May 20, 2022
for @morosemagick's Songs of The Unbroken challenge
quote from J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers
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for @morosemagick's Songs of The Unbroken challenge
quote from J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers
The Saviour Called Death
So this for Songs of the Unbroken Celebration Challenge from the lovely @morosemagick.
I will warn you, there is violence, blood, and character death in the story. Oh, and it’s for The Last Kingdom and includes my OC, Aisling, and the two cute little girls, Aoife and Caoimhe.
Enjoy
Aisling stood in the middle of the battlefield and closed her eyes. The sounds of screaming and men yelling were drowned out by the sounds of swords and axes hitting shields. She opened her eyes and looked around her. She spotted Uhtred and Sihtric fighting killing Danes further in front of her.
“WHORE!” someone yelled from her left.
Aisling rolled her eyes and took a step back. The Dane almost ran past her and by the time he stopped, she swung her sword and slashed him on the neck. She backed up more as he fell.
“Always with the whore,” she muttered, “I mean, you would think they'd at least try something new every once and awhile.”
She looked around more for Finan. He had started this battle beside her, as he started every battle, and Osferth behind them. Now, he was no where to be seen and she did not like it. She heard someone step behind her and ducked and dodged.
She moved quickly around the Dane and slashed with her sword. He went down. She saw movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned and went to swing her sword.
But she was not quick enough.
And the Dane's spear found a new home in her gut.
For a few seconds, Aisling felt nothing. Which was probably why she was able to slash and kill the Dane as he ran towards her. As she moved, the pain set in. She felt the burning where the spear head was in her gut. She stood there and her vision went hazy as she looked down. She knew she could not walk around the field with a spear sticking out of her.
She reached down and yanked it out.
“SWEET JESUS BLEEDING CHRIST!” she screamed as she heard, oh god I can hear it, her skin rip as she pulled the spear out.
Aisling fell to her knees. She panted and screamed. She could feel her chest tighten. She pressed her hand to her stomach and felt the blood there. She closed her eyes and panted and tried to stop the panic from spreading. She forced herself to slow her breathing.
Finan. I need Finan.
“AISLING!” she opened her eyes when she heard his scream.
She turned and saw him with Osferth. Both of them were running towards her. She pressed harder to the wound and began to feel hot. She wanted to lay down but she stayed on her knees. She dropped her sword beside her. She looked at the blue stone as it shone in the sunlight. I need to grab it again before I die. I need it to go to Valhalla. But Finan is Christian. Will I see him again? What am I thinking? I'm not going to die. Right?
“No, no, no,” Finan said as he fell to his knees beside her.
“Hold me,” she said as she slumped in his lap.
“Osferth, fix it!” Finan yelled as the former monk.
Aisling winced as Finan pressed her wound with his own hands. She looked at his face. It was covered with mud and blood. He was focused on her and the wound. He looked terrified. She grabbed his hands which forced his eyes to meet hers.
“Finan, grab your sword,” she told him firmly.
“Aisling,” he begged.
No, don't cave. Osferth can barely fight. Finan needs to protect him. “Look at me,” she said. “I love you, I swear I will come back. Do you hear me? I will get to live this life again, Osferth and the others won't. So grab that fucking sword and do what you do best; protect us.”
She saw Finan nod. She felt tears come to his eyes. He grabbed his sword and she moved herself from his lap. She moaned in pain and allowed Osferth to help lower her to the ground. She heard Finan scream in Irish something she could not make out. She heard him yell for Uhtred and Sihtric as well. Aisling looked at Osferth as he leaned over her and began to pull at her leather tunic trying to look closer at the wound.
“Os,” she whispered, “I'm not going to make it,” she said.
“You are going to be fine,” Osferth lied as he undid her sword belt.
Aisling laughed and cursed. “No, I am not. I can already feel it,” she grabbed his hands. “Promise me you will not let him die. Swear to me you will make sure he lives past this, past me.”
“SURROUND AISLING!” she heard Uhtred scream to his men.
“You will not die,” Osferth said. Aisling smiled. Baby Monk has finally found his voice. Too bad he is wrong.
“Shit,” she heard Sihtric say as he looked at her. “Aisling,” he said her name softly.
“Sihtric,” she said. She did not need to say more. His mismatched eyes met hers. He nodded. That was all that was needed. After all, Sihtric was not one for words, he was one for deeds. So he did not need to hear how much she loved him as a brother, he knew it, she had shown him as much every day in little ways and comments. And he would show her how much she had mattered to him by watching over Finan and taking care of him.
“Osferth, save her,” Uhtred demanded.
“I am trying, Uhtred,” Osferth said not using 'lord'. Because right now, Uhtred isn't the lord. He is my brother. And Osferth is as well, and they are all terrified.
“Try harder!” Uhtred ordered.
Aisling felt shocks zip across her belly and around her back. She reached out for Uhtred. He gave her his hand and kneeled beside her. She heard the Danes hitting the shields around her and Finan screaming at the men to hold. She heard Danes dying and Sihtric cursing every single one of them.
“Lille rød,” Uhtred said his voice thick and the tears coming to his eyes.
“Uhtred, this is not your fault,” she told him firmly. She cursed as Osferth pressed hard on the wound. She felt him tighten her sword belt around it in an attempt to stop the bleeding. She could feel the warm blood as it soaked her trousers. “I will not have you blaming yourself for this. I wanted to be here with you.”
Uhtred nodded. He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. He pulled away and Aisling saw his hand shake as he placed it on her cheek.
“I love you, Aisling,” he told her. “I love you and I will protect him from himself.”
Aisling nodded. She placed a hand on his cheek. She saw the blood it left behind on his cheek. Tears came to her eyes.
