The grounds were littered by the people of God as they made their way to safety. It was said an enemy was coming upon them. An enemy of savages who feared not death. An enemy who bathed in the blood of their victims with their eyes cast to the sky silently screaming to their gods in way of abominable triumph. Pagans. They crossed the rivers with their boats of deception into the kingdom of Northumbria England to take the lands and the people who served none other than their King and Lord.

The people and chatter of fear were drowned out by the pounding of hooves and the cries of the King's soldier who bore the men who would bring the Pagans to their end. "Make way," he cried as the horses rode up to the gates of the kingdom. Just behind him rode a man of age, his shoulders adorned by a cloak so rich in white he looked to be untouchable. By his side bearing a similar cloth with embroidery one would only see in the church of God was a young woman. She bore no other resemblance to the elder man besides the eyes, a biting blue that bordered grey, and her hair a cascade of waves just a color shy from his own. It was known to the men and women that she was one of the greatest fighters ever spawned to serve her King. And it was also known what a champion she was for it was the man beside her who trained her. Her own blood-her father.

Once they entered the gates, father and daughter dismounted their horses and walked the rest of the way into the home of their King with a bounce of arrogance. God was on their side. What was there to fear?

They strode through the doors to the throne room with others following behind. After taking in a deep breath the father yelled to the top of his lungs and summoned the King.

"Brother!" His fist planted firmly on his hip, he strutted further into the room and called once more. "Brother! Where are you?"

"Aethelwulf!" Father and daughter turned to the sound of booming laughter as King Aelle strode in from the other side of the throne room.

The brothers embraced as Aelle gave his gratitude to his coming. They exchanged their love for one another and spoke of the cowards who ran rather than stand and fight side by side with Lord Aethelwulf and the King's people. They spoke rather lovingly of their youngest brother who also fled the oncoming fight and laughed over the idea of their parents should of having drowned the runt at birth.

Casting his eyes just behind his brother, King Aelle took in the woman who bore a smile. "Aah," he crooned as he made his way towards her. "This cannot be who I believe it to be. Millie?"

"My Lord." Bringing a fist to her heart, she bowed before her King.

"No, no. We'll have none of that. You are my niece. Come! Give your uncle a hug." His arms were open to embrace the young woman whose smile broadened as she encircled her arms around him. "There, that's better." He patted her back twice before they tore away from one another.

"She has her mother's beauty," King Aelle spoke to his brother now who chuckled.

"Yes but she has her father's will and strength."

"That she does. A true warrior. More than I can say about half of my guardsmen." He grumbled the last part.

With this oncoming battle of sorts, in the face of fear, the guards of their Sire were made to be proven either a coward or a brave man of God. Too many showed the former and they were dealt with accordingly. And it was a shame that young Millie showed more courage than a handful of them.

Mildred "Millie," daughter of Lord Aethelwulf and a warrior of God. The Lord and his wife bore no sons but two daughters. The eldest who wanted to prove that a woman could fight alongside men and the youngest who was learning the ways of a Christian woman.

When it was brought up by Millie, who at the time was merely but 12 years of age, that she wanted to be a fighter the immediate reaction of her parents had been negative. It was not the way of a Christian woman to wear the armor of men but if it weren't for the encouragement of their King Aelle, she would not have had her chance to prove her potential. Now at the age of 24, she'd proven to them all she was so much more. Her father grew to be proud of his daughter seeing her more as a son than the maiden she was.

The brothers continued to talk on about the heathens who were just a day or two away from reaching their lands. To this Millie paid little attention to as she knew why her and her father had come. It would be them to lead King Aelle's guards into battle. By the will of God, they would bring the Pagans to an end. It would serve them right for having tested the King's temper after they pillaged the home and church of the monks not far from the kingdom some time before.

Her eyes followed her father but her ears were shut to the sound of his voice. To the eyes of others she was being attentive to the meeting when truly she was not. If Aethelwulf were to know he would shake some sense into her. If she wanted to serve as a warrior then she needed to pay attention to the battle plans he made. If she wanted to take his place as soon as he passed then she needed to know his way and his thoughts. It was a habit of hers that both her parents were unhappy about. Her mind always drifted into unknown territory. When she was young, her bottom was always a shade of red after the rearing her parents would give her after the countless of times she would zone out in church.

"In the house of God we must be attuned to his word." And it wasn't that she did not care for God. It was only that she could not tame her wandering mind. And to that she would receive rearing as well as a reminder that if she were to stray away from the way of God, the consequences would be most troubling.

The men in the room began to laugh at a joke she had not caught that her father made. She laughed along to avoid any suspicious looks from her father. The laughter died and he began to speak to the Queen whose smile barely reached her eyes. Millie knew she was afraid. Many of them were afraid but not Millie. No, she was excited. A little more than a Christian girl probably should be. Her heart pounded against her breast and she could hear the sound of her blood pumping as her eyes came to a close. Oh yes, she wanted this fight.

"We will assess the situation at hand more thoroughly after tonight's feast," King Aelle began. "I know you must be exhausted after your sudden trip."

"All for a good cause, brother. All for a good cause." Aethelwulf nodded his head absentmindedly as he assured his King that he would not fail him.

After they'd gone to their respected chambers later into the night, it was then that Millie prayed for the salvation and strength her family and the people would need. She was preparing herself mentally and spiritually for the fight. It would be her first real battle. She'd fought enemies plenty times before but not some foreigners that were as wild as stories claimed them to be.

After her prayers, she turned to stare out the window of her room. The last time she was here she was a child and she could barely reach the latches of the window. Now as a grown woman she approached the glass easily opening it to breathe in the cool night air.

There was a stillness outside that left Millie searching for something, anything to make a sound. The silence was deafening. Not a gust of wind to sway the trees nor the banners of the kingdom.

Often times it was said that before a storm a calmness would wash over the lands. Every bird that once filled the skies with songs of joy would scatter until there were none left to cheer the hearts of many and every blade of grass that rustled in the breeze were still and sharp like needles.

There was a storm coming and it was in the disguise of men.

Millie chose to close the window then and went to lie on her bed. After securing herself beneath the furs, she closed her eyes and made one more prayer before drifting off to sleep. In the early morning she would need to meet with her father to make sure all was prepared before the wild men came and so she prayed that she would live to see many victories.

AN: This chapter was only to introduce Millie and to get an idea of who she is.
If it's unknown to some during which this story takes place, this all starts just before the battle in S1E7: A King's Ransom.