#skade fic

[whitedarkmoonflower]

The Curse

Pairing: Sihtric x Skade

Authors note: this story is for you my dear @alexagirlie and @thenameswinter99 I know Skade is not the most popular character and there probably won't be many readers to this fic but I loved her and I think she deserved better. So this is my attempt at giving her a happy ending.

Warnings: SMUT 18+, fluff, angst, mention of blood, curses, canon death of a character

Summary: as Uhtred's path crosses with the mighty seer Skade, there is only one way to break the pattern of violence and only one man capable of doing it as the power of love appears stronger than the power of hate

Word Count: 6,8 K 🙈 (I know, I'm sorry)

It was not the chill of the evening air, nor the fresh and cool breeze teasingly brushing its cold fingers against her skin, that made her shudder. She wouldn’t show it anyway. With fists clenched and nails digging into her flesh, her gaze lashed the group of men down the stairs, burning with hatred like a whip striking bare skin. 

It was that daunting feeling of utter helplessness, of being tossed and turned by the currents of fate, allowed only a sharp, desperate gasp that seared her aching lungs before being dragged back under the water, that made her stomach clench and her inner core tremble like a candle flame wavering in a draft. But not a muscle shuddered in her pale, sharply defined, beautiful face framed by an unruly swirl of blond hair. 

Once again, she was being betrayed and traded, passed from hand to hand like a mere commodity, a piece of silver exchanged for another's safety. In a different life, the naive girl she once was would have cried, bargained for her life and safety, begged not to be given away.

But that Skade no longer existed. She had drowned long ago in a sea of despairing tears, her grave dug by the greed and power-lust of men who saw her as nothing more than a plaything to fulfil their desires, a potion to quench their thirst for influence, a weapon to be used in their conquest for dominion. That small, trusting part of her died, killed by false promises and the realisation that there was no goodness left in those around her.

There had been times when she cursed her gift, praying to the gods to take it back, to release her from its crushing power. She had blamed it for her fate, for the darkness that trailed her, ripping away those she loved and leaving her alone and aching. But that was before. Before she surrendered and accepted the part of herself she had once despised. From the grave of her suffering, a new Skade was born – a proud creature of darkness, leaving a trail of pain and blood in her wake, destined to test those foolish enough to assume power over her, and to punish without remorse those who failed, and she had embraced that destiny fully. 

Heasten's ugly smirk and greedy, narrow eyes seemed to undress her with their gaze alone, making every hair on her body stand on end as she raised her head to meet the eyes of the men who dared treat her as a piece of merchandise.

The bearded Irishman's deep brown eyes looked back somewhat sheepishly, as if understanding the absurdity of the bargain struck moments ago. With her head held high, she turned to the young Dane standing on the other side of her.

His cautious mismatched gaze had puzzled her from the very beginning. She had been sure he despised her, anger flickering in the depths of those two pools, as he yanked her hands behind her back and put a gag on her mouth in an attempt to silence her. A coward, she had silently dubbed him. And yet it had been him who brought her fur and a bowl of hot stew on that first night in the dungeon. Why? What did he want from her? What hidden plan lurked behind those large, expressive eyes? What drove him? A yearning for power? Greed? Jealousy?

The annoying sound of the shutters creaking in the wind mixed with desperate cries of some lonely crow, slicing through the insidious calmness of the dark, added another layer of eeriness to the nightly scene. Sihtric could feel Skade’s frame trembling, though she tried to suppress it, to not show it, her words flowing from her full, sensual lips with the certainty of a queen. Yet he perceived it – that hidden inner quiver, the uneven shimmering of her misty breath in the air, her darting eyes like those of a trapped animal, her clenched fists betraying the facade. 

Uhtred and his ingenious plans - it was not the first time his lord's peculiar notions of honour and loyalty had brought them perilously close to the great gates of Valhalla. Sihtric did not mind, for it was part of the warrior's path he had willingly chosen when swearing his oath. He would have preferred to fight, to cleave through the Danes, painting the mud beneath his feet with their warm, thick blood. But the choice was made, and the bargain was struck although it didn’t feel right for him. 

Skade’s hair tickled Sihtric’s cheek, a fleeting feeling of unexpected softness alerting his already sharpened senses, as she turned her head, voice steady and laced with disdain, addressing Uhtred. 

“And you are cursed once more, Uhtred of Bebbanburg and you will wither.”

She was a danger, a venomous snake, her poison deadlier than the sharpest blade, seeping into the minds and souls of those who dared cross her path, twisting their thoughts, corrupting their very essence and bringing out the worst in men. A bringer of madness, a harbinger of chaos – those who underestimated her did so at their own peril. And yet, beneath the all consuming fire in those dazzling blue eyes, there was something fragile, a flicker of vulnerability that captured and didn’t let go of him. 

From the moment he first saw her, curses dripping from her lips, Sihtric felt an inexplicable urge to envelop her in the warmth of his embrace, offering a refuge from the darkness that had consumed her soul for too long.

Yet she wanted none of his comfort, her mind fixated on Uhtred from the instant their eyes met. She was a test sent by the gods, Sihtric was certain, and Uhtred was failing it spectacularly.

Skade turned, her burning gaze forcing Sihtric to meet her eyes, and for a fleeting moment  the world around him faded into an incoherent blur of sounds and images. "Cowards," her smirk seemed to challenge, or perhaps seek reassurance.

Sihtric longed to speak, but the words froze on his lips, the silent promise in his warm gaze swallowed by the night's darkness. She wanted none of his promises, yet he made one silently to himself - he would find her.

The old wooden steps creaked an eerie, mocking laugh as Skade took her first step down towards Heasten and his men. Unhurried yet unwavering, each measured stride carried her towards her new master and an altered fate, her steady gait betraying the admirable strength of will hidden beneath that fragile and slender frame. 

Heasten's extended hand remained frozen in midair, stopped by Skade's icy gaze, as she turned one last time towards the men standing on the top of the stairs. It was that last glance that remained burned into Sihtric’s mind - a warning, a challenge, an unspoken plea all mixed in one single flash of searing vulnerability. For the briefest of moments, her defiant mask slipped, offering him a glimpse of the fragile heart she guarded so fiercely, pleading for someone to finally see the woman beneath the iron shell.

"Sihtric, tell me this. Does Uhtred want me dead?" Skade's voice carried over the crackling fireplace, all eyes suddenly fixing on him.

A chill crept up his spine as he replied, "He's undecided. Can't make up his mind whether to hump you or kill you." The nonchalance in his voice sounded forced even to his own ears. It was the way she looked at him, suspicion sparking in her eyes. Though he may have fooled the men, blinded by ambition and rivalry, he had a feeling neither Brida nor Skade believed him completely. Yet neither woman had spoken against him either.

The atmosphere in the whole camp was more than peculiar, the air was charged with distrust and feuding. The gazes of drunken youngsters, drowning their concerns and boredom in ale, spoke of uncertainty and eagerness for something to happen, while the spirit between the older warriors ranged between cautious and openly disapproving. Ragnar's death had left the Danes completely rudderless, crushing their fighting spirit. And the pathetic pissing contest between Heasten, and Bloodhair only made things only worse.

“And what about you?” Skade continued, her scrutinising gaze not letting go of him. 

“What about me?” Sihtric tried to pretend clueless.

“Do you want to hump me or kill me?” 

Under the weight of all eyes awaiting his answer, the gentle roar of the fire seemed deafening to Sihtric's ears.

The flickering patterns of light and shadow danced over Skade’s face, making her look like some creature from an old legend. A small burst of sparks erupted from the fresh log as it slowly became engulfed in the blaze, dancing around her like small fading stars. 

She is like the fire itself, Sihtric thought, beautiful yet dangerous. Just as the flames could bring warmth and life or rage with destructive force, so too did she radiate a bewitching power that could either ignite a man's deepest passions or reduce him to ashes.

"Would you believe me if I said neither?" Sihtric raised his gaze from the flames to meet hers.

A mocking laugh escaped Skade's lips as disbelief gave way to a strange mix of surprise and puzzlement, her eyes locked with his unwavering stare. 

The young warrior was a mystery for her. Men were usually so transparent, easy to read and manipulate, but not him. What had she missed? And why was he here? That warm light dancing in his mismatched eyes whenever she caught his hidden glances - what did it mean? Time would tell. Few emotions drove men in this life, and sooner or later, the pretty boy would show his teeth and bare his true, ugly soul. Of that, she was certain, but her interest was piqued nonetheless.

The rhythmic sound of whetstone gliding over metal was always soothing to Sihtric, helping him gather his thoughts. So engrossed was he in the process that he almost didn't notice the tent flaps flutter open, only raising his head when a shadow obscured the candlelight.

"What the hell..." Sihtric jumped to his feet, sword pointing at the intruder who had snuck up on him, only to be met by the grinning stare of two incredibly blue, deep eyes.

"I came to see if you spoke true today by the fire," Skade's voice was barely above a whisper as she stepped closer, tilting her head back to let the blade graze her exposed skin. Sihtric remained motionless, muscles taut, his eyes tracing her every movement.

"Go on then, do it," she mocked, challenge dancing in the depths of her gaze. "Or perhaps you'd prefer to bed me?" With the tip of her finger, Skade slowly pushed the sword aside and began circling him like a predator stalking prey. "You crave me, I can see it. What are you waiting for? Claim me, if you dare."

Hips swinging, with deliberate slowness she placed one foot before the other as she drew nearer, teasingly biting on her index finger. The sweet fragrance of rose oil hit Sihtric’s nostrils, his breath hitching involuntary as his grip on the sword’s hilt loosened. Lowering the blade, he let it slip from his grasp to poke the ground.

"What do you want from me?" Sihtric’s voice came out all dry and gravelly.

“Tell me, what is it you desire?”  Skade purred, trailing her fingers up his chest to toy with the neckline of his armour. “Power? Wealth? Reputation? Do you wish to be the King of all Danes? Are you strong enough to own me?” her thumb brushed his lips as she looked up at him through the thickness of her lashes. 

“There is nothing I cannot give you, but you must choose your path now,” the strange gleam in Skade’s eyes was hypnotic, her voice a lullabying sough, washing against Sihtric’s heightened senses. For a second he forgot about everything – his mission, his lord, his oath, his friends – it all faded away, leaving just the two of them trapped in whatever spell she was weaving.

Was it the gentle whisper of the evening breeze against his skin, slipping through the half-closed tent flaps and extinguishing the flickering candles? Or was it that strange inner voice that had saved his life on the battlefield countless times, warning him of impending danger?  Sihtric couldn’t tell for certain, but a profound sense of presence enveloped him, an ineffable and tender force that broke through the veil of magic surrounding them and made him see her again  – that scared little girl who had looked at him from behind those guarded eyes on that first night in the dungeon when he brought her a blanket and a steaming bowl of stew. 

