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Chapter Text

“Christ, Uhtred it’s the third time we're movin’ this freakin’ table.” 

Saegyth couldn’t help but chuckle at the sound of her exasperated husband’s voice. She turned slightly, looking away briefly from the construction game she was playing with Young Uhtred on the floor to stare at the four men further in the Great Hall. Uhtred had his hands on his hips, studying the room and the space that were taking the few added tables. Finan, Sihtric and Clapa were leaning against the last they had been lifting, all of them carrying an annoyed expression. For about an hour now, Uhtred had been trying to organize the room to celebrate his daughter’s birth tonight, but usually Gisela was the one organizing festivities and today she was resting to enjoy the evening.

“I’m not sure that we usually place them like this.” The Lord grumbled, his fingers scratching his beard. 

Saegyth could hear the men sigh once more before she decided to stand up and join them. “It is perfect like this too, Uhtred.” She said, her hand curving around his shoulder. 

Uhtred looked down to her, then one last time to the tables before nodding. “Fine, thank you Saegyth.”

She smiled at him as she joined Finan who was muttering something, his eyes closed and face raised to the ceiling in an exasperated fashion. “Couldn’t have ya told him this before?” He complained, her arms wrapping around his neck.

“And lose all my fun?” She questioned him, raising on her toes for her lips to touch his. “Never.” She smirked as she kissed him. 

He grumbled something barely understandable but he finally lowered his face to give her a proper kiss, his palms resting on her hips. But Uhtred’s anxiety interrupted them, a new issue coming to disturb him.

“Are we even sure there will be enough food and ale?” He asked, suddenly making his way toward the kitchen. 

Finan and Sihtric exchanged another tired gaze as Saegyth turned around. “Uhtred, we have already seen that with Hild and Leofwynn.” She began, nodding at the young maid who had just picked up the yawning toddler to take him to his bedroom. A little more than a year ago, Leofwynn had been Saegyth’s maid, when she was still married to Wolstan, but now she was part of Uhtred’s household. “Everything will be alright.” She continued when he stopped walking before reaching the kitchen door. “Now, you should just rest or tonight you’ll be the first in bed.”

Uhtred hesitated and sighed. “Right, I need to see a trader at the docks anyway.” 

Saegyth rolled her eyes, it wasn’t exactly what she could call resting, but at least it would allow her three other friends to have some peace. Uhtred left the hall at a quick pace, briefly thanking the men before they all dropped on chairs or benches. 

“He wasn’t like this with the first.” Finan said, his both hands rubbing his face. 

The blonde shrugged, walking back toward the tables and sitting on one. “He is in complete adoration with his daughter.” She smiled fondly, always glad to see Uhtred so happy. 

“You two better not be like this when you’ll have your own.” Sihtric warned them, crossing his arms on the table before burying his face in them so that he didn’t notice the way Saegyth pinched her lips and lowered her gaze uncomfortably. 

“Don’t ya have your silver to collect to convince Ealswith to marry ya?” Finan changed swiftly of subject, Clapa laughing as Sihtric glared at the Irishman. 

“He still needs Lord Uhtred’s consent.” Clapa precised, standing up to walk out of the hall, clasping the young Dane”s shoulder. “Try your luck while he is in a good mood.”

Sihtric grumbled something in Danish, following the giant outside. The couple was now alone in the Great Hall and Finan looked up to his wife whose expression was still darkened. His eyebrows furrowed in a worried maner, unsure if Sihtric’s words had affected her. Children were a subject they never really talked more about since their wedding, but weirdly, despite not having children being Saegyth’s choice and accepted by Finan, the mention of it was starting to touch her more than usual. But she shook her head and jumped from the table to walk across the room and kiss Finan, in an attempt to make his worries disappear. 

“I promised Hild I would join her for prayers today.” She told him, nodding toward the door. “I’ll see you later.” Her thumb removed some dirt on his cheek and she frowned at him. “And think of washing before dinner.” She smirked, her finger touching briefly the tip of his nose as he growled.

She walked out of the hall and started to make her way through Coccham. The village had changed in a year, it had prospered with more traders stopping at the docks, the market had become a place full of life. They also had a church now, if it could be cold like this, this new red building with a cross hung on the roof.. It was basic, but the christian villagers were happy and proud to have built it themselves. 

Saegyth walked inside, welcomed by the silence before breaking it by the sound of her footsteps when she approached the bench where Hild was already sitting. The nun gave her a warm smile as the woman crossed herself and sat. 

“Thank you for joining.” 

“Pleasure is mine.” Saegyth chuckled. “The men didn’t stop complaining, I won’t mind some peace.”

Hild gave her a knowing glance, she had lived long enough with these men to understand the need to find a quiet place. They prayed together in a pleasant calm, the church being outside of the village making the hubbub from the market inaudible. 

Afterwards, they walked together for a while talking about recent news. “I have been wondering if having a nunnery in Coccham could be a good thing.” Hild said as they walked across the wooden bridge leading to the church.

Saegyth raised an eyebrow, surprised but also curious about her idea. “It sounds like a good idea, did you talk about it with Uhtred?”

The nun shook her head. “Not yet, I also need the bishop’s agreement.”

“Oh I doubt the bishop would refuse anything that could make this place less pagan.” The Lady joked, making Hild laugh as well. Taking her hand to give it a gentle squeeze, Saegyth stopped along the river. “You’ll be a great abbess.” She smiled, glad that her friend was finding a way to thrive. 

Saegyth wondered if it was the place, or the peace now reigning in Wessex, but everyone seemed to have found real happiness since they were in Coccham, Saegyth being one of the first. Leaving Winchester for Coccham three years ago had already been one of her best ideas, this simple decision having led her to a happy marriage, despite some troubles in between, something she had long thought never being allowed to have. 

When they were back in Coccham, the two women took different directions, Saegyth joining her house. She pushed the door open and was welcomed by Finan’s boots scattered on the floor, pieces of his armour and his weapons on the table. She rolled her eyes, pushing the boots out of the way and walking to the bedroom. A pleased smile grew on her face at the sight of Finan, towel wrapped around his waist as he cleaned his skin with a wet fabric. He raised his face at the sound of her footsteps, grinning while she leaned against the doorframe. 

“Liking the sight?” Finan teased her as he crouched to dip the fabric in the bucket of water before rubbing it against a soap. 

She looked away from him, studying their bedroom. “I do, I really think you did a great job for our bedroom.”

It took a whole season after their wedding for this new room to be built, Finan spending his whole days with Sihtric and Clapa working on it. This house was Finan's pride and she had never seen him prouder than the day he finally allowed her to visit their house. 

“Did I?” He grinned while rubbing the fabric behind his neck and then he put it back in the bucket. 

She nodded and hummed when he came closer to kiss her cheek and lips. She shivered when his wet hands cupped the side of her neck, scrunching her nose as she moved her face away. “You’re wet.” She said, her hands on his chest to keep a distance between them.

Finan raised an eyebrow. “Remove your clothes and it won’t be a problem anymore.” He proposed and she shook her head, pretending to be exasperated, but mostly to hide her amusement. 

“We don’t have time to waste, hurry yourself.” She prompted him before giving him a peck on his lips. 

Finan growled disappointedly but he quickly finished to prepare himself while she was brushing and braiding her hair. They arrived at the great hall just before sunset, villagers already sitting on the tables outside, while others, friends to Uhtred and Gisela, were inside. They barely made a step into the hall when a group of warriors called Finan to join them in a drinking game. Finan made them a sign and turned to look down at Saegyth with an innocent smile. 

She rolled her eyes. “Go, but don’t drink too much or I won’t have any shame in letting you sleep in the stables.”

Finan chuckled and kissed her cheek. “I make no promises.” 

She watched him walk away enthusiastically before searching for Gisela through all the guests. When she got sight of her, she joined her, smiling widely when she saw the newborn in Hild’s arms next to her. She leaned over the child, her finger rubbing her tight small fist. 

“It’s crazy how much she looks like you.” Saegyth commented, glancing at Gisela. 

“It’s what everyone has been telling me.” The Lady said, grabbing her daughter’s foot kindly through the blanket she was wrapped in. “But I fear she has Uhtred’s temper.” She laughed when the baby stirred. 

“It was a risk to take.” Saegyth joked.

“What risk?” 

Uhtred’s voice came from behind her, surprising her but she nevertheless grinned at him. “To allow you to spread your genes.” 

Uhtred frowned at the three laughing women before his son ran into his legs to wish him a goodnight, Leofwynn standing behind them. If Stiorra seemed to have taken after her mother, Young Uhtred was looking everyday more like his father. It made her occasionally wonder what could look like a child from Finan and her. Would it have her hair? Or Finan’s eyes? Would it have his good humor or her calm? The questions were teasing her from time to time, but would quickly fade at the memory of the pain it was to her to bear children. 

Leofwynn took the two children and Uhtred joined his men further, leaving the three women to talk at a table. Saegyth told them the struggle it had been to organize the room when in the end no one was really sitting at the tables. Saegyth’s gaze wandered around a group of men where she recognized Finan and Sihtric encouraging Clapa who got himself into a wrestling match. She shook her head when the giant man obviously won and the two other men seemed to collect their bets. 

“How do they keep betting against Clapa?” She wondered, resting her cheek on her palm. 

“Drunk men have hopes.” Hild commented, raising her eyebrows in an exasperated manner. 

Saegyth and Gisela chuckled. “It’s good to see them like this. Uhtred has never looked happier than since we arrived in Coccham.” Saegyth said, before taking a sip of ale. 

“You make him a better man.” Hild added with a kind smile, Uhtred’s two oldest friends agreeing on the good effect Gisela always had on the Lord. 

The Lady lowered her eyes, a wide smile on her face. She turned the ale in her cup as she glanced at Hild. “I’m sure there’s someone else who has never been happier than right now.” 

Hild and Gisela both stared at Saegyth knowingly and she couldn’t prevent the small chuckle and the sudden blush on her cheeks as she looked away. “I’m not complaining.” She said with a smirk hidden behind her cup as she drank. 

She looked above Hild’s shoulder when she noticed her husband approaching. “Tired of watching men lose against Clapa?” Hild asked him when his hands grabbed the chair next to her and he leaned slightly above it. 

“Aye, everyone bet on Clapa.” He grimaced.

“About time.” Saegyth commented and Finan glanced at her seriously. 

“I wanted to talk to ya.” He said and she frowned, surprised and worried by his sudden switch of expression. 

“Sure, let’s go outside.” She said, standing from her chair and giving a quick smile to her two friends. 

She followed Finan outside, a light wind making her shiver, his awkward silence worrying her as they walked away from the hall. She stared up at him through the darkness and she immediately noticed his smirk. He obviously caught her staring and raised an eyebrow before cupping the back of her head to kiss her feverly. She gasped in surprise, even if she had started to guess his intention, but didn’t pull back, her hands gripping the collar of his tunic. His lips had the taste of ale, but it was the kiss in itself that gave her this drunk feeling, her legs feeling suddenly so soft. 

Even when she pulled back to take back her face, he kept pecking her lips tenderly, making her giggle. “You know we don’t need to hide anymore to kiss? We are married.”

“I know.” He grinned. “But I like it.” She laughed heartily and Finan’s hands dropped to her hips. “And beside, I had more than a kiss in mind.” He said, shrugging innocently and she smacked his chest playfully. “What? As if ya’d mind!” He protested, raising his hands in the air. 

“I don’t know? What are these thoughts of yours?” She questioned him but she was no fool. 

“Ya’ll know soon enough.” He smirked at her before grabbing her hand and leading her through the village. 

He guided her to the barn, already close from where they were standing and Finan let go of her hand to push the door open. “Couldn’t we have gone back home?” She asked as he pulled her inside.

“T’was too far.” He replied, holding her hand again to lead her in an empty stable. “And ya said ya’d let me sleep with the horses.” He reminded her, glancing at her above his shoulder. 

“Yes, you, not me.” She laughed.

But Finan ignored her reply and grabbed her waist firmly to lift her on a bundle of straw. Saegyth chuckled again, parting her knees to let him settle between them. Her arms wrapped around his neck while his nose trailed along her jaw until he could kiss her neck, his beard scratching her soft skin. 

“What if the groom enters?” She asked, her fingers running through his short hair. 

“Then I hope ya’re quiet.” He whispered, his hot breath against her ear making the new tension between them grow. 

He brought his mouth against hers, his tongue meeting hers in a heated kiss. One of his hands cradled her head once again, messing her braids, while the other was running along her side until his palm was resting on her breast, giving it a playful squeeze to make her whimper. Her own hands were working on removing the edge of his tunic from under his belt to allow her palms to travel on his skin. 

“Your hands are cold.” He growled against her mouth as she felt his abs tense under her fingertips. 

She pulled back, grinning mischievously as she pressed her hands flat on his chest. “Are they?” 

He narrowed his eyes and started to lift the skirt of her dress, his own cold hand sliding on her bare thigh, a shiver running along her spine. He smirked at her reaction and with his other hand, he grabbed the back of her thigh, his fingers digging her flesh, to make her sit closer to the edge of the bundle of straw. He finally fell to his knees, Saegyth biting her lips as she stared at him while he kissed the side of her knee. His mouth felt incredibly hot against her skin as he went up her thigh. She lied on the straw with a sigh when his face disappeared under her skirt, not seeing him making it somehow more exciting. She gasped when his mouth was finally where she desired him the most, one of his hands curving around her thigh to keep her steady. Her eyes shut as his tongue knowingly wandered on that sensitive spot, driving her mad. Her chest heaved, her hand coming to cover her mouth after a moan escaped her. She let out a frustrated sigh when Finan stopped for an instant, her audible impatience making him chuckle as he kissed her inner thigh. 

