#deans ch ch cherrypie

[serasvictoria]

🖼 florist!hvitserk. work your magic 😘

I have waved my magic wand around and bring you this 😘

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#mar’s 900 #vikings au #hvitserk lothbrok #marco ilsø #deans-ch-ch-cherrypie #mar moodboards

[persephones-journey]

A Medium in Coccham

This is an entry in @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie Cherry Pie’s Spooktacular Halloween Challenge. 

It’s about a medium visiting Coccham. And it has smut, specifically a threesome with Uhtred, the medium, and Finan. There is Uhtred/Finan is you squint. But it also has angst and some fluff. And it is set after season 4. 

Tag list: @still-with-you @emilyhufflepufftlk @medievalfangirl @93xdiagonxalley @blah-blah-blah-bla @lauwrite1225 @morosemagick @solinarimoon

The singing, laughter, and dancing echoed in the hall of Coccham. Uhtred sat at the table at the front of the hall with Finan on his right and Sihtric on his left. Osferth sat beside Finan, and for a Christian, possibly one of the few in attendance, he was having fun at the celebrations.

Samhain, Uhtred knew, was a holiday that not many this far into Wessex celebrated. Uhtred, himself only celebrated the holiday because as a child he had fond memories of the bonfires and laughter that accompanied the celebrations. Northumbria, especially Bebbanburg, was so close to Scotland that they had adopted some of the old pagan holidays. Uhtred's father had been Christian but even he had celebrated Samhain and Beltane.

“We must celebrate the first day of beginning of our harvest and the last day,” he had told Uhtred and his brother. “Yes, it is the old ways but the old ways kept us fed and the grain growing for centuries. And to keep the Christians happy, we will have the priests sprinkle some of their holy water on the seeds as well.”

And so it had been in Bebbanburg for years. Until the Danes had come.

Uhtred drank his ale and wondered if his uncle had celebrated and if cousin would celebrate Samhain and Beltane.

“You got that face again, lord,” Finan commented from beside him. “This is our last Samhain in Coccham, the least you could do is have fun,” he added.

Uhtred sighed and nodded. It was true, they would not be in Coccham the next year. Uhtred had agreed to raise Edward's eldest son, Athelstan and Coccham was too close to Winchester to be safe. So Aethelflaed was arranging for them to move to a town in Mercia, Uhtred hoped it would be one that was far, far away from Winchester.

“Finan is right, lord,” Sihtric said from Uhtred's left. “You should have some fun. Everyone else is.”

Uhtred smiled. “Perhaps I will,” he said.

Uhtred pushed his chair back and stood. He downed the rest of the ale in his cup and walked around the table. He walked towards the people dancing in the middle of his hall and he joined them. He danced with the women and men alike laughing. Uhtred saw Finan clapping from the table and laughing as well. Uhtred walked back towards the table to get some more ale. He stopped halfway when he heard the doors to the hall bang open with force. He frowned when he saw a woman walked into the hall dressed all in white. Her dress seem to flow around her like water and her black hair fell in curls to her shoulders.

“I seek Uhtred of Bebbanburg also known as Uhtred Ragnarson,” the woman said her voice echoing in the hall but it still seemed like she had not spoken that loud at all.

“I am he,” Uhtred said.

The woman looked at him and Uhtred shivered. It was like her ice cold eyes, a light blue, almost white, seemed to stare through him. She walked closer to him. He stood there vaguely aware of the sounds of Finan, Sihtric, and Osferth pushing their chairs back and standing. He already knew that they all had their hands on their weapons, ready to attack this lone woman if she was a threat. Uhtred did not think she was, but he could be wrong.

“You look tired, my husband,” the woman said.

But her voice.

Oh, her voice sounded exactly like Gisela.

“What in the name of the Gods?” Sihtric asked from behind him.

“God, protect us,” Osferth prayed. Uhtred did not have to be looking at him to know that the former monk was crossing himself.

Uhtred looked at the woman. “Who are you?” he demanded.

“She is Freydis,” the woman said, her voice still sounding like Gisela. “She can commune with the dead, husband, and I have need to speak with you.”

“Lord, do not believe her,” Finan spoke, his voice strong but Uhtred could hear the faint fear in it.

Uhtred did not want to believe her. He remembered Skade and the chaos she had reigned down him. He still blamed that dead witch for Gisela being gone. No, he did not want to believe. But the way this Freydis was looking at him, and her voice....

He needed to know more. He needed to hear more.

He ached to hear Gisela's voice again.

“What do you wish to say to me, wife?” Uhtred found himself asking.

The woman, this Freydis walked closer to him. Uhtred closed his eyes when she placed her hand on his cheek. If he kept his eyes closed, he could pretend it was Gisela. He could lie to himself and think that his wife was still alive and he not been living without her longer than he had known her.

“Why are our children living away from you? Why have you sent our second son, Osbert away?” she asked pain in her voice.

Pain rose up in Uhtred. He knew he had failed her. He had not been able to love his second son, as he blamed Osbert for Gisela's death. So, he had sent the boy away to be raised by Hild. He knew he had failed as a father but he could not make himself change his mind.

“Our children are better off away from me,” he answered. “They will be safer as I tend to bring pain and death to those I love most,” he added.

“Lord, do not believe her lies,” Sihtric said firmly.

The temperature in the hall dropped. Uhtred shivered. He opened his eyes when he heard the people in the hall leave and the doors slam shut. He was left in the hall with Sihtric, Osferth, and Finan. He looked at Freydis and saw that her eyes were now on Sihtric. Uhtred knew his wife was gone at that moment. And the pain hit his chest and it felt like he had to burn her all over again.

“Boy, you should remember the stories I told you when you were young,” Freydis said in a different voice than Gisela’s. Harder in some ways.

Uhtred turned and saw Sihtric's face go white. The Dane who he had known to never be afraid of anything, not even Skade, seemed terrified.

“Sihtric?” Finan asked as he stepped close to his friend.

“That is not possible,” Sihtric said his voice so soft and so quiet, Uhtred would not have heard him if the hall had not been empty.

“You know it is possible. I told you stories of the old woman from my village when you were little. Before I died,” Freydis said.

Uhtred saw Sihtric's eyes widened. “Mother?” he whispered.

All sound seemed to have been sucked from the hall with Sihtric's admission. Uhtred looked from  Freydis to Sihtric. He could see the pain and anguish on Sihtric's face.

“Yes, it is me, my sweet boy,” Freydis said love softening the hard edge of her voice. “You grew up to be such a handsome strong man.”

“What is she?” Osferth gave voice to the question they had all been thinking.

“She speaks to the dead,” Sihtric said softly. “My mother told me stories about a woman in her village with the curse.”

“Gift, it is a gift, my sweet boy. It allows for families to say goodbye,” Freydis said.

“I had my chance to say goodbye,” Sihtric said. Uhtred saw him standing tall and the anger suddenly flashed across Sihtric's face. “I screamed it at you as Kjartan's hounds tore you apart!”

“I am sorry you had to see that,” Freydis said her voice soft and loving. “I did what I thought I had to to protect you. I tried to rid us all of him but he knew. I am sorry that he used my death to frighten you into compliance. I loved you, I love you still son, and I wished for more for you,” Uhtred watched her and saw her smile. She is beautiful. “I am glad you have that now.”

Sihtric shook his head and pulled away from Finan and Osferth. Uhtred shook his head telling them to let him go. Sihtric stalked right past them and out of the hall. The doors slammed shut behind him.

“I think ya should leave,” Finan said as he walked around the table and towards Freydis.

“Not yet,” Freydis said in a voice that left Uhtred, Finan, and Osferth standing stalk still.

It was Alfred's voice.

Uhtred watched as Freydis stood taller and held her shoulders back. She walked closer to the table her eyes on Osferth. The way she walked though, it was all Alfred. Slow and steady like he use to. Uhtred was shocked and looked at Finan. He saw that Finan saw it as well. Freydis stopped in front of the table and stared at Osferth. Uhtred saw that Osferth was shocked and unsure of himself.

“You,” Alfred's voice once again boomed in Uhtred's hall. “Osferth, you were my son,” Freydis said. “I should not have acted like you never existed.”

Uhtred saw the tears come in Osferth's eyes. Osferth was no longer a boy, but Uhtred thought in that moment, he looked very much like the young man he had first met in Winchester all those years before. Osferth wiped his eyes and shook his head.

“This is not real,” he managed to say.

“It is real,” Alfred's voice said. Uhtred closed his eyes and could almost picture Alfred standing there in his hall again. Regal and tall, owning the hall in a way no other man or woman could. “I am using this woman to speak to you. My son,” Alfred said.

Uhtred opened his eyes and looked at Osferth. He saw the tears in his blue eyes. Osferth looked away and hugged himself tighter. Uhtred saw Finan place a hand on the former monk's shoulder.

“You never called me that,” Osferth said softly.

“I know,” Alfred said with regret in his voice. “I should have. You were my son and the guilt kept me from saying so. But I was proud of the man you turned out to be. So proud of how you fought,” Alfred paused. “You deserved more than the distain and avoidance that I showed you while I was alive.”

Uhtred saw Osferth nod. “I only ever wanted to make you proud and make you see that I was more than just a bastard child.”

Osferth's words make Uhtred's heart ache for him. He had never known that Osferth felt that way. The former monk was much better at hiding his feelings than Uhtred had previous thought.

“And you are, Osferth. You are a brave warrior and I am proud to call you my son. I am sorry that I never did it during my lifetime,” Alfred said.

Osferth nodded. “It's all right,” he paused. “Father,” he added in a whisper.

“Osferth,” Finan whispered.

“No,” Osferth said pulling away from Finan. He turned and looked at him. Uhtred saw the tears rolling down Osferth's cheeks. “I needed to hear that, Finan. I needed... Closure,” Osferth turned back and looked at Freydis. “Thank you for that. I do not know how you did it or how you came to be here, but I would like to say thank you for allowing me to speak to my father.”

Freydis nodded. Uhtred met Osferth's eyes. He nodded at the man as he turned and walked around the table. He heard Osferth walk across the hall and to the doors. He opened them and closed them as he left.

Finan and Uhtred were left alone in the hall with Freydis.

“I do not believe any of this,” Finan spat out.

“No, you never did believe in fate or things you could not touch,” a soft musical voice said from Freydis' mouth. “I was surprised you believed in love.”

Uhtred saw Finan's eyes go wide. “Finan, who's voice is that?” he asked.

“It's a lie,” Finan said.

Freydis laughed. Uhtred looked at her. “He does not wish to say because I am his worst mistake. I am the reason he does not seek out love and marriage. He feels he does not deserve it.”

“Ya are not her. I watched her die! I watched Conall kill her!” Finan's voice was thick with anger. Uhtred heard him say more things but it was in Gaelic, a language he had only heard Finan speak in his sleep when he was having a nightmare.

“Yes, you watched me die,” Freydis said. Uhtred heard it then, the Irish brogue, lighter than Finan's and more musical to the ear, but it was there. “You begged Conall to bury me but he refused. He left my body there to rot. And you prayed all the way back to Ailech for my soul,” Freydis said her voice becoming soft and loving. “You never once prayed for your own forgiveness. Not even when Conall was dragging you down the dock to be sold as a slave.”

“Finan,” Uhtred said as he stepped in front of Freydis. Finan walked around the table and stood in front of Uhtred. Uhtred held his hands out and saw the anger on the Irishman's face. Anger of the type that Uhtred was sure he had never seen before on Finan's face. It was a sheer rage. “Tell me who Freydis is channelling,” he tried to get Finan's focus on him.