“I will see you again,” she said. “Not anytime soon though,” she added.
Uhtred laughed. He leaned down and pressed his forehead to hers. “What do you need?” he asked.
Aisling cried. He knows. Uhtred has been on too many battlefields not to know. “Finan, I need him. And he needs to be here for the end.”
“And you will have him.”
Aisling let Uhtred go. She turned back to Osferth. She reached down and grabbed the seax that Hild had given her all those years before. She shoved it into Osferth's hands.
“Aisling,” he started.
“Stop, you know as well as I do, I am losing too much blood,” she said. She took his hands and wrapped them around the seax. “You are a warrior, Os. I know you are. I need you to pick up the slack right now. You need to help protect Finan. After,” she closed her eyes and took a slow breath as the pain seemed to double and grow. It spread from her stomach, to her chest and into her pelvis. “He won't want to fight,” she finished opening her eyes.
Osferth nodded. He took her hand and held it. “I placed your belt around the wound but,” he stopped as tears rolled down his cheeks, “you are the light and heart of us, Aisling. You will be missed.”
Aisling nodded. “I love you, Os, and death saved me once,” she muttered, “maybe this time my death will save all of you.”
Osferth shook his head. “We'd rather have you than our salvation.”
Aisling let go of his hands and watched as he left. She turned and stared up at the sky. I wish I could see the stars one last time.
“Aisling,” she heard Finan's voice.
She turned and reached for him. Her vision was hazy again. She blinked her eyes and was glad that his face came into focus. She placed her hand on his bearded cheek. She looked into his brown eyes. Even know, they are so warm and loving. And he looks at me like I am the only person on the whole planet.
“No,” he begged, “please, God, no.”
“Hush,” she said softly. “God is not going to save me,” she placed her hand on his chest over his armour. “I will live on here.”
“I need you, Aisling,” he stated. “I cannot live without you. I have lost too much. I cannot,” he broke off and rested his head on her chest.
Aisling placed her hand over his head and stroked his hair. She looked back up at the sky. She heard Finan's sobbing. It was louder to her than the battle was. His sobs broke through the sounds of sword clashing and screams. She wrapped an arm around Finan's shoulders and held him against her.
“Thank you,” she told him. “Thank you for showing me what it was to be loved. God, Finan, thank you for putting up with me and for always being patience and loving me even when I never loved myself.”
“No,” Finan pulled away and looked at her, “we are not doing this. No, I will not say goodbye to you.”
Aisling grabbed one of his hands, the left one. She held it and ran her thumb over his wedding band. “You don't have to,” she told him, “I will come back to you. In a thousand years, I will be born again and I will find a way to come back to you. I will be back and we will have it all the next time.”
Finan shook his head. “I want it all now,” he said. “I love you, Aisling, not some new version of you. I love you.”
“And I you,” she whispered. She could feel the pain getting worse. Every breath burned. She squeezed his hand. “Swear you will live.”
“No,” he said. “I will be with you.”
“Uhtred needs you.”
Finan leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips. “I need you,” his voice echoed every hurt, every moment, every promise they had ever made to each other. His tears fell on her cheeks and mingled with hers.
“Honour me and our love by living,” she whispered. She cupped his face in her hands. “I need you to live. I do not need you to die for me.”
Finan's eyes looked into hers. He kissed her again. “I love you,” he whispered. “It will only ever be you who owns my heart.”
Aisling let tears fall. “It has only ever been you for me, Finan,” she answered.
She dropped one of her hands and grabbed her sword. She tried to lift it but she couldn't. She felt Finan's hand wrap around hers and he helped her lift the sword and placed it on her chest. She looked into his eyes. Her vision became hazy again. She closed her eyes.
“Aisling,” he whispered, “my beautiful dream made real. God, how I love you.”
And those were the last words she heard.
***
Finan's hand would not stop shaking.
It was his left hand that was covered in Aisling's blood.
His whole body hurt.
The blood stuck to his clothing and he was covered in a mixture of blood and mud.
But he stood and he watched.
Uhtred had offered the torch to him but he knew he would never be able to throw it on the pyre.
She looks like she is sleeping. So peaceful. Her rust hair shining. Even now, in the dead of night.
“Here,” Osferth whispered as he grabbed Finan's hand. “She would want you to have these.”
Finan didn't need to look at what Osferth had dropped in his hand; he could feel it.
Her wedding band and the Serpent-Breath necklace.
Finan's hand curled around the items and he squeezed them hard. He felt the little sword on the necklace stab him over and over but he did not care.
“Finan,” Uhtred said as he stood by the pyre with a torch. Finan could still see the bloody hand print Aisling's hand had left on his cheek. “Do you wish to say something?” he asked.
Finan looked at his wife, the mother of his children, laying on the pyre. Her sword in her hands, two silver coins on her eyes.
“Why coins, Momma?” Aoife had asked.
“To pay the ferryman,” Aisling had answered as she tucked her in.
“Ferryman?” Caoimhe asked looking at her mother.
Finan smiled and watched the scene from the doorway. Aisling looked so beautiful and happy as she told their daughters the stories from history.
“Yes, the ferryman that carries your soul across the river Styx. You must pay him or you will never make it across,” Aisling said.
“Momma, we are not Greek,” Aoife said with a certain tone that Finan had said on more than one occasion was all Aisling.
“We aren't but you never know,” Aisling leaned in and kissed Aoife on the nose. “Better to cover all your bases, right?”
“Right,” Caoimhe said.
“Finan?” Sihtric asked from beside him.
Finan blinked and looked at the pyre.
“I loved her,” he said. “I love her still. She,” he swallowed the lump in his throat. “She was our heart. She was my heart. My soul. My,” he paused, “my everything,” he finished in a whisper.
