Heart of Darkness: Chapter 2 - Freya Ragnarsdottir
Series Masterlist
Chapter 1, Chapter 3
Pairing: Osferth x female reader
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Two weeks.
It had been two weeks since you lost your father and brothers.
Your uncle was now the new lord of Bebbanburg, to your and your mother's disappointment.
For two weeks, you had been keeping yourself inside your room, not speaking to anyone except your mother. Your uncle tried to reach out to you, but you closed yourself from him and anyone else besides the woman who gave you life.
"I was told you still haven't return eating properly," your mother muttered, both of you sat on your bed one morning.
You shrugged, and looked at the handcraft figure in your hand. It was supposed to be a warrior figure, but in your eyes, it wasn't very good. Your big brother however, complimented your work, and asked you for one weeks ago, which brought a smile to your pouty face and you immediately went on to work on making one for him.
Did he died holding your gift? you asked yourself sadly, not realizing a tear slip down your cheek while staring down at the wooden figure until your mother brushed the tear away.
"I know, my love, I miss them as well," she said softly. You released a shaky breath and glanced at her before looking down. "I will go tell the cook to make us breakfast, we'll eat here together, alright?"
You shrugged, and your mother took it as an agreement. She left you alone.
--
"What would you do with the little lady, my lord?" Scallion, your uncle's close ally, asked him when they and Father Beocca were alone in the Great Hall.
"Nothing yet," your uncle Aelfric said, "She is only seven, she needs to grow before I'll marry her off to a lord."
Father Beocca noticed a small smirk appearing on Scallion's face, and he didn't like it at all. "And who do you think of marring her to?" Scallion asked.
"Don't know, I'll find someone," Aelfric said.
Beocca opened his mouth, as if you remind them he was there but a guard walked in, "Excuse me, my lord, but you have a visiter. He claims to be a messenger."
"Let him in," Aelfric said. A man walked in and Beocca tensed, recognising him as one of the Vikings.
Aelfric tilted his head, "I don't know you. You don't have the appearance of a messenger. And Ubba's payment's not yet due."
Beocca frowned, Ubba's payment's not yet due? Did he... His blood was boiling by this thought and new information.
"No, lord," the viking said, "I was a ship's master."
"Ah, well. I have no ships. I need no ship's master."
"I have news that you will want to hear," the Viking said. Aelfric raised an eyebrow, "Well."
"I would want something in return, lord," the Viking said. Aelfric scoffed as he turned away. "Not now, not quite. But perhaps we could continue to help each other."
"Perhaps," Aelfric shrugged.
"Two days south of here..." the viking started, "Is a rat with the man I used to serve. Until he banished me. He has a slave. He treats him well. This is a slave you're entitled to buy back, if you wish to."
Aelfric frowned and repeated, "Buy back?"
"He's your nephew," the Viking said, surprising the men. "Uhtred, lord. He lives."
Aelfric had a calm expression of his face, but Beocca knew now that he was angry that the young lord had survived. He had to get to him, but first, he had to get you out of the castle, he did not trust your uncle around you. He quietly stepped out without anyone noticing, he had to inform your mother what was happening.
--
You were watching the sun setting down from your window when your mother had returned to your room again, you turned and frowned when you noticed her expression.
"Mother?" you asked quietly, blinking when she peered outside and then quickly closed the door.
"Grab your cloak," she immediately said in a hash tone as she hurried toward your bed. You stood from your window seat and stepped forward, confused and worried when she grabbed your cloak and started to tie it around you.
"What is it?" you asked, "Are we going somewhere?"
"Yes, you are leaving this place," she said. You frowned again, not understanding, "Why? Where am I going? Does uncle taking me away?"
"No," she said, placing her hand on your cheek as she kneeled down, "You listen to me, never trust your uncle. You going with your brother to Winchester, you will be safe there."
"My brother?" you repeated. "Uhtred is alive," she said quietly, "Come." She took your hand as she stood up, and quickly moved to the door. You held your wooden figure on your left hand tightly, shocked by the information while your mother peered outside before pulling you out to the hall with her.
The two of you reached to the barn where Father Beocca was waiting with Uhtred's horse, which had returned alone that day Uhtred disappeared. A guard was by his side, and when he saw you coming in, he walked out to guard outside.
"Quickly," he said in a hush tone. You turned to your mother, looking up at her with a frown and tears in your eyes, "You not coming?"
"No, my love," she said softly and bend down to kiss your forehead, "I must stay here."
"But why?" you asked. "There's no time, my dear," Beocca said and looked at your mother, "I'm sorry, but you must go now before Aelfric will notice you not there to see him off."
Your mother nodded and looked at you again. She quickly pulled you into her arms, kissing your head, "My sweetheart," she muttered and pulled away, clearing your eyes and cheeks from your tears, "Be strong. Alright? Be strong."
