My repository for all things Aldhelm (The Last Kingdom) ⚔️❤️🛡️ Giving this man the love he deserves. Team Mercia.
Fic Writer · Gif Maker · Fanartist
LadyAldhelm on AO3
Tracking: #useraldhelm
I decided to create this thing to keep all my insanity contained in one location. This currently encompasses a laser-focused obsession and hyperfixation on the above ↑↑↑
Springtime in Saltwic (AO3): Aldhelm x Aethelflaed post Season 3, 115k words, 27 chapters, Rated E
Calm Before The Storm (AO3): Takes place just after King Ceolwulf's death in 2.03, Aethelred and Aldhelm's history together. 3.2k words, Rated T
Loyal Guardian (AO3): Aldhelm's rise to captain of the guard. 2.8k words, Rated T
Darkest Before the Dawn (AO3): The story of how Aldhelm fell in love with Aethelflaed. Post Season 2. Rated E. IN PROGRESS
Sweet Surrender (AO3): Aethelflaed and Aldhelm after the Battle of Tettenhall. Rated E.
So, I originally started this blog so I could reblog all the Aldhelm posts I had been bookmarking over the past year and a half, keeping them all in one place since I did not want to post them on my main art blog. I also wanted to use it to post my fic, since I finally decided to take the risk and publish it for better or for worse, and also share all the screencaps I had been taking for drawing references (and just for my own pleasure let's be honest here).
I am rather late to this fandom, having binge watched this show in the middle of last year (2022) just as season 5 was released. It was sitting in my watchlist on Netflix for a few years, but I neglected it, thinking it was just another Vikings ripoff. Boy was I wrong. This show has really gotten to me in a way that no other TV show or movie has. I have never been so obsessed with a TV show or movie in my entire life.
But what compelled me to make an Aldhelm blog? Well, for starters, it had become apparent to me that, although many in this fandom like his character, very few consider him to be their favorite character, and far fewer still are obsessed about him in the same way that many are about Sihtric or Finan, for example. I still can't wrap my head around that, but maybe I am the weirdo, so oh well. I will create another post about why I love him so much at a later date if anyone cares to read it.
There are tons of blogs for the show in general and for other characters, and most of Uhtred's "pretty boys" get lots of love on here, but not so much for Aldhelm. I don't know if anyone else will really care about anything on this blog, but it is honestly not why I made it. This is more for my own sake than anyone else's, and if anyone else gets anything out of this that is great too.
Tracking: #useraldhelm and #thelastkingdomedit tags! Please tag me in your creations! All 'The Last Kingdom' gifsets and edits will be reblogged to this blog, and everything else will be reblogged to @ladyaldhelm. I will reblog from any fandom; my only rule is nothing explicit.
Genre: Fan Fiction (The Last Kingdom)
Pairing: Finan/OFC
Warnings: Deadbeat Dad (sort of). Cheating. Emotional Abuse, Emotional Manipulation (sort of). Really pissed off kids.
Rating: M
Length: Multi
Disclaimer: a strict work of fiction, I own nothing except the original characters and the plot line. In no way am I affiliated to any of it.
A/N: For the record, Sihtric loves his kids. He's just given up on counting.
Catch Up Here
One week.
The boys would be arriving in one week.
Finan had gotten the text, a day later than Lina had informed him he would.
Typical.
He had sent her multiple texts asking for flight information, to be ignored, until the following day.
Once the boys were with him, Finan felt as though maybe he could relax a little. Not likely.
By the weekend, Finan had informed his friends that his sons would be spending the summer with him. Despite knowing that Finan had two boys, his friend Osferth always seemed to forget that detail. Most of the time, he also forgot at least two of Sihtric's kids names. A feat given how often he saw them, in Osferth's defense, Sihtric and his wife had six children.
“If they get bored, send them my way.” Sihtric laughed, stretching out his legs and leaning back in his chair. “We won't notice two more.”
“Do you even know how many you have?” Osferth asked with his head cocked to the side.
“Six, we have...” Sihtric informed, quickly going through the list of children in his head. “Yeah, six. Do you think I don't know how many kids I have?”
“You're the one who just counted through them.” laughing, Osferth shrugged and smacked Sihtric in the shoulder.
“What's the excuse that she's finally sending them?” Uhtred asked, cautiously.
“They seem to be struggling with having a new sister.” Finan answered with a shrug. “Not something they have to worry about with me.”
“So you say.” Sihtric snorted.
“Trust me, I don't make babies any more.” Finan scoffed. “Carys prefers it that way.”
“Carys is okay with them coming?” Uhtred asked, glancing at Finan over his sunglasses. “Assuming that you've asked her?”