He saw Uhtred nod.
“May God keep and bless her,” Osferth added.
“Freyja, may you find Aisling and bring her home,” Sihtric added.
Finan watched as Uhtred turned and held the torch out. “My sister, wait for me,” he said.
Uhtred threw the torch.
Finan's knees gave out.
He fell to the ground on his knees and watched as his love, his heart, his promise of happiness, burned.
“Forever, Finan, I will love you forever. Freyja has made it so.”
He heard her voice echo in his soul.
Forever is a lie.
AN: Fantasy AU of sorts. This is my (admittedly late - sorry darling) entry for the amazing @morosemagick Sings Celebration! I’m so proud of your hard work and the excellence of your story! This will be part one of two (planned). It is yet another new OC.
Warnings: family magic feud and murder and chaos
AO3 if you prefer
My Masterlist
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Long ago, in ages past and when the world was still new, there was magic. Powerful and mystical energy that rippled and wove throughout the natural world. These ancient forces, these spirits, the elemental makeup of our world was abundant and open, roaming freely across the land. Man and woman were able to commune with the power, exchange with the spirits of the earth. The gifts offered up by the power of the natural world were received and revered. There was harmony.
There was balance.
But slowly, the power began to shift. Humans' respect and gratitude waned. And power did as power does. It tainted and it spoiled.
Too easily and with no regard, men and women bent the magic to their bidding. Where once their spells were woven in harmony and in congruence with nature, now the people of the world sought to dominate it.
The streams of power and ancient flows of energy became fractured under the strain. The spirits slipped away and began to hide themselves. The ability for us to reach out and touch the source faded from memory.
Where before there had been channels for mystic power in all peoples, now seldom were there ones born who still found the gift.
But so it had been for Liadain. As it had been for her mother and sisters before her. All were born with the blood of the mystics. Raised up to embrace and respect their natural talent for seeking and engaging the power. But she, Liadain was the strongest of her family, able to weave the elements and listen to the spirits as effortlessly as breathing.
Her mother knew there was a strength in her from the day she was born. Laying in bed with her newborn babe at her breast, she observed as an owl lighted on the window frame. Its large eyes staring at the child before bobbing its head as if nodding and flying away.
As she grew, Liadain could usually be found in the presence of an animal. Neighbors and friends would comment in hushed whispers, that it seemed almost as if the animals watched over the girl. They were not pets. They remained wild and free. But were pulled to Liadain like moths are drawn to a flame.
They kept vigilance over her and played with her. They observed as Liadain’s mother introduced her to the elements of the old age and taught her to weave the mystic powers. And they were awed when her skill and talent grew to surpass the others of her kin. As she reached her 13th year, Liadain’s powers continued to grow. And her mother’s smile beamed at her, on her name day as she proclaimed her now a woman.
So it was too, that the women in Liadain’s family were not the only ones blessed to still have power given from the elements. The brother of her mother, her uncle was also gifted in the mystic flows. Roarc fell behind none save Liadain in his mastery over the power. But where Liadain’s power over the elements shaped her magic as an ebb and flow of a tide, harmonious and congruent, but with capability for terrible power, Roar’s power grated in a push and pull for dominance. Roarc fell prey to the lust for power. Ever hungry for it, his rage swelled as he watched the grace with which his niece diverted the flowing stream. The easy set of her shoulders as she coaxed the buds to life along the vines.
In his rage, Roarc’s power grew defiled. Corrupted. A poison slid into his mind, whispering vile ideas and scheming evil plots.
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Liadain knew something was wrong as she stepped out of the eves of the forest. She felt it in her heart. As she felt the shift in Grey Lady, the shewolf who tensed at her side. The wolf was barely older than a pup, but already stood at a height with Liadain’s hip. More often of late, the creature had begun to leave her pack, seeking out the company of Liadain. Kindred was what Liadain’s mother had called their bond. And now the Kindred shared a fear that rippled up from the depth of Liadain’s stomach.
Across the meadow, a raven circled above the house with the thatched roof and rough stone walls. The raven’s presence alone was not unusual. But the foul stench of death settled in its wake.
Liadain’s breath hitched in her throat before she tried to steady herself. In unison, the girl and the wolf darted forward across the tall grasses, their feet thumping along the ground.
They crashed through the door only to shrink back in horror at the sight before their eyes. The entire home reeked with the odor of corruption and death. But not a drop of blood had been shed by her family. It was as if the light behind each of their eyes had been snuffed out. The breath in their lungs ripped away.
They lay still and wretched in their death. Her mother fallen in a slump to her knees and toppled over on herself where she had stood. Her sisters fallen over onto the table or collapsed on the floor. Margaid even looked as if she could be sleeping, were it not for her open yet unseeing eyes.
Grey Lady stepped in front of Liadain despite the whimper in her own throat, her eyes searching and scanning the scene for any sign of a lingering threat. But she did not leave Liadain’s touch, her body shifting forward the few steps while brushing along Liadain’s leg. Too shocked and heartbroken to think, Liadain never reached out for her powers. Not even when felt the hackles rise on Grey Lady’s neck.
And an instant later, everything went dark. And she knew no more.
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“Did you hear that?”
“Hear what?” Finan asked over his shoulder. He was out with Sihtric and Osferth hunting deer in the woods. They had been out since before the light of dawn and it was creeping onto midday. The air was crisp and cool. One of the first cool mornings of the summer that meant autumn was on it’s way to replace the oppressive heat. Everyone loved mornings like these. It was easier to get the days work done and tempers did not flare as readily.
That is unless you were out in the middle of the woods and had not spotted a single deer, nor any game save for a few squirrels all morning.