“The woman I loved and lost. The woman I had no right to love or to want,” Finan said.

Freydis laughed behind him. “The woman you took from your brother. His wife,” she said. “But in those days, Finan, you were used to always taking what you wanted.”

“I am not that man any longer!” Finan yelled.

Uhtred pressed his hands to his friend's chest and pushed him back. He could feel the tension in Finan's body. Finan's body was rigid with anger and fury. Uhtred turned when he felt Freydis' hand on his shoulder. He opened his mouth to tell her to stop but she was not looking at him. Her eyes were only on Finan. She stepped closer to him and pressed her hands to Finan's chest. Uhtred watched as Finan looked down and met Freydis' eyes. He felt the anger slowly drain from Finan.

Freydis whispered words in Gaelic. Uhtred did not what she said but Finan did. And it had an affect on his oldest friend. Finan seemed to crumple before his eyes. Uhtred watched as Freydis wrapped her arms around Finan and Finan crushed her small body to his. Uhtred stepped back and listened as Finan cried and whispered words of Gaelic back to Freydis.

“No, this cannot be real,” Finan whispered as he pulled away.

“It is,” Freydis said softly. “I came so we could have the goodbye that Conall robbed from us.”

“I never ever wished to say goodbye to ya,” Finan said followed by something in Gaelic.

Freydis sighed. “I know,” she said softly, “but we have to. You must close this chapter in your life so you can move on.”

“I cannot close it. I ache for ya.”

Uhtred felt like he was intruding on this moment in his own damn hall. He watched as Finan leaned in and kissed Freydis, she seemed completely accepting of it. He turned to walk away but Freydis reached out and grabbed his hand. He turned and saw her pull away from the kiss with Finan and turned to look at Uhtred.

“I also wish for you to have closure,” Freydis said but it was Gisela's voice he heard.

“And what of the woman who's body ya are in?” Finan asked softly. “Is she all right with this?”

Uhtred watched as Freydis blinked. She smiled. “I am fine with it,” he heard her say in neither Gisela's nor the musical voice from Finan's past. “Gisela and Ciara have told me all about what kind of lovers you two are,” she answered. Uhtred saw her blush. “I would very much enjoy it.”

Uhtred looked up over Freydis' head. He looked at Finan. Finan smiled softly and nodded. Uhtred smiled as well.

“I do believe that we can all enjoy this,” he answered.

Freydis blushed. Uhtred held out his hand. She looked at it and placed her own in it. He smiled and held her hand. He turned and pulled her towards his bed upstairs. Finan cleared his throat.

“We will not disturb the wee lad?” he asked softly.

Uhtred shook his head. “If we haven't yet, I doubt we will with our moans of pleasure. The boy sleeps like the dead.”

He saw Finan nod. Uhtred turned and began walking up the stairs. He smiled when Freydis squeezed his hand. He heard her moan slighty. He glanced back and saw that one of Finan's hands was between her legs rubbing her cunt over her dress. Uhtred felt his cock twitch. It had been a few months since he had a woman. Aethelflaed. His mind paused on her for a moment. Freydis opened her eyes and met Uhtred's.

“Do you like him touching you?” Uhtred asked.

“Yes,” she moaned sounding like herself, Gisela, and Ciara all rolled into one.

“She's wet already,” Finan answered as he kissed her neck. Uhtred watched as Finan moved one of his hands up and moved it into the top of Freydis' gown stroking her breast.

“Good,” Uhtred said. He stepped closer and pulled up Freydis' dress. His fingers stroked her wet cunt and she moaned again. Finan placed his hand over her mouth. Uhtred leaned in. “We must keep it down, there is a boy sleeping after all,” he said.

Freydis nodded. Uhtred removed his fingers from her cunt and let her dress fall again. He continued to lead the way up the stairs as he pulled her along. Finan dropped his hand from between her legs as well but kept sucking on her neck and rubbing her breasts. Uhtred got harder just listening to her soft moans.

Uhtred walked down the hall, past Athelstan's door and to his own. He pushed it open. He walked inside and wasted no time pulling off his tunic and boots. He turned when he heard the door close. He smiled as Finan pushed Freydis over to him gently while Finan began to pull his own clothing off as well.

Uhtred took Freydis in his arms and kissed her. He closed his eyes and for a moment, the briefest of moments, he could lie to himself and think he was kissing Gisela again.

But the moment was fleeting and gone as quickly as it had come.

He opened his eyes and pulled away from the kiss. Finan, who was now naked, stood behind Freydis and began pulling at her dress quickly undoing ties. Freydis stepped back from Uhtred and Finan pulled the dress over her head and tossed it aside. Uhtred undid his pants and pulled them off and tossed them aside leaving himself naked as well.

Uhtred stepped forward again and pinned Freydis between Finan and him. Finan and him had done this before. It had started right after Uhtred had lost Gisela and before his affair with Aethelflaed. Finan would get Uhtred drunk and hire a whore and the two of them would enjoy her together. It was like Finan had known without his pushing and physical presence, Uhtred would have instead chosen to wallow in what he had lost than live.

So this dance was a familiar one. And it brought Uhtred comfort in a way he could not put into words.

Uhtred moaned as Freydis' hand wrapped around his cock. He kissed her neck and her lips as his hands along with Finan's stroked her breasts and lower. Uhtred pulled her to the bed. Uhtred climbed in and Finan pushed Freydis down on it, on all fours with her ass up in the air. Uhtred watched as Finan took no time in burying his face in her cunt and the sounds of Finan's tongue licking and sucking on her folds echoed in the room.

Freydis reached out and stroked Uhtred's cock again. Uhtred moved closer and watched as Freydis lowered her mouth to his cock. He grabbed her inky black hair and brushed it away from her face so he could watch her. He held it all in one hand and stroked her cheek with the other. His eyes met hers as she licked up one side of his cock and down again. He closed his eyes and focused on her tongue. It felt so warm and so good as it licked his cock. He swore as she took his tip in her mouth and sucked on it with her tongue swirling around.

“Oh,” she moaned her mouth coming off of Uhtred's cock.

Uhtred opened his eyes and smiled. “Finan's tongue is truly gifted, isn't it?” he asked meeting her eyes.

“It's so good,” she said, once again her voice sounded like three people instead of one.

Uhtred pulled her head back down and watched as she took his whole cock in her mouth. He closed his eyes and felt how wet and warm her mouth was. Her tongue licked his tip. He jerked his hips up and she almost choked on his cock but Uhtred pulled on her hair and she lifted her head. She took his cock in her mouth again and Uhtred pulled on her hair bobbing it up and down on his cock. He heard her moan and her body shudder as she came. Uhtred looked up and saw Finan pull his mouth away from her cunt.

“She's wet and ready for ya,” Finan answered smirking.

Uhtred pulled on Freydis' hair and looked at her. “I am bury my cock in your cunt and you're going to suck Finan's cock.”

“But I am not coming in ya mouth,” Finan said. Uhtred watched as he smacked Freydis' ass and moved her off the bed. Freydis stood on shaky legs. Finan turned her around and kissed her. Uhtred moved to the edge of the bed. He took his cock in his hand and watched as Finan gently pushed Freydis back. “I am going to come in ya cunt just like Uhtred is and we are going to fill ya so much, ya will be leaking our seed for days,” Finan added.

Uhtred heard Freydis moan and he even found himself turned on by Finan's words. The Irishman did like to talk dirty to the women he bedded and Uhtred would not admit it but Uhtred had stolen some of Finan's better lines to use on occasion.

Uhtred wrapped an arm around Freydis' waist as Finan pushed her back towards Uhtred. She sat on Uhtred's lap facing Finan. Uhtred rubbed his cock up and down her folds causing her to moan. He kissed and sucked on her neck as he slipped his cock inside of her. He sunk into her snug warmth and felt her walls clench around him.

“Uhtred,” she moaned and Uhtred could hear Gisela's voice. He closed his eyes and gently squeezed her breasts.

“My cock is not going to suck itself, love,” Finan said as Freydis began moving up and down on Uhtred's cock.

Uhtred opened his eyes and watched as Freydis stroked Finan's cock. She took it in her mouth leaning forward. Finan grabbed Freydis' hair and held it in one hand. Uhtred kneaded her breasts more and then moved his hands down to her hips. He helped move her up and down on his cock. He lifted his hips up with every thrust. He would not last long, he knew that. He reached in between her legs and began stroking her clit hard and fast.

“You look beautiful like this,” Finan told Freydis. “Look at your cunt taking all of Uhtred over and over. And your mouth, gods woman, your mouth is perfect for sucking me off,” he added.

Uhtred felt her walls clench around his cock. His cock twitched and he thrusted up into her harder and rubbed her clit faster. She came a moment later falling back against him. Uhtred saw Finan watching her, Finan's cock twitching and erect, just waiting to be sunk into Freydis' warm welcoming cunt.

“Uhtred,” Freydis moaned sounding just like Gisela.

Uhtred thrusted into her one more time and came. He emptied his seed inside of her and ran his hands up to rub and stroke her breasts. He wrapped his arms around her and moved back on the bed. He pulled her with him. He slipped his limp cock from her and pinched her nipples. She moaned and he leaned down to kiss her. He felt Finan climb on the bed.

“Are you ready for Finan?” he asked softly as he ran he stroked her breasts and saw her legs fall open.

“Yes,” she moaned sounding like the woman she had called Ciara. She turned and looked at Finan, “fill me like only you can,” she begged.

Uhtred kissed her and watched as Finan moved in between Freydis' legs. He saw his own seed leaking from her cunt. He watched as Finan took his cock in hand and positioned it at her entrance. Finan moved his hands then to her hips and Uhtred pulled away from the kiss.

“Look,” he took Freydis' chin in his hand and turned her face, “look at him as he pushes into you. Look at yourself stretch to take him. It's a beautiful sight.”

“Uhtred, have ya been stealing my lines?” Finan asked as he slid inside of Freydis. It was a sight to behold, Finan's thick cock stretching her. Freydis moaned and Uhtred stroked her breast soothing her.

“Only the good ones,” Uhtred commented.

“Oh god,” Freydis said as she arched her back, “I feel so full,” she added in Ciara's voice.

Uhtred laid her on the bed and began kissing her neck and her chest. He took one nipple in his mouth and licked and sucked on it. He stroked her other nipple with his fingers of one hand. He ran his other hand down her stomach and between her legs. He let his fingers play with her clit. Freydis' fingers raked through his hair and down his back.

“Oh god,” she moaned as she came again.

“You can also call us Uhtred and Finan,” Finan answered as he grunted and pounded into Freydis harder and faster.

“I can't,” she whimpered as her nails dug so deep into Uhtred's back he could feel blood drops trickle down his skin. “I can't take anymore.”

“Ya can come one more time, love,” Finan said. “I am close and I know that ya have one more time in ya.”

Uhtred moved over to suck and lick her other nipple. His fingers still stroked and rubbed her clit. She arched her back and Uhtred could feel her hips pushing against Finan's thrusts. Freydis moaned and Uhtred felt her hands fall from his back as she came again.

“Fuck,” Finan moaned as he came. Uhtred kept stroking Freydis' clit. He felt his seed and Finan's on his fingers as Finan kept thrusting into Freydis in slow lazy thrusts. Finan finally stopped and smiled at Uhtred. “By the gods, we have not had that much fun in a while,” he said a soft smile on his face.

“I missed your cock,” Freydis said in Ciara's voice.