“She's the one who told me that it was a good idea, I assume that she's okay with it.” Reaching for his glass, Finan squinted against the sun as he took a drink. Beads of sweat beginning to creep out from under his hat.
Why had he agreed to go golfing? He hated golf. He was lousy at golf. The previous evening when Uhtred had called and asked if he wanted to join, Finan should have declined. Instead he had agreed, meaning he had spent the better part of his Saturday walking around the course bored out of his mind. Whatever. They had finished playing through when Sihtric had suggested lunch at the club house, along with a cold drink of two.
The current and unusual heatwave was making this trip even less pleasant. Finan hated the heat. Designed to be a cold weather man, he constantly ran too hot and was always sweating like crazy. Osferth had opted to sit outside, because inside was too stuffy and formal.
Adjusting his posture, Sihtric reached out with tattooed fingers to grab his glass, condensation coating the glass. As an older woman passed by, her glare at the athletic dark haired man didn't go unnoticed. Sihtric was used to the looks, with his curls shaved on the sides and a tattoo that ran from his temple around to his neck. Charming, as always, he smiled at the lady.
“Lovely day, ma'am.” He gave her a nod and a wink. Two different coloured eyes full of mirth.
Osferth tried to hide his snort of laughter, as the woman mumbled something before scurrying after her friend. “Well then.”
“Ah, it will give her something to talk about.” Sihtric shrugged. “Do you think the boys will enjoy it here?”
Looking off into the distance, Finan shrugged. “I have no idea. The last time I saw them, we flew a kite at the beach, and then went home because Simon dropped his ice cream in the sand.”
“A fond memory.” Uhtred adjusted his sunglasses on top of his head. Cool blue eyes watching Finan, he scratched the back of his freshly shaved head, long thick hair was great until the summer heat came. If he kept part of his hair shaved, like Sihtric, it made having long hair nicer.
“I suppose. I worry that they're going to hate it.” Confessing his fears, Finan frowned.
Running a hand through his short blond hair, Osferth scowled, blue eyes narrowing in thought. The clean cut looking Englishman, often mistaken for a teenager at the ripe age of thirty, was about to embed his wisdom on the older men. Placing his empty glass beside his empty plate, Osferth softly sighed.
“I doubt they will hate you. Bamburgh, maybe. It's not really a happening or hip spot.”
“They're teenagers, they're going to hate you and Bamburgh.” Offering his advice as a father, with children similar in age, Uhtred smirked at his friend. “The good news is, you have Carys, there is a small chance they may actually like her.”
“She's pretty likable.” Agreeing, Sihtric finished his drink and placed the glass down. “We're here to help, seriously. Whatever you need, ask.”
“I appreciate that.” Finan gave him a nod. “So, when can I drop them off for the summer, with ya?”
Laughing, in good nature, about Finan's hesitancy over his sons coming to visit, Sihtric added one final piece of advice before declaring it was time to get out of the sun. There were six kids at home and he had to chauffeur the twins to a friend's birthday party this afternoon.
“Finan, it's like this, you know the mistakes that you have made. It's been long enough that there will be questions. Answer them with open honesty and humility. Talk to them about whatever it is they ask, the same way that you would with us or Carys. They need honesty and to know that you love them.”
Sihtric offered his parting words, with a firm nod as he moved his chair back from the table. Since he had picked Osferth up along the way, the younger man wished Finan well and gave a wave to Uhtred.
Leaning back in his chair, Uhtred looked at his phone. Two texts from Gisela asking if he could pick up their daughter, from her dance class this afternoon. Stiorra was the same age as Finan's yongest, Uhtred knew that for fact. Young Uhtred as his eldest son had been deemed, was a year younger than Simon. Coming in at seven years old was Osbert, Uhtred and Gisela's youngest. With a bit of luck and good timing, to ease Finan's mind, Uhtred was hopeful that his children would be welcoming enough to make the other boys feel at ease over the summer.
Informing his wife that he was about to leave, he would stop to grab the eggs she needed and their daughter before coming home. Tomorrow he had a full day with an open house, maybe one day Uhtred would retire from real estate? Unlikely, but he could dream.
“Do you want me to tell the kids about this?” He moved partially from the table, pausing to ask Finan the question.
“About Simon and Ollie?”
Uhtred nodded. Explaining that he could tell his kids, to prepare them, and maybe get some ideas or a perspective on this from kids in the same age range.
“Please. I would appreciate that. Once the boys are here and settled, ya will have to come over for dinner and a swim maybe?”
“We'd really like that. I'm sure Gisela would agree.” Standing from the table, Uhtred picked up his phone and fished out his keys. “Tell Carys that we love her, we wish you both the best of luck. I think you know that it's going to be fine, though.”
