Negotiations

[Kingdom of Wessex: Wilton]

Einar, Uhtred, Alfred and the rest of the men of Wessex set up in Wilton for the negotiation with the Danes. Waiting for an hour or more, Beocca, Einar, Uhtred, Leofric, Young Odda and Odda. Saw an army of Danes with Guthrum and Ubba at front leading

"It is Guthrum?" Alfred asked coming from behind the pair.

"Yes. You can see a bone in his hair. It's his mother's rib." Uhtred confirmed seeing the men lead by the path.

"How endearing. And the others ?" Alfred asked in the middle of the 2.

"It's Ubba. The big man." Uhtred just said, describing the other man behind Guthrum.

"The Chieftain Ubba is with them?" Alfred said looking into Uhtred's eyes from beside.

"You said he was in the North." Uhtred only said trying to get an examination.

"And now he is here... This is good" Alfred left from where came from, everyone went with him, Uhtred just looked at his back and Einar simply continued to look then join Uhtred when he leaves.

Getting into the tent after 5 minutes, Alfred was in the middle, Einar put his hand on his hips and stood between Beocca and Alfred. Uhtred stood on Alfred's right. Everyone else stood behind or at the end of the line.

Ubba and Guthrum walked into the tent, Ubba looked at both Einar and Uhtred. Standing opposite them, Guthrum asked.

"Are you Alfred, the king of Wessex?"

"I am. You are Earl Guthrum?" Alfred asked back.

"Yes, if you want peace, you'll have to pay." Guthrum spoke his mind immediately.

"And you are the Earl Ubba? Welcome." Alfred turned to look at Ubba and didn't answer Guthrum.

"Speak." Ubba only said a word to tell him to answer Guthrum without looking at him.

"In exchanged for an agreed amount of grain, livestock and silver, I propose that you and your ships return to Lundene and remain there." Alfred continued after seeing Guthrum sit down.

"I further propose that you confine yourselves to East Anglia, Mercia and Northumbria. Wessex is Saxon, and as such, out-of-bounds to all Danes." Alfred seriously told them his Conditions.

"We'll not be leaving Wessex. We only just arrived." Guthrum said not agreeing with Alfred.

"Then you will starve." Answering quickly, Alfred continued on.

"You have little food, no shelter and a weakened army." While speaking, a priest was writing all this down. Seeing this Ubba peaked at what the priest was doing.

"If you believe us to be weakened, why seek peace?" Said Guthrum looking up at Alfred from his seat.

"It's the Christian in me, the will of my God." Answered Alfred.

"Oh, I will hear no talk of gods." Ubba said looking at Alfred, he didn't want to argue of what God is true or not.

"God. There is only one." He looked at Ubba without fear and tried to correct Ubba.

"You will talk of grain, horses, silver and land." Guthrum stood up. Ubba talked moving his head forward to Alfred trying to force the convocations.

"I will not talk of land." Alfred told Ubba stopping him from negotiating in that area.

"What do they write?" Guthrum walked to the writing priest and asked while turning his to Alfred.

"They write what we speak."

"Every word?" Guthrum turned to Alfred.

"Yes, every word." Alfred said.

"Then may I say arse, tits, hump and turd." Guthrum said this while walking the other side, getting a chuckle from Ubba, who is sitting down.

"They record history. We are here creating history. People will read of this very meeting." Ubba not having enough said impatiently.

"I'm waiting to hear the terms of your surrender." Ubba whole upper body bent forward to Alfred.

"You will be paid for your return to Lundene. There are no more terms and there will be no surrender." Alfred shacked his head ones and Denied them believing the meeting was for surrender.

Standing up fast, Ubba said in an angered, serious and slow voice. "Guthrum, here, will not leave Readingum."

"Then I say again, he will starve." Alfred repeated.

"We will raid, we will kill." Guthrum said what he will do.

"And you will lose yet more men, is that your wish, Earl Guthrum, to lose men? Your surviving warriors may look to find a new Lord." Alfred was playing mind games with 2 Danes.

Guthrum just kept his eyes looking at Alfred's. "Did you call the meeting to insult me?"

"I offer peace, and I offer facts." Alfred only told Guthrum what he was thinking.