Finan was about to resume what he was doing when an abnormal noise alerted Saegyth. She abruptly sat up when she realized it was the sound of the door squeaking. Finan looked up to her, furrowing his eyebrows tightly, visibly not having heard anything and he opened his mouth to speak but she covered it with her hand quickly. A soft orange light appeared on the wall opposed to the stable they were in, footsteps resounding in the barn. She bit her lower lip, listening to where the person was heading. She heard another door being pushed and a whinny from a horse not too far. She removed her palm from Finan’s mouth revealing his amused smirk. She rolled her eyes and pushed him away with her leg before jumping swiftly and without too much noise to her feet. 

“We need to leave before he finds us.” She whispered.

“Or we can be silent.” Finan joked and she glared at him. 

She walked toward the half-door, discreetly checking if the groom was in the corridor and how far they were from the back door. Judging the way to be makeable without being caught, she grabbed Finan’s hand and pulled him outside after pushing the small door slowly to not make any noise. They quickly joined the back door, trying to walk quietly. Once they were outside and a street away from the barn, Finan burst into laughter, Saegyth shaking her head at him, pretending to be unamused. 

“You’re not touching me anywhere outside our home anymore!” She warned him, pointing a finger at him, but she couldn’t help her chuckle to ripple through her words. 

“Come on, mo ghrá .” He grinned, bowing his head until his lips were almost brushing hers. “That was fun.”

She narrowed her eyes at him, before rolling them. “Just let’s go back home, shall we?”

“As my Lady wants.” Finan teased, kissing her cheek before leading the way to their house. 

Chapter Text

The men were hurrying at the docks, tossing weapons and oars into the three small ships they would take to sail on the Thames. It was late afternoon, the sun was high in the sky, and they had had word of raiders attacking along the river and tonight, they would go to Deccet, South to the Thames. Uhtred was determined to protect the border from the slavers, a task becoming more and more difficult since the Danes seemed to gather into Beamfleot since King Aethelstan’s, who used to be named Guthrum, was almost powerless. 

Saegyth jumped in the now ready ship after Sihtric, walking to the front to join Finan who was leaning against the prow. She noticed his tense expression, Finan didn’t like taking the boat, even less since his days as a slave, but the prospect of a fight was always enough to convince him to jump into one.

“You should sit before getting sick.” She teased him and he narrowed his eyes before doing it anyway, walking to the other side of the ship to take a place.. 

Uhtred joined them soon after and ordered the men to start to pull the oars as he jumped into the boat. Saegyth sat next to Finan, letting her fingers brush the water’s surface as they sailed. She was used to fight slavers now, and had no regrets doing it, but she always needed to be in her thoughts to remind herself of why she would take men’s life. She was brought out of them when she felt Finan’s body heave more against her, a fond smile growing on her face when she realized he had fallen asleep. She shifted so his head rested on her shoulder and she listened to Uhtred.

“Alfred needs to deal with these rogues and be done with it.” He grumbled but he seemed to know himself it was hopeless.

“He might find reason when they become a direct threat to Wessex.” Saegyth replied and the Lord shook his head, exasperated. 

“Then I hope he’ll consider it soon enough.” He sighed and stared absently at the shores. 

It was night when they finally reached Deccet, her elbow gently nudging Finan’s side to wake him up. He briefly looked around, studying the area before grinning at Saegyth excitedly. When they jumped on the shore, her legs felt numb, but after a few steps, she felt ready to fight. They walked in the darkness, their boots sinking in the swampy ground. She was following Sihtric, who had decided it was the best moment to convince Uhtred to let him marry the woman he had fallen in love with in Winchester, despite her husband and Clapa’s teasing about Ealhswith’s condition. She had tried to convince him to act while Uhtred was still affected by the joy the birth of his daughter had brought to him, but the young Dane had constantly pushed the moment for later.

So Sihtric tried to argue with Uhtred, Finan and Clapa teasing every once in a while, until the sound of screams through the silence of the night made them all stop, crouching instinctively. Not a word was said until Finan, who was leading the way, turned to glance at Uhtred. The Lord nodded at him and they continued to walk until they noticed a fire burning in a clearing and two men around it. She hid next to Sihtric behind a bush, staring as Clapa and Finan left the group to kill the men. Once the area was cleared, Uhtred gave his orders, Finan shouting them louder for everyone to hear. 

“Are you alright?” Saegyth asked her husband as she followed him to hide behind a tree. 

Fighting slavers always brought back memories to Finan, more than once she had noticed this tension between his brows while waiting for the fight and the difficult night he had spent after. He glanced down at her, easing briefly before forcing a smile on his face. 

“Aye, I’m good.” He reassured her but once they reached the tree, she couldn’t help but slid her hand into his, their fingers tangling together. 

They waited until they could hear the other rogues come back with the villagers they captured. Finan glanced to the side, seeing them approaching he made a sign to Sihtric to wait a little more. Saegyth’s heart was beating hard when her husband looked back at her, his face holding not even an inch of its usual playfulness.

“I love ya.” He whispered. 

“I love you too.” She replied in the same tone, her fingers squeezing his one last time before letting go to take her sword. “Be careful.”

She watched as Finan took one more deep breath, his hand wrapped around the handle of his sword. He unsheathed it as soon as Uhtred shouted the signal, Saegyth imitating him. The slavers had been taken by surprise and the first man she reached was even more when he saw a saxon woman easily sink her blade into his belly. The second was more ready and ran toward her, obligating her to crouch when his axe swung down to her. She didn’t have the time to pull her sword out of the dead man’s body, so she grabbed her dagger and stabbed him in his forearm, the axe dropping from his hand as he cried out in pain. She removed the dagger and in a swift motion she slit his throat. When the man dropped to the floor she looked for another, but most were already fighting others, and the last were running away. 

To her right she noticed Sihtric who had just opened a slaver’s side and she decided to join him. They nodded at each other, making sure they were both fine. They were about to join Finan and Uhtred further when Saegyth noticed a small silhouette hiding behind a trunk. Sihtric turned around, intrigued by what she had seen and walked with her toward the tree. Saegyth’s heart melted when she recognized the shape of a frightened little boy, no more than five years old. 

“You don’t have to be afraid anymore, the fight is over.” She reassured him softly, crouching in front of him. 

The boy studied her from head to feet, his hands clutching around the edge of his tunic. Then his eyes were on Sihtric and he took a small step back. Saegyth glanced at his friend, the Dane looking away as he seemed touched that the child feared him. Saegyth shook her head and smiled at the boy. 

“The bad Danes are gone now, what if we go try to find your family?” She asked him, stretching out a hand carefully. 

The boy hesitated but finally took her hand and she stood again. The three of them walked toward where the villagers were gathering, Saegyth and Sihtric avoiding the area where the most dead lay, trying to preserve the boy from more horror. When they joined the group, the child released her hand as soon as he saw a man walking around and shouting a name. He jumped into the villager’s arms and Saegyth felt a wave of endearment wash over her as she watched them hug tightly. 

“We should join the others.” Sihtric prompted her, nudging her side with his elbow. 

She nodded and they joined the others. Finan was instructing men to hang three dead slavers near the shore and grinned when he saw her approaching. He kissed her roughly, the fight having started a fire in his chest that would need time to be tamed. 

“I guess you’re fine?” She said, her fingers delicately turning his face to have a look at the blood on his temple, making sure it wasn’t his own. 

“Not even a scratch.” He assured her, his palm cupping her cheek before he kissed the other. 

They all waited for the villagers to collect their belongings and then they accompanied them back to their ransacked village. It was a painful sight, all their provisions for the winter destroyed or spread on the floor. At least the slavers hadn’t started a fire, no house was falling into pieces. When they were sure the villagers would be safe, they made the way back to their ships and quietly sailed to Coccham. Saegyth fell asleep in Finan’s embrace, it was still the middle of the night and she was feeling exhausted by this all journey. When they reached their village’s dock, the soft orange light of dawn had almost vanished. 

Finan and Saegyth made their way back to their house and once they were rid of their weapons, they decided to head to the lake to wash. Saegyth rested the basket with their clean clothes and towels in the grass, seeing Finan undressing quickly in the corner of her eyes. He didn’t give her the time to remove all her clothes, he lifted her in his arms, ignoring her protests and her slap on his shoulder to be freed, letting her go only when he had water to his waist. He laughed heartily when Saegyth emerged from the water, her both hands pushing back her wet blonde hair from her face, her tunic sticking to her skin. 

“You devil.” She exclaimed, shivering at the fresh water. 

She purchased him in the water until she succeeded in pushing him in it. They played like children in the lake for a while until the exhaustion of their short night prompted them to go back to the shore. 

Once in clean clothes they walked back to Coccham, hand in hand. Saegyth frowned when they passed the alehouse, recognizing someone. 

“Isn’t that Aethelwold?” She asked, nodding at the blond man sitting at a table with no cup in front of him.

Finan looked in the direction she nodded at and grimaced. “Looks like it.” He pulled her close and wrapped his arm around her waist. “Though, I’m not goin’ to deal with the turd before a good sleep.”

Saegyth tilted her head to the side, giving him a point. As soon as they were in their house, they crawled to bed, quickly falling asleep. When she woke up, she didn’t feel like leaving the sheets at all. She turned into Finan’s arms, facing him while he was still asleep. Her finger traced an invisible line on his bicep, following the path of some scars. Finan had so many scars, she knew the stories of most of them now and she had no doubt that she’d be here to witness new ones to come and slash his skin. His brows furrowed when she touched the scar behind his ear. This one, she knew it was from his brother, when he had brought a dagger to his throat after finding him in his hideout. That was one of those holding the darkest stories. Her finger continued its exploration along his jaw, Saegyth smiling when Finan finally opened his eyes. 

“Hello again.” She greeted him but he only hummed and pulled her closer to hide his face in her shoulder. 

Her light touch resmused, traveling down his side and stopping where the furs were covering the lower half of his body. She felt Finan’s fingers curl against the fabric of her nightgown. 

“So I’m not allowed to sleep more?” He mumbled against her skin before moving away to see her eyes. 

“I’ve never prevented you from doing so.” She replied, her lips tightly pressing together to prevent them from curving into a smirk. 

Finan raised an eyebrow, holding her gaze as his hand slid on her thigh upon her nightgown, the movement lifting the fabric and revealing her skin. “Haven’t ya?” His fingertips only lightly grazed against her skin.

His gaze was warm and intense, always leaving her breathless when she dared to get lost in its darkness. “I just thought it would be a shame to not enjoy this lazy afternoon fully.” She admitted, her leg draping over his hips to be even closer, close enough to feel that he would probably not disagree with her statement. 

He hummed again, the tip of his nose nudging hers as he closed his eyes, blindly finding her lips in a lustful kiss. His palm caressed her thigh up to her ass. She smiled in their kiss, her hips pressing against his to find some friction. Finan groaned and slid his hand between them, fingers only teasing. But it was addicting, and the constant need for more built in her body. But her husband was almost painfully slow, removing his hand to this time cup her breast under her nightgown. He playfully squeezed it, fingers pinching the pink flesh and making her gasp at the warm wave it created. 

“Finan-” She exhaled, her chin tilting up when he kissed her throat, teeth grazing on the most sensitive spots. 

“Undress, mo ghrá .” He said, his hands now working on removing his linen short. She nodded, rising on her knees to pull her nightgown above her head. “Ya’re so beautiful.” He whispered under  his breath, the afternoon light enveloping her body. He sat up, his fingers linking moles on her shoulder with an incredible delicacy when he had such calloused hands. “I love ya.” His hand was now cupping her jaw to bring her in another chaste kiss. 

He fell back on the mattress, pulling her with him as she straddled him. “I love you too.” She whispered against his lips. 

They humped slowly, Saegyth rolling her hips against his, her palm pressed on his thigh, as if they had an infinite time amongst them. And in fact, it was what she always felt since they were married. Nothing could separate them anymore, they were bound for eternity, and in time of peace, there was no need for a quick desperate hump. 

“Come ‘ere, mo ghrá .” He growled, the hand roughly holding her hip sliding up to pull her down, lips crashing before a moan forced her to break it. 

He grabbed her hand, allowing her to sink them in the mattress as their fingers intertwined. Her fingers tensed, nails almost breaking the skin at the back of his hand when in a right thrust he brought her over the edge. He came no long after, his free hand tangling in her hair as he kissed her roughly, covering the sound of his groan. 

She fell back next him with a content sigh, a small laugher escaping her as she could still feel waves of pleasure tickling her limbs. When Saegyth glanced at her husband, he was grinning too and when he noticed her staring, he rolled on his side to kiss her tenderly, his wife welcoming the kiss. 

They remained snuggled in bed for a while, enjoying each other’s warmth until Finan said he needed to get things done before the night, wanting to be sure no one had messed up with the watches of the day. Not one to laze alone in bed, Saegyth decided to go and see if Gisela might need anything. But as she walked through Coccham, she saw Aethelwold, again at the alehouse. She had known Aethelwold for long enough to know that he wouldn’t leave Winchester for a good reason and curious about said reason, she walked toward him. 

“Lady Saegyth of Dorchester! Savior of Dorset and not yet a widow.” He exclaimed with his usual grin. “I have seen your Irishman, more than alive.” He commented as he brought his cup to his lips. 

“I do not marry corpses, Aethelwold.” She replied, grabbing the jar at his table as she sat in front of him.

