A Saint To A Sinner

3.18

During the night, they reached Evesham, where they decided to set up camp. Where Y/N decided to spend one last night with them all before she would head to Saltwic on her own. Y/N was sat on the floor with Finan laid on her legs with his eyes closed as she watched Young Uhtred shuffle in his seat for some time, trying to get comfortable.
"You got a number arse there?" Sihtric pointed out, making the poor boy stop. He was still unsure of them, and it was quite humorous.
"You get used to a number kneeling through church all day. It's a damp arse that kills you." Young Uhtred spoke back.
"Hmph." Sihtric grunted with a smirk as he looked at his wife. Y/N could not help but smirk back, they where getting used to Young Uhtreds retorts now.
"Wha-at do you think will happen when we face the Danes?" Young Uhtred broke the awkward silence again.
"A number arse will be the least of our problems." Finan said as he shuffled his head on his wife's lap. "We're good fighters."
"When we're all fit to fight!" Osferth pointed out as he cupped his broken arm.

Y/N and Sihtric gave each other a knowing look. There seemed to be a lot of pessimism within them now.
"Shall I stay then. Since you will be missing a very good fighter." Y/N joked as she looked at Sihtric, whilst her hand stroked Finans face gently, occasionally pulling at his beard.
"That is a good idea." Sihtric smiled at her, "we work better as a three."
"That is true, but I do seem to be saving your arse each time we go to battle, Siht." Sihtric stopped smiling as Lord Aldhelm and Finan made a noise.
"Maybe Sihtric should return to his son. It may save us having a hazard around." Lord Aldhem noted, making Y/N bite her tongue.
"I am sure Sihtric did say once he did not want to be a housewife." Osferth pointed out, making Sihtric frown.
"Alright, leave my husband alone before he deserts us again." Y/N said as she wiped the tears from her eyes in laughter. "Back to Uhtreds question. Finan!" Finan looked at his wife humoursly before sitting up to look at Young Uhred.
"Look. I have fought alongside your father for a while now. And he tends to come up with something... at the last minute." Sihtric agreed at Finans words.
"Many men are loyal to Æthelflaed even at their own costs." Lord Aldhelm added.
"And no doubt the pair of them are devising a battle plan to save us all." Y/N made a noise as she looked at Sihtric, who looked at her the same way.
"I hope it's a good plan." Finan added, making his wife pull his beard to shut him up.

Their laughters followed till they saw the son rise, where Y/N readied her horse to leave her husbands.
"Um, if yu think yur leaving without saying goodbye, I am deeply hurt." Finan said as he bought her close to him, burying his face in her neck as he held her. Y/N closed her eyes as she ran her fingers through his hair.
"Of course not, I was going to wake you as soon as I would leave." Finan grabbed her face, pulling her lips towards his as he kissed them.
"Promise us yu'll head straight there." Y/N nodded as she played with Thors Hammer around her neck.
"I swear it." Y/N breathed out as she held his hands, squeezing them lightly before she hugged Sihtric. Sihtric placed his forehead against hers as his arms held her face, slowly going down towards her neck to her arms.
"Tell Cynlæf we will return soon and that we love him deeply." Y/N kissed Sihtric's lips gently as a form of agreement. His kiss was gentler than Finans. It was almost non-existent. Y/N pulled away so she could climb onto her horse.
"Promise me Finan you will keep Sihtric out of harms way." Sihtric rolled his eyes at her words. "And you promise Sihtric you will stay out of as much trouble as you can." Finan squeezed her knee gently with a smirk as he looked at Sihtric.
"We will look after each other. We will come back to yu and Cynlæf soon." Y/N reached down to kiss them one last time before she road off all alone.

She road down the long road till she reached Saltwic at the highest point of the sun. Her eyes lit up when she saw the gate to Æthelflaeds estate. Y/N slid off her horse and pushed the gate to find it locked. Her eyes flicked to the side of the wall and decided to climb up over it. Once her feet touched the ground, she heard an all mighty scream from behind her. Y/N stayed put, allowing the person to attempt to attack her before she turned around to swing them against the floor, but not enough to hurt them.
"You are supposed to attack quietly, not scream like a banshee, Cynlæf!" Cynlæf laughed at his mother before jumping into her arms. Y/N wrapped her arms around her son tightly before planting a kiss all over his face, making him scrunch up his nose.
"Where is father? Did they come with you?" Y/N smiled at him gently when she heard footsteps approach her. It was Stiorra and two young children, a boy and a girl.
"Stiorra!"
"Thank the God's you have come to save me from these children." Stiorra ran towards Y/N, squeezing her tightly, "Let your mother rest, Cynlæf. I am sure she will tell us soon."
"It is fine." Y/N reassured as she squeezed her sons shoulders. "Finan and Sihtric have headed towards Tettenhall to defeat Cnut and his men."
"Then why did you come back?" Cynlæf questioned.
"Someone needed to be here, in case they sent scouts to attack here."

Cynlæf dragged his mother to the table to sit down before he pulled over a jug of ale. Y/N watched her son with amusement as he poured it before realising what he was done. Y/N laughed as she drank from her cup, telling them what had happened in Aeglesburg and Bebbanburg. Telling them how well they all fought and the tragedies that followed.
"Will my Father return to Bebbanburg?" Stiorra asked eagerly.
"I do not know. We will have to wait until they return after the battle." Y/N said as she swirled the liquid around her cup before she noticed the two children.
"Ælfwynn and..." Cynlæf got up to being the boy over, pulling at his arm. "This is Æthelstan." Y/N swivelled round to greet the boy with a gentle smile.
"Hello, Lady, Y/N." Æthelstan said unurely as he looked at Cynlæf with a smile. Y/N squeezed his arm gently as she looked at Stiorra questioningly, wondering who this child was.
"We should pray to the God's for our fathers returns." Stiorra said, making Y/N lift up her cup, "Let's pray the God's are in their favour and bring them back safely."

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