You nodded, "I love you, mother," you muttered. "I love you too," she said and kissed your forehead again as she gently held your cheeks, "Tell your brother, that I love him as well. Alright?" You nodded quickly and sniffed as she pulled away from you.
With one last look at you, she turned and quickly left the barn. You turned to Beocca as he placed a small bag on the back of the horse and he turned to you. He placed his hands on your arms as he bend down, looking at you with a soft expression.
"It's alright, listen to me, carefully, alright?" he asked and you nodded. He pulled the hood of your cloak on your head, "I will be riding with your uncle to meet with your brother and the Danes that have him, you will ride from a distance, alright? You must not been seen."
You nodded quickly and he continued, "You will hid far from the trees in the forest. When we get Uhtred, he will ran to your direction, you two ride to Winchester. Uhtred knows where it is. You will ride there, and I will met you both there."
You nodded again, "All right," you said quietly. He lifted you up on the horse and handed you the reins. "Remember; follow from a distance."
You nodded and watched him leaving quickly.
--
"What if I'm against being ransomed?" Uhtred asked Ravn, the blind older Dane as he led him forward in the forest by the hand. The old man who was kind to the young boy since the day he was captured by him and his clan, gently held onto his hand and spoke, "Your family has discovered that you're still alive. And they wish for you to be returned. But they must pay."
Uhtred glanced back toward the leader, who he grew to like and look up to, "Pay Ragnar?"
"Ubba takes more than half," Ravn explained quietly, referring to the blond man with tattoo on the side of his face. "It's normal."
Uhtred gently let go of Ravn's hand and watched him step away. He frowned slightly, the only one he missed in his family was you. His little sister... and Uhtred hated to admit it, but he also missed your mother.
His step mother, who he never really tried to get along despite her kind words and protectiveness over him. He knew since he was little that Gytha wasn't his birth mother, and that his true mother died when he was a babe.
But she still viewed him like her own son.
Uhtred suddenly felt guilt thinking about the past. He should have been nicer, he should have called her 'mother' with more kinder tone, and be more of a son to her like she viewed him.
Uhtred never treated you coldly like he treated your mother, you were his sister, you both shared the same father, and he loved you since the moment you came into the world.
For two weeks that he been captured, he didn't try to escape and come back to you. He now felt like he had abandoned you.
You must now know that he was alive. He was worried that you thought that he had abandoned you.
He hoped not.
Uhtred forced a small smile when Father Beocca approached. "Uhtred," Beocca greeted with a smile. "They're treating you well?"
Uhtred nodded lightly, "I am fed, yes."
Beocca nodded, "Good, good. That's all we ask." He noticed something around the boy's neck, "What is that around your neck? Some symbol?"
"Oh, this?" he asked and lifted the necklace up, showing Thor's hammer that was gifted to him by Ravn's son, the leader, Ragnar Ravnsson, "They... they make me wear it."
"May I see it?" Beocca asked, looking at Ragnar who was leaning against a tree. With a nod, the priest approached. He took the necklace, and glanced behind him to see Aelfric speaking to Scallion, so he turned to the boy and spoke quietly, "Look, I will speak plainly, your uncle will kill you. Right, you cannot go back to Bebbanburg. You must escape. He wants to be the ealdorman. He wants to be the king, in fact, like the pathetic Egbert over there. A puppet king for his Danish masters. Your sister is waiting on the north side from here, behind you--don't look back." He stopped Uhtred from turning. "She can't go back too, she will be sold off when she will grow older. You two go to Wessex. King Aethelred, real king Aethelred... and his brother, the prince Alfred... they're good men, good Christian men--"
Ragnar stepped forward, "That's enough whispering in his ear, priest." Uhtred turned to him, breathing heavily. Beocca grabbed his arms, making him turn back, "Uhtred--"
"One more word, I'll have your ball bag for a purse," Ragnar threated calmly. "I'll meet you there," Beocca whispered before stepping back and speaking calmly, "That will not be necessary."
Ragnar watched him stepping away and looked down at the boy, noticing him staring at his uncle. "What did he say?"
"He... he asked if you were treating me well," he lied, glancing up at the man before stepping back, looking a little shaken up which Ragnar and his son noticed.
They looked at each other, knowing something was off. Uhtred glanced around, and finally spotted you before you moved away to hid.
His little sister.
Uhtred let out a soft shaky breath before he quickly turned away and looked at Ragnar and Ragnar the Younger to speak quietly, "I need to go for a moment to pee."
Ragnar clearly saw through him but didn't speak of it and instead looked at his son, "Go with him."
"I can go by myself," Uhtred said. "Not at this moment," Ragnar said as he shook his head a little. Uhtred hesitated but turned and walked away with Ragnar the Younger walking beside him.
The boy let out a soft sigh and nervously looked around as they walked a little far away from the group. "So, who is the little lady who is hiding around?" Ragnar the Younger asked, a little amused when the boy looked up at him worriedly.
