A Saint To A Sinner

2.39

Moving back to Cookham was strange for Y/N. It was unnecessarily quiet, and there was nothing to do, but it was safe. It was a lot safer than Winchester. She was not questioned about her beliefs or about who was the father of Cynlæf. It was accepted. The people of Cookham minded their own business as always. The only thing that was strange for Y/N was being back in Finans house. It was too quiet for her, and she found it eery at night, as if she was waiting for something to happen, so Hild moved in with her until Finan and Sihtric returned. While Cynlæf slept in a little crate at the bottom of the bed.
"We really do need to find a cradle for him. Could you imagine what Finan and Sihtric would say if they found out their son was sleeping in a crate." Hild said as they watched Cynlæf wriggle in the crate.
"Where are we going to find one. I don't even know how to build one?" Y/N laughed as she watched her son. It was almost funny to her that her son laid in a crate filled with hay.

Y/N picked up Cynlæf and dressed him in his tiny brown outfit that she made for him. He had gotten a little bigger, but he was still tiny. His head had slightly grown faster than the rest of his body. Even his hair had grown quite quickly. He had the hair colour of his mother, but the eyes of his fathers. He did, however, had the temperment of his mother. He cried when he was fed up and hungry but was easily distracted when he threw a fit.
"Sometimes I think he is like Finan. Cynlæf is so easy to amuse." Y/N said as she tickled him lightly. Hild walked over and touched his nose playfully.
"I do not think Finan would laugh if I booped his nose." Hild said as she folded the blankets. Y/N almost laughed at the thought. Finan would fear Hild slightly more if she did that.
"Maybe not." Y/N said as she carried him outside to see the chickens.

Cynlæf did not seem bothered about the chickens and found them unamusing. He did not laugh nor cry when he saw the chicken. He just stared at them.
"I do not think he likes chickens either? You are a hard one to please." Y/N stated as she held him in a sitting position to look at the chickens.
"I think that is a Sihtric trait." Hild said with laughter.
"I don't think so. I think Sihtric would appreciate seeing Chickens." Hild looked at Y/N with a bemused expression. "Alright, I am bored. Cookham is boring and predictable."
"Shall we go to the Monastery?" Hild suggested with laughter, causing Y/N to step back in shock.
"Hild, no. I can not take my child in such a place. What will the God's say." Y/N ran slightly with Cynlæf.
"Cynlæf will not know any difference." Hild shouted as Y/N ran futher down the street. "He may. You will make traitor to the God's."
"Finan is a Christian." Hild shouted, back.
"I don't think so. God kicked him out the church years ago." A villager shouted, causing the two women to laugh.
"See. Even the men of Cookham know it." Y/N said sarcastically as she looked at Cynlæf who started to cry. Y/N bounced him gently in her arms, trying to amuse him.
"I fed you. Why do you cry? Is it because Aunt Hild mentioned the Monastery again." Y/N whispered as she wiped his eyes, trying to work out what had upset.

Y/N decided to walk back to her home to put him him to bed as he was starting to get restless. On her way back, she saw the gates open to Uhtred and his men.
"Look. Has your fathers returned?" Y/N cooed trying to show Cynlæf who was not in the slightest amused and continued to cry.
"Fine. We will not greet them." Y/N laughed gently as she continued to walk back to her home to put him in his crate. Once he was in his crate, he went straight to sleep.
"Y/N?!" Finan called, causing Y/N to shush him, worried that Cynlæf would wake up.
"I have only just put him to sleep." Y/N whispered as she embraced Finan with a kiss before checking his face for any serious injuries. She did the same to Sihtric, who rolled his eyes at her.
"We have won the battle for now." Sihtric whispered as he wrapped his arms around her waist as he explained what happened. Y/N was surprised to hear it was Æthelwold who killed Cnut in his sleep.
"He was a coward anyway." Sihtric hummed at her words as he buried his face into her shoulder, breathing in her scent.
"Why is my son in a crate?" Finan whispered as he stood on the stairs, pointing to his son. Y/N started laughing at Finans face. She could not even explain why Cynlæf was in a crate. Sihtric followed Finan up the stairs to see what he meant.
"Y/N!" Finan said as she still laughed, almost crying in laughter.
"I... He's alright for now." Y/N said as she held her knees in laughter. It was the first time she had laughed in so long, and it made Finan and Sihtric, knowing she was back to her old self again. That they were going back to their old selves again.