A Saint To A Sinner

3.5

Today was the day they decided to leave Winchester to take Uhtreds' last remaining men to Bebbanburg without a plan. The only plan they now had was that the Lady Æthelflaed was going to take Cynlæf back to her estate. A plan the Lady Æthelflaed did not know as Uhtred had yet to speak to her.
"And if she says no?" Y/N asked as she followed Uhtred to the stables. A quiet Cynlæf following behind next to Osferth.
"She will. Do not worry. I have a plan." Y/N looked at Finan, who shook his head. They all knew what Uhtred was going to do.
"Like getting into Bebbanburg." Y/N followed her arms as she looked at Sihtric, who smirked at her, "I say we just turn up and ram the gate."
"Or we just ask nicely to be let in. Next idea." Finan said with a huff, clearly not liking the idea. "We are not dressing up as nuns." Finan said to Osferth as he watched him stare at the nuns. Y/N laughed at the idea, "what with Finans beards? He'd be an ugly nun." Sihtric laughed at his wife's words as Osferth disagreed with them.
"Lord Uhtred." Hild called. "Thank you for offering your men to clear the stables.".
"What?" Finan said as they all looked at Hild and Uhtred. Uhtred nodded to do as the Abbess said while he went to talk to her.

"Ladders." Osferth said. The three of them shook there head at Osferth.
"Shut up." Y/N said as she pulled at Osferths arm.
"I am not clearing the stables." Finan said with a huff as he looked at Y/N and Sihtric. Both of them shrugged at his words.
"I take it he did not hump her then." Sihtric said as he watched Uhtred return with the Lady Æthelflaed.
"Oh he definitely promised it." Y/N said as she shoved her husband lightly, watching the Lady Æthelflaed approach the woman awkwardly.
"Uhtred has asked me to return to Mercia with Cynlæf. I have promised him that I will take good care of him." Y/N eyed her cautiously as she looked at her husbands, who watched her in amusement.
"And if you don't." Y/N walked closer, whispering to the younger women, "you don't get what Uhtred promised."
"Are you always this impertinent?" Æthelflaed challenged, she could hear her husbands snicker in the background. "When you have a child, you would know."
"I have a daughter." Y/N smiled sarcastically at Æthelflaeds words, "then you should know."

Y/N turned to Cynlæf giving him a tight hug before pulling back to look at his face.
"You will be good now, and you will listen to the Lady Æthelflaed. She will keep you safe." Cynlæf nodded at his mother's words. She pulled him back into a hug, hating it even more as she knew they did not have a plan.
"Go give your fathers a hug." Cynlæf nodded as he went to give Finan and Sihtric a hug. Watching him embrace them tightly. They did not want to leave him either.
"If we leave now, we should be at the Monastery by nightfall." Uhtred stated as he tended to his horse. Finan sighed at Uhtred as he hugged his son one last time, telling him to be good for Æthelflaed. Cynlæf handed his stuff to Æthelflaed looking at his one last time, before he ran to her.
"I don't want you to go. Why can't you stay." Cynlæf cried into her arms. Y/Ns heart shattered at his sobs, and it broke her heart, knowing that she was abandoning him.
"Listen to me." Y/N croaked out, making him look at her. "If I do not go, the chances of them surviving is small. You have to be really brave now, Cynlæf!" Æthelflaed crouched down gently to her son to reassure him.
"Your parents are one of the greatest warriors. Who do good things to save others. And when you are old enough, I am sure your mother will let you join them." Cynlæf wiped his eyes, nodding sadly as he took Æthelflaeds hand. She watched him drag Æthelflaed away as he refused to look at his parents.
"He will understand one day." Finan said as he wrapped his arms around her shoulder, kissing the back of her head. Y/N nodded as she got up to see Sihtric, who was silently checking their horses.
"We need a horse. A small one. Hump the horsemans wife if you have to." Uhtred said to Sihtric, trying to lighten the mood.
"I'd rather hump the horse." Sihtric spat as he walked off to gain another horse.

Finan walked over to Uhtred, putting his arm around Y/N as he asked Uhted why they needed an extra horse.
"It's for a priest." Uhtred said with a small smile as he looked at the pair.
"Which priest?" Finan asked.
"One that will be glad to see me." Uhtred said before walking off to say goodbye to Beocca.
"He is aware that Cynlæf is a lot younger than his son." Y/N said as she realised who he meant.
"Oh no." Finan said as he laughed into her shoulder. "It's too late now."
"I will visit Cynlæf as much as I can. I swear it to you three." Hild said, giving her a big hug. "And look after her, Finan. Tell Sihtric the same thing." Finan laughed at Hild, promising they would.

"Will this do, Lord?" Sihtric said as he pulled along a small horse.
"That is perfect." Y/N snorted quietly behind Finan. Sihtric looked at the two of them with a confused look as he approached them. Finan explained to Sihtric that it was for Young Uhtred.
"Shall I tell him?" Sihtric asked as he realised Young Uhtred was a lot older than Cynlæf.
"No!" Finan and Y/N said in laughter, thinking it would be funny to see Uhtred embarrassed.
"Besides its his own fault." Finan said as they climbed onto their horses, heading for the Monastery.