. “You’re gonna suck this dick like the dirty slut that you are, and maybe if you’re good, I’ll let you cum.”

As soon as his cock is out, your mouth opens with anticipation. You want so badly to wrap your hands around it. Hakim brings his knees to either side of your torso, so that his dick is hanging right above your mouth. He strokes it a few times and moans as he does so.

“You want this dick, baby?” He asks, biting his lower lip. 

You nod eagerly. He lines his dick up with your mouth and slams it all the way down your throat, making your eyes tear up immediately. “Then take it. Take all of it.” He begins fucking your mouth vigorously. You can’t help but close your eyes as your gag reflex kicks in. 

“Keep those eyes open,” commands Hakim, and you do as you’re told. He grabs some of your hair in his hands and uses it as leverage to fuck deeper into your mouth. 

“You’re doing so good, baby,” he praises you, and after thrusting into your mouth a few more times, he slows down and lets you begin to set the pace. By now, tears are rolling down your cheeks and drool is piling up around your mouth. You pull away slightly, so that your tongue can circle the head, before taking the entirety of him down your throat again. You feel the vein on the side of his dick pulsate, and you know that he’s about to come. 

“You gonna swallow all of my cum?” He asks, and you nod eagerly in response. As soon as you do so, he releases into your mouth. His warm cum fills your mouth and you swallow every last drop of it. 

Hakim pulls away and collapses on the bed next to you, taking a moment to catch his breath before turning towards you to wipe your tears away. He brings his thumb towards your lips and wipes away the mixture of cum and saliva dripping around it before sticking his finger in your mouth so you can suck on it. 

“Hakim, I wanna touch, please,” you whine.

“Soon, baby, soon. Let me have a taste of this pretty pussy first.” 

You groan at his words, half in frustration that he won’t let you touch him and half in anticipation of him eating you out. The wetness in your core was building up again, and you know you’re probably making a mess on the sheets, but you don’t care right now. You brush your leg against his thigh, eager for him to touch you. 

“Uh uh, darling. What did I say about being patient?” Hakim smirks, and you almost roll your eyes in response. 

“Please, please touch me.” 

Hakim obliges and brings his finger up and down your slit. “So wet for me already, baby? And just from sucking my cock?” You’re too impatient to be embarrassed by this. Hakim lifts your thighs up and places them over his shoulders so that he has full access to the area where you need him the most. He kisses your inner thighs and you push your core forward towards him, which only makes him chuckle. 

“That’s enough teasing, baby,” you whine.

Hakim then places a kiss on your clit and looks up at you, smiling, his lips already wet from your juices. “You’re already making a mess and I’ve barely even touched you.” He buries himself back down towards your core and then finally, finally, brings his tongue to you, hungrily lapping up your mess. You’re so desperate that you let out a scream when he makes contact with you. He looks up at you periodically, watching as your eyes roll towards the back of your head. 

“More, more,” are the only words you could muster as you rock your hips towards him, desperate for more pressure. Understanding what you want, Hakim takes one finger and pushes it inside of you, all while his mouth keeps contact with you. 

“Fuck, fuck,” you scream, knowing that you weren’t going to last long. God how you wish you could run your fingers through his hair right now. 

Hakim inserts a second finger, and your toes begin to curl. You’re sure your wrists were going to be red the next day from how hard you were tugging.

“I bet Reece James can’t do this to you, can he?” Hakim whispers into your core, his words and the hot air from his mouth bringing you closer to the edge. “Answer me.”

“No, only you can make me feel this way, sir,” you respond with shallow breaths. 

Hakim grins. “Come all over my fingers, darling.” 

“Hakim, Hakim, Hakim.” His words bring you undone and you come all around him as you scream his name. He continues to finger you through your high, lapping up all your juices. 

You keep your eyes closed for a minute as you come down from your high, finally looking down at him and smiling. “You’re so good at that,” you say, grinning at the way his mouth is glistening with your cum. 

“Gonna untie you now, sweetheart,” he says, and you groan with relief as he frees your hands. As soon as he does, your hands are all over his body, caressing his toned chest and arms and then finally running your hands through his hair. 

“Please fuck me,” you whine, taking his face in your hands. “I’ll never wear someone else’s jersey again.” 

“I know you won’t. Now turn around,” Hakim commands. 

You obey immediately, turning around so that you’re on all fours with your ass sticking up. Unable to help himself, Hakim brings his hand down, slapping your ass so hard that you’re sure it’s going to leave a bruise. He then strokes himself for a second before lining up at your entrance, soaking his tip in your juices. Becoming impatient again, you began to rock your hips backwards into him, desperate for more friction. In response, Hakim leans down against you, wrapping his hand around your throat and whispering in your ear. 