“I miss ya everyday,” Finan muttered as he pulled his now limp cock out of her.

Uhtred pulled his fingers away from Freydis' clit. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her more into the bed. He placed soft kisses around her face and brushed her sweaty hair away.

“Shh,” he said softly as Finan walked around and climbed in on the other side of the bed so that Freydis was in between them. “You can rest now,” he whispered.

“It was too much,” she muttered in her own voice. She looked at Uhtred, “but not enough as well,” she added in Gisela's voice.

Uhtred felt tears come to his eyes. Finan pulled the furs around them all and Uhtred leaned in and kissed Freydis on the lips softly. Uhtred felt Finan's arms come around him and Freydis. He pulled away from the kiss and smiled at the woman in his arms.

“Thank you,” he whispered as he stroked her cheek.

“No, thank you,” she looked at him and turned to look at Finan, “thank you both. This night,” she blushed, “I will never forget it.”

Uhtred met Finan's eyes. “Neither will we,” Uhtred answered for the both of them.

“Aye, now, let us get some sleep,” Finan said softly. “And maybe in a few hours we can do it all over again.”

Uhtred chuckled as Freydis moaned and blushed even more. He rested his head on his pillow and wrapped his arms around her. He closed his eyes and finally did not feel alone.

When he woke in the morning, she was gone.

And Finan was hogging the bed.

“Move over,” Uhtred muttered as he shoved the Irishman over.

“Aye,” Finan muttered as he rolled over and hugged the pillow. “She's gone,” he added.

Uhtred rolled on his back and stared at the ceiling. “Yes, she is gone,” he answered.

And with her the pain and hurt he had been carrying since Gisela's death. The pain that had gotten worse since Aethelflaed had taken her vow.

Uhtred felt freer than he had in a while. He wondered if it would last.

“I can hear ya pondering from here,” Finan muttered. Uhtred cursed as a pillow hit him in the face. “Sleep, lord, before wee Athelstan wakes.”

Uhtred grabbed the pillow and hit Finan back. Finan chuckled but didn't move. Uhtred sighed and closed his eyes and fell back asleep.

He dreamed happy dreams of Gisela.

#spooktacular challenge #@deans-ch-ch-cherrypie #the last kingdom #the last kingdom fic

[tlkafterparty]

@solinarimoon and @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie

Just as important as fanwork creators are fanwork appreciators! @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie and @solinarimoon not only contributed their own amazing creations, they provided encouragement from the sidelines for the rest of the fandom, and are hereby bestowed the Fandom Cheerleader Award. Thank you!

#tlkafterparty #afterparty awards #solinarimoon #deans-ch-ch-cherrypie #the last kingdom

[malenamoonlight]

This is my entry for @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie Cherry Pie’s Hot Fic Summer Challenge.

I chose the Sunflowers prompt.

I named it “Hvitserk’s redemption arc.”

The winter is gone, now it’s time for him to finally shine!

#hvitserk #vikings #deans-ch-ch-cherrypie #<3 <3 <3 #congratulations

[not-another-fangirl]

https://at.tumblr.com/nikmikhailov/703932502697492480/bz0p6f8a9yje Ana has been caught.

Who sent this? Dm me?

#Asks answered #anon #deans-ch-ch-cherrypie

[ciriweek]

hi!!! i was wondering if 1) moodboards are accepted 2) if there's a maximum amount of entries per participant? 3) if we can use prompts from the writer section to create gifs/moodboards? thanks <3

Hello!

Yes, moodboards are definitely accepted! Any kind of creation is okay really, as long as it's centered around Ciri.

Nope, make as many as you want. You managed to make 10 entries? Wonderful! Someone else only made 2? That's also wonderful.

Yes, and you can mix and match as you please. The prompts are really there to provide some ideas for people, a help. You can use whichever inspires you!

Can't wait to see what you'll make 😀

#deans-ch-ch-cherrypie #ask

[procrastinatingsoicanreadfanfics]

Modern!Human in Kaer Morhen

Summary: How the Witcher characters would try to impress a modern person + feel about them

Notes: I put some of the non-Witcher characters here too since some of them wintered at Kaer Morhen as well

it's been a while, but i had my wisdom teeth removed and was incapacitated for the last few days

Tagged: @lucyinthelibrary @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie @sunndust (hmu to be tagged!)

Masterlist | based on this request | requests are OPEN!

Geralt

He tries to stay away from you at first since destiny loves to fuck him over

But you’re just so nice

Finally he’s being treated like a normal person

Would never admit it out loud

Doesn’t try to impress you per se, but tries to show that he cares about you and might become very protective

Yennefer

Has one talk with you, becomes the Continent’s first suffragette

Loves you for being a feminist (if you aren’t, why are you reading this??)

Tries to impress you with magic

Would probably work (come on! PORTALS???)

Very possessive of you, even as a friend

Triss

Honestly, she doesn’t really think about impressing you at all

But she kinda does?

She’s just a super kind person in a super shitty world

If she actually does try to actively impress you, it’ll also be through magic

Just more wholesome opposed to Yen’s intimidating

Jaskier

Will write you a song

And a song about you

He’s a bard, so be prepared to be serenaded (it would probably work on me tbh)

Ofc super flirty

So happy that you treat his witcher friends as anyone else

Eskel

Internally screaming

AKJSDJFHASAJFJKHKJ SOMEONES TREATING ME WITH DECENCY???

Crushes so hard I’m not okay

Tries to impress you with absolutely everything

From fighting to good reading recommendations to leaving little gifts (especially the little gifts)

How could you not love this guy?

Coen

He just constantly hast to remind himself that you’re nice to witchers

And ofc he melts for it bc obviously (obviously being deep-rooted trauma and self-image issues, applying to all witchers)

Tries to impress you by teaching you how to fight

And showing off all the while

Means well, but very distracted

Lambert

He’s defensively aggressive from the get-go

And so startled when you’re just… normal to him

Has no idea how to act around you

He can’t just… be mean now???

So chaotic with trying to impress you

Starts tripping while showing off his sword skills

Vesemir

Super suspicious of you being nice to his boys (and him)

Yeah, he doesn’t trust you in the least

When he does start to like you, he tries to impress you with kind gestures

And by being a good listener (Vesemir = Kaer Morhen’s local therapist)

Also makes the boys respect you

#geralt #yennefer #jaskier #lambert #vesemir #coen #eskel #triss #netflix witcher #geralt x reader #geralt of rivia #geralt of rivia x reader #geralt x y/n #geralt x you #eskel x reader #eskel x you #eskel x y/n #jaskier x reader #yennefer x reader #lambert x reader

[zablife]

Party Trick

Jake "Hangman" Seresin x female reader

Summary: You're on a first date with Hangman with little to say until you swap party tricks.

Author's Note: Requested by a lovely anon who wanted to see Hangman on a date with a shy reader.

You'd been sitting in silence for what seemed like hours, although in reality it was probably only a few moments. You cursed your shy nature, wishing the alcohol would kick in and make you more talkative. No matter how hard you tried to think of something to say, the words wouldn't come out. You were intimidated by the handsome older pilot in front of you and his wolfish grin did nothing to ease your fear of disappointing him whenever you thought of opening your mouth. Suddenly you wondered why Penny had thought you two would make a good match.

Jake was trying to be patient. He'd asked questions about school and made a few jokes to break the ice. Nothing seemed to be working though and you could see the light dimming in his green eyes. You noticed his gaze wander to the pool table and you worried he'd rather be playing a game with his buddies than sitting here trying to coax a few words from you.

You took another sip of your beer, watching him as he pulled a toothpick from his pocket and placed it between his teeth. It seesawed back and forth between his lips before he did something completely unexpected. He rotated it vertically against the roof of his mouth, using his tongue to flip it back out again. You raised your eyebrows at him and giggled, "Aren't you afraid you're going to poke a hole in the roof your mouth doing that?"

His eyes flashed with light once more as he said, "What? This?" Then he maneuvered the toothpick once more, slowly this time for you to get a better look. Your heart skipped a beat as he stared into your eyes as his tongue flipped the toothpick once more.

"Mmmm-hmm," you said.

"Just a little party trick, darlin'. Everybody's got one. Don't tell me you haven't picked up one or two," he said leaning his elbows onto the table.

"Well...there's one thing I can do," you said, cheeks flushing bright red as soon as you remembered. Jake sat up in his seat, eager to hear what it was.

"Now you gotta tell me. What kinda trick makes you blush like that, sweetheart?" he asked in an amused voice.

You bit your lower lip and rolled your eyes to the floor. Were you going to show him? It was so silly! But he had asked so you held up a finger and told him you would return. You trotted to the bar and asked Penny for a few cherries and she complied with a shrug.

Heading back to the table Jake watched you intently as you popped a cherry into your mouth stem and all. You chewed for a bit and then your mouth set to work. You rolled your tongue inside your jaw and Jake watched mesmerized as you held his gaze confidently. You'd done this a million times at summer camp, never thinking it would come in handy one day. He cocked an eyebrow at you wondering what you were up to until you extended your tongue proudly a few seconds later and plucked a knotted stem from your mouth.

"Well I'll be damned!" he said examining it carefully. "You did that?"

"I did!" you said proudly.

"You know, I think our talents might be wasted sitting here talking, darlin'. Why don't we go for a drive?" he said suggestively.

"I'd like that," you agreed. Then Jake took you by the hand and led you out the door.

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

Tag list:

@rikki-b-lake

@alanadetigy

@writeroutoftime

@deans-ch-ch-cherrypie

@peakyrogers

@justalonelyslytherin

@lovemissyhoneybee

@wandawiccan60

@l1-l4

@luckyladycreator2

@kmhappybunny240

@shanimallina87

@hey-its-kayla-claire

@can-this-be-a-fanfic

@blue-aconite

@littlebadariell

@hotch-meeeeeuppppp

@sweetlittlegingy

#Top Gun Maverick fanfic #Top Gun Maverick imagine #Jake Seresin fanfic #Jake Seresin imagine #Jake Hangman Seresin #Hangman fanfic #Hangman imagine #Jake Seresin x reader #Jake Seresin x y/n #Jake Seresin x you #Hangman x reader #Hangman x y/n #Hangman x you

[barnes-lothbrok]

Jealousy

Ivar x reader

Summary - Ivar and you have always had a bond, a closeness but over time and as you mature things change, Ivar gains feeling he can't explain

Warnings - angst, fluff, death of a parent, swears

Word count - 2k

This all started because of a gif set by @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie and I sort of ran away with it

ווווווווווווווווווווווו×

You grow up alongside the sons of Ragnar.  Being the daughter of Aslaug's closest confidant, you were always in close proximity to the brothers during childhood. You were closest in age to Ivar having been born only a few months before and as you grew together, you formed a bond that no one could truly explain. 

You were the only one who wasn't terrified of him after the incident with the boy. As all the children in Kattegat would run away from him, making a game out of it, you were seen happily pulling his cart around, chatting away to him as you venture around the town taking him anywhere he wished to go.

On days where he was unable to play, you would sit with him and make up stories to keep him entertained, often acting out some of the scenes, bouncing around his room as you fought a dragon or giant sea monster. 

As time passed a few things changed, while he was being mentored by Floki, your mother had you learn the loom and the meaning of different herbs.

But you were never apart for long as on days when he was still busy you would run to Floki's cabin and wait for him. On days when you didn't meet Ivar, he would wait for you by the tree you'd claim as your own when you were younger, having craved IL + YN into the trunk.