"His head and you can have your peace. Him..." Ubba turned his head to where Einar is standing and smiled. Walking up to Einar, both men looked into each others eyes.

"Friedrich Ragnarson... A traitor." Speaking the last words, Ubba lunged in to grab Einar and punch him. But Einar inter locked his left with Ubba's and sent a big head butt to his nose, breaking it. Sending Ubba tumbling quite a few steps, getting angry both men was gonna fight until Alfred shouted.

"Stop! We are here to negotiate about peace, not fighting."

Relaxing, wiping his should with his right arm like dust. Ubba got angry a bit seeing Einar's cocky smile. Looking into Ubba's eyes, Einar asked Ubba with a serious and descending voice.

"How would your father think Ubba, if he found out you was fighting against your nephew? He would be ashamed, would he not?

"Do not speak of my family, like you are part of it! You are a Saxon, A Traitor!" Ubba was enraged.

"I am a Saxon, I won't deny it. But, I shall not lie about my lineage, my mother is his daughter, making me his Grandson and your nephew. You can believe, or decide not to." Einar said these words with calmness, surprisingly for someone his character, he had anger similar to Berserkers.

"Einar here, will keep his head. But, I will give you a large sum of silver to leave." Alfred said understandingly.

In the end, the negotiation went kinda successful. The Danes agreed on Temporality peace between each other. Danes are not allowed to touch Wessex, but can take other kingdom's. Leaving on the ships to go away, standing on the hill observing the Dane ships was all of the people including Brida there.

Walking away leaving Brida, Uhtred, Einar and Alfred. Alfred spoke breaking the peace. "Uhtred... Einar..." Head movement to the other way to significant to speak alone. They went some distance away.

"I would never and given you up... To Ubba." Alfred said.

"There was at least some temptation in your head, lord." Einar said cracking his shoulders to stop the stiffenness in them after staying in the same posture for a hour or more.

"Not once. The fact is, I would like you and Uhtred to swear an oath, on holy relics, a years service. During which time you will help my warriors understand that the heathens are but men. And in return, in time, you shall have your own reward, Einar of East Anglia and Uhtred of Bebbanburg. One year." Turning around to say this, Einar couldn't care less all he wanted was Revenge and battle, but Uhtred took it very serious. Walking away speaking his last words, Uhtred didn't speak neither did Einar.

Time flied fast, making it Night time. In the same tent, the tent was shut with guards on either side of the entrance. Sitting next to Uhtred on the edge, Aelswith was in the middle, Leofric on the left corner, Odda on the opposite both Dane brothers. Beocca was next to Young Odda and the other priest were behind them.

Standing in front of them, Alfred paced back and forth, than stop at a halt. "They have been halted but nothing more. They are not defeated. Our task now is both simple and impossible. We determine what they will do next."

"Danes will do what they always do, attack." Young Odda the Coward said.

"How? Where? When? How many?" Alfred flew questions at him.

"We are suppose to be celebrating a peace, do we have to talk of fighting?" The hot Aelswith said, not liking the thing called violence.

"We do, my dear, because the peace will not last." When the word Dear came out her mouth, Einar peeked at her face that looked downwards showing sadness and anger.

"It will take a year, before they can gather a second great army." Einar spoke with his legs spread and body leaned forward seriously.

"Do we have your word?" Young Odda before trying act like a protagonist got shut by his father.

"Son." Odda spoke without no question.

"Is there any meat here?" Brida asked looking up.

"Why is she here?" Aelswith tried to let off some steam on Brida, Einar could tell he was the only Dane she can act kindly to.

"Brida is my guest." Uhtred Sounded out to Aelswith, he didn't care if his brother and her was having some flirty moment. He was not gonna take shit.

"You should have taken up the king's offer of a wife; a lady." Speaking firmness, taking a glance to see everyone's reaction. Einar looked at her with amusement but slight anger. Seeing this she returned to her timid self and started to berate her self for possibly causing Einar to hate her.

"What happens next, I believe, is that they will come by land and sea, they will split our army in two; possibly more." Alfred said sitting down.

"Now Einar may be correct, this may not occur for a year or more, but what is clear, is that we need ships." Alfred said while looking forward, and continuing.

"We are bordered by water yet we have so few ships." Hearing this, Odda said.

"You'll not get me in a ship. I'll volunteer my son."

