A Saint To A Sinner

5.4

That night, Y/N rode on her horse north as far as she could go with Lord Aldhelm and his men, only to find that Brida had taken Eoferwic. Making them very quickly turn back around, riding as fast as they could through the night.
"Lord Aldhelm, you are to go to Uhtred, and I will go to Sihtric to tell him to strengthen the north post." Lord Aldhelm nodded and rode off ahead as Y/N rode quickly to the post side that Sihtric was on.
"Y/N? What is it?" Sihtric called out worriedly.
"Strengthen the post, now. Brida has attacked Eoferwic." Y/N shouted worriedly before riding off, down into the woods, to sneak in through the side entrance. Y/Ns heart beated rapidly as she ran through the woods, through the gates to find Uhtred.
"Uhtred!" Y/N called as she jogged towards him.
"Say nothing." Uhtred said as he walked solemnly past her. Y/N nodded, clutching her thighs as she tried to catch her breath.
"How bad, mother?" Æthelstan asked worriedly, as he approached her.
"Bad. Brida has slaughtered them all. Even the Danes there." Y/N said, as she looked at Finan, who scratched his beard nervously. They were going to war. A very big war
"Where is Cynlæf?" Y/N asked.
"I don't know, but when I find him I'm going to take his cock." Finan huffed.
"We will deal with him later. We need a plan. And we have family." Y/N said nervously.
"Uhtred is going to talk to Æthelflaed and hopefully, she will give us some men." Æthelstan in formed.

Y/N let out a sigh, as she opened Uhtreds door to his lodge. His face was pale with anxiety.
"Raise a dozen men loyal to us. We will go to the saxon boroughs bordering Eoferwic and get their assistance." Uhtred said. His voice was lost. He was uncertain what he was doing, but all he knew was he needed to save Stiorra.
"She's only given ya a dozen?" Finan questioned.
"To retake a town?" Sihtric questioned as he looked at Y/N worriedly.
"You did mention, Brida, didn't you, Lord?" Osferth asked.
"The boroughs have fought with us before. They have an interest in seeing Brida dead." Uhtred pathetically said before he got up.
"Are you sure you are ready?" Uhtred asked Æthelstan nervously.
"I'm certain. Stiorra saved my life as a child. I owe her this." Æthelstan said. Y/N looked at him, knowing full well if Æthelstan was coming, then so was Cynlæf, but this time may not be the case.
"I will find Cynlæf." Y/N grumbled. If Lady Æthelflaed hadn't killed Cynlæf she would kill him.
"Where is... Eir! Where is Cynlæf?" Y/N asked.
"Probably humping Ælfwynn!" Eir said. Y/N placed her hand on her head with a frustrated look.
"We need to go now!" Y/N growled. This was the wrong time to play around with another woman. Y/N calmed down and looked at her daughter, a gentle look on her face, "I would say, say goodbye to your fathers, but I would say goodbye to Æthelstan first. He is coming with us." Eir shook her head and hugged her mother tightly, something that she had not done in a while.
"I will send Cynlæf to you mother, I swear it, and I will protect Rumcofa." Eir said.
"Good girl." Y/N said as she went to say goodbye to her sons. Promising she would return soon. When she walked back to her horse with a heavy heart, she saw Eir hugging her fathers. It made her happy knowing they were leaving on good terms with her.
"Where is Cynlæf?" Sihtric asked as he climbed onto his horse.
"Where do you think." Y/N said. Sihtric shook his head with disappointment in his eyes. Ever since Cynlæf became infatuated with Ælfwynn his mind has been elsewhere.
"I will find him, mother!" Eir assured, Y/N smiled down at her daughter one last time before looking at her children as she kicked her horse, heading off to Eoferwic.

She hated the journey because she was filled with rage, and she was angry that she was filled with rage. She was so angry at her son who thought with his cock and not his mind. That he abandoned his post, leaving the East post at risk of invasion.
"Mother, please do not be angry." Æthelstan tried to console her or at least reassure her, but it was no use. Even Finan was upset with him. Y/N just looked at Æthelstan, telling him his words with meaningless, she knew her son.
"Look, Lord. It looks like Edwards men."Sihtric pointed out.
"We head towards them." Uhtred said. Y/N looked around, noticing the group of horses and men. Y/N smirked when she saw a bag hanging around a horse. It was Father Pyrligs.
"Finan!" Y/N said.
"I will go and find him." Finan said with a smirk. It would be good to see Father Pyrlig again.
"Sigtryggr!" Uhtred called out. Y/N looked at Sihtric with a knowing look. If Sigtryggr was here alone, where was Stiorra.
"This does not look good, Siht. If Father Pyrlig is leading this band of men..." Y/N trailed off. Sihrric knew the answer. They were going to struggle to take back Eoferwic with thirty men.
"Sihtric, there is another band of men here. Is it the boroughs? Shall we ask?" Æthelstan said. Sihtric followed Æthelstan to ask, while Y/N greeted Father Pyrlig with a hug.
"Sigtryggr." Y/N said.
"Lady, Y/N." Sigtryggr said. The man looked rough, but he wasn't defeated. She could see it in his eyes.
"What news of Edward?" Y/N asked but regretted it instantly. Y/N looked at Finan, who shook his head sadly.
"The boroughs say they can offer nothing. They claim they have no men stationed there." Sihtric informed. Making Finan bury his head in his hands. This was like Bebbanburg all over again.
"Then they lie." Sigtryggr slowly said, "there are more than a hundred there. I know the Saxon defences around my lands."
"They have also said that King Edward said, no one is to come to King Sigtryggrs aid." Osferth interrupted, awkwardly.
"Well, shit!" Y/N said as she looked at them all.
"Then I will do this alone." Sigtryggr said defiantly.
"You will not do this alone." Uhtred assured.
"Lords, we can not take Eoferwic with this number." Finan interrupted but Uhtred would not hear of it, "but if we get in and I kill Brida-"
"She will have men within protecting her." Finan interrupted again.
"I have men within, and they will be loyal to me." Sigtryggr argued, making them all sigh.
"You take this band outside the gates. We can bring the townspeople out to you." Uhtred ordered.
"We still need to get into Eoferwic, Lord." Finan said worriedly, causing Sigtryggr to get upset. "MY WIFE WILL NOT DIE TRAPPED LIKE A RAT!" Sigtryggr walked towards Finan angrily, "I did not conquer all I have conquered to let her suffer like this!"

Y/N couldn't help but fall silent. They were all at a defeat in many ways. Neither wanted to risk anything in case they lost it all.
"What are you thinking?" Uhtred asked Sigtryggr.
"I have a way in. Follow me." Sigtryggr said. Y/N shrugged her shoulders, following Sigtryggr down the path quickly, not knowing where they were going.
"We should at least wait for an army?" Sihtric called out worriedly.
"Or at least raise the fyrd." Osferth added.
"He says there is a Roman way." Uhtred assured.
"The Romans!" Finan shouted angrily. "That's our plan. Have the Romans get us out of this? Because the last time I checked, they all died, six hundred years ago."
"Come on Fin, you love an adventure." Y/N said with a smile. Finan turned around and glared at her in annoyance, telling her to be quiet.
"It was built to carry turds from Eoferwic." Sigtryggr explained when they reached a tunnel. Y/N looked back at Sihtric, who looked around. This was a terrible idea, but they all seemed to be good at working with terrible ideas.
"Uh, Lord, this is a bad idea. The Romans protected their buildings with ghosts." Finan said warily. Y/N shoved Finan forward, slapping his back, "Don't worry, Fin. I'll protect you from the ghosts."