Hey Author, I wanted to ask if you could maybe write a story about ! Sihtric x reader! Could you perhaps write something where the reader is the younger sister of Ragnar, Uhtred and Thyra. In sihtric's age.
Maybe she could have met him in the forest when the two were children and became best friends from that day on. Nobody knew about it because the families are no longer good. Years later, when Kjartan kills the parents of the reader and Uhtred. the reader goes with him and Brida. She is younger than Uhtred and brida maybe Uhtred could teach his little sister to fight and she will be a shieldmaid maybe even the best!!!
When sihtric joins uhtred, the reader is very happy. Sihtric loves the reader, but thinks she would never want anything from him, so he marries his wife from the series
The relationship between the reader and sihtric becomes very bad due to the married
The reader is angry because she doesn't like his wife, she’s jealous and she is very hurt. And she makes him feel her anger!!! Maybe we could have a little fight with his wife, that would be cool.
At some point I don't know how they could confess their feelings for each other.
I love drama in story’s like that. I hope you like it too and it gave you ideas to write it. Maybe you could say if you write it.
Thank you, your reader 🫶❤️
#drama #brokenheart #anger #bestfriends #love
I am so jealous that she is his wife. I just don't like her😑
I have to put my cell phone away, otherwise it will be broken later
I wrote a similar request to another author, but I thought I could also ask another one, hope it doesn't bother you! 🫶
Heyyy finally got this done. It is longer than I expected lol cuz I wanted to give them a shared background story lol. I tried to add all the requested components but his wife just isn't his wife yet so he was planning to marry her but then ofc he changes his mind after the reader rages at him. I love angry confessions lol.
Cheers, hope you enjoy the story 🫶
Word Count: 4.8k | AO3
In the heart of the forest, the sun shone through the canopy of leaves and the birds sang a merry tune. A group of children ran through the underbrush, their laughter echoing through the trees.
"I saw a wolf, Uhtred, I saw it, it had sharp teeth and yellow eyes!" Brida shouted excitedly, brandishing the branch she held in her hand as a pretend sword.
"Brida, Uhtred, don't let them get to me," Thyra shouted from the platform the children had built in the trees. "And protect my little sister!"
"I am a warrior like Father and Young Ragnar. I don't need Uhtred to protect me!" you shouted back at Thyra, who only rolled her eyes at your childish antics.
"Father and Young Ragnar are much bigger than you, you cannot possibly be like them!" Uhtred laughed.
You crossed your arms and glared at him until he raised his hands placatingly.
"Now then, what shall we do about the wolf?" you grinned. "I say we skin him and gift his pelt to the lady of the hall."
Your hair whipped around your face as you fought your imaginary foes, eyes bright with determination and a fierce sense of bravery. You took careful steps, your feet moving in sync with your makeshift sword, as you circled around the supposed wolves who were coming for your sister. Suddenly you heard the sound of branches snapping and twigs crunching underfoot, signalling the approach of another person to your little corner of the forest. You instinctively raised your branch in front of you, ready to defend yourself and your friends against any potential enemies.
"Did you see that?" Uhtred's voice wavered and everyone's necks turned in the direction the noise originated from.
A figure stepped out from behind the trees, making Uhtred and Brida freeze.
"Uhtred?" Thyra's panicked voice came from her spot in the trees. "What is happening?"
"Stay up there!" he warned, grabbing your hand along with Brida's and pulling back a few steps.
"It's Sven, Kjartan's son," Brida breathed.
"Sven?" Thyra's voice shook.
"He won't hurt you," Uhtred reassured.
You pushed Brida and Uhtred forward, "But he'll kill you, so go!"
"What, we're not leaving you!"
"And I will not leave my sister. Just go, please."
Several other young boys, Sven's friends presumably, tore out of their hiding places, giving chase to Brida and Uhtred as they sprinted away. One of the larger boys made his way toward the tree Thyra was in. You ran after him, hoping to get to him before he reached your sister. You tackled him to the ground but he easily threw you off to the side before going to haul Thyra out of her hiding spot and toward Sven.
"Don't touch her. Don't you dare touch her!" you shouted, and another boy grabbed you by the hair and yanked your head upward.
"Shut your yapping mouth or you'll be next bitch," he murmured into your ear.
