"Your Highness." The faint voice of Charles rang in Alfred's ear. "Your Highness." It was strange. Why could he hear Charles's voice? "ALFRED!" With a stern shake, Alfred's eyes shot open. His breathing was heavy as he looked at the bearded man looking down on him.
He looked over seeing Chris being given treatment and slowly awoke. "Your Highness, what happened? You did not return for an hour. I followed your orders but you wouldn't awake." Charles asked in a concerned tone. Alfred grabbed his head as faint images flashed through his mind. His eyes formed an icy fury, one to rival the invading force's own winter. Charles saw the immediate change in Alfred and backed up slowly having never seen such an anger in him.
He looked down at himself. His clothes were loose and he knew that the memories he saw weren't false. His breathing quickened and his knuckles went white from how tightly he clenched them. Those who stood around didn't dare breathe too loud at the unchecked fury oozing off Alfred. Standing up he stood over Chris. He put his fingers on his neck feeling his pulse. He had to feel for himself he was alive otherwise he wouldn't believe it.
Alfred's breathing was erratic. He pushed past Charles leaving the hut. Charles was terrified by him right now. All the soldiers knew to be careful at that moment. To make a wrong move in that instance would probably cause Alfred to behead them. He wished to ask what happened but held his tongue. Alfred walked out, throwing up as soon as he smelt fresh air. His hands shook reaching for the wall to lean on.
Covering his mouth, he gritted his teeth. "i will fucking kill her." He quietly muttered under his breath. Charles heard the words as he silently followed behind. "Make sure the Royal Guard Commander returns safely." He saddled a horse and rode off leaving Charles behind escorted by the other Royal Guard that had come. He regretted not bringing them all now. He regretted ever dealing with Halfdan.
His grip on the reins tightened as he rode. He couldn't get the memories out of his mind. The powerlessness he felt. The lack of control over his body. The disgust over his body. He just wished to return to his camp and clean his body. He wanted to throw up every time the blurred memories of her face contorted into a devilish smile.
He had been stupid, arrogant or blind. He didn't know. He thought he had Halfdan under control or at least on his side. He worked with his enemy and tried to trust them, and their desires. He had wished to try and save the lives of as many of his men as he could. He didn't wish for them to fight 2-1 odds. He had prioritised the wrong things. He thought he had done everything right. He believed that the deal was good enough. But he was wrong.
In his sombre thoughts, Isra's face popped up in his mind. 'How would he look at Isra?' 'How could he look at his son?' He couldn't think straight. He just wished to return back home. He was tired, disgusted, violated. He wanted to feel Isra's embrace. But he didn't think he could let her know. He didn't think he could bring himself to touch her. What would she think of him?
He thought everything was in his control. Was it because the Safrids had a traitor that he thought he could get one here? 'How could I be so stupid?' It was a wake-up call. 'No. It wasn't my fault.' That devilish face appeared once more. Rage consumed him again as the reins tightened once more.
The entire ride back, the Royal Guard was tense. They watched their King's back terrified of him. They wondered in the back of their minds what happened in the hut. Some had ideas, but all were smart enough to not ever voice them.
Contrary to Alfred, Helga walked through her camp with joy in her step. Her hand held over her stomach as she thought about the far future. She couldn't wait to see her children have the world of man under their feet, her standing behind them and guiding them. Walking into a dark room, she saw a small man, chained to a wall. Halfdan smiled at her. Helga was surprised. It wasn't one of his fack ones. It was genuine emotion.
"I see you are happy," Halfdan spoke, his chains rustling as he made himself comfortable.
"As do you," Helga said with surprise. Halfdan nodded gently. "But how could I not be? He finally made the correct choice and accepted me. I will now become the Queen of the old and new world. My children will have the world under their feet. With their birth, I finally will bring about the Age of the Gods."
Halfdan looked at her. Her eyes were full of madness. Her delusions and fantasies seemed to warp her perception of what she had done. Halfdan knew that there was no way Alfred would ever accept her now- or forgive her.
"I'm sorry you must be kept in chains for now. After you helped me so dearly." Her tone with Halfdan had completely changed. Although she would never fully trust him, he had proven himself to be better than the other humans in her camp. Someone who knew how to give her what she wanted.
Halfdan wasn't oblivious to her change of tone. "It's fine. We need him to think that I did truly betray you. If he finds out I'm alive, we can say you're saving me for a special sacrifice." He spoke with indifference about the situation, whilst planni g his escape. He had lived through the worst as a child, living in a cell was nothing hard, especially when he was being fed and looked after.
"That's a brilliant idea," Helga said with joy. She had been so absorbed with her newfound joy, that she didn't even think to have one in celebration.
"That being said, you should probably leave," Halfdan said. Helga was confused not understanding why she would. "He will come. And he knows this world better than us. He knows how to attack these forts. And I don't think he will be too happy seeing you."
"You make a good point." Helga nodded in agreement to the statement, "He will just need time to calm down. I must prepare first, this is news that must be shared with both the mortal and divine realms after all." Helga ran off, not bothering Halfdan to say goodbye, leaving the chained man alone again. He closed his eyes, waiting.
