#brida my beloved

[aelswiths]

BRIDA (being cute and smiling) IN 2x04

For @ivarthebadbitch

[kingslionheart]

Brida + 4x01

for @in-the-next <3

[northsalpha-archive]

THE  CHILDREN  OF  ANSEL      (  IN  BIRTH  ORDER  )      as  written  in  a  journal  kept  by  ansel’s  bedside:

ELEANOR  TOMLINSON  as  MEREWINA    (  MERRIE  )    ANSELDOTTIR

and  though  she  came  first,    she  never  stood  with  superiority.    her  mother’s  daughter  through    &    through,    merrie  became  the  heart  of  the  pack;    beloved  sister    /    cherished  friend.    it  was  she  who  would  heal  the  wounded  and  feed  the  hungry.    she  who  would  teach  the  children  how  to  read.    though  she  never  triggered  her  gift,    inner  wolf  was  never  clearer  in  the  fierce  loyalty  she  displayed  everyday.    the  same  loyalty  that  saw  her  die  at  mikael’s  hand,    shielding  families.

JOSEPH  MORGAN  as  NIKLAUS    (  KLAUS  )    MIKAELSON

each  full  moon  drew  me  closer  to  klaus.    it  was  undeniable;      a  strong,    stubborn  bond  that  i  could  not  shake,    no  matter  how  much  esther  insist  i  must.    the  call  of  my  own  yearned  to  be  near  him,    to  raise  him,    to  teach  him.    i  waited  for  the  day  he  may  trigger  his  curse    &    need  me,    but  that  day  never  came.    the  pack  was  never  complete  without  him.    i  was  never  complete  without  him.    i  should’ve  done  more.

EYSTEINN  SIGURDARSON  as  CADMAN  ANSELSON

born  two  minutes    &    seven  seconds  before  his  twin  sister,    and  rest  assured;      he  never  let  goldiva  forget.    cadman  stood  with  the  confidence  of  an  alpha  before  he  could  even  truly  understand  the  meaning  of  the  word.    i  watched  him  lead  soldiers  into  victory  after  victory,    and  he  did  so  with  a  valiance  not  even  i  myself  possess.    he  did  not  marry  nor  have  children,    and  he  believed  that  made  him  a  stronger  warrior  for  it  gave  him  nothing  to  lose.    perhaps  he  was  right.

THEA  SOIE  LOCH  NAESS  as  GOLDIVA  ANSELDOTTIR

and  should  anyone  ever  doubt  goldiva’s  place  on  the  battlefield,    they  certainly  never  lived  to  make  that  mistake  twice.    my  daughter  was  born  with  fire  in  her  eyes    &    a  wolf  in  her  heart    /    claws  already  sharpened  for  war.    she  embraced  the  change  on  her  eighteenth  birthday,    underneath  the  blood  moon  and  standing  side  by  side  cadman,    neither  ever  truly  apart  from  the  day  they  arrived.    i  fear  cadman  struggled  without  her  when  she  died  at  mikael’s  hand  and  he  did  not.    it  turns  out  he  had  something  to  lose  after  all.

HARRISON  OSTERFIELD  as  RICMANN    (  RIC  )    ANSELSON

ricmann  was  a  quiet  child  and  he  remained  so  throughout  life.    the  boy  seemed  more  interested  in  nature  than  people,    whispering  words  to  the  injured  birds  while  nursing  their  broken  wings.    he  would  spend  hours  in  the  gardens,    tending  to  vegetables.    though  his  name  meant  the  power  to  rule,    he  grew  up  a  gentle  soul,    burdened  by  the  weight  of  the  moon  in  the  sky.    i  could  see  the  pressure  he  felt  to  follow  in  his  sibling’s  footsteps.    i  hope  he  knew  i  would’ve  loved  him  regardless.

UNSEEN  IN  THIS  GIFSET  as  BEOWULF  ANSELSON

our  littlest  wolf.    beowulf  came  to  us  as  a  miraculous  surprise,    born  on  a  cold  winter’s  morning,    with  sif  clutching  my  hand.    we  loved  him  dearly  in  the  short  time  we  had  together  as  a  family,    and  though  i  know  he  struggled  to  remember  us  as  i  watched  him  grow  from  the  other  side,    i  do  not  regret  dying  to  ensure  his  survival.    my  approach  distracted  mikael  long  enough  for  brida  to  run,    beowulf  tucked  safely  in  her  arms.    i  died  knowing  he  was  in  safe  hands.

[justasightseer]

Just finished watching Seven Kings Must Die. My thoughts are a bit all over the place as I watched it over the course of 10 days but here are some of my thoughts/queries, in no particular order.

ALDHELM SHOULD BE BURIED IN MERCIA!I want the Mercian army and people to be able to celebrate and grieve him, and to be buried in the land that he loved so much!!! Also, it absolutely broke my heart to see him die, I LOVED HIM SO MUCH. Probably what pissed me off the most is that he didn't even get a quick or honourable death. Hanging is a slow and painful death and my sweet love didn't deserve that 😭. RIP my beloved, even though you gave your life for England, you will always be every breath a Mercian. 💜⚔️

"WHERE IS SIHTRIC's FAMILY???" I think the writers didn't want them killed in the attack because that would be too brutal BUT they'd already escaped the slaughter in Rumcofa so it would have been a bit too ridiculous to have them escape this as well. Thus, they cut them completely. Just my thoughts but I think this explains it completely.

Where are all the women in the show though? One of the strengths of TLK is its diverse, interesting and realistic female characters so it was really odd to not have any of our female faves around. I know that Eliza and Stephanie weren't available but it was very odd that we didn't even get a mention of Stiorra (who was pretty much a main character in S5) and we got one of Young Uhtred, who I'm glad is living his best life as a ✨scholar✨. Beocca would be proud (and Alfred skshjsajshh).

YOUNG RAGNAR IS IN VALHALLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't care if they couldn't get the actor or it was a deliberate removal but my teddy bear Dane is IN VALHALLA ODINDAMMIT!!! Brida saw him in Valhalla when she was dying so he is in Valhalla. I will accept nothing else.

I have no interest in critically examining the movie at this time, for now it lives in my head and heart as the final installment of my favourite show which is perfect and flawless and amazing. However, the antagonists were really underwhelming in this, possibly because of the time crunch of a movie as opposed to a full series. Something I've always adored about TLK is the way the antagonists have never been villains (at least to me). I've always been able to understand their motives and empathize a little, even when I wasn't rooting for them. This is the first time in my memory that I skipped scenes whilst watching TLK reactions but I really couldn't being myself to listen to the bad guy in his scenes with the kings. Did not care about or for him in the slightest but he performed his role adequately, I guess.

No Alfred cameo like I'd hoped but tbh, I was too emotionally invested in the movie to care as much as I thought I would, which is a really good thing. Appreciated the cameo of his tomb though (the scene where Uhtred and Aethelstan fight in the Winchester Palace).

