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Chapter Twenty-Four: Almost There
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Uhtred did not, in fact, retake Bebbanburg. And in the process of his failure, Beocca had lost his life.

Eawynn wiped away the tears that streamed down her cheeks as she read the letter from Lady Aethelflaed. She hated not being there when all of this was happening, but with one look into Stiorra's fierce brown eyes - she knew it was worth it. The pain was worth it... or atleast she hoped it would be eventually.

One thing after another - the cycle seemed to be never ending. Eawynn was further and further away from being reunited with Finan and she could no longer hold in the sobs. They shook her entire body as she folded the letter and quickly tossed it into the fire.

Edward, who was just a boy the last time Eawynn saw him, was King after his fathers passing and had a dirty bird whispering in his ear in the form of a father in law. She had heard stories of Lord Aethelhem and had nothing good to say of the man. Most of the stories were from her father growing up, but she knew her father was speaking the truth when he spoke of the dirty doings of Aethelhelm.

After cleaning herself up with a damp rag, although Eawynn knew full well that Stiorra would know she had been crying, she ventured out of and into the open layout of the building she had called home for the last few years. "Stiorra?" She sniffed a bit, patting the palms of her hands against her cheeks to catch any stray tear that may have escaped before turning to face the noise of Stiorra going to town on the dummy she had created for her out of hay and left over material from one of her dresses.

Stiorra was not taking the news of her fathers failure well, and Eawynn could not and more importantly, did not, blame her. Stiorra wanted to leave the secret plot of land on Lady Aethelflaed's estate more than Eawynn did and that was surely saying something. With each thrust of the training sword, a deep growl escaped the young girls lips.

Eawynn remained silent as she continued to watch her. Her eyes followed her every move, her heart swelling with pride at the dedication Stiorra was showing at her young age.

"Dare I say you have more fight than your father, Stiorra."

Stiorra stopped what she was doing, turning to face Eawynn with a huff. "If I have more fight than him, maybe I will be the one to reclaim my family's birthright."

"You are angry at your father, Stiorra. It is perfectly healthy to be so." Eawynn tried hard to tamp down the negative thoughts of her own father. The anger she had built up inside towards him was much different than what Stiorra was experiencing.

"He said he would come for us. But how long will we have to continue to wait for him?" Stiorra grunted once more as she went back to swinging her sword with precision.

"I do not have the answer to your question, Stiorra."

Eawynn tried to hide the frown that was forming, her body turning slightly as she walked over to the rest of the training swords. She was grateful that Aethelflaed provided them with anything they asked for. They were lucky in that sense, but it was still hard to be away from their family.

Eawynn quickly joined Stiorra in training, the image of Finan falling further and further away each time she swung the sword.

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Lady Aethelflaed had left her estate with haste, leaving her daughter in the protection of Lady Eawynn. The dark-haired Merican did what she could to get as much information out of her friend before she left for battle.

There were grumblings of the Danish warrior, Cnut, and how they slaughtered children. In a plot to get the red haired brute right where he wanted him, Uhtred faked the death of one of his boys. Throughout the entire retelling, Eawynn had clasped her hands over her mouth.

She knew Uhtred was a smart man. And although she was glad he did not actually take the life of a young and innocent child, Dane or not, it still pained her that he had to use this type of leverage with Cnut.

"You must protect yourself." Eawynn walked out of the clearing, following behind Aethelflaed's footsteps as they walked to meet Aldhelm. "You know above anyone else the kind of brute a Dane, no a man, like Cnut can be." Her hands grasped gently onto the elbow of her friend as she stopped her from walking.

"I know." Aethelflaed let out a sigh, her body turned to face Eawynn now and the two embraced. "I have had to make tough decisions in my life. And I have come to the agreement, with the help of Lord Aldhelm, that I cannot be taken again."

Eawynn pulled away slowly, his hands holding onto Aethelflaed's firmly. She did not need for her to go into detail of what she meant, Eawynn knew immediately. The trust between Aethelflaed and Aldhelm was a beautiful thing. It was only slightly painful that Aldhelm loved her with ever fiber of his being, even as he stood guard so she could make love to Uhtred. This was not her place to make judgement, Eawynn could only support her friend in everything and anything she did.

"I understand." Eawynn sighed deeply, "Although I wish there were another way. I know, just as you do, what will happen if you are captured."

"Lady Aethelflaed?" Aldhelm called from his position by their horses. He held the reigns firmly in his grasp as he gazed down at the women. "We must be on our way if we are to make it back in time."

"Thank you, Lord Aldhelm." Aethelflaed smiled and gave him a small bow before she turned back to Eawynn. "Any parting words of longing for your Irishman?"

Eawynn blushed. She playfully swatted her friends hand away from her before clearing her throat. "Tell him that we will always have first light." The corners of her lips began to curl up to form a soft smile, "And that I love him now, today, more than I loved him yesterday."

Aethelflaed wanted to smile. But seeing and hearing the pain of longing in Eawynn's voice caused her to frown. "You will be together again soon. I promise you."

"I know we will."

The two embraced once more before Aethelflaed got up on her horse and nodded to Aldhelm that she was ready.

"Protect her with your life, Lord Aldhelm," Eawynn moved her hand to rest on the neck of his horse, her voice low enough so that Aethelflaed could not overhear their conversation, "Please."