Thyra whimpered as Sven cornered her against a tree, sword in hand.
"Uhtred! Uhtred!" she wailed and it made your heart race.
You knew Sven was going to do something to her, you could see it in the smirk he sent your way just before he reached forward and ripped the top half of Thyra's dress off her shoulders. A broken sob escaped her mouth and she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to make herself small. The sight set your nerves on fire. With an animalistic screech, you headbutted the boy who was holding on to you. When you slammed your head against his nose, you heard a satisfying crunch and he howled in pain as blood gushed down his face. You gave another holler before you ran and threw your entire weight onto Sven, forcing him away from your sister and managing to knock him onto the ground. You watched out of the corner of your eye as Thyra fled the scene, screaming for Uhtred and Brida to come to your aid. One of Sven's friends pulled your small frame off him easily, and dragged you deeper into the forest, pinning you against a tree with his arm across your neck, suffocating you. You twisted in his hold and kicked him between the legs, making him drop you so that you could crawl away. Sven was right there though, and he grabbed your jaw, turning your head so that your eyes met his. He was several years older than you and now you were frightened.
"Hmm, you're not as pretty as your sister, but I suppose you'll do," he snickered.
You closed your teeth around his arm, biting down until you tasted blood. He swore and when he went to pull you off, you drew back to punch him. And then you were raining blows down frantically upon him before he had a chance to get up. His hand scrambled around for his sword and brought it up in a deadly arc across your face. You flinched at the burning sting and he used it to his advantage in order to throw you off him. He stood there frozen for a moment, just watching your crouching form on the floor, your hand pressed tightly to your cheek as you took in deep shuddering breaths and blood seeped from between your fingers. Perhaps he then remembered who your father was because he turned and ran, his cruel friends following close behind.
"Are you...are you alright?" came a timid voice after a while, and it made you jump.
"Who-Who's there?"
You blinked through teary eyes to spot a young boy around your age step forward from behind a nearby tree. He looked at you with concern, his eyes taking in your injury.
"Are you okay?" he asked again softly.
You shook your head, fresh tears streaming down your face. You were terrified, hurt, and you couldn't quite remember the way home so you were also lost.
The little boy took a step closer, his eyes reassuring, "Don't worry, I'll help you."
You cringed away from him, "Who are you."
"I am Sihtric. I won't hurt you."
"Can you help me find my way back home, I don't remember the way," you whimpered.
Sihtric took your hand and started to lead you out of the forest. You clung to his hand tightly as he led you through the forest. You were still scared, but somehow his presence brought you a sense of comfort and safety. As you emerged from the dense cluster of trees, you could see your home in the distance. Your heart leaped with relief, and you began to quicken your pace, Sihtric keeping pace with you, never once letting go of your hand. As you drew closer, you saw both your parents standing at the door looking out anxiously. When your mother caught sight of you, her eyes lit up and she rushed towards you, scooping you up into her arms. You winced, your left hand still pressed up against your face. She let out a gasp and carefully pried your hand away, and showed the angry red line, that ran from your cheekbone to your chin, to your father. Earl Ragnar swore loudly before taking up his sword and leaving the house in a fury to confront Kjartan and his son, already having been told the story of what happened by the other children.
"Is-is Thyra okay?" you whispered to your mother, making her smile affectionately.
"Oh my darling girl, look at the state of you, and you're still worried for your older sister. Thyra is perfectly fine, she just had a bit of a fright, now let's get you inside and cleaned up hmm?"
Sihtric lingered outside your door, uncertain of what to do. Your mother noticed him standing there and approached him, still clutching you in her arms.
"Thank you for bringing my daughter home," she said, her voice kind. "You're a very brave young boy."
Sihtric just shrugged, looking a little embarrassed, "It was nothing, I'm just glad she's okay."
As he turned to leave, you grabbed his hand.
"Wait," you said. "Will I see you again?"
"If you like...?" he gazed up at your mother in hesitation.
Your mother nodded, her lips turning upward, "You are welcome here anytime."
You grinned shyly, the memory of your adventure already fading into the background, "We can explore the forest together then, just like real warriors."