Is this Harry Gilby's first sex-implied scene? He's so young, I just wondered. Has nothing to do with anything, just a thought. Cool that it's on TLK, if it is.

As aggravating as Aethelstan was, I was quite hurt that his innocence was being taken advantage of, even though he was being more stupid than he really should have been. It's never been this bad in the House of Wessex that a leader has followed his heart (and other bits of his anatomy) with such blind fervour, but he also is the least emotionally-constipated so I guess it makes sense 🤷

Harry Gilby KILLED IT though. Boy can acttttttttt. Those puppy dog eyes nearly killed me lmaoo.

I was a MESS when I thought they'd killed Pyrlig, my heart almost gave out lmao. That being said, it's kind of disappointing that none of our faves died in that battle. I'm not complaining, but I lowkey am. I guess we didn't have time to grieve because it was a movie.

Alfweard AND Osbert were UNNECESSARILY HOT in this 😭😭. When I saw Alfweard with a decent haircut and a tiny bit of stubble, I was like okayyyyyyyyy. Looking very respectfully, but looking nonetheless 👀

I may or may not have been calling for Ingilmundr's castration during the final battle. Definitely cheered when Dane Spy Girl got hit, IMO she got off too lightly for what she did to my beloved Aldhelm.

"My most noble friend, Lord Aldhelm" This was so sweet 🥰😊😚

The scene where Sihtric and Finan meet Uhtred at Winchester and go up to hug him and SIHTRIC PUTS HIS FOREHEAD TO UHTRED'S gets me every single time. I'm going to miss these sweet men and their forehead touches so much 😭😭

I had a feeling Finan's wife was going to die because Arnas lowkey spoiled it, but I wasn't expecting the twist.

[lesbianwyllravengard]

Brida for the unhinged character bingo <3

BRIDA MY BELOVED

I got one bingo!

I know she needs therapy but I don't want it to make her normal, thank you for understanding

[lllostgirlll]

*me, trying my hardest to get my dad emotional my whole life, buying sappy birthday cards, sentimental gifts, etc.*

*The Last Kingdom season 5 episode 7*

( @errruvande @morosemagick @solinarimoon @kingslionheart @pupzbitez @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie @rivers-for-me @silentsihtric @persephones-journey @hcrogasm as always let me know if you want to be tagged/un-tagged ☺️❤️)

[mrsalwayswrite]

The Last Kingdom Masterlist

All my reader stories are based on female reader unless otherwise specified.

Any stories labeled with *** contain smut and are 18+ only!

Coccham squad- moodboard

For tlkafterparty and based on Taylor Swift lyrics.

Finan

-Aes Sídhe- Part 1  Part 2

Finan stumbles upon a beautiful woman in the forest. Before he can find out who she is, she vanishes. Can he find her again or will she only be a memory for him to cherish? Was she even real or one of the aes sídhe?

-The Prospective Bride

A prospective bride comes to Wessex for Aethelwold. When they meet her, she is not at all what they were expecting.... and she catches the eye of a certain Irishman. 

-Anchor in the Waves series [complete]

Finan is a slave, forced to row ceaselessly. Betrayed by those he trusted. He believes this will be the end of his life, salt water caking him and an shackle on his ankle. Yet Fate has other plans. When he arrives in Islond for the winter, he meets her. A kindred spirit. Soon they both realize how they need the other. Can they save one another? Or will the wind and whips tear them apart?

-First Time ***

“I want Finan to take my virginity.” As soon as the words left my mouth, I realized it was probably not wise to announce my intentions so blatantly.

Sihtric

-Rage Like Ice

“Look at me.” He said softly, yet the command rang loudly in his words. You shook your head, tears gathering in your eyes.

“Who did this to you?”

-Sinners and Saints

One day you stumble upon your childhood friend, Osferth, whom you have not seen in years. Yet the more time you spend with him, the more you find yourself drawn to his companion, Sihtric….and the butterflies his dark eyes give you. 

-To Be My Night And My Day -- Part 1*** / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 in-progress

Hvitserk has been your best friend since childhood, the one you can always rely on. So when you start doubting your current relationship with Sihtric, Hvitserk kindly offers to help you out….but the consequences are never what you expected.

Crossover Fic w/ Vikings. Hvitserk/Reader/Sihtric

Uhtred 

-Of The Same Stone series [in-progress]

"You will tell me your story." He whispered into her ear.

Because if there was one thing he knew in his chaotic life, it was the need to know her past. For they were both similar and different. Molded by the world of both Saxon and Dane. Refined by the fires of betrayal and vengeance. While he wielded a sword, sworn an oath to a king to bring about his dream, she lived quietly in the background. Yet there was something that kept drawing him back to her, even more than his curiosity….and he knew she felt it too.

She smirked as she drew away from him. "If you say so, my lord."

Ragnar the Younger

-Crossing Blades

I was sent to deliver a message to the leader of the Danes invading my beloved homeland. To give a threat and warning. Though soon, I found myself crossing blades with this Ragnar the Younger....and not all the blades were made of iron. 

Sigtryggr 

-My Promise

Sigtryggr reveals why he agreed to Brida's plan to take Wintanceaster.

-Temptation Part 1/ Part 2

When you were hired as the new secretary, you had no idea your boss was the embodiment of a sex god. And by then, it was too late to quit. Can you keep your relationship strictly professional or will the temptation become too much? 

-Gif edit

Based on quote from LOTR and created for the tlkafterparty challenge.

Pillows and Promises

A childhood activity leads to a revelation. 

[aelswiths]

BRIDA IN 5x02

For @ivarthebadbitch

[hecohansen31]

In Darkness I saw Her Face

SUMMARY: Set up after Brida is taken by the Welsh and in darkness she saw the face of somebody who she helped destroying, coming back to her as a ghost, to haunt her or reveal her the truth.

WARNINGS: Mention of Kidnapping, Mention of Horrid Life Situations, Murder, Ghosts, Very OOC Brida, Historically Inaccurate.

Brida looked out in the darkness of the hole she had been caged in.

Again, a slave, again at the service of others.

And again in nothing more than shit and piss.

But this time she was a fully-grown woman, her swollen belly telling the for ever proof of her innocent sin.

Sin was a Christian word she had always hated and rejected, why should she feel bad for the smallest thing?

But now …

… now she couldn’t help but feel like she must have had some kind of sin to take care of, as her life run in a constant cycle, of betrayal and imprisonment.

The collar around her neck was too tight, as the chains around her wrists, but what truly pained her in her whole body was the knowledge of having the child of the man who had set up her lover’s murder.

She was carrying the child of the man who had killed her beloved Ragnar, the man to whom she couldn’t give any child, letting him seed other women, one after the other, faceless and useful just for one purpose.

She had hated them with a blind hate that had always started from her cursed womb, that couldn’t hold a child.

That couldn’t create life.