"She's not in trouble," he said. "No, not from you," Uhtred muttered, "She will be if my uncle finds out she's here."
Ragnar the Younger hummed, "Well, then, bring her out. I won't tell and I won't bite." Uhtred looked up at him for a moment before looking around, "You can come out, y/n," he said softly.
You stepped out from behind one of the trees, leaving the horse farther away from where the three of you were at. You looked from the young man in hesitation to your brother. He nodded and gave you a small smile, as if he was scared you weren't happy to see him.
You walked closer quickly and jumped into his arms, hugging him tightly. Uhtred hugged you back tightly, closing his eyes in relief. After a moment you two pulled away from the hug, but you grabbed into his arm when he turned to the young man.
"That's my little sister, y/n," he said and glanced at you, "This is Ragnar the Younger. I was with him and his family all that time."
You looked up at Ragnar the Younger and took a step behind Uhtred to hid behind him when the young man kneeled down. "Do not fear me, I won't harm you," he said.
"Are you going to tell them I'm here?" you asked in a small voice, "Because if you will, I will be in trouble." He nodded, "All right then. Then I won't." You looked a little relief and he looked at Uhtred, "What did the priest say to you?"
"My uncle will kill me," he said, "He's not here to bring me back, he's going to kill me as soon as he will get his hands on me, and he will get rid of my sister. He can't find out she's here."
Ragnar the Younger looked from him to you, watching you lowering your gaze to your wooden figure in your hand. He held his hand out, "Can I see it?"
You hesitantly handed your wooden figure, and he recognized it since he saw Uhtred with one like this a few times. "That's a very nice warrior figure," he complimented, remembering Uhtred saying you had made one for him. "Who made it?"
"I did," you answered. Ragnar the Younger smiled a little, "That is very good. Perhaps you would make me one as well."
That actually made you smile a little. He handed the wooden figure back to you, and let out a breath before nodding to the side, "You see that bridge?"
You and Uhtred looked to where he nodded and looked at the bridge farther away with a pond under it. "Yes," you answered softly and looked back at the young man.
"Go there, and wait for us," he said. "Am I to go with you?" you asked a little nervous as you looked from your brother to him. "Perhaps," he said, "After I will speak to my father, I am sure he will speak up to stop the ransom."
"So, will I be able to come with my sister?" Uhtred asked, his voice sounded a little hopeful. Ragnar the Younger simply smirked, "Who knows. Come on." He stood up and looked at you, nodding to the bridge, "Off you go."
You looked at Uhtred and he nodded to you. You quickly moved up the small hill and turned to watch them walking back to the others. You turned and ran to get Uhtred's horse to the bridge.
Ragnar watched his son and Uhtred walking closer. Ragnar the Younger walked toward him while Uhtred stood by a Viking, glaring at his uncle.
"Father?" Ragnar the Younger spoke quietly as he leaned closer to him. With a hum, he spoke again, this time much quieter so no one could listen, "That lord is going to kill him." Ragnar glanced at his son and then away, listening. "His little sister is waiting by the bridge, she can't go back."
Ragnar the Younger moved away a little and turned back to the rest. As they watched the ransom in fold, Ragnar was looking between Uhtred and Aelfric.
"How much?" his uncle asked. "300," Ravn said, sitting next to Ubba. Aelfric looked at them, scoffing, "That is a ridiculous amount. How can a boy be worth 300 pieces of silver?"
"Because I say so," Ravn said. "Because he is a lord and an ealdorman." Aelfric shook his head a little, "No, he is a boy. I am the ealdorman of Bebbanburg. I carry the seal and the banner."
"That seal is my father's, which is now mine!" Uhtred said, glaring at him.
"You be silent," Ubba said, "You are for sale, nothing more."
"For ransom, lord," Ravn corrected. Ubba nodded, "That's what I said."
"My lords, I have given up land, horses," Aelfric said as he sat down, "I've offered a generous supply of food as well as my sword. All I ask in return is a fair price for my only nephew."
Uhtred shook his head a little. "What would you say is a fair price?" Ravn asked.
"I will offer 100 pieces of silver," Aelfric said. "200," Ravn said. "My allegiance and 100 pieces is surely a fair price," Aelfric said.
"It is not," Ravn said. "I will give 120 pieces of silver for the boy," Aelfric said. Ravn laughed softly and shook his head, "Not enough."
Aelfric looked down for a moment, "Very well." He looked at Ubba and Ravn, "200 pieces. I agree to your terms." Ravn seemed disappointed that he agreed, since he was found of the boy and deep down he didn't want Aelfric to get him back.
Ubba opened his mouth to agree with the deal, but then Ragnar bend down and whispered something to his ear. He moved away and Ubba looked at him, surprised by what he was giving up.