“I heard something,” Osferth offered up, pausing at the rear of their group and squinting his eyes to glance around, straining to hear.
“Something like..?” Sihtric spoke up from somewhere off to their right. He had stopped walking, his bow slung over his shoulder. He turned to glance at Osferth. The man continued to turn slowly around, listening for something and scanning the surrounding trees.
Osferth stopped his gazing around after a moment of his companions staring at him. He sighed and began walking again.
“It almost sounded like singing,” he muttered as he stepped past them, “like a woman singing.”
He missed the smirk that Finan and Sihtric shared behind his back. Sensing a chance for a bit of mischief, the two friends nodded at one another.
Finan cleared his throat, “Perhaps it’s the sorceress of the wood.”
Osferth stopped a few paces away and turned to stare back at Finan and Sihtric with a bewildered and unbelieving look on his face.
“The what?” he questioned, skeptically.
Sihtric situated his bow across his shoulder more comfortable, giving off an air of nonchalance as he replied, “the sorceress. She lives here in the forest somewhere.”
Osferth scoffed and turned to resume his walking, but stopped at Finan’s incredulous tone.
“You mean to tell us,” Finan asked, “that you haven’t heard anyone talking about the witch that lives out in the Eastern wood?”
“I have not the faintest idea what you both are talking about,” the young man replied as his two friends watched him with looks of shock on their faces. He was used to their good natured jibes by now. They were continually finding some innocent remark he made or using his naive understanding of the world to get a laugh. Always without malice and in the spirit of brotherhood. But as such, he had grown wise to many of their games.
“I will not fall for one of your jests this time. I truly did hear something, but I can’t be sure what it was.”
“Right, so it may have been the sorceress,” Sihtric continued the charade.
“Aye,” Finan chimed in again, “we’ve not seen hide nor hair of any game. Maybe we should turn around and head back unless we want to meet her.”
They turned to head back in the direction they had come with Osferth shaking his head and suppressing a grin when a peal of laughter broke through the tranquility of the woods.
The three friends all slowly turned to look at one another, eyes wide and mouths agape.
Another moment later, another laugh echoed off the trees. It was pleasant and warm, if not for the fact that there should have been no other humans near where they were hunting.
It was difficult to discern what direction the woman, for it was without a doubt a woman’s laugh, had originated. But after a few more moments, the soft melody of a gentle hum came wafting on the breeze to their right.
After stalking through the dense crop of trees, Finan placed a finger to his lips as he drew his short sword and met his companions eyes. Osferth and Sihtric nodded silently and drew their own weapons, crouched and ready to peer around the trees. They knew a hidden glen lay beyond just past their position. The sound of slowly moving water could faintly be heard from the trickle of the small waterfall into the large pool on the opposite edge of the clearing. The soft hum carried over the wind, mingling with the rhythmic sounds of the water. Exchanging glances, the men shifted only slightly towards the noise, eyes scanning quickly. But before they were able to move to look into the clearing, they were stopped by a voice and large grins broke out on all their faces.
“I can hear you all, you know.”
Standing up straight, the trio laughed and shook their heads while Finan called out, “Aye, is that so? And who might you be, singing so sweetly in our forest?”
All sense of caution lost, they broke through the underbrush into the clearing. Laying on her back, one arm resting on her stomach and the other folded underneath her head was a young woman. A large grey shewolf rested her head on the woman’s lap, her eyes watching the men approach.
Grinning, the woman rose up to sit and ran her fingers through the wolf’s thick fur.
“Just a traveler passing through. Hoping to run across some old acquaintances,” she chuckled heartily, shifting her legs so the wolf raised her head and allowing her to stand.
Finan reached the young woman first, enveloping her in a warm hug. He was followed closely by Sihtric who muttered in mock indignation, “mere acquaintances are we?”
Laughing outright, she hugged them back before turning to Osferth. The young warrior monk was kneeling and stroking Grey Lady’s head, while the shewolf nuzzled into him. He rose and Liadain hugged him heartily.
“You wouldn’t happen to be the mysterious Sorceress of the East Woods these two have been trying to fool me with would you?” he questioned her while Finan and Sihtric laughed loudly to themselves.
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Late the next evening, Liadain and Grey Lady seated around a fire with Uhtred, Osferth, Finan and Sihtric. The lady Gisela had also joined her husband and their friends to the woods that night, entrusting the care of their children to her handmaid for the evening. The air was crisp with a gentle chill that was displaced by their laughter and the ripples of light and heat dancing off of the flames. After more than a year since her last visit, Liadain’s spirit soared with a content happiness to be surrounded by her friends.
Finan’s strong Irish lilt carried across the entire clearing as he recounted and embellished on the abject terror on Osferth’s face the day before when Liadain’s song had broken through the trees just at the perfect moment.
“The baby monk looked ready to piss himself, terrified that the Lady Sorceress of the Wood was haunting our path,” he cackled while receiving a shove from Osferth, seated next to him.
Everyone around the circle laughed together at the antics from the two men.
“I am no sorceress, Osferth,” Liadain managed to say around her chortles before taking a sip of her ale.
“No, Liadain, not a sorceress, surely,” Uhtred sighed as his own laughter settled into a contented smile while he lay his head back to rest against his wife’s legs. He was seated, legs laid out affront himself on the grass while Gisela was perched on a fallen log. “But you do have the air of one who is touched by the gods, with all your mystery,” he continued on playfully, “and with your pet wolf who one could swear understands our tongue.”
As if to affirm his suspicion, Grey Lady chuffed a small bark at him from across the fire, evoking further laughter from all. Then the great shewolf leaned herself against Liadain’s gentle stoke of her muzzle before pacing in a small circle twice and laying down at her side.