But she had loved the children, although she hadn’t been able to be in their lives, Ragnar sending them to various relatives in order to allow them to live far away from the war, which had been a smart decision, although Brida had been greatly pained by it.

Each time she was close to one child, Ragnar would rip them away from her, and the cycle of him seeding another woman would be set up again, as after Summer came Autumn and then painful Winter.

And she saw another woman swell up, meanwhile she remained slender.

And now she was pregnant with her lover’s murder.

Sometimes Destiny was nothing more than a mad man playing cards.

Not knowing how to deal with a good pair but making the worst of a horrible hand.

And right when she had almost won everything, she had lost everything she had fought to conquer.

Even herself.

So, now she looked out at the darkness, knowing that it’d take her soon.

But the darkness had a face, a familiar shape she had cursed and helped to destroy.

So, it was only natural that now it haunted her.

Like a ghost.

Skade’s pretty face looked back at her, but where she expected to find a smirk, she only found a desolated expression, as if she knew all too well about this kind of cruelty she had set up on herself and the darkness and what it brought with itself.

Madness.

She was sure as hell going mad.

“… shouldn’t you be happy” commented tightly Brida, eventually choosing to approach the woman in front of her, her words biting and cruel, almost the savage bark of an hungry dog, promising to chew on her bones “… I’ll be soon dead, as you have said”.

“I said that I would have killed you” Skade’s words were attentive, almost as if she had to point them out, one by one, and Brida rolled her eyes at her theatrics.

That was probably what had brought her and Uhtred together.

“… different words, same ending” replied the woman that had become Danish through service and blood spilled, and now didn’t know what she could make with that identity “… I’ll die here, alongside with my pup”.

She was almost sad for that child who would have never woken up, although she knew she should have been disgusted of it, because it was the child of a traitor and a murderer.

But would it have been different had it been born from Ragnar?

He had murdered Kjartan in cold blood and he had betrayed the vow of fidelity he had done to her.

And although she refused to be annoyed by it as a prissy Christian bride, she certainly hadn’t felt comfortable seeing him enjoy one woman after another.

‘When will it be enough?’ she wanted to ask Ragnar, each time he said ‘simply one more’.

But she had kept her voice down, because she had always thought that she was the one flawed, the one who couldn’t give him children.

And since she couldn’t, he’d always find somebody else who could give them to him.

She would have never been his equal, no matter how much she wanted to believe it.

In the end, she had been made a slave by his family.

Could she seriously expect respect and equality from him?

“… you won’t die here” commented Skade, as she looked up to where the noise of a feast resounded loudly.

“Did you talk about it with the Valkyries when you died?” spoke back loudly Brida, knowing that she must have sounded like an hysterical, cackling as Skade’s pretty face became scrunched up by a frown “… but wait… you weren’t sent to Valhalla, were you? Uthred drowned you… he killed you without shedding blood… a stupid death, no glory in it”.

“… there is a glory in following our Destiny” commented the witch, as her voice seemed so frail, as if it was barely latched on a thread in her mouth and her eyes surrendered to that evidence, no exuberant strength or cursed eyes, she was just a woman.

One like Brida.

But she was smarter than her.

She had known this was all a gods’ play.

And Brida had discovered it painfully, meanwhile Skade had known all about this.

So, maybe it was time that Brida took control over something.

And did it in the rough way she had had men treating her.

She would have stolen everything and fought with her brutal force.

And she would have won, eventually.

“You bore me witch”.

---

(A/N): I personally am a bit unsure about this, because I am sure it sucks but... hey @volvaaslaug​ was curious so...

[blah-blah-blah-bla]

So beautiful and heartbreaking

Bernard Cornwell | The Pale Horseman p.184

For the @tlkafterparty celebration.

Prompt: antagonistic relationships/angst

@solinarimoon @morosemagick @lauwrite1225 @magravenwrites @93xdiagonxalley @trenko-heart @blah-blah-blah-bla @illjustgositinthecorner @medievalfangirl @persephones-journey @amuddleofnervouswords @anotherwinchesterfangirl @saint-helga @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie

[malenamoonlight]

I was searching for some screen captures of The Last Kingdom season 3, my favorite season so far, and now I'm feeling nostalgic... What an amazing season! The death of the King... I miss this man so much. Still not over it. And Ragnar, Thyra and Gisela deaths. And Brida and Uhtred loving and hating each other all the time, but teaming up again to avenge their beloved Ragnar. SKADE! It was all so tragic, melancholic, compelling and beautiful. Season 4 can't relate!

[iseultdeservedbetter]

With Her Sweetened Breath, And Her Tongue So Mean

Brida x Skade (Modern AU)

(A/N): Hello there, lovelies!

I just wanted to put a huge disclaimer over this fic, because I do have to say that I haven’t any experience in the foster care system, so my judgement of it is mostly based on what I have seen and heard through media.

I do know that isn’t always as it goes, many times it is a way for children to escape abusive households, instead of ending up in one, and many people have good intentions, so please don’t think that what I described is my thought on all foster care.

I just felt like it’d be Brida’s personal experience and feelings she felt in it.

I have no intention of insult/make fun of such a system or people who have been in it!

(I hope it wasn’t offensive but do let me know if it was so that I can remove it!)

As always, feedback is very welcome, it makes my fingers writer faster and my heart beats stronger!

Have a lovely day!

SUMMARY:  After the break up of her life, Brida is thrown in a confusion that risk being extremely destructive for her heart, which never learned that love should be free and sweet and adorable... and not a constant struggle.

WORDS: 1, 9

WARNINGS: Mention of Abusive Household, Unhappy Childhood, Internalize Misogyny, Mention of Casual Sex, Modern AU.

Brida hadn’t known much about love, but she knew one thing for sure about it.

Love was a constant battle and struggle.

As a child in foster care, she had seen this happening continuously.

When you were raised in foster care, you weren’t a child, you weren’t part of the family, no matter how much the people in it treated you better than the previous one you had been pushed in.

You were simply there because your ‘parents’ got paid a special extra to take in ‘rascals’ like you and although her latest and most-lasting family, who had later adopted her alongside another boy, had been absolutely the best she had ever known…

… the sensation of having to fight desperately for their approval had been constant.

And it hadn’t helped in the slightest Brida to grow with a notion that love was free and shouldn’t be something that is bargained or bought with small gestures and such.

That it was much more than being the perfect girl, the one that was different from everybody else so that she could stand out above everyone, surviving through high school successfully and then moving in university with a law enforcing degree, becoming the lawyer her ‘parents’ had always wanted her to be.

She had harbored so much pain and hurt through those years still, feeling like there was this desperate rush in her to show everybody how truly strong she was, how successful she could be.

Almost to thank them for having chosen her.

Eventually she had gotten to a breaking point.

She had discovered at twenty five that she couldn’t have children, a problem with her ovaries due to the starvation she had suffered as a child, before she was taken in by her ‘beloved family’.

It was something that had hit harder Brida’s partner and fiancé, Ragnar, her first love, than her, truly.

