𝐕𝐮𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐦 𝐦𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐭, 𝐧𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬－𝘈 𝘧𝘰𝘹 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳．

𝖳𝖧𝖤 𝖫𝖠𝖲𝖳 𝖪𝖨𝖭𝖦𝖣𝖮𝖬
⚔️

"𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐔𝐑𝐃!" Uhtred had Skade moved to the walls of the fortress and since then she had not stoped wailing the same lines over and over.

"When can we bind her mouth shut?" Sihtric complained from where they all stood round the fire, trying to keep warm. Ingrid was sat under Finan's arm as she laid her head on his shoulder and luckily Leo had come to lay at her feet.

He decided to not follow the witch and instead be used as a foot rest for the two warriors he lay in front of. "Let her sing a little while longer," Uhtred said casually as he leant on the wooden banister with his thick cloak.

Ingrid couldn't see what was bothering them all sure she had a set of pipes on her but Ingrid honestly wasn't that concerned about all the racket she was making- it seemed her bear wasn't either.

"There is a king for you to kill!" She barked loudly and Osferth shook his head. "Bloodhair!"

"That is not singing."

Ingrid laughed quietly until Sigebriht came over in a haste, "Lord Uhtred are you going to let that woman wail all night?"

"Piss off boy she'll stop when we want her to stop," Ingrid all but shooed him away with the back of her hand. He grunted at her but none the less trudged back into the shelter with his head hanging low in embarrassment.

"You are a mean one," Sihtric mused with a hidden grin whilst Ingrid just shrugged her shoulders.

"Here's a bit of loose talk for you," Ingrid shut her eyes in utter defeat she still couldn't believe Aethelwold had come here willingly. The king of clowns had done nothing but irritate her with his false promises and lies.

He was going on about Edward and Sigebriht but she genuinely wasn't paying attention, her eyes felt heavy even with Skade war crying her chant.

"Can someone not just cut her throat?" He seemed to have made himself comfortable as he stood warming up his hands.

"Can you not just leave," Ingrid spat with her eyes still closed, "I thought I smelled something foul and," she sniffed the air, "rotten."

"With all do respect Lady," he held his tongue of insults back with Finan and Sihtric now staring at him harshly. "This information is crucial to your brother," she rolled her eyes even though they were closed.

"It's of no concern to me," Uhtred retorted back.

"They will make it your concern Uhtred," Aethelwold said quietly, "they will find a way and Edward shall become your charge. Your a king maker my friend and Alfred knows it."

Ingrid nearly gagged aloud when he called himself a friend of Uhtreds and hoped he didn't actually think there was any truth to it.

"I'm going on first watch," Ingrid stood and stretched her arms before hugging herself underneath the furs. Leo rose from the floor and sprawled out his limbs as well and Aethelwold jumped quite high. "What's the matter king," she mocked, "scared of this fur ball."

The men around her grunted out laughs as Aethelwold looked awfully pale, "don't worry he only rips off you arms if she tells him to," Uhtred added.

His sister looked at Aethelwold with a glint in her eyes and started to open her mouth when the blonde headed man retreated back into his dark hole. She laughed with them before bidding them goodnight knowing she would be up later than anyone else.

Leo came up the stairs with her and they both stood above the gates with Ingrid watching the scenery in front of her carefully. Though, Leo was sat to the right next to a set of stairs that lead down to Skade who was tied to the wood and simply stared at her.

Skade had stopped her chanting a while ago and was toothlessly smiling when she saw the large animal looking at her with no snarl in sight. She wanted to reach up and touch him but she thought Ingrid would not take kindly to that idea.

Her attention was stuck to Ingrid though she murmured under her breath and hoped the woman would look at her. Skade admired all of her from the muddied and blood covered boots to her dark raven hair.

"Hear it," Skade whispered.

Ingrid was still watching the trees when the sky was turning from black to a gentle blue with hues of orange in it. Yet, a tingle in her body made her shiver and it wasn't from the cold, she looked down to her right and met the blue orbs that had been imprinted within her mind.

She was looking up at her with a curiosity in her wide eyes and Ingrid didn't know what she was meeting her stare with. All she knew was that her breath had hitched and something in her stomach stirred the more she held the eye contact.

Ingrid shook her head as if trying to shake off a spell, "you men there, take her down to her cell. Let her rest."