“And yet, that’s how they all seem to end.” He snarled.

“Maybe I should marry you then, to get rid of you. Many would be grateful I’m sure.” She said with a fake smile and Aethelwold imitated her. She brought the jar under her nose, frowning when she realized it wasn’t ale but water. But she said nothing and preferred to question him on what was interesting to her. “Why did you come here, if not for the ale?” 

His eyes followed her movement as she put back the jar on the table before looking back at her. “I came to talk of Uhtred and I’s great future.”

She narrowed her eyes and crossed her fingers together on the table. “And what is that great future of yours?”

Aethelwold’s grin disappeared for a serious one. “Only what I’m owed.” 

She shook her head, exasperated that he wouldn’t stop claiming he should be King of Wessex. She didn’t even dare to imagine what this kingdom would have become if the crown had been resting upon his head. With luck he wouldn’t have lived long and the crown would have been offered to Alfred quickly. 

“Stopping to drink doesn’t make you more lucid, my dear.” She sighed, standing up to continue her way toward the Great Hall. 

Inside she found Gisela, the Lady giving her a beaming smile as she handed Stiorra to Leofwynn. 

“Good afternoon, Uhtred told me the night passed without an incident.” She greeted her, grabbing a basket and joining her near the doors. 

“The usual.” She replied. “I came to ask if you needed anything.”

“Well,” She wrapped her free arm around Saegyth’s and led her outside. “I was going to pull the fishing line at the docks and see if we’d have anything for dinner.” Gisela explained. “Would you dine with us? Finan and you?” She proposed and to be fair, Saegyth didn’t feel like she really had the choice as her friend stared intently at her.

“Of course.” She smiled. 

When they reached the dock, Gisela unwrapped her arm and gave Saegyth the basket before grabbing the line to pull it. Luckily, they had caught something and the Lady took a small knife to kill the moving fish. 

“Have you seen Aethelwold?” Saegyth asked her as she helped to untie the trap. Gisela nodded without looking up at her. “He told me he was here to talk about his great future and Uhtred’s.”

Gisela sighed, she might have known Aethelwold for only three years, it was well enough to be tired of the turd. “He said a dead Dane promised him he’d be King of Wessex and Uhtred, King of Mercia.” 

Saegyth huffed, wondering if it was all a plan of Aethelwold, she couldn’t imagine him so gullible. “Uhtred must be delighted.” 

The Dane Lady rolled her eyes and grabbed the fish to toss it in the basket. “I just hope it won’t give him any other idea. I don’t want him to start a war against Alfred.”

Saegyth nodded, agreeing with her friend. She doubted Uhtred would believe even one second what Aethelwold told him, and he confirmed it at dinner when they were all gathered around the table in the Great Hall. He knew it was only a lie, either from Aethelwold or the said dead Dane, but what was troubling him was the reason for this lie. And Saegyth suddenly had this bitter feeling of trouble coming. 

Chapter Text

Spring had settled in Coccham and the first fruits and vegetables of the season were sold by the merchant in the market. Saegyth was staring at a lot of carrots, the woman selling them swearing they were the best of the market, easy to say when she was the only one having some today. She took some, a few coins falling into the merchant's hand before she left with a grateful smile. As she walked through the market, Saegyth noticed half of the merchants usually coming each month were absent. The Danes gathering in Beamfleot were becoming a real threat and traveling merchants weren’t venturing so close to the border, scared to lose all their goods in raids. 

She didn’t continue her purchase for long before agitation toward the gates of Coccham caught her attention. She frowned as she easily recognized King Alfred and Lord Odda, riding ahead of a huge group. She didn’t remember Uhtred nor Gisela mentioning a King’s visit anytime soon. She started to walk at a quick pace toward the stables where the group was heading to leave the horses. 

On her way, she crossed Sihtric, who came to help to handle the sudden arrival of so many horses. He didn’t notice her as he grabbed the first reins that were being handed to him, so she caught his arm to have his attention. 

“Was it planned?” She questioned him, wondering if he might have been informed during the morning. 

Sihtric shook his head. “I heard nothing, Finan left to fetch Uhtred at the burgh, he didn’t look more aware.”

Saegyth pinched her lips, she didn’t like unplanned King’s visits, it was rarely bringing good news. For a brief instant she wondered if it might not be Aethelwold’s fault, the weasel not being able to hold his tongue and claiming in all Winchester that he and Uhtred were to be Kings. She kept herself from cursing under her breath and thanked Sihtric, wishing him luck with all the work they would have today and she walked toward the King and Lord Odda, the two men taking the direction of the hall with Steapa and a few guards. 

“Lady Saegyth.” Lord Odda greeted her once he had noticed her, a wide grin on his face. 

“Lord Odda, Lord King.” She smiled as she joined their walk, King Alfred giving her a quick nod. “It is a surprise to see you here, we didn’t expect a visit.”

“We didn’t plan to visit.” Alfred replied, a coldness in his tone alarming Saegyth. “I still have to congratulate you on your wedding.” He continued, changing the subject and now sounding more pleasant. “Finan seems to be a good man.”

“He is.” She agreed. “And a man of my choice.” 

“A luxury.” Lord Odda commented, almost grumbling. 

Saegyth glanced at him, the man never had an easy relationship with his own wife. Things had got worse since he killed their son who was taking the path of being a traitor to the King. “One I think I deserved to have.” She replied and Odda gave her a brief smile. 

They finally joined the Great Hall, the main room was empty and Saegyth guessed that Gisela was busy upstairs. She excused herself for leaving them a moment to find the Lady of the estate. Her friend was rocking her daughter to sleep when she found her. 

“There’s the King and Lord Odda downstairs.” She explained and Gisela stared at her with complete surprise. 

The Dane woman briefly looked around before going to put Stiorra in her crib, but the baby started to fuss and Saegyth offered to take care of it as Leofwynn wasn’t here. Gisela thanked her, putting her daughter carefully into Saegyth’s arms. She walked around the room, trying her best to listen to the conversation Gisela was having with the King. 

When Stiorra was finally calm and asleep, she went back to the first floor. Uhtred and Finan were now here, sitting at the table with the King, Odda and Gisela. Of what she understood, they just started to talk about Aethelwold, Finan’s gaze crossing hers when Alfred asked what he had talked about while being in Coccham. Saegyth remained near the stairs a moment, waiting to see if Uhtred would tell the truth but he only said what the King could already guess, Aethelwold had complained about his stolen crown. It wasn’t that much of a lie, he simply didn’t mention the real reason for his journey. 

“Should the devil begin to whisper in his ear, then I may have no choice.” Alfred replied when Uhtred advised him to put his nephew on trial and kill him, leaning slightly toward Uhtred. 

Saegyth walked behind the King to join Finan, her hand resting on his shoulder. She didn’t like the King’s tone, nor the way he looked at Uhtred as if he was trying to warn him. There was a sudden tension between the Lord of Coccham and the King. Saegyth cleared her throat to try to drag the conversation to a more pleasant one. 

“Coccham has changed a lot since your last visit, Lord King. You might enjoy a small walk around the village, see how it thrives.” She proposed with a gentle smile and Alfred looked back at her before nodding. 

“It sounds like a good idea.” He stood from his chair, everyone else imitating him. 

Before Finan could go outside with the others, Saegyth grabbed his arm to keep him here for an instant. 

“Why are they here?” She whispered, her husband having bowed his head while keeping his eyes on Uhtred and Alfred near the doors. 

“To scold Uhtred for hanging a saxon thief without trial.” He explained but it didn’t convince Saegyth, especially with the twist of their conversation when she arrived. “And Aethelwold I guess.” Finan added eventually. 

Saegyth looked at the doors once she heard it being closed, the priest and Steapa accompanying the King having left the room as well, leaving only Finan, Gisela and herself. But she kept talking softly. “What does he know?”

Finan shrugged, looking at Gisela across the table. “That he went into Danelaw.”

“And Uhtred said nothing, right?” She guessed and both Gisela and Finan shook their heads. She let go of her husband’s arm with a sigh and Finan kissed her temple before joining the others. “I don’t like this.” Saegyth said, shaking her head. 

“Me neither.” Gisela agreed, leaning her arms on her chair. 

“At least Aethelwold held his tongue.” She commented, grabbing the cups on the table to help to clean the room which she guessed would welcome a great dinner tonight. 

“Let’s hope that it lasts.” 

The two women, joined by Leofwynn and other maids, worked the whole afternoon to prepare the dinner for the King but also the men accompanying them. Saegyth noticed the way Gisela grimaced when someone reported to them the exact numbers of men to feed tonight. 

“We will have to take on our supplies for the winter.” Gisela explained as she talked with the cook. 

“How much?” Saegyth asked, raising her eyebrows. 

“Not much thankfully, we will be able to compensate in a month.” She reassured both her and the cook who had an horrified look on his face. 

Despite her busy afternoon, Saegyth managed to stop at her house for a brief break. When she walked in, she found Finan cleaning dishes and so she hugged him from behind, resting her head against his back. Finan stopped what he was doing to shift and try to look at her above his shoulder.

“I’m exhausted.” She complained, her voice muffled. 

“It’s soon dinner time.” He replied, rubbing a bowl before resting it to dry on the worktop. 

Saegyth hummed and moved to let him wipe his hands with a rag. “Did you have fun walking around Coccham?” She asked him, envying how simple his day sounded.

“Well, we had another visit.” He announced with a tone that didn’t bring any good news. “Erik Thurgilson.”

The lady frowned, crossing her arms as she leaned against the table. She knew this name, Erik was a Dane Uhtred had fought against the brother and sent to Frankia after being freed from slavery. “Why is he here?”

Finan sighed, his hand scratching his beard. “Uhtred said he was goin’ to meet the dead Dane too.” Saegyth huffed with exasperation, how could a dead bring so much trouble? “Also said that he’d apparently receive an invitation to meet the man.”

“Just like Aethelwold told him.” She commented under her breath. “I hope Uhtred isn’t enough of a fool to follow their words.”

“He already thinks it’s a trap.” Finan stepped forward, resting his hands on her arms to try to ease her worries. 

“As he should!’ She snapped but she quickly regretted being so rude. “Sorry…” She sighed, looking down to the floor to avoid Finan’s eyes. “It’s just the King being here, it makes me anxious.” She said, admitting that the day had been bringing back bad memories to her. 

Last time Alfred visited Coccham had just been the beginning of a nightmare to her. But Finan was understanding and soft eyes lay on her when his fingers lifted her chin up. 

“It’s alright, mo ghrá .” He smiled and she let herself sink into his embrace, his hand rubbing her back kindly. “Nothin’ will happen to ya.” He promised but Saegyth shook her head. 

“It’s not only about me, it’s about all of us.” She said, “There’s a change in Alfred’s behavior toward Uhtred.”

“I noticed.” Finan sighed, his fingers playing with a lock of her hair. “But it is far from being a threat, yet.” He tried to reassure her. 

She pushed herself away from him. “Until he finds out about this dead man story.” 

Finan said nothing, knowing as much as her that if it ever reached the King’s ear, Uhtred would lose any remaining trust Alfred had for him. And the dinner was only one more show of the growing mistrust of Alfred. It had started well, Finan at Saegyth's right laughing with Lord Odda, advising him to drink more ale in the morning to cure his sorehead. She couldn’t help but hit his foot under the table, glaring at him but he only smirked at her mischievously.

But the laughter quickly faded when Alfred mentioned once again his nephew, asking if he was drunk during his stay in Coccham. Uhtred said the truth, Aethelwold, as surprising as it seemed, had been sober. However her friend didn’t stop here but suggested the King should use Aethelwold to bring order into Mercia, claiming he had fought well in Ethandun. Finan kept himself from laughing, who didn’t know of Aethelwold’s bravery during this battle? But Saegyth didn’t find any amusement in it, Alfred purposely kept his nephew far from any battlefield or responsibilities to prevent him from gaining a reputation and threatening his crown. Uhtred knew it and she knew he only brought more animosity in the conversation when he compared Aethelwold to Aethelred, the Lord of Mercia. 

Saegyth had never met Aethelred, she only heard of his holiness from Aelswith, his pretty face from Aethelflaed but mostly of his insufferable personality from Uhtred. She tended to trust Uhtred's opinion. The conversation quickly turned into matters of war, Uhtred explaining the alarming situation with the raiders, Finan supporting his affirmations. But Alfred seemed deaf to any advice coming from Uhtred’s mouth, determined to leave this matter into Aethelstan’s hands and hold the peace. 

The two Ladies sitting at the table glanced at each other, the tension rising between Alfred and Uhtred, until the King simply decided to leave the room. For a moment there was only silence and eventually Lord Odda cleared his throat. 

“Thank you Lady Gisela for the dinner. I should join my bed as well.” He said before nodding at everyone around the table and leaving. 

Irritated, Uhtred poured more ale in his cup before resting the jar on the table loudly. “You’ll take men tomorrow.” The Lord said to Finan’s attention, changing the subject. “And watch the river to see if there are other traders bringing more Danes.”

“Sure, Lord.” Finan agreed. 

They finished the dinner in silence and in the morning they watched the King and his men leave. It should have been a relief, but the bitterness between Uhtred and Alfred prevented Saegyth to be. She chose to spend her afternoon away from Coccham, hidden near the Thames’ shore, watching trade ships,with Finan. 

“I can’t believe how much Alfred doesn’t trust Uhtred.” Finan said, his gaze lost in the river. Saegyth glanced up at him, stopping to sharpen her seax. “He did so much for him and yet, he is the first to believe Uhtred is able to betray him.” He shook his head, exasperated. 