She remembered his desperation for it and how well she had faked being disappointed in her ‘unworking body’ but internally, she was glad.

She had wanted to become a mother… eventually.

But not at that age.

Not when she had fought so hard to obtain everything that she now had, wanting to enjoy the freedom of being without duties.

Eventually she would have liked to become a mother.

But did she want to become like her ‘parents’?

Pushing her children into choices that weren’t theirs and forcing them through the notion that all pain and suffering was worth it if they brought you to his ending, and most importantly that all this heartless conquering would be one day what they would have given to their children.

What kind of children would she have raised?

Heartless monsters like her.

So, when she had found Ragnar’s ring left on his side of the bed with a note, she had been strangely euphoric.

No wedding to prepare, no people to disappoint because of her choices and no children to think yet.

Although her eyes had leaked tears for a few minutes, she had then danced around the sitting room, like a crazed woman, feeling like for once, she wasn’t loved, but she wasn’t also struggling to fight through a life she didn’t want and through a love that hugged her too tight to be truly free.

Still the following months had been hard on her.

And confusing.

It had then suddenly hit her how truly alone she felt and she had to admit that she hadn’t gone through the best of remedies to soothe the ache of freedom, still burning in her chest, mostly using the taste of whiskey, which matched perfectly the fire in the pit of her stomach.

An ache that she didn’t know how to use, and it burned her to the core, with a coldness that risked freezing her heart and make her mind go crazy.

And after one of these awful nights, she had woken herself in the arms of a pretty blonde thing.

The surprise had paralyzed her in the bed, meanwhile the woman onto her, obviously half-naked, moved lightly on her bare chest.

She hadn’t known what to do.

Had she seriously just had her first experience with a woman?

Was she seriously too drunk to remember it?

What the heck had she put her body through?

And then the beautiful blonde thing had quirked an eye open at her, a smirk on her face, almost playful and yet it held so much darkness that Brida wondered whether she was under some kind of enchantress and about to be offered to some dark god.

Later on, she had discovered that Skade, that was the name of the girl in whose bed she had ended up, was indeed a witch, but she hadn’t put any enchantment against her.

‘It goes against my professional values’ she had commented, meanwhile she wore back all her clothes, discarded through her room, designed by an elegant emo phase that Brida almost would have appreciated, hadn’t it been one of the many things she had stopped herself from having.

Emo kids, back in high school, according to her brother and boyfriend were creeps and although Brida had admired their bravery and loved their songs, she had just repressed herself through showing any sign of her interest.

‘… and what about taking strangers in your bed?’ she hadn’t meant to sound so bitter, but she had to admit that she had never had an experience like that and all her reactions right now were based on the ‘flight or fight’ thought ‘… is that something that you do usually?’.

Should she do some test for STDs?

She wasn’t a saint and she had had her own experience before becoming Ragnar’s stable girlfriend (looking back to it, she also realized the title was horrendous) but she hadn’t ever been one to ‘stray around’, since she had been taught that it wasn’t something ‘people like her’ did.

She was still wondering what ‘people like her’ meant, because if it was some way to describe the middle-class behavior her ‘parents’ and ‘friends’ followed, she had to say she had never belonged with them.

‘Oh but, my dear Brida, we aren’t strangers” Skade commented, licking her lips with the face of a cat who had stolen milk from her owner.

A cunning expression that almost made Brida reason why she might have been interested in the blonde witch

‘… we talked a bit at the bar, although you were utterly smashed, and you commented about how you had never experienced with girls in college… and I thought about suggesting a little experimentation…’.

Gosh, what had seriously gone through her mind, the previous night?

‘… a little experimentation with a stranger?!’.

Brida should have seriously stopped making questions and gotten the fuck out of there, before she got probably killed by some kind of Mason fangirl.

She had seen too many ‘Criminal Minds’ episodes to know how this would end up.

But blondie over there didn’t seem to acknowledge her uneasiness as she moved to put on a ruined band t-shit on, something metal and Nordic.

Something that didn’t surprise Brida in the slightest

Skade then moved to collect her ruined thighs, probably a gift from Brida.

She had never had too much patience with those things, always ending up with various ruined pairs of thighs because she just didn’t have the patience to roll them up properly.

She had then pushed herself to solely wear pants.

‘You are a tomboy!’ had thrilled her mother with disappointment when she had told her that and Brida had pushed that to become her new identity, throwing herself away completely from all the girly thing she liked and pushing herself to constantly repeat ‘I am not like the other girls’.

She wondered if it was more a compliment or an insult.

Either way that phrase had fucked her mind up greatly.

‘…again…  I don’t think that you are a stranger…’ had commented Skade, her voice was suddenly deep and any trace of amusement had left it, and although Brida should have seriously run out of the fucking building, she had turned around, halfway through adjusting the bird nest that her hair was in an high ponytail.

Skade had immediately caught her eyes and she had known that she had spoken the truth.

‘… I do think that I have known you before’.

It had sounded extremely creepy.

And yet she had found the way right back to that apartment the following week, not knowing how much truly it was the alcohol’s blame since she had kept herself sober that night, having Skade guide her through a ‘sober exploration’.

‘Nothing happened last time’ she had commented and Brida knew that she spoke the truth, this time ‘… you just seemed very lonely, and drunk… and you got naked and tried to actually “have your way with me”…’.

‘I don’t do this often’ Brida hadn’t know why she had had to specify it.

Although she had never been a prude with sex and such, she had always stuck with guys, simply.

And even back then, it hadn’t like she had explored much, having had two boyfriends for most of her life, one of them having become her best friend, although it went through periods.

Meanwhile Ragnar was still somehow an interrogative point.

A bracket left open.

She knew that she had hurt him, somehow.

But she didn’t feel in the slightest guilty for it.

And yet she knew she should.

But here she was, again, in a stranger’s bed.

A stranger that said they knew each other from some kind of past life.

She had seriously reached a new low.

Even more because, as she got to know Skade, she soon realized what a pain in the ass the woman was, hysterical at times and definitely manic in others.

And yet, she felt good with her.

Much better than with everyone else she had been all her life.

And suddenly their meetings weren’t simple exploration (although Brida had understood that she certainly wasn’t as straight as she had thought herself to be) not only because they’d have breakfast in the bar in front of Skade’s apartment (at first Brida had tried hiding herself, but right now she honestly didn’t care who saw her).

But Skade had started casually dropping small gift of protection in her clothes, something that she had dubbed as straight up psycho at first and then had slowly classified as a nice gesture and now she pinned the small objects in every coat she owned.

‘They just bring luck’ she had muttered as a justification, as Skade smirked back at her.

‘Oh, of course’ she had teased her, but it had felt so soft and yet so light that Brida could allow herself to be ‘undermined’ by her for once.

It had felt strange falling in love with Skade.

She had known deep downm she should have been afraid of it, but yet, it was so natural and it wasn’t a struggle for once, although there was plenty of teasing between them, mostly from the blonde woman.