Hours passed. Alfred sat at his desk. Chris was there behind him, unmoving. Charles sat before him, flanked by his Unyielding commanders. "We march tomorrow. I will purge them from this realm. I don't care if they are a man or woman. With their death, I will see to it that, that bitch and her heathen army never leave our shores. Their bodies will become the fertiliser for the next harvest." His voice was cold. His anger was masked as being composed but everyone knew otherwise.
Chris and Charles didn't know what to do. They had never seen Alfred like this. Sending his commanders away, only the three remained in the room. "Your Highness," Charles said softly. A hard glare was shot his way from Alfred. He didn't know what had happened so he made sure to tread carefully. "Maybe you should rest. You don't look well."
"Rest." Alfred laughed at the words. "I can't Charles. Not until she's dead." Standing up he threw the chair back. Chris dodged out of the way of its path, shaking his head at Charles's words. "I am in control Charles. I'm fine. You don't need to worry." His voice lost its anger, just a bitter tone. He spoke trying to convince him but to Charles's ears, it sounded like he was convincing himself.
Alfred walked out. Charles remained standing for a minute in silence. Chris took a seat on one of the free chairs. Looking at the loyal guard he was confused.
Chris shook his head and said quietly. "He won't get over it until he sees her corpse."
"What happened?" It had been eating at him what happened in the hut. He had his ideas but he would never voice them until confirmed.
Chris shook his head. "He was made less of a man." He wasn't sure but he could take a guess. Charles collapsed into his hands.
"fuck." Charles muttered. His mind spun, but he knew what to do, "We can't let this spread. No one can know." He spoke with an authoritative tone. "We must get the story straight." Chris gave an understanding nod. He knew that something like this couldn't spread. "We have to say it was an attack but His Highness and the Royal Guard fought them off. If anyone says otherwise we crush that rumour."
Chris knew it was weak but it was better than what actually happened. "Fine." Chris however thought about something else. "Hypothetically. What if a child was conceived?" Chris asked the dreaded question. Charles slumped forward shaking his head.
"I dunno Chris. We just have to solve that when the time comes." It wasn't the answer he wanted to hear.
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Hi everybody. I know there was some criticism to the last chapter and I also acknowledge I messed up a bit with it. I couldn't fit everything in the author's thoughts/notes as it was too long so I have put it below.
1: Alfred acting dumb- Tbh yes. Writing it seemed fine but after re-reading it, and then the criticisms I can agree. It played out better in my head and I apologise for that, it could have been executed better and not made him so out of character. I had always planned for Halfdan to arrange it, but I wasn't sure how he would cause it. I thought of kidnapping, being taken as a POW and a couple of other ideas, but it didn't seem possible for the other ways without bending the rules more than I already did with that chapter. This I messed up on and I hope you all see it as a one-off of forcing the narrative a little. Yes, it was out of character for Alfred but believe me, it could have been so much worse. I have tried to write it, I promise you.
2: It only happened for a new child- Yes and No. The plan when planning this arc was for Helga to have a child with Alfred, the way it happened was something I toyed with a couple of times when planning and this was the most interesting way to make the story, having her be the main antagonist. It was either this, variants of this way, or Alfred forced into a marriage by Erik with her. Helga was always going to have his child and that was something I didn't want to change. But it is not just a plot point to have a child. I wanted to have Alfred suffer trauma. Once again many ideas. I chose this way because as a character he has always been someone who is obsessed with control. He has committed many sins just to see that he has more. Having that stripped from him in the worst way possible is probably the worst form of trauma that can happen to him and affect him for the longest time, other than Isra or Edward being harmed grievously or dying (but I wouldn't do that yet, too early). I want Alfred not to always be this pragmatic, calculating ruler. Using little Alfred in his mind was one way to do it, this is another and I prefer this way. Feels more real.
3: Shock value sake- whilst no one has said it as of writing this, I can understand it is a criticism some of you may hold. To that, I would say no. Helga has proven herself to be absolutely deplorable and deluded in her actions. I created her to be the opposite of Alfred. Both have similar circumstances but use them differently (I mean they have the same bloody features how on the nose can it get). I loved creating her because she is someone, like Alfred, who achieves a special status within her world and abuses it for her own personal enjoyment, whether she means to or not (It is why I also made her an unreliable narrator). She was also an outlet I could use to write anything I wanted and it would be in character. I don't think this is out of character at all for her to r@pe Alfred as she is a sadist who believes she has the divine right to do anything and everything. As for shock value, I didn't write the actual scene that happened, that feels wrong to me, but also because sometimes writing too much takes away from the act. It is enough to imply what happened and have Alfred try and cope with it. If I was going for shock value, flaying Knut or eating a man's heart is more in line.
4: I have disregarded Alfred too much in this arc. I have focused on others too much and his coping with the incident afterwards was going to be his main focus, everything else involving him being a side plot for him really. I get that I have written him poor this arc and done him bad. I can apologise that I should focus on him more and I will. For that, I can apologise. Maybe I tried to write too many characters at once and failed some along the way. Anyone who is annoyed by this I can only apologise. I will try to rectify this going forward and do Alfred and any other character justice. I hope that after reading this you give it a chance still and see that I follow through.
Those were the main points I wanted to talk about as I think they are the most relevant. Once again, I realised I messed up but I hope you see it as a one-off.