The Saxon's that were still alive fled with Aethulwulf. Ivar and the Vikings cheered as they basked in the victory. Turning around in his chair, Ivar looked down at Kadlin. However she was not there.

"Kadlin" he called. But still there was no answer. Calling her name louder he could not see her, nor hear her. Nearest to him was Ubbe and Hvitserk who were celebrating the defeat of the Saxon army.

"Have you seen Kadlin?" he called out to them.

"No" they called back.

Ivar began to worry, sliding down from his chariot he crawled around to try find her. Ubbe and Hvitserk seeing him crawling around tried to help him locate her. Ubbe pulled him up on his shoulders so they could cover more ground.

After scouring the battle field, and looking over fallen soldiers from their army and the Saxon's.

"Ivar" Hvisterk called out to him.

Ubbe turned on his heel and ran towards where Hvisterk sat on the ground. Letting Ivar fall to the ground, he frantically crawled towards where Hvisterk sat. Expecting to see Kadlin there, he was disappointed to see she was not. Instead lay her bow, the one he had given her not too long ago. It was pressed into the mud, Ivar pulled it out and looked around. He noticed that the mud pattern changed up ahead, it looked as if something had been dragged.

"Over there" he called to his brothers.

Ubbe reached the area first and followed the mud trail, it went up a hill before the trail disappeared. Seeing a fallen Saxon nearby Ivar crawled up to him. He saw he was still breathing. Grabbing him by the shirt, he drew his blade and placed it to the throat of the man.

"The girl where is she!" he yelled at him, pressing his blade into the man's throat but not yet breaking skin.

Ivar was furious.

He was angry and himself, at the others around him who had failed to see her being abducted and he was angry at Kadlin. Why would she not tell him something like this was going to happen. He was angry at himself for letting her come, he should have tried harder than he did.

It wasn't just about the visions she possessed which had helped him immensely now but would in the future. Ivar had formed a bond with Kadlin, he had never been able to truly be himself around anyone before. His mother had taught him to be cruel and that he was better than others. His father rarely had time for him growing up, it was only due to the trip to England that had bonded them. His brothers, he was close enough with but still they did not understand. Kadlin showed him how to be cruel and kind but also open to the idea of someone loving him.

He had to get her back.

The man was speaking frantically but due to the language barrier, Ivar could not understand him. Pissed off at the situation in front of him. Ivar took his blade out and sliced. Opening the man up from ear to ear, thick, hot red blood oozed out of his neck and Ivar dropped the limp body to the ground.

"Argh!" He cried out in frustration as he sank to the floor.

Ubbe had brought his chariot over and helped him climb in. "To Wessex" Ivar called out, as he spurred his horse and chariot on. The men gathered their shields and weapons and followed behind.

Bjorn stood in front of the chariot, forcing Ivar to stop his horses.

"What do you think you are doing? I am the leader of this army Ivar. I give the orders not you" Bjorn spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.

Ivar's rage grew, "I don't give a damn who is the fucking leader Bjorn. They took her. I will storm Wessex myself if I have to" he yelled at him.

"You will not be by yourself Ivar" Floki said seriously, as he appeared to the side of the chariot.

"Will he Bjorn?"

Ivar looked to Bjorn. Floki was questioning Bjorn's leadership and they all knew it. Floki had been like a father to Ivar, but he had known Bjorn for much longer. Bjorn had grown up with Floki also, but not in the same way.

"Of course you are right Floki." Bjorn smiled angrily. "We will set off to Wessex at once. Ivar you will lead this part of the army and I will lead the remaining. Ride with me whilst we discuss battle plans"

Taken by surprise at Bjorn's request and submission Ivar spurred his horse onwards. When he was next to him, his older brother spoke quietly so no one else could hear.

"I understand why you want to get to Wessex. If Kadlin was mine I would be the same. But if you ever attempt to overthrow my leadership I will cut your fucking head off. This is my army, my rules and its my way"

Ivar curled his lip in disgust and anger at his older brother. Never had he thought Bjorn would be like this, perhaps the power was getting to his head. Well it was no matter, once Kadlin was back and Ecbert dead he knew that he wouldn't have to answer Bjorn again.

"Did you hear me brother?" Bjorn prompted.

"Yes" Ivar spat to him "I am a cripple, not deaf"

They rode in relative silence after they had discussed and agreed on attack plans. Ivar though of Kadlin, they had not seen her dagger on the ground where she had been taken. It brought a small smile to his face, Kadlin knew how to use that weapon very confidently.

He knew that she could throw with a near perfect aim and he had seen her slice open animals with a practiced ease, he only hoped that if it came down to it she would be able to use it on a man.

Kadlin woke sometime later that day. Her eye was swollen shut and her ribs hurt from where she had been kicked repeatedly. Trying to move she noticed her ankle was chained to the floor and she was in a cage, suspended over the ground. A flash appeared before her eyes. It was the same cage that Ragnar had been held in.

"Ah sleeping beauty awakes" she heard from beneath her. "Now the real fun can begin"

Peering down over the cage she saw three men. She felt off and wondered if perhaps she had been drugged as the room was slightly spinning, however that could have had something to do with the cage she was in. The cage started shaking as the men below her hit it with their swords.

"I want to see Aethelwulf" she called down to them.

"What's that girlie?" one of them called to her.

"The prince, I want to see him"

The pulled on the chains and her cage came falling down until it landed with a thud on the floor. One of the men opened the cage door and attempted to step inside. "Well I want to see you, come here" he spoke to her.

Kadlin had shivers run throughout her body. She did not want this, as the man stepped in to the cage she pulled her dagger out from her clothes and held it to her throat.