But it felt harmless.

It wasn’t a struggle.

It was a power exchange.

And yet it didn’t lessen the competition between them.

Mostly for questions such as the anniversary presents.

She knew that Skade was quite the sneaky bitch when it came to this, going as far as go through her thing to catch a glimpse of her plan so that she could outmatch it, something that Brida had never allowed her to do, since she wanted to always come up on top.

Old habits died hard.

And yet it always felt like a playful competition.

There wasn’t any prize in this one.

Love was already between them

She hadn’t to win it for once.

And she felt amazing, for once.

[159chaetimeters]

TWICE as women from “The Last Kingdom” (may contain spoilers)

NAYEON: SKADE (Thea Sofie Loch Naess)

Initially, Skade is seen as batshit crazy.  I mean...she put a curse on Uhtred that turned his life sideways.  But when you look deeper at her character, she has a heart.  Sure, she may use it for the wrong reasons, but she has one.  She manipulated Uhtred several times over, but was able to help and be kind when it was necessary.

JEONGYEON: EADITH (Stefanie Martini)

Eadith is impulsive and struggles to keep her mouth shut when it’s important, but she’s definitely very strong-willed and cares for other people.  When she was Lord Aethelred’s mistress, she felt bad about it, especially knowing the awful way he treated his wife, Aethelflaed.  This is why, when Eardwulf kills Aethelred, Eadith informs Aethelflaed and rescues her from potential imprisonment.  She was extremely kind and almost motherly to Aethelflaed’s daughter, Aelfwynn, when Aethelflaed couldn’t be there to take care of her.  For being a relatively new character, she definitely has one of the biggest hearts of any character on the show.

MOMO: THYRA (Julia Bache-Wiig)

Thyra had the biggest heart of any television character ever portrayed.  Even though she had been through a lot in her life, she still managed to be kind to people around her, including her husband, Father Beocca.  She helped her deceased brother, Ragnar, escape from Nieflheim into Valhalla by giving a bit of her own blood.  When a bigoted man harassed her for being a Dane among Saxons, she simply ignored him and got on with her day.

SANA: ISEULT (Charlie Murphy)

Iseult was a character who definitely used her special ability for good.  She was sweet, caring, and affectionate to those around her.  She made King Alfred a special tonic to help him with his illness without being asked.  She saved the future-king Edward’s life when he was a baby, but felt tearfully sympathetic for the stranger’s child that she would have to kill in the process.  Granted, her death at the end of season 1 was downright jaw-dropping, but she was one of the few truly good characters on the show.

JIHYO: GISELA (Peri Baumeister)

Gisela was one of the most motherly and wise women on the show.  She was gentle, kind, and hospitable.  She wasn’t afraid to voice her opinion either.  When she told Uhtred that Aethelflaed and Aethelred getting married was a bad idea, you could see how much she cared about Aethelflaed, a woman she barely knew.  She deeply loved Uhtred and wanted nothing but for him to be safe, seeing as allying with her brother, King Guthred, put a huge target on his back.

MINA: AETHELFLAED (Millie Brady)

Aethelflaed is quiet, poised, and dignified, but can also be pretty badass and a little bit scary.  She completely defies gender stereotypes and shows that women can be strong, fearless leaders.  She has excellent strategy and decision-making skills.  Though she’s quite introverted and a little shy, she’s very opinionated and not afraid to give her two cents on certain matters.  When her beloved kingdom of Mercia is being overrun by Danes, she is quick to step up to the plate and do whatever she can to protect herself and her people.

DAHYUN: HILD (Eva Birthistle)

Hild is charming and funny.  She may be the cutest religious figure ever.  She always has some one-liner up her sleeve.  Eg. When she tells Uhtred he’s “back to his normal self” after noticing that he’s being cocky and stubborn.  She then says “You look thin.  You should eat, my love”, which is her making fun of Skade trying to call Uhtred in for supper.  She’s unique because she appears to be Uhtred’s only female friend with whom he has a purely platonic relationship.

CHAEYOUNG: STIORRA (Ruby Hartley)

Stiorra is free-spirited and open-minded.  She’s raised as a Saxon, but wants to get in touch with her Danish roots.  What more can you expect from Uhtred and Gisela’s daughter?  She’s a bit impulsive, however.  When she was held hostage by the Dane, Sigtryggr, she told Uhtred that maybe it was good for her to become one with the Danes.  Overall, Stiorra is always ready for something new and always trying to improve herself.

TZUYU: BRIDA (Emily Cox)

Brida is pure brawn.  She is nice when she wants to be and fucking BRUTAL when she wants to be, be it physically or verbally.  She’s not a villainous character by any means, but she’s a total savage.  She’s not afraid to speak her mind.

[lesbianwyllravengard]

Female character who says “woman moment” after committing atrocities 

[oddsnendsfanfics]

We All Need Something to Hold On To

Genre: Fan Fiction (The Last Kingdom) Pairing: N/A Warnings: Character Death Rating: G Length: Short Story Disclaimer: a strict work of fiction, I own nothing except the original characters and the plot line. In no way am I affiliated to any of it.  

A/N: I had an idea for some sad Uhtred, so...

Men were often proud creatures, going to great lengths to never allow that pride to waiver. To never show their true emotions, no matter what the circumstance.

Sibbe knew many men who fit that exact description, they were often the type one would describe as a man's man. Or a tough guy. She had known and dated several of those exact men.

Uhtred was no different, from the outside, always proud and arrogant. Nobody knew how sweet and kind he truly was, until he'd met her. She had taken the hot headed jerk and somehow tamed him. Hell, she'd even turned him into the perfect husband and doting father.

Gisela had done the impossible - Sibbe was sure of it.

She had known Uhtred since they were kids, he had always been like a brother, despite Sibbe having three already. They had met when Uhtred had moved to the neighbourhood and quickly befriended her twin brother, Sihtric. It wasn't until he had met Gisela that he started to become somebody else. Somebody far more enjoyable than he had ever been before. Gisela had given him a purpose. She was his shining light.

Who would have thought that the proud, soft, and doting Uhtred could ever be reduced to such a state. Sibbe had been out of town for work, when the news had reached her. Sihtric had called her, telling her that she had to come home, immediately.

There had been an accident, was all Sihtric had told his twin sister, an accident involving Gisela and a drunk woman. He didn't have to say the rest for Sibbe to know what he was telling her.

Four days ago they had gathered to pay their respects, to tell Uhtred and his children how sorry they were, while they watched their beloved Gisela be laid to rest. Sibbe had blocked out most of that afternoon, remembering sparse details - the sun was shining, unfitting to the mood surrounding the group. She had stood with Osferth and Hild, holding hands as if they were to let go, they would crumble. Sihtric never left Uhtred's side, keeping guard over his friend as Uhtred had done for Sihtric so many times.