"To save our shores we have to look beyond them. And to serve God, his word must travel." Getting no Amen from Aelswith this time, silent was replaced, than Alfred continued.

"Uhtred, the beasts, so the prows of Danes ships, they are a representation of their gods?" Uhtred replied to him.

"No, lord. They are just beasts. They can be lifted from their posts, so not to frighten the spirits of the land." Beocca gave a sarcastic remark and chuckled lowly.

"Spirits of the land."

"I would like to know why some of them make their own teeth into points." Leofric was curious, Aelswith asked with weariness.

"They do that?"

"Some, lady."

"God save us." Aelswith prayed.

"To show that they're aren't afraid. If they can inflict such pain on themselves, think what they would do to a Saxon." Brida explained looking in their eyes.

"We will understand them more by the day, I'm sure. Uhtred has promised me a year of his service and Einar will stay with us while Uhtred is of service." People in the tent gave different expressions, Beocca was happy for this taking glances at both lads, Young Odda didn't like the idea, Brida looked shocked. Aelswith looked calm, but Einar could see, massive amount of happiness for the stay of Einar.

"Is that so?" Beocca said.

"It is. It will be his responsibility to show our warriors how the Danes approach battle; the construction of their shield wall and the like." Alfred gave out Uhtred's command.

"Lord, if I may... The arseling here is barely a man, and you expect him to teach me how to fight? The taller arseling on the other hand, has the skills to show something." Uhtred looked at Leofric with a 'How can you compare me to him.' expression.

"Leofric, I expect him to teach you nothing. Whip him with staves in practice, by all means." Alfred said.

"Thank you, Lord." Leofric said with slight smile.

"But... Our lesser men, if they can know what a Dane knows, fear can be expelled with knowledge. Regardless how sharp their teeth." Alfred stood up and spoke.

Leaving the tent, Einar walked to his own living area in the forest. His horse had his wolf coat and massive one that covered the saddle. Grabbing them, he put the big one on the ground and wore the wolf skin. Laying down, Einar just looked up at the sky, seeing the stars. He counted them and behold the beauty from it. Sound of a twig snapping was heard, turning his head, Einar saw Aelswith in a slim dress shivering.

"I've been looking for you, Why don't you have a tent? It would be warm and better than the earth ground." Sitting next to Einar, Aelswith was still shivering in coldness. All she could think about was him ever since they met, all she needed was to be by his side.

"Come here." Grabbing her by the waist, Aelswith was a bit startled, but let him. She felt warm by the touch of him. Getting by his side, Einar put his fur coat around both of them. Her body leaned on him with her head snuggling into his chest.

"Thank you..." Aelswith voice was low, barely anyone would able to hear it, but Einar was no ordinary person. Aelswith didn't know how to feel, she was like a virgin around him. The both of them sky gazed with the warm of their body together.

"Alfred is a lucky man... To have a wife like you, any man would kill for." Einar just looked at the sky while he spoke in a honest tone.

"You are a Queen. Why than, do you cuddle up to a Dane?" Questioning her. Aelswith looked up to him seeing the dim light glow on his face, it was mesmerising.

"I do not know... You feel warm, comfortable and reliable to the such. The opposite compared to your fellow Danes." Aelswith said coming out of his chest looking at him. Suddenly standing up, Einar forward his hand to her, accepting it. Both of them stood up looking at one another.

"I'm not Alfred. I bask in blood and trials. My death will be cruel and gruesome, there is no doubt about it... Leave.... It is better that way, for us both." Einar may have felt a connection with her, but he knew that his life will be long. A cycle full of killing and protecting his close ones, it isn't a lifestyle to have a forbidden relationship.

All the words Einar said, hurt her. It seemed like her heart cracked in shards of glass, placing a sad smile. She asked hopefully. "Will we get to talk again?"

"I don't believe that is a good idea... You better be going before anyone notices you are gone." Giving her a kiss to the forehead. Aelswith unexpectedly jumped in his arms, hugging his back. Einar rubbed her back, coming out of the hug, she had tears in her eyes. Wiping them away with his thumb, Aelswith departed with sadden eyes.

[Kingdom of Wessex: Southampton]

"Stand Together!" Leofric shouted, standing in the middle of 15 men including him with wooden shield and swords. The men lined up in a line.