It had been just a fleeting glimpse, but he knew she was there, buried beneath layers of hatred and spite. This was the Skade he longed to pull closer, to embrace, to shield from the demons that haunted her. This was the Skade he reached out for as eyes radiating warmth he leaned in closer, and with a deep, rumbling sigh pressed his lips to hers. 

The kiss was achingly tender, his lips brushing against hers with the delicacy of a butterfly's wings. Sihtric's calloused fingers cradled her face with a featherlight touch, as if she were a fragile flower that might wither under firmer pressure. His mouth moved against hers in a slow, reverent dance, savouring every sensation without demanding or taking. It was a kiss born of pure affection, free of any desire to claim or possess.

Gradually, the kiss deepened, but the tenderness remained. Sihtric's tongue teased along the seam of Skade's lips, seeking entry, and when she parted them with a soft whimper, he tasted her fully – a sweet, intoxicating blend of innocence and longing. His kiss was worshipful, reverent, treating her like the most precious and delicate of treasures. It was the sweetest and breathtaking kiss that had ever touched Skade's lips, leaving her quenched and thirsting for more all at once.

A soft moan escaped her lips as Sihtric pulled away, his palm resting on her neck, and he tugged her back until their foreheads touched. "I don't want to possess you or demand anything from you," Sihtric murmured, slowly withdrawing himself from her space. "I'm not playing those games of yours. I simply want to know you, the real you." His tone was soft but resolute.

Skade tilted her head to the side, her large, inquisitive eyes scrutinising Sihtric's face, searching for deception, a trap, the real reason behind his withdrawal. The longer his gaze remained steady, locked with hers, the more she felt anger coil in the pit of her stomach. How dare he think he could understand her? How dare he reject her under the pretence of caring?  

A wry, mocking laugh tore from Skade's throat as her beautiful face contorted with fury, anger replacing the lingering warmth that had blossomed within her from Sihtric's kiss. He kept his distance, unmoving, and the icy rage of a spurned woman flooded her veins.

"You have chosen your path, Sihtric Kjartansson," the words left her mouth like arrows unleashed from a taut bowstring, meant to pierce and maim. "And you have chosen doom. You are cursed from this moment on, just as your former lord is cursed. Your life belongs to me now." Her voice grew louder, a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, as she fought back tears—a crack in her defences she could not afford to reveal to anyone.

Sihtric's kiss had awakened something she thought long dead and buried—her hopes, her dreams of another life. A life where love's tender caresses might have a place. A life she had convinced herself she no longer wanted nor needed.

"What have I done to deserve your wrath?" Sihtric's simple question just intensified the fury burning within her.

"It's not about what you've done," Skade spat venomously, her voice quivering with shame and embarrassment. She couldn't admit, even to herself, the depth of the scars Sihtric's gentle kiss had reopened, scorching her soul and ravaging her heart. "It's about what you inevitably would do, what men always do. Traitors, cowards, cravens—you are either too weak to accept me or you use me for your purposes, only to discard me once the tide turns. No one has ever cared for me. Don’t pretend you do."

With those last, searing words, she whirled around and stormed out of the tent, fleeing Sihtric’s unblinking gaze.

Skade could barely recall how she stumbled back to her tent. Her vision blurred with tears she could no longer suppress, Skade collapsed to her knees, a soul-wrenching cry ripping through her. Her trembling fingers brushed against her lips, desperately trying to summon the memory of Sihtric's kiss—the tender touch of his mouth on hers, his uneven breath mingling with her own, the slight tremor in his fingers as they caressed her cheek, betraying his own nervousness. That feather-light, gentle touch had burned her to the very core, shattering the unyielding walls she had built around her heart, leaving her defenceless and raw.

Skade's chest heaved with sobs. She had convinced herself that she needed no one, that she was untouchable. Yet, here she was, brought to her knees by the simple, honest touch of a man who had dared to reach out to her. The gentle caress that had felt like a promise of something more now felt like a cruel reminder of what she could never have.

As the tears streamed down her face, she realised that the walls she had built were not just a defence against the world, but a prison that had kept her from feeling anything real. And now, with those walls in ruins, she was left to face the raw, aching truth of her loneliness and desire.

The clash of steel and the savage, earsplitting roars of the combatants filled the air, drawing an ever-growing crowd of spectators to the makeshift square at the camp's centre. The Norns, those inexorable weavers of fate, seemed to favour Bloodhair. With a deft manoeuvre, he disarmed Haesten, and the thunderous crash of Bloodhair's war axe against Haesten's splintering shield reverberated through the assembled throng.

At that very moment, as Bloodhair raised his axe to deliver the deathblow, the scales of destiny tipped with cruel inevitability. Sihtric's eyes locked onto the fearful, bewildered expression contorting Bloodhair's face. The mighty warrior's body seemed to betray him, refusing to obey his commands. Following Bloodhair's stricken gaze, Sihtric's eyes fell upon Skade.

With a beastly roar, Bloodhair swung his axe again, but realisation struck him like a dagger to the heart—the battle was inexplicably, irrevocably lost. He could do nothing but attempt to drag the source of his downfall into death with him. But Skade was faster.

Her knives shimmered in the air, winking maliciously before burying themselves in Bloodhair's flesh. Blood splattered Skade's hands in crimson droplets as she watched the warlord's body crumple to the ground and a satisfied smile curled her lips.

It was late when Sihtric finally returned to camp, having used the ensuing chaos to slip away unnoticed. He paused outside his tent, listening to the sounds of the encroaching night. It was quiet, even too quiet, the usual raucous laughter and drunken banter around the fire pits conspicuously absent. Bloodhair’s death so soon after Ragnar’s had hit the Danes hard again.

"They all want me dead," a voice greeted Sihtric from the corner of his tent, and even if he shuddered innerly, he didn’t dare to show it.

"I'm not surprised," he responded, slowly removing his heavy fur cloak and draping it over a bench. Turning, he faced Skade, sitting on the layer of furs that served as his bed, arms wrapped around her legs with knees pulled up and chin resting on them.

Sihtric lit a few candles, and their flickering light danced over Skade's face. He carefully approached her, stopping just before her small, crouched form on the ground, his well-built frame towering over her. Skade looked up at Sihtric, but quickly averted her gaze. Or did it merely appear that way? Had something truly changed in the way she regarded him?

Sihtric slowly crouched down before her. "Why did you do that?"

"Do what?" Defiance suddenly tainted Skade's voice.

"Why did you kill Bloodhair?"

"He wanted to kill me. Everybody saw that, he swung his axe at me." Sihtric could sense her body tensing again, the protective veil of anger and resentment clouding her beautiful blue eyes.

"I'm not judging you. I just want to know. You poisoned him, didn't you?" Sihtric was certain of his guess. There was no other rational explanation for what he had witnessed.

Slowly, he extended his hand, carefully brushing a strand of unruly hair behind her ear. Skade flinched at his touch, her breathing quickening, but she didn't attempt to avoid it as her gaze fell and fixated on the uneven ground before her feet.

"He deserved that," she finally spoke, her voice hoarse and lacking its usual mocking hardness.

Sihtric waited, keeping his eyes on Skade. The remarkable change in her demeanour both puzzled and filled him with hope. He didn't want to push her, but he couldn't shake the strange feeling that this was precisely what she had come for – to tell her side of the story.

Lowering himself to the ground, levelling with her, he began as the silence stretched, "You know I've never left Uhtred's service." He knew she didn't truly trust him, so offering her leverage might help. "You're too smart to believe that fairy tale of mine. Uhtred is here. He's come to claim you back, just as he promised."

Skade raised her head, eyes locking with Sihtric's for a fleeting moment before turning back to the ground, her gaze strangely empty.

"Winter was closing in," she said, her voice trembling as she tightened her arms around her knees, as if trying to hold herself together. "The harvest yielded little due to the unrelenting drought. Then the priests arrived with soldiers, taking half our meagre stores as tithes to the church and king. Father protested that as Danes we owed no dues to the church, but they would not listen. What remained could never nourish five hungry mouths."

Skade fell silent, but Sihtric patiently awaited her words.

"The slaver must have paid a hefty sum. At first, I didn't understand mom's reddened, tear-filled eyes when she pressed a small bundle of bread and cheese into my hands. It was my own father who took my hand and led me to that man, telling me to be a good girl and obey him. Only when father's hand opened to accept a weighty purse of silver did I grasp that this journey would never take me home again."

Sihtric rose to his knees and slowly crawled nearer until he settled on the furs beside Skade. He ached to enfold her in his arms, to draw her close, but hesitated, not knowing whether his solace was welcome.

"Can you...hold me?" Skade's whisper was barely audible, her gaze still fixed on the ground before her feet.

Cautiously, Sihtric slid his arms around her shoulders, pulling her slightly trembling form against him. To his surprise, she leaned into his embrace, resting her head against his chest as her eyes slipped closed.

"Is this alright?" he murmured, lips grazing her hair.

"Yes," she breathed out, the word a sigh of relief. "Thank you."

There was something so calming, so innocent and pure in the way he held her. His embrace, firm and unwavering,  grounded her, his heartbeat beneath her ear setting a new steady pace for her own racing heart. The warmth of his body gradually seeped into her chilled skin as the taut tension in her muscles yielded to a soothing lassitude.

"The next stop was a Danish settlement, where Bloodhair noticed me...and I was sold again." Skade's voice drifted away to a near-whisper. "It was there that I learned to curse each new dawn I awoke, not yet granted death's release. Half a year later, my first vision came," she continued. "I saw his brother and right hand crushed beneath a falling tree, so vividly, as if I were there. I told Bloodhair, but he only laughed. Three days later, a huge storm ambushed the scouting troop in the woods, and it transpired exactly as I had seen. I went to sleep as a pleasure slave and woke up as a seer."

Sihtric tightened his embrace, pulling her deeper into the protective circle of his arms. His calloused fingers began gently carding through her hair, stroking the unruly strands into soft waves.

With each soothing caress, he could feel the rigid tension slowly ebbing from her slight frame. Her breathing deepened and steadied against his chest and Skade melted further into his solid warmth.

Sihtric continued the tender ministrations, he mapped the contours of her face with feather-light trails of his fingertips - the delicate sweep of her brow, the curve of her cheekbone, the line of her jaw. Reverently, he smoothed away the worry lines etched around her eyes and mouth, as if he could wipe away the years of suffering with loving strokes.

"I'm scared, Sihtric," she said softly, her voice catching. "I have fulfilled my oath, I have revenged myself. The only purpose that kept driving me, that kept me alive, is gone."