"Always, my lady." Aldhelm bowed to Eawynn and offered her a reassuring smile.

His devotion and loyalty to Aethelflaed did not go unnoticed, nor was it diminished in any way. Eawynn held a place in her heart for the protective lord. Not only was he protective of Aethelflaed and the Lady Elfwynn, he was protective of her, Stiorra, and Aethelstan too. She would always be grateful.

As she watched them go, she couldn't help but let a slight tinge of worry cloud over her mind.

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"They are fleeing to the forest!" Uhtred's voice cried out amongst the men in battle around him. He was covered in dirt and blood, and with every new clash of metal he pushed his way through the muck to follow.

With each step he took, Uhtred cut down another man who stood in his way. He was weak, tired from the battle but once faced with Cnut - all of that melted away. He was a strong leader and a tough warrior, sly enough to break free from Cnut's grasp and push him onto his back.

Brida snuck up on them, which seemed to have worked out in Uhtred's favor as the redhead finally spoke into existence the role he had in the death of his brother, Ragnar.

Uhtred tossed Cnut at Brida's feet, his chest heaving up and down as he tried to regain his composure.

"Your boys live." Uhtred now stepped around Cnut, his eyes watching the warm blood ooze from the wound in his chest from Brida's sword.

Cnut's eyes widened with realization of the plan Uhtred had successful drawn up and executed. He looked to Brida, tears in his eyes, before looking down at the sword protruding from his chest.

Cnut, with his last breath, watched as Uhtred and a Brida walked away. The pair did not spare the man a second glance, he deserved no pity, or swift death. He deserved the suffering of the painful, slow death, as well as the suffering of knowing his boys would go on living without him.

By the time Uhtred caught up with Brida, she was surrounded by the Welsh.

"Send me to Valhalla." Brida begged, tears still in her eyes as she turned to stare at Uhtred.

The Dane Slayer shook his head, sheathing his weapon as he watched her. It was obvious on his face that he was struggling with this. Brida, after all, had been his first love. But they were no longer together, nor where they on the same side of things.

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"Finan?" Aethelflaed continued wiping her face free from the blood and dirt, stepping up next to the Irishman as he cleaned his weapons.

He looked up, immediately stopping what he was doing so he could give Lady Aethelflaed his full attention. "Yes, Lady Aethelflaed?" He cleared his throat, attempting to sound as proper as possible.

"I bring you a message from Lady Eawynn." Aethelflaed smiled warmly, her eyes meeting Finan's as she reached forward to gently touch his arm.

"Is she-"

"She told me to tell you that you would always have first light." Aethelflaed wasn't sure what that had meant, but she did not forget what message her friend had wanted to pass on. "She also wanted you to know that she loves you more today than she did yesterday."

Finan blushed. He looked down and suck in a deep breath. Knowing that Eawynn felt just as deeply about him as he did for her helped alleviate the worry that they had been apart for far too long. "Thank you, Lady Aethelflaed. Your message brings comfort to me." He smiled again, turning to face the men around them as they began to collect the dead.

Finan walked off as Uhtred joined them, his hand firmly clasping his Lord's shoulder in passing.

"The lord has favored us." Aethelflaed sighed with relief, leaning into Uhtred. The sense of security he had brought her was enough to make her forget about almost losing her life by Aldhelm's blade.

Uhtred allowed Aethelflaed to speak with her brother, standing watch not too far away but just enough that he could not overhear their conversation. While Aethelflaed stood, looking dejected as her brother stormed off, Uhtred walked back over to her, "What excuses did he make for his cowardice?"

"He only wanted to avoid bloodshed for his men." Aethelflaed sucked in a deep breath and held it for a few seconds before releasing. With that deep breath, came a single tear down her cheek. "Steapa is dead."

Uhtred frowned. Steapa, though Alfred's man through and through, trusted Uhtred more than he probably should have.

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After Aethelflaed and Uhtred went their separate ways, the men cleaned themselves up in the nearest alehouse.

"Aye, a good celebratory drink is always a good choice my lord." Finan grinned, raising his horn of ale before drinking it in two large gulps. As he set it down and let his eyes fall shut, Sihtric leaned his head down against his friends shoulder.

"A celebratory drink is always good, yes." The Dane sighed, "but a good nights rest in a bed instead of the ground is even better. I am tired."

"You sleep like a young babe." Finan grumbled playfully, his eyes opening to look down at his friend.

"That's because he busies himself, too much, with populating this earth." Osferth chimed in, a smirk appearing on his lips.

"The baby monk has jokes." Sihtric sat up as he narrowed his eyes at the younger man before he broke out into a large grin. Laughter erupted amongst the men, except for Uhtred. He sat in silence, the horn of his untouched ale cupped between both of his hands.

"Lord? What is troubling you?" Finan spoke up first.

"Nothing is troubling me, Finan." Uhtred shook his head and finally broke himself free from the daze. He lifted the horn to his lips and took a slow sip. As he pulled the drink away from his mouth, his lips had formed a genuine smile. "But, I do have good news."

"Good news?" Young Uhtred questioned from beside his father. "Pray tell what news could be good after such a devastating battle."

Finan perked up, his eyes darted around the table as he awaited the good news.

"We are going to Saltwic."