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Cool air drifted across Yrsa's skin as the woman awoke. She hummed, happy to be in the safety of a keep and to be able to enjoy these moments where her lover was a quiet and warm comfort beside her. Pressing a kiss to his chest, she let her hands drift across his skin, tracing his muscles and scars, his tattoos and bruises.
"I thought you wished to sleep in." Sihtric muttered, one eye opening to glance down at his auburn haired wife, who was amusing herself with tracing his body. "You were awfully tired when we returned last night."
"I have been riding to and fro and to and fro for a month or so now. My body is sore, everything aches but alas, I am up." Yrsa sighed, before pushing herself upright and onto her haunches. The covers fell from her shoulders as she shivered at the cold, before she stretched and moved to get up. Sihtric caught her, pulling her back into his embrace and bringing the covers back up as he groaned at the cold.
"We can afford more sleep, Yrsa, we are safe." He kissed her head as she chuckled. "It is far too cold."
"Perhaps." She folded her arms across her husband's shoulders, leaning her chin on it so that she could look her husband in the eye. "You wish to tell me why you were tossing and turning all night last night?"
"Did I keep you awake?" Sihtric sighed, before kissing her hand. "I am sorry."
"It is fine, I am used to it. What are you thinking of?" Yrsa's hand fiddled with Thor's hammer, that sat between her collarbones. Sihtric went silent, a calloused fingertip creating patterns on the bare skin of Yrsa's hips, before he merely shrugged and smiled.
"Just dwelling on battles, that is all." Yrsa's eyebrows furrowed. He was lying to her. Why was he lying to her? "Stop, it is nothing. It is just fighting, that is all."
"I do not believe you."
"Yes, you are ever so perceptive, I know." Sihtric laughed, before pulling her closer and kissing her as if to distract her. Yrsa had to admit that it worked, and she sighed as Sihtric pulled from her grasp and clambered from their bed. Watching him, she admired the muscles of his back as he pulled his breeches on, her mind distracted as she hummed in appreciation. "Come, breakfast. We shall get some of that porridge you like."
"Gods no, I will be sick." Yrsa groaned, running a hand down her face.
"Mercian cooking is not that bad." Sihtric rolled his eyes at his wife's dramatic nature. Yrsa groaned again, before pulling her own breeches on and struggling into her tunic. Between the pair, they were quick to get changed into their respective armour, opening the door only to come face to face with Osferth.
"Yes?" Yrsa's eyebrows furrowed as she and Sihtric froze. Osferth seemed to say a prayer in relief.
"Finan warned me..." He trailed off noticing the looks on the pairs faces. "Uhtred wants us to ride out to meet a woman."
