A Saint To A Sinner

3.4

"Well that is not a positive look." Y/N said to Finan and Sihtric as they watched Uhtred leave the Palace. By the look on Uhtreds face, he did not get what he wanted, but how much of it was the question. Y/N looked at Finan. He had the same look on his face as she did.
"The Lord King refused my offer." Uhtred said as he walked past them towards the Alehouse.
"Now is not the time." Uhtred shook his head at Finan to say nothing. "Years, I have waited. Years, I have given my sword. Years, my home has been denied to me. There's no debt."
"Winchester is a snake pit." Finan stated, but Uhtred would not hear it. All the three of them could do was wait to see what Uhtreds next plan was.

Y/N sat down, next to Sihtric, who gave her a look not to say anything. The three of them knew what the outcome would he, they just needed Uhreed to say it.
"Do you think our band can take forty men at Bebbanburg?" Finan clicked his head as he reached for the ale, passing it to Y/N and Sihtric.
"Two on one? Ask me when I'm drunk."
"Come on, Finan." Sihtric scolded, "our men are three times the fighters Ælfrics are."
"I know." Finan sighed, rubbing his head in frustration. "It's just unbreachable walls and boiling tar that worry me. Not to mention the Scots waiting to take it for themselves." Y/N nodded her head, not saying a word. She knew either way she would follow, whether or not she agreed with the plan.
"What you doing in here?" Osferth came into the Alehouse with Cynlæf, telling him to go sit with his father.
"Is the plan off then?" Osferth grumbled as he sat next to Finan. "Are we staying here to get drunk then?" Sihtric sighed about to reach for his drink when he saw Cynlæf take it.
"Get out of it." Sihtric said, snatching the cup back from Cynlæf. Y/N shook her head as she tried to process Uhtreds idea.
"Take the fortress, and then we get drunk." Finan said with a huff. "Ay, yu. What did yur father just tell yu." Cynlæf huffed as Finan caught him trying to do it again. Finan got up to grab his son a cup of water, before scolding him gently.

"Just. Us. Without an army?" Osferth said as he looked between them all. Neither of them made eye contact with one another.
"You don't need an army to kill one man. We kill Ælfric, the gates will open." Uhtred said plainly as he passed Cynlæf the cup of water. Finan sighed as he looked between them all. It was a terrible idea, but neither one of them would say it.
"We will take Uhtred with us." Y/N looked up when Uhtred mentioned his son. Y/N had not seen him, since Young Uhtred refused to have anything to do with Uhtred, so she wondered how he was going to get his son to agree.
"And how will we do that." Finan asked as he looked between Y/N and Uhtred.
"Y/N was once close with my son."
"Once, Uhtred." Y/N said as she put her cup down. "Uhtred does not see eye to eye with me anymore. Not since I became a Pagan." It was true. Young Uhtred turned his back on Y/N when he heard the news of her ditching the cross. He was angry and hateful. Telling her, he would pray she returned to the right path.
"He is yur son, Uhtred. Yu should be the one to make peace with him." Finan said as he looked at his own son. Not imagining what it would be like if Cynlæf turned his back on him, or even Sihtric.
"But he is not a child anymore." Sihtric said. "He is old enough to understand the meaning of family and Uhtreds reasons. Besides our wife has done enough over the years." Sihtric looked at Uhtred carefully. It wasn't that Sihtric did not like Young Uhtred but it was the way he spoke to Y/N with so much slander and hatred. Sihtric could not watch his wife go through that again, let alone his son.
"I know that." Uhtred muttered as he looked at Y/N. He was grateful for her attempts over the years but she could do no more. She wasn't Young Uhtreds mother and she certainly would not replace Gisela either.

Y/N silently reached for Sihtrics hand to give it a squeeze for reassurance. The dread was coming to them too quickly, and they couldn't stop it. Y/N looked up Finan, who started to laugh as Sihtric placed his cup down with a sigh.
"What have I just told you Cynlæf." Sihtric said sternly as Finan laughed.  The poor boy frowned, crossing his arms at his father.
"What has he done now." Y/N said as she got up to check Cynlæf who was becoming restless and bored.
"He swapped the cups around when Sihtric went to grab it." Osferth said in humour. Cynlæf lifted his head innocently to look at his mother for defence.
"Stop annoying your father." Y/N said as she shook his shoulders before giving her husband look. One that said they needed a plan, and a good one.