“I’m still in control, darling. Don’t forget that.” 

He lets go of you and then slams his dick inside you, bottoming you out with one thrust. You scream out as he stretches you out, the pain quickly turning into pleasure as you adjust around his girth. He doesn’t move for a few seconds, then begins to thrust in and out of you. His hands reach around to cup your breasts, and his fingers twirl around your nipples. 

“You like being fucked like a slut, don’t you?” He asks between thrusts. Unable to form any words, all you can say in response is a “Mmhmm.” Hakim’s hands then go to your hair, grabbing it in a ponytail and using it for more leverage to fuck into you. 

“God, you’re so sexy,” he grunts, and you can tell from the way his voice falters that he’s close. The knot in your lower stomach tightens, and you know that you won’t last much longer, either.

“Gonna come inside you, baby,” he grunts and thrusts into you a few more times before exploding inside of you. As he squirts his hot cum inside of you, you come undone around his dick. Various expletives escape both of your mouths as the two of you reach your highs together. He pulls out of you and the two of you lie down on the bed next to each other, both taking a moment to catch your breath in silence.

Finally, after a minute of only the sound of your panting filling the room, Hakim turns over to look at you. He takes your cheeks in your hands and caresses them gently. “I’m sorry, baby. Are you okay? I hope I wasn’t too rough with you,” he says softly. 

“You weren’t,” you respond, smiling. 

“I love you so much,” he says, planting a gentle kiss on your lips. 

“I love you, too,” you respond when he pulls away. “I think I should wear your teammates’ jerseys more often, though.” 

[natequarter]

everyone's always like "well obviously if [the yorkists retained power in whatever fashion] england would've remained catholic because no tudors," demonstrating a fundamental misunderstanding of how alternate timelines work. sure, maybe england would remain catholic. but it could've easily remained catholic under henry viii. how do you know richard v's shock conversion to calvinism wouldn't have provoked civil war between the buckingham faction and the norfolk faction? how do you know harald hardrada winning the battle of stamford bridge wouldn't have led to the eventual establishment of the north sea republic? how do you know louis viii successfully invading england wouldn't have led to a plantagenet occitania, dividing france into two countries (three, if we're to count the independent duchy of brittany, headed by francis v) and in general significantly reducing france's power? we make assumptions about how history must have gone in the absence of a certain element because we know how they turned out for us. but that's not how history works; the vast majority of events are governed by chance.

[memewhore]

Battle of Stamford Bridge, 1066

[beyondmistland]

Like Bjorn Ironside pretending to be dead and getting his coffin only to suppress attack, what’s the coolest battle/fight tactics in history?

I'm going to preface this with the fact that 1) There are too many to list here (or anywhere really) and 2) I'm limited to what I personally know.

That said, here are a few that spring to mind:

Richard III's last charge at the Battle of Bosworth Field. Not only did he get within a sword's length of killing Henry Tudor himself but Richard also killed Henry's standard-bearer, Sir William Brandon, AND unhorsed burly John Cheyne, his older brother's former standard-bearer. Not bad for a guy who would today qualify for the Special Olympics. (The Japanese equivalent would be Sanada Yukimura.)

Harold Godwinson marching his army 185 miles (or 298 km) in just four days to take the Norwegians by surprise at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. (Honorable mention goes to the soldier who got in a barrel and floated under the bridge to spear the Viking holding off the entire English army. Chevalier de Bayard, a real life knight in shining armor, later replicated this feat by holding off 200 Spanish knights single-handedly at the Battle of Garigliano.)

When the rebels started chanting "Henry Percy King" at the Battle of Shrewsbury, Henry IV shouted back "Henry Percy is dead." Needless to say, Henry Percy did not respond. (His eldest son, the future Henry V (or as Shakespeare names him in his youth, Prince Hal), took an arrow to the face in this same battle, which is why Henry V's portraits always depict him from his uninjured side.)

Hannibal crossing the Alps and whooping Rome's ass multiple times on its own turf. (There's a reason "Hannibal ad portas" became a saying. Also, Napoleon I later replicated this feat.)

At the Battle of Bremule, a Norman knight seized the reins of Louis the Fat's horse, shouting "the king is taken!" Louis' response? Hitting the guy with his mace and shouting "the king is not taken, neither at war, nor at chess!"

Alexander the Great turning the island city of Tyre into a peninsula.

Alexander Buchanan killing Thomas, Duke of Clarence at the Battle of Bauge and holding the dead duke's coronet aloft on his lance.

Thanks for the question, anon

[catherinetheprincessofwales]

Royal Deaths, 25th September.

1066 - Harald III, King of Norway (1047-66). 

1066 - Tostig Godwinson, Earl of Northumbria, brother of King Harold killed at the Battle of Stamford Bridge.