“Uhtred is a heathen, it’s enough of a reason to not trust him for the King.” She explained and her husband turned his gaze to her. “It has always been like this.” She sighed, remembering the first time Uhtred came to Winchester. “Alfred imprisoned him even after Uhtred told everything they had to know to win the battle of Ashdown.”

Finan frowned, the name of the battle familiar, but he said nothing about it. Instead he sighed and leaned his head against the trunk. “We might have to do what Gisela suggested then. Go to the North.” She felt his eyes study her carefully, judging her reaction at the suggestion. 

She didn’t really mind the idea of going North, nothing was particularly holding her here. Of course she loved Coccham and leaving the village would be painful but Finan swore an oath to Uhtred and she would never dare to ask him to renounce it. She was loyal to Uhtred herself and would follow him even if she hadn’t been married to Finan. 

“Uhtred’s destiny has always been in the North, to Bebbanburg.” She replied and a smirk started to tease her lips. “Sooner or later it’s where we will march.”

Finan smirked back at her, visibly glad that they agreed on whether or not they would follow Uhtred. At the sounds of footsteps approaching, branches cracking behind Saegyth, they both looked away from each other. Sihtric appeared from deeper in the forest, a tired expression after spending hours watching at the river. 

“All clear.” He reported, his hands on his belt. 

Finan stood up with a sigh, stretching out his arms before giving his hand to Saegyth and pulling her up. She dusted off her trousers while Finan said he'd go find Rypere watching further along the river. He left Saegyth and Sihtric and they both walked back to Coccham.

“Have you talked to Uhtred again about Ealhswith?” She asked him, curious but also tired that the Lord was still reluctant to give his accord. 

“Not really.” He admitted. “And if I try, Finan and Clapa are here to make jokes out of it.”

Saegyth rolled her eyes, it seemed these two couldn't get tired of it. “Well, it might be a fair revenge. I heard you teased a certain smitten Irishman a lot as well.” 

“It was different!” Sihtric argued, raising his hands in the air. “We wouldn't have, I'm sure he'd still be staring at you from afar and muttering that he isn't worthy of you.” Saegyth couldn't help but smile fondly, remembering a time where they used to turn around each other without being able to make their feelings clear. “I love Ealhswith and she loves me.”

“Uhtred will accept.” She reassured him, squeezing his shoulder amicably. “I'm sure Gisela will succeed in convincing him. And I will try to make Finan shut his mouth. But no promises.” They both laughed as they passed through the gates.

Chapter Text

“We’ll be late if we keep on going like this.” Saegyth chuckled as Finan pressed his body more against her back.

His lips were wandering against the back of her shoulder, southing the scratch of his beard. His arm was wrapped around her waist, his hand sliding on her stomach, neither too high, nor too low. Saegyth twisted her arm, her fingers caressing the back of his neck, the light touch making him hum agaisnt her skin. 

“Finan-” She pleaded with him when he kissed her cheek. She crossed his eyes and she raised an eyebrow. “They will be waiting for us.”

“I don’t mind them waitin’.” He grinned and she rolled her eyes as she pushed his shoulder to prevent him from continuing. 

He growled and lied on his back, pouting. Saegyth ignored him, despite her amusement at his frustration and started to get dressed. Today they were riding to Winchester for Aethelflaed’s wedding, an event expected for three years now. Saegyth had mixed feelings about it, assisting to an arranged marriage was far from something she was excited for. But Aethelflaed had always been enthusiastic about marrying the Lord of Mercia and she hoped for her that she wouldn’t know any deception. 

When she had put on her pants and tunic she turned around to find Finan still curled up in their bed. “I swear, I’ll live with them without you.” She warned him, grabbing his clothes on the furniture. 

Finan narrowed his eyes, a smirk pulling at his lips. “Ya wouldn’t dare.” 

She tilted her head, daring him to try her. Though she didn’t wait to see who would be right, she threw his clothes at him, Finan catching them at the last second. “Come on.”

He growled again but he started to put on his tunic while she braided her hair. After a few minutes, they were heading together to the stables where already most of the men going to Winchester were ready to leave. 

“Just in time.” Sihtric smirked at them from up his horse. 

“I hope you didn’t forget your silver.” Finan snapped and Saegyth glared at him, nudging him in the side when they were out of Sihtric’s sight, inside the barn. “What?”

“I told you to stop teasing him.” She reminded him as she stopped in front of her mare, stroking her neck gently. “The goal of this journey is for Uhtred to finally let him marry Ealhswith.” 

“Isn’t it to assist Lady Aethelflaed’s wedding?” He asked, feigning ignorance. She glared at him again and he raised his hands innocently before heading to his own horse. “Fine, no more teasin’.” He surrendered. 

The ride to Winchester would last two days, which meant they would have to establish a camp for the night. They all knew the road pretty well now and riding toward the center of Wessex was safe enough to not be too watchful of the surroundings. The first day, Saegyth rode alongside Hild and Gisela, the three women settling into an easy conversation, troubled from time to time by the men laughing loudly. 

“Will you visit Lady Aelswith?” Hild asked Saegyth. 

The Lady shrugged, looking ahead. “I don’t know, she must be busy.” 

“She's been planning this wedding for so long.” Hild commented. “And it means a lot to Wessex.”

“One more step to realize Alfred’s dream.” 

They stopped in a tavern for the night, their small group gathered around two tables. Saegyth leaned into Finan as he talked with Sihtric in front of them, feeling exhausted by the ride. She raised her gaze when Uhtred and Gisela decided to retreat to their room to sleep, wishing them a good night, her friend imitating her. Once the couple was gone, Saegyth straightened herself and leaned forward to Sihtric. 

“When do you plan on asking him?” She asked him and the Dane avoided her gaze. “Tomorrow is your last chance, then Uhtred will be too busy hating over Aethelred.” She warned him.

“I know.” He sighed.

Finan shifted on his seat, his knee hitting accidently Saegyth’s before he coughed awkwardly. “I can help ya, if ya want. To convince him.” He proposed to his friend and while Saegyth softly smiled at her husband, Sihtric gave him a surprised look, but grateful.

“No, no, I will do it myself.” He said confidently.

Sihtric kept his word and the following day while Saegyth was riding next to Finan, she caught sight of him joining the head of their group where Uhtred and Gisela were. She nodded with her chin toward the dane to have her husband look as well and an amused smile pulled at his lips. They silently listened as Sihtric asked Uhtred if he had considered letting him marry and have a family on his own. After Gisela had prompted Uhtred to answer he finally agreed to at least think on it and meet Ealhswith. Sihtric slowed his horse to join the back of the line again, a huge smile on his face. 

They reached Winchester by midday and already the town was loud and enjoying the celebrations. It made Saegyth happier to be here again, feeling the joy act on her own mood. She could well see Finan’s huge grin at the idea of doing nothing else but drink in alehouses for the following days. As they rode further into the center of the house, and where they were all living in Winchester, Uhtred now having his own house here as well, they crossed Aethelwold. Surprisingly, or not, he was drinking again and Saegyth rolled her eyes with despair before glancing at Finan who simply shrugged. 

Finan and Saegyth joined their house in Winchester, she grimaced when she realized that beside a few clothes they had nothing to eat for the following days. 

“We’ll just eat with the others at the alehouse.” Finan proposed as he stripped himself from his armour, resting the leather pieces on a chair. 

Saegyth raised an eyebrow at him. “How convenient.” She teased him, knowing that Finan only looked forward to going to Winchester for the inn. Finan didn’t even try to pretend thinking otherwise, a smirk tugging at his lips. “I think I might visit Thyra later, see how she is, it’s been a while.” She told him and he nodded.

So later, she knocked at Father Beocca’s door and Thyra opened with her usual smile. The two women embraced each other before the Dane invited her to come in. 

“It’s been so long since we last saw each other.” Thyra smiled as they sat together at the table. “Your wedding, right?”

Saegyth passed a hand through her hair uncomfortably, feeling bad to not have visited her friend sooner. “Yes, I’m sorry I haven’t been able to come sooner.”

“It’s alright.” Thyra reassured her, reaching for her hand. “Are you content with Finan?” 

The lady smiled, bowing her head. “Yes, I am. You don’t have to worry about him. My husband is a very good one.” 

“I’m glad to hear that!” 

“It’s you who certainly have more to tell me, living in such an animated city.” Saegyth replied, leaning with crossed arms on the table. 

And indeed, Thyra had a lot to tell between her own life and the rumors whispered in the streets. When she was younger, Saegyth used to find it amusing to hear about the gossip of the court; now she knew these weren’t just pleasantries and could have more importance, especially in politics, than it might look like. But Thyra’s ones weren’t as precious, mostly about the citizens themselves, more than about any Lord. 

“People are enthusiastic about this wedding, it will make Wessex prosper.” Thyra explained, her hands wrapped around her cup. “Merchants hope it will make trade easier.”

“I hope some good will come out of this marriage.” Saegyth sighed and her friend frowned. 

“What do you mean?” Thyra asked. 

“Aethelred.” Saegyth tilted her head. “Uhtred doesn’t speak very good of him, neither does Finan.” 

“So, you don’t think he is a good man?” The redhair had a worried look now, a shoulder tensed. 

“I don’t know, Thyra.” She shrugged, looking down. “I just hope I’m wrong, that he isn’t the turd Uhtred says he is in all matters.”

Thyra’s frown didn’t disappear until Saegyth brought another subject of conversation. Later, a few knocks interrupted them and Thyra opened to Finan, much to Saegyth’s surprise. 

“I thought I would see you home.” She said, rising from her chair. 

Her husband didn’t move from the doorway, rubbing the back of his neck. “Aye, but I needed to talk to ya.” He glanced at Thyra, meaning he’d better talk in private. 

Saegyth sighed and thanked her friend for the afternoon, promising to see her soon. Once outside, they hadn’t walked much when Finan stopped to talk, his hand on her arm. 

“We’re leavin’ for a few days.” He said, not too loud. 

She raised her eyebrows, confused. “Where?” 

“Mercia, to see the dead dane.”

“The dead dane?” She gasped, Finan avoiding her eyes. “Are you joking?”

“I’m not!” He assured her. “Aethelwold convinced Uhtred to go and see the bastard corpse.”

Saegyth cursed, her hand passing over her face, knowing it wasn’t a good idea. “If Alfred learns it…”

“Well, let's pray he doesn't.” Finan grumbled. “Ya don't have to come.” He then said, and she thought for a moment if it wouldn't be better to go with them. At least to see this corpse by herself and ease any curiosity she could have had. “In fact Sihtric asked me to ask ya to stay.” He added after a moment. 

“Sihtric?” 

“Uhtred gave him his consent to marry Ealhswith and he hoped you'd accept to house her while we are gone, so she doesn't have to stay in the alehouse.” He explained and despite her annoyance, Saegyth couldn't help but smile at the news. 

“Sure! I'll be glad to finally meet her properly.” She said enthusiastically before coming back to her serious expression. “When are you leaving?”

Finan shrugged. “Soon, we'll be back before the weddin'.”

“You all better be.” She warned him, pointing her finger at him. 

Finan smirked at her warning, but didn't say anything to tease her, he didn't have the time for that. Instead, he simply leaned to kiss her goodbye.

“Be careful. Do not get yourself in more trouble.” 

“Ya know Uhtred.” He chuckled, making her roll her eyes.

With the men’s change of plan, she decided to stop at Winchester’s market and gather food for her and Ealhswith. Saegyth had never met her, but Sihtric had talked so much about her it was just as if she knew her already. And when later the woman knocked at her door, she wasn’t surprised to see she looked exactly like Sihtric had described her. Ealhswith was a tall woman with wild brown hair falling on her shoulders. Her friend always talked of her like a woman with character, but the one standing in her doorway seemed shy, only offering a coy smile as she held a basket with her belongings in front of her. 

“You are Lady Saegyth?” She asked. 

Saegyth nodded and Ealhswith bowed her head respectfully. “Just call me Saegyth.” 

The woman looked briefly confused but Saegyth smiled kindly at her and gestured for her to come in. Ealhswith remained in the middle of the room as Saegyth went back to the dinner she was preparing, expecting the woman to drop her basket near the door. Instead she was nervously looking around. 

Saegyth tilted her head, which seemed to catch Ealhswith’s attention. “You can leave your basket here.” She told her, pointing near the door. Once she had rested the basket on the floor, Saegyth pulled a chair for the woman. “Do you want something? Water?”

“Oh no, thank you.” She shook her head and sat next to Saegyth. “Can I help?” Ealhswith asked, nodding at the carrots she was chopping. 

“Sure.” The two women worked silently, but Saegyth knew from Sihtric that Ealhswith wasn’t a shy woman, so she tried to make her feel more comfortable. “Congratulations, by the way, I’m glad Uhtred finally allowed Sihtric to marry you.” She said with a genuine smile.

Ealhswith’s eyes snapped to her with surprise. “Really?”

“Of course! What does Sihtric say about us for it to be such a surprise?” Saegyth chuckled as she finished peeling a carrot. 

Her guest shrugged as she looked at her hands. “Good things. But I couldn’t trust him fully, I know men easily joke about… About my condition.” 

Saegyth frowned and paused in her work. “Well I am not a man.” She said and Ealhswith gave her a more confident smile. “And I am not going to lie to you, men did joke about it, but it isn’t out of spite toward you. They like to tease each other.” She explained but she didn’t miss the way it pained Ealhswith anyway. “You can scold them if they say something that displeases you, it certainly won’t hurt them. Or you tell me and I’ll cut their balls” She winked at her and Ealhswith laughed heartily. 