Would it be fine?
Everybody had the same outlook, everything would be fine, once the boys arrived.
Finan wanted to believe them, but could he?
Were things going to be fine? Were things going to work out? Were his sons going to magically settle in, having the best summer of their lives? Doubtful.
Driving home, Finan couldn't help but notice the abundance of families that suddenly seemed to appear. Over the last few days, it seemed as though everywhere he went the world was taunting him. Happy, on the outside, families with joyful looking kids and parents who looked as if they had never seen a bit of worry.
Meanwhile, he felt as though he was being eaten from the inside out, as he stressed about having his sons.
The nagging feeling that this was some sort of terrible mistake kept following Finan.
As if it were a sick joke. One where Lina had gotten his hopes up, only to tell him later that there was never an intention to send the boys to him. Or worse, they arrived, took one look at him and wanted to get back on the plane to Ireland. If that happened, he couldn't blame them.
He had, not always by choice, been absent for most of their young lives.
What he wouldn't give to go back in time, to see them as babies once again. Watching them grow, to be more involved. To teach them how to ride a bike, or throw a ball, or seeing them lose their first tooth. Finan had missed so much.
Parking his car on the curb, behind Carys' he cut the engine and sat for a moment. Self pity and embarrassment creeping in. How was he to face his children, if he couldn't provide them with a single decent answer as to why he threw it away?
If he could go back, the first thing he would have done, was skip having an affair. If he could go back, Finan would have been a better man and told Lina how he had felt. Instead he had wasted time and ruined lives. Details of his affair still haunted him, although Carys had known a large chunk, there were still a few things that Finan had been far too ashamed to tell her.
One day.
No. Today.
Opening the car door, he stepped out into the warm sunshine.
His mission : find Carys and tell her every last, terrible, and disgusting detail of his affair. If she packed her things and ran away, then it was another cross in which he would bear.
Finan had a thing for self destruction. Or so it would seem.
One evening, after a few drinks, he had opened up to Uhtred. Confiding in his friend, every detail, every regret that he'd made in life, in marriage, and as being a father. Never one to judge, Uhtred had listened, summing up what his friend had told him with one statement.
“If you love Carys, then tell her sooner rather than later. She deserves to know.”
It was then that Finan should have came home and told her. Not three years later and not simply because they were frantically trying to sort their lives out to be instant parents, to estranged sons.
Inhaling Finan locked the car and straightened himself out.
In his gut he knew this was bad. In his heart, it was the only way.
Whatever she said or did, he would take it and he would have no opinion of her actions. Whatever he received, he deserved.
Walking in to find the house silent, Finan frowned. Unless she had gone with somebody else or had taken a walk, Carys should be here. Wandering through to the kitchen, Finan felt his stomach lurch when he saw the patio door open. She was out back. Taking the steps as if his feet suddenly had weights attached, Finan stepped back out into the sunshine.
The gentle noise of water moving greeted him. Carys was taking a swim.
“There ya are.” Pushing his sunglasses to the top of his head, Finan smiled as he found Carys lazily making laps in their pool.
“Here I am.” She called back, slowly turning over onto her back, allowing the water to carry her. Watching Finan walk around the pool, his feet bare perhaps not his wisest choice on the warm stone walkway. “Good day?”
“It was a day.” he shrugged, standing for a moment to watch her float. Relaxed and happier than he seemed to feel. “My love,” Finan picked up the towel on the lounge by the edge of the pool and moving it, “we need to talk.”
“About?” Resting her elbows on the side of the pool, Carys looked up at Finan.
Looking at her sweet face, the hint of a smile that she wore, feeling the love radiating from the woman before him, Finan chickened out. Oh hell, he could wait another day to tell her everything. He'd waited this long.
“Are you truly okay with my boys coming, for the summer? If you don't want them here or...”
“Finan.” Carys rolled her eyes at him, looking up at Finan sitting on the lounge, as he nervously twisted her towel in his hands. “I want them to come. It's going to be good, I have a feeling.”
“I am glad that you do.” Blowing out a heavy breath, Finan adjusted his sitting position. Leaning to rest his elbows on his knees, he couldn't deny the sinking feeling. Agreeing to having his sons for the summer had been a risk, one which he was seriously questioning.
Moving around in the water, Carys hummed happily, laughing when her top smacked Finan in the side of the head with a heavy splatting noise.
“What the hell?” He picked up the black bikini top, dangling it from his finger.
“Why don't you strip down and join me?” Wiggling around under the water, Carys managed to get her bottoms off next, doing her absolute best to throw those out as well. Landing at Finan's feet, the black bikini bottoms laid in a wet heap. “Come on, the water is really nice.”
