A Saint To A Sinner

3.22

Days passed, and Uhtred had still not returned back to them, with word on Mercia and its succession. Sihtric each morning, continued to teach his wife to fight, along with Finan, who continued to teach Cynlæf how to fight until Cynlæf nearly broke his wrist.
"Finan!" Sihtric shouted as Finan rubbed his sons wrist, blowing the dirt from it.
"See, all better." Finan said softly. Cynlæf hid his face in his fathers arm as he cried out in embarrassment. "Hey! Hey! What's wrong." Cynlæf sniffled as he looked at his father, "I want to be a great warrior like you and Father." Finan smiled at his son as he looked at him in the eyes.
"Yu Cynlæf, will be a good warrior in due time." Finan promised as he pointed at his chest. "Yu just have to believe in yurself as me and yur father do. But don't forget yur mother is a very good swordsman." Cynlæf giggled at his words as he spun him around to watch his mother and father training.
"Yur mother was the biggest coward I know. She could never pick up a sword. Never kill no man. But she found that. As will yu when the time comes." Finan whispered as he rubbed his sons shoulders before retreating inside.

Eventually, Sihtric and Y/N came back inside to see Finan amusing Cynlæf.
"Show, father." Cynlæf said excitedly as Sihtric came to lay down across the chair. Y/N followed, moving his legs to place across her lap.
"Put peanut in a cup." Cynlæf said excitedly. Sihtric eyed Finan but did as son requested and put the peanut in the middle cup. Sihtric and Y/N watched Finan move the cups around with the least amused expression until he stopped. Sihtric picked and pointed to the first cup, which didn't have it, so he pointed to the last cup. Sihtric sat up as he checked the cups, completely baffled, while Y/N sat their and laughed. Finan showed the peanut in his mouth as he laughed, ruffling his sons hair.
"You're such a child, Finan." Sihtric grunted, still confused at what he just saw.
"It still baffled you, Siht." Y/N said as she laughed, watching her son who looked happy at the outcome.

Just as Y/N went to get up to get another jug, Stiorra came in with a concerned look on her face, making her stop.
"Men are coming this way." Stiorra said to them.
"Which men?" Finan asked as he looked at her and the children behind her.
"I don't know, but they're coming." The three of them stood up to grab their weapons impulsively as they looked at each other when Stiorra stopped them.
"We have a plan!" Stiorra said as she touched Cynlæfs shoulders who had a proud look on his face. Cynlæf took Finans hand as he showed them where to hide, telling Sihtric and Y/N to hide in the cupboards upstairs. Y/N did as her son asked her with an amused expression as she went into the children's room.
"Quickly." Sihtric said as he held open the small cupboard doors before shutting her in. Y/N watched through the crack, Sihtric slide under the bed.

Y/N listened carefully as she heard the men search the grounds. She could hear them coming up the stairs. A Knight entered the room, stopping for a few minutes before he left, satisfied with his pathetic attempt of searching. Y/N kept her eye on the bed that Sihtric was under as she held her dagger closely to her. Once the man was far enough away from the room, Sihtric dropped to the floor with his knife in his mouth as he listened carefully before telling her to come out. Y/N opened the door and went to the window to look out.
"What do you think they were looking for?" Y/N asked.
"Ælfwynn." Sihtric guessed as he looked at the window. Y/N and Sihtric turned to go down the stairs when they saw Uhtred coming from a distance. Sihtric jumped down from the balcony behind Uhtred to scare him as Y/N slowly walked down the long way, looking for her son and other husband, who appeared behind the wall.
"A little trickster you got here." Finan said as he hugged Stiorra, surprised that her plan worked.
"Where is Ælfwynn?" Uhtred questioned. Finan tapped Uhtred, showing him where the other three were hiding.
"You hid the bird?" Y/N said with a laugh as Young Uhtred bought over the caged bird. Y/N turned around to look at Finan and Sihtric, and Uhtred whispering. She knew something was wrong because Sihtric was holding Cynlæf nervously. Y/N waited for Uhtred to walk off before Finan approached her.
"We have to go to Ceaster. Ælfwynn is not safe, and neither are we." Finan said gruffly as he looked back at Cynlæf with a nervous look on his face. "I told him we were going on an adventure."
"It's a good thing we are his parents." Y/N said. Finan kissed her on the cheek quickly before telling Cynlæf to get Æthelstan. Y/N turned back around to ready the horses with Osferth. Her stomach started to tighten, knowing they were outlaws again and on the run. As much as she loved an adventure, she had her son to worry about and the other children.