Trying to Ignore The Last Kingdom Men’s Advances Would Include:
For the past several weeks that Uhtred and his men have resided with you as they hid, you’ve been trying your hardest to keep the men from the young ladies when you should’ve been looking after yourself. Sister Mary had her hands full being an elder nun who often sheltered young ladies who were in need of repairing their reputation wherever they came from.
You yourself were not a nun but one that enjoyed the sheltered life and helping out others. As sister Mary would state, “might as well take the sacred oath.”
It never occurred to you that since Uhtred and his men arrived that he always tended to flock to your side. It caught you off guard that one of your girls nudged you and subtly gestured in Uhtred’s direction that you understood what she was hinting at.
Uhtred had his eyes on you. Not a lustful look but one with keen interest that scared you even more. Once dinner was over Uhtred was the one that volunteered to help you clean. You could feel him staring, making your hands shake in nervousness.
“Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?” He asked with the biggest smile on his face.
“I don’t very much appreciate the way you look at me the way you do. It is inappropriate.”
“It’s hard not to look considering you are very beautiful. Where else am I supposed to place my attention? Certainly not on sister Mary.”
You couldn’t help but stifle a laugh and tried covering your mouth with your hand once sister Mary looked over trying to oversee that nothing of sin occurred in her household. You cleared your throat and waited until the attention was away from you both.
“Flattery can only get you so far my lord Uhtred.”
He placed his hand over yours before taking the dirty bowls from your hands. “It’ll take me far enough.”
Uhtred and his men made it inside the alehouse. It was hard to ignore the group of men especially when they all looked over to where you stood and ended up pushing Finan to where you were.
Finan certainly was no stranger to the alehouse. You and him often chatted igniting the spark that you both felt but never acted on. You were a barmaid from a little town and he was a warrior that was constantly traveling.
It went nothing beyond the casual flirting whenever he came here. After serving him and his companions all night Finan had dragged you away from prying eyes.
“Come away with me.”
You looked at him and chuckled. It was so sudden that you thought he was joking.
“I think you’ve had too much to drink.”
“I haven’t. I swear on my life that you needn’t want for anything.”
The smile on your face dropped knowing he was serious. No one had ever offered to take you away from this place. It was all you’ve ever known but still, you would deny it.
“This is my home.”
“Take a look around. This place offers you nothing but little coin to get by. Come with me and you’ll see the world. Beautiful places beyond what you can imagine. Isn’t that your dream? To see the world? You can see it with me.”
Apprehension filled you. There was nothing more you wanted than to see the world with Finan but you hardly knew the man besides seeing him now and then. You saw men every day of your life at the alehouse and heard how they spoke. All men ever wanted was to bed women and move on. There was no commitment to anything.
Finan held onto your hands.
“If your fear is that I’ll abandon you, I won’t. I’ll swear it on my lucky sword.”
“Finan,” you whispered.
He unsheathed his sword and knelt down on the floor raising his sword up to you with both hands. “I Finan swear to you that I will honor my word. I will keep you safe and never lie.”
Your heart felt incredibly full like never before.
“Okay.”
Finan’s whole face seemed to light up at your answer.
“You need to stop with all the gifts and coins.” You stated giving Sihtric a serious look when all he was doing was smiling.
“I only wish to provide for you.”
“Why must you do so? I’ve done nothing to deserve such kindness nor your affection. It must stop now. I have children that I must take care of. I don’t have time to get into something that isn’t meant to be.”
He cocked his head to the side regarding your words. He didn’t seem bothered or phased by what you said. No, he looked more determined than ever.
“You think that’s going to stop me from pursuing you? Then you’re sorely mistaken.”
He took a step forward that made you hold your hands up to stop him.
“I have children Sihtric.” You spoke hoping that would deter him just as it did to other men.
“I love children.”
“They don’t very much care for strangers.”
“I’m very entertaining. I carry a sword and have plenty of stories to tell from my adventures. I think that’s enough to capture their attention.”
“You travel constantly. Even if you were to be in their lives they would miss you immensely.”
You were reaching by this point. Anything to try to distance yourself from this man starting to invade your life and into your heart.
“No matter where I go or for how long I will always find my way back to you. That’s a promise and I’m not one for breaking my promises once I’ve made one.”
Osferth barged through the doors of the church in what seemed to be a hurry. He breathed heavily and his eyes widened when he saw you smiling back at him amused by his actions.
He cleared his throat. You tried to hide your smile by biting your lip. You found Osferth to be cute and his nervousness around you was amusing.
“Pardon the intrusion, my lady. I was hoping to see father Beocca or Hild.”
“Neither are here but I am if you need anything.”
He looked down and shuffled his feet.
“I’m afraid it’s private.”
You smiled even more. Osferth was more than welcomed to confide in you after all you were the apprentice of Hild herself.
“Your in God’s house among friends. I’m offering guidance if you’ll allow me to.”
He seemed to debate it then sat down next to you visibly gulping.
“I’m afraid my thoughts have been impure as of late.”
His honesty caught you off guard at first. It was so unlike Osferth to have any impure thoughts considering he was one of the nicest and humblest of men you’ve ever met.
“Impure in what way?”
“I know I’ve made an oath to God when I was young but now there’s a part of me that is beyond my control.” You nodded and allowed him the time to continue. “There’s this woman whom is quite beautiful and whenever I’m around her I want to act on these urges I’ve been having.”
You took a deep breath trying to settle your own thoughts. Could this woman he speaks of possibly be you? It was bad to think so but you so badly wanted it to be.
“How far do these desires go?”
“All I want is to kiss her but in my dreams I’m,” he gulped before licking his lips. “Doing more than that. Then I wake up, inflamed, in need of relieving myself all the while my thoughts are of her still.”
“This woman in question,” you inquired. “Is she aware of your thoughts?”
He silently turned his head and looked right at you. “Now she does.”
Now it was your turn to appear as nervous as you felt. It felt as if your heart was leaping out of your chest and your body was hot all over. He was now looking at your lips and like a trance both of you closed the space between your bodies until your lips met.
It was all new and foreign to both of you. Purely from watching others embrace their lovers you parted your lips allowing his tongue to invade yours. His hand grazed your leg reaching higher.
It was all escalating until someone cleared their throat loudly. That’s when Osferth jumped from his seat and stood up clearly not helping the situation with his apparent erection appearing from beneath his robes. He seemed to notice it too and folded his hands before himself.
It was Hild who had walked in on you both but she stood quiet. Now judging with her eyes which to you seemed just as worse.
Osferth’s cheeks reddened. He quickly looked over at you before he departed past Hild who you knew would reprimand you later.
