Disclaimer: I do not own the last kingdom. I am merely a fan of the series writing my own ideas of how this could have happened. The only thing I own is my OC Halfdan Halfdanson, or Halfdan Strong Hammer as he will be called.
Ch.1 The Norse King.
Uhtred rode into Winchester from Coccham. His wife, Gisela, was on the horse next to him as they rode through the gates. King Alfred had summoned them to form the Witan of Wessex to decide on the negotiations between Wessex and Mercia.
"My Lord," Sihtric of Dunholm spoke up from behind his friend and fellow former slave Finan, on the matter we discussed about me marrying?"
"You can Sihtric," Gisela spoke before he could tell him to remain silent on the matter until he had thought on it more," your lord will not deny his men their own happiness after all."
"Thank you, milady." Sihtric said falling back into line.
"I was still undecided on the matter." Uhtred said to her in a tone showing frustration more than anger at his wife making decisions on matters he was still thinking on.
"You would have allowed him to marry her," she responded as her husband helped her down from her horse, "why continue pondering matters you are already know the answers to?"
The Saxon born Dane smiled as once again his love knew his mind better than he did once again.
"Lord Uhtred" Steapa called walking down the steps to the palace, "My Lord King has asked you to join him in his study."
"Thank you Steapa, I shall go to him after my wife is settled with my sister," Uhtred said before turning to his men, Finan, Sihtric, see to the horses!"
"Yes Milord." Finan replied ordering some of the men to help them with the horses.
"I can find Thyra's home on my own Uhtred." Gisela said.
"Does a man need reason to walk with his wife?" Uhtred asked giving the Dane woman a side look as he offered his arm to her.
"Of course, not Lord." She replied returning the look as she hooked her arm through his as they began the short walk from the stables to Father Beocca and Thyra's house. Few members of the guard and the Wessex Fyrd hailed to Uhtred for his bravery in past battles as well as his recent victory over the brothers Sigefrid and Erik.
They arrived at their destination to find Thyra gathering firewood from the pile outside. Looking up to see her brother and sister-in-law approach and sat her bundle aside to embrace them. After his sister told him that Beocca had already went to the palace Uhtred left the women to the wife talk and went on to the palace to see his oldest friend and the king. Upon arriving at the courtyard as usual one of the guards took his sword Serpents Breath and escorted him to Alfred's study where he found the king and priest looking over some parchment as other monks wrote on different pages.
"Lord King." Uhtred spoke up gaining the other men's attention.
"Uhtred," King Alfred said in the usual way of both welcoming him while also being annoyed by his arrival, "As usual you arrive just before the Witan is set to meet and delay meeting with me when summoned."
"Forgive me Lord King," Uhtred said not at all sounding remorse in not coming straight to the king's side, "I felt better to walk my wife to Father Beocca's house to see my sister before seeing you."
"And how is she Lord Uhtred?" Beocca asked straightening his robes, "Your wife the Lady Gisela?"
"She is well Father," Uhtred answered honestly, "as are my children Young Uhtred and Stiorra."
"Good." Alfred spoke for the first time speaking about his children in light rather than of how he had not had them baptized and taught them his pagan beliefs.
"You wished to see me Lord King?" Uhtred stated.
"Yes, it is of news of Mercia, it appears Danes have invaded just upriver of Lunden."
"I have heard similar Lord King," Uhtred said, "but they are not Danes Lord, they are Norse."
"Norse?" Alfred asked looking confused.
'Yes Lord," Uhtred said "I remember meeting Norsemen during my childhood living with Earl Ragnar the Fearless, A Norseman named King Harald Fairhair king of all Norway came through Northumbria looking to recruit my brother and I into his raiders, but he refused as Young Ragnar was soon to set off to Ireland and I was still too young by his standards to go raiding at the time."
"Do you know anything else of these Norsemen Uhtred?" Alfred asked. Having recorded what, he had just told by Uhtred.
"My brother would know more Lord," Uhtred said, "He mentioned he had met some of them in Ireland during his raids there and how they are even fiercer warriors then Danes and just as stubborn as Irish and Saxon combined but are more likely to negotiate and live-in peace with local people on land they come to settle on to farm or live on."
"So, these Norsemen invaded a part of Mercia to settle on it to farm and what else?" Alfred asked.
"I sent men to the settlement already Lord King and they tell me that the place the made camp on is unoccupied by Saxon or Dane and have not made move to build on it and have been trading with Mercian farmers and stablemen for horses and grain mostly looking to either gain a founding of England to see who rules were and where there is free land to build on."
"I see so for now we shall wait on wither these Norsemen are intent to either invade Wessex." Alfred commanded.
"Of course, Lord King," Uhtred "I shall have my spies continue to watch the Norsemen and inform you of developments and changes."
"Good then let us proceed to the Witan to discuss the betrothal of my daughter to one of the young lords of Mercia."
"Of course, Lord King." "Yes, Lord King." Both Uhtred and Beocca said following King Alfred to the Great Hall where the rest of the Ealdormen of Wessex had gathered for the Witan.
After taking a seat Uhtred listened halfheartedly as the other Ealdormen talked in circles between a young lord named Aethelred and another Lordling whose name he hardly felt need of remembering when the doors suddenly burst open as a guard stumbled in."
"Lord we tried to stop him but…" one of the guards started to say before the man spoke.
"My lord I come from Mercia with news." The man gasped out trying to regain his breathing.
"Well, what has happened man speak up." Odda said standing from his seat.
"Lord the Mercian Witan had been gathered to put a name forth for the betrothal for Princess Aethelflaed when the Aylesbury was attacked and every member of the Witan was put on their knees by a man named Halfdan Strong Hammer and, he told us how the Ealdormen of Mercia had been stealing from its people and executed them Lord."
"I had heard of the Strong Hammer Lord King," Uhtred spoke up, "He is the leader of the Norsemen we were discussing earlier."
"And you failed to mention his name why Ealdorman Uhtred?" Alfred asked.
"I did not think it important at the time Lord," Uhtred answered, "Since we were unsure if they were planning to raid in Wessex or head to East Anglia or Northumbria at the time Lord."
Alfred had to nod at Uhtred's reasoning before the man spoke up again.
"Lord King," the man started to say, "Lord Halfdan Strong Hammer has declared himself to be King of all Mercia and said that you were invited you to Aylesbury for peace talks."
"Steapa, take this man to the inn, feed him and give him ale." Alfred ordered.
"Yes milord." Steapa said leading the man from the hall.
"It appears Lord King that the Norsemen mean to stay in Mercia and negotiate with us." Odda said.
"Lord I suggest we ride to Aylesbury to Meet this now crowned King Halfdan and speak with him." Uhtred said.
"I agree with the Ealdorman Uhtred Lord." Beocca said.
"Very well," Alfred said standing from his throne, "Uhtred, Odda and Father Beocca you will accompany myself and my guard to Aylesbury to meet this Halfdan Strong Hammer to access his intentions."
Understood Lord King." The three men said in compliance to the king's order, but Uhtred felt that this was the beginning of the gods will in his life and the lives of his family and men.
AN i wnet back and edited the 1st 2 chapters starting by changing my OC's name due to confusion with my friend and editors on the pronunciation. will get CH 3 up ASAP. Skal and thanks for waiting.