With a wave goodbye, Sihtric turned and disappeared back into the woods, leaving you with a newfound sense of wonder and the excitement that comes with making a new friend. From that day forward, Sihtric became one of your closest companions, spending endless afternoons exploring the forest and getting into all sorts of adventures. You always looked out for each other, and the bond you forged that day in the woods never wavered. Even though his father had been banished by yours, he continued to find ways to meet with you in the forest, a place where he didn't have to be Sihtric Kjartansson, a bastard child of Kjartan the Cruel. He was just Sihtric, your friend, and perhaps more, judging by the lingering glances you both often exchanged.
This continued up until that fateful day when your entire world was burnt to the ground. You had lost everyone, your parents, your grandfather, and your beloved sister. Your older brother Ragnar the Younger had been away and you felt yourself all alone in the world, that is until Uhtred and Brida took you in. Uhtred felt a strong sense of responsibility for you, being one of the last surviving members of the family that had so lovingly raised him. He had been unable to save Thyra from being taken but he swore to himself that he'd never let harm come to you.
As the years went by, your childhood wish came true. You had indeed become a fierce warrior, and Uhtred made sure that you knew how to protect yourself and others. You fought in the Battle of Edington against Skorpa and made a reputation for yourself, but the young boy with whom you had spent your childhood days remained a fond memory you found yourself often reminiscing.
______________
It was in King Guthred's camp in Cumberland where Sihtric finally found you again. He had been sent there to infiltrate the camp and abduct Uhred but when his band of spies attacked, you were the first one there to save your brother, along with Hild, Halig, and Clapa. He had recognized you immediately, the fierce young woman with sharp piercing eyes reminded him of the little girl in the forest whom his half-brother had maimed. However, when you first saw him, you had only looked at him with disdain. He was just another miscreant to you, sent to harm your brother, and you could not imagine him as your childhood companion. He felt his heart sink at that, at the malice in your eyes, at the fact that you did not seem to remember him at all.
Once he had sworn his allegiance to Uhtred, he made his way to the great hall, where you sat conversing with Gisela. He wanted to talk to you, to hear you speak. Gisela caught sight of his yearning gaze on you and gave him a knowing look. She excused herself and left you sitting there all alone, giving Sihtric an opportunity to take her spot. He settled himself beside you, taking a moment to map out the planes of your face. He had waited years for this moment, to see you again, but now that it was happening, he was unsure how to proceed.
You looked at him and raised an unimpressed eyebrow, "I hear that you will fight for Uhtred now?"
Sihtric nodded.
"You better not betray him, or I'll stick a knife in your throat while you sleep."
A laugh burst out of him and he looked at you with soft eyes, "You are exactly as I remembered."
"Am I now?"
"Do you not remember me?"
You sighed, "Of course, I remember you. How could I ever forget?"
"Well the way you were looking at me like you wanted to take my head off, certainly didn't feel like you remembered me."
"You know you did try to hurt my brother."
"Right...I'm sorry for that by the way. You have my word, I will never betray him."
You twirled your dagger between deft fingers, "I'll hold you to that."
Sihtric laughed again, "Gods, I've missed you."
Your heart skipped a beat. You had always felt something for him but never dared to act on it.
"You did?" you asked, surprised.
He nodded, "I thought about you all the time, wondering where you were and what you were doing. If you were well. And then I heard the stories, of your brother's victories, and they always spoke of his brave sister who fought beside him."
You felt your heart swell with happiness. For the rest of the day, you and Sihtric continued to converse, your exchanges growing more relaxed as you fell back into the familiar comfort of knowing each other. You both shared stories of what you had been doing since you last saw each other.
Sihtric hesitated for a moment, then gathered up his courage to ask you the question that had been weighing on his mind ever since you had been separated, "Are you perhaps with someone now?"
"Why, are you asking because you're interested?" you gave him a playful smirk.
Sihtric's cheeks flushed red as he stumbled over his words, "I... well... I mean... that is to say..."
"Relax, I'm just messing with you. And gods no, me with someone? What an absurd idea. Although... I might be open to offers."
You winked at him.
His eyes widened in surprise and he cleared his throat nervously, "I, uh, I wasn't... I didn't mean..."
"My brother does enough of that for the both of us. Someone's gotta stay sensible and keep him out of trouble, especially since Brida isn't here to do it anymore."