Sihtric chuckled into his own mug of ale, “Our lord is right, Liadain. You are a mysterious wanderer with a wise, but wild animal companion. And,” he paused dramatically taking another drought off his cup, “we no nothing about you. Not who your people are. Not where you are from or where you wander to. You, Liadain, are a secret. Like the moon. A traveling celestial orb.”
“Someone has had entirely too much ale,” Finan cut off Sihtric’s rambling. “Is this how you speak with your woman in Winchester? It’s no wonder she sees you as easy money.”
“She does not”
“Leave him be”
“You have a woman?”
Liadain’s question jumbled with rest of her companions arguing over top of one another, all the while with good-natured smiles on their faces.
“You will do as your lord’s wife says, Finan,” Gisela spoke not unkindly but with the graceful authority Liadain had come to respect, “and leave the young man and his betrothed be. He is to be married to a woman he loves and as his friend, you are to be happy for him.”
Gisela’s words were spoken with a smile. One Finan returned sheepishly, nodding and attesting to the truth of her words.
Liadain opened her mouth to offer her congratulations, but was stopped short when Gisela continued speaking.
“And anyway,” the lady smiled meeting Liadain’s eye across the flames, “Liadain is no sorceress. And she is not a goddess. She is a Vargr.”
Liadain shivered as a chill crept along her arms. She stared at Gisela, a slow smile growing on the woman’s face.
Vaguely, out of the corner of her eye, she could see Sihtric nod his head at that word. Vargr.
Uhtred smiled and agreed with his wife, “a Vargr. That is what you are.”
“What is that? A vargr?” Osferth stumbled slightly over the foreign word.
“It is a wolf rider. A human who can share consciousness with a wolf.” Sihtric offered up, leaning forward, his arms resting on his knees and his hands clasped together.
Gisela spoke up, “It is a person who shares a bond with another animal. A bond so strong, the two can not stand to be parted. They feel each others pain and joys.”
With a wry chuckle, Liadain leaned closer into Grey Lady, “well then, I would say you are right, lady. I remember someone calling us kindred once. Perhaps in another lifetime,” but her words were full of jest and the rest of the group laughed along with her. And in another moment, they were turned to other laughs and other stories.
But Liadain’s gaze wandered upward to the clear skies and the twinkling of the stars overhead. What she did not tell them was that, in truth she did not know the answers to Sihtric’s questions. Who were her people? Where did she come from and what was it that kept her wandering, always with Grey Lady at her side?
The truth was that she had no knowledge of a life before her wanderings. No memories. No dreams. No gut feelings or intuitions. Only her name and Grey Lady. And the knowledge that they were bonded. Kindred, they two. Alone in the world.
The group continued to laugh and tell stories long into the night. And in the morning Liadain and Grey Lady took their leave, promising they would return, as they always did. Eventually.
Only eventually slowly turned into soon. And soon turned into often. And Liadain’s isolation, the aloneness, the curse that her uncle ripped across her heart and her soul that should have killed her, the curse that left a wolf without a pack, slowly the curse began to crack.
Ripples of the ancient flows tickled across Liadain’s fingertips. And without her knowing it, she would leave blossoming buds in her wake or a river's current would slip ever so softly towards her feet.
And though Liadain was unaware of the power reaching out to her once more, Roarc sensed the return. And he sent out his spies
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Songs of The Unbroken | Celebration Challenge!
Welcome!! If you're seeing this, it means I've finally finished my stupid long, Finan x OC, fan fiction, Songs of the Unbroken! After 200k+ words and 77 Chapters, I really wanted to do something to celebrate such a feat in a big way- so why not a challenge!!!
The Rules:
I will list the prompts below! Please let me know which one you wanna use!
All prompts used are Songs!Chapter Titles but you can use them however u wish. In an edit, as in dialogue, as inspiration, whatever you want!
oorrr if you wanted to use a quote from the chapter listed, that works too !
Only two people per prompt!
Please tag your entries as merniescc
The challenge is over August 31st!
The Prompts:
C.1 The Savior called Death @persephones-journey
C.6 Slave State of Mind
C.5 Lady of Nowhere @medievalfangirl @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie
C.9 Who We Are After
C.11 Oathbreaker
C.12 If Fate Allows
C.13 History of Touches @lauwrite1225
C.17 Cleansed
C.18 Together, as One
C.19 A Witches Curse @solinarimoon
C.20 At the Moon, She Howls @solinarimoon
C.22 Faces of Betrayal
C.23 The Jaws of Death
C.25 Beyond Blood
C.26 Hard Truths
C.27 The Way I Love you @persephones-journey
C.28 The Bastard Code
C.29 With What Trust
C.33 My Soul to Keep
C.37 Little Warriors @writingafterdeath
C.38 Roads Less Traveled
C.39 A Family Worth Fighting For @illjustgositinthecorner
C.40 In His Name, I Swear
C.41 As the Gods Make It @persephones-journey
C.43 Lead Me Home @mrsalwayswrite
C.42 Do Not Go Where I Can’t Follow @emilyhufflepufftlk @magravenwrites
C.45 For You, I Will Always @writingafterdeath
C.46 Whatever it Takes
C.47 These People, My Family @persephones-journey
C.48 The Winds of Change
C.51 Hold Me, The World is Changing
C.52 As He Bleeds for Vengeance
C.53 Where Our Paths Split in Two @writingafterdeath
C.54 Listen, Before I Go
C.55 Blood Runs Thinner Than Bond @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie
C.56 Men of Power, Starving for More
C.57 The Pull Between Heart and Mind
C.58 What We Spill Blood For
C.59 Death is Coming
C.60 Our Choices Seal Our Fate
C.61 Goodbye, Brother @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie
C.62 Guide Me in the Dark
C.63 Should We Go Our Separate Paths
C.64 What’s Another Dead Dane? @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie
C.65 What Death Does To Us
C.66 Places We Dream Of
C.70 Lead Me Home
C.75 a Promise of Peace
C.76 A Place to Rest our Swords
C.77 Songs They’ll Sing of Us
Tagging those I think would like to participate:
@solinarimoon @emilyhufflepufftlk @magravenwrites @lauwrite1225 @93xdiagonxalley @trenko-heart @illjustgositinthecorner @blah-blah-blah-bla @lizblogging @saint-helga @medievalfangirl @amuddleofnervouswords @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie
These People My Family
This is for the Songs of the Unbroken Celebration Challenge by @morosemagick
This fic is The Last Kingdom and it focuses more on Uhtred’s youngest son, Osbert and how he feels about Athelstan coming to stay with them. It also features my OC Aisling as well as some of the children OCs I have.
