A/N - I’m just gonna pretend nothing in Season 5 happened because my heart can’t take it 😭💔
Osferth x Reader
Warning - set in Season 5 but doesn’t really contain many spoilers
Massive thank you to @lauwrite1225 for proof reading this fic for me and for always supporting my writing. Your the best 💞
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Osferth watched solumnly across the table at Finan and (y/n’s) antics. She threw her head back, laughing at something he’d said, her green eyes sparkling in the candle light.
“You are an arseling Finan!” She declared, smacking the back of his head before standing up and moving towards the bar. Finan chuckled to himself before noticing Osferth’s expression.
“What’s on your mind Baby Monk,” Finan asked, slurring slightly from the ale he’d consumed.
“Nothing,” Osferth glanced down into his now empty ale mug, embarrassed that once again Finan had caught him gazing at (y/n).
“You must tell her how ya feel Osferth. She’s a good women and you deserve to be with a good women.” Finan looked at Osferth sincerely, “and she deserves a good man.” Osferth nodded solumlely without looking Finan in the eye.
“I just don’t think she feels the same and I don’t know how I could live with myself if she was in love with someone else.”
“Come on Osferth you have loved her for a long time.” Finan replied. “And she loves you.”
It was Sihtric’s time to chime in now, “Osferth when have Finan and I ever given you bad advice huh?”
“All the time,” Osferth groaned, placing his head in his hands. “Like the time when you made me go up to those Danes and tell them I would smite them. Or that you always get me into terrible situations like when we drank too much celebrating becoming Lord Uhtred royal advisors and then I had to ride out to raise the Mercian feuds.”
Sihtric sniggered, “that was quite funny.”
Osferth glared at him.
“Well sometimes we give good advice and anyway (y/n) is in love with ya. Your just too much of an arseling to see it.” Finan stumbled drunkly into the table, leaning over and pointing an accusing finger at Osferth.
“Don’t lose her Osferth, you’ll regret it.”
The Irish man regained his composure, patting Sihtric on the back before making his way over to the bar for more ale.
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“Lord, i uh, i need a little help,” Osferth asked sheepishly, turning so that Uhtred and Finan could see the scene unfolding behind him.
Two women were scraping by the hay barn, grabbing and shouting at each other.
“Again,” Uhtred sighed
“Come here bitch,” the first woman screamed.
“Right! Hey, hey! Easy, easy!” Finan called, running over to the women with Uhtred in tow.
Just then (y/n) came round the corner, she watched as the women fought.
“He’s mine! He’s mine!” The second woman cried.
Osferth looked around worriedly before meeting (y/n’s) eyes, the hurt look on her face broke his heart. Finan on the other hand smirked knowingly, his plan was unfolding just as it should.
Uhtred and Finan managed to drag the women apart.
“Why do they fight over you?” Uhtred questioned Osferth.
“I… I’m… I’ve got no idea, Lord.” With that Osferth turned and ran off, torch in hand.
The women both went their separate ways as (y/n) followed after Osferth.
“(Y/n)! (Y/n)! Please… wait… (y/n) please!”
“What do you want Osferth! And what was all that about?” (Y/n) demanded, waving her arm at the two women.
“It’s… it was nothing. I … I don’t know.” He stuttered.
“Didn’t look like nothing to me. It looked like you had two of the village whores fighting over you. You know I never thought when we moved to Rumcofa that you would sleep your way around the town.” (Y/n) scoffed, “and I thought you were a good man. I guess I was wrong!” Tears streaming down her face, (y/n) turned to walk away.
“(Y/n) wait please I can explain.”
“No Osferth. You don’t need to explain yourself. It’s your life and you deserve to be happy. You deserve a good women and I… I guess that’s not me.”
Osferth watch heartbroken as (y/n) walked away from him. I should go after her. I shouldn’t have listen to Finan’s stupid plan. Osferth berated himself. And now he had lost the only women he had ever loved.
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“I’m sorry Osferth. I didn’t think it would go like that. I really thought she’d react differently.”
“Well that’s the problem with you Finan, you never think.” Osferth snapped and immediately regretted it, the hurt on Finan’s face said it all. “I’m sorry Finan… I… oh god I’ve messed up. I love her Finan, I’ve loved her for so long…I”
Osferth let out a strangled sob, burying his face in his hands.
