A Saint To A Sinner

5.2

"Right! Pass them around! Æthelstan! Cynlæf!" Y/N said as she passed around the cups, making sure they each had one until the children came running in, hoping to hear the stories.
"Ah! Ah! Go careful, Sihtric!" Y/N called, as Young Sihtric came running in, waving his little stick around.
"Woah!" Finan said as Kåre tried to grab Finans ale.
"Right! Stand still!" Sihtric said as he picked up Young Finan, counting the children. " I am missing one... you go sit with your brother." Sihtric patted the boys shoulder sending him over to Cynlæf.
"Siht, that's not ours." Y/N said as she looked at the young boy, Oswald, who was actually Osferth and Ingriths child. Sihtric stopped counting and looked at the child incredibly confused.
"Are yu sure? It could pass as one of ours." Finan joked, confusing Sihtric even more.
"Ay yu. What are yu blushing at? Go sit with yur mother. I want yu, three seats down from Æthelstan!" Finan scolded as he watched Eir become a blushing mess in front of Æthelstan.
"Do you even know how many children we have?" Y/N questioned Sihtric. Who was still eyeing the children. They all seemed to blend in together.
"I do. I have Finan!" Sihtric said as he patted Sihtrics back. "Kåre, Eir, Cynlæf, Æthelstan." Sihtric pointed before turning around to catch the two other boys squabbling in the corner, "Sihtric! Errett! Enough!... see. I do know my children!" Y/N smirked as she pulled the two boys apart before sitting them down.

Y/N watched as the children got ready to hear their fathers stories, wondering when it would be their time to join the Blood Month. Even though Sihtric got up to dramatise the story, she noticed he was purposely trying separate Æthelstan and Eir. Y/N noticed it, too. There was something there between them, but it was innocent and nothing more. Even though Finan and Sihric would not have it. She was their only daughter and they did not take it lightly.
"Can me and Kåre join next time, father?" Young Finan asked excitedly as he looked at his brother.
"Sure, yu can."Finan said, which made Eir thump the table, kicking Young Finan under the table.
"Owh!" Young Uhtred winced and kicked her back.
"You can go the year after... I am first!" Eir spat, as she glared at her brother. "Mother goes, so I can." Sihtric and Finan sighed, knowing full well they could not stop Eir if Y/N goes, but it was the fact they wanted to keep so much from her.
"Sure you can, sister." Cynlæf taunted, "I am sure Æthelstan will keep you safe. He killed a man today."
"Oh! And that is so attractive. So manly." Finan jested as he held his heart.
"Shut up, Finan!" Y/N said as she glared at him, before getting up to sit on Sihtrics lap with Errett on top of her lap so she could make some room for Osferth and Ingrith.

It was quite amusing to see. To see the Alehouse completely filled with a bunch of children. They bought so much joy and happiness to everyone. It was always lively. Even tonight, they drank and ate so much, allowing the children to freely run riot through the streets.
"Where is Uhtred?" Ingrith asked, as she leaned towards Y/N. Y/N looked up, realising Uhtred still had not appeared.
"He seems worried. I think he thinks Brida will come back and haunt him... or us." Y/N whispered into her ear before looking back at Sihtric, asking him where Uhtred was, but he seemed not to know. No one knew why Uhtred was worried. He had become on high alert since Æthelstan was attacked.

Uhtred had even gone as far as to increase the military, along with keeping everyone at their posts. It was bad enough that the Lady Æthelflaed had decided to make an appearance after all these years, but that was only because she was sending a priest, Father Benedict.
"Why do we need a priest, anyway?" Y/N asked, Uhtred. "We have Osferth, he could sing some hymns."
"She thinks Rumcofa shames Mercia with its heathen ways." Uhtred stated as he looked out from the docks. Y/N looked at Finan, who shrugged.
"She had seven years to send a priest, why now?" Y/N questioned. She, too, knew it wasn't right.
"Uhtred! A ship, it's turned in, from the sea, which we can not identify?" Æthelstan informed worriedly.
"Then the soldiers will be ready." Uhtred stated.
"Where is Cynlæf?" Y/N asked Æthelstan, who gave her an awkward look. "Go and get him!"

Y/N stood beside Uhtred, watching the ship turn in carefully. Neither of them could get an angle on who it was as the sun was setting.
"Am I mistaken, or is that Eadith?" Uhtred said. Y/N looked at Finan, who smirked as they saw Osferth from the corner of there eyes, shuffle awkwardly.
"I wonder what she is doing here?" Y/N jested.
"Maybe her education is up, and she's come back for you." Sihtric taunted playfully, but Osferth did not find it funny. He was really uncomfortable.
"We are travellers and traders! Happy to pay the toll!!" Eadith called out to them. Y/N laughed, almost snorting at the awkwardness.
"Right! You two. Go and fetch your siblings." Y/N said to her sons, who chuckled to themselves.
"Let's go." Sihtric said as he dragged his wife by the waist with a chuckle, knowing Y/N would make the situation worse.
"Shall we worn Ingrith?" Y/N asked with a laugh.
"I think she can handle it herself." Sihtric said.
"Mother? Mother? Who is visiting?" Young Sihtric asked, rather loudly.
"An old friend." Sihtric said as he picked his son up.
"Yeah, an old friend?" Cynlæf muttered as he grabbed some ale. Sihtric clicked his fingers, pointing at Cynlæf, telling him off.
"It is alright!" Ingrith said, "it reminds me of when you caught me and Y/N having an affair." They all laughed, knowing Ingrith and Y/N were strangely close when they were drunk. If the two women were left alone too long, they may actually do just that.
"Can we have some distance, please... that's it... a little bit more... thank you Æthelstan." Sihtric joke, making his wife slap his arm.
"Leave her be." Y/N said, as she took the cup of ale Cynlæf gave to her.
"Eadith, you remember Osferth?" Uhtred asked. Making Y/N splutter out her ale, behind Sihtric.
"Stop... otherwise, I'll laugh."Finan said as he tried to compose himself.
"And this is Ingrith?" Uhtred introduced.
"I am Osferths wife." Ingrith stated, making everyone go silence. Making the air almost becoming thicker.
"And we have Y/N and Ingriths children, populating this town." Uhtred stated, pointing to the two eldest children. "Do not forget Æthelstan and Cynlæf. The two are always up to no good."
"What brings you to Rumcofa then?" Y/N asked after the awkward introductions.
"I have learned much in Frankia, in the ways of healing, and I hear Rumcofa is riddled with disease." Eadith said as she awkwardly looked around. Finan wrapped his arm around his wife with a cheeky look on his face, "no, husband then?"
"No. No, my silver is my own." Eadith answered. Finan made a noise at her words, causing his wife to laugh.
"Yu know when I said I didn't trust Eadith. Now I certainly don't trust her." Finan whispered to his wife.
"Come on Finan. You don't know that." Sihtric scolded.
"He's right. I sense something bad. Something bad is going to happen."