You chuckled at his discomfort and reached out to touch his arm.
Relief washed over him, and he smiled shyly, "That's good to hear."
You shoved his shoulder, "Good to hear? I am glad my lack of companions brings you such joy Sihtric."
"That is not what I meant and you know it."
"Oh really, so what did you mean then?"
You bat your eyelashes playfully and he rolls his eyes.
"You haven't changed one bit."
"Perfection doesn't need to change Sihtric."
"Oh very funny."
What he didn't say out loud was that you were indeed perfect. To him at least. He had spent the past few years of his life missing you and he couldn't bear the thought of losing you again. He kept his admiration to himself as he listened to you speak, feeling a deep yearning in his chest. He wanted nothing more than to tell you how he felt, to take you in his arms and never let go. But he was afraid. Afraid of ruining the friendship he had just rekindled. Afraid of the disappointment he would feel if you rejected him. He wondered if you knew how he felt. Did you have any idea of the effect you had on him? He doubted it. After all, you had been children when you had last seen each other. Maybe you had moved on and found someone else. Maybe you didn't even remember him the way he remembered you.
As the next three years went by, you fell into an easy routine with Sihtric. He was part of Uhtred's inner circle and you were his beloved sister so the two of you were seldom separated. Your teasing banter and friendly competition entertained everyone in the group and soon they were all making bets regarding which one of you would be bold enough to confess to the other. The feelings you two had for one another were obvious to everyone, everyone except you and Sihtric it seemed. Even your brother often sent teasing smiles your way when he paired you with Sihtric for tasks. Perhaps this was why the entire group was flabbergasted when Sihtric asked for Uhtred's blessing to marry.
Uhtred had mentally prepared himself for Sihtric to eventually ask for your hand. He would ask you for your opinion of course and if you were agreeable, he would have been more than happy to bless the union.
"Who is it that you wish to marry Sihtric?" he raised an eyebrow.
Finan sniggered behind him, sure that his companion would utter your name. You were all on the road back to Winchester and it had been a dull journey so far so he was curious at this new turn of events. You had to admit, you found your heart racing at his request as well. You held your breath, not daring to hope.
"Sidgeflaed, Lord," Sihtric replied.
"Sidgeflaed? The whore in Winchester you've been spending a lot of time with lately."
"She says she loves me, Lord."
Finan snorts and Sihtric squared his shoulders defensively.
"I swear, she says she loves me!"
"She would. Sihtric she's a whore," Finan chuckled. "What she loves is your silver."
The entire group burst out into laughter.
Sihtric kept his attention on your brother, "I wish to marry her. She says she loves me and I love her."
Uhtred noticed your rigid form out of the corner of your eye. Your knuckles were white from how hard you were gripping your horse's reigns and your jaw was clenched tightly. He could tell that something was bothering you and he had a feeling he knew exactly what it was.
"I will speak to Gisela when we arrive at Winchester and then perhaps I will let you marry your girl. But in the meantime, you are to give her no more of your silver."
You felt a pang of jealousy and sadness at his words. He had chosen someone else. You thought that perhaps now since you had been reunited, he might've chosen you. You kept your emotions in check long enough to flash Sihtric a strained congratulatory smile, but inside you struggled to hold back tears. And then your sadness turned to anger, and you couldn't help but feel a sense of betrayal. How could he marry someone else when you had loved him all along? You wanted to scream at him and ask him why, you wanted to beg him not to marry this other girl, you wanted to run away and never see him again, you wanted to see him every day of your life. Instead, you kept a placid smile on your face and once you all reached your destination, you were the first one to bolt home, leaving your brother to deal with your horse.
Gisela looked up in surprise when you burst through the door and rushed to your room, the door slamming behind you. Once you were in the private confines of your chambers, you let the tears flow freely. A few moments later, there was a soft knock on the door. You quickly wiped your tears and tried to compose yourself as your brother's wife, entered the room. She had been there for you ever since she married Uhtred, almost like a second mother.
"Oh, my darling, what's wrong?" she asked gently, placing her arm around your shoulder.
You sniffed morosely, "Nothing, I'm fine."
"Well, you don't look fine."
"It's really nothing. I am just being immature, it's no big deal."