"Shields up! Shields together!" Uhtred shouted, all of the other 15 men opposite Leofric put there Shields in front of them for protection like a wall. Einar was next to Uhtred with his battle armour.

"Look them in the eye!" Leofric said.

"Closer together! Unbreakable!" Connecting Shields together, tightening the defence.

"Are we ready?!?!" Leofric shouted looking at the ready Uhtred and Einar. "Yeah!!!!" All the men shouted their lungs out.

"I said, are we ready?!?!" "Forward!" Both men shouted at the same time.

Leofric walking with his team smashing the sword against there Shields. Uhtred and Einar walked slowly with there Shields wall together.

"Kill the bastards!"

Leofric and his men rammed the shield breaking the formation. All of the men engaged in combat, Einar getting attacked by 2 men took them out easily with blocking there sword attacks, than when they needed to rest, he kicked one of theirs legs making him tumble than stamping on his stomach knocking the wind out of him and than smacked the blunt side of the wooden sword against the other Saxons head knocking him out without effort.

Trying this again many times, it went the same, Leofric winning against Uhtred and Einar shitting all over the men like canon fodder which they are. Stopping the battle to make the actual shield wall, Uhtred was Infront of the men with Einar leaving on his wooden sword that was stuck in the ground.

"Before the two walls meet, the first three rows of men act together to create a tall shield wall." Uhtred explains to the men.

"First row crouches lower, protecting the lower body and legs." Uhtred Placed his Shield to the ground covering his foot to waist.

"The second row reaches forward, protecting the upper body." Uhtred walked across the men placing his shield to cover his waist to neck giving an example.

"The third row leans in protecting the head of all rows of men." Uhtred put his shield over his head in front to also give an example.

"Shields up!" All men put there Shields side ways.

"Shield together!" Everyone put there Shields back to normal but in front.

"Shield wall!" Hearing Uhtred wack his shield for when to go. The first row covered the bottom, the second covered the body and than the third row placed the shield over the second row, covering the men that is at the front.

"I like it, arseling, I do." Leofric gave Uhtred a complement.

"Now kill the bastards!" Leofric shouted turning to his right and left. All of Leofric men ran at the wall with Einar and Uhtred outside. Arriving at the front, Einar grabbed the sword off the ground and drawed his sword fast slicing the first man then booting the other away, after that Einar grabbed another one by the head to the floor forcefully.

Watching all this was a person on a horse with robes covering his face and body in the forest hill by the side of the practice battle.

Couple of hours later, Einar, Uhtred and Leofric was sitting in the camp eating meet and veg made by a tavern. {AN: Don't know what you call places where they sell food outside.}

"Brida." Leofric just said one word

"What of her?" Uhtred asked eating a apple than looking at Leofric.

"I'm no seer, but I'd say she's unhappy." Leofric said opposite Einar and Uhtred.

"She prefers Danes over Saxons for company, nothing wrong with that." Einar said wavering his fork around, than taking a bite.

"She's been with the wrong Saxons." Leofric drank saying to both brothers.

"The Danes have a hunger for life." Uhtred explained.

"Don't we all?" Leofric question with a confused face.

"Alfred is more talk, than do. Danes are the complete opposites." Einar just said while drinking almost a whole jug of ale.

"Dislike him by all means, but never underestimate him. He is ruthless, and the man thinks, which is more than the Arseling or I could do." Leofric leaned in to warn Einar, taking jabs at himself and Uhtred.

"Leofric the Warrior,at I sit with you?" Interuppting the conversation all men look to the voice seeing a drunk Aethelwold with a mug of ale.

"No you may not." Leofric clearly disliked the bastard, his head turned away from him to the Kings of different Kingdom's. Aethelwold not caring still sat down.

"Do the monks know your missing?" Leofric asked him.

"Einar, Uhtred, this is Aethelwold, another arseling." Leofric introduced the child.

"Nephew of the king." Uhtred just said with a fruit in his hand and Einar, who didn't care to look up at the boy because he knew who he was and how worthless as well.

"No, I am not the nephew of the king, I am the king, but Alfred likes to pretend, and every bastard appears to be happy with the lie. *Chuckle*" Aethelwold speaking his bullshit of being the king, Uhtred just smirked due the comedy that he was getting from the boy.