1086 - William VIII, Duke of Aquitaine.

1333 - Prince Morikuni, 9th shōgun of the Kamakura shogunate of Japan, dies at 32.

1506 - Philip I, the handsome, first Hapsburg King of Castile, dies of a fever at 28.

1615 - Lady Arabella Stuart, English great-great-granddaughter of King Henry VII and possible heir to the throne, dies imprisoned in the Tower of London at 39.

1617 - Emperor Go-Yozei of Japan.

1665 - Maria Anna of Austria, Electress of Bavaria.

1826 - Frederica of Baden, Queen of Sweden, former wife of King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden.

1983 - Leopold III, King of the Belgians.

[racefortheironthrone]

Do you consider the Battle of Stamford Bridge and the death of Harald Hard-Ruler to be the end of the Viking age?

That's a tough question, because it really comes down to whether you view the Normans as being in historical continuity with their Vikinger ancestors (and for how long) - after all, the Normans were running around conquering southern Italy and Sicily and Malta and Cyprus and big chunks of North Africa and the Byzantine Empire and the Holy Land Levant for hundreds of years after Stamford Bridge.

But what I would say is that the death of Harold Hardrada at Stamford Bridge marked the end of an era in which England was part of a broader empire that stretched from Ireland to Sweden. As British history teachers have been boring their students to death for generations by saying, after 1066 England's orientation shifted from that Scandinavian world to its northeast to focusing on France and dreams of a continental empire of its own.

[nimblermortal]

...others would have [the Viking Age] drw to a close with the Battle of Stamford Bridge in Yorkshire on September 25, 1066, when King Harald Hard-Ruler of Norway died leading the charge against the English line, an arrow in his throat.

Children of Ash and Elm by Neil Price

Yeah! That's my boy! Drawing the entire Viking Age to a close by himself!

[unitedbydevils]

U18 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

The women win the FA Cup, the U21 women become national champs, the U18s win the northern league, and now they have beaten Chelsea 2-1 - at Chelsea - to be crowned national champs.

In what was a tough and slightly nervy final at Stamford Bridge, Manchester United came out on top against a strong Chelsea side to be crowned U18 national champions.

Both sides traded blows early on but United mixed it up between the high line and high press with sitting deep and playing long balls for Ethan Wheatley to run on to, which saw the young striker unlucky not to score when he hit the left post.

United's front 4 of Ethans Williams and Wheatley, Jack Fletcher, and James Scanlon look strong though, and it was Wheatley who finally got his deserved goal in the 21st minute with a cool finish off an outstretched Williams pass through the centre.

Chelsea fought back and used the physicality of RCM Ampah to push past United LB Harry Amass, as well as having chances from Runham and George, but good defending from Louis Jackson off the line and keeper Elyh Harrison kept United in front at the break.

That lead lasted for 120 seconds. Sake.

Chelsea held possession at the start of the second half and built a nice attack up the field, before whipping a deep cross in to back post and letting the tall Acheampong dwarf Harry Amass and easily pressure him off to nod home the equaliser. United were very bunched up in the box though, especially towards the front, and the coaching staff will be disappointed with the team's poor marking and positioning to allow Chelsea back into the game.

Chelsea's confidence shone through George in particular, and United's attacks were met with equally fierce counters. The boys in red smartly slowed the tempo down though to allow themselves a foot back in the game, which gave Ethan Wheatley the chance to break on the right side of the Chelsea box for a lovely cutback to Jack Fletcher. His effort was spurned, but the deflection from keeper Merrick fell perfectly to Ethan Williams to make it 2-1 United.

Some great footwork in the 63rd minute by Ethan Wheatley could and should have put United 3-1 up but for a good save and an average shot, but that's experience - and the footwork to get through the box defenders was top notch. Same can be said for James Scanlon the Gibraltan international; a right-sided attacker drifted central and coasting through the Chelsea midfield. Confidence, composure, and determination. Lovely stuff.

Poor defending in the 81st minute from the Chelsea goalscorer Acheampong let Ethan Wheatley in for a shot on goal but again, experience would have helped as the striker was indecisive and tried a late shot on goal rather than the pass to either Williams or Fletcher.

Chelsea continued to attack hard, and had United sat deep and scrambling to stay in the lead, but their wasteful finishing allowed United another two chances on the break - both to Ethan Wheatley again. How he didn't end the night with a hat-trick, let alone a second goal, is baffling, but perhaps it was the pressure of the final or bad luck or fatigue... who knows.

All that matters is that United won come that final whistle in a tough battle against a strong Chelsea youth team, and I'm sure it's a battle we'll see in years to come for some of these aspiring professionals.