Gisela's lips turned upward as she ran her fingers through your hair, "I have two kids under the age of seven. I think I can handle immature."
You just shook your head and leaned against her, allowing her to pull you into a tight embrace, her comforting scent calming you down. Just then, someone cleared their throat loudly and Gisela looked up to see her husband smiling down at her.
"Am I interrupting something?" Uhtred asked.
She shook her head, "No, your sister is just upset, but she refuses to tell me why. Perhaps you can shed some light on this matter?"
"No, you can't tell her. She's going to think I'm being childish," you whined from the crook of her neck.
Uhtred sighed in fond exasperation, "Sitric has asked for my permission to marry."
Gisela's brow wrinkled in confusion. Shouldn't you have been happy if that was the case? She had watched you become close to him over time and she knew how fond you were of him.
"To marry someone else," Uhtred clarified.
Her eyes widened in understanding as she rubbed soothing circles on your back, "It's okay love. It's okay to be upset. You are a strong and resilient woman and you can get through this."
"Shall I refuse him?" your brother asked, making you shake your head frantically.
"No, I am just being selfish. I want him to be happy, and if... if that other girl is the one he loves, then I will try and be happy for them. I don't want to get in his way."
"If you say so."
After Uhtred left you alone with his wife, you wrapped your arms around her once more.
"Thank you, Gisela. You're always so kind to me."
Gisela smiled at you warmly, "Of course, my dear. That's what family is for."
Over the next few days, you made it your priority to avoid Sihtric at all costs, going out of your way so that your paths didn't cross, and when meeting him was inevitable, you made sure that you interacted with him as little as possible. Your tone when addressing him was cold and clipped, only saying what was necessary. It was obvious to everyone that you were trying to distance yourself from him and eventually even Sihtric picked up on your strange behaviour.
He had been trying to find a chance to talk to you alone ever since his first announcement regarding his matrimonial plans. He sensed the strained tension that lingered in the air whenever you were around him, and it filled him with a sense of despair. He was doing this all for you and now you wouldn't even look at him. He thought that by marrying someone else, he would be able to take his mind off you. He didn't want to push you into something you did not want and ruin your friendship by confessing his feelings but now it seemed that he had only made things worse. He had to make things right again somehow. As luck would have it, he spotted you walking down the street alone one day. He called out your name, hurrying to catch up to you.
When you turned around and saw him coming towards you, you tried to quicken your pace, hoping to avoid him, but he was much too fast. He grabbed your arm and pulled you into a nearby alleyway, away from prying eyes. You aggressively yanked your arm away from him and glared.
"What are you doing, Sihtric?"
"I had to talk to you," he responded, his voice low and urgent. "You've been avoiding me, and I need to know why."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," your voice was flat as you fixed your eyes on something over his shoulder, avoiding eye contact.
"Damnit would you at least look at me when I'm speaking to you."
"No."
"Why are you acting like this? Would you please talk to me."
"Just leave me alone Sihtric. Go spend time with that whore you've been humping. You should get to know your future wife some more," you spat out.
Sihtric flinched at the venom in your words. Your entire body was tensed and you blinked rapidly a few times as if to hold back tears.
"I can't leave you alone," he said, his voice rising. "You're my friend. I care about you. I need to know what's going on."
"I am not your friend, don't you dare call me your friend. You do not care about me at all!"
"How can you say that? What have I done? Would you at least tell me?"
Your face hardened, "If I was really your friend, you would have told me about Sidgeflaed. You never even mentioned her."
"Is that what this is about then? You're upset that I told your brother before I told you? If that's the case then I'm sorry you had to find out like that," he approached slowly, arms reaching toward you.
You shoved him away, "You don't get it, do you? You still don't get it."
"Then explain it to me... please."
"You're marrying her! How could you marry her? If you really cared about me, you wouldn't be breaking my heart like this!" you screamed at him then, and tears streamed down your face.
"What?"
"How could you marry someone else Sihtric? How could you do that to me when you know how I feel about you? Do you expect me to attend your wedding with a smile on my face? Congratulate you for every child you have with her?"
"What do you mean I know how you feel about me?"
You turned to walk away, and Sihtric couldn't hold back any longer. He grabbed your arm again and spun you around to face him, pushing you against the wall, his face inches from yours.