You spent hours laying under the tree, side by side, watching as the sunset and the stars appeared twinkling between its branches. It was the place you shared your hopes and dreams with one another.

You wished to become a shield maiden, just like the legendary Lagertha, while Ivar dreamed of becoming a warrior, to be able to raid and fight along side his brothers. 

The afternoons and evenings spent under that tree was the first memory Ivar had of the flutter that appeared in his chest whenever he looked at you. You never laughed or mocked his desires, you simply listened and smiled at him. 

The first big change to your friendship was when Ivar spent the night with Margrethe. Everyone was aware of how she spent her time between the princes, of how she'd captured all of their gaze. She was extremely beautiful and you never missed the way, they all looked at her, especially Ivar. 

So one evening after having been invited to dinner and Aslaug had left the table, it was no surprise when his brothers tried to convince Ivar that Margrethe was the perfect option for him to lose his virginity. They spoke as if you were one of them. 

"I'm sure Y/N agrees" Hvitserk said, finishing a mouthful of pork "Right?" 

You looked between each of them from Hvitserk with his dopey expectant smile to Sigurd who peered from under his hair, gripping his cup a little too tight, he had always hated the idea of sharing with Ivar, and then to Ubbe who's smile dropped slightly as if he knew you didn't want to answer. 

"I mean, sure" You shrugged, looking down at your cup of ale, unable to even look at Ivar. If you had, you would have seen the light in his eyes fade a little. "The way you all speak of her, he would be a fool, not too" 

After that night and the rumours of Ivar being impotent spread, Ivar drew himself away from you, spending more time training with his brothers or at the blacksmiths. 

Your dream of becoming a shield maiden was put on hold when your mother became sick. A plague hit the town, taking your mother with it. Aslaug brought you in as a kindness for all the years your mother was by her side and treated you like a daughter she never had. She taught you many things a woman could be, beside being a shield maiden. 

On the day, Ivar took his first steps, you had been in the market when you noticed Ubbe and Hvitserk hanging around the blacksmiths. You made Hvitserk jump as you suddenly appeared between them.

"What are you doing?" You spoke loudly and close to his ear, causing him to almost choke on his apple. You were about to laugh until he pointed at two legs caged in metal on the floor. 

While grunting and groaning, Ivar heaved himself up. You wanted to rush forward and help him but Ubbe gently placed a hand on your shoulder. Taking small and wobbly steps, Ivar stood before your trio, a wide grin on his face.

"Ivar" you whispered, looking him up and down before grinning back "Ivar, you're walking!" You joyfully cried before barreling him into a hug and having to apologise profusely as you almost knocked him backwards. 

ווווווווווווווווווווווו×

It was after the return from their first raid, that Ivar noticed his brothers spending more time with you, getting closer than they did before. It seemed to grip his chest with an urge to hurt them or pull them away from you every time he saw it.

The summer away from you seemed to make the Lothbrok brothers notice how you had turned into a beautiful woman. No longer the messy haired bundle of energy that would play-fight with them or get drunk with them but a woman who held herself with elegance and grace. While they had been away, Aslaug had turned you into someone much like herself. 

Ivar first noticed Hvitserk being closer to you. The pair of you had been sparring, although their mother didn't approve, you would often join them in training when you were free to do so.

As you moved backwards, you stumbled over a small rock and while trying to catch you, Hvitserk's feet became tangled in your own. Crashing to the ground, Hvitserk arms were beside your head as he caught himself from squishing you. Your faces were inches apart as the hair falling out of his braid covered your faces like a curtain. 

Ivar didn't miss the way, you stared at each other, breaths caught before you burst out laughing when Hvitserk dropped his head and blew a wet raspberry on your cheek, causing you to squeal with laughter and push him away. 

The second was Sigurd. He nearly fell over when he walked into the hall and found you sitting on the floor in front of Sigurd. His arms were wrapped around you, from the chair above as he tried to teach you the strings to play a tune on the lyre. He'd been practicing for Ubbe and Torvi's wedding.

When he played it always sounded so beautiful but when you tried it sounded broken. 

"Sigurd, you make it looks so easy" you whined and tried again before you both cringed at the noise it made "nope, I'm leaving the music to you" 

"Probably best too, don't want to anger the gods at the wedding" He teased before surprisingly kissing your cheek. Sigurd had noticed Ivar watching and could help a smirk as he watched him leave before you looked to where Ivar had just been having missed him.

The third and final straw was Ubbe. Everyone was celebrating his marriage to Torvi. The hall was filled with music, laughter and drunken singing. It was late into the celebrations when he saw you speaking to Ubbe and Torvi. 

He'd been watching you most of the day as you walked around, looking like a goddess in your flower crown, with your hair loose. You'd laughed and spoken with many people but not him. He supposed that was his own doing as he pushed you further and further away but how he wished it was himself that you were laughing with. 

He watched over the rim of his cup as you took Ubbe's hand and began to dance. Sigurd and his band changed the music to a slower pace and Ubbe happily twirled you around, his hand coming to rest on your lower back. Ivar could see you talking and smiling with each other. Ubbe said something to make you laugh, the melody echoed in Ivar's ears. 

He clenched his jaw, eyes trained on the pair of you before looking away as your eyes met his. When he looked back again, he felt his heart being squished as you kissed Ubbe's cheek. He slammed his cup down and angrily gathered his crutch. 

He couldn't watch anymore. Ubbe was married and he still had your affection, all of them did but him. Sure, he'd never seen anything more than kisses on the cheek but it was more than you had been giving him.

Ever since they returned, you didn't follow him around like you used to. In the past he would throw a tantrum and yet you would still be there the next day but now you seemed to be allowing him to keep the distance that he created and he didn't like it. 

He thought about going back in there and demanding you talk to him again, that's all he wanted, was for you to talk to him. 

That was a lie, he wanted so much more. He wanted to wake up beside you, kiss you, feel your touch. He wanted have celebrations like this for the pair of you. To have the life you promised each other under that stupid tree when you were too young and naive to understand the promises you were making.

You were meant to be his, you were always his and now you were slipping away with every passing day. 

He paused for a moment conflicted as to keep going or to turn around. If he kept going, he would have time to think but turning around meant he would get answers to satisfy the demons telling him, you hated him, that you couldn't love him, that you pitied him. 

As he turned around, he was taken aback by you coming out of the hall making your way towards him. "There you are" You smiled at him "where are you going? I was looking for you" 

"Well I'm right here, I have been all night. Not that you even care" Ivar's brow was creased, his eyes struggling to hide a burning anger. 

"Not care? Ivar, of course I care" you smiled didn't fade as you looked at him "I wouldn't have come to find you if I didn't, you donkey" 

"You have a funny way of showing it" he spat "Parading around all day. Laughing at any man's attention, even throwing yourself at the groom. It's embarrassing, like a dog in heat" 

"Throwing myself at the groom?" Your smile dropped and turned into a frown "I was congratulating Ubbe on the marriage to the woman he's loved for years. Every woman can offer the groom to dance, mine was tame compared to Greta's, which you would have seen if you hadn't stormed out" 

"I wasn't going to stay and watch you embarrass yourself any longer" he held his head high, looking down on you. 

"Embarrass myself? I was having fun. Which is more than I can say for you. Sitting in the corner of your brother's wedding, watching me with a face like someone pissed in your cup" you spat back. 

He was shocked by the fact you noticed him watching you. You always noticed those intense blue eyes on you. 

"Honestly, Ivar, I don't understand what I have done," you sighed "Ever since you got back, you have been this brooding, and sometimes cruel bastard. I have seen you like that to others but never to me" 

The way you said his name like it was laced with venom, hurt  "So tell me Ivar, what have I done?" 

His jaw clenched as he gripped his crutch harder. His demons were yelling at him to call you a whore, nothing more than someone to warm his brother's beds, that you only stuck around for the lifestyle his mother gifted you and that you'd do anything to keep it. 

But he stopped himself, as he looked at you, the expectant look on your face, the hurt in your eyes and the heavy raise and fall of your chest as if you were scared of what was going to come out of his mouth. He knew his anger could be vicious but never had it been directed at you before. 

"You make me feel…." He started before looking away from you "You make me feel," he quietly said, looking you in the eyes again "and I don't like it. I want it to stop. I don't know how to make it stop" 

#ivar x reader #ivar the boneless #ivar lothbrok #ivar ragnarsson #hvitserk ragnarsson #hvitserk lothbrok #vikings #ubbe ragnarsson #sigurd ragnarsson #sigurd lothbrok #ubbe lothbrok #vikings fanfiction #ivar x y/n #ivar x you #ivar angst #ivar fluff

[runnning-outof-time]

Roadside Daisies | Tommy Shelby x Reader

Request: no - part of @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie ‘s summer challenge

Pairing: Tommy Shelby x reader

Summary: Flowers play a big part in Tommy and (Y/N)’s relationship.

Warnings: none...just some good ol’ family fluff

Word Count: 1000

A/N: this challenge was so fun to participate in. My prompt was ‘wildflowers’ and I’m pretty pleased with how it turned out. Enjoy! :)

I’D LOVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK! - YOUR COMMENTS & REBLOGS HELP ME WRITE!

Let me know if you’d like to be tagged in stories similar to this one!

The evening was winding down, but the couple sitting in the car was still buzzing. Tommy tried to keep his eyes on the road instead of (Y/N), but it was a challenge. He was still in awe of the fact that he’d actually got her to agree to a date with him.

“This is such a beautiful road. I’m glad you decided to take the long way home,” (Y/N) said, a smile on her face as she watched the rolling fields pass by.

“I knew you’d enjoy it,” Tommy answered before he decided to pull the car over and park.

“Tommy, what’re you...” (Y/N) wasn’t able to finish her sentence because Tommy had gotten out of the car and walked over to the opposite roadside. He was gone for a few moments before he came back to the car with something in his hands. “What’s this?” (Y/N) questioned as he held it out to her.

“Daisies...to remember the long way home,” he smiled at her, moving the handful of delicate wildflowers he’d picked in her direction.

“They’re lovely, Tommy, thank you,” (Y/N) swooned at the sweet gesture, happily accepting the flowers from him and holding them close to her chest. Tommy grinned, accepting the kiss to the cheek that she happily gave him before he continued on the drive to her home.

That night, (Y/N) made sure to tuck the handful of daisies between the pages of a book so that they’d be able to dry and be kept for years to come. She wanted to have something that would let her remember the night she knew she’d found the man to spend the rest of her life with.

-Seven Years Later-

The entire Shelby clan had finally had a day where they were all together and had nothing to do. There were no dance recitals, no football practices, and no business meetings. So (Y/N) suggested that they all go out and spend the day amongst the fields of wildflowers that had just bloomed.

Of course, getting the entire family out of the house was a feat in its own. The twins just had to be fighting about something, the toddler refused to go without making sure the entire toy chest was coming along, and, amidst the chaos, Tommy had slipped off to his office.

But soon enough, everyone was loaded into the car and they were off. After a few minutes of driving, they had pulled over on the roadside and walked in a bit to get to a clearing underneath a tree.

The two oldest kids immediately took off to run around the fields of colorful flowers, and the toddler — Oliver, although he tried to run with his older siblings, ultimately gave up and sat off with his toys just beyond the blanket that (Y/N) and Tommy were relaxing on.

“Isn’t this nice, Tommy?” (Y/N) questioned, a smile on her face as she rested her head against her husband’s shoulder.

“It is,” Tommy hummed in agreement, “let’s hope some time away from the office does me good.”