"What are we talking about?" He asked.

"Alfred." Leofric only said, knowing where this was gonna go.

"He will not allow me to fight! Have I told you that?" The kings son put the mug down while he still had ale in his mouth.

"Many times." Leofric said clearly not caring.

"Well, it's true. He will not allow me to fight. I would like you, Warrior Leofric, to teach me how to fight, and I shall teach you how to..." Aethelwold said close to Leofric face thinking about what to teach him showing his worthlessness.

"Go on." Leofric said, than a woman came to the table and said.

"You will not forget to pay for this." The woman looked at Leofric and filled up his Mug with ale, taking glances at Einar. Almost every woman likes a hot guy even if they are married or not.

"Have I ever?" Leofric asked looking at her face.

"One or twice." She just said going away where she came from, Leofric just looked at her bum the whole way.

"Alfred was caught humping a nun once." Uhtred choked on the Ale he had in his mouth, Einar coughed and pounded his chest trying to get up the food that was stuck due to choking from hearing what he said.

"What I ought to do is slit his gizzard."

*Bang*

Slamming the childs head in the table making a big sound, Leofric said to the boy in threatening tone.

"Say that to anyone but me, boy, and you'll be hanged."

"You are hurting royalty." Aethelwold said urgently.

Bringing his body back up, Einar looked at the boy with a sneer, he already had an unfavorable opinion on the boy. "Your lucky Alfred isn't like me boy, he would of killed you immediately"

"God will not allow him. I like God." Aethelwold said.

Getting drunk and absolutely wasted. Einar somehow got to his hut and slept like a baby but woke up, puking his guts out. When he stop puking, Uhtred and Brida told him about Ragnar being here. Speaking and talking about random things, All three of them was sitting near a fire waiting for Ragnar.

"Uhtred Ragnarson is a good man to be." Brida said body hunched turned to Uhtred.

"Look at me. You owe Alfred nothing; to him your word means nothing, you're a pagan. Please..." Finally getting his head to turn, Brida tried to change Uhtred's mind. Uhtred only bringed her forehead to his.

"Uhtred Ragnarson can never become Uhtred of Bebbanburg. Never." Uhtred said these words while he had his forehead on hers. Speaking the last bit straight in her eyes.

*Rustling*

Hearing a Twig crunch, Einar stood up first than Uhtred. Stabbing his sword in the ground, all 3 went to the revealing man that is Ragnar.

"Did you both kill my father?" Ragnar asked.

"Do you need to ask?" Uhtred said steering at Ragnar.

"Did you kill my family?" Ragnar asked once again taking steps forward.

"He didn't." Brida denied.

"I'm speaking with Einar and Uhtred." Ragnar said more loudly, speaking Einar's name that was given by his Grandmother and mother.

"I won't ask a second time." Withdrawing his sword, Ragnar took more steps forward.

"If you believe that to be true. That I and Uhtred killed our father, mother and our family..." Einar stepped forward and took out his original sword that was given by his father in Bebbanburg from his back and threw it on the ground.

"... Take your revenge."

Still in the stance, Ragnar expression softened and put his sword back after a couple of second. "I knew it. I knew it. saying this, Ragnar bro hugged Einar, Ragnar went could barely do a proper one being 6'1 and Einar being 6'4.

"It was Kjartan and his half-bind son, Sven. Kjartan attacked and set the fire. Einar tried to save them and fought off all 40 men, but he couldn't save our family. He almost died but me and Brida came in time to save him." Uhtred Said from behind both men, Ragnar came out of bro hug and said.

"I knew it. I didn't believe a word I was hearing." Ragnar only said.

"We have Ragnar's wealth, we kept it for you." Uhtred stepped forward next to Einar.

"Einar, you have grown bigger, you might be bigger than your uncle. Brida... *Chuckle* Your a fully grown woman now!" Ragnar sized up Einar giving another bro hug and hugged Brida as well.

"I've seen this moment in my dreams so many times so many times." Brida said emotionally to Uhtred.