As dusk fell, Finan and Brida lit a pyre, a nod to Gisela's own background. The fire roared and flickered, the orange glow illuminating the small group around it. Uhtred didn't stay to finish watching the fires burn. He left, disappearing into his room, where he remained.

Day three, people were still coming and going from the house. The visitors were now reduced to immediate family and close friends. Bringing their respects and more casseroles. If Uhtred's sister, Thyra, had to find room for another potato mash, she was going to scream.

As the hours grew late and the outside darker, the decisions of the day were made. Thyra and her husband, Beocca were taking Uhtred and Gisela's three children home with them. Hild would come round tomorrow to check on Uhtred, and Sibbe would linger behind in case he needed anything in the mean time.

"I'm going. Call me, if you need anything." Sihtric kissed his sister's cheek, embracing her in a tight hug. "Finan and I are going for a drink."

"Thank you. Be safe." Sibbe kissed her brother's cheek and hugged his dark haired friend.

"Don't be too hard on him, aye." Finan hugged her tight.

"I won't." Sibbe replied, holding onto Finan a little longer. "And you, don't let my brother get too drunk, he has to work in the morning."

With Sihtric and Finan gone that was the last two bodies out of the house, save for Sibbe and Uhtred. The house grew quiet. Uhtred in his room, making hardly a noise. Sibbe's heart ached for her friend, as strong as Uhtred was, nothing could have shaken him more.

Quietly moving around the kitchen, Sibbe had a plan. If she could get Uhtred to eat and perhaps shower, she could get him into bed for some proper rest. Nobody had saw him since the burial. His brother, Ragnar, had knocked on the door several times yesterday to get an angry yell from the other side.

Sibbe wasn't Ragnar and she didn't care what lewdness Uhtred yelled at her; she was going to march into that room and...her shoulders sank, what was she going to do? She couldn't very well hold him down and force feed him. Nor could she drag him out of the room, Uhtred was taller and stronger than she.

Despite her sudden dismay, Sibbe continued to fix something to eat. Two sandwiches, crafted from a roast that somebody had brought, and a bottle of Jura that she'd found in the cupboard Sibbe set off on her mission.

Upstairs was silent, the rooms dark. At the end of the hall the door was closed and a faint hint of light crept from underneath. Bravely she bumped the door with her elbow to knock.

Nothing.

Plate in one hand, she tucked the bottle under her arm and jiggled the door handle. Unlocked. Contrary to belief, Uhtred hadn't locked himself in, he'd hid away instead.

"Uhtred?" Sibbe leaned against the door of the dimly lit bedroom.

"Go, I don't want to be bothered." He waved his hand in the air, back to, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"I want to, but you know that I can't."

"Please, leave. I don't want to see anybody."

"You've been in here for three days. Do you not want to come out? Not even for a little while?"  If he was leaving the room, then it was after everybody had gone and the house was left with nothing but haunting memories.

"No."

"Thyra took the kids home, they're going to stay with her and Beocca for a while." This was news that Uhtred should know.

"They should be here, with their mother." Was that a sob?

"Uhtred,"

"Go!"

"I'm not leaving you alone. I won't be in the way, but I won't leave either."

"I don't want to be bothered, Sibbe." Uhtred raised his tone. "Now go! Leave me be."

Sighing heavily, Sibbe refused to listen. Marching across the room, she stopped at the foot of the bed. Plate out stretched, she directed to it with her eyes. Uhtred's blue eyes red rimmed and dull, he glared at her.

Sibbe's intentions were pure and Uhtred knew that. Sibbe had to be one of the most kindhearted people that he knew, outside of his Gisela. Any other circumstance and Uhtred would welcome the short dark haired woman with open arms and lively conversation.

Not today.

"Go home." He muttered in a disgruntled way.

"No."

"This is my house. I will not be..." "Stop it! Stop it!" Sibbe cut him off, stomping her foot.

Silence hit the walls and ricocheted around the pair. Uhtred slumped off the bed, sinking to the hardwood floor below. Who did Sibbe think she was? Marching in here, into his home - his room - and dictating to him. Nostrils flared, he sat on the floor stewing.

"Uhtred," Sibbe knelt down beside the shell of a man on the floor. "I'm...sorry to yell at you."

"What do you want?" He continued to glare at her with hard eyes. Snatching the bottle from her, there was no time wasted in twisting the cap and allowing the liquor to flow from it's confines.

Three days and the only time Uhtred left the room was to grab a bottle of tequila from the cupboard downstairs. He'd waited until everyone was in bed, although he had a suspicion that Thyra had heard him creep past Stiorra's bedroom where Thyra had been spending the nights.

He'd sat alone on the floor, in a similar manner to how he was now, the bottle keeping him company while the tears burned his face and the memories and anger tore his heart. Gisela would hate him in this state.

"You to eat." Sibbe held out the plate of sandwiches.

"Why?" He whispered, his lips poised to the bottle.

"Why what?" Sibbe sat back on her haunches. "I want you to eat, because I doubt you've eaten in days."

"Not that." Uhtred rolled his eyes.

"Then why what? I'm not a mind reader." Sibbe shifted to sit beside him.

Out of all her gifts and talents reading minds, other than Sihtric's, wasn't something she could do.

"Gisela did nothing wrong. Why her?"

The question was one that Uhtred had pondered since he had gotten the call, there had been an accident. He was getting Oswald from school, when the phone rang. A man on the other end identified himself as a police officer, immediately Uhtred's blood ran cold and his heart began to race.

After that it had all gone black.

Somehow he had managed to get home, safe at that, and call for somebody to watch the kids. Brida had stayed with the children, while Ragnar had drove him downtown.

The woman who had asked him to identify the body had been polite and sympathetic, telling Uhtred that she understood if he would need a moment or two alone. She'd led him down a hall, Ragnar by his side, and into a room. After that Uhtred had done everything he could to block the memory. It was the worst moment he'd endured.

"I - I don't know."

"And the kids. What now?"

Coming home after having to identify his wife, all of it had made Uhtred sick. How was he to walk into the house and tell his children? They were waiting for their mother to come home, none the wiser.

They'd attended the funeral and the wake, yet Uhtred felt they weren't fully grasping the concept. Oswald perhaps, but the other two were far too young for this.

They were three innocent little lives, left without their mother. Children needed their mother.

"How am I to face them now?" Uhtred tipped the bottle up, his eyes red and glossy. "They're going to ask for her and then what? What do I say? What do I do?"

Sibbe wished she had all the answers. Answers to give Uhtred and the children, when they asked later. How did you explain to a toddler that his mother would never come back? Or to a little girl that the woman she worshiped had been unfairly taken away?

"The good thing is that you're not alone. You have friends and family to help you through this." Sibbe held her hand out, asking for the bottle. "We'll make it work, Uhtred."

"Will we?"

The whiskey burned and warmed Sibbe's insides, caressing her like a warm hug on the way down. The burning reminded her of the pyre lit only a few evenings ago. Burning and dancing for those who were there. Licking her lips she let the bottle rest between her and Uhtred on the floor.