"Good night my Lady," Ingrid tilted her head at her words and Skade looked satisfied with herself. She turned and sauntered away as if pleased that she was going back to the stone and iron cage.

"What is wrong with me?" Ingrid rubbed her hands against her face and kept them there. "Has she put a spell on you too?"

Leo looked utterly depressed, laying on his side whilst his eyes tried to follow the witches retreating form.

"Of course she did," Ingrid huffed before deciding that she would rest her eyes.

⚔️

Leo had woke up before her and stumbled over before licking her face, slobber coated the left side of her but it certainly worked in waking her up.

"Ugh! Get off you heathen," she pushed his face away but he only opened his mouth and coughed in her face. The smell made her instantly stand up and wipe her face free of saliva, "bleh you dirty animal!"

Sihtric had joined her on the watch but he also ended up sleeping as he was already tired from their journey. She carefully stepped past him with Leofric leading her to get food, he drank out of a large barrel- provided by Alfred himself and Ingrid made a plate for herself.

She threw a piece of pork at him that he caught between his teeth before she picked up another plate and stared at it for a second. Ingrid thought that Skade would want food she hadn't been fed since however long ago. 

Begrudgingly she plated up food and a drink for the woman and took a breath to steady herself before walking to the cell. She pushed open the door with her foot and walked down the small stone steps before opening the metal gate.

The seer was sound asleep with her hands beside her head as she slept on top of a fur, she hadn't heard Ingrid enter. Only when the soft clink of metal being dropped to the floor did she open her eyes in slight surprise.

Ingrid watched as she rose into a sitting position before once more setting her eyes on Ingrid as if she was studying her. "Why haven't you killed me? I'm worth more than just silver."

The Dane had to remember her breath before she looked away from her intense gaze and looked at her own rough hands, "eat."

Skade stared at her with a knowing look, "if it is me that you want, then have me." Ingrid hoped she couldn't her the gulp her throat made as her fingers reached out to brush the ones in her lap. "I will not object," Ingrid couldn't help but notice how low her voice went and had to stand up before she allowed herself to fall deeper under her spell.

"Just eat your food," she said as harsh as she could but something made Skade laugh through her nose.

"What are you laughing at?"

"Your bear," she pointed at the door to her cell that Ingrid had closed over only for their to be a bears head poking through the bars and he began to whine as soft as a bear could.

"Honestly- go! Go away!" She snapped her fingers at him and he looked at her for only a moment before moving his head back and hitting it harshly against the iron. That was all he did before he slowly walked back up the steps and out of sight.

"I think he likes me," Skade mused as she leant against the rock she'd been chained to.

"And I think you've put a spell on him with your voodoo magic," Ingrid grunted back to her.

Skade rolled her eyes with a small and cocky grin coming to pass on her face before she continued speaking, "you have not killed me because that will leave you cursed still."

"Yes thank you for that as well it really was a lovely way to introduce yourself," Ingrid might as well have snarled back but the blonde kept a level head.

"I do not regret the curse because now our paths are entwined and our fate is shared."

"Oh bloody hell," she looked to the roof as if to say why me before deciding that was enough talking until a rapid ringing sounded loudly.

"He's here."

Ingrid didn't look to see her face and ran up and out of the cell to see men running round, trying to ready themselves.

"Osferth prepare to open the gates, Finan and Ingrid with me and bring the bear," Uhtred commanded.

Finan and Ingrid looked at one another with a wide smile as they could taste a battle was about to come, "here Leo," she patted her leg and the bear was by her side in an instant with his jaw wiring ready.

Uhtred walked out in haste with Skade who had her hands tied looking as unbothered as ever even though she was being dragged.

"The gates!" He barked to Osferth who hurriedly opened them and the five walked out, Ingrid and Leo stood by Uhtred whilst Finan drifted to stand by the far left of them.

"Earl Sigurd! Kill one more hostage and I shall let every man here see her nakedness and then I shall spill her guts," Ingrid's head looked to her brother and she hoped he was joking but based on his face she couldn't tell.

"Do it Lord I'll see you in the next life," Uhtred shook her to try and force her to stop speaking but she was stubborn, "kill them all! Attack!"

Uhtred punched her in the stomach and she doubled over in pain with a loud groan, "what is your answer! I have a need to kill her."

Ingrid felt Leo growl lowly besides her and ran a careful hand through his fur, trying to rain him in before her brother noticed.