Sihtric was silent for a long moment, holding her close as he gathered his thoughts. "There is so much more to this life than revenge," he murmured finally. "If only you would let me, I could show you. If only you could believe me, if only for a little while."

His motions slowed but did not cease, a silent promise to stay at her side for as long as she would allow. Sihtric planted a tender kiss to the crown of her head, then simply held her, letting the profound silence envelop them.

The solitary tree at the far end of the camp greeted them with outstretched branches like giant arms casting eerie shadows across the moonlit ground. Skade's gaze found him from afar - Uhtred, his broad frame leaning against the ancient trunk, waiting for her arrival.

She released Sihtric's hand, her steps measured and unhurried as ever. Yet she could not resist a backward glance, seeking reassurance in the tender warmth of his eyes. Something had indelibly shifted; her heart stuttered wildly in her breast, a hummingbird trapped behind bone.

Uhtred stepped towards her, one arm extending in mute invitation to draw her into his embrace. "I'm ready," he murmured, a wan smile ghosting across his lips though it failed to reach his eyes.

"I'm sorry..." Skade's voice emerged softened, lacking its usual steely edge. "But I'm not."

Bewilderment creased Uhtred's brow as his arm dropped limply to his side. "What do you mean?"

Meeting his stare unflinchingly, Skade replied with a melancholic smile, "You were never cursed, Uhtred of Bebbanburg. I wanted you to believe it, and like most men, you were easy to deceive." She shook her head slowly. "This is your life, shaped by your choices alone. You must learn to shoulder the weight of that responsibility, and it is no light load. It is always easier to blame others - a curse or the whims of gods."

Uhtred's face slowly contorted in rage. "You lied to me all this time?" he snarled, grabbing Skade's arm in a forceful grip and pulling her closer.

Sihtric watched the scene unfold with rising concern, jealousy coiling like a venomous snake around his pounding heart, sinking its fangs into vulnerable flesh. Had her vulnerability meant nothing? Was it merely a fleeting moment to be forgotten and cast aside at the first glimpse of a new prospect? 

Uhtred did not love her; he despised her, feared her - of that, Sihtric was certain. And yet there she stood, smiling up at the man, allowing herself to be drawn into his embrace. Sihtric's jaw clenched as he wrenched his gaze away, struggling to maintain an impassive front. 

"I merely told you what you wanted to hear, Lord," Skade said evenly, resolutely freeing her arm from Uhtred's grasp. "I'm sorry, but I have found a greater man to follow. Someone who does not fear who I am, someone who truly cares for me."

"Who? Haesten?" Uhtred's jaw went slack with disbelief that the woman he had risked everything to retrieve could choose someone as despicable over him.

"Sihtric, Lord," Skade corrected with a soft smile. She took a resolute step back, then another before turning to where Sihtric stood, chewing his lips bloody. His eyes widened as she approached, pausing before him to extend her arm. He could not help but reach out hastily, grasping her outstretched hand in his calloused palms and drawing her nearer.

"Show me," she said softly, averting her gaze in insecurity. "Please, show me that other life. Life beyond revenge and hurt."

Slowly, he reached up to tilt her chin towards him, thumb hovering over her lips as if struggling to believe the words that had left them.

"He is here! Uhtred is here!" A shout pierced the night's silence, and Sihtric's grip tightened around Skade's hand.

"Sihtric!" Uhtred's stern voice gave him pause.

"Lord, she is with me," Sihtric stated firmly, meeting his lord's gaze without a hint of hesitation as his hand cradled Skade's like the most precious treasure and in the next moment, they were propelled into frantic motion, running towards the boats.

The first rays of the rising sun streamed through the window, casting the small room in a tender glow of orange and blue. The bed's gentle creak elicited a soft giggle from Skade, the only sound breaking the serene silence that enveloped them.

Her head nestled on Sihtric’s bare chest, she listened to the rhythmic thumping of his heartbeat beneath her ear. Her fingers traced lazy circles over his abdomen, while his rough hand drew slow, deliberate patterns on her back, sending delightful shivers through her. Even if a horde of Danes were to storm into the room this very moment, she wouldn't notice; every fibre of her being was absorbed in the profound sense of peace.

Their forms pressed together, skin against skin, she welcomed the warmth of Sihtric’s body, letting it seep into her bones and dissolve any lingering chill.

“Am I still cursed?” Sihtric asked with a playful chuckle, his hand never pausing in its gentle caress of her back.

“You know you never were,” Skade replied, her voice dreamy and soft.

“But what if I don’t mind?” he teased. “What if I want my life to belong to you?” His tone grew serious, and Skade raised her head to meet his gaze. His eyes, one blue and one brown, held a warmth that had captivated her from the moment they first met.

Slowly, she draped her leg over his waist, encircling him with her thighs as she shifted to prop her head on her elbow. Sihtric reached for her other hand, bringing it to his lips to place tender kisses on her palm. The combination of his soft kisses and the gentle strokes of his fingers against her back filled her with a lightness that seemed to lift her soul.

The gentle sunlight grew warmer, and the room seemed to breathe with the slow rhythm of their embrace. Skade sighed contentedly, letting her head fall back onto Sihtric’s chest. 

“You make me forget there’s a world beyond these walls,” Sihtric murmured, his voice a soothing rumble that vibrated through his chest. He brushed a lock of hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear with a tenderness that made her heart ache.

“Maybe that’s because, right now, there is no world beyond these walls,” she whispered back, her eyes half-closed, basking in the feeling of his hand on her skin.

Skade leaned in, letting her tongue savour the salty tang of Sihtric’s skin. She grazed his waistline with soft, teasing kisses, her lips and teeth exploring the terrain of his body. She moved upward, her warm breath fanning over his skin as she kissed her way to his chest. The hot sensation of her firm tongue circling his nipple, followed by a gentle nibble, drew a sharp hiss from Sihtric. His fingers involuntarily dug deeper into her soft flesh, a mix of pleasure and need rippling through him.

Sihtric’s hands glided down her spine, over the curve of her buttocks, and along her upper thighs, their hold tightening as he pulled her on top of him, legs on each side of his body to straddle his lap. A soft yet needy moan escaped Skade’s lips, feeling his hardening cock pressing against her core.

Her fingers trailed up his chest with a delicate touch until her hands rested on his broad shoulders. She leaned in closer and ran her fingers through his hair, her touch as light as a whisper. 

Sihtric’s calloused fingertips grazed the skin of her arms, further up over her shoulders until his hand rested on her neck. He pulled her closer and his mouth claimed hers in a searing kiss. This wasn't the achingly tender caress from before that had melted her resistance and crumbled her walls of protection. This kiss was hungry, passionate, a clash of wills and wants. Sihtric's tongue delved past her parted lips, tasting her, claiming her. His large hands slid into her hair, angling her head as he deepened the kiss with a low groan rumbling from his chest.

Skade melted against him, her nails digging into his shoulders as if he were the only thing anchoring her. She met his passion with her own, teeth nipping at his lower lip, her tongue dancing with his in a heady duel, fanning the heat kindling in the pit of her belly to a searing flame. Wetness pooled between her legs, as her hardened nipples brushed against Sihtric’s chest.

Hesitantly, unwillingly their lips let go of each other, chests heaving, and she buried her face in the curve of Sihtric’s neck, teeth scraping his skin, nipping and sucking marks on his sensitive flesh, sending a delightful shiver through Sihtric’s body.

Sihtric let his hands wander down her spine, teasing sensual strokes tickling her skin before he gripped her hips and urged her down against his crotch. Low groan rumbled through him at the feeling of Skade’s hot and dripping core sliding over his length, covering it with her slick.

Skade’s slender fingers traced the lines of his face with her fingertips, memorising every curve, every angle. "I was so lost before I met you," she breathed, rolling her hips against his, a breathy moan leaving her lips as Sihtric’s cock brushed against her perl. "Wandering through life like a ghost, haunted by my past. But you... you brought me back to life."

Sihtric looked at her, a gleam in his mismatched eyes, his hands cupping her breasts, eliciting another moan from Skade as his lips wrapped around her nipple, suckling on it gently at first. She moaned loudly and, feeling her body responding, he sucked harder, breathing in the floral aroma of her skin mingled with the salty scent of sweat. 

Sihtric’s lips were warm and inviting, the pink of his tongue gliding teasingly over her nipples as he tasted her. Skade’s hips started to move faster, needy moans and hisses rolling over her lips. 

She trembled, feeling arousal and pleasure building up in her with each lap of Sihtric’s tongue, each move of her hips, brushing her sensitive bundle against Sihtric’s fully hard and weeping cock, coating it with her wetness.

Sihtric moaned in pleasure, leaning his head back and closing his eyes. He was burning with desire, but the last thing he wanted was for her to feel as if she didn’t have the choice but to give herself to him. He wanted it to be trully her decision. 

Skade felt her core starting to throb with a greedy need to feel him inside her. The way he surrendered himself to her touch, giving her the choice, letting her determine what will happen next, made her want him, desire clouding her mind, yet she hesitated, a strange fear lingering in the back of her mind, a remnant from her past.  

"I'm choosing you. All of you – the pain, the rage, the softness, the yearning. I want to know every part of you, if you'll let me," Sihtric’s voice was raw, thick with a mix of lust and longing. His eyes fluttered open, locking his gaze with Skade’s. “Will you let me? Will you have me?” he asked, the earnestness in his voice the final weight tipping the scales. 

Skade’s hand travelled down between them, aligning Sihtric’s cock with her cunt. A heavy sigh quivering in her chest she slowly sank down, taking in the whole length of him, savouring every inch of his thick and long cock filling and stretching her. They both moaned heavily as her hips met Sihtric’s, and he was finally fully sheathed within her. 

Sihtric remained still, his hands on her hips and his large, tender eyes studying Skade’s face. 

She felt her walls adjusting to Sihtric’s cock, embracing him and pulsing in arousal as she started to move. Sihtric groaned in pleasure, his hands grabbing tighter her hips. 

Palms pressed against Sihtric’s chest, Skade steadied herself, the grounding feeling of his warm and slightly sweaty skin filling her with a strange feeling of elation. She fastened her  movements, snapping her hips against his pelvis, and soon the air was filled with heavy whines and moans, rolling over their parted lips. 

Sihtric’s hands landed on her buttocks, holding them in a firm grip, as he started to thrust his hips up against her, his movements growing faster and deeper with each thrust as her back arched and her nails dug in Sihtric’s flesh, leaving marks in their wake. 

Skade didn’t expect her climax to build up so quickly, but there was no escape from the pleasure building up within her with increasing speed, her walls spasming and clenching stronger and stronger with each thrust, delight infiltrating every cell of her body. 