"I think so." Sibbe had no real way of knowing, of course. Some how Uhtred and his children would push through. They would manage, despite the tears along the way, one day they would wake up and be on the other side of all this.

"Ironic." Uhtred glanced at the bottle between them. "It was probably a similar bottle that took my wife. Yet, here I am, drowning that very memory."

"That woman..." Sibbe had nothing else to say.

The woman they'd found out thanks to Uhtred's boss, Alfred, and his connections to the local enforcement, was a young woman who had been going through some rough times herself. Sibbe couldn't blame her for wanting to drink away the pain and strife, although she'd never forgive her for getting into a car.

"Skade, her name is Skade." Uhtred snarled. "I found out that she'll have a trial, but I don't think I can go."

"If you have to, then I'll go with you. We'll talk to your lawyers, but maybe they won't need you there. Whatever the outcome, I'm going to be right beside you. Sihtric will be, too."

"My wife is gone and they probably won't even give her a fine." Uhtred snarled. "You know, she didn't even stay to see if Gisela was okay. She just...left."

Sibbe had heard those details as well, Alfred had came over the morning of the funeral to deliver the news to Uhtred. Sibbe had heard when Beocca told Sihtric and Finan later that afternoon.

"Did you know she sent flowers? That damn witch sent flowers to my family, after she cursed us." Uhtred clenched his fists, a rage building.

Flowers were hardly a sign of malicious intent, some would even view them as a means to make amends. Uhtred had immediately ordered them to the trash, he wanted nothing to do with this woman or her hollow apologies. If she sat behind bars for the rest of her life, so be it, because he was the one who had truly lost.

"I didn't know." Sibbe replied quietly, reaching for the bottle.

Uhtred's nod was sluggish.

Silence befell the pair once more. Sibbe sat cross legged, her attention shifting from Uhtred to the bottle in her hand. She wanted nothing more than to go back and fix all of this.

If she could bring Gisela back...

Until Science allowed such things, all she could do was comfort her hurting friend.

A plate of sandwiches on the floor beside him; Uhtred was reluctant to pick up half of one. Staring at it as if food was a concept he had yet to master. Instead of taking a bite, he spoke.

"What made you decide to stay?"

Everyone else was gone, he had heard them leave not long before Sibbe had come to seek him out. Aside from Ragnar, nobody dared try and disturb Uhtred since he retreated. Sibbe had taken her time, Uhtred had half expected to see her face before now. He needed space and she had respected that. Despite her worry about his well being.

"You have always been there for Sihtric and I. Now, it's my turn to be there for you." Sibbe passed him the bottle.

"You don't have to do this. I'm happy to be left alone." Uhtred accepted the bottle, the dark amber liquid tasted as bitter as his soul had turned.

"Nobody should be left alone in a time like this." Sibbe shrugged, leaning against the side of the bed. "You're hurting and it does nobody any good to be left with their thoughts."

"When did you become the expert on grief?" Uhtred scoffed. The bottle clutched in his hand, at least she had brought him a decent whiskey. Sibbe stiffened and sniffed hard; Uhtred's shoulders sinking. "Sibbe..."

When Sibbe and Sihtric were thirteen, their mother had passed away, leaving them in the care of their father. To this day, Sihtric would angrily tell anybody who would listen that his life had ended on that very day. Somehow it was Sihtric who had became the new punching bag, after his mother's passing. A theory, held by Uhtred's adoptive father Ragnar, Sr. was that Kjartan had murdered his wife. Somewhere in his theory, Sihtric had known more than his father had wanted him to. Sibbe, terrified to explore the theory had convinced herself that her mother's death was an accident, nothing more.

Uhtred had always been their protector from that day on.

"Sometimes death leaves you with a funny mix of emotions. My world was wrecked, when we lost my mother." Sibbe sat stiff as a board. "And then, when my father died..." her voice trailed off. "It was the greatest relief I have ever felt. Not for me, but for Sihtric."

Two years ago, when Kjartan has passed, Gisela had gone round to Sihtric's apartment every day to check in on him. Drunk for a week, Sihtric as happy as he was still had a lot of grief to process. Gisela had sat with him for hours, allowing him to pour it all out. She would make his meals, invite him over to the house to be around his friends, and even did his laundry and cleaned his house. When she wasn't helping Sihtric deal with purging the toxic memories from his life, she was with Sibbe trying to help her in any way she could.

They were important to Uhtred and as his wife, she wanted them to be cared for, after all they were nothing less than family.

Now it was Sibbe's turn to repay the kindness that Gisela had shown them over the years.

Uhtred took a bite from the sandwich, chasing it with the whiskey. Sibbe's hope perked.

"I've lost people before, but this..." Uhtred mumbled around a mouthful of food. Swallowing, he paused to collect his thoughts.

Sibbe had known about his father, passing when Uhtred was very young. It's how he ended up with Ragnar, Sr. and Sigrid. And then there was his first son, from another marriage.

Nobody talked about Uhtred and Mildrith's marriage or their son, it was a subject that was raw among those who had been privy to the life and times. Gisela had known and Sibbe was certain that was the last time Uhtred had spoke of his ex-wife.

"She won't be alone, you know." Sibbe sat staring at the framed photo of Uhtred and Gisela on the night stand.

"What?"

"Gisela, she won't be alone. My mom will take care of her for you." Sibbe knew that Uhtred's idea of the afterlife and hers were different in many ways. His sideways glance said more about his feelings of her statement than words ever could. His personal beliefs and feelings didn't deter her from her thoughts. "And now Mildrith won't have to worry."

"Sibbe." Uhtred was tired of her nonsense already. He was in no mood to hear her preach, nor was he in the mood to listen to her talk about Mildrith or their son.

"What? Do you not believe they have gone somewhere good? Somewhere beautiful and bright? Two kind and good women, along with an innocent child. Surely you believe that they are deserving of somewhere peaceful to rest." Sibbe frowned, tipping the bottle. The alcohol seemed to help her courage to keep voicing her thoughts out loud. "Believe what you want, Uhtred, but I know that they have made it somewhere divine."

"You should lay off of the fairy tales."

Sibbe had a fierce belief in all things good and heaven was one of them. The tragedy of losing her mother had dictated that she needed to believe in such a place. Sihtric and Uhtred had teased her about her faith, never the less it didn't stop Sibbe.

"My heaven is no different than what you believe. No matter where they went, I know that they are together and they'll take care of one another. My mother and your son will welcome Gisela and..." a sob choked Sibbe's words.

"My dear, sweet, Sibbe." Uhtred moved closer, his arm around her shoulder, drawing her to his chest. "You may also need to lay off of the drinking."

Face turned, agitated and perhaps a little tipsy, Sibbe sniffled her voice muffled in Uhtred's shoulder. "Don't mock me."