[atisundaridarshanparadise]

Sovngarde is the Battle Anthem Song of King Harold Godwinson's Anglo-Saxon England Epic in 1066! Harold Godwinson is the Dovakhin! Edyth Swannesha is Sovngarde! Harold Godwinson is the Sun! Edyth Swannesha is the Moon! Harold Godwinson's Battle Flag is the Wessex Wyvern! Anglo-Saxon Knecht 🦢 of Orfeo Power and Glory Sidney Empire and Glory 🦢⚜️❄️⛩️🦉💎 Harold Godwinson's Anglo-Saxon Imperial Huscarl Armies Fought like Lions the Epic Battle of Fulford, the Battle of Stamford Bridge, the Battle of Hastings, the Battle of Wales, the Battle of Northumbria and Defended the North from Guillaume le Batard's Cruel Harrowing of the North! Sovngarde is the Magic Battle Song of Queen Edyth Swannesha, the Anglo- Saxon Arch Witch of the Universe, Hexe of Anglo-Saxon England and the North, Gospodarka na Slavata i Svobodata, Lady of Mercia and Sussex and the Realm for the Anglo-Saxon War against the Norman Arch witch in the Norman Camp below Senlac Hill! Queen Edyth Swannesha Had Gothic Astral Drakoness in the Air Like in Van Helsing! Edyth Swannesha is the Dovakhiness! I'm Sent Here by Goddess Freyja! I'm Sent Here by Divine Providence and Lords of Light! Vladitsite na Nebesata! I'm in Samadhi Superconsciousness and Kaivalya Power! Sovngarde is the Anglo-Saxon War Song of Eorl Edwin and Morcar, Eorl Gyrth Godwinson and Eorl Leofwine Godwinson, Lord Siward, Hereward the Wake and Robin of Locksley and Wat Tyler and Thomas Wyatt the Younger's Battles' Wars, Skirmishes and Campaigns even in Uprising were for Liberation of England from the Normans and the Spaniards! Sovngarde is the Battle Anthem of Sir Philip Sidney's Divine Star Society and Order of the Drakon fov the war in Holland against Spain! The Revenge War for the Fate of Queen Jane Grey and King Guildford Dudley of England, Wales, Ireland and France! It's a Samadhi Heaven Song! Sovngarde is the Battle War Song of King Sigismund von Luxembrourg's Crusade of Nicopolis of a Pan-European Crusader Army Mainly French and Hungarian against the Turks of Sultan Bajaseth for Liberation of Bulgaria and the Saving of the Byzantine Empire and Constantinople! All of My Crusaders are Dovakhins and Samurai Knights, the Knights of the Drakon! It's 624 Yearss of Greatness of the Order of the Drakon! Bulgaria is a Free Country for 142 Years! I Live in Sofia, Bulgaria and I am a Free Man! The Dovakhin is an Archangel and a God! Az sam Gospodar na Slavata i Svobodata! Sovngarde is the Battle Song of Emperor Timur the Great's Timurid Army and Horde for the Battle of Angora in Which He Decisively Defeated the Turks of Sultan Bajaseth, Captured the Cruel Sultan and Put Him in a Cage! It was the Revenge of King Sigismund von Luxembourg and Count Jean de Nevers for the Decisive Crusader Battle of Nicopolis, and the Treatment and Fate of My Knights and Army by the Cruel Turks! I Shall Conquer with Angels and with Gins, with Archangels and Knights and Ladies for Everything that Has Happened to Me in Bulgaria! Beowulf el Elyon Shall Love and Defend Me! This is Knight Tervel Kamenov's Epic War Song the Mount Kailash Pan-Gaian Epic, Alone with Mikael the Great, Like Vlad Dracula, Gabriel, that Saved Gaia and the Universe! Beowulf Loves and Defends Mount Kailash! Let the Echoes Become Your Strenght! What You Do Echoes in Eternity! Let Your Actions Echo in Eternity! Hail Goddess Crystine Slagman, final Crystine! Hail Sovngarde Lord and Bard Orpheus, Jeremy Soule! I'm Always on the Side of Divine Providence and Divine Providence is Always on My Side! Promote Only Nobility, People! Fight for Love, Freedom and Nobility! Hail Goddess Crystine Slagman! Reward! Nagrada! I'm the Lord of Fortune Better than Boethius! Rex Tvmundos Majestatis, Qu Salvandos Slava GRatis, Salva Me Fons Pietatis, Salva Me Fons Pietatis! O King of Tremendous Majesty, who Save s wwithout Price Those Destined to Be Saved, Save Me Font of Piety! I'm a Legendary Hero of Hoary Glory, Lord of the Anglo-Saxon Folk and Nation, Kingdom and Anglo-Saxon Empire Worldwide, the British Empire!