The Red Queen (Editing)

20

Ivar had gone to talk to Alfred. After a moment, he looked back to you and waved you over

"We found your son. He has been taken care of, I assure you." Ivar said as you walked past the warriors and to where Alfred stood.

With tears of joy, Alfred grabbed his son and sighed in relief.

"You taught me how to play the game." Ivar said, showing Alfred the chess piece

"You play the game very well, Ivar." Alfred said. "It's been a long time since I've seen either of you. Our fathers died. All 3 of them. We all became royalty. But we still fight as our fathers did. I have a hope that there will be an end to this endless cycle of suffering and war."

"I agree." Ivar says. "So I propose, for your sake, that we end this battle now and we make peace. Exchange hostages. Negotiate in good faith. We live to fight another day. What do you say?"

"I have to reject your offer of peace." Alfred said. "You came here uninvited, unwanted. Your wife kills mine and you kidnap my son. And now you only sue for peace because you fear to lose. You don't really want peace, do you, Ivar the Boneless? You are a byword for terror all over this world. You do not see or feel the pity of ordinary mortals. No. You merely want to respite so you can regroup. Perhaps summon some other Northmen to your aid. Your only desire is to kill and triumph and your wife shares that desire. My god is the god of peace and love, but your gods are savage. They demand sacrifice. For them, human love is unknowable and weak. And you think me weak. And pliable. And cowardly. But alas, for you, you are totally wrong. Your gods have misled you. They believe that death always triumphs over life. But it is not so. Just as winter brings universal death, so spring always brings eternal life. And the sun also rises."

"So, that's a no?" You ask. "I wasn't sure. I thought you had more of a Christian care for your poor warriors. Listen, Alfred. You're outnumbered. The last of Wessex."

"Astrid, I have such a care for my poor warriors that I refuse to submit them to your subterfuge and your tyranny. They live or die for the love of god and for their own land. Why not just leave? Abandon the battle. Save your own people." Alfred said

Nose twitching, you pulled the white flag out of the ground and followed Ivar back to your people that awaited at the tree line.

With that, you moved back into the woods.

-

As the next stage of battle began, catapults were brought out as you all prepared to attack.

You smirked when you looked up to Ivar, seeing him smirking down at you.

"May Odin protect you in battle, my love." Ivar smiles, placing a kiss on your forehead

"I love you." You say

"I love you to. Now, would you like to do the honours?" Ivar grins

"Of course. CATAPULTS!" You roar, watching the men rush to prepare them

"LOOSE!" Ivar roared

The flaming rocks were soon flying through the air to attack the Saxon army

One hit the cross causing you to laugh as you bounced in excitement.

Banging your sword on your shield, you cheered for the bloodshed.

"CHARGE!"

You ran forward with Hvitserk and all your people following you as the catapults were reloaded. The Saxon army also began to run forward.

Shields and swords clashed together again as you collided with he Saxon men, shouting war cries or words of encouragement to your people.

Fire was exploding everywhere as the cannon balls landed in the battlefield. You laughed when you saw a man run past you, screaming that it burned.