“Oh, Sihtric, I’m so close …” she whined, supporting herself by grabbing the edge of the headboard, her knuckles turning white from the restraint.

“Don’t fight against it, let it go. I got you,” Sihtric whispered.

“Oh gods,” a loud moan ripped through her trembling body as Sihtric licked his fingers and reached between them, placing his thumb at her sensitive perl and starting to move around it, putting just the right pressure to make her breath catch in her chest.

For the first time in her life, Skade felt ready and willing to let go, to surrender control and entrust herself to Sihtric’s gentle yet passionate touch. His hot, heavy breath teased her skin, leaving her trembling and aching with desire—craving more—more of his kisses, more of his heated touch, more of everything he had to give. 

Breath panting, she whined, as her eyes started to roll back in her head. 

“Good girl!” Sihtric praised her. “Cum for me. Let me show you the stars,” he whispered, watching as Skade rode him, bouncing wildly up and down on his cock, her last remnants of self control being washed away by the raspy sound of his voice.

Tears of raw happiness streamed down her flushed cheeks as she submitted herself to him wholly and completely, with no hesitation, no regret.

Skade came with a loud moan, her walls spasming around Sihtric’s cock and body shaking in waves of pure bliss, her climax sweeping her racing mind empty of all thoughts, all emotions apart from one. Love.

For the first time in her life, she felt truly loved, and it was beautiful. It was indescribable, like taking her first breath after a lifetime of suffocating.

Sihtric felt Skade’s walls spasming around him as he kept fucking her though her orgasm and after a few more thrusts he followed her, his groans filling the air as he spilled deep inside her, imprinting himself on her walls. 

Skade crushed against his chest, and Sihtric’s hands wrapped around her quivering body, pulling her tightly in his embrace as they both gasped for breath.

"I want to stay like this forever," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sihtric smiled, a mixture of mischief and sincerity in his expression. "Forever is a long time," he said, his fingers trailing down her spine, sending a delightful shiver through her body. "But I would gladly spend every moment of it with you."

“Then your life is mine, future Lord of Dunholm, but your path is your own.”

Comment or write to me if you want to be added to the tag list.

Tags: @sihtricfedaraaahvicius @hb8301 @zillahvathek @alexagirlie @gemini-mama

@verenahx @mysteriouslydeafeningwerewolf @littlebitofwillow @thenameswinter99 @ellabellabus07

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@thatawkwardlittlefangirl @canyonmoon-2 @legitalicat @stupiddarkkside @sylasthegrim

@foxyanon

[ewanmitchellcrumbs]

Angeeeeee

I'm suffering from terrible cramps at the moment and I just saw your requests are open especially for wlw

can I please have a Skade one where she helps reader with our monthly curse? smut pls I'm begging 🥺

🩶🩶🩶

Bru, my darling, I realise that your monthlies have likely ended by now. But I hope this serves as a comfort the next time Auntie Flo pays you a visit.

Warnings: Time of the month mentions, fingering but not quite, tiddy succin'. Word count: ~1200

Author's note: No gods, no masters, no tag lists. Only scabs community label fics. If you find yourself tempted to slap a label on this, please block me instead.

You groan softly upon waking. The muted sunlight seeping through the canvas of the tent above your head indicates that it’s morning and has been for some time. You clutch at your lower belly with a muffled grunt, silently cursing your body for not allowing you a single waking moment’s peace from the curse of your moon’s blood. It’s your second day of bleeding and though you have tried your best to hide your discomfort from Skade, not wanting to hinder your progress as the two of you travel together, it is becoming more difficult to do so. The dull ache has grown to an insistent nag that plagues your every movement.

You stretch out an arm, surprised when you feel an empty bed roll instead of the warm body you’d expected to be next to you. You sit up slightly, wincing as the heaviness of your lower abdomen protests painfully, and peer through the slither of a gap in the entrance to your shared shelter.

Skade, flaxen hair cascading down her back as she hunches over a small fire, stirs a pot that’s suspended by a tripod of branches.

“Why didn’t you wake me?” You call out to her.

She turns to you, before wordlessly moving to fill two wooden cups with the steaming liquid she’s been stirring and ducks into the tent. She hands you one and sits cross legged in front of you.

You sniff at the beverage, wrinkling your nose in distaste at the unappetising earthy scent. “What is this?”

“Nettle tea,” She says simply. “It helps me when I have my moon’s blood.”

You feel your cheeks heat up as she tells you this. She knew. Of course she knew. It was impossible to hide anything from Skade, she was too perceptive.

“I suppose we should start moving again soon, I have wasted half of the morning sleeping.” You say, eager to change the subject.

“We are going to stay here another day,” She tells you. “You need to rest.”

Your eyes widen, guilt blooms heavily within your chest. “That is dangerous…”

“I am dangerous,” She smirks. “No harm will come to us.”

“You cannot do this for me.” You plead, eyes wide. “We must keep moving.”

Skade sighs, rolling her eyes. “Women are afflicted by this because men are too weak willed to endure it, but there is no shame in being in pain. I see your suffering. Accept my help, and drink your tea before it gets cold.”

You smile gratefully at her and lift the cup to your lips, taking a sip. You grimace, the taste is bitterly unpleasant against your tongue. “That is vile,” You cough. “I cannot drink this!”

Skade grins, snatching your tea from you and turns slightly to place both yours and her cups just outside the entrance of the tent. She fixes you with an intense stare when she turns back, her blue eyes bright even in the shade of the canvas roof above you.

“I have another idea,” She begins. “Something that will soothe you.”

“Will you use your power?” You ask curiously, nervousness and excitement prickling at your skin.

She huffs a soft laugh, shifting forward and pushing you back as she hovers over you. “Not the power you’re thinking of. But this remedy is just as ancient.”

You stare up at her, heart fluttering wildly in your chest as the long waves of her golden locks fan around your face like a shroud. Her face is so close to yours that your lips are almost brushing, but when you lean in, she pulls back with a wolfish smile, a silent denial of what you seek.

Her fingertips deftly push up the hem of the rough spun linen of the shirt you wear, dancing delicately across the exposed flesh of your midriff, causing your breath to hitch. She smooths the flat of her palm over your stomach, before bringing it to rest against your lower abdomen, applying gentle pressure.

The warm sensation of it is a relief against the cramps you’ve been suffering. You sigh, allowing your eyes to flutter closed.

“Better?” Skade asks, her breath tickling softling against your cheek.

“Yes.” You whisper quietly, almost afraid that if you speak too loudly the moment will end.

It is then that she allows her lips to meet yours, slow and unhurried. You kiss back, relaxing as every movement serves to ease the tension in your body. You can taste nettle tea, but it is far sweeter upon her lips than it is from the cup.

Skade breaks away, moving to mouth at your neck and collarbones. Her free hand makes quick work of plucking open your shirt buttons, pushing the fabric apart to reveal your breasts to her.

You gasp, arching your back as she latches onto a nipple, swirling her tongue around it. The added sensitivity caused by your blood serves to heighten the sensation, waves of arousal causing you to clench around nothing.

It is then that you feel her hand move from your abdomen, her fingers breaching the waistband of the trousers you wear. You freeze, eyes going wide.

“What are you doing?” You ask in hushed panic.

Skade releases your breast with a wet pop and stares up at you. “Do you trust me?”

“Yes.” You surprise yourself with how quickly you answer, how certain you sound, how sure you feel.

“Good.” She purrs, eyes darkened by lust. “Then let me do this. It will feel good.”

She moves her attention to the opposite nipple, laving her tongue across it before suckling gently, as her hand continues its downward trajectory. You jolt slightly as you feel her push her fingers across your mound, cupping roughly before pressing down to spread you open. Her middle finger seeks out your bud, circling slowly, and you shiver, whimpering at the way it makes you tense and throb.

Your whimpers increase in cadence, until they are lewd moans as her circles become tighter, faster, more precise. The coil in your gut winds impossibly tight and she kisses you feverishly as she feels you tense up, swallowing your cries of ecstasy as you fall apart, white hot waves of pleasure rippling through you, all the way to your toes.

Skade withdraws her hand once you still, laying on her back beside you, watching you intently as you gasp for breath.

“Better?” She asks with a raise of her eyebrow.

Once you are lucid enough to form a response, you notice that the ache inside you has disappeared almost entirely. You feel boneless in the wake of your peak. “Much.” You breathe.

“It’s a pity that the moon has not seen fit to align us, so that we may suffer this together.” She muses, rolling onto her side and stroking your hair.

“You would want to suffer with me?” You ask, your heart fluttering, a smile tugging at the corners of your mouth.

“For as long as the gods allow it.” She tells you, resting her head against your chest.

[aadmelioraa]

It's almost 2023, so I figured I'd share my updated The Last Kingdom fic recs since I have been meaning to do that all year. Below the cut you will find some shippy stuff, some introspective pieces, and a variety of characters featured (several of whom rarely get fanfic). I hope if this post crosses your path you may find a new favorite! I did limit my selection to complete fics, but you can find more recommendations, both works in progress and complete, under my ao3 tlk bookmarks. Happy New Year, and happy reading!

the leap by @irisdouglasiana

Season 5 cottagecore nuns fixit for Aalys and Aelflaed. Fixit fics are not usually my vibe tbh but this one is perfectly complex and bittersweet.

A Hard Story to Know by @wildwren

Post Season 5 fic. Aelfwynn processes her grief at the loss of her mother with the help of Aldhelm and Eadith. This fic broke my heart and mended it several times over.

no escape by @volvaaslaug

Wonderful Eadith character study and I adore the prose style as well.

come go with me by @wendy-daahling

Aethelflaed x Aldhelm political marriage (for MERCIA of course), slow burn with lots of delicious pining.

the drowned and the damned by @irisdouglasiana

Canon divergent AU centered around Osbert, Uhtred's youngest son. Addresses family trauma, cycles of violence, and legacy within the world of the show and does it in such a thought provoking way.

and, lord, she found me just in time by @jeynepoole

Hild x Iseult hurt/comfort bathing fic...so tender and so lovely.

a rope in hand for your other man by @jeynepoole

This fic is definitely for a niche audience, but if the idea of an Aethelflaed/Aldhelm/Aethelred threesome intrigues you, check it out...and there's more where that came from.

Meanwhile in Mercia by @skatingthinandice

This series is an absolute staple of Aethelflaed x Aldhelm fanfic and I am very grateful for it. Essential reading!

Daughter of Darkness by @ulfrsmal

Gen fic focused around Brida and Thyra's relationship and trauma that I, for one, desperately needed. *this fic is locked, you will need to be logged into your ao3 account to access...I still have a few invitations to send, if you need one feel free to DM me!