Sitting down until night time, Einar asked Ragnar about how he heard of him being blood related with the Lothbrok family. He simply said, "Word spread after your announcement in the meeting with Ubba and Guthrum. It gave me a shock to hear that, my own brother was the Grandson and nephew of many renowned people such as, Ragnar Lothbrok, The king of kings, Bjorn Ironside, The king of all Norway, Ivar the boneless and Ubba." Ragnar full heartedly accept and pretty much looked up to Einar after hearing this. He already did with the crazy strength and body he had compared to men. So being related to respectable people, who wouldn't.

"So Kjartan's story is that the English rose against our father, encouraged by you both. He claimed to have revenged himself for the killers. *Soft Chuckle*" Ragnar looked at both Brothers mentioning about them.

"Did you ever believe him?

"*Chuckle* Never. But he is Lord Kjartan now, he has three times the men and the ear of Ubba." Ragnar explained to them the current situation, silent stood in the air for some time.

"When I kill him, it will need to be planned." Ragnar said looking down thinking.

"We. When we kill him, I still am tormented and ruined with guilt for not being good enough to save our family." Einar spoke looking at Ragnar eyes with anger, Uhtred nodded with him, sometimes he had reminder of his inability to help his brother and family.

"It will be dangerous." Ragnar warned both boys.

"It must be done." Einar said without a second of thinking.

"Ragnar, we're with you." Brida joined in as well. Ragnar just smile at them and said with a happy tone.

"Then you will sail with me?"

Brida placed her hand on Ragnar's. "I will." Looking at the other 2, Einar just looked at Uhtred. Uhtred just at Brida and said.

"I have sworn to Alfred." Brida just shook her head and said.

"It means nothing." Looking at Ragnar for an answer, Ragnar just said with some seriousness.

"Well, if you have sworn... Then you must keep your word." Brida hearing this from Ragnar, took her hand away and sighed. She didn't like the idea.

Ragnar looked at Einar for his answer. Einar just said with a sigh then looking upwards to the stars.

"I won't be joining, Uhtred needs sometime to lean on, and I will be that person. He goes anywhere, I go along with him... But, I need this revenge. If I don't, it will just bring dishonour to my family and, my Ancestors. " Einar seriously said standing up.

"I swear as well, when the time is right I will also be with you. I need this revenge like I need water." Uhtred stood up with Einar, he spoke with seriousness like Einar.

"I know." Ragnar said, walking away.

Turning his head to Uhtred and Brida, he could see this will be there finally time until months, maybe a year will they meet again. "I'll go." Einar just walked away taking his horse.

Waiting for a couple of minutes, Einar saw Uhtred have tears in his eyes. They didn't speak while heading to Southampton. Until the very next day of Brida's departure, did he speak. Standing on top of a hill, sky bright blue, grass and trees covering the earth from where they on looking. Einar and Uhtred stood there looking at the Viking Ships of Ragnar's, leaving on water.

I take it she has gone then?" Leofric asked coming from behind them.

"I guessing that it's Alfred that kept you here." Leofric just look at the sea while saying this.

"I sold myself... For a mail coat and helmet." Uhtred just said.

"That's what we do, we sell ourselves." Leofric said.

"This year, what you're giving to Alfred; it's not about a mail coat, it's about you." Leofric turned to Uhtred while speaking, trying to get him to understand. Einar only looked to the sea while listening.

"The bastard thinks, didn't I say?" Leofric made a half-joke and half-serious comment. Getting no comment from neither men, he carried on.

"He wants more than a year's service, he wants you and Einar to take back England, all of England." This made Uhtred and Einar look at Leofric.

"Of course, when the year's up you could go back to the Danes, that would at least give me the chance to kill you both." Smiling at his Comment, Leofric questioned.

"But what would you be? Who would you be?" Leofric said these words and left.

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Had this half done yesterday but couldn't finish it for personal reasons. I'm not getting both Aelswith and Einar immediately together, we need drama and spice plus, that where Mildrith and Aelswith will know of each others connection with Einar.

They both could fight for him, try to share him like some king's, become rivals or expose to one another's husbands of there Adultery with him. Truly interesting routes I could take Tbf, but if I tell you than wouldn't it mess up the story.

Anyway, hoped you enjoyed the Chapter, Small Romance scene and drama. Keep giving me them Stones and I'll carry on with these daily uploads. I will see you until next Chapter, Bye!!! 👋👋👋