Ragnar nodded, and Ubba turned to Aelfric, raising an eyebrow, "The boy is sold to Earl Ragnar."
Aelfric frowned, shocked, "What?" Beocca turned to Uhtred in surprise, and frowned when he noticed a relief expression on the boy's face.
"Ransomed, lord," Ravn corrected but he did show he was glad Uhtred will be staying with him and his family.
Ubba nodded, "That's what I said. The matter is closed." He stood up and Aelfric did as well, "My lords, I have come a long way. I have offered my allegiance."
Ragnar stepped forward, "Which is why you're allowed to breathe. If you have an argument, it's with me now." They stared at each other for a long moment, and when Ragnar saw Aelfric backing down, he smirked and walked past him, "If business is done, we have ale to drink."
"And King Egbert needs to shit!" Ubba joked and laughed at his own joke. Ragnar stopped in front of Uhtred, who looked up at him with a small relief smile.
"Let's get your sister," he said quietly and ruffled the boy's hair as he walked past him.
You waited with Uhtred's horse by the bridge for a little bit until you heard horses approaching. You stood by the horse and hold tightly into the reins as you saw people approaching on horses.
Ragnar the Younger and your brother were one of them. Uhtred was riding with the man you recognized from before the battle, who seemed to be the leader.
"Hold," he said and the four people with him stopped their horses. Uhtred jumped down from the horse and rushed closer to you, giving you a bright smile.
"It's okay," he said, "We'll be safe now." He looked at his horse and patted it softly as the leader got off of his horse with Ragnar the Younger and another blonde man with a tattoo on the side of his face.
"What is this?" the blonde man asked, frowning down at you. The leader approached to you and your brother, and stared down at you for a few seconds before kneeling down in front of you.
"Your name?" he asked. You hesitated and glanced at your brother before back at the man, "Y/n..."
He nodded and looked at Uhtred, who was staring at him. It seemed that they both were speaking with each other with only their eyes, and then, the man looked at you, and gave you a small smile, "Let's go home."
You looked at your brother who smiled brightly again, and looked at you, nodding. He stepped to his horse and got on it. You looked at the man as he got up and he offered you his hand. You hesitatingly placed your small hand on his larger hand, and let him led you to his horse.
It was a beautiful dark horse, and when you reached your hand up to it, it lowered its face so you can touch its nose. The man lifted you up to sit on his horse.
"Ragnar, you taking another?" the blonde man asked, raising an eyebrow. "She shouldn't be living apart from her brother," the man, Ragnar, said and got on the horse, sitting behind you.
"If that lord will find out the sister is with you, then what?" the man asked. "That won't happen, because she will be given a different name," Ragnar said and with that, the horse started to walk off, with Uhtred and Ragnar the Younger followed.
--
"Mother, they back!"
You lifted your gaze forward when you heard a girl calling happily. When you, Uhtred, Ragnar, Ragnar the Younger and the old man who was blind and named Ravn reached to the village, to one of the houses, two girls were outside playing when they saw you.
A woman walked outside and smiled. She looked at Uhtred as he got off of his horse and smiled at him as he moved closer. The two girls rushed closer to him and embraced him, which surprised him.
"You're back too!"
Ragnar got off of his horse before turning to you. He lifted you up from the horse and placed you down on your feet. He then led you closer to the woman, the two girls and Uhtred.
Ragnar the Younger helped his grandfather off of his horse and the two walked closer. The woman kissed Ragnar's cheek before looking down at you, giving you a kind smile.
"Hello," the young girl told you, giving you a smile, which you returned with a small shy one. "This is y/n, Uhtred's little sister," Ragnar said and looked at the woman, his wife, "And as from now on, they both will be living with us. As family."
She nodded slowly, agreeing with it. "We going to have to give her a different name," Ragnar the Younger reminded as he nodded to you, "Just in case their uncle won't find out she is here."
The woman kneeled down and reached for your arm, gently pulling you over to her. "I'm sure we'll find something that will fit you," she said softly as she brushed your hair. Her touch was soft and motherly, which made you think of your mother. "Brida, please get a fur coat for her."
The young girl nodded and ran into the house. "This is my wife, Sigrid," Ragnar said, and nodded to the other girl who greeted you, "And my daughter, Thyra."
Thyra smiled at you again as Brida ran outside. She put the fur around your shoulders to keep you warm. "Thank you," you muttered softly.
Sigrid watched you with a soft smile, "I had a sister when I was little," she suddenly said softly, "Her name was Freya."
"It's a pretty name," you said. Sigrid nodded a little, "Yes. She was also pretty as her name."
"Freya Ragnarsdottir," Ragnar said with a nod, "How would you like that?" You glanced at Sigrid to see if was alright, and she smiled at you. "I think it suits you well," she said softly. You gave her a small smile and looked at Uhtred, who smiled back at you.
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