Unbuttoning the two buttons that he'd bothered to do on his polo, Finan stripped off the bright green shirt. Undoing his belt, followed by his shorts. Stepping out of his clothing, he stood on the side of the pool in his underwear, slowly pretending to turn away. Carys heckled him about being a chicken, complete with appropriate animal noises and laughter from both. Stripped bare, Finan held his breath and jumped into the deep end with a sloshing splash. Resurfacing, he pushed a bit of hair out of his eyes and swam towards the middle to meet Carys who was moving towards him.
Bodies meeting in the cold water, Carys wrapped her arms and legs around Finan, kissing his cheek and smiling. Goosebumps on his skin, he shivered, some how her hands on the back of his neck had made him colder. Cradling her, he kissed her face frantically between laughs.
“Okay, well now that ya have me and everything has retreated inside of my body, shall we call it even and head for the spa?”
“I just treated it, sorry baby.” Carys pouted and shook her head, loose blonde curls escaping the wet bun that had been holding her hair. “It's not that cold.”
“It's freezing.” Finan was sure his teeth were chattering.
“Then I guess, when we get out, we will have to warm up in a hot shower?”
“I love you.”
“I know.” Carys teased, kissing him briefly. “Ya know, when the boys get here, we are gonna have to start swimming with our suits on. At all times.”
“Hard ships of being a parent, I suppose.” Finan watched as Carys let go, drifting away from him in the water.
Another slow lap, Carys went to the ladder, pulling herself from the water. Finan watched her naked form as she confidently walked over to the lounge where his clothes and her towel were left.
Wrapping the towel around her body, Carys ran into the house. Finan waited, trying not to shiver too hard. Less than a handful of minutes and she reappeared in her favourite pool dress as she called it. A towel and Finan's robe in her hand with a pair of sandals in the other – god forbid he get his feet dirty and drag that into her clean house.
In the kitchen, the hot shower soon forgotten, as Carys pulled out a container of chocolate ice cream and two spoons, she smiled wide at Finan and took a seat at the table in the corner of the kitchen, beckoning him to join her.
“My love, I think we need to be honest about some things.” Finan spoke as he scraped his spoon across the top of the ice cream.
“Okay, what do we need to discuss?” Spoon half hanging from her mouth, Carys looked at him with those big eyes.
“Carys, I love ya. I truly love you, but I know that you've said a million times ya don't want to be a mum.” Finan started the conversation, again. When he had told her about his sons, the conversation that followed was the one where Carys confessed to not really wanting children. Yet, she was willing to take a chance on Finan and his boys – if the need should ever be there. “If ya don't want to do this with me then...”
“Finan,” Carys placed her spoon down on the table, reaching for his hand, “I don't want children. I've never wanted children and at thirty-eight, I don't think I am going to have children.” She smiled softly. “But it has never stopped me from wanting to meet Simon and Ollie. I took my chances on you, because I had a really good feeling. Despite what happened in the past.”
“The affair?”
“Yes. Not wanting my own children has no impact on you already having children. I want your boys here. I've even started to clean out the spare rooms for them. I wasn't sure they liked daisies or lilies.” She giggled. “We may need to repaint the pink room as well.”
“Uhuh.” Finan nodded with a slight laugh. “I love you and I just want you to be happy. I want the boys to be happy, and I want everyone to feel like they have a voice over this.”
“I appreciate that.” Leaning forward to kiss his cheek, she moved to sit on his lap. Arms around his neck, she smiled wide. “We all have a past, we can't change that. Mine comes with a fear of having babies and yours come with two sons.”
“Two sons, a bitter ex-wife, and another woman who probably wishes me dead.” Finan mumbled into Carys' shoulder. “Why do ya put up with me, my love?”
“Well,” Carys gently ran her hand over the shoulder of the soft robe that he wore, “I don't know. There was a spark? When we met, I remember looking at you and thinking that man is somebody who I could easily see myself with. Then you spoke and the accent sold it, along with your laugh, and then I got to know that big heart of yours. Finan, we all make mistakes.”
Shaking his head, Finan sighed and frowned. “No, I didn't make a mistake. I hurled a canon ball with a bomb strapped to it into my family and walked away.”
“Finan, sweetheart, I don't know what to tell you. I want to make this all better, but even now, I am still trying to figure it out. What I can do, is help you get through this summer. I love you and in time, I know Simon and Ollie will, too.”
Alfred never had to touch Uhtred to put that man in his place- I always forget the age difference between them until Alfred starts lecturing Uhtred, then Uhtred pulls that surprised hurt and ashamed look everytime 😭
