Kingdom Come

V. Black Hole Sun

Black hole sun

Won't you come

And wash away the rain?

Black hole sun

Won't you come

Jaehaera did not see much of Sihtric for the remainder of the night, or for the celebrations, not until the next morning. She sat down next to the boy at the table. "Sihtric?" She greeted him.

He jumped slightly but looked up at her with a smile. "Morning, lady," he answered. "What are you doing awake?"

"I couldn't sleep," she answered. "I figured a walk would help." She looked at the older boy softly. Remembering his face from the day before. "Are you alright?" She probably knew the answer, but she asked anyway.

"I'm-" He began with a lying smile and a nod.

"Truthfully answer the question," she cut him off, knowing he wished to lie to her. "Though if you did wish to never talk to me or my father again I would understand why," she chuckled lightly but didn't relish in the thought.

"I do not know, lady," he answered her with a forlorn look like a kicked pup. She didn't like this look on him, she wanted him smiling, and laughing. She liked his laugh. "I hated him and he hated me and made it known, but..." he trailed off.

"He was family," She finished for him.

"He was," he told her with a nod. "I just don't know how I feel about it all." The two looked at each other for a few seconds. Sihtric wished in his heart that she didn't have Bjorn at this moment. All he wanted at this moment was to hold her or have her hold him. It's like she had this signal for him to let her know when he needed her. He looked at her and wanted to be anything she needed. Most of all he wanted to be hers, but now he would have to settle for being her friend. He hated it, he hated Bjorn.

"I'm sorry, Sihtric," she told him, breaking the silence between them. She placed her cold hand on his. He noticed how cold her hands always seemed to be against his warm ones. "I wish I had something more, or better to say to you."

He shook his head once, "don't lady," he told her. "I will be okay with time." the younger woman nodded with a smile before getting up, and leaving him to find her father. Finan stood unknowingly in the shadows, watching the two of them while shaking his head at the boy.

Finan sat down across from him. "Sihtric, could you want her more?" he teased.

Sihtric looked at the older man with wide eyes, turning around to see if anyone heard the man. "Be quiet, Finan," the boy commanded. "You don't know anything about what you speak of."

"Oh spare me," Finan told him. "You love that girl."

"I do not," Sihtric answered before getting up and walking away from the man. Oh he did, Finan thought to himself. I do, Sihtric thought as he walked away.

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Jaehaera stood with the others, saying their goodbyes. Hild sat with Thyra on Hild's horse, and Jaehaera walked with her father to her uncle. She hugged him first, and for a few seconds. Then her father embraced him while she walked to Bjorn who stood by watching. "Are you sure you don't want to come with us?" she asked him sadly while intertwining their hands.

"I want to stay with my father," he answered her. "I love Uhtred, he's done so much and taught me so much..." He trailed off.

Jaehaera nodded in understanding. "I wish that you would stay, I want you to stay with me."