Tagging: @scarletvhope @emilyhufflepufftlk @medievalfangirl @93xdiagonxalley @blah-blah-blah-bla @lauwrite1225 @solinarimoon
Enjoy
“Osbert!” Finan yelled.
“Where the hell is that boy?” Uhtred yelled.
Osbert was up in the tree by the river watching his uncle and father look for him. And he was determined not to come down until Athelstan went back to whatever bleeding monastery would take him.
“You promised Aisling you would not lose him,” Finan said. The 'again' was left off of the sentence but Osbert knew it was implied.
Osbert took great pleasure in how uncomfortable his father looked at that moment. Serves you right. All you wish to do is spend time with Athelstan when you already have me, a son here who needs you.
“Get Sihtric and Osferth-,” Uhtred started.
“Sihtric is with the rest of the children and Osferth went to Winchester with Aisling,” Finan said. Osbert covered his mouth to stop them from hearing his laughter. Uncle Finan looks so annoyed with Father. It's worse than normal.
“Why did she need to go to Winchester again?” Uhtred groaned.
“Because you refused to go,” Finan said. “And you swore to her that you could handle both Ozzy and Mac,” he said.
Osbert felt a tad hurt at that. He knew that Mac was Irish was son. Osbert knew how close Athelstan had become to Aisling and Finan. It hurt because it felt like everyone was choosing Athelstan, the new shiny future king over him, same old annoying Osbert.
“What are you two doing?” Aoife asked as she walked out and joined them.
Osbert hid himself more in the tree. Aoife knew all his hiding spots just like she knew the hiding spots of all the children. With Storria gone, she was the eldest child and she took the job very seriously. Osbert also knew that she was hurt that Finan and Aisling would not allow her to join Storria in Daneland.
“Looking for Ozzy,” Finan answered. He looked at his daughter. “Where is he?”
Aoife shrugged. “I don't know.”
Osbert saw Finan eye her. “You are lying,” he said followed by several quick sentences in Irish. Aisling had taught him some Irish but Osbert could not follow what Finan has said because he had said it so quickly.
“Da,” Aoife started.
“No, where is he, Aoife?” Finan pushed.
“He is fine,” Aoife countered. “He is angry at the both of you. At everyone,” she answered.
“What exactly does the boy have to be angry about?” Uhtred asked.
“Athelstan,” Aoife answered. “He feels left out by his own family.”
“Left out? He is my son,” Uhtred stated.
“Sweet Jesus Christ,” Finan muttered. “Aoife, go get him.”
“Get him yourself,” she said and muttered something in Irish.
Osbert watched as Finan looked up. He cursed and turned to hurry down. He heard Finan yell his name as he reached for a branch. He put his weight on it and the branch broke.
Osbert did not remember the fall or the landing. He did remember his father's worried look though.
***
“Let me get this straight,” Osbert blinked his eyes and smiled when he heard Aisling's voice in the hall. “I leave you three alone for one day, one bleeding day, and Ozzy breaks his arm falling from a tree after you've lost him?”
“Rusty!” Osbert called from his bed.
“See? He is fine,” Finan said.
“Oh, we are not done here, husband,” Aisling said. Osbert wanted to move from his bed but he didn't because than his beloved aunt would turn her anger on him. “And you, Uhtred, we are going to have some more words about this.”
Rusty always knows how to put Father in his place. Uncle Finan says the only other person who could make Father feel that bad was Mother.
Osbert heard his father sigh and the sounds of Aisling climbing the stairs. He sat up in bed and waited for her. She walked down the short hall and walked into his doorway. She sighed when she looked at him.
“One day, Ozzy, I was gone one day,” she muttered as she walked towards him and sat on the bed.
Osbert wrapped his good arm that was not in a sling around her waist and held her close. He felt her hug him tight and kiss his head.
“I missed you,” he said softly.
“Hmm,” she stroked his dark hair. “And this wouldn't have anything to do with your instant dislike of Athelstan, would it?” she asked as she pulled away and cupped his face in her hands.
Osbert's blue eyes met hers. Father says we have the same shade of eyes, Rusty and I. And he is right. Many always believe Aoife is my sister because of how we have the same dark hair and blue eyes. “This is my family, not his,” Osbert muttered.
Aisling sighed. “Osbert, love, there is room in this family for both of you.”
“No, there isn't,” Osbert said. “Father spends more time with him and Uncle Finan and you do as well. He lives with you both and,” he looked away, “you call him son,” he whispered the last part.
“Hey, min søde dreng,” my sweet boy, “you will always have a place in my heart. You know that. No one will replace you in my heart or this family, Ozzy.”
“It doesn't feel that way,” he answered.
He let Aisling hug him close again and her fingers stroking his hair. “There is always room for another child, Ozzy,” she said softly. “And while it is true we are spending more time with Mac, it is not because we love him more. He needs us a bit more than you do right now.”