"If you take one more step, I will slit my throat"

The men laughed, the fatter one then responded. "And why should we care if you kill yourself hey? You are nothing. Brought her to be a toy of the new king. We can find another to amuse him, I am sure"

Her mind was reeling, Ecbert was no longer the king, he must have renounced his crown in favour to Aethuwulf. This would impact what would happen with Ivar and when the army arrived. She needed to get out of here, and with as much of her virtue in tact as she could manage. She did not want to be raped by anyone, let alone tortured.

Regaining her composure as much as she good she responded. "I wish to speak to Ecbert. Or so help me I will use this"

"Give me one good reason, why we should listen to you or care whether you kill yourself. You pagan whore"

"Aethelstan"

The man who had his foot inside the cage looked up at her. "What did you say?" he asked disbelievingly.

"You heard me. Aethelstan. I wish to speak to Ecbert, about Aethelstan"

The men looked at each other. It was then moments before that Aethulwulf had entered the room.

"Unchain this woman now" he called to the men. Whilst the men unlocked he chains, Kadlin tried to straighten herself up. When the shackles had been removed she noticed her skin bruised, bending down to touch it. It was sore and sightly swollen.

"Your Highness" she said to Aethulwulf grateful as she could manage as she tried to stand.

He lent into the cage to help her out taking her hand, helping her to her feet. Catching Kadlin by surprise, she graciously took his hand. When she was standing her feet wobbled, her ankles were sore where the shackles had rubbed against her skin.

"Can you walk?" he questioned her, almost as if he knew her answer.

Shaking her head in response, he picked her up and carried her out towards another room in the castle. She did not like being carried and to be made like a helpless little girl, but if no one knew how dangerous she could be she would use that to her advantage. Knowing that these same people had underestimated Ivar only months before.

He carried her to a room that was down a corridor. Trying to take in as much of the castle as she could. It was much nicer than she had imagined, or seen. Sitting her down on a bed, kadlin was unsure of what was going on.

Aethulwulf turned to the side of the bed and grabbed a wet cloth and tried to wipe over her injuries.

"Dont" she told him.

Ignoring her request he continued to wipe over her bruises. Cleaning off some of the dried blood that was on her skin.

"So, how do you know Aethelstan?" Aethelwulf asked her, Wow he got straight to the point she thought to himself. He continued to wipe over her injuries and Kadlin tried her best not to wince when he touched the sore areas. Although a woman, a pathetic, helpless woman would most likely cry. So she willed her eyes to look sad, hurt and scared as best she could when she responded.

"I know that he is dead" Kadlin replied sadly.

Aethulwulf nodded, "My father was told that yes. I know my son Alfred was saddened to hear of his passing and also my wife Judith. They shared a bond. You see my son Alfred, is actually Aethelstan's real father nd my loving wife was his lover. Before she became my father's whore that is." he spoke gently, but there was a sting to his words that sounded as if he deep down was hurt by his wives betrayal.

Kadlin tried to look shocked, but of course she knew all of this. Aethulwulf had reached a particularly nasty cut that was on Kadlin's leg. She had barely noticed that he had inched her dress up, as he bathed her wounds.

"Ow," she cried. "That hurts"

Seemingly obliviously to what she had said, Aethulwulf responded. "Yes, it did hurt to know my wife slept around with not one but two men."

"No sire, I mean Ow, you are hurting"

"Oh, my apologies. Is that something you would like to do?" he was not looking at her, but rather acting quite coyly.

Kadlin was confused, so she admitted it. "Something I would like to do? Well yes, I would prefer to bathe my own wounds"

He looked at her, his eyes meeting hers. He dropped the cloth, but had his hand placed on her leg. "No, would you like to be my mistress?"

Taken aback by what he had offered, Kadlin wasn't sure how to respond. "I um, ah" she stammered.

Aethulwulf tucked her hair behind her ear, and brushed her face lightly. " I know you are important. I saw you with the cripple. I can offer you much more"

At the mention of Ivar's name she tried not to change her expression. How she longed to get back to him. "And what can you offer me?" she asked as she moved on the bed slightly. Sitting the way she was, caused her hand to start cramping.

Unfortunately for her, Aethulwulf took it as a sign she was submitting. So naturally, he lent in closer. " I can offer you a comfortable room, my attention at night, lovely dresses, fine jewellery. Well and most obviously, I can walk. I can only imagine, how horrible it must be to lie with a cripple. I, can show you a good time. We could start right now" he kissed her gently.

Kadlin sensed that he was being very false, there was something else he wanted. "And, apart from my body what else is required of me" she spoke confidently. His lips had started trailing down her chin, and his hand moved to come up to cup her face lightly.

"Well, I would like to know the plans of the son's of Ragnar. Something that I am certain you know"

He had no idea how right he was. Not only did she know the ones the boys had discussed, she knew the future plans that they had not even dreamt of yet.

"And of course, I will protect you when the time comes and we must face Ivar."

"Sire, you have given me much to think on. Perhaps when I a little better rested and not so covered in bruises we could speak more?"

A small smile, came up to his lips. "I knew you were a clever girl. Now before I go and leave you to rest. You must tell me. How do you know Athelstan. Did you just use his name to get out of that cage from the men. I am afraid if you do not tell me, then I will not leave" he traced his finger along the edge of her jaw.

"Athelstan was my father"


Hope you enjoyed that chapter! Can't wait to hear what you think of the little twist about Kadlin's father.. Did you see it coming? What do you think will happen now?

Would love some feedback to see what you guys think.

Until next chapter - ~MortalMarquess~