Chapter Text
Chapter 1
Uhtred: "You cannot sentence him to death. He is useful. The Danes will get out of control if you do."
Edward "The danes are already out of control now. Can't you See what they have done?"
Uhtred: "They did it because they believed that you started it. They protected their reputation, their land, their people. And especially after what happened with Brida..."
Edward: "What Happened with Brida is unfortunate but IT IS Not my doing."
Uhtred: "But Athelhelm is yours.."
Edward:" I never ordered nor wanted him to do such a Thing."
Uhtred was raging now, not letting the other man finish:" But you should have prevented IT. You should have hindered him to do such an outrageous Desaster. He was under your demand,your Control , except that He was Not. Which is a sign for your weakness. Your failure"
Edward raging now too: "Uhtred, don' t push me too far."
But Uhtred could not stop there.Desperate saving the man his daughter loved, fearing not only that she might never forgive him for interacting, for bringing to Edwards' Army there to win the fight that otherwise would have been won by her husband, but also afraid she might never be whole again due to losing him like he was when losing her mother.
So he said : "Lord, please. Look at what happened and how IT could have been prevailed. It is not only Sigtryggr's fault. He can be useful. He is useful. He kept the Peace for all those years. He accepts the Saxons and their Religion and supports them in his own land. But he also gives the danes what they want. He makes a compromise in his own land which otherwise will not exist. There will be a Vacuum of Power if you kill him.
Edward: "Rognvaldr can take his place".
Uthred "Are you serious?! Have you not heard about this disturbing activities, challenging the Peace on both sides?"
Edward being silent for the first time. He changed his posture, seeming to be tired suddenly, looking for a chair to settle in. Once settled he told Uhtred to leave. He needed time to think.