Osbert hugged Aisling tight and buried his face in her shoulder. “I need you more than anyone,” he said.
He heard Aisling chuckle a bit. “You are so much like your father,” she muttered. She pulled and looked down at him. “It is not a competition between you two, you know that right. I have enough love for everyone. I just won't give any to your Uncle Finan,” she joked winking at him.
Osbert gave her a faint smile. “Why did Father agree to take him?” he asked.
“Well, Mac needed us,” Aisling answered. Osbert knew she wasn't lying. She stroked his hair. “He had been taken away from his mother and father by Alfred. And even though now, the king is his father, he still has no one. It is not safe for him in Winchester.”
“So? He can go other places,” Osbert answered. “I don't,” he paused.
“You don't what, Ozzy? You do not wish to share your family?” Aisling asked.
“I don't wish to share my father,” Osbert whispered. “Father already does not love me because I killed Mother, I do not-.”
“Hey,” Aisling said. “Look at me,” she took his chin in her hands. “Uhtred does not blame you for that. And it was not your fault. Do not ever think that again. And if someone here told you that, I need their name right now because they are going to have to deal with me.”
“I blame me for that,” Osbert said. “Athelstan did not kill his mother.”
Aisling sighed. “Neither did you, Ozzy. It was not your fault.”
Osbert looked away from her eyes. “Than why can't my father not ever hug me or look at me? Uncle Finan does. Well, he did.”
He looked up shocked when Aisling let a bunch of curses in Danish, English, and Irish tumble from her mouth.
“Your father is an ass,” she said.
“Excuse me?” Osbert turned and saw Uhtred standing in the doorway.
“You heard me,” she said.
“I did and I do not appreciate you calling me an ass in front of my son,” he stated.
“It is what you are, though.”
Osbert watched his eyes going back and forth from his aunt to his father. He was use to them butting heads, Uncle Finan said it was because the stubborn gene ran deep in their bloodline, but he was not use to them fighting in front of him. He saw his father roll his eyes and rub his forehead.
“Are you done?” he asked Aisling.
Osbert saw Aisling smile. “For now,” she turned and leaned in. She kissed him on the forehead. “Your father is going to talk to you now. And he is going to be nice and not yell or I am going to come back up here and kick his ass.”
“Aisling,” Uhtred groaned.
“I love you, Rusty,” Osbert said.
“And I you, my little bright Ozzy,” Aisling answered. She kissed him on the head again. “Give him hell,” she said in Irish.
Osbert laughed and Uhtred groaned. “What did you tell my son?”
“Nothing that you wouldn't tell my son when going into battle,” she replied.
Osbert smiled as Uhtred shook his head. “This is not a battle.”
Aisling stood and walked over to him. She patted Uhtred on the chest. “To your son it is,” she answered. She turned and looked back at Osbert. “I will be downstairs if you need me. Do not sass your father, but do tell him how you feel,” she said.
“Yes, Rusty,” he said.
She looked at Uhtred. “And you, listen to him, Uhtred. Really listen, because if you don't, I will tie you up, put you on a horse, and sent you to Edward with a note attached to your tunic that you wish to make an oath to him like you did for his father.”
“You would not be that cruel.”
Osbert watched as Aisling leaned in. “Oh, I would. I learned from you, did I not?” she asked winking.
He smiled as she turned and left the room. He watched as Uhtred looked at him. Osbert watched as his father walked over and took the spot Aisling had just left on the bed. Osbert looked down at the blankets and did not meet his father's eyes.
“Do you wish to tell me why you ran away and hid from me?” Uhtred asked.
Osbert could hear the tone in his father's voice and knew that Uhtred demanded the truth and not some made up story. Osbert sighed. “I ran away from you because I did not wish to see you spend most of your time with Athelstan.”
Uhtred looked at him. “You know that Athelstan needs to learn the same things you do, Osbert,” he said. “He needs to learn how to fight and how to rule.”
“But why does he have to learn from you?” Osbert asked. “You are my father. And this is my family. I share you enough with the king and the Witan. I do not need to share you with another boy.”
Osbert was shocked at his own outburst. He saw that Uhtred was shocked as well. His father reached out and placed a hand on Osbert's hair and stroked it.
“Your aunt Rusty would not like you speaking that way,” Uhtred said softly. “You know that she believes every child needs a family and love.”
Osbert huffed. “I know,” he looked down and began to pick at the cloth that was his sling. “It's just,” Osbert sighed, “Rusty has always been there when you weren't. She loved me and cared for me. Her and Uncle Finan made me feel loved and safe. And now,” he hated how tears came to his eyes, “now they are too busy doing that for Athelstan. Uncle Finan even calls him Mac, which means son.”
Osbert looked up and saw his father watching him. Uhtred reached out and brushed his tears away. “I am sorry that I have not been the father you have needed. And I am sorry you feel like Athelstan is taking your spot and your love in this family. But I can assure you, that he is not. There is enough room and enough love in this family for both of you,” Uhtred leaned in, “your aunt Rusty would never allow it any other way.”
Osbert nodded. “Rusty tried telling me that.”
Uhtred brushed Osbert's hair again. “Your aunt, she did not have love growing up. But now, she has all of us. But,” he pulled Osbert close and hugged him, “I know that there are still days when she remembers all too well being that child who was unloved and felt unwanted. She would never wish for any child to feel that way, especially not one she loves so dearly and deeply,” Osbert looked up at Uhtred. Uhtred brushed his dark hair away from his eyes. “Have I ever told you the story of the argument Rusty and I had after you were born?”
Osbert shook his head. “No, you and Rusty do not talk about that time much. No one does. Uncle Finan says it's because you all miss Mother so much.”