“How long have you known about Sihtric?” Ealhswith asked her to change the subject once they had both calmed down. 

It amused Saegyth, remembering Gisela asking her the same question years ago when it was her she had been housing. “Three years?” She guessed, time was passing so quickly. 

They talked as they cooked of Sihtric mainly, Saegyth curious about Ealhswith vision of the story of her meeting with the Dane. She was glad to hear the same fondness as the one in her friend’s voice when she talked about him. She explained to her how not confident she was about marrying Sihtric because she was a whore, Saegyth reassuring her when she stammered that she didn’t plan on continuing this life and that she didn’t have to explain herself to her. 

“Sorry, it’s just that I love Sihtric and I don’t want him to be mocked or criticized because he married me.” Ealhswith sighed. 

Saegyth reached for her hand and squeezed it kindly. “Trust me, Coccham is full of good people. They will turn a blind eye on your past and see you worth more than it.”

Ealhswith thanked her again, visibly reassured by their conversation. As the evening went on, Saegyth concluded that she appreciated Ealhswith very much. She had a lot of humour and under the shy smile she had presented her today she indeed hid a strong personality. The following day, she decided to present her to Gisela. It wasn’t a surprise to her to see that the two women seemed to get along well and she was glad that Ealhswith didn’t hold the same shyness as the previous day anymore.

What was more of a surprise was Thyra’s announcement when she arrived in Gisela’s house with a broad smile. 

“Beocca and I are going to get married.” She declared. 

Saegyth and Gisela congratulated her warmly, taking her in their arms alternatively. They both knew Beocca and Thyra had been fond of each other for months now, but Saegyth never expected the priest to ever be bold enough to ask her to marry him. It was a surprise, a very good one they decided to celebrate around a bottle of wine, Hild joining them later. 

When Ealhswith and Saegyth left the house during the early evening, the blonde woman had the uncomfortable feeling of being watched. The feeling didn’t fade the following day as she walked into the market with Ealhswith, but when she scanned the crowd around them, she found no one suspect. 

“What is it?” Ealhswith asked her when she noticed her weary expression.

Saegyth shook her head and smiled as if nothing happened. “Nothing, just a feeling.”

Ealhswith frowned but said nothing and they continued their shop, not without this bad feeling still creeping into Saegyth’s bones. 

In the morning, she woke up at the sound of the front door opening, she snapped her eyes open and the memory of the bad feeling from the past two days prompted her to grab the knife always hidden under the bed. She was careful to not make a sound that could alert the two people, she could guess at the sound of footsteps, in her living room. One seemed to approach her bedroom’s door and so she brought the blade under her pillow, keeping her eyes half-closed to stare at the door. Her vision was blurred when the door opened softly, the morning light still weak through the curtains, and therefore, she didn’t recognize the person walking toward the bed until she opened her eyes wide and pointed the knife toward them. 

“What a welcome!” Finan joked, raising his hands in sign of peace and Saegyth exhaled of relief. 

“Oh God, sorry, Finan.” She apologized, dropping the weapon to crawl out of bed and take him in her arms. 

Still surprised by the way she welcomed him, Finan took a moment to ease and wrap his arms around her. “Why were ya on your guard like this?” He asked her worriedly, brushing her hair while her head rested on his shoulder. 

“Nothing, just a bad feeling. But it must be Winchester.” She explained, but she doubted her own words. “I never liked this city.” Finan hummed unconvinced, but he didn’t argue. Saegyth pushed herself away from him and tried to look through the doorway. “Who’s with you?”

“Sihtric.” He replied. “Is Ealhswith going to point a knife at him too?” 

Saegyth huffed a laugh as she grabbed a shawl and wrapped it around her shoulders as she walked into the kitchen, wishing a good morning to Sihtric and Ealhswith coming out of the other bedroom. 

“How was your little trip?” She asked the two men as she put food on the table, gesturing to her husband to add cups. 

“No surprise, the dead man was a trick.” Finan shrugged and glared at Sihtric when he started to chuckle. 

“You shat yourslef when you saw him come out of his grave.” Sihtric laughed, sitting at the table. 

“T’was scary!” The Irishman argued as he put a cup in front of his friend, leaning slightly to cross his gaze. “Doesn’t mean I believed it.” He grumbled. 

Sihtric smirked and drew a cross with his finger. “But I saw you pray for your God’s protection.”

Finan grunted annoyingly and Saegyth stared at them, trying not to chuckle while pouring water into her friend’s cup, and then Ealswith’s. They didn’t talk more about it, knowing Ealhswith, despite being Sihtric’s future wife, had already heard too much. Instead, Saegyth announced to them that Beocca had asked Thyra to marry him and the two men stared at her with wide eyes. 

“Sweet Jesus.” Finan commented, sitting next to his wife. “And when do they plan to do it?” 

“Tomorrow, before the royal wedding.” She answered before drinking from her cup. 

“Well, that’s goin’ to be a memorable day.”

Chapter Text

Saegyth spent most of the day helping Thyra to prepare herself for her unplanned wedding. Not that there was a lot to prepare, they wanted a very simple ceremony and Aethelflaed own wedding would keep Beocca busy. And the new couple didn’t want to wait any longer to officialize their union and no one could blame them for it. 

She and Gisela mostly worked on Thyra’s dress, which she wouldn’t wear only for her wedding but also the royal one. As Beocca’s wife, she’d be allowed to attend it, but it would be her first appearance in the royal court and Saegyth knew too well how easily people started to gossip. Thyra being a Dane, no matter if she believed in the saxon God now, people would talk.

Thyra turned around herself, the hem of her pink overdress waving slightly with her movement, Gisela watching meticulously for any imperfection. After a last spin, she finally smiled brightly and nodded at Saegyth who was sitting at the table. 

“I think it’s perfect. You are beautiful.” Gisela declared to her sister, 

“You really are.” Saegyth added.

Thyra replied with a quiet ‘thank you’, her hands smoothing the fabric. It was the woman’s second marriage, and of what Saegyth knew, the first hadn’t lasted and ended in a tragic way, but it didn’t seem to bring back any memory to her friend, she was too overjoyed. 

What Saegyth noticed during this day was the disappearance of this strange feeling of being watched when she was walking in Winchester’s streets. She started to believe her own lie, it might only be this city and her husband’s absence. 

After they dined at the inn with their friends, mainly to raise a cup for all the weddings they had to celebrate, Finan and Saegyth walked back to their house. Her hand in Finan’s, she realized that since the morning, she didn’t have the opportunity to ask him more about their little trip.

“What have you learned from this visit to the ‘dead man’?” Saegyth asked him quietly when they turned into the street of her house. 

Finan waited for them to be in front of their door to answer, scratching his beard while his wife opened the door. “The brothers, Erik and Sigefrid, they are attacking Lunden.” 

Saegyth’s gaze snapped to his face, almost hoping to see him smirk and only be joking. But once again, Finan was more than serious. She pushed the door and only once it was closed behind did she continue the conversation. 

“Will Uhtred tell it to Alfred?” She questioned him, dropping on a chair. 

Her husband shook his head, removing the belt holding his weapons. “Uhtred would have to explain how he learned it and Alfred would find suspicious the reason why he was called to Mercia.” He explained and Saegyth could only admit that it was a fair reasoning. “No, Alfred will have to find out by himself.”

Saegyth rubbed her eyes before pinching the bridge of her nose as she took in the information. “So we can expect a battle any time soon?”

“Aye, I fear we can, mo ghrá .”

Saegyth tried to not think too much about it as they laid in bed, an exhausted Finan quickly falling asleep by her side, but she was concerned by how things would turn. However, she managed to push her thoughts away for a night and in the morning, she felt too excited about the day to bring these troubles to her mind again. 

With a huge smile, she watched as Uhtred married Beocca and Thyra, during a small and private ceremony with only their closest friends. She rested her head against Finan’s shoulder who looked down at her and took her hand to lace their fingers together. 

“Does it bring back memories?” He whispered and when she looked into his eyes, she knew he already had his answer because he was also remembering. 

But she nodded anyway. “Yes, very good ones.”

Finan kissed her forehead while Hild was reciting a prayer and then finally, their two friends were married. Saegyth left her husband’s side to congratulate Beocca and Thyra, taking the danish woman in her arms. When she turned around, Aethelwold who had surprisingly attended the ceremony was already leaving the church and once her eyes had drifted from the small man’s silhouette, she caught sight of Finan whispering something into Uhtred’s ear. 

“We need to hurry to the palace, we can’t be late for Aethelflaed's wedding.” Gisela said, wrapping her arm around Saegyth’s. 

Saegyth pushed once again her bad feeling to smile at her friend. “No we can’t.”

The throne room was filled with more people, Lords and Ladies from all around Wessex and Mercia and it didn’t come as a huge surprise when she saw her brother, Aelwulf, standing in the crowd to the other side of the aisle, even though she hadn’t thought about his possible presence before. He had noticed her as well, a coy smile curving his lips. She gave it back to him, mixed feelings torturing her mind about whether or not she was happy to see him again. She hadn’t seen him since she left Dorset, a little more than two years ago, and had only written to him to announce she was married to Finan. He hadn’t been any different, only sending back congratulations. At least, she was sure she was glad to see he seemed to be fine, his wife, whom she barely knew, standing by his side. 

She looked away from her brother when Finan threatening Aethelwold to kill him alarmed her. She glared at her husband, confused about how their conversation could have led to this but Finan only shrugged with an amused smirk. 

Loud knocks silenced the room and the doors opened to let Aethelflaed walk down the aisle. She was beautiful, smiling as she made her way to join Aethelred at the other end of the room. Saegyth rolled her eyes at another word from Aethelwold about the dead dane and mentally thanked her husband for quickly making him shut his mouth. 

The ceremony was longer, filled with prayers, and more than once she found herself glancing at her brother, unsure of what to do. She couldn’t fully forgive him for betraying her trust, but they had left each other on some sort of good terms. He had also allowed Finan to marry her, so she guessed being polite was the least she could do. And anyway, knowing her brother, she was pretty sure he wouldn’t be able to keep himself from coming to talk to her. 

“Are ya goin’ to talk to him?” Finan whispered in her ear, almost startling her. 

She looked at him, not expecting him to have noticed her brother in the crowd. She could easily see the tight frown of his brows, Finan didn’t appreciate Aelwulf and she didn’t expect him to willingly have a talk with him. 

She shrugged, looking back at the priests. “I don’t know, I think he will want to.” 

“Ya don’t have to.” He added, his fingers brushing hers. 

Saegyth shook her head. “He is my brother. And water needs to pass under bridges one day.”

Finan groaned in disagreement, he was definitely more resentful than her. “If ya say so.”

At the end of the ceremony, they gathered in the banquet room, the crowd now less quiet than during the ceremony. Uhtred, Finan and Sihtric, however decided to stay outside to drink ale, Aethelwold remaining with them, undoubtedly to keep convincing Uhtred that he should be King of Mercia. So she sat to Gisela’s left but she wasn’t surprised to see her brother leave his place to take the empty one next to her. 

“Sister, can I sit with you for a moment?” He asked with an uncertain smile. 

“Sure.” She gestured for him to sit. 

There was an uncomfortable silence between them until Aelwulf cleared his throat. “Your husband isn’t here?”

She shook her head and cut a piece of the meat in her plate. “No, he is outside with Lord Uhtred.” She explained and he nodded slowly. 

“Dorset thrives now, thanks to you I guess?” He chuckled awkwardly and Saegyth was grateful Finan wasn’t here to hear him because she was sure not much would have kept him from reminding Aelwulf of all she had done for him. But she knew her brother was clumsy with his words and she decided to only smile again. “I’m glad to see that you seem happy.”

“Thank you. You looked well too, your wife as well.” She answered. 

“She surprisingly is, despite our four little devils running around the castle.” He laughed and she couldn’t prevent a giggle from escaping her lips. 

“I agree that four little Aelwulf must be a nightmare.” She teased him and received a nudge in the side in return, making them both laugh. 

“And hum… Do you two have children yet?” He asked once they both had calmed down.

She shook her head. “No, but I don’t think too much about it.” 

Aelwulf nodded again but before he could speak again, Saegyth’s attention got caught by Uhtred walking in the room behind Steappa and toward the King’s table. She bit her lower lip, worried about the reason Alfred might want to see Uhtred and she found the same worry in Hild’s eyes when she glanced at her. 

“I should go back to my seat.” Aelwulf declared, his sister looking back at him. “It was good to see you again, sister.” He grinned genuinely. 

“It was.” She agreed, glad that despite the awkwardness of the conversation, they at least had a little laugh. 

But she didn’t enjoy the feeling for long, her eyes fixed on Uhtred as he talked to the King. She wished she was close enough to hear them, but unfortunately, she was closer to the doors, and all the chatter around the room would have made it barely audible anyway. So she simply waited until the end of the banquet, when they gathered around a table of the Two Crane’s Inn, the sun now low in the sky. 

“Alfred knew we went into Danelaw.” Uhtred announced once the maid had rested ale on their table. 

Saegyth sighed while the men who had come with Uhtred looked down to their empty cups. “And so now, he questions your loyalty.” She said, taking the jar and filling her cup. 

She felt Uhtred glaring at her annoyingly. “He always had.” 

“You are not really helping yourself either.” She replied, staring into his blue eyes. 

