A Saint To A Sinner

3.6

The three of them snuck into St. Wilfreds Church, looking for Young Uhtred, quietly behind the fence.
"Which one?" Uhtred said as he looked the Monks in the garden.
"That one?" Y/N said unsurely. They all looked the same from the back of their heads.
"It's not him." Sihtric whispered back. He was certain of it.
"Found him." Y/N said as she pointed to the teenager digging up the weeds. Sihtric and Finan moved quietly behind him. Finan grabbed him while Sihtric pulled his hood over his eyes, dragging him off
"Hey! Get off! Who are you!" Young Uhtred cried out.
"He's a sinner, Father." Finan said as the two dragged him away.
"Where are we going!" Young Uhtred cried out again as the three of them dragged him off into the woods.

The poor teenager huffed and cried out all the way down the hill to Uhtred. The three of them said nothing the whole way until they reached Uhtred. Sihtric pulled his hood back from his eyes, a smirk planted on his face as he stood next to his wife silently. Letting the teenager get used to his surroundings and those around him.
"Hello, Father."
"This is my son, Young Uhtred." Uhtred said with a proud smile on his face, but the teenage boy did not look the slightest impressed. His face twisted in disgust at his father, "I don't use that name. It belongs to a priest killer." Finan looked at Y/N from the other side of Uhtred, who shook her head. Young Uhtred had changed over the last few years.
"I am here to guide you back to your family."
"The church is my family." Young Uhtred spat.
"No, it is not. You were placed there without my permission." Uhtred said lightly, not wishing to cause an argument.
"Praise be to King Alfred for that." Y/N had to bite the inside of her cheek at his comment. She had to give it to him there.

Uhtred looked at Finan for help, but all Finan could do was shake his head. Finan could not involve himself. It wasn't his dispute.
"We are leaving this place, and you are coming with me."
"Am I?" Young Uhtred scoffed.
"Yes, you have no choice. Take off the woman's garb. Wear this." Finan threw a pile of clothes at Young Uhtred, eyeing him carefully. The teenage boy knew how to rile up his father.
"And uh, I have a gift for you. Sihtric!" Uhtred said with a proud smile on his face till he realised the horse was rather too small.

Finan and Y/N giggled at the sight of the peculiar horse as Uhtred became embarrassed. Sihtric awkwardly patted the pony gently as he avoided his wife's eyes, knowing he would laugh too.
"Impressive beast." Young Uhtred spat causing Y/N and Finan to start laughing louder.
"Hey. I did not realise how much you had grown." Uhtred apologised as he looked at them, realising neither of them were going to help him. "Ride to Cookham with us. In time, we will find you another horse."
"Why would I go to Cookham?"
"To collect the ship that will take us north to reclaim your birth right and mine." Uhtred said proudly before realising his son had no clue what he was talking about. "To seize back what was lost and unite our family. I'm taking you to Bebbanburg."
"I've never heard of it." Young Uhtred said.
"Oooooh." Finan said as he placed his hand over his mouth. Young Uhtred had a sharp tongue, and it amused them all.

Uhtred walked off in defeat as he climbed onto his horse.
"I don't think he likes yu much." Finan said as he followed Uhtred, his laughter tormenting him, leaving Young Uhtred with Y/N and Sihtric.
"You can ride my horse." Y/N said gently as she pointed to her horse, but the teenager stood their with an angry expression.
"I'll get the horse then." Y/N said as she walked to pull her horse over to Young Uhtred.
"What do I do with the horse now?" Sihtric whispered as they watched Young Uhtred climb onto hers.
"That is a pony." Sihtric looked at the pony before shaking his head.
"Cynlæf might grow out of it before we get home." Y/N said with laughter as she chuckled towards Sihtrics horse and climbed onto it.
"Let it run into the wild." Y/N said.
"That is a cruel thing to do." Young Uhtred spat.
"Fine. We will bring it to Cookham." Y/N said as she watched Sihtric tie the small horse to the back of the horse to follow.
"I hope Cynlæf does not end up like him." Sihtric whispered as he climbed on behind her.
"He will if you abandon him." Young Uhtred said. Y/N shook her head in amusement as she kicked the horse. It would be a long journey to Cookham.

A/N: A question to all!!! Shall I give Y/N, Finan, Sihtric more children?! I am 50/50 with it at the moment. (particularly for Act III) As always, thank you for reading, voting, and commenting 🫶🩵