“It’ll always do you good,” (Y/N) assured him, lifting her head to smile at him. He couldn’t help but lean in and press a soft kiss to her lips that was broken up pretty quickly by the sounds of their children approaching them.

“Mumma! Mumma! Look what I’ve picked you!” their boy announced as he came to a screeching halt, his twin sister right on his heels.

“What have you got?” (Y/N) asked with sheer excitement in her eyes. She always got like this when they’d come to her with something. Receiving little presents from her children always brought her joy.

“Flowers!” the five year old exclaimed, the widest smile on his face as he pulled his hand from behind his back to show her the small bouquet of wildflowers that were now drooping slightly from being roughed about.

“Oh wow, Max. That was very thoughtful of you to pick them for me,” (Y/N) smiled as she accepted them from the boy, holding them safe against her chest.

“I picked some for you, dad!” his sister then chimed in as she presented Tommy with a similar bouquet.

“Thank you, my love,” Tommy sent her a smile as he accepted them from her. (Y/N) felt tears forming in her eyes as she looked over to her husband. This was just too sweet. “Your mum loves flowers,” Tommy told his kids.

“Is that why I’m called Daisy?” their daughter asked, her ears perking up slightly.

(Y/N) couldn’t help but laugh at her reaction. “You’re called Daisy because your dad pulled his car over to pick me some on our very first date,” she told the little girl, her smile growing wider at the thought of the fond memory.

Daisy smiled widely at the new information before she and Max took off running again, this time allowing Oliver to join in with them. (Y/N) couldn’t help but glance over at Tommy once they were alone again. She smiled as she leaned in closer to him.

“I love you,” he breathed against her lips before closing the gap to kiss her.

“I love you, too,” (Y/N) responded once they pulled away to sit closer to each other than before. Silence fell over them as they watched their children run about in the fields.

“How ‘bout we name this next one Poppy?” Tommy questioned then, his hand moving to rest against the swell of her stomach; she was five months pregnant with their fourth child.

(Y/N) sent him a straight-faced expression. “No,” she flat out said.

“Petunia?” he tried another name, a grin present on his face now.

As much as she tried, (Y/N) was unable to keep the smile from her face. “Tommy, stop,” she scolded him playfully before leaning in to kiss him again.

What a beautiful life...all created by some roadside daisies.

Tagged: @alreadybroken-ts @magicalxdaydream @the-anxious-youth @cloudofdisney @look-at-the-soul @golden-hoax @elenavampire21 @peaky-cillian @mrsalwayswrite @julkaamazing @evita-shelby @lilyrachelcassidy @notyour-valentine @easilyobessedbutflighty @shelbydelrey @december16-1991 @onlydeadcells @peakyswritings @just-a-blackhole

MASTERLIST

#tommy shelby #tommy shelby x reader #tommy shelby x y/n #tommy shelby imagine #peaky blinders #peaky blinders x reader #peaky blinders imagine #peaky blinders fanfiction #peaky blinders fanfic #fanfiction #fanfic

[ivarthebadbitch]

These two are always up to no good.

(requested by @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie)

#the last kingdom #aethelstan #cynlaef #gifs

[serasvictoria]

💋 choose between a threesome with steve & eddie or a threesome with hvitserk & ubbe AND WHY😈

You couldn’t have given me one that was easier to answer? So you’re expecting me to choose between this…

…and this?

Unfair.

Can’t I just take all four and die happy? Yep. I’ll do that instead.

#mar’s 900 #asked and answered #deans-ch-ch-cherrypie #this or that #stranger things #vikings #steve harrington #eddie munson #ubbe ragnarsson #hvitserk ragnarsson

[persephones-journey]

The Aethling Changeling

This is for @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie Cherry Pie’s Spooktacular Halloween challenge. 

It’s The Last Kingdom Coccham Squad dealing with a changeling, and them being well, them about it. The story is set in Season 3. And as much as I tried to write horror, it turned into more of a comedy, specifically Osferth. Baby Monk apparently is very funny. 

Full disclosure, I did research for this story. Like legit looked up the folk tales about changelings and Men an Tol. I swear, I am a giant nerd. For real. Anyway, enjoy. 

Tag List: @still-with-you @emilyhufflepufftlk @medievalfangirl @93xdiagonxalley @blah-blah-blah-bla @lauwrite1225 @morosemagick @solinarimoon 

Finan was the first to notice the change in the aethling.

He had been checking on his horse before he had left Winchester to go spying for Uhtred, when he saw Edward, the aethling walking down the street.

Except he was not walking, not like Finan had seen the boy walk before. No, Edward was jumping about and dancing.

Finan watched him with a raised eyebrow and wondered what was going on, but he pushed it from his mind and focused on his upcoming journey.

Osferth was the next one to notice that his half brother was acting very odd. He caught sight of Edward as he walked from the market to the alehouse. Osferth watched in wonder and, well, worry as he watched Edward jump down the street. Osferth stopped walking and watched on, surprised and shocked, when the aethling grabbed a lute from a musician and began playing it.

Osferth knew that there was no way Edward knew how to play a lute. Not with the mother he had. No way, no how.

Uhtred thought differently.

“I could probably carry a tune on the lute if I tried, Osferth, it is nothing. Now, come on we need to go and meet up with Finan,” Uhtred said firmly. He used that damn lord voice that all the men hated hearing. It meant that the discussion was over and Uhtred wanted to hear no more of it.

And so Osferth dropped it. And he forgot all about it.

It was not surprising Osferth and Finan forgot all about the aethling acting odd since in the weeks to come, they were declared outlaws and forced to flee Winchester and ride off to Dunholm. All thoughts of Edward and his dancing and jumping was pushed out of their mind as the focus shifted to worrying about Uhtred and his connection to the witch Skade.

The next time they saw Edward was at Aegelesburg. He was standing for Alfred as king. Finan was the first to notice how odd Edward was looking at them. He was not looking at them like an unexperienced young man but rather like an older confident man. Finan raised an eyebrow but he said nothing as the almost Witan went on.

He kept sneaking glances at Edward and he listened closely to the young man's voice trying to decide if he sounded different in anyway. Finan could not notice anything. He looked over and saw Osferth watching Edward as well. Finan raise an eyebrow.

His attention was pulled away from Edward when Alfred showed up. Finan stood there and watched as Alfred and Uhtred stood toe to toe and went back and forth. Finan could not decide if either of them had won or lost.

Alfred dismissed them and Finan walked out of the palace beside Osferth. He saw Osferth turn and glance back at Edward.

“What?” Finan asked him.

“Edward is acting,” Osferth shrugged, “odd,” was all the former monk could come up with.

“Odd how?” Finan asked not wished to voice his own worries before he heard those of Osferth's.

“I saw him in Winchester before we left to meet up with you and,” Osferth leaned in closer to Finan, “he was jumping down the street.”

“Jumping?”

“Jumping,” Osferth confirmed. “And he grabbed a lute and began playing it. And I know for a fact that with Aelswith as a mother, there is no way he would have learned to play the lute. She would have had him spend more time on praying then anything else.”

Finan felt a tingle down his spine. He was suddenly a child again sitting by the fire in that large castle he had always wanted to escape as a child. He could feel his grandmother's fingers stroking his hair as she told him tales of changelings and fairies.

“Ya need to be weary of changelings, my boy. When ya are older and have a child of ya own, be sure to say God Bless You often over the child, it will protect it from the fairies. And it is not only children that are at risk. Newly weds are also at risk for being taken. The changeling will jump around instead of walking and they will be able to play any instrument, no matter if the person knew how to before. Be weary, Finan, and mind me. I know what I am talking about.”

Finan hadn't listened.

He, like many young men in Irland, had rolled his eyes at these old wives' tales and brushed them off. His own sons had been fine and healthy boys.

But now, oh now, perhaps he should have listened to his grandmother more and paid better attention to her stories before she had died.

“Finan?” Osferth asked as they walked back to the table and sat at it.

Finan sighed and looked at him. “I will tell you later,” Finan said softly. “But, keep an eye on Edward,” he whispered.

Osferth looked at him shocked. “Really?” he asked.

Finan nodded. “There is something going on with him and we must make sure that it does not affect Uhtred.”

Osferth nodded. Finan sighed. He rubbed his face. He had a feeling things were going to get worse before they got better.

And he was right.

Edward came over a couple hours later and promised Uhtred the men he needed to go to Beamfleot. Finan tried to act like this was completely natural and he wasn't weary of it, but he was. He glanced over at where Osferth had moved. He met the former monk's eyes. They both knew this was not Edward. No, he was a changeling.

They should not exist. They are not supposed to be real, Finan thought to himself as Uhtred accepted the offer of men before he could stop him. Not that Finan knew exactly what he could say that would stop him. Uhtred was that determined to get back Skade. Finan understood that. Skade was the beginning of this whole mess.

Maybe she made Edward a changeling. Nay, that is crazy talk. Skade cannot control changelings... I don't think.

“We must make a plan,” Uhtred said the moment that Edward, Father Beocca, and Father Pyrlig left.

Osferth rejoined the table and looked at Finan. Finan looked and him and nodded. He turned and looked at Uhtred.

“Lord, we need to talk,” Finan said softly and carefully.

“About what?” Uhtred asked as he ate.

Finan shared a look with Osferth. “Edward,” he said softly. “I believe that something is wrong with the aethling,” he added.

Uhtred frowned. He looked at Finan then at Osferth. “You have not been speaking to Osferth, have you?” he asked.

“I have but I have also noticed some things myself,” Finan added quickly.

Uhtred sighed. “All right, what exactly do you think if wrong with Edward?”

Finan looked at Osferth. He looked back at Uhtred. He leaned in closer. “I believe he is a changeling,” he said out loud.

He held Uhtred's eyes. Uhtred stared at him like he had gained a second head. Uhtred glanced at Osferth and Osferth nodded. Uhtred looked back at Finan. Uhtred rubbed his temple.

“What?” he finally said after several moments had passed.

“A changeling,” Finan said again. “He has been acting very odd and I know how it sounds but-.”

“They are not real, Finan,” Uhtred said. “Saxons believed in them as well but they are just stories.”

“I thought so as well, but,” Finan shook his head, “it is the only thing that makes sense.”

Uhtred looked at him. “Perhaps having bastard children has helped the boy grow more into a man.”

“I do not believe so, lord,” Osferth said carefully. Finan knew Osferth was more cautious than he himself was. It was just who the former monk was. Even with them, even though he had been with them for years. “I believe Finan,” Osferth added.

Finan looked at Uhtred. Uhtred looked at Sihtric. “Your thoughts?” he asked the Dane.

Sihtric glanced at Finan and then Osferth. He looked back at Uhtred and shrugged. “Finan and Osferth could be right. I do not know, I have not spent much time with Edward so I would not know.”

Finan looked at Uhtred. “I am telling you, Uhtred he is a changeling.”

Finan felt Uhtred's eyes on him. Uhtred sighed and rubbed his face. “We will deal with that after we get Beamfleot.”

Finan sighed but did not argue more. He knew that it was as good as it was going to get. He had pushed Uhtred far enough.

So it was off to Beamfleot and Finan prayed all the way there that the changeling that had Edward did not mess things up for them.

“What exactly is a changeling?” Sihtric asked as they were setting up camp once they had reached Beamfleot.

“It's a fairy that has changed place with the human,” Osferth explained.

Sihtric stood tall and looked at Finan. “You are saying Edward is a fairy?” he asked confused. “I thought they only took babes.”