Uhtred nodded. “That is true, but there is more. I am ashamed that for a time, I could not look at you. I could not bring myself to love you. And Rusty,” Osbert heard Uhtred sigh, “she refused to let you grow up without us. I would have sent you to live with Aunt Hild at the convent. Rusty told me in no certain terms that if you did not come home with us, she was not coming home with us either.”
Osbert was surprised. “But that would mean-.”
Uhtred nodded. “Your uncle Finan would have left as well. And Osferth, and perhaps even Sihtric.”
“So, Rusty blackmailed you into keeping me,” Osbert whispered.
“No, Rusty made me realize that you, one little babe, needed all of us. You needed your family,” Uhtred said softly. “So, I held you for the first time that day. And I realized I had loved you all along and that you were coming home with me, where you belonged.”
Osbert looked at his father. “Did you ever tell Rusty she was right?”
Uhtred smirked. “No, and I have no intention of doing so,” he stroked Osbert's hair. “Your aunt does not need the encouragement to speak her mind even more, does she?”
Osbert laughed. “No, she doesn't but I also don't think it will stop her from speaking her mind either.”
Uhtred laughed. “No, it will not,” he stood from the bed, “come downstairs. Everyone is waiting for you and you should eat something.”
Osbert looked at his father. “Is Athelstan there?” he asked.
Uhtred nodded. “He is.”
Osbert nodded. “I believe, I may,” he met his father's blue eyes, “I may owe him an apology.”
Uhtred nodded. “You do. And perhaps, you could also welcome him to the family. I am sure Athelstan would appreciate that,” he said.
Osbert nodded. “And Rusty would as well.”
Uhtred smiled at that. “I am sure she would.”
Osbert sighed. “Then let us go down. I am hungry.”
Uhtred laughed. “I thought so.”
Osbert smiled when Uhtred helped him climb out of bed. He walked beside his father and down the hall to the stairs. He smiled when he heard Finan's booming Irish brogue as he yelled at Raina and his twins to settle down. He walked down the stairs and laughed as Finn ran past chasing Raina and Nessa. Sihtric's youngest daughter, Tove also gave chase. He stepped off the last step and saw Athelstan standing with Aisling as she stroked his hair. Osbert took a deep breath and walked over.
“Ozzy,” Aisling said as she smiled. “How are you feeling?”
“Hungry,” he said. He looked at Athelstan. “I am sorry for how I have treated you,” he said.
“It is all right,” Athelstan said. “Rusty has explained that apparently there is an Uhtred gene that-.”
Aisling covered Athelstan's mouth and laughed. Osbert turned and saw Uhtred giving her a look. “It's nothing. Ozzy, Mac why don't you two go sit down?” she said.
“Yes, it would seem that I have to have some words with Rusty here,” Uhtred said.
Osbert nodded. He watched as Aisling dropped her hand from Athelstan's mouth and the boy walked with him towards the table. They sat on the bench beside it each other. They both turned and laughed as Finan grabbed Finn under one arm and Nessa under the other.
“I swear you two are more trouble than all the other children combined,” he said as he walked by.
Finn laughed. “As Uncle Osferth would say, we are your children,” he said.
Osbert and Athelstan shared a look. They both laughed.
“It is truly amazing we are still alive,” Athelstan said.
Osbert nodded. “It is,” he leaned in close, “Uncle Finan once forgot me and Caoimhe and Raina at the market in Winchester.”
Athelstan looked at him. “He did?”
Osbert nodded. “He did. But Rusty didn't find out because he bribed us with cakes after.”
Athelstan leaned in and smiled. “He gave me a dagger to keep without Rusty knowing after the siege in Winchester. I don't think she knows I still have it.”
“Finan, put them down,” Aisling said.
“I am not putting these wee monsters down. I put them down and they will run away.”
“Finn, Nessa, once your father places you on your feet, you will walk to the table and sit there with Ozzy and Mac. Understood?” Aisling said.
“Yes, Momma,” they answered.
“Rusty is the reason we are still alive,” Athelstan answered.
“Most definitely,” Osbert said. “Welcome to the family, Mac,” he said.
Athelstan smiled. “I am glad you will have me, Ozzy.”
“All right, why is it they listen to you and not me?” Finan asked as Finn and Nessa walked to the table and sat on the bench across from Osbert and Athelstan.
“Because they fear me and my wrath,” Aisling answered.
Uhtred snorted. “It's because she gives them cakes when you aren't around if they listen when she speaks.”
“Ah ha!” Finan pointed at her. “I knew it!”
“Lies, all lies!” Aisling answered.
Osbert, Athelstan, Finn, and Nessa all laughed. Osbert smiled and looked around as everyone gathered in the hall for the meal.
This was his family; they were wild, funny, messy, and most definitely not traditional in any sense of the word, but they were his.
And he loved them.
Hello again! Could I also get c.45?
Of course!!!! 🥰🥰
Congratulations my love!!!!
I am so excited and proud and happy for you finishing Songs!!!! Can I have the below prompts for your challenge?
Number 10 - A Witches Curse
Number 11 - At the Moon, She Howls
🧡🧡🧡🧡
YESSSS!!!
Two of my favorite chapters in the fic && chapter names period 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 I was very proud of those 😂
Can't wait to see what you do, Sarah 💜💜💜
Hey! It's Star. Congratulations on the epic accomplishment of 77 chapters for your fic. I absolutely loved it. I would love to join your writing challenge. I would love to do C. 37 prompt if that's okay. ♥ it would be posted on my side writing blog. writingafterdeath
Thank you so much 🥺🥺
&& Absolutely!! I cannot wait to see what u make 🥰