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He can’t focus on the words directed at him, he can barely hear the voice. He knows he should pay attention, he needs to pay attention. Alfred is not someone used to being ignored. He’s someone not to ignore. Because he will notice right away and he will make his displeasure known. And Uhtred is always in trouble with the insufferable man. But he can’t focus. He tries. He tries to move away from the window, he tries to turn from it. But he just can’t. He leans more heavily against the stones and he can’t stop the smile on his face. It’s so silly, such a simple and mundane thing. But he can’t seem to tear his eyes away. And he finds he doesn’t want to. He can’t even comprehend looking away.
He climbs into the large windowsill and leans even closer within the high arch of the grand window. He knows he must look foolish and he can feel the King’s eyes burning holes in him. And he just doesn’t care. He smiles and he leans his head against the stone. He sighs and he thinks maybe he even giggles. Oh he really is a foolish sight, but he just can’t bring himself to care because so high up, he can watch them. He can just stare and not care. No one can judge him, no one can even tell what his eyes focus on, what his mind obsesses over, what consumes his soul and penetrates his heart.
Finan lays in the grass beneath the window, his body stretched out. He looks more relaxed than Uhtred had seen him in months. There is a serene look upon the man’s handsome face. His eyes are closed and Uhtred wonders if the man’s asleep. At his side and pillowed half on top of him is Sihtric. The boy’s fingers are intertwined with Finan’s and Uhtred can tell his eyes are closed. But he knows by the distinctly different pace in the rise and fall of his chest that the boy isn’t asleep like Finan. Or at least not as deeply. But Uhtred suspects the boy’s senses are indeed awake, that he would be upon his feet in a second with his seax in hand if his senses demand it.
Uhtred smiles and he finally takes his eyes off them. He leans away from his vantage spot and back into the room. He finds it empty and he frowns for a moment, wondering exactly how long he’d been sitting there, staring. But again, he doesn’t really care. He shrugs and leans farther until he can reach for the small table, piled with flickering candles. He grabs one and pulls it from its holder. He blows the flame out and shakes it a moment, letting the wax fall and dry. Then he leans back out the window and drops the candle.
The boy’s eyes snap open and he catches sight of the falling object. He sits up quickly and frowns as he tilts his head. Then he lifts his hand and reaches and catches it. Finan opens his eyes and frowns at the loss of the weight on his chest. He sits up and leans against the boy, pressing against his back and looking over his shoulder. Sihtric holds up the candle and shrugs. Then they both look up and catch sight of the man half hanging out the window. Sihtric’s eyes widen. “Lord!”
Uhtred smiles. “I love you.” He calls down to them.
Finan rolls his eyes and settles back on the grass, looking annoyed for a moment at being awakened. He closes his eyes and pulls the boy back down with him.
Sihtric falls back against Finan’s chest, a smile on his face as he continues to gaze up at their Lord and love, hanging half out the window. “We know.”