“They can take newlyweds as well,” Finan offered. He paused and looked at Sihtric and Osferth. “Edward is neither though.”

Osferth frowned. “He wouldn't,” he shook his head.

“What?” Finan and Sihtric asked.

“You do not think, Edward would have,” Osferth leaned in closer so the men would not hear him, “married the mother of his bastard children?”

They stood there silent. Finan turned when Uhtred walked over to them. He looked at their lord.

“Lord, have you heard anything about Edward getting married?” he asked.

Uhtred frowned. “No, I did hear some of the Wessex men mentioning how Alfred was in talks to marry Edward off but not that he had wed. Just that he had bastard twins, a boy and girl.”

Finan looked at Osferth. “Do you think he would be crazy enough to marry without the king's permission?”

Osferth sighed. “I would have said no, but if you are right, perhaps not.”

“Someone would have had to know, right?” Sihtric countered. “He is the son of a king.”

“A king who only sees what he wishes to,” Uhtred said.

Finan stood back. He nodded. “He married her,” he said. He rubbed his face. “He married her and that is then the changeling took him. Changelings usually take women but Edward's wife must have been pregnant. So, they took him. And we did not even notice it until now,” he looked at Uhtred. “We need to get the real Edward back.”

Finan saw Uhtred nod. He saw his lord's face frown a bit meaning he was thinking of a plan. Uhtred's frown disappeared and he nodded.

“Mên-an-Tol,” Uhtred said.

“Oh,” Osferth said smiling. “Yes, that could work.”

“Men a what?” Finan asked raising an eyebrow confused.

“I have heard some of the Danes mention it,” Sihtric frowned. “Isn't it a fairy door of some sorts?”

Finan saw Uhtred nod. “It is. At least according to the Saxons. It's in Cornwall. There are stones there and legend has it that there is a fairy guardian there.”

“Cornwall?” Finan asked.  “We are never going to get Edward there with Alfred around. Or Steapa. No way,” he said.

“The battle,” Osferth said. “If we can get Edward separated from Steapa during the battle, a couple of us can pull him away and start heading towards Cornwall,” he added.

Finan made a face. “I doubt that will work.”

“Finan, what is the alternative?” Sihtric asked. “We let the changeling stay and the real Edward is lost to us.”

“What would become of Wessex then?” Osferth added.

Uhtred snorted. “We have bigger problems at the moment,” he said.

“We may, lord,” Finan said, “but Wessex is still the home of your children. Would you leave them in a country with a changeling in charge of it?”

He saw Uhtred roll his eyes. He smirked and looked over at Osferth. Osferth smiled at him as well. Sihtric snickered a bit and coughed to cover it up. Finan watched as Uhtred walked away. He had not disagreed with Finan.

Finan took a deep breath. He would push thoughts of the changeling from his mind for the moment. He needed to get the men focused on the battle.

Getting the real Edward back would not matter if they died during the battle to take back Beamfleot.

“Is there anyway we could trick the changeling into going to Cornwall on his own?” Osferth suddenly asked.

Finan thought about it. “We need to find some chickens or birds,” he said.

Sihtric raised his eyebrow and looked at him. “Why?”

“Eggshells,” he said. “In Irland, the story goes that if you brew eggshells and throw them on the changeling they will begin speaking in their own language and reveal themselves.”

“Eggshells?” Osferth asked. He got a thoughtful look on his face. “We could ask Haesten nicely if we could borrow some eggs from Beamfleot before we anger him into fighting us,” he suggested.

Finan snorted. “Aye, sure, so that he can pelt them at us from the walls of Beamfleot?”

Osferth looked at him. “You did say you only needed the shells,” he stated.

Sihtric snorted and laughed. He walked away going back to setting up the camp. Finan turned and looked at Uhtred. Uhtred also had a smirk on his face. Finan shook his head. He went to open his mouth again but Uhtred held up his hand.

“No, don't,” he said. “I have a plan already in my head. Finish setting up camp,” Uhtred said.

Finan nodded and tried to push away any doubts that he had in his mind. He told himself Uhtred had a plan.

And for some reason, (oh he was very aware of the reasons, he was just choosing to be in denial about them), knowing that Uhtred had a plan just made the dread and the worry that sat in the pit of his stomach worse.

By the next day though, Finan had other worries.

Like staying alive.

Haesten took the bate a tad too well. Or maybe Uhtred did a bit too well of a job of pissing him off. Either way, Haesten met them on the field where Uhtred wished him to; he just did not come alone. No, Haesten brought with him most of the men that had been in Beamfleot.

“Shield wall!” Uhtred yelled. “Make two lines and hold!”

“Brilliant plan, lord,” Finan muttered under his breath.

“Alfred and Edward will come,” Uhtred answered.

“I hope so,” Osferth said softly.

Finan sighed but held his shield up high. He pushed every other thought out of his mind except for that of the coming battle; for he knew there would be a battle. Haesten saw only Uhtred's low number of men and decided that victory was imminent; which it would be. If Alfred and Edward did not show up. And considering that Edward was not actually Edward, the chances were high that they would die there in that damn field.

I survived the slave ship just to die here in this field. I guess there are worse ways to go. At least I will die with a sword in my hand and surrounded by those I consider my family.

Finan stood tall next to Uhtred and watched as Haesten's men surrounded them and then the battle was on. And there was no time for thoughts or for worries.

It was time to fight to live.

Finan killed Danes left and right. Their shield wall, or circle, held for some time but then Sihtric went down and it all dissolved into chaos. Finan truly believed for a moment that he would die on that field. And then Edward rode in with the men from Wessex. Finan watched as Edward killed Danes. And Finan's blood ran cold.

Edward was laughing. He was killing and slashing at the Danes and laughing as their blood sprayed his face and clothing. He was taking great pleasure in the act of killing and he kept going. To Finan, it looked like he was in a frenzy, slashing and striking at Danes getting soaked in their blood. 

Finan ducked as a Dane swung his axe at him and lost sight of Edward. He did not see Osferth either and Sihtric was killing Danes left and right. Finan looked around and saw Uhtred going after Skade. He turned and continued killing Danes.

He moved and saw Osferth, laying under a couple of Danes. He yelled Osferth's name but the former monk did not move. Finan killed any Danes that came around. He saw that with Edward and the extra men from Wessex, a lot of the Danes were scattering and leaving. Finan put his sword and seax in their scabbards and shoved the large Dane off of Osferth and the smaller one. He slapped Osferth's cheek.

“Baby monk!” he yelled.

Osferth groaned. “No need to shout, I am very much alive,” he winced, “I think.”

Finan moved Osferth's breast plate and saw that he had a cut on his chest under it. Finan moved his hand under it and pressed down on it. Osferth winced.

“Ow,” he said.

“Aye, well, it's your fault,” Finan said as he pressed down harder. “You wanted to come with us.”

Osferth laughed and groaned. Finan turned and saw Uhtred ride off on a horse. He frowned. Sihtric came running towards them.

“Lord is going after Edward,” he said quickly. “Can you follow?”

“Does it look like Osferth can follow?” Finan demanded.

“I'll be fine,” Osferth moaned sitting up. “It's nothing.”

“You are bleeding on my hand!” Finan stated.

“It's not that much blood,” Sihtric offered.

Finan looked from Osferth to Sihtric wondering if they had both lost their minds. He cursed and looked at Sihtric.

“Get us horses and clothes so that when we get a fair distance away from this mess, I can actually do  something about this wound,” Finan told Sihtric. He looked at Osferth, “and you, you are riding next to me and you better not die on me, or I'll kill you myself. Understand?” he stated.

Osferth nodded. “I'll try not to,” he answered.

Finan cursed in Gaelic and ripped the bottom of his tunic. He stuffed the cloth in between Osferth's chest and the breast plate. Hopefully, he would not bleed too much and they could stop quickly before their journey to Cornwall. If that was where they were headed.

“This is what I was afraid of,” Finan muttered as he helped Osferth stand. “It never fails, every time we let Uhtred make a plan, it ends with us fleeing for our lives.”

“We've only really fled for our lives twice,” Osferth commented.

Finan looked at him. “Did I ask for your opinion?”

“No, sorry, I did not realize that this was your monologue and not a conversation.”

Finan raised an eyebrow. “You get really cranky when you have been stabbed.”

“Imagine that,” Osferth said dryly.

Finan helped Osferth over to where Sihtric had the horses. Finan looked back and saw Alfred and Steapa rounding up the Danes who had not fled and/or were injured. Finan helped Osferth on the horse, not happy when the former monk winced and groaned in pain. But Finan could not stop him. It was Osferth's decision to make. Finan turned and climbed on the other horse and followed Sihtric as they rode out.

Despite being injured and in pain, Osferth managed to keep up with Finan and Sihtric. He prayed the whole way and while it did help some, the pain was still overwhelming. He began to wonder if this had been the right idea after all. The wondering and doubt got worse when they met up with Uhtred and Edward at the nearest hill.

Uhtred had tied Edward up and Edward looked like he had gotten beat up, one of his eyes was swollen shut and his nose was broken.

“You all will pay for this,” he said.

“Well,” Finan said, “he certainly sounds like an aethling,” he said as he dismounted.

“Because I am the aethling,” Edward stated.

“Then why did you ride away from the battle and towards this hill the moment I told you that Haesten had set it on fire?” Uhtred asked with his smug tone. “An aethling would not care about a fairy hill.”

“But a fae would,” Finan answered as he dismounted.

He walked over and helped Osferth dismount. Osferth groaned and leaned on Finan. Finan lead him over close to the fire and helped him sit down. Osferth undid his breast plate and took it off tossing it aside. He felt Edward, or the changeling's eyes on him.

“You don't look that great, brother,” the thing said. Proving to Osferth once and for all that that was not Edward. Edward would never had called him his brother. Ever.

“All right, let's get this wound cleaned and bandaged,” Finan said.

“And then what?” Osferth asked.

“Lord?” Sihtric asked.

Osferth watched as Uhtred smiled. “We are going to take this changeling to Mên-an-Tol and get the real aethling back.”

Everyone else was quiet.

“Oh, so just that then?” Finan muttered.

Osferth snorted and groaned. “Out of all your plans, lord, this one is probably the craziest.”

“See? Even your men do not believe in you,” the changeling said.

“We believe in him,” Sihtric answered, “we just know that nothing is ever as easy as he makes it sound.”

“Like ever,” Finan emphasized.

Osferth looked at Uhtred. He was looking at them and Osferth waited for the anger. It did not come though. He rolled his eyes and muttered something in Danish. Osferth stopped paying attention at that moment, because Finan began cleaning his wound and the pain took over.

The rest of the night, even though they all rested, they were on edge.

They took turns on watch, except for Osferth, who they let sleep to recover. Early in the morning, with the sun almost up, they left. The changeling tied and gagged on his horse. They had all agreed that none of them wanted to listen to him talk.

And they were off. Towards Cornwall; which seemed a whole world away.

Osferth was in pain and Finan could see it but he still rode with them every hour of every day. Finan, however, could barely get any food in Osferth though before he passed out at night. But the former monk go up every morning and continued to ride with them.

It took a week and that was riding almost continuous with barely any stops. But they made it to Mên-an-Tol.

Finan dismounted from his horse and looked at the stones. Two of them were straight and flat standing upright from the ground. It looked like someone had stuck them there and walked away. The middle stone though was round and it had a hole in it. Finan had seen many odd things, mostly in Irland, but this was the oddest yet.

“This will not work,” the changeling said.

