Chapter Text
Spring was in full bloom by the time they reached the small village that would be their new home from now on. It looked peaceful enough, a few houses surrounded by trees and meadows and beyond there was a river with clear water.
With Uhtred as its new lord, Coccham would soon grow, Finan was sure of it and hopefully they'd be able to settle at least for a while. God knew they needed it.
The Irishman did enjoy fighting, he enjoyed sitting with his friends by a campfire on the long nights on the road but he also enjoyed a calmer, more peaceful life at times and now with Sihtric by his side he longed for it.
Uhtred would build his great pagan hall and then when it was all done they would set to building their own house, their home and with it hopefully the foundation for much happiness and beautiful memories.
Finan glanced over at Sihtric who rode beside him, smiling when he found the Dane half asleep even though he was sitting up.
It had been a long journey, much longer than anticipated in fact, due to father Beocca insisting on at least two breaks a day and storms as well as occasional run-ins with thieves.
Their short stay at Winchester had turned out to be a longer stay as well, filled with far too many, far too boring Witans and far too little time with Sihtric.
Finan was the first to jump off his mare, turning back for a moment to see Sihtric slips off Mani's back gracefully. The Dane took Finan's reigns, offering his lover a small smile before leading both horses away before the villagers could sorround their new lord and his men.
The sun stood high in the clear sky when Finan finally managed to get away from the village, warming the dark green grass bellow.
There was a light breeze, keeping the temperature pleasant even though it was warm for spring.
The soft rustling of the leaves in the branches above as well as the water hitting the shore softly in the distance added to the feeling of peace that was a relief after the bustling that was happening over in the village where they were preparing for a feast to celebrate their arrival.
Finan wasn't surprised to find his lover asleep in the high grass near the river. Sihtric looked calm now, even younger than usual with his skin clean and pale .
The Dane didn't like strangers and he just wasn't as comfortable in large crowds so of course he had taken the first chance he had gotten and had left.
The older man sighed, approaching his sleeping lover quietly so he wouldn't wake him too harshly. He'd rather take his time.
When they had been on the road that had been a privilege they rarely had. They'd always leave early or there'd been some sort of emergency that demanded their immediate attention. They'd try to get as much sleep as they could and then leave at first light as to not waste any more time than absolutely necessary.
But now, in this very moment, that life seemed worlds away.
Luckily for him Sithric didn't even stir, another sign that the younger already felt safe here or was simply too exhausted from the journey.
Sihtric was a very observant person and Uhtred had mentioned more than once that he would make a good spy in the future though Finan tried not to think about that seeing as spies were usually in more danger than warriors on a battlefield.
But Uhtred was right.
Rarely anything happened at a camp without Sihtric knowing of it and normally he was no less attentive when they were asleep.
The Dane would wake at the smallest of sounds, gripping his axe tightly while his eyes searched the darkness for any threats.
Finan often wondered if that was the legacy of his time at Dunholm but he tried not to think about that either. What had happened there was in the past now and with him by his side, Sihtric would be safe from harm.
Finan sat down in the grass next to him, carefully running a hand through Sihtric's soft, dark hair. He had undone the braids to wash it in the river and Finan was already looking forward to braiding it again though he wanted to ask Sihtric to cut it a bit, seeing as he couldn't help but notice how similar Sihtric's and Kjartan's braid looked from the back. The younger had told him about how the braids for the Dances were a part of their personality and he didn't want any part of Sihtric's personality to resemble or remind him of his father.
That affectionate touch did catch the other warrior's attention after all and he leaned into Finan's touch without opening his eyes.
"Good morning, princess" Finan mumbled with a fond smile, taking the chance to steal a kiss from Sihtric, who didn't seem to mind at all.
The younger warrior was still slow with sleep, opening and closing his eyes again when Finan moved to the side a bit and was suddenly no longer shirlding him from the bright sunlight.
The Irishman was still as mesmerized to this day as he had been the first time he had looked into those fascinating eyes.
The right was a deep brown, almost like ebony but when the light shone into it, it was like brown jasper, a gemstone of high value and a thing of rare beauty. The left one however was entirely different, a brilliant blue hidden beneath a layer of green. It reminded Finan of the sea back home, wild yet beautiful. It could destroy and kill but the sound of the waves hitting the cliff below was a sound that was calming like no other.
Sihtric's eyes were as unique as the Dane himself and Finan found that could spend hours just staring into them and wouldn't mind it at all. Or just stare his lover in general, really.
"You shouldn't be lying in the sun for such a long time", Finan mumbled when he finally regained his wits, tracing the tattoo on the side of his lover's head, Jörmundgandr, Sihtric had said when he had asked him about it, "it's not good for you."
Sihtric hummed, in what Finan decided had to be agreement, stretching his long limbs before yawning.
Finan moved again to shield his lover's face from the sunlight, smiling fondly when the younger reopened his eyes, then yawned again.
"You should sleep more." Finan's hand came up to rest on the younger's cheek before he carefully stroked his thumb over the scar that marred the pale skin there. "With me preferably", he added after a moment, placing a kiss on his lips.
Sihtric offered him a small smile in return, not giving a vocal answer but sitting up so he could peck the other's lips.
The two of them had not been able to show affection like this in Winchester, surrounded by monks and priests and other pious Christians. Gestures like these were frowned upon by the Saxons and Finan didn't want Sihtric to have to endure any punishments for their actions.
As a Dane Sihtric was a lot more at risk either way, Finan had found out during their short stay, and giving them a reason to hurt the younger wouldn't end well.
Sihtric didn't always understand that though, seeing as to the Danes it was no crime to lie with another man.
Finan was ripped from his thoughts when Sihtric got up onto his feet, stretching again.
"We should head back. Lord Uhtred asked you to look after the horses before the feast tonight", Finan lied. Uhtred had asked him to look after the horses but Sihtric loved the beasts more than he loved him so he figured Sihtric wouldn't mind taking over for him.
Sihtric nodded, waiting as he watched Finan getting up as well and lying an arm around the younger to keep him close by.
"Sometimes I fear he is trying to keep you away from me" he joked, pulling the smaller male into his side.
"We wouldn't have to be apart if you helped me with the horses", Sihtric argued, clearly having looked right through the older man's lie, turning his head to look at Finan.
The Irishman chuckled, shaking his head.
"I would rather wait for you with a cup of ale to keep me company. It was a long journey after all."
Sihtric rolled his eyes at that, then slipped from under his arm with a small smirk.
"Race you to the stables", he called suddenly and then he was gone, Finan hurrying to catch up to him.
This was a side of him that Finan was only just getting to know. A joyful, child like side that was finally starting to show now that he had someone to put his trust into.
Of course they both knew that Finan would help Sihtric in the end. The young Dane had a skillful tongue in every sense that phrase could be interpreted in, which was just one of the reasons why the older man could only very rarely deny his lover anything.