A Saint To A Sinner

3.36

Reaching Winchester was one of the easiest things Y/N had ever done. With little energy, she still managed to run as fast as she could, even Cynlæf still managed to run with the determination of getting his sister back. When they stopped at the clearing, they saw Winchester was heavily guarded from the outside, and that worried them more. Finan placed his arm on Y/Ns shoulder carefully as she looked back at him with a scared face.
"No. She might not be. Eir is a baby she can be hidden, and Stiorra is smart." Finan tried to reassure, but in truth, he did not know the answer, and he was more or less trying to convince himself.
"Why have they strenghed their defences." Sihric asked.
"They could be preparing for a siege." Uhtred spoke back, "perhaps Sigtryggr learned something in Irland."
"Is this Sigtryggr really that dangerous, or has he inherited the name because of his Kin?" Y/N asked as she watched carefully, keeping her son close to her.
"I don't want to guess it wrong, but I want to say he is using Ivar the Boneless to instil fear." Sihtric said worriedly. Whoever this Sigtryggr was, they were clearly smart yet unpredictable.

Uhtred sighed as he sat down, watching the Danes leave and enter Winchester. The rest of them followed and sat down on the floor, never taking their eyes off of the gates. Cynlæf sat quietly out of the way and beside Osferth.
"We could enter with those villagers?" Uhtred suggested, but Y/N shook her head. It was too obvious.
"We should do it now then. If they get that food in and close the gate..." Finan trembled off as he looked at his wife.
"But, Lord, you are known here," Osferth spoke up.
"We are all known here." Sihtric sat up with a frown. "This plan will not work. Someone would betray us in return for their own safety." Sihtric said. Y/N looked over at Eadith knowing what he meant, and she knew it, too. He was hinting at sending Eadith in.
"I-I could go in. I have not been here. I will not be noticed." Eadith said as she avoided Sihtrics gaze.
"It is not a bad idea." Y/N said as she poked a stick around the ground.
"I can survive a siege. I will find out where the captives are being kept, and when you breach the walls, you will know where to look for them." Uhtred looked at Y/N with a nod. It was a fair plan, but risky.
"But you can't." Osferth blurted out. A sad look on his face.
"No. I will." Eadith said. "I must."
"We will get you provisions." Finan assured as he stood up to stretch his legs.
"Why don't we send Cynlæf with her. It will make her look more convincing." Osferth said, making Cynlæfs parents glare at him.
"Are you a fool, Osferth? He has been through enough." Y/N spat as she looked at her son.
"I will go with Eadith to get some provisions. You will go down to the river and wait until we make a plan." Uhtred said to them. Y/N nodded and wished Eadith good luck before heading to the river, where Cynlæf pulled off his top, running straight into the river to get the blood out.

Y/N sat beside the river as she washed her hands, trying to get the rest of the dirt off of her.
"Yu think Cynlæf is alright?" Finan whispered as he crouched down beside her, watching Sihtric approach their son carefully.
"Do you remember your first kill?" Y/N said as she moved her head slightly towards Finans. Finan breathed out, "it was some farmer who picked on my brother. It haunted me for days, but I wasn't a boy." Y/N looked down, placing her head against his arm. Finan kissed her forehead as they watched him.
"Is there a right age to have your first kill? Will he ever be alright?" Y/N said worriedly. She dreaded to know how he was feeling.
"There is not, but we just have to tell him that he will be alright." Finan said as he wrapped his arm around her. Y/N held his hand, kissing it lightly, before using the back of his hand to wipe her tears.
"What if she's dead, Fin." Finan frowned. Pulling her towards him as he held her close.
"No. She is not." Finan assured as he pulled her closer into his arms. "Lady Ælswith is no fool." Y/N knew Finans was right. Her daughter was safe with Lady Ælswith and Stiorra, but she still couldn't help but distrust the situation. She did not trust Brida and Stytrigger. They would do anything to get what they wanted. She would rather her suffer the consequences than her own daughter.

Sihtric walked over to them, with Cynlæf following in toe to sit down with them. Cynlæfs eyes still avoided Sihtrics. Y/N could tell he was still processing what his father had done. What he had done.
"W-what do we do now?" Cynlæf asked, as he looked at Finan and his mother.
"We will wait for Edward to arrive." Uhtred said, as he watched the walls of Winchester. Y/N looked at Finan with a look. That was a plan that could take a while, and she was not prepared to leave her daughter their unattended. Finan sighed as he got up, ruffling his sons hair as he approached Uhtred to ask him. She could hear them muttering in disagreement over staying put, and for once, Finan had a hard time trying to dissuade him on waiting.
"So, act now, Lord, before it's too late. Eadith has been sent to her death, and we don't even know if the children are safe their." Osferth piped up as he looked between Finan and Uhtred. Sihtric got up and looked at Uhtred with a frustrated expression. "Shall we take them on with swords?" Uhtred shook his head at Sihtric, telling him no, making Sihtric walk off with a grunt. Y/N got up to follow, then when Finan pulled at her arm with a sad look on his face.
"If we have no plan, then I will go in there. Alone. I swear to yu I will not leave Eir in there. Plan or not, I will find away." Finan whispered. He meant it.
"Finan!" She said. Looking at him with teary eyes. "Only if it comes to it?!" Finan promised as he kissed her lips before walking towards Sihtric and Osferth to watch the gates. Y/N crouched down, placing her hands over the sword as she knelt against it thinking of a plan. Any plan that was better than waiting for Edward.
"Uhtred!" Y/N called as she tilted her head towards Winchester as the gate opened. Uhtred shook his head, about to speak when they heard the sound of hooves approaching them. Sihtric grabbed Cynlæf to put him behind him as they watched the men on horses head towards the gate. It was Edward and his men.

Y/N shook her head as she watched Edward run straight towards the gate on impulse as Sigtryggr's men shot down their arrows at them. Edward was acting to rash and too quickly that it would get them all killed. Edwards band of men were incredibly small, and they would not hold. Y/N looked at Finan, who held his arms above his head in frustration, who watched Uhtred run all the way over to Edward, for Edward to completely ignore Uhtred and attack the gate.
"Oh! No. No. No." Y/N said as she watched Edwards men get slaughtered at the gates. Y/N looked at Sihtric with worried eyes. There was no hope for them. There was no hope for their daughter or Stiorra.