“Why did we remove his gag again?” Osferth asked as he dismounted. Finan heard the grunt of pain and saw the wince on the former monk's face.

“Because we need him to scream,” Uhtred answered.

“Can I?” Sihtric asked.

“You cannot hurt me,” the changeling said as Sihtric walked over to him.

Finan placed his hand on his sword ready for anything. He watched as Sihtric grabbed the changeling and dragged him over to the round stone with the hole in it. Finan turned as Osferth walked over and stood beside him. Uhtred walked over and stood behind Sihtric and the changeling in case Sihtric needed help.

“Do we need eggshells now?” Osferth asked.

Finan turned and eyed him. “Are you serious, right now?” he asked.

Osferth shrugged. “What? This is the first time I have ever fought a changeling.”

Finan eyed him even more. “And you think I have before?”

Osferth shrugged again. “You are Irish,” was all he said.

Finan's attention was pulled back to the changeling when it screamed. He saw that Sihtric had pulled out his dagger and cut the changeling on the cheek. Uhtred stepped forward and helped Sihtric shove the changeling's head into the hole in the middle of the round stone. Finan and Osferth startled as thunder clapped across the sky.

“Oh, yes, because that is always good,” Osferth muttered.

Finan did not say anything. He watched as the changeling's blood dripped onto the stone. More thunder clapped and lightening shot across the sky. Finan blinked and cursed when suddenly a man stood on the other side of the round stone. He was tall with ink black hair and had a sword at his waist and an axe in his hand.

“And who dares come this gateway?” the man asked his voice deep and strong.

Finan felt his knees lock. He realized that that was not a man. That was a fairy. A real life fae right in front of him.

Shit, Gran was right. I am so glad she is not here to tell me 'I told ya so'.

“Uhtred,” Uhtred answered. “We bring this changeling to you and demand the return of Edward, the aethling,” he added.

“I am not a changeling!” the changeling yelled.

The black haired fairy walked around to the other side of the round stone. Sihtric let go of the changeling and Finan watched as the fairy eyed the changeling.

“You are one of us,” the fairy said firmly.

“We want our Edward back,” Uhtred said again.

“I am Edward!” the changeling screeched. “I will be King! KING! YOU CANNOT TAKE THAT FROM ME!”

Finan watched as the black haired fairy grabbed the changeling. The changeling screeched again. The fairy spoke quickly in a language that seemed to sound like Gaelic but Finan could not understand a word of what was being said.

And then they both disappeared.

“What?” Sihtric asked as he whirled around.

Finan pulled out his sword and looked around as well. He saw nothing.

No Edward.

No changeling.

No fairies.

“Well,” Osferth sighed, “I am not going to be the one to tell the king what happened to the aethling,” he muttered.

Finan, Sihtric, and Uhtred turned and looked at him. He shrugged and waved around his hand. Thunder boomed and lightening brightened the sky. Everyone blinked and closed their eyes for a moment. When they opened their eyes again, Edward, or was it the changeling, sat against the round stone.

“Is that-,” Sihtric pointed his sword down.

Osferth shrugged. “I don't know,” he muttered, “I am not exactly an expert.”

Everyone looked at Finan. Finan cursed in Gaelic and rubbed his beard. “Listen, just because I am Irish, that does not make me a bleeding expert either,” he said.

“What?” they all heard Edward groaned. They all stood, unsure if it was really their Edward or if it was the changeling again. He blinked his eyes and looked around at them. His eyes fell and stayed on Uhtred. “Uhtred? Where am I?” he asked.

Finan watched as Uhtred took a step forward. “What do you remember?” he asked carefully.

Edward pushed himself to his feet and leaned against the round stone. He rubbed his face and Finan could see that he was confused and had no idea what was going on. He frowned and sighed.

“I was riding back into Winchester with, my, ah,” Edward stopped talking.

“Wife,” Finan offered. “We know you married, well, were married, your father might have messed that up now.”

Edward cursed. “I don't remember anything else after that. I mean, flashes of light, a lot of green, but,” he frowned. “How did I end up here?”

Finan looked at Uhtred as Uhtred looked at him. “I'm not telling him,” he said.

“Not it,” Osferth muttered as well.

Sihtric snorted when Uhtred looked at him. Uhtred cursed. “You were taken by a changeling. A,” Uhtred paused, “fairy.”

Edward looked at Uhtred. He laughed. “No, really, how did I end up here?”

Finan heard Osferth chuckle and turn away. He looked at Edward. “Uhtred is right, it was a damn fairy.”

Edward's face paled. “I,” he leaned more against the round stone. “Fairies are real?” he demanded.

“Apparently,” Uhtred muttered. “But we cannot tell your father that. Think he would believe you ran off whoring?”

Osferth snickered louder and coughed to attempt to cover it up. Finan smirked as Edward looked at them. Osferth composed himself and nodded.

“I believe that is the perfect excuse,” he managed to say.

Edward nodded. “I guess,” he frowned. “Fairies are real,” he muttered, “what's next? Leprechauns?”

“They are wee little bastards that have no gold, just sharp teeth and anger issues,” Finan found himself saying. Everyone turned and eyed him. “But, ah, that's a story for another day.”

“Wait,” Uhtred said, “you've met leprechauns?”

Finan shook his head. “Can neither confirm nor deny that. Edward, are you ready to ride? Let's get going.”

He turned and walked away from them completely intent on not ever telling them about his horrible encounter with leprechauns.

Ever.

#@deans-ch-ch-cherrypie #spooktacular challenge #the last kingdom fic #the last kingdom fanfic

[xbellaxcarolinax]

Ravenous (Part 1)

Pairing: Steven Grant x Avatar!Reader, slight Marc Spector x Avatar!Reader

Word Count: 3256

Warnings: Violence, language, canon divergence, angst, eventual fluff

Summary: Steven didn't know what to think about you in those first moments. It was strange, obviously, but he realized that after discovering Marc and Khonshu, he shouldn’t be surprised at all. His life would remain strange from now on.

Hey! I'm new to the Moon Knight fandom :) Hope you all like this thing I wrote.

Special thank you to @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie for making the gorgeous moodboard and beta reading this monstrosity. ILY <3

Part 2

The first time Steven saw you, he was in the middle of a fight he was one hundred percent sure he'd lose. London was no stranger to rain, and of course, the skies opened up right before Steven found himself in the predicament he was currently in.

Exhaustion crept into his muscles. Each punch to his current assailant had him begging for Marc to take over. He was the expert killer, not Steven. 

You're a weak man, Steven Grant. 

Khonshu's disapproval was evident even during the chaos of the fight. The moon god sat perched high above the scene, watching with scrutiny as Steven took more punches to the abdomen than he could give. 

"Bloody hell, Marc, I could use you right about now!" He dodged another blow to the head, his white suit jacket soiled with mud from the dive he took toward the wet ground. 

Marc was silent, probably blacked out and buried deep within the depths of his own mind. It happened sometimes, Marc disappearing into static nothingness, and usually, Steven was all too grateful for the silence, but not today, not right now.

Your entrance was almost cinematic, a force to be reckoned with in the light of the moon. Your crimson suit burned bright like fire and your eyes glowed behind your mask. 

Steven didn't know what to think about you in those first moments. It was strange, obviously, but he realized that after discovering Marc and Khonshu, he shouldn’t be surprised at all. His life would remain strange from now on.

With a precision unknown to Steven, you snatched the nearest enemy, using a hand to grab at their throat while the other sliced into the unprotected skin with a small blade. It was like cutting through a ripe peach. 

Red sprayed over your masked face in a thick layer, and Steven watched in horror as the man gurgled and choked on his own blood. Steven's wide eyes followed your tongue as it darted out to lick your lips free of the metallic liquid. 

What the fuck. 

He couldn't even give that another thought as you moved from enemy to enemy with a feline grace, slicing neck after neck like a butcher at the slaughterhouse.

More assailants, and now, bullets, pierced the muddied ground like rain. A scream escaped Steven as his feet moved in a strange dance to avoid getting hit.

"Look out!" you pointed with a bloody hand, pushing another dying man away from you and roughly yanking Steven aside, soiling his suit jacket further. 

"Who are you...?" 

Sekhmet. 

Khonshu had suddenly said the name with such longing that Steven would have giggled and teased him for it if he weren’t getting shot at. But he was familiar with the name.

Sekhmet the lioness, goddess of war. 

He’d read through enough mythology books and had seen enough ancient relics in countless museums to know of her ruthless nature. The goddess was bloodthirsty, and apparently, so were you.

“Never mind that, do you need help or not?” You snapped at him, barely losing your breath as you punched an assailant, flinging their gun away as if it were nothing more than a toy, “Because my mistress seems to think so.” 

“Yes!” Steven squeaked, “Yes, I would appreciate the help!”

Where is Marc Spector? Khonshu was as demanding as ever.

“I’m tryin' to figure that out myself!” Steven rubbed his hands roughly over his masked face, “Come on, Marc, we need you!” 

“Hey, you!” You called over your shoulder, barely missing the fist that came flying toward your face. 

“Uh, yeah, it’s Steven Grant! It’s a pleasure!”

“Shut up and fight!” 

“Oh—Right!” Steven made for a passable fighter, mostly ducking and weaving his way out of a fist or whatever weapon came hurtling towards him. For a moment he believed in himself. What did he need Marc for when he was capable of knocking out teeth with the strength of his own fist?

A hand slammed into his throat, thick digits squeezing mercilessly. The force knocked him down straight into the mud. 

He wheezed, his air supply dwindling the longer the hand pressed against his throat. The body was a heavy weight over his chest.

And that’s why he needed Marc.

Steven!

“Marc!” Steven choked out, his hands fighting to remove the aggressive fingers from around his neck.

Steven, give me the body! 

“B-bloody take it, d-dammit!” He released another wheeze before he felt his body stiffen, eyes seeing nothing but the brightest light, and darkness took control. 

»»————-　☾　————-««

Steven woke to you hovering over him. 

Water droplets fell from the tips of your hair onto his heated skin. It must have rained again. 

His bleary eyes noticed your mask was off. 

Your eyes weren't glowing anymore but were now a normal shade. Actually, everything about you looked quite normal, and it was hard to believe just earlier you were a killing machine. You dabbed something over his brow that made his skin burn hot.

“Oww.” He uttered, blinking as his eyes adjusted to the brightness of the bedside lamp.

“Shhh,” you continued to dab, “keep still.”

“Mmm, where are we?”

“You don't recognize your own flat?” Your tone was impatient as if dealing with the tantrum of a spoiled child. 

Steven blinked a few times before focusing on the ceiling. It was the same off-white he was used to staring up at every night when avoiding sleep. There was a cobweb in the far right corner that he meant to dust some time ago but never got around to it. This was definitely his flat.

“How did you—”

“Marc let me in, now shut up and let me disinfect this.” 

You reminded Steven a bit of Marc, ruthless at worst and bitter at best. Mean.

He obliged you and remained quiet, allowing you to work. 

You grabbed his hands, dabbing alcohol-soaked pads over his bloody knuckles with a gentleness that surprised him. You were careful, tongue poking out and face pinched in concentration. This must have been second nature to you, he assumed, nursing wounds after a particularly nasty fight. Finally, you placed band-aids over the angry skin of his knuckles, your thumbs swiping over them once, then twice, to secure the adhesive.

“There,” you announced with a nod, satisfied with your work, “done.” 

“Thank you.” He sat up with an immediate groan, a hand flying to his abdomen as pain erupted with the sudden movement.

“Hey, no moving.” You chastised, pushing him back down against his navy blue pillows. 