I go you go, my dear by alittlebitalexis

Two Osferth x Eadith fics for the Eadsferth truthers among us (no for real they were cute). Fluff and smut.

When the Party's Over by @wildwren

Aethelflaed x Erik College AU. Part of a series, read Part 1 first, I am just particularly attached to this part for...reasons.

The Maiden by @wildwren

Pirate/Witch AU for Aethelflaed x Skade. This fic is HOT and creative and HOT and gorgeously written and HOT.

To Curse a King by @pokeasleepingsmaug

Skade x Sihtric smut fic featuring magic and knife play. Very fun and sexy.

Saint of Shitty Reasons by @volvaaslaug

Edward Modern AU character study that hits 95% of my kinks.

Most CURSED among God's kin are aethelings by @wildwren

Aethelwold character study. A masterpiece though and through.

Lay Down Your Arms by @skatingthinandice

Aethelflaed x Aldhelm post Tettenhall smut, and a most worthy entry for the #GET IT AETHELFLAED tag.

clever-tongued by @tsukkinami

Aethelflaed x Aldhelm smut with wonderful tension and intimacy, it's just top tier! A classic.

in my dreams we survived by @irisdouglasiana

Hild character study, really lovely angst that makes me tear up every time.

poison by @irisdouglasiana

Brida x Skade enemies to lovers...need I say more?

fortune cookie by @jeynepoole

Competent stepdad Aldhelm, Modern AU Aldhelm & Aelfwynn bonding. A warm blanket of a fic.

[knight-of-flowerss]

MEMENTO MORI

'REMEMBER YOU WILL DIE'

Sub!Jacaerys Velaryon x Witch!Reader

Smut! MDNI! 18+!

It’s finally here ya'll!!

Synopsis: Your relationship with the crown is wearing thin. You once lived in peace, being left alone by everyone, but the more King Viserys grows weak, the more hate is coming your way. You are stationed, imprisoned in the Red Keep until your execution but a certain Prince's curiosity leads him to you.

Masterlist

Reader is not described in anyway other than being afab but in my head I'm thinking Skade from TLK would suit this fic. Also Jace will look like season 2 Jace but it kinda takes place in season 1 (idk man)

being a witch was difficult. Here i am standing trial in the throne room, everyone's eyes upon me. lord otto hightower took it upon himself to take the kings place while he is bed ridden.

i have shackles around my wrists, ankles and neck, held by three different knights.

"how do you plead to the crimes of witchcraft?" otto's voice bounces off the walls in a booming manner.

"it depends lord. what type of witchcraft do you mean?" i say with a cold face, if i ever let any emotions crack through they would eat me up then and there.

otto is clearly irritated by my response, "witchcraft against the crown." , "not guilty. i have lived peacefully, detached from society.. my relationship with the crown has been as pure as a virgin.. does the king know you are doing this?…"

"the king is sick so i assume the position as hand to handle the court." he snaps back, cocky and superior. his daughter, alicent, glares at me. She was a daughter of the seven so she had a right to be wary of me..

"then as hand you should know that there is a legally binding scroll saying that we are to live in harmony until the day i die. you cannot execute me. If you do, it would be you who is on trial for crimes against the crown." i reply, cocking my head slightly as i stare into his eyes.

otto basically had steam coming out of his ears, absolutely seething, "you shall be kept in the red keep. it will be up to the people if we execute you."

the guards yanked the chains that hold me, violently dragging me to the red keep. as i turn to walk, i make eye contact with a certain bastard.

i pace around the empty room, my shackles had been taken off and i had been allowed free roam in the small room.

i look out the barred window and watch people point and look up, whispering and giggling. they were going to choose to execute me, i am sure of it.

my head turns slightly to the door as the doorknob jiggles, it slowly creaks opens as the candles flicker and obscure the visitor.

a young princeling peeks his head through slowly. scared and hesitant. "speak boy."

i glare at him as he takes in a sharp breath, just staring at me. i bite the inside of my lip in anger before shouting, scaring the poor boy, "speak!"

he jumps slightly, "are-.. are you a witch?.." he mutters quickly, looking at me before darting his eyes down to the floor.

"i have done no crimes to be seen as witchcraft. i help the ill. herbs and spices. that is all… and I also have dreams." i say as i tilt my head, leaning my head forward and bending my body down, trying to scare him.

he eyes me weirdly, scared of what i could do, "you lie, i have heard what they say about you. you dream yes, but you also practice witchcraft."

"believe it if you want, i do not care." i slowly walk towards him, swaying my hips as my eyes are tracked on him. "are you scared of me, boy?.."

he stares at me, puffing his chest out, trying to stand his ground. "no. why would i ever be scared of you? you are no threat now."

i smirk at him, my teeth peeking through my lips, "i can be.. if i really want to be.." i take a fast step forward, shocking him. he jumps back slightly and puts his hand on a presumed, sheathed dagger.

"you are scared of me.. aww, it's a pity. i was hoping you wouldn’t be." my lips pout in a mocking way, i'm a few steps from the prince.

"who are you? i know you are a princeling, you carry yourself like one." i eyes him up and down. "i am jacaerys velaryon, son of laenor velaryon and princess rhaenyra targaryen, soon to be queen. i am rider of vermax and the next in line to the throne after my mother."

"ah.. the heir.. soon you shall be king, i have dreamt it.. a good king too.." i eye him up, my gaze going from his veiny hand that grasps a concealed dagger at his hip, that could curl around my neck, to his curly mop of hair that structures his face, that i could tug on. his nose is large, big enough to ride. his lips are pouty, soft enough to kiss. he is gorgeous.

he shuffles slightly, uncomfortable from my predatory gaze. "you are prettier than any woman.. your babes shall be beautiful." i walk towards him, he backs up. We continue this until he hits the wall and i leer in front of him.

i chuckle maniacally, loving how he is clearly scared of me but is still gripping his dagger like he shall un-sheath it and strike it through my heart.

"my body shivers when you are near.." my breath hits his cheek as his big, brown eyes stare at me, like a little baby deer. "my heart is beating so fast… you, my prince, are making my body betray me.." a grin spreads across my face, staring at every inch of his beautiful face.

he swallows, nervous. his adam's apple bobs as the saliva glides down his throat. "my cunt is soaking with mine own arousal, your grace.." jacaerys' eyes widen, basically bulging out of his skull. he splutter out a few random letters before whimpers softly.

my face is close to his as he whimpers, my eyes close as my mouth moves open to gasp softly before grinning and laughing. gods.. he sounded fucking gorgeous.

"you're the sweetest little thing i've ever seen, prince jacaerys velaryon." the sultry tones he quite literally drips off my tongue as my face grows nearer to his.

my hand move up slowly, as to not attract his attention. i reach up and cup him through his trousers, which makes him visibly still and a sharp inhale be taken in.

"get off me.. witch." he pants out as he tries to pull back but there is no space to escape, "you say that as if it is an insult…" my tongue darts out to lay flat on his cheek as he trembles slightly at the feeling.

"let me please you, my prince.." i grin against his cheek, grounding my hand down against his crotch, feeling him harden beneath my palm. jacaerys is frozen in place, not knowing what to do as he stares at me with widened eyes.

i move my nimble fingers to unlace his trousers, sneaking my hand into his breeches. his breath hitches as he turns his head slightly to look into my eyes, pools of darkness that invite him to sin.

my fingers finally brush against his soft tip as he gasps softly, his eyes fluttering shut. "stop it witch..." he grunts out as i slip my fingers around his sensitive tip, teasing him. "i do not believe you wish me to... lying is frowned upon in high society, is it not?"

jacaerys just grunts in response, it was obvious the young princeling had never felt the touch of a woman before, but he wasn't panicked by the sensation which i could only assume meant that he had indulged in his own pleasures before.

i retract my hand from his breeches, taking away all touch to his spongey tip. he tried to disguise it but i heard a soft whimper come from his lips at the loss of contact. "i think that a witch deserves one last night of pleasure before her death, don't you, jacaerys?" he pouts, yet it is unclear if he pouted at the idea or because his name slid off my tongue in the most sultry way i could, like a siren in the ocean.

when i hear no response, it aggravates me. i reach my hand up to grip at his softly ringlets, yanking them as he yelps, "i said, i think i deserve one last night of pleasure before my execution, do you believe that too?" i growl through gritted teeth next to his ear.

jacaerys hesitated before he nodded pitifully. i grin before i push him down, he seems confused before he follows my lead, kneeling infront of me.

i practically moan at the sight of him on his knees, staring up at me with those big, brown puppy eyes. he is the most gorgeous man alive.

i move my hand from his curls to grip his chin, tilting his head up, "i think we should put this mouth to good use.."

his bottom lip practically trembles in anticipation as he stares back up at me. a sly grin graces my face as my other hand moves to my tattered skirts, gripping them and moving them up.

my smooth skin gets slowly revealed to the young princeling. my calf… then my knee… and then my thigh…

his eyes flicker from my eyes to my thigh, his breathing growing more harsh, his chest moving up and down in a more visible way.

subconsciously, his head gravitates slowly towards my thigh, pressing his cheek to my warm skin. a small whimper comes from his lips as he nuzzles his cheek further into the inside of my thigh.

his chapped lips grazes my skin, tickling me slightly. i move my hand that was on his chin to the side of his face, stroking his cheek softly with my thumb.

his beautiful eyes are hidden from my view as his eyelids flutter shut, his long eyelashes stroking his under eye slightly.

the fingers that are gripping my skirt move to the centre of my skirts, tugging it up to my stomach, revealing my bare cunt to the prince.

when he opens his eyes, his pupils dilate, his big doe eyes returning. the sweet aroma of my slick draws him in, leaning forward and pressing his nose into my cunt, the bump of his rugged nose pressing into my clit.

the hand resting on his cheek moves to the back of his neck, my fingers fumbling with his curly baby hairs as i grin down at jacaerys on his knees.

his plush lips kiss my lips softly, my slick sticking to them making him lick his lips.

unsure of what he is doing, he just follows his guts, messily kiss and sucking my sweet slick. at one point, the ridge of his nose moves a certain way into my clit, making a soft moan slip from my lips.

quickly clocking onto it, he moved up, moving his lips to my pearl and experimentally putting his tongue on my throbbing nub.

i bite my lip, a sickening grin adorning my face as i close my eyes.

jacaerys' hands travel to his trousers, gripping his throbbing cock, grinding into his own hand.

he tries to speed up the pace of his tongue, trying to give me pleasure, basking in the taste of the forbidden gardens. he messily and hastily flicks his tongue against my clit, whining into my cunny as he humps his fist faster.

my hips move on their own accord, grinding against his face as i feel my release nearing while his own was festering in his breeches.

his eyes are squeezed shut as a broken whimper breaks through, his cock throbbing as he spills into his breeches.

not giving the fucked out prince a break, i swing my leg over his shoulder, moving my hand to the back of his head.