Stroking her hair, a crack of a smirk had graced Uhtred's lips. Since he had received the news, he had felt it would be impossible to ever smile again. "I'm not mocking you. But I thought you were here to comfort me."

Pulling back, Sibbe rubbed her cheeks, drying the tears. "I am, but...we all tell ourselves things to make it hurt a little less."

Uhtred wished he could make this hurt less.

Not only for himself, but his children as well. They were his sole responsibility, some father he was. Hiding away like a coward, while his sister took on the role of parent.

Sniffling beside him, Sibbe rested her head on his shoulder. Headstrong and sweet, always putting others ahead of herself. Uhtred admired her for that. He hadn't known it at the time, when she'd barged in demanding he eat, but talking and allowing his emotions to be freed had been a small portion of weight lifted.

"Sibbe." Uhtred's voice was hushed. "Thank you."

Always the one taking care of Sihtric and Sibbe, it was different being the one to rely on them. Uhtred meant it. They hadn't given it any thought, rushing to his aid with whatever he needed.

Sibbe squeezed his hand. "If there's anything else, you can always ask. It doesn't hurt to let your pride slip and ask."

"My dear, sweet Sibbe." Uhtred rubbed her shoulder.  "Always the wise one."

"Yes, and as the wise one, I want you to get in bed. Have a proper sleep, and tomorrow, start new. It's going to take time and I know it will never bring..."

"Sibbe." Uhtred held a finger to his lips, indicating her to to shush. Sibbe blinked in confusion. "I will do as you say, if you stop with the lectures and lay with me?"

Sibbe must have looked like a deer in the headlights, at the very least she felt like one. What had she been asked to do? No. No she couldn't.  How could he even think to ask her such a thing? Was Uhtred looking for a punch? Or was he that grief stricken that he didn't know what he was asking?

No. Sibbe would refuse.

"Uhtred," her voice was shaking. "What you're asking me to do, it's...I. We shouldn't."

Uhtred had picked up on her internal conflict, his hand finding hers once more.

"I haven't been sleeping, because the bed is too empty. I have tried, but I can't bear it. I miss Gisela next to me. What I am asking is just that, to lie with me until I am asleep. You can move to another room or even go home, once I am sleeping. I only ask for a little comfort."

Sibbe's mouth moved, as if trying to form words. Comfort? She had watched enough romantic comedies to know that this was always how it began. Well, not her. No way. Frowning, Sibbe worked on the best way to turn him down.

"If you don't want to, I understand. It was kind of a dumb thing to ask, anyway. Forgive me?"

"You're forgiven," Sibbe whispered. Against her better judgment, she gave in. "And I will, but only until you are asleep and then I am moving to another room. I don't want any wrong impressions, nor do I want..."

"Sibbe. You really should stop over thinking everything." Uhtred pushed himself from the floor, standing over Sibbe, his hand extended. "I am exhausted and need to sleep that's all."

"O-okay." Sibbe stood on shaking legs. "I'll um, I'll..." she sat on the edge of the bed. "Let me know when you're ready for bed, then?"

Uhtred kissed her cheek and demanded she wait for him, before he slept a shower and change of clothes was in order. He'd been wearing the same thing since he'd retired to his room after the funeral. A hot shower and a woman's presence would surely help him sleep.

Some minutes later, feeling as though it had been an eternity, Sibbe laid in bed facing Uhtred. The black circles under his eyes more visible now she was closer to him. He was a picture of exhaustion and her heart was aching all over again. Without thought, she'd brought her hand to stroke his damp hair. Her fingers running over his scalp and her body warm next to his.

If he closed his eyes really tight and blocked out everything from the last week, Uhtred could take himself back to the evening before...before he...a sharp sniffle was the only indication to Sibbe that he was thinking of his wife. Her fingers were gentle and her touch soft, she was almost the same height as Gisela, fitting in place beside him. Sibbe held her breath under his touch, when he slid his arms around her to hold her closer. Her shape and size, even her smell, could be manipulated if Uhtred closed his eyes and wished hard enough. Sibbe listened to his heart racing, her own heart quickly matching the rhythm.

In his mind he could convince himself that it was his wife in bed with him. In his heart, he knew that that nobody would ever come close to his Gisela.  

(I never know who to tag for these, so I have been going with the list from the Let’s Be Danes challenges. If you don’t want to be (or aren’t tagged and want to be), please feel free to tell me :D)

@ceridwenofwales @laketaj24 @thewildbeauty @geekandbooknerd @therealcalicali @captainpoopweinersoldier @tiyetiye @pokeasleepingsmaug @goldentailedmermaids @sifshoney @kingofshadowalkers @wilddrabble  @ateliefloresdaprimavera @pixiedustandfairywings @kawennote09 @ivarlothbroks @whenimaunicorn @captstefanbrandt @angelaiswriting @ariellostatci

[madamquacklemore]

Music Challenge-Perfect

a/n so this part of the Arseling’s music challenge! @geekandbooknerd song Perfect by Ed Sheeran. So it's no easy task writing a beautiful romantic song to fit the mind of a ferocious Saxon killing Dane but I do lie a challenge. To guesses who the perfect couple are in this oneshot are? 

My first non Finan story.. *deep breath* 

Young Ragnar leaned against the wall of his cell, grateful for the privacy for it wouldn't be long before the guards would bring them out to spend the day in their cages. Dangling there for every Saxon to see, Brida had played along with it at first spitting and yelling Danish insults at them but even she soon got bored of tormenting Christians. How did it come to this? How was brother pitted against brother? The once mighty Earl Guthrum becoming Christian? Ragnar stared across his cell to look at the woman he loved and wondered what was going through her mind. Probably the cutting off of Alfred's balls and the ramming of them down Uhtred's throat she colourfully told him the last time Ragnar asked. "Something funny Ragnar?" she snapped. "I was about to ask you what was on your mind then I remembered what you said last time I was foolish enough to ask." he chuckled. Brida glared at him for a moment before snorting laughter herself and crawled as far as her chain would allow her to reach for her beloved's hand. Ragnar copied her and together through the bars they held hands. Who would have thought it? Little Brida, to have been that woman who was meant for him? He remembered that night in the woods where he first saw her as grown woman as a warrior. Who would have thought it that they would be humping a month later. He recalled that night with a smile on his face, how perfect she looked that night still covered in Saxon blood after a well deserved victory, where it had been she who had approached him in one of the Saxon’s holy houses no less. How perfect she looked even now chained to the wall of a Saxon prison. His Brida. He made a vow that when they were free he would marry her kill kjartan take his fortress at Dunholm for their themselves and have children of their own. They were fighting against all odds but he knew they'd be alright because he had Brida and tonight as was every night she was wild angry and perfect. 

@laketaj24 @medievalfangirl @ariellostatci @geekandbooknerd @therealcalicali  @xthezodiacage @tesstrash @ceridwenofwales @carlya65 @itzmegaaaaaaan @miss-artemis-wild @sprinklesthrows17