She knew her words weren’t pleasing him, especially when he could only admit that she was right, but as his oldest friend, she guessed she was in the right place to tell them to him. For all the years she had known Uhtred, she had always seen him play with Alfred’s trust, which most of time was due to his youth and foolishness. But Uhtred wasn’t a boy anymore and she couldn’t understand why he kept acting like this when Wessex was offering so much until the time to march toward Bebbanburg came. 

She watched as his jaw twitched, Finan, Gisela and Sihtric staring at them both worriedly. Uhtred finally lowered his gaze to his own cup and continued to explain his conversation with Alfred. 

“We have to go to Lunden, with Aethelred.” He announced and the three other men at the table collectively exhaled. 

“Well, the fun was short.” Finan complained before drinking half of his cup. 

They talked about the plan to go to Lunden until the sun had definitely set and they walked back to their respective places for the night. Once inside their house, Saegyth let Finan unlace the back of her dress while she worked on undoing the braids in her hair. 

“So, have ya talked to your brother?” He asked, his voice as neutral as he could. 

“He came to talk.” She answered, pulling softly on a strand of her hair until it wasn’t curled anymore. “It was nice.” Her husband said nothing, just a low hum as he nodded. 

“Oh, we might have a monk joinin’ us soon.” He suddenly chuckled, his fingers having reached her lower back and therefore the end of the laces.

She turned around, raising an eyebrow. “A monk?”

“A baby monk even.” He grinned and then sat on the edge of their bed. “Aethelwold said he was Alfred’s bastard son, but the boy claimed to be the nephew of a man named Leofric. A friend of Uhtred.”

Saegyth paused for a moment at the familiar name, she hadn’t heard it in a long time. “I knew Leofric. He was a great warrior and a friend.” She explained and Finan who had started to remove his shoes looked up at her curiously. “But I didn’t know he had a sister who had a bastard from Alfred.” She walked toward the furniture where her nightgown was folded. “Well, it shouldn’t be such a surprise, Alfred used to hump every living thing when he was younger.” She shrugged and she heard Finan make a strangled noise behind her, something between surprise and amusement. 

“He what?” He gasped when she turned, her dress falling from her shoulders and pooling at her feet. 

“How do you not know that already?” She grabbed her nightgown and put it on, smoothing it before falling in the bed behind Finan. “You spend a lot of time in Winchester’s taverns, though.” She laughed and Finan twisted his body to stare at her.

“Well, not enough it seems.” He replied, standing up.

She flipped, so she was now on her stomach as she watched her husband undress, her chin resting against her palm. “Tell me about this monk.” 

Finan dropped pieces of his armour on a chair and then pulled his tunic above his head. “He called himself Osferth, I think? He really didn’t look like a warrior.” He grimaced. 

“He is a monk.” Saegyth commented.

Finan shook his head, his hands working on his belt. “Aye, but there’s nothin’ really… Warrior alike comin’ out of him.”

“Oh? So you can tell that now? Stare at someone and know if he is a warrior inside.” She smirked, both amused and pleased by the sight of her now naked husband. 

“Of course I can!” Finan took offence, pressing a hand to his chest while the other reached for his linen shorts. “I knew it when I first saw Uhtred, that's how I knew he was the man to follow.” He explained with a more serious tone. “You too.” This time he grinned, crawling to his side of the bed while Saegyth joined hers. “First time I saw ya, I knew what a fierce woman was hidin’ behind these angelic features.” 

She chuckled as he peppered kisses on her said angelic features until she pushed him slightly, her hand in the middle of his bare chest. “So Uhtred accepted the monk to join us?” 

“I guess? He told him to lose his cross and find him.” He responded, his head resting back on his pillow.

Saegyth nodded and turned to blow the candle burning on her nightstand, the darkness suddenly enveloping them. “This boy is interesting. Leaving the easy life of a monk for the battlefield, to serve a pagan Lord.” She said, lying back under the covers.

“Easy life?” Finan huffed as he snuggled into her side, his strong arm wrapping around her waist. “Borin’ ya mean. I would do anythin’ to not spend my days on my knees.” He barely finished his sentence and he already started to chuckle, his breath caressing her neck. “Unless it's to please a woman.” 

She slapped his arm playfully, making him laugh more as he moved to kiss her cheek. “I wonder what Leofric told him to convince him to leave everything behind.”

“Well, ya’ll know if he sticks to his ambitions.” Finan replied, yawning his last words. 

Chapter Text

They sailed for Lunden early in the morning, after riding for half a day to join the ships that had been prepared, the Thames colored in different shades of orange while the ships, filled with Uhtred’s men and mercian ones, moved forward swiftly. 

“We’ll marry in Coccham as soon as possible.” Sihtric said, sitting to Saegyth’s left while she ate an apple. “We’ll marry in front of your God and also the gods.” He smiled enthusiastically. 

“Two feasts?” She asked, raising an eyebrow at his friend.

The young Dane shook his head. “Only one, we’ll do everything on the same day.”

“It sounds good.” She smiled, throwing her applecore in the river. “I’m excited to celebrate another wedding.”

“Careful, though.” Finan grinned in front of them. “Two weddings can only mean twice the wrath if ya make any mistake.” He joked, Clapa at his side laughing while Sihtric only rolled his eyes. 

Ignoring Finan, he turned toward Saegyth again. “Thank you again for staying with Ealhswith and allowing her to stay in your house while we were away.”

Saegyth stretched out a hand to squeeze her friend’s hand. “It’s normal, Ealhswith is a good woman, I like her a lot.” She said, remembering the few days she had spent learning more about the woman. “You all better be good with her.” She pointed at Finan and Clapa in front of them and then Sihtric with her finger. “I promised her I would cut off your balls if you dare not treat her correctly.” She warned them, the three men either gasping or staring at her with wide eyes. 

“Ya wouldn’t dare do that to me.” Finan raised an eyebrow, but a cheeky grin was dancing on his lips. 

“Hm, especially to you.” She replied with a smirk, staring intently into his eyes. 

The amusement in his pupils turned into mischief and a huge grin grew on his lips, the sight of it making her own skin warm. “Ya’re gettin’ wild, mo ghrá .”

They stared at each other until Sihtric made a sound of disgust and they all burst into laughter, the sound making mercian warriors on other ships glare at them. 

They reached Lunden during the afternoon, the air seeming even warmer in the city. She walked close to Sihtric and Finan as they left the docks, her husband describing the city as a dangerous place with a disconcerting enthusiasm. But to Saegyth’s relief, he had no plan on ever living here. It wasn’t the first time she was walking into this street, her first husband having brought her here once or twice for trades. She hadn’t appreciated the city, maybe even less than Winchester where at least there was a certain order. As they approached the center, where Roman buildings were still standing, the only thing she liked in the city, she remained closer to Finan, silently listening to Uhtred explaining the structure of Lunden to Aldhelm and Aethelred behind them. Sihtric left their side before reaching the main square, Uhtred wanting him to spy from up the building and tell him if he saw anything abnormal. 

They all stopped with dread when they crossed a crucified man at the end of a passage under a roman building, the light coming from behind the cross lying down the shadow to Saegyth’s feet. Her hand immediately reached for Finan’s. 

“God preserve us.” Aethelred said behind her. 

“It is a death, nothin’ more.” Finan replied, his thumb brushing his wife’s fingers reassuringly, while his free hand wrapped around the handle of his sword. “Ya’re alright?” He whispered into her ear.

She nodded, forcing herself to smile at him despite the cold shiver she felt. “Yes, I just wasn’t expecting such a sight.” 

Her hand left Finan’s as they crossed past the corpse, only to be welcomed by three Danes at the end of the alley. One greeted Uhtred by calling him the future King of Mercia, which only made Saegyth clench her jaw with worry that it would be whispered back into Alfred’s ear. She quickly guessed the man, tall with a huge dark beard divided in two by beads, was Sigefrid from his missing hand which seemed to have been replaced by a blade, which he joked about lightly. The man to his right, with lighter hair and to be fair, he also had kinder features, was Erik, who also seemed the one thinking between the two as he engaged the conversation with Aethelred. 

The reason for their presence was quickly made clear, they wished to negotiate for the Danes to leave Lunden, but said Dane weren’t very cooperative, making silly jokes about Lady Aethelflaed. Eventually, the brothers proposed to keep talking around food and ale, so they walked away to enter a small patio. That was when Saegyth focused on the last Dane welcoming them, a larger dane with dirty blond hair and eyes as clear as crystals. 

“Here’s food, Lady.” He grinned at her widely with a slight bow of his head before his gaze fixed on her as he gestured toward the table where was rested ale and food. 

In fact, she was pretty sure his gaze didn’t leave her for even a second, making her stomach twist and cutting any appetite she had. She tried to stay close to Finan, listening to the brothers, Aethelred, Aldhelm and Uhtred’s talk, until Sigefrid started to talk about the priests he was crucifying and her husband left her side to add his own knowledge to the conversation. Almost immediately she felt the man’s presence behind her and her hand hovered over the handle of her sword. If she hadn’t been surrounded by warriors, she surely would already have cut his throat, but she had to be patient and not create tension that could ruin the negotiation, despite how bad they were starting. 

She found a way out when Sigefrid, under Uhtred’s advice, decided to allow one of the priests he captured to fight for his freedom. She quickly walked to Finan’s side again, whom she doubted had noticed the way the Dane looked at her. She wasn’t sure if it was a good thing or not. 

The Dane hadn’t followed them as they joined the crowd gathering around the square, the brothers standing on the stairs afar. Saegyth frowned as the priest meant to fight was given a shield and a sword, his opponent applauded by the crowd was undoubtedly a good fighter. 

“Does he even stand a chance?” She worried, glancing at Finan and Uhtred. 

“At least his death will be quicker than on a cross.” Her husband replied and she couldn’t deny it was a blessing compared to being attached on a cross, left to agonize for days. 

So she watched the fight, ready to see a priest die in an unfair fight. But to everyone’s surprise, after he had stumbled a few times, the priest revealed himself to have excellent skills. In a few swirls of his sword, he succeeded to put the Dane to his knees, his blade against the man’s throat. The priest had won his freedom and as promised, Erik gave it to him. Saegyth looked back at Finan who was chuckling about the end of the fight and when her gaze drifted to Uhtred, she saw a both satisfied and proud smile on his face. The crowd fell silent again when Sigefrid rushed toward the square to have a few words with the priest. But the Christian stepped back and pointed toward Uhtred, asking to leave Lunden with him. 

“But not before we’ve settled on a price!” Aethelred claimed, climbing the few stairs leading to the square. “I hope? How much… For you to leave Lunden?” 

Sigefrid remained silent for a moment, his gaze going from the Lord of Mercia to his brother and back again. Finally, he leaned a little forward, hovering over Aethelred. “Nothing. Because we will not leave.” He grinned, patting the Lord’s cheek as if he was a child. 

Aethelred opened his mouth to argue, but the menacing way Sigefrid raised his eyebrows, daring him to even say a word, made him close it quickly. “We will report your decision to King Alfred, then.” He said in a small voice. 

They joined the docks soon after, the two mercian Lords carrying miserable faces while Uhtred didn’t seem surprised at all by the turn of events. Finan jumped first into the ship where the oarsmen had been waiting for them and then turned around and held out a hand to chivalrously help his wife into the boat. 

“Gallantry will take you nowhere.” She told him when he rested a hand on her waist once she was on the ship.

“Ya think?” He grinned before pecking her lips and letting her join the other end of the ship. 

Finan was about to follow her when Sihtric cleared his throat, making him turn back. “No gallantry for me?” He raised an eyebrow and easily jumped in, the hull moving with the shock. 

“Nah ya’re already taken, ya don’t need my gallantry anymore.” Finan replied with a wave of his hand and Saegyth chuckled as she sat down.

Sihtric frowned. “Have you ever been?” 

Offended, the Irishman gasped with a hand in the middle of his chest. “I let ya win against me during last week’s drinkin’ game.”

“You were half dead on the table.” The dane huffed but his friend only waved his hand once again to warn him he wouldn’t listen to any more arguments and simply dropped down next to his wife before Uhtred shouted to pull the oars. 

The trip back to Winchester was rather calm, Uhtred was deep in his thoughts, probably thinking about his future meeting with the King, and Saegyth was no better, her gaze lost in the treeline along the river. She couldn’t help but think over and over again to the Dane’s cold eyes, the way he stared at her like she was no more than a thing for him to possess. It sent a shrill down her spine, it had been a while since a man had looked at her this way. 

“Ya’re alright?”

Finan’s voice brought her out of her mind, his fingers playing with a strand of her hair absentmindedly. She hummed before looking at him and nodding vigorously. “Yes, I was just thinking.” 

For a moment, Finan simply stared at her silently, trying to guess what she was thinking about but when he failed he simply asked. “About what?” He leaned his head against the edge of the hull, his eyes half closed because of the sun. 

“The Danes we just met.” She explained and he raised an eyebrow. “Two I understood were the brothers, but the last, the one who led us to the food, I didn’t get his name.” 

The hand that wasn’t into her hair tugged at his beard as he tried to remember the name of the man. “Haesten, I think. Uhtred freed him at Eoferwic years ago, he said.” He opened his eyes again, his palm now on the back of her neck. “Why are ya askin’?”

She hesitated to tell him the truth, that this Haesten had given her a bad feeling, but it would only serve to start an anger into Finan’s chest that would certainly not be tamed easily as they were now far from Lunden. “I’m just trying to know the enemy.” She winked, looking away a brief moment only to stare back at her husband and see if he was convinced. “We know where this will certainly end, right?”