I quickly move my hips against his face, rocking them so my clit graces his beautiful nose as i teeter on the edge of my release.

doubling-over, the knot in my belly unravels. as my legs shake and moans spill from my lips, jacaerys hurriedly moved his mouth closer, lapping up my release with a satisfied hum.

after a small time, he continues to lap at my cunt. i have to push the eager prince away, he is easily overstimulating me without even releasing it.. so innocent..

jacaerys looks up at me, his eyes glossed over. i gather the spit in my mouth before i tug his head back, causing him to gasp softly and his lips to part.

I hurriedly spit into his mouth, it catches on his bottom lip, dripping down as his instinctively swallows and licks his lips.

my knees bend, moving to sit atop his lap. my knees caged him in, on either side of his thighs. jacaerys himself is still kneeling on the ground, the hard and cold stone floor digging into his kneecaps.

big brown eyes bore into mine as he stares at me with a lovesick gaze. his hands move to the tops of my thighs, barely grazing them, unsure if he should touch me or not.

my patience had ran out, fingers moving in between us and unlacing his trousers and breeches, his swollen cock being released and slapping his leather covered abdomen.

he whimpers at the feeling of his tip grazing the coolness of the leather. precum dribbles down from his tip, his cock twitching from the cold air and anticipation.

my hand hastily grabs his length, moving my hips up to hover over him and sinking down. i had laid with many men during my time, so the usual uncomfortableness for many women is barely present.

but jacaerys had never had the touch of a women, he'd never been inside a cunt before.

having only came a few moment before, jacaerys cries into my shoulder, moving his head to look up at me. his eyes brows are furrowed, lips parted and downturned and the look in his eyes is pitiful.

but i wasn't here to care about the sensitivity of the prince, no… i'm taking the virginity of the future king.. i will haunt him until the day he dies… he will want no other woman other than me.

i quickly move my hips, dragging them up and down his cock slowly, spreading my slick along his length. he whines into the air pathetically, his eyes clenching shut as he bites his lip hard.

his hands move from grazing my thighs to be splayed across my lower back, his short nails digging into my skin.

warm walls clench around his length as he presses his face into my covered breasts, letting every noise spill from his lips and being muffled by the fabric.

my head leans backwards, my hair dangles in the air as i moan and gasp.

my arms rest on his shoulders, my hands gripping his hair, digging into his scalp.

my hips move faster as i feel him throb inside me, his noises growing louder and louder.

biting my lip as i smile, enjoying the feeling of fucking the innocent young prince. who knew the next king would be so submissive for a witch?..

as he grows nearer his release, his hands press me forward, keeping me close to him as his teeth sinks into the fabric covering my chest, biting hard on my breast.

his blunt nails rake up and down my back as i basically hump him. but as the knot in his belly slowly comes undone, he moves his arms up, hooking them under my armpits and his nails dig into my shoulder.

with a pathetic cry he spills inside me, twitching and throbbing as he paints my walls white with his seed.

my eyes roll into the back of my head, clenching around him as my release comes crashing down without a warning, making the overstimulated jacaerys whimper and cry, tears rolling down his freckled cheek.

after a little while of sitting like that, i lift myself off of him, earning a whine off him.

his seed drips out of me and he pants, his head very slowly looking up before quickly moving to the side as my hand quickly strikes his cheek, the sting of the slap covering his whole cheek.

"i will plague your mind as you seek pleasure in other women… i will plague your mind as you fuck your future wife with your seed… i will plague your mind as you make every decision for the seven kingdoms… you will never forget me princeling…" i whisper into his ear.

"memento mori.." i kiss the shell of his ear softly before dissipating away.

the king wakes up in his bed, his wife, Baela, sleeping next to him peacefully, her swollen belly is visible underneath the furs and blankets. the witch was right.. she would always haunt him.

tags: @thethreeeyed-raven @lost-in-fiction-like-ur-mom @benjinotes @ericasabe

[little-diable]

Betrayal - Sihtric x Reader x Finan (smut)

I ain't sorry for the TLK fics I'll keep on posting, y'all just have to endure my obsession. Please like and reblog if you enjoyed reading this. Enjoy my loves. xxx

Summary: Set in S3E6/7, Sihtric betrays Uhtred and leaves his lovers behind, at least that's what Finan and the reader are forced to believe, till they reunite

Warnings: 18+, smut, a lot of smut lol, piv, unprotected sex, fingering, double penetration (2p in 1v), handjob, some angst, threesome

Pairing: Sihtric x fem!reader x Finan (about 2.2k words)

TLK Masterlist

Their hearts were heavy, and yet the weight resting on their souls had nothing on the pain clinging to their aching limbs. Æthelflæd's estate was filled with tired warriors, men that were stuffing their bellies full with bread and stew, choking on the ale they drowned to warm themselves. 

“Are you alright?” Finan’s accent grew thicker with every word he spoke, hand placed on her trembling thigh. (Y/n) was sitting between her lovers, tired eyes focused on the stew she couldn’t stomach. Her glassy eyes found Finan’s worried ones, taking a few moments to marvel at her lover’s dirty features, wondering how he still looked so awfully handsome, even after a fight this cruel. 

“I’m worried about Osferth, that’s all.” Her eyes wandered to Sihtric’s features, the warrior that had barely shared a word with them in the past hours. Something was weighing him down, forcing him to keep his mouth shut, pondering over whatever was echoing through his mind. “Sihtric?”

“Yes?” He didn’t look at her, eyes not wandering from his ale, watching his fingers move along the wooden cup. (Y/n)’s trembling hand tried to reach for his face, though forced to pull back as Uhtred sat down near Sihtric. She could barely spare the words their lord spoke her attention, though picking up that he’d leave for his brother's grave. Finan had pulled her closer, back pressed against his warm front. 

Only as Finan murmured a sharp “He does not” did (y/n) snap out of her trance, realising that something was off, a fight that would soon put the love the warrior shared with her and Finan to the test. Sihtric’s spiteful words about death and those that have died along the way left her tensing, hand trying to grasp Sihtric’s, only for her lover to shake her off. 

Hurt flashed through her eyes as she watched Uhtred rise to his feet, turning his back on the three of them. Finan’s hand grasped her waist, keeping her close, very well knowing that she was confused, hurt, and angered by the way her other lover was acting. 

“No man who serves Uhtred can rest, not until Skade is reclaimed.” Her eyes snapped towards Uhtred’s now angry features, watching how Finan tried to stop Sihtric from talking. Everything moved all too quickly, suddenly they were all standing, growling angry words and provocative phrases, while (y/n) tried to keep them calm. Finan’s uneasy eyes couldn’t help but watch his lover fall apart, struggling to keep her tears bottled in as Sihtric once again pushed her away, all too carelessly. 

“Then I will kill you.” Her air was stuck in her throat, body forcing itself past Uhtred to storm outside, heavily heaving as her body released the few bites she had forced into her system. With Finan hot on her heels, hand stroking her back, she allowed the man to guide her, teary eyes searching his, begging him to speak words that could calm her racing heart. 

“We can’t let him leave, Finan, we can’t.” Finan pulled her against his chest, cradling her as if he was scared that she’d break any moment now. He didn’t speak, eyes fluttering close as every cry of hers ripped his heart to shreds. 

……

Hours later (y/n) found herself pressed against Finan's naked chest, searching the distraction only he could offer. Her body was tired from the tears she had cried, the hurt swimming through her system.

"Look at me." Finan cupped her cheek, thumb stroking her trembling lower lip before he kissed her, gasping in surprise as (y/n) pulled him closer, forcing him to tower over her. "Are you sure?"

She could only nod her head, eyes squeezed shut as she felt his hand cup her heat, pushing two fingers into her tightness to prepare her for his cock. Finan's lips kissed their way down her throat, sparing her pulse point enough attention as he fucked her with his fingers, thumb rubbing her clit with just enough amount of pressure to push her out of her sadness, distracted for the upcoming hour at least.

(Y/n)'s needy gasps forced Finan to pull his hand from her cunt, bringing his arousal covered fingers to his mouth, cleaning his skin before he forced her thighs apart, positioning himself at her entrance.

"No matter what will happen, I will always be here for you, to love you. Love you just like Sihtric loves you." A cry ripped through her, hand searching his to interlace their fingers, needing to hold onto him as he pushed into her. For a few moments Finan kept still, allowing his lover to adjust, giving him enough time to wipe her tears away and to kiss her warm cheeks.

Even though (y/n) knew deep down that she'd cross paths with Sihtric again, she couldn't help but find strength in the way Finan loved her, how he cherished her, holding her close to remind her of the endless adoration he felt for her.

Finan fucked her slow at first, deep strokes that left her toes curling and her heart skipping beats, but with the first cry of his name, he began to pick up his pace, thrusts growing more ferocious. And as he loved her, in the dark room, she couldn't help but feel safe, and protected from her daunting thoughts.

……

The forest was cold, the snow-covered ground guided them further towards the Danes camp, eyes trying to focus on any movement, indicating that somebody was close. The wind stroked along their limbs, leaving them trembling and shaking, hoping that they’d eventually get the chance to warm their frozen fingers. 

Ever since Sihtric had left them,(y/n) had barely spoken a word to the others, caught in her anger, in the betrayal she felt, and the fear of never crossing paths with Sihtric again. Maybe it was foolish of her, she should be used to ever changing conditions, and yet she couldn’t. Finan had tried to distract her, holding her a tad bit closer at night, murmuring sweet nothings to remind her of the love he felt for her, and yet he didn’t manage to mend her broken heart. 

“Somebody’s coming.” They froze, watching a frame appear, moving closer and closer till they could make out Sihtric’s features, forcing a gasp out of (y/n). Finan had his hand clasped down on her wrist, keeping her from moving towards the man. Only as Uhtred and Sihtric shared a hug, followed by the sound of their laughter, did (y/n) snap out of her thoughts. Finan pushed past her, murmuring something about knowing of Sihtric and Uhtred’s game, but (y/n) didn’t move. 

“Love,” Sihtric murmured the word, taking careful steps to move closer, only for (y/n) to shake her head, chasing the now growing distance between them before Sihtric could touch her. Her anger kept thumping through her veins, though not because she was still hurt by his betrayal, but by the way he had pushed her, by the way he had shaken her off all too easily. 