He allowed himself to be handled by you, and when he finally took a good look at you, he noticed your busted lip and the bruises blooming along your jaw.

“But what bout’ you?” Steven reached out with a bandaged hand, meaning to glide his finger over your chin but you caught his wrist, placing his arm back over his abdomen.

“I’m fine, Steven Grant,” you said, “Sekhmet is a healer. I’ll be good as new by morning,” You stood, straightening out the oversized denim jacket you wore, “I’m off."

"Thank you again, ya’ know, for helping my arse back there." 

You nodded and headed for the door before you turned to look at him. "I fed your fish by the way.” You said, slamming the door behind you.

Steven glanced at Gus as he swam around his tiny tank surrounded by mountains of books.

He sighed. He didn't even get to know your name.

»»————-　☾　————-««

The second time Steven saw you was at a café right in the middle of central London during his morning commute to the museum.

He was exhausted, the bags under his eyes dark and prominent as always. It was 8:50 in the morning when Khonshu decided to make an announcement.

Sekhmet has joined our cause. 

Your cause, not ours. Marc's voice rattled in Steven's mind alongside Khonshu, bitter as coffee.

You are as much a part of this as the rest of us, Marc Spector. 

"Don't the other gods, ya’ know, hate you?" Steven asked the moon god, shoving the last bit of his burnt breakfast bagel into his mouth. If Isis, Osiris, and the rest of them were tired of Khonshu’s antics, then why was Sekhmet any different?

Sekhmet has always been a true and loyal friend.

You mean to say you've been in love with her for over a millennium. 

"What?" Steven choked at Marc's revelation, narrowly avoiding other commuters that filled the streets of London. He carefully took a sip of his coffee to wash down the bagel, turning his eyes to the nearest shop window to see both Marc and Khonshu in its reflection.

That is beyond the point.

She's in love with him too, Marc continued, but she was forced to marry.

Ptah. Khonshu spat the god's name like a curse but said nothing more, swiftly disappearing.

"Right," Steven cleared his throat, "this is completely bonkers."

All those years Steven had devoted to research, years of reading books from the top Egyptologists of the last thirty years, and still, it was as if he knew nothing.

Try finding that in your books.

Steven ignored Marc, joining the mob messily lining up to enter the bus headed toward central London. The ride was uneventful, and he even dozed off for a bit on someone before they shouldered him in the jaw to wake him up. Luckily, the stranger decided to wake him up right at his stop, and Steven exited the bus dazed and in pain.

"Wanker."

The café across the street from the museum was bustling with activity, as it usually was in the morning hours. Steven has had his morning coffee there plenty of times when the weather was fair, sitting at a table in their outside patio to enjoy the air whenever he could. 

Steven, the café.

“What about it?” 

Donna would rip him a new one if he showed up late again.

Just look.

He looked reluctantly, and—oh. It was you. 

You sat hunched over a table outside, a book held open in an unnatural grip. You stared at the pages as if trying to process whatever information was written on them, brows arched down in confusion. A cup of tea sat untouched by your hand, probably cold given the lack of steam.

You still hadn’t noticed Steven approach you, and how could you when you seemed so far away?

Upon closer inspection, Steven noted the light smearing of dried blood on your hands, thickly caked under your fingernails. It made him hesitate before approaching you.

“Err, hello.” He waved cautiously, afraid that any sudden movement in your vicinity would cause you to react negatively.

You still didn't notice him until he reached out and gently touched your shoulder. It was enough to get a reaction from you, turning to look at him with wild eyes.

"Hey, hey, it's okay, you remember me, don't you?"

You placed the book down with shaking hands, pulling the same oversized denim jacket tighter on yourself. Something about it seemed familiar, down to the little tears at the edges of the sleeves but Steven thought nothing of it.

You cleared your throat. “Steven Grant.”

“Just Steven is fine, actually.” He offered you a smile, though nervous as he was, it was genuine.

“Steven.” You repeated, grabbing your forgotten tea in your shaking hands to bring it to your lips. 

Steven caught it before it could slip between your fingers, the cold tea spilling over his hands and down your lap.

“Oh shit, sorry! I’m sorry!” He placed the porcelain teacup down on the table, grabbed some napkins you had, and dabbed it over your pants, “Oh, Jesus, sorry, is this okay? Here, I’ll get you some more—”

“Stop, it’s fine, ‘s my fault.” You slapped his hands away, loudly pushing your chair back to stand. You took the denim jacket off, tightly wrapping it around your waist to hide the large damp spot over your cargos. The tag stuck out from behind your waist, and when Steven squinted he could make out the familiar scrawl of his name written in faded black sharpie.

Property of Steven Grant.

Oh. No wonder it looked familiar. It was his.

“Hope you don’t mind, I borrowed your jacket. I was cold,” You said lazily, digging in your pocket for a couple of bills before tossing them on the table. You hopped over the thin makeshift fence that separated the sidewalk from the outdoor cafe, snatching the book from the table and pressing it under your arm. “Do you write your name on all your clothes?”

Steven didn’t respond for a few moments. He looked at you in confusion, wondering just what the fuck was wrong with you. With the blood on your hands and the wild look in your eyes, did you really decide to have tea in a very public setting after a fight? 

“Are you okay, love?” He asked instead, rushing to keep up with your quick steps. 

“Mhm.”

“But, there's blood on your—”

“I’m aware.”

“But then why are you—”

“I don’t know! Okay?” You huffed, “I just needed to think, I…Sekhmet, she’s ravenous, blood-hungry. I can’t think straight when she’s in my head.” Steven quickly grabbed your arm, steering you toward the museum.

“Where are we going?”

“To my job. You need to get cleaned up.”

“But—”

“You need to think, yeah? You can do that at the museum, it’s all people do there, really. Sit, think, and stare. You'll fit right in.”

☾☾☾

Steven was still trying to figure you out. 

He kept an eye on you from the gift shop, peeking through the mass of winged Hathor plushies and plastic Nile crocodiles that he stacked up neatly just last week. 

You did nothing out of the ordinary, surprisingly, just sat on a bench right at the entrance of the Egyptian exhibit for the first few hours of his shift. You sifted through the book you had earlier, actually reading it this time. You marked some of the pages down at the corners but in the end, you looked frustrated. 

At least you were physically looking better from what he could tell. Your hands were clean (he made you scrub them three times before he was satisfied) and you weren't shaking anymore. 

She's struggling. 

"Hm? What do you mean?" 

Being an avatar. I recognize the look. Sekhmet is bleeding her dry. 

Steven looked away from organizing the cheap Eye of Ra necklaces to look back at you. 

Goddess of war, right? 

"Yeah." 

I can't even imagine the fucked up shit she's forced to do. 

"That's probably why she's just as mean as you, innit?" Steven waited for an answer, snorting when he was left in silence. 

It's not easy living, Steven. Marc finally answered, voice uncharacteristically soft. 

"I'm well aware." 

"What?" Steven's coworker, Edwin, questioned him from the book stand, brows furrowed. 

"Uhh, I said I'm going on break, yeah?" it was about that time anyway, "handle the register, will you?" He left before Edwin could answer, walking over to the bench to sit beside you. 

"Hungry?" Steven offered you a granola bar from his pocket, already munching on one himself. 

You looked down at the snack, hesitating in grabbing it but deciding not to. 

"I'm fine." You answered quietly, your eyes wandering over the ancient statues you've been staring at all morning. 

Steven looked down at your hands; your nails were digging into the skin of your palms, creating little red crescent moons. "Are you okay?" He asked for what felt like the millionth time. 

You shrugged. 

He guessed it was probably a dumb question to ask. Anyone with a literal god in their head wouldn’t be okay. He should know.

"Does Khonshu treat you well?" You asked, shifting your body to look at him. 

He's a piece of shit. 

"Err, he's an alright bloke. Demanding mostly, but who isn’t nowadays?" 

Lies. 

You hummed in response with a nod. 

"I know the feeling." 

"What about Sekhmet?" You bit your lip.

“She’s…complicated. She misses the ancient people and the ancient wars. It's what she was created for. Not enough wars these days. Not enough people dying. Not enough sustenance." 

Steven frowned at your words, unsure of how to respond. "So…what does that mean?" 

"It means that I'm forced to satisfy her cravings in other ways." You said, suddenly exhausted. You looked sad, defeated even. Hopeless. 

Before Steven could respond, you stood, your body alert and your attention held by something that wasn’t even there. 

Sekhmet. 

Your gaze was strong, penetrating, enough to shatter glass if you tried. 

And tired. You looked so tired.

Then you nodded. It was so slight that Steven would have never caught it if he wasn’t looking so intently at you.

"Duty calls.” You said roughly. You were on the move, quick on your feet when Steven realized one bit of information.

“Wait!” 

You turned to him, a growing impatience already etching itself over your features. 

“What?” Your demeanor changed as quickly as the flicker of a candle. The word alone was intimidating. The way it left your lips was like a slap to the face. 

"I, uh, still don't know your name, is all." He said softly, wringing the wrapper of his now-eaten granola bar between his fingers. 

You paused, going rigid at the question. It was as if it’d never been asked of you before. After a moment you shrugged, shoving your hands over Steven’s denim jacket around your waist and into the pockets of your cargos. "It's whatever you want it to be." 

Steven blinked. That was a weird answer. He wasn’t able to read your expression but hoped something in your eyes would help him. Oh, bollocks. He pursed his lips together in quick thought before snapping his fingers. "Grouch. I'll call you Grouch." 

You didn’t know how to react to that, and at first, Steven thought he might have hurt your feelings until he saw your lips quirk up into the smallest smile. You snorted, shrugging again. “Whatever.”

He heard you chuckle softly as you walked away, the sound ringing like tiny little bells in his ears. It was the first time he'd heard you laugh or even seen you smile. 

Christ, Steven. 

Steven looked at his reflection on one of the glass cases holding a bronze Statue of Osiris. Marc looked back at him with a teasing smirk. 

"Piss off." 

She left her book, dummy.

Steven quickly brought his eyes to the bench, eyeing your forgotten book. He picked it up, dark irises scanning the crowded lobby in search of your figure, but you were already gone.

“Ancient Egyptian Gods, Spells, and Rituals.” Steven read aloud before flipping through the pages. There was general information in there, things Steven had known from previous research: the gods, their qualities, and their places in the human world. But there were other things Steven wasn’t entirely familiar with. Spells and rituals to the gods, how to invoke them, and other things related to it.

Flipping to a page you had marked down, Steven read the contents.

“According to ancient Egyptian texts and mythos, once a god or goddess is invoked, the human must remain a vessel until released from service. It is nearly impossible to be released otherwise.”

Steven looked toward Marc’s reflection again, brows knitting together.

What is it?

Steven frowned, lowering his eyes to read over the words again before responding.

“I think she’s trying to break from Sekhmet’s service.”

»»————-　☾　————-««

Part 2

#moon knight #moon knight fic #steven grant #steven grant x reader #marc spector x reader #marc spector #steven grant x you

[malenamoonlight]

On season 6, Hvitserk says: “The only two women I've ever loved both met miserable ends.”

One of them is Thora, but who’s the second woman that he is referring to? Margrethe? Aslaug?

#collecting some hvit quotes for deans-ch-ch-cherrypie challenge :)

[not-another-fangirl]

💞✨ send this to the 12 nicest people you know or seem to have a good heart and if you get 5 back you must be pretty awesome 💞✨

Thank you!!🥰😘

#Asks answered #deans-ch-ch-cherrypie