“If Alfred isn’t stubborn.” Uhtred replied, walking toward them and dropping on a bench. “The outcome always was a battle, but he doesn’t want to hear about it.”

“Do ya have a battle plan, Lord?” Finan asked, sitting correctly again, his forearms leaned against his thighs and hands joined. 

Uhtred looked at the ship where Aethelred was, his fingers toying with the hammer hung to his neck. “I have ideas. But I hope Alfred will listen to them and not the turd’s ones.”

“You are his best warrior, the King values your knowledge on the battlefield.” Saegyth said confidently. 

If the two men couldn’t agree on politics and how to rule a kingdom, at least when battle came, Alfred always acknowledged that a battle won was one Uhtred had planned. With luck, it would be an opportunity for them to be peaceful toward each other once again.

But two days later, Saegyth realized how wrong she had been. They were back in Winchester, Finan and she cuddled in bed when knocks at the door made her husband growl annoyingly against her bare shoulder. She buried her face in her pillow, not willing to get up yet but after new knocks she sighed and pushed herself out of bed. She hadn’t yet tossed the covers away when Finan pulled her back down. 

“I’m goin’.” He said, kissing her temple. “Go back to sleep.”

She nodded, pulling the covers up her body as Finan put on his pants and left to open the door. She closed her eyes again, but when she recognized Sihtric’s voice, she couldn’t help but listen through the door. But their voices were muffled and she didn’t understand much from Finan’s exasperated tone. She sat up on their bed, hearing the door closing and Finan walking toward the bedroom. 

“So?” She asked him when he passed a hand over his face as he stood in the doorway. 

“We’re goin’ back to Coccham.” He explained. 

She raised an eyebrow, surprised. “Why? Uhtred must have planned an attack on Lunden with King Alfred.”

Finan lazily walked to the bed and dropped on it, taking time before answering, his eyes closed. “The King himself sent him back to Coccham, he will plan the attack with Aethelred.”

“What? But why?” She continued to ask, confused, leaning above him despite the fact that he couldn’t see her. 

“Sihtric didn’t know.” He shrugged, then he opened his eyes, his hand sliding up her side. “We leave during the afternoon. May we sleep more?” He smiled sheepishly, as if he was a child. 

Saegyth chewed on her inner cheek, she would rather leave their bed already and talk to Uhtred about what happened last night during his meeting with Alfred, but she was tired and another hour of sleep before having to ride again wouldn’t be too much. They joined their friends to the stables later, everyone rather silent as Uhtred carried a somber expression. Saegyth kept herself from interrogating him already and instead walked toward Ealhswith, the woman smiling brightly at her. Despite everyone’s bad mood, Ealhswith seemed happy, and to be honest she had all the reasons to as she confessed to Saegyth that it would be the first time she would leave Winchester. She was born here and had grown up here, Winchester was all she knew. 

“Sihtric talked a lot of Coccham to me, it really sounds like an amazing place.” Ealhswith said as she carressed the neck of her horse, her eyes studying the animal carefully, it also was the first time she would ride.

“It’s very different from Winchester. Though, the market can be as noisy during good days.” Saegyth replied. 

“If it’s only that, I might like it anyway. I’m sick of this city.” 

Saegyth glanced knowingly at her friends, her hand stilling on her saddle before she could grip it and pull herself on horse’s back. Ealhswith was reminding her more and more of her a few years earlier. They both were very different, Ealhswith was a whore’s daughter herself and had never known who her father was, while Saegyth was of noble birth and had lived in a certain luxury, but in how life had been hard on both of her, they had many similarities. And Saegyth was glad to see that Ealhswith was finally able to find happiness.

Chapter Text

The Great Hall was filled with the sound of blades being sharpened and the laughter of men as they worked. For the past few days, the main room had been requisitioned to prepare the weapons for the upcoming battle announced by Lord Aethelred with a letter a week ago. 

Gisela and Saegyth were standing upstairs, Young Uhtred in his mother’s arms to watch curiously what was happening down stairs. Leofwynn was behind them, a tired Stiorra falling more and more asleep in her arms, but the loud sound always managed to wake the baby. She started to cry and Gisela turned around, putting her son down to instead pick up her daughter. 

“You should take them to your house.” Gisela instructed the nurse as she rocked Stiorra gently. “So they can nap away from the noise.”

“Yes, Lady.” Leofwynn nodded, taking back Stiorra after her mother kissed the top of her head. 

The nurse and the children quickly left the Great Hall, leaving Saegyth and her friend alone upstairs. The blonde woman leaned against the railing and rubbed her hands together, her palms still aching from the time she spent sharpening her own sword this morning. Her eyes lingered a moment on Uhtred and Finan, walking between the men to see their work. She had never seen the village in such turmoil, and indeed, it would be only the second time Uhtred would lead the men of Coccham to battle and since the last time, two years ago, their number had drastically increased. The people trusted the pagan Lord enough to engage themselves or join the permanent guard of the village when they used to be quite distant. 

“So you’re going with them?” Gisela asked, her eyes still down to the Hall. 

“I am.” Saegyth replied. “It will be my first battle.”

Her friend glanced at her and smiled. “Indeed, how do you feel about it?”

“Nervous.” She admitted after a deep breath and then a chuckle escaped her. “But I think Finan is even more.” 

Gisela raised an eyebrow at her, her gaze drifting to her. “He is afraid of losing you?”

“Yes, as much as I’m afraid to lose him.” She sighed and straightened as she grabbed the edge of the railing with her both hands. “Or maybe he thinks I’m not prepared enough.”

“Don’t say that.” Gisela shook her head, resting her hand on one of hers. “He wouldn’t let you walk into a battlefield if he knew you wouldn’t be able to survive it.” She turned to face Saegyth, her hand squeezing her friend’s harder. “But battle is unfair even to the best of warriors.”

Saegyth lowered her face to hide a tight and sad smile, she knew that well. In her youth she had lost two older brothers to the war, even though they had been trained since they were children. 

“You are right.” She agreed, giving her a more confident smile when she looked back at her. 

Gisela winked at her before watching above the railing once again. “When am I not?” Saegyth snorted, shaking her head with amusement. 

She then frowned when a guard walked into the Great Hall and rushed to Uhtred. She couldn’t hear what the young man said but when the Lord gestured to Finan to go with the guard, Saegyth guessed that someone had just arrived. Gisela and she climbed down the stairs to ask him what was happening as he was now ordering the men to make space. 

“Aethelred is here.” He simply replied, a certain annoyance clear in his voice.

Not long after, Finan came back to the hall, followed by Lord Aethelred and Lord Aldhelm. As the two Lords and their men sat around the main table, Saegyth noticed Thyra coming in. Surprised, she welcomed her with a large hug anyway, Gisela doing as well after her. 

“What are you doing here? Is Beocca with you?” Gisela asked.

“Yes, he is praying with Lady Aethelflaed.” Thyra explained, her gaze darkening for a brief instant. 

Saegyth ignored it and led her to one of the benches while Gisela started to talk with Aldhelm. The discussion kept going peacefully until Aethelred started to talk about Aethelflaed and suddenly Thyra left without a word. Saegyth glanced at Gisela who seemed as surprised as her by her reaction. She waited to hear the end of their battle plan to leave as well and try to find Thyra. 

She found her not so far, leaning against the wall from the Great Hall in a small street. The sun was starting to set, but Saegyth could see the way her cheeks had reddened, her chest heaving quickly. 

“Thyra?” She called her and the usual soft eyes that would cross hers were now burning with anger. “Are you alright?” 

She stretched out a hand to rub her arm soothingly but the Dane shook her head. “You were right about Lord Aethelred.” Saegyth stilled at her words, her hand stopping in its motion. “He isn’t a good man and he is no better to Lady Aethelflaed.”

Saegyth’s stomach twisted with a mix of anger and disgust, but also fear, her own memories working to bring old feelings. “Are you… Are you sure?” She said with a quiet voice, but she already believed her friend.

“Yes. I can see it in the way he looks at her.” She affirmed and grabbed Saegyth’s hand between her own. “He is a bad man.”

She stayed quiet for a moment, as she tried to keep her memory away and focus on the present. “We should talk with her.” 

“I thought so.” Thyra agreed as she crossed her arms. “But they went to prayers and Beocca looked… strange after talking with Aethelred.” She frowned. “I’m going to join them.” She finally announced, freeing Saegyth’s hand. “I’ll see you later.”

Thyra walked past her, taking the direction of the gates to join the small church outside the walls of Coccham. For a moment, Saegyth didn’t move, her eyes closed as she took a deep breath. But when she opened them again, she felt anger start to boil inside of her. Aethelflaed had always been a sweet girl and Saegyth didn’t wish to see her become as miserable as she had been during her own first marriage. No one should. But it was the way of things in nobelity and she was one lucky soul to have found a way to escape it. Somehow it made her even angrier. 

She decided she couldn’t yet go back inside and face Aethelred without him making her feel sick, so instead she started to walk to Sihtric’s house, one he now shared with Ealhswith. She knocked at the door and Sihtric’s wife opened to her quickly after, offering her a gentle smile.

“What are you doing here? It’s getting late.” Ealhswith wondered as she invited her inside. 

“Lord Aethelred arrived earlier, I thought I would warn you. We will probably all dine at the Great Hall.” She explained, looking around the house curiously. She hadn’t come into this house in a while, at least before Ealhswith moved in, and she could notice some changes, dried flowers on the walls, fixed curtains, fresh fruits and vegetables in a basket. “Is it Sihtric who tried to make this house look more living or is it your work?”

Ealhswith started to laugh, her cheerfulness wiping away Saegyth’s anger. “It is my work.” She replied, approaching the table pushed against a wall to arrange the flowers in a vase put on it. “When he first brought me here, I doubted he actually lived here.”

“Since Finan stopped living here, he spent most of his time outside. He used to come only to sleep, I guess.” Saegyth shrugged. “It is lovely.” 

“Thank you.” She blushed slightly at the compliment. “I never had my own house, I’m trying my best to make this look good.” She laughed uncomfortably, as if realizing she had never owned a house was suddenly making her ashamed. She shook her head and reached for two cups on a shelf. “A drink maybe?” She raised an eyebrow. 

“Why not?” Saegyth smirked. 

The two women sat at the table, emptying their cups of ale as they talked. Saegyth had found out during the past days of knowing Ealhswith that she was quite the storyteller, especially when it came to gossip. It shouldn’t have been such a surprise, Ealhswith had been living in an alehouse for the most part of her life and there were no better places to hear interesting stories. More than once, Saegyth almost choke with her drink from laughing at her friend’s stories. 

Neither of them realised how fast time went until the front door opened to Sihtric. 

“Saegyth? We thought you were at the church with Thyra.” The man began, his eyes drifting from the two Ladies to the empty jar of ale on the table. “But I doubt any of you had been praying.” 

Ealhswith snorted as she shared a mischievous gaze with Saegyth. “We definitely weren’t.” She stood up and after a few uncertain steps, she kissed Sihtric’s cheek. 

“I think I should go back, before Finan starts to worry.” Saegyth announced, her both hands resting on the table to help her steady herself as she stood from the chair. Then, she turned to offer a grateful smile to Ealhswith. “Thank you for the drink, it was great.”

“Pleasure was mine.” She winked at her. 

The cool air that hit Saegyth’s face when she walked out of the house managed to sober her up a little on her way home. It wasn’t entirely dark, candles from inside the houses lighting the streets, and when she approached her own house, she easily guessed that Finan was already there for the silhouette she could see moving inside. She pushed the door open and her husband who seemed to have been working on getting rid of his armor paused in his movement to stare at her. 

“Christ, I was startin’ to think ya had disappeared.” He huffed, hanging his belt at the back of a chair. 

“I was just with Ealhswith.” She explained as she sat on another chair to remove her boots. 

Finan leaned against the table and frowned. “Thought ya were at the church with Thyra, Lady Aethelflaed and Beocca.” 

Saegyth briefly tensed at the mention of the names but continued to unlace her shoes. “No, I went to Sihtric’s house to warn her we would all dine at the Great Hall. And well, we started to talk and got carried on.” She shrugged and Finan only hummed at her explanation. 

When she found him too silent for a man who had just spent an evening drinking with his friends, she lifted her head. He was looking away from her, his fingers playing with the cross around his neck, visibly in his thoughts. Her second boot off her foot, she stood up and placed herself just in front of him, clasping her hands on his cheeks to make him look at her. 

“Will you tell me what's on your mind?” She questioned him. 

He took a moment to answer, taking a deep breath. “We are leaving tomorrow afternoon.”

“Oh.” 

Now they were both silent. But Finan seemed to feel the need to fill it because he carried on with his explanation. “We leave tomorrow to join the wessex and mercian army, we establish a camp for the night and then we will attack in the morning.”

Saegyth nodded slowly, realizing how close she was from her first battle. Her hands slipped from his face and Finan caught them in his. “Do you think I’m ready to fight on the battlefield?” Even though she had this conversation with Gisela earlier, she felt like she needed to hear it from him anyway. “I know a battle isn’t like fighting a few slavers.”

“You are, mo ghrá . I promise you are.” He reassured her, his hands holding hers tightly. “And I’ll enjoy watching ya kick a few arses.” He smirked for a moment, the sight always warming her heart, before becoming serious again. “But I’d be lying if I told ya I didn’t wish ya the further possible from the battlefield.”