“Give her some time.” Finan’s murmurs were drowned out by the heavy breaths leaving Sihtric, pained eyes watching her frame.

…… 

“Can we come in?” Finan’s voice broke the silence, eyes finding (y/n)’s. Her gaze flickered between Finan and Sihtric, slowly nodding her head to allow both of her lovers to enter. The silence returned within a few moments, engulfing them as Sihtric and Finan sat down on either side of her. With every passing second the silence grew more uncomfortable, a thick fog neither of them could break through. 

“I am sorry, we needed your sincere reaction to make them believe our fight.” Sihtric’s whispers forced her to scoff, eyes fluttering shut to sort through her racing thoughts. Her body was longing for him, wanting to feel his hands on her body, and yet her mind forced (y/n) to hold her grudges. 

“It’s not about that, I understand why you did it. But fuck, don’t you ever push me around like that again, don’t ever make me feel like you don’t want to be touched by me again.” Sihtric’s hand found her chin, tilting her head towards him, eyes burning through hers. He dipped his head down, lips finding hers, kissing her breathless while Finan could no longer bite down his smirk. 

“I think it’s time for Sihtric to make up for our lost time together, don't you think?” Finan’s murmurs were met with a hum rumbling through (y/n), sighing as Sihtric let go of her, rising back to his feet. All (y/n) could do was watch both men undo their coats, followed by their leather armour, exposing their prominent, flexing muscles. 

“Look at our pretty girl, we haven’t even touched you yet, petal.” The heavy Irish accent left (y/n)’s heart racing, thighs pressed together to soothe the ever growing ache. She was dripping for their touch, ready to be toyed with, allowing her lovers to use her body as if the gods themselves were walking amongst them. Sihtric touched her first, helping her out of her clothes, slowly exposing the body he hadn’t been able to touch for a while, and yet he had dreamt of her every single night. 

“Lay down.” The command was followed without any questions, naked body pressed against the bed, eyes finding the glistening ones of Finan. The warrior settled next to her, groaning as her hand found his hardening cock, pumping him for a few moments before she felt Sihtric’s warm tongue brush through her folds, making her halt her movements. A string of curses left the three of them, mixed together to form one sinful sound. 

“Jesus, I’ll never get used to this.” (Y/n) had started moving her hand once again, pushing Finan closer to the edge as Sihtric got lost in her taste, cherishing her as if he hadn’t seen his lover in years. Both were a tangled mess of limbs, hearts, and souls, forever one to walk the same path, to share their ever growing love. 

“Want to feel both of you, please.” Sihtric’s eyes met Finan’s, forcing a smirk to tug on both their lips, letting go of (y/n) to wordlessly reposition themselves. It wasn’t the first time she asked to be fucked by both men at the same time, and yet (y/n)’s heart picked up its pace, as if she was fighting a battle, very well knowing that she stood no chance against her opponents. 

With Finan sitting down on the bed to pull (y/n) into his lap, Sihtric positioned himself behind her, sharing a few mischievous glances with Finan. Her trembling hands were placed on Finan’s shoulders as she sank down on his cock, forehead pressed against his chest, needing a few moments to adjust. Sihtric made use of her moments of distraction, slowly pushing into her like they had done numerous times before. 

(Y/n)’s moan was drowned out by Finan’s lips meeting hers, swallowing her sounds as her cunt tried to adjust to both of their cocks, their alternating thrusts that left her shaking. Heat flushed through their veins, a heat so biting it felt as if the Devil himself was guiding their every movement, forcing them to confess to their every sin. 

Finan’s cold fingers found her bundle of nerves, circling her clit to push her further towards the edge, feeling her clench around both their cocks. She’d cum any moment now, gone for her two lovers like a ship sinking to the bottom of the rough ocean, one with the waves that have drowned her body and soul. 

“Fuck, so tight, even after all those months, made just for us.” Sihtric’s praises gave her the final push, trembling between both her lovers as her orgasm clashed through her. (Y/n)’s fingernails drew blood from Finan’s skin, leaving marks he’d wear proud like a soldier showing off his battle marks. It didn’t take long for the two men to follow, pulling out of her moments before they came. 

All three were heavily panting, bodies falling next to one another, getting lost in the silence that had now returned. Sihtric rose to his feet to reach for a piece of cloth, cleaning himself before he helped out his other two lovers, searching their closeness. 

“I promise, I’ll never hurt you like that again.” Sihtric pressed a kiss to her cheek, admiring her tired features, still strung out, and overstimulated. Her chuckles vibrated through her body, fingers interlaced with both of theirs. 

“If you do, I promise to hunt you down myself.”

[lord-aldhelm]

WIP Wednesday

Another week, another tag game! Please share your last sentence; or, if you don’t have one, share a plot bunny or idea! (OR sketch for your artwork!)

No one tagged me this time! I am taking the lead lol!

This is from my S2 Aldflaed fic (still not titled yet lol), which is turning out to be a prequel for Springtime it seems:

It was very early dawn when the Devonshire fyrd returned to their camp. The sun had not yet risen, but the sky had turned a lighter shade of blue, and the horizon to the east glowed with a pale golden light.  The noise of the approaching men and horses in the distance startled Aethelflaed into wakefulness. The first thing she saw upon awakening was Aldhelm’s stoic face only a few inches from her own. He had apparently fallen asleep while guarding her sometime in the night. His bright green eyes met her icy blue ones for a brief moment before she was fully awake and aware of her surroundings. She tensed; she could feel the weight of his hand on her upper arm as he held her in place while she slept. She moved to back away but her movement was blocked by the log that was pressed against her back. She felt trapped, and started to reflexively panic when Aldhelm spoke.

And for the WIP for artworks; here are the rough sketches for the TLK fanarts I am currently working on:

Aldhelm will be in pastels, Constanine and Skade in colored pencils. I am also working on a cat drawing in pastels, and a cicada painting in acrylics, but didn't want to post these here.

No Pressure Tags:

@daethelflaed @gemini-mama @sihtricfedaraaahvicius @thenameswinter99 @whitedarkmoonflower

@poetic-fiasco @itbmojojoejo @garunsdottir @timetravelingpenguin1066 @thelettersfromnoone

@arcielee @st-eve-barnes @foxyanon @alexagirlie @holy3cake

[crows-junk-pile]

hello. If you would like to infodump to me about the pantheon I would also be open to that. Because I entirely jumped into this without realizing how much worldbuilding there actually is, and now I'm confused

The TMA 'pantheon' I'm assuming? OK SO TMA SPOILERS BE HERE(and also really bad jokes/memes)

SO There are 15 entities that each represent of fears in them. MAG 111 and the wiki have a better explaining than me so I'll link the wiki pages. Also a really good song that explain them

The Eye

Skedaddle Skading CEASELESS WATCHER FIC YOUR GAZE APON THIS RECHAD THING

The Buried

The Corruption

The Dark

The Desolation

Bad Meme I made

The End(K, DEATH)

The Flesh <- Nobody likes it

The Hunt

AND THE LONELY YOUR ALONE

The Slaughter

The Spiral

The Stranger ...wait who's that?

The Vast

The Web

The Necaular one that [MY FRIEND} doesn't know about

THE ENTITIES THE ENTITIES THERE ARE 1̶4̶ 15 ENTITIES

[sapphic-woes]

Ugh.....thinking abt off brand skade!reader again;;; thinking about cutting your hand and using it like war paint on Eivor's face. Telling her that your power belongs to no one, and if she wants it...she must give herself willingly to you. To have her watch you savor the torture of Saxons around you, to see her destiny as a king.... Just man oopsie remember that dane!vi fic?? Yea that but Eivor

[thenameswinter99]

YASS! FINALLY! THE SIHTRIC X SKADE IS MANIFESTING AAAHHHH

I LOVE YOU AND I'LL LOVE YOU FOREVER 😭💜

WIP Wednesday

Another week, another tag game! Please share your last sentence; or, if you don’t have one, share a plot bunny or idea! (OR sketch for your artwork!)

Thank you for the tag @lord-aldhelm!

I'm sorry I've been very absent here the last days. I was not feeling well mentally and really needed a break.

I'm still not back fully, but I wanted to share something I've written in these days mainly for my two dear friends @thenameswinter99 and @alexagirlie. Lovelies - this will be for you when it's finished.

It's still a very raw draft of my Sihtric x Skade fic:

"There had been times when she cursed her gift, praying to the gods to take it back, to release her from its crushing power. She had blamed it for her fate, for the darkness that trailed her, ripping away those she loved and leaving her alone and aching. But that was before. Before she surrendered and accepted the part of herself she had once despised.

From the grave of her suffering, a new Skade was born – a proud creature of darkness, leaving a trail of pain and blood in her wake, destined to test those foolish enough to assume power over her, and to punish without remorse those who failed.

Skade turned, her burning gaze forcing Sihtric to meet her eyes, and for a fleeting moment  the world around him faded into an incoherent blur of sounds and images. "Cowards," her smirk seemed to challenge, or perhaps seek reassurance.

Sihtric longed to speak, but the words froze on his lips, the silent promise in his warm gaze swallowed by the night's darkness. She wanted none of his promises, yet he made one silently to himself - he would find her."

[ewanmitchellcrumbs]

WLW Masterlist

Rhaenyra x reader x Alicent (House of the Dragon)

Skade x reader (The Last Kingdom)

Praise kink with Helaena (House of the Dragon)

Dacryphilia with Cersei (Game of Thrones)

Period sex with Skade (The Last Kingdom)

Corruption kink with Cersei (Game of Thrones)

Domme Skade (The Last Kingdom)

Rhaenyra with Harwin's wife (House of the Dragon)

[foxyanon]

tell us more about the Clever Fox fic bestie

I’m still workshopping it, buuttttt…

We need more Sihtric fluff so it’s another fluff piece! This one is Sihtric x Aesira (my darling widowed witch). She’s plus sized and a single mom!

Concept: Uhtred just had to go and get himself cursed by Skade, and now Sihtric has to seek out the powerful seer that can help fully break the curse. Takes place in S3, after the crew get to Dunholm. Brida actually decides to have the seer retrieved when Uhtred’s condition doesn’t fully improve the way it’s supposed to.

Teaser:

He was cursing his luck, knowing this task had to be done but furious all the same. Lord Uhtred hadn’t improved the way Brida expected him too, Skade continuing to try to cast her spells even after the Nithstong was placed in front of her prison. He had had enough with witches and magic lately, but he also knew that this one was legitimate and far more powerful than Skade. At least, that is what Brida had said and he did not know Brida to be a liar when it came to the old ways. He just hoped this hag could help, otherwise he might be inclined to run both her and Skade through, consequences be damned.