"He cannot kill me i cursed his sister," she just had to run her mouth for now Uhtred had lodged a kick to her stomach that made Ingrid wince slightly.

"You will not harm her again!"

Ingrid moved before her brother and grabbed the back of Skade's collar before slowly dragging her up off the floor and onto her knees. She felt the woman below look up at her but she was staring at Bloodhair, "after you killing two hostages the price has risen."

Her voice was demanding attention you couldn't help but listen to what she had to say, "you will not only release the hostages but you will send them across."

"What I'll do is-

"You have until sunset," she rose her voice to talk over him, "if you do not release them I will take your seer for myself and I shall have you fed to my bear."

Leo snapped his jaw so loud it made a sickening crack that made Bloodhair stammer in his stance ever so slightly.

"Until sunset," Aethelwold said and it reminded Ingrid that she needed to take his tongue.

"You will not see Valhalla! You or your bitch brother, I swear it Ingrid Ragnarson!" She was walking with Skade's arm in a tight grip who kept turning to shout to Bloodhair.

Abruptly Ingrid stopped and roughly grabbed her face in one hand, "will you shut up," Skade went quiet from then until she was returned to her cell.

⚔️

Their plan was mainly based on luck they were relying on Finan to gather the Mercians so they would have more strength until Alfred's men showed up behind them.

"We go and we do not stop! They cannot overtake us they must not overtake us!"

Ingrid was trying to get Leo to stay but when he saw Skade on top her horse with the rope in Ingrid's hands he went berserk. So, she just relented and hoped that he would be able to keep up but she had a feeling that he would have more than enough energy.

"For the freedom of Wessex!" The men cheered and that was it before they all left the fortress with hundreds of Danes trailing on their tails.

"The cart is stuck!"

Ingrid jumped from her horse and unsheathed her sword before cutting the reigns off of the horse and hit its legs getting it to move away.

"Go! Keep riding!"

Not long after they were at Fearnham, staring across at an empty field praying for Finan to have arrived with the Mercians.

"Your man is here, I know it." Skade said softly and Ingrid narrowed her eyes at her but it appeared she was right.

One then three and soon a whole army on with some on horseback but many with swords and shields strapped to them.

They all raised their swords with a battle cry and quickly ran over to the other side of the hill before forming a shield wall. Ingrid had Leo wait with Skade but it seemed he was already going to do that with her command or not.

"We stand our ground! They will come to us!"

"And then we take their heads!" Ingrid shouted with many hoots and grunts of agreements. It took only seconds for the Danes to charge at them with their angry shouts and swords ready.

Ingrid felt her shield arm going numb as she held the wall and used her sword to jab it into many of their eyes and open mouths.

"Finan!" She shouted when he fell to the floor and was nearly stabbed in his stomach, she sliced the man's head off.

"Get me up !" Uhtred heaved him up with one hand and with a horn blaring in the background the battle was surely there's for Alfred's arm had come.

"It's Alfred and his men!" Steapa was ahead of the arms barrelling in face first with shouts of bloodthirsty knights at his call.

Once the Danes had been sandwiched in between the two Ingrid kicked her shield away and set herself ready with her two swords. She never had to waste both of her swords time on one person as each hit was just as deadly as the other.

She saw more and more silver metal and less brown every time she looked up and it wasn't long before every Dane was running for their lives. She wanted Leo to tear out Bloodhair's rib cage but is seemed his time would be another day.

"Cowards!" She belted, "let us go home and drink till we drop!" She raised her swords in the air and all the remaining around her cheered with blood on their faces and swords.

⚔️

They rode into Winchester with people happy to see their soldiers return safe and happy but then at the front of her she saw Hild with a nervous look. Behind her a maid was carrying a very small child and Ingrid starting looking around, the smile still on her face, for Gisela.

Uhtred got off his horse with confusion but Ingrid stayed with the smile slowly fading but the grip on the rope that tied her to skade only strengthened.

She saw them talking and her brother started to look like he was trembling Hild brought him into a hug and her expression said it all. Uhtred looked behind him at Ingrid with tears in his eyes and bottom lip quivering, she would've froze if he didn't need her in that very second. He looked just like the child she once new only ten years ago and that was enough to make her instantly drop the rope and quickly walk over to him.

"She's-

Was all he managed to choke out before his sister brought him into a warm hug as he cried into her shoulder. She was facing the men and found Skade's eyes but was also met with a curiosity though, Ingrid's face was hard as if to say, you did this.