Her eyes didn’t leave Finan’s, his brown pupils revealing the sincerity of his words. She believed him when he said she was perfectly able to fight into a shield wall and even more when he admitted he’d rather keep her safe from the battle. It made her love him even more, if it was even possible. And on her tiptoes, she tried to show him all this love in a tender kiss. Finan sighed against her lips when she moved away, standing flat on her feet once again. He bowed his head to deepen the kiss, one hand cradling her head while the other curved around the side of her neck. Saegyth felt like all her senses had suddenly awakened from his kiss. 

When they broke apart to catch their breaths, she kept her eyes closed, taking in the feel of his beard scratching her cheek as he kissed her jaw. “The decision is up to ya, mo ghrá .” His both hands slipped in her neck, thumbs drawing the line of her jaw. “Whether or not you decide to join, I’ll support your decision.”

“I know you will.” She opened her eyes again and softly smiled. “That’s why I love you.”

He moved his face back slightly, raising an eyebrow. “Only for that?”

She rolled her eyes and wrapped her arms around his shoulder to bring him in another kiss. “Among other things.”

Chapter Text

They spent most of the afternoon riding, first to join the two armies and then to join a large field a good distance from Lunden. Now the sun was setting and the men and women had gathered around the fires. Coccham’s warriors were sitting away from the armies of Mercia and Wessex. Even Uhtred had decided to remain with his men instead of dining with Lord Aethelred as he probably would have done if it had been anyone else. 

“I bet one of them has been especially charged to kill me during the battle.” Aethelwold theorized as he stared distrustfully at the soldiers further. 

“Or in your sleep, maybe.” Finan grinned at him from the other side of the fire. 

Clapa and Sihtric snorted, while Saegyth remained in her thoughts, turning her spoon absentmindedly in her not even half emptied bowl. She was staring at Lady Aethelflaed, the young woman eyes down cast as she sat at her husband’s side. Anyone not knowing her would say that she was just shy, but Saegyth had known her since she was a child and she had never been one to hold her tongue. She was a smart woman, always invested in political matters and to see her so quiet the day before a battle wasn’t something Saegyth would ever expect from her. Except if something, or someone, was troubling her and Saegyth knew perfectly the answer. 

Thyra had told her what happened last night in the church and had also made her swear to not tell it to anyone else. Aethelflead had decided to not tell anything to the King of the way Aethelred treated her, for the good of Wessex and Mercia. The Lady’s sense of duty felt painfully alike Saegyth’s and since, she felt the need to have a talk with her. But she didn’t have the opportunity this day, Aethelred being constantly around her and she doubted having one after the battle. Her last option was while the men were away to fight.

“Ya have barely eaten.” Finan noticed, his hand squeezing her knee to have her attention.

She looked at him, smiling slightly to try to make the worry on his face disappear. “I’m just not very hungry.”

Finan moved closer to her, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder, kissing her behind her ear. His hot breath caressing her sensible skin made her shiver. “I believe you think too much, mo ghrá .”

“One of us has to.” She smirked.

Finan huffed in her ear, offended. “You wound me!” He moved back slightly and Saegyth chuckled as she shifted, draping her legs over his, to kiss his cheek.

She then rested her head against his shoulder, her eyes half-closed as she listened to her friends talking. Well to be fair, it was mostly Aethelwold complaining about Alfred. 

“Come on, Saegyth! Tell them that he once tried to lock me into a monastery!” He pointed at her with his cup. 

“It’s not for the time you lasted there.” She rolled her eyes. “I’ve never been more disappointed in my life than when I saw you coming back from it.”

The King’s nephew ignored her remark and kept on his ranting. “I’m not as easily taken away as his many bastards.” He said bitterly before something sparked in his eyes. He leaned closer to Uhtred who had been dozing for a while, his back against a stump. “Speaking of Alfred’s bastards, did Leofric’s nephew come to you yet?” 

“He didn’t.” Uhtred muttered. 

Aethelwold hummed longly, as if he was about to say wise. “Maybe this sour of Aelswith kicked him back into the monastery.”

Saegyth let out a long annoyed sigh and looked up to Finan. “I’m tired of listening to his shit, can we join our tent?”

“Thought you’d never ask.” He said with relief. 

They both stood up and wished a good night to all around the fire before walking away. Their tent wasn’t too far, close enough from the fires to see where they were putting their feet. Finan pushed open the canvas and they slipped into the tent. He easily unclasped the pieces of his armor, starting a small pile on the ground and came to help Saegyth with the laces of her own. As he did so, his lips wandered again behind her ear, making her take sharp breaths. 

She finally pulled the leather above her head and for the short moment Finan was away from her, she was able to think clearly. She dropped her armor on the pile and turned around to face Finan. He leaned to kiss her but she stopped him with a hand on his chest. 

“I need to tell you something.” She said hesitantly, making him frown. “I have been thinking about tomorrow and… And I think I’m going to stay at the campment.”

“If it’s what ya want.” He smiled softly, caressing her cheek with his thumb. “But can I ask ya why?”

“I’d like to talk with Aethelflaed.” She paused for a moment to insist on her next word. “ Privately . And I fear it will be my only opportunity.”

“Alright.” Finan nodded, though she could see in his eyes that he knew there was more behind her decision. 

But he didn’t try to understand further and only cupped her face between his hands to kiss her softly. With dread, she realized it could be one of the last times he was kissing her, so she replied more fiercely, her hands wrapping around his neck. 

“Promise me to not act recklessly.”

“When do I act recklessly?” He smirked, kissing her cheek as he moved his hands to her hips to pull her more against him.

She hummed at the feel of his beard scratching her smooth skin, his cold palms sliding under her tunic and making her muscles tense. “More often than you think.” She teased him before grabbing his face to make him look at her. “Promise to come back to me.” She pleaded him, her eyes not leaving him. 

“I promise.” He rested his forehead against hers, his hot and heavy breath caressing her lips. “I promise to always come back to ya, mo ghrá .”

She smiled up at him, even if his eyes were closed, and brought her lips against his own once again, kissing him with as much love as she was able to show him. Finan’s hands moved on her body, cupping her breasts, the feel of her soft skin against her making him grunt. She sighed when he pinched one of her nipples while his hand other kneaded her flesh, allowing him to slip his tongue into her mouth to meet hers. Saegyth quickly grew frustrated by the barrier of clothes separating them, so she swiftly removed her tunic before grabbing the hem of Finan’s and pulling it up his body. He covered her hands with his to pass the tunic over his head and toss it to the ground. 

Their movements were rough and quick, not of them willing to waste time teasing on what could be their last night together. Saegyth hoped with her whole heart that it wouldn’t, they had both suffered so much during the past years, more than enough she was sure to allow them some more time together. 

She stopped to think about it when Finan started to thrust into her, her ankles locked in the hollow of his back and her hands gripping his shoulders to keep him close. His palm covered her mouth and he buried his face in her neck so no one would hear them. The feel of his skin grazing over hers, his panting breath in her ear, the weight of him against her were making her mad, unable to think about anything else but him and this precise moment. Even after they had both come undone and were now laying in a mingle of limbs under the furs, she didn’t think about it. She felt too exhausted by the day and her husband’s heartbeats and regular breath lulled her to sleep. 

In the morning, she woke up at the feel of someone shaking her shoulder. She opened her eyes slightly, the light slipping through the canvas blinding her, but she recognized Finan sitting next to her. He offered her his usual gentle smile and she studied him briefly, noticing that he was already wearing his armor. 

“I’ve to go,  mo ghrá .” 

“Already?” She pushed herself up, her muscles aching for having slept almost directly on the ground, and took him in her arms. 

She didn’t know for how long she had been hugging him, but when they parted, it certainly didn’t feel long enough. He then kissed her before standing up but she grabbed his hand to stop him for a moment. 

“I love you.” She told him, squeezing his fingers. 

“I love ya too.” He crouched again and brought his lips to hers one last time. “Always.”

His hand slipped from hers and in a second he had disappeared. She sighed as she laid back on the furs, staring blankly at the canvas for a moment until she remembered why she had decided to stay. 

The men were long gone when she was finally ready and walking through the camp. It was quiet compared to the previous night, only a handful of men remaining here while the rest were only women. She wished a good morning to Thyra when she crossed her on her way to find Aethelflaed. 

Saegyth spotted her by a dying fire with her ladies, talking and smiling. Her smile seemed to grow even more when she noticed her approaching.

“Lady Saegyth!” She welcomed her, standing up with her usual grace. “I expected you to have left with the men.”

She simply shrugged as she stopped in front of her. “I didn’t feel like it was my time to take part in such a fight.” She explained then stretched out a hand to rest on the princess’ arm. “Would you care to have a walk with me?”

Aethelflaed looked at her Ladies before nodding at Saegyth. She wrapped her arm around hers and they walked first silently, Saegyth trying to find the right words and not let the lump in her throat grow. She stopped in her tracks before the last line of tents, her arms unlocking from Aethelflaed’s but her palm still at the back of her forearm. 

“I’ll get right to the point, Lady.” She began, looking straight into the young woman’s eyes who seemed to suddenly tense. “I know Aethelred isn’t a good man to you. I suspected it before and Thyra confirmed it to me.”

The princess’ breath stopped for a moment before she lowered her eyes again. “Are you going to try to convince me to tell it to my father? Because I won’t.”

“I know. And I admire your courage. I didn’t have as much when I was first married.” She smiled sadly, wrapping her arms protectively around herself, looking away. “I was only wishing that he died as soon as possible.”

She could feel Aethelflaed staring intently at her before her gaze dropped to the ground. “I do wish that my husband won’t survive this battle.” She almost whispered. 

Saegyth immediately reached for her hand, giving it a comforting squeeze, while her other hand came to lift Aethelflaed’s chin. “You are a strong woman Aethelflaed, you are smart, you have opinions, you know how to fight and people love you.” She spoke, while staring straight into her eyes, genuine words she never had once told her but yet had always thought. “All these things that make you who you are, he fears them.”

Aethelflaed seemed to stop breathing for a moment, until she replied. “Thank you.” Her gaze lowered again, a small smile growing on her lips. “I hope one day I’ll be able to find happiness like you did, Lady.”

“You'll find joy in things you never expected could be the source of.” She explained from experience before clarifying: “To me, meeting Uhtred was when it all started.”

Aethelflaed laughed lightly at it. “Thank you for your good words.”

“I wish I could do more than just good words.” She replied, looking down between them.

They must have been away for a while now because Saegyth noticed two of Aethelflaed’s Ladies staring at them from afar, waiting patiently. The princess gave her another grateful smile and wished her a good day before walking away to join her ladies. 

Saegyth decided to join Thyra next, eating together as they talked. Beside their conversation in Coccham two days ago, she didn’t have the opportunity to question Thyra about her new life as Beocca’s wife and she was glad to see that her friend was more than content. 

When the sun was high in the sky, midday passed, Saegyth decided to join her tent to have a little sleep. The men would probably come back before dark and she could only imagine that she’d find herself busy with the wounded until late in the night. 

Saegyth didn’t know how long she had been asleep when an indistinct shout woke her up. She rubbed her eyes lazily but when she heard another shout and started to feel like the ground was trumbling, she jumped to her feet. Bare feet in the grass, she poked her head out of the tent and horrified, she saw hundreds of horsemen galloping toward the camp. 

She barely had the time to grab her sword and leave her tent that Danes were already slashing every man and woman they crossed. There were shouts and cries of pain and horror coming from every direction, covered by the sound of hooves against the ground. Saegyth was breathing heavily even though she hadn’t yet started to run, her heart beating so hard her ears were starting to buzz. The moment a Dane laid his eyes on her, her body seemed to finally come back to life and she started to run. She first wanted to take the direction of the forest, where she was sure she’d be able to hide, but she immediately thought about Thyra and Aethelflaed whose tents were in the middle of the camp. 

She searched the two women in the crowd, shouting their names, but she never got any answer. At a moment, she thought she had seen a glimpse of Thyra’s fiery hair, but she lost her almost right away when a man standing next to her suddenly fell, an arrow in the middle of his chest. She didn’t have the time to look at the sky to see the rain of arrows falling down on them, a sharp pain in her thigh made her cry out. She fell to her knees, dropping her sword to let her hand cover the source of the ache. She winced when she felt a bloody cut under her palm and her gaze drifted to the arrow planted in the ground next to her. She tried to calm her breath and force herself to her feet to run again, but each time it pulled on the wound, making it worse. 

“Do you need help, Lady?” A voice suddenly rose. 

Behind the kind words, Saegyth could recognize Haesten’s snarky voice, the Dane appearing in front of her. She looked up at him and the wide grin she saw on his face started a raging fire in her chest, giving her enough strength to grip her sword and stand on her feet, not without gritting her teeth. Haesten must not have expected her to be so quick with a sword, for he caught the blade with one hand when she tried to slash his chest. Unfortunately, with her head spinning because of her throbbing leg, she put just enough force in her blow to cut his palm.

Haesten smirked even more. “Brave. Very brave. I like a savage woman.” 

He tried to grab her arm with his good hand but she stepped back fast, letting go of her sword. But when she tried to rest her weight on her wounded leg again, she fell to the ground. She could only crawl back, feeling the warm blood damp her pants and making it stick to her skin, as Haesten took a terribly long time to approach her, acting like a cat playing with a mouse. Her vision was more and more blurred, her eyes filled with uncontrollable tears of fear as she tried to think of an escape.

Haesten’s silhouette grew as he leaned to pull her up from the ground, but before his hand could reach her, a sudden loud sound made Saegyth close her eyes. When she opened them, Haesten was on the ground and a thinner person was standing in front of her. She narrowed her eyes to try to see the person’s face but she felt too weak to keep her eyelids open and the darkness surrounded her without any warning.