His voice rose in anger, "You know what, no! You don't get to say something like that and walk away from me. What did you mean when you said I know how you feel?"
"You know very well what I meant. Do not humiliate me any further," you gave him a weak laugh.
Realization dawned on his face as his eyes widened.
"You have feelings for me?"
You shrugged nonchalantly, "What does it matter? It's not like you feel anything for me."
Sihtric scoffed derisively, "That is the furthest thing from the truth."
"Huh?"
"Don't act like you don't see it. Like you never saw the way I've always looked at you."
Your eyes narrowed in anger, "How dare you? You never once told me how you felt. How dare you blame this on me?"
"I'm not blaming-" he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry okay. I'm sorry I hurt you."
"That doesn't change anything. You're still marrying her."
Your voice broke at the last word and Sihtric's heart clenched at the sight of your melancholy expression.
"I'll try to be happy for you. I swear it. You-you should be able to be with the person you love most and I will make my peace with the fact that it will never be-."
"I don't want to marry her!"
"But-"
"I thought that by marrying someone else, I could forget about you. I was wrong. I can't forget about you."
"Oh don't pretend to care now."
Sihtric tucked a strand of your hair behind your ear and ran his fingers down your jaw.
"I care about you more than anything," he whispered, stepping infinitesimally closer. "I love you."
"You do?"
"Weren't you listening silly girl? It's you I love, it's you I wish to choose."
"I don't appreciate being called silly," you sulked. "And you're really not going to marry her then?"
"No. No, I can't keep lying to myself."
"You really hurt me you know."
"I know, and I'm sorry," Sihtric begged, his voice pleading. "But please, just give me a chance to make it up to you. I love you. I always have, ever since we were children, and even when I couldn't see you, I never stopped thinking about you. I just didn't want to ruin what we had by telling you."
Your heart skipped a beat at his words. You had always secretly hoped that he felt the same way, but had convinced yourself that he didn't. Now, standing in front of him, you could feel the tug of your shared history and the depth of his emotions.
"Please, just one chance. Let me show you how much I care about you. I promise to never take you for granted again," Sihtric continued sincerely.
"Okay," you murmured, your voice softening. "Okay, I'll give you a chance but if you hurt-"
"Never. I will never hurt you again."
Sihtric brushed the remaining tears from your eyes tenderly and smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. He couldn't resist the pull he felt, because then he was leaning in and pressing his lips gently against yours, unsure if you would reciprocate.
You were caught off guard by the suddenness of the kiss, but as his lips moved against yours, you felt your heart stutter in your chest. You closed your eyes and kissed him back, allowing yourself to be swept away by the rush of affection you felt for him.
You both stood there for a few long moments, lost in each other, oblivious to the world around you. When he pulled away, Sihtric grinned.
"I suppose I'll have to ask your brother's blessing again," he looked into your eyes hesitantly. "That is if you would do me the honour of allowing me to be yours?"
"Yes. Yes of course."
"Thank you."
He pressed a delicate kiss to your scar and then you were pulling him back towards you by his collar, mouths pressed in a passionate embrace as you both gave in to the undeniable attraction that had been simmering beneath the surface for years.
"I love you, I love you, I love you," he mumbled against your skin like a prayer.
645 notes
·
View notes
Escape Yandere! Uhtred Ragnarsson x reader
Type: Oneshot
Summary: You try to escape Yandere!Uhtred
Warnings: Yandere theme, face-slapping, violence, death, controlling relationship, toxic ness, etc
You leant against the horse stables. Mouth tightly forming a line, forehead creased with worry. Your stomach in a tangle of knots as you watched the guards at the gate. Guarding the entrance to Cookham. The longer you lived here the more you realised they guarded it as an exit. Trapping you in the town you’d grown to hate.
Finally your eyes saw the guards rotate. You’d watched them long enough to know they got distracted. Long enough at least for you to make your escape.
Swiftly, you climbed your horse. One prepared for you by a stable boy. A boy a little older than you, but still much younger than Uhtred and his friends. You’d build a relationship with him for many months now. Slowly convincing him to help you. You knew the risk. You knew what would happen if word got back to Uhtred.
