Amazing!

Amazing!

Except from Aftermath by Siegfried Sassoon

For the @tlkafterparty celebration.

Prompt: battlefield ⚔️

@morosemagick @lauwrite1225 @solinarimoon @magravenwrites @93xdiagonxalley @trenko-heart @blah-blah-blah-bla @illjustgositinthecorner @medievalfangirl @persephones-journey @amuddleofnervouswords @anotherwinchesterfangirl @saint-helga @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie

❤️❤️❤️

It was Over

Summary: She left. It was over. Aka, Finan and Aethelflaed come to a milestone in their relationship.

Warning: angst

Thank you to @emilyhufflepufftlk @lauwrite1225 @medievalfangirl for reading it beforehand

Enjoy

"You do not understand -"

"Aethelflaed, I do." Finan cut her off.

His use of her name made her clamp her jaw.

She tutted. "If you are trying to get me to renounce my vow, this is not the way." She bit.

"I ended up on the slave ship because I chose love over the crown."

"I would do it again. In a heartbeat. I would fight for our happiness, instead of having to walk away from ya." He said fiercely, eyes burning with fire.

She swallowed hard. The lump in her throat was unmoved by her efforts, blocking the path of the words she so desperately tried to say. So desperately wanted out of the way.

"What you did, was reckless. It did not grant you lasting happiness. Yet, it robbed Irland of a great leader." She finally said, her voice tight, tense. "I will not do the same to Mercia."

Finan's face fell, his heart with it. There was a finality in her voice that made him feel utterly defeated. Screams of protest wanted to escape his chest, but he has gone mute. Tears threatened to overflow his eyes as he stared into hers. When he attempted to turn away from her, he found he no longer had control over his body. Frozen in place, it felt as if time has stopped.

Aethelflaed hated seeing him like this, looking so helpless and lost. Every fiber of her being blazed with desire to step forward and embrace him. To whisper in his ear that she will stay with him, vow of chastity be damned. To kiss him, to -

She stopped herself there - she had to. Otherwise, she was sure her resolve would break.

With one more deep breath, she stepped a little closer to him.

"Know that I did not make this decision lightly." She said, her voice almost a whisper, soft, yet filled with firmness.

She stared into his eyes, willing him to believe her. He could not say anything in response, his mouth was too dry, his mind too occupied, his heart too pressed down by the gravity of her words.

After the lingering look, when the mountain of unsaid feelings was beginning to tip over, she turned around, and swiftly walked through the door.

Once Aethelflaed was out of sight and earshot, a tear cascaded down his cheek, getting lost in his beard.

She left. It was over.

The next thing Finan knew was a sob escaping his lips, his face drenched in tears.

💌 Send this to the twelve nicest people you know or who seem to have a good heart and if you get five back you must be pretty awesome. 💌

Thank you Sarah 🥺❤️❤️

So beautiful and heartbreaking

Bernard Cornwell | The Pale Horseman p.184

For the @tlkafterparty celebration.

Prompt: antagonistic relationships/angst

@solinarimoon @morosemagick @lauwrite1225 @magravenwrites @93xdiagonxalley @trenko-heart @blah-blah-blah-bla @illjustgositinthecorner @medievalfangirl @persephones-journey @amuddleofnervouswords @anotherwinchesterfangirl @saint-helga @deans-ch-ch-cherrypie

Your finflaed fics are DEVASTATING (in the best way). Can’t wait to read more!

Thank you so much!! Although it may take a while....

❤️ Thank you! ❤️❤️

It was Over

Summary: She left. It was over. Aka, Finan and Aethelflaed come to a milestone in their relationship.

Warning: angst

Thank you to @emilyhufflepufftlk @lauwrite1225 @medievalfangirl for reading it beforehand

Enjoy

"You do not understand -"

"Aethelflaed, I do." Finan cut her off.

His use of her name made her clamp her jaw.

She tutted. "If you are trying to get me to renounce my vow, this is not the way." She bit.

"I ended up on the slave ship because I chose love over the crown."

"I would do it again. In a heartbeat. I would fight for our happiness, instead of having to walk away from ya." He said fiercely, eyes burning with fire.

She swallowed hard. The lump in her throat was unmoved by her efforts, blocking the path of the words she so desperately tried to say. So desperately wanted out of the way.

"What you did, was reckless. It did not grant you lasting happiness. Yet, it robbed Irland of a great leader." She finally said, her voice tight, tense. "I will not do the same to Mercia."

Finan's face fell, his heart with it. There was a finality in her voice that made him feel utterly defeated. Screams of protest wanted to escape his chest, but he has gone mute. Tears threatened to overflow his eyes as he stared into hers. When he attempted to turn away from her, he found he no longer had control over his body. Frozen in place, it felt as if time has stopped.

Aethelflaed hated seeing him like this, looking so helpless and lost. Every fiber of her being blazed with desire to step forward and embrace him. To whisper in his ear that she will stay with him, vow of chastity be damned. To kiss him, to -

She stopped herself there - she had to. Otherwise, she was sure her resolve would break.

With one more deep breath, she stepped a little closer to him.

"Know that I did not make this decision lightly." She said, her voice almost a whisper, soft, yet filled with firmness.

She stared into his eyes, willing him to believe her. He could not say anything in response, his mouth was too dry, his mind too occupied, his heart too pressed down by the gravity of her words.

After the lingering look, when the mountain of unsaid feelings was beginning to tip over, she turned around, and swiftly walked through the door.

Once Aethelflaed was out of sight and earshot, a tear cascaded down his cheek, getting lost in his beard.

She left. It was over.

The next thing Finan knew was a sob escaping his lips, his face drenched in tears.