She pulled away from her brother and lead him further into the Kingdom, away from prying eyes and didn't spare the child one look. Ingrid did not hate the child but she had simply forgot he was there with Uhtred in tears, a sight she hadn't seen in many years.

She took him into her hut so his daughter and son wouldn't be able to see him cry, "It's alright," she soothed for as soon as the door closed he latched back onto her tightly. "She loved you more than anything,"Ingrid didn't know if anything of what she was saying was working but she continued anyway.

"It's okay Uht,"she swayed them slightly like she used to do when he was little- she was the oldest of the two. He didn't say anything for a long time until he did with a small and quiet voice, " she has been buried like a Christian."

"we can fix that."

⚔️

Under the cover of night Uhtred, Hild and Ingrid along with Finan snook into the kingdoms cemetery with a shovel.

It was time they give Gisela a true and honourable funeral instead of being left in the dirt with the insects to feast on her flesh.

"Wait," Hild said softly, "forgive is for disturbing the dead for this is an act of love."

"I'm sure he won't mind," Ingrid said in a bored tone and nodded to her brother to start digging.

The body was covered in a cloth like bandage that wrapped round her entire body, Uhtred carried her all the way out into a clearing and placed her onto a small wooden pyre.

Ingrid took the flaming torch from Finan with a nod before passing it to Uhtred who walked to his wife and set her ablaze. Finan wrapped an arm around Ingrid's shoulders and she did the same with his waist as they both watched their friend mourn for his lover.

She even often felt an envy for the love the two shared and she was sure their marriage was to last until death parted them. But death was to part them both, at the same time, when they were both old surrounded by their children's children. Yet, nothing ever comes close to the way you imagine it unless you are favoured among the gods.

Uhtred was certainly not favoured.

⚔️

"Oh what the hell, Shitric!" 

Ingrid returned to her home to find Skade tied to the table besides her bed, which the girl had claimed as her own as she sat atop it making herself comfortable.

With Leo.

"I'm sorry! She just wouldn't stop shouting and in all honesty," he walked over to her to whisper in her ear, "she scares me."

Ingrid rolled her eyes with an exasperated look before pointing at Skade with her thumb, "why did you put her with me?"

"Because she wouldn't stop shouting for you." She smacked a hand over her eyes and rubbed the sides of her head with her fingers.

"And you so easily relented," she laughed falsely and he looked to say something more but she interrupted him, "just go!"

Her tone made him nod his head with a small, "yep," before he quickly left and shut the door behind him.

Ingrid turned to the witch and in her brief look she casted her eyes to Leo who was being stroked whilst his head was in her lap. He'd barely fit on any smaller a bed but Ingrid's was large enough so the bear was able to stretch himself.

"What did you do to my bear?"

Skade shrugged with a coy smile, "your beast came to me I had no intention of meeting him," she looked down at the furry monster.

"Leo get down," Ingrid told him and pointed her finger to the floor. He lifted his head from Skade's lap and let out something mixed with a grunt and huff. "Get down," she all but seethed to him and he jumped down from the bed and walked over to the side where Skade was sitting before settling himself.

Ingrid held her tongue before looking at her as well, "get off my bed," she started unbuckling the belt that held her swords together.

She took off her cloak so she was left in her tunic and loose pants before Skade spoke again, "why should I when there is plenty of room?"

"Get off it, you can sleep next to the bear," Ingrid kept her attention to eating grapes when she heard a sigh behind her.

"No."

"No?"

"No."

Ingrid huffed before turning to face her with a new glare, "you took my brothers wife- you're lucky your not sleeping with the pigs."

"That was not my doing, it was fates," Skade defended herself and Ingrid shook her head at the word fate. "It is true! If it weren't I never would have met you."

Ingrid mockingly chuckled, "that is disagreeable for you are only here because you cursed me." Skade tried to get up only to remember she was tied to the table and sighed frustratedly.

"Because that is what fate decided," she snapped. It was quiet enough for them to only hear Leo's deep breaths that rang throughout the small room.

Ingrid wordlessly walked over to her bed, tucked herself under the covers and had her back to the seer. "Touch me and I'll cut off your hands," was all she said before closing her eyes and letting sleep take her far far away.

Skade stared at the back of Ingrid's head with her mouth slightly ajar though it soon morphed into a flimsy grin.

⚔️