The stable boy, Thomas, was more than happy to help after listening to you tell him of your woes living trapped in Cookham. Although you knew his desire to help wasn’t completely selfless. He had developed some affection for you. You’d be lying if you said you didn’t exploit that to make your escape plan.
Your horse trotted through the gate slowly. Not a guard in sight. Your heart beat like a drum in your chest and filling your ears. As the horse rode on down the path to a new town, you thought of how still the air was. How the night seemed eerily silent.
You’d left Uhtred and his men drinking heavily in the local tavern. You’d made some excuse earlier that night about being under the weather. He sent you to his quarters with a kiss on the cheek. Only that’s not where you went.
The horse started to whine as it approached a bridge. After crossing the bridge you’d reach a fork in the road. From there the stable boy had told you you could get to any town in England. Including your home town.
It felt a world away now. All those months ago where Uhtred had won you over and taken you back to his home. How wrong you had been to fall for his charms. It quickly became clear he was not all he seemed.
It wasn’t just Uhtred though. He was surrounded by people who had no problems with his obsessive behaviour towards you. In fact then endorsed it. Often helping in keeping you in town and with Uhtred.
When your horse reached the middle of the bridge you heard a voice. A familiar voice. It was no surprise who it was.
Finan, a friends of Uhtred’s who was more like family. Many times he’d snitched to Uhtred about you. Stoping any attempts to escape the lord of Cookham.
“Come now Lady, your Lord will surely worry to have you out at this time.” His voice is annoyingly condescending. Like everyone around you he treats you like a child, with little capability.
You shake your head, “Move aside Finan. I want to leave. You, nor Sihtric, nor Oesferth can keep me here with your Lord. So move aside.”
He laughs at you, which boils your blood. “No can do Lady. You will return to Cookham with me or I will inform your Lord. He will be much displeased to hunt you down.”
While your body begins to shake from adrenaline, your voice stays firm. “So be it.”
In a bolt you snap the reigns of your horse and it takes off. It’s an especially fast horse, the fastest in the stable. Picked for this purpose. In combat you don’t stand a chance against Uhtred or any of his men. Speed however, you could gain the advantage.
You pass Finan with little struggle. He makes no move to reach for you or stop you. That should have been your first sign something was wrong.
In the dark you didn’t see the rope tied between two trees. Unable to see in the dark the horse tripped and threw you off. Effectively sending you hurdling towards the ground with great force. That same force winded you and brought tears to your eyes.
“Is it so awful in Cookham lady?” Uhtred asked as you gasped for breath.
“Am I so awful lady?” He taunted coming into view from the treeline.
Still gasping from your winded state on the ground, you could do little to respond. From your eye-line you could see someone help your horse up and lead it away. The long robe suggested it was Oesferth.
Uhtred roughly pulled you to your feet by your arms, dragging you to a kneeling position. You could see now Finan’s face, still smug. Next to him was Sihtric, face cold and stern. But it was the person between them your attention fell to.
Thomas the stable boy.
In the little light and next to two warriors like Finan and Sihtric, he looks especially young and boy like. He looks like a child. Guilt fills your stomach. You knew he would most likely be blamed for your escape. You shouldn’t have involved him, but you were so desperate.
“This boy, he helped you?” Uhtred asks you. You don’t respond, looking down at the dirt floor.
You feel a sting on your cheek before you realised you’ve been slapped. The sound echos through the small clearing.
“Answer me girl, or I’ll do worse than slap you.” He threatens, gripping your jaw and tilting your face so your eyes would meet his own.
“Yes.” You voice weakly.
“Do you know what I do to traitors in my village.” You did know what happened. What he did to anyone who spoke to you, flirted with you, touched you. Nevermind anyone who got close enough to help you.
“Uhtred no, he’s just a boy.” You plead.
“By my count he’s man to try and take my woman. Man enough to conspire against me,” he pauses, “Man enough to face my sword.”
He goes to swing his now unsheathed sword against the boy. Yet your words stop him.
“Please Uhtred, leave the boy. Punish me instead and I’ll never leave you again, I’ll never try.” You beg.
He sighs, “You’ll give me that anyway.” His disappointment is clear. You’ll be his regardless if this boy lives or dies. It’s non-negotiable.
You cry out as he swings his sword, causing Thomas’ head to roll from his shoulders.
105 notes
·
View notes