“Oh Osferth,” Uhtred began, “(Y/n) loves you too. You have both been too blind to see it. You must make things right by her. She deserves to be happy.”
“As do you Baby Monk.” Sihtric added.
“Now go get ya girl.” Finan slapped him on the back, sending him tripping forward towards the tavern door. “OSFERTH! OSFERTH! OSFERTH!” They all chanted as he made a hasty exit.
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(Y/n) watched the river flow by in silence, tossing the occasional stone in the wash of foam at the edge of the bank. She had tried to keep herself busy, tried to forget about Osferth but it was impossible, the pain ran too deep.
(Y/n) was so caught up her thoughts that she did not hear Osferth approaching.
“(Y/n)?” He asked cautiously. “(Y/n) I don’t mean to disturb you…I just … I need to talk to you… please.” He begged.
“Please Osferth just leave me be. Have you not done enough. Have you not caused me enough pain and torment.” She turned to him and his stomach twisted. Her face was a picture of agony, pale, tear stained cheeks. Her hair was in disarray and her lips quivered as she spoke.
“Oh (y/n).” He sighed and pulled her into a tight hug. (Y/n) let out a gut reaching sob, burying her face into Osferth’s chest, gripping tightly onto his robes.
“I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry (y/n).” Now they were both crying, tightly holding on to the other. All the emotions that had built up over years was finally coming out. Osferth tried to compose himself, pulling back a little and brushing a few strands of blonde hair away from her face.
“I love you (y/n) with all my heart, I always have. I’m so sorry about what happened, it was Finan’s idea to… to make you jealous in the hope you would admit your feelings to me because I was too scared to admit mine. I’m a coward, I’m so sorry.”
“You… you love me?”
“Oh god (y/n) yes, yes I love you. I’ve always loved you. You have my heart and I…” he places his hands on the side of her face. “I want you to be mine.”
(Y/n) kisses Osferth with a passion, trying to convey all their emotions, love, loss, fear, hope, everything. Osferth’s lips were soft (y/n) noted, they moulded to hers like they were made for each other. Her hands snaked around the back of his neck and into his hair, tugging gently. Osferth moaned into her mouth, deepening the kiss. He gripped onto her hips and pulled her body flush to his. They both pulled away breathless but elated. Smiling Osferth brushed his thumb across (y/n’s) cheek. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think this would ever happen. I love you (y/n).”
“I love you too Osferth, always.”
Behind them Finan smirked holding out his hand as Sihtric sighed, passing him a few pieces of silver.
“Told ya it would work.” He smirked.
“Finan what are you up to now.” Ingrith’s voice called as she approached. “Oh he has finally told her, thank goodness I don’t think i could stand another day watching him mope around like a dejected puppy. Bless them. Young love.” She said, gazing lovingly at her husband.
“Come love let’s go home.” Finan wrapped his arm around his wife’s shoulders. Sihtric followed them back towards the village leaving the young couple embracing on the river bank.
as much as it pained me to see him die, I have to admire the way it happened. not only from Stiorra and Sigtryggr’s end, but honestly? from Edward’s.
no other ruler or noble would have allowed Sigtryggr such dignity. not Aethelflaed, not Aelswith, not Alfred. Sigtryggr would have died a spectacle, humiliated and scorned, and would not have been allowed to have a proper ceremony to send his soul off to Valhalla.
but Edward allows the Danes to be present. Edward allows Sigtryggr to say goodbye to Stiorra, to choose his executioner and how he’s executed, and to hold a sword as he dies so he can enter Valhalla. Then he relinquishes Sigtryggr’s body to Stiorra and the Danes and allows them to have a proper ceremony for him. Sigtryggr is the only casualty despite dozens of Saxons being killed.
It’s tragic that he had to die at all (and I loved Sigtryggr’s character, please don’t get me wrong), but if anyone else were in charge, if anyone but Edward had been conducting that, Sigtryggr would have been humiliated. There is no doubt in my mind he would have died on his knees, swordless, unable to say goodbye, after being locked in a dungeon for days on end. There wouldn’t have been a single friendly face allowed in the crowd.
But instead, Sigtryggr was killed by a man he admired, looking at the woman he loved, looking at the Danes who were his people, among everyone most important to him. and that’s all due to Edward.