So here he was, riding through the forest aimlessly while he searched for this seeress. He had travelled for gods know how long before he heard a haunting voice echoing through the forest, the sound calling him like a siren. He urged his horse forward towards the sound before he stumbled upon a woman along the riverbank, her enchanting song filling his ears as he watched her foraging for mushrooms and other herbs that grew along the waters edge. He watched her for a moment before dismounting and cautiously approaching, taking that time to give the woman a once over. She was a thicker woman, the fabric of her green dress doing little to hide her full figure. He took one step in her direction and she looked up quickly, her dark brown eyes enchanting him in an instant and baring her teeth while she held her blade firmly in her hand, prepping to defend herself if needed.

Fuck me, she just had to be a pretty one. Couldn’t be hag like I had hoped. Sihtric thought to himself. He knew he was in trouble now.

[pokeasleepingsmaug]

To Curse A King

Back on my bullshit again, so here’s a Sihtric x Skade crackship. 

Summary: Skade wants to secure the Danish victory the only way she knows how, and there’s only one man in the Danish camp who claims to have knowledge of curses. Set when Sihtric has pretended to betray Uhtred and is in the Danish camp. 

Trigger Warnings: Blood, knife play, smut

Tagging: @whenimaunicorn​ @aadmelioraa​ @itslaurenmae​

AO3, if you prefer.

Skade does not flinch as the knife pierces the skin at the crook of her elbow, and she does not struggle against the firm hand holding her wrist in place. She has cut herself so many times in the working of her magic, it does not even bother her when someone else holds the knife.

The knife drags from elbow to wrist, the cut long but shallow, blood welling in a slow trickle, and Skade has always thought the brightness of blood is beautiful against her pale skin. A twisted thought, perhaps, but why else would the gods call her to such a life, if not to revel in that which gives her power?

She meets the eyes of her unwilling assistant, the only man among this whole company of useless Danes who claims to have any knowledge of curses. He is probably not the only one, in truth, but the only one who is not afraid to be called unmanly. He has proven herself time and again on the battlefield; any who dare to call him such will meet a swift end within a square of hazel rods. He told her he threw a curse once, met her eyes steady and calm when he said it, not a hint of remorse, and Brida laughed.

Skade believes him. It is her business to know things; and rumors fly around this camp. Hasten knows even more than Skade herself, and he can't keep a secret when he's in his cups. Sihtric may call himself Elflaedsson, and his father may have been killed long before Skade sailed to this doomed island, but she knows who it is that whelped Sihtric on a Saxon slave-girl.

She is not surprised that Sihtric once threw a curse, and she has a fair guess about his target. He is ideal for this spellwork, anyway. Dane and Saxon in one body, one eye blue and the other brown, the perfect melding of light and dark.

Sihtric stabs the knife into the cold ground, burying it to the hilt, before he grabs Skade’s bare arm and swipes his pointer finger through the blood. He touches each of her eyelids, his fingertip light as a butterfly, before his hand darts to her lips and paints them, too.

Skade slides the knife from the sheath at her waist and cuts Sihtric's arm from wrist to elbow in one deliberate stroke, an equal and opposite wound to her own. She stabs it viciously into the ground beside his, drags her finger through his blood, and touches his eyelids and lips.

Finally she takes their arms and presses the wounds together to mix their blood, the first of their two joinings under tonight's new moon: the time when secrets come to life, when clandestine affairs are revealed, when the darkest impulses of man and nature hold sway.

A perfect night to curse a king.

Sihtric shivers when she pulls his shirt over his head, but he’s still as stone when she draws the runes on him: algiz, for protection, right over his heart, because this is a spell that can so easily go awry. Naunuz, for distress, low on his belly. It is no secret that Alfred has troubles there.

Skade grabs the wooden bowl that waits by the fire, bitter herbs and crushed mushrooms steeping in water boiled before Sihtric cut her arm. It should be at full strength by now.

Skade gulps half the bitter liquid down. Sihtric takes the bowl from her hands, and his eyes, grim and unreadable, meet hers over the rim as he tips it to drink. His throat bobs in long swallows. He shakes his head, as if to rid himself of the taste, and tosses the bowl into the fire.

The flames jump higher as they lap up the dregs of the potion. Skade should be annoyed that he tossed her best bowl into the fire; instead, she is only transfixed by the dancing of the flames as the magic begins to move in her. She takes off her own dress as Sihtric unties his trousers. The night air is cold and comforting against her flushed skin, raising goosebumps on her arms when a light breeze hits her.

She rubs her hands over her arms and finally looks over at Sihtric, sitting cross-legged a few feet away from her. His clothes are neatly folded by the fire, she notes with faint amusement. This will not be a joining of tenderness, but that doesn’t mean she can’t enjoy it, anyway. Her cool gaze sweeps him over, admiring the planes of his face in the firelight, the play of silver scars over his sword-Dane’s body. He is a man without an inch of softness on him, all hard muscle and sharp angles. He may be the most beautiful man she has ever had.

Skade starts toward him. Her hand lands on his shoulder, and she’s shocked by the warmth of him. The magic always does that, makes her surprised by the smallest physical sensations, brings a more intense awareness to every feeling. She revels in it and fears it: the way it makes her powerful and vulnerable all at once. Every blessing must come with its own curse, she muses.

For all that Sihtric is a warrior, for all that he will be the vessel for her curse to pass to Alfred--for all that it will hurt for the brief time the curse is within him--she does not think that he will take advantage of her in this vulnerable state.

He wraps his arms around her waist as he falls to the ground, and Skade is shocked when his lips press gently against hers. “It will hurt,” she reminds him softly, almost feeling guilty, but his momentary suffering will be nothing in the face of Danish victory. The death of Alfred will all but secure it; it is his iron will and cunning mind that have kept them at bay.

“I do not fear pain,” Sihtric assures her, his breath warm and sweet against her lips. His hands are curious and soft as they wander over her, exploring the heft of her breasts and the curve of her waist before sliding to the junction between her thighs. She knows this is not a joining of affection for him, either, but still she appreciates the consideration he shows to make sure she is prepared.

He flicks a deft finger over the nub at her apex, and Skade allows herself to tangle her fingers in his soft hair, to trace the tattooed snakes curving over his ears, to enjoy the hitch of his breath as her fingertips skim down his neck. She wraps a hand around his thick shaft. His skin is delicate as petals beneath her palm. She strokes him slowly, her mouth dropping open as she savors the feel of him in her hand.

His finger moves back to explore her slit. She’s already wet after his expert work on her clit, and he slips a finger into her to judge just how ready she is. He curls it unexpectedly, hitting a spot that makes her gasp against his lips, and she can feel his smile. His hands settle firmly on her hips, guiding her. Skade lines her opening up with his head and slides onto him as slowly as she can bear. She dreads the moment when he’ll fill her completely, when the curse will enter into his body. Finally, after what feels like an eternity but is only seconds, she’s taken every bit of him.

Sihtric gasps and writhes beneath her; a lesser man would scream. Skade can see his pain in the way he tears into his own lips with his teeth, can feel it in the fingers bruising her hips. “Hurry,” he rasps, and Skade is compelled to obey. She rides him hard, her hands pressing his shoulders into the ground as he tries to curl into himself. She hates to deny him that, his body instinctively seeking relief from the agonies of her curse.

She leans down to kiss him, tasting blood on his lips, and he twists his fingers into her long hair and anchors her mouth to his. He kisses her like a man desperate to feel something, and Skade is glad to give him what little distraction she can offer. She guides one of his hands from her hip to her breast, kisses him with as much sweetness as she can muster. It doesn’t feel like enough as he shudders beneath her, each breath a gasping groan.

Skade redoubles her efforts, feels herself start to clench around him. She’s just on the edge of coming when he suddenly throws her off and lunges to all fours. He wraps one hand around his cock and strokes himself quickly, once, twice, and then spurts his seed onto the ground. He freezes when he’s finished, trembling and panting, and fear cuts through the magic, cuts through her arousal, heavy and sick.

“Sihtric?” Her voice seems to shock him into awareness, and he raises his gaze to her with a nod.

“The pain is gone.” He sounds giddy with relief, and he loops an arm around her waist and pulls her close. His skin is clammy despite the night’s chill, and sweat plasters his hair to his cheeks. He presses a slow kiss to her bare shoulder.

“Good thing you remembered to come onto the ground. For all that he’s a Christian king, he’s still bound to the land. The curse will go to him through the ground,” Skade says. She told him this earlier, but this is the closest she can come to telling him that he’s done well. She does not have that kindness in her.

“The next time you need help with curses, ask someone else,” Sihtric breathes against her skin.

“I thought you did not fear pain?” Skade asks, brows rising, gently teasing. She strokes his hair back, allows herself a small moment of tenderness to kiss his temple.

“I fear curses,” Sihtric corrects. He looks at her with wide eyes luminous in the firelight, and he is utterly tender as he guides her to lay back on the ground. “And the women who throw them.”

But that fear does not stop him from kissing her slowly, from covering her body with his, from keeping her in dark woods until their fire is little more than embers.

[lord-aldhelm]

WIP Wednesday

Another week, another tag game! Please share your last sentence; or, if you don’t have one, share a plot bunny or idea! (OR sketch for your artwork!)

I almost forgot to do this today! I have been working (finally!) on my season 2 fics (yes there are multiple) and have something to post today!

From the first of three (as yet untitled) fic:

And now Mercia had its own Lord, chosen and supported by Angles, not Danes. There would be no more deals with the Danes, no more exchanges of hostages nor ceding them territory. It would end now.

This was originally going to be one fic but I split it into three parts.

Also I just finished a Red Panda painting today which you can see by clicking on the link. And also started work on a commissioned pet portrait. The sketch for this is below. This cutie's name is Chips, and he is some sort of shepherd cross.

And I will be starting my Skade drawing at the same time!

No pressure tags: @thelettersfromnoone @sihtricfedaraaahvicius @holy3cake @thenameswinter99 @alexagirlie

@gemini-mama @king-alfred @garunsdottir @timetravelingpenguin1066 @bagheerita

And anyone else who wants to do it! (although it will probably be Thursday by the time most of you see this post lol)

[tiarnanabhfainni]

wrote a fic about (some) women in the last kingdom ✌️like subscribe and share etc. etc.

[solinarimoon]

On Raven’s Wings Masterlist

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

[aadmelioraa]

Darkest Night of the Year, Iseult x Skade, rated G, 2.5k

When Iseult opens the door she’s met with a wall of comforting smells—yeast and yams and cinnamon. The kitchen counters are covered in piles of flour and lumps of dough. And at the center of it, wearing Iseult’s blue linen apron over her signature black attire, is Skade.

read on ao3