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"However, there is a slight problem. Osferth is a virgin." Finan says as he and Osferth sit with some women. Althea sat next to her husband as their sons ram around the table, Sihtric kissed her forehead when she laid her head on his shoulder.

"No, it's not true." Osferth defends himself.

"It's true. It's true. It's true! You need to do it sometime." They all laugh at the table as Osferth frowns in embarrassment.

"Are you surprised to see me, Father?" Finan asked with a grin. She glanced up and smiled softly at Beocca, the man in question placed his palm on her head softly.

"Where is he?"

"He was last seen with a pagan witch at Coccham, and I don't mean the Abbess Hild. Do you have a message for him?" Finan said looking at him.

"He knows that his children are safe." Aethelwold listens in.

"He knows they were taken, he was not pleased." Finan corrected as Beocca sat down. Althea forgot how cruel her father was, he had sent for her children too but she didn't let it stay that way. The thought of all the blood and Skade almost made her nauseous, Sihtric stroked her hair lightly when he felt her tense up.

"Is he here? You know I will not summon the guards. Is he here?" Finan rubs his beard and hesitates for a moment.

"He is. Now you can tell me why Aethelwold is walking the streets of Winchester as a free man?"

"Because rightly it wrongly, he has been forgiven, as I believe Uhtred will be forgiven. Tell him to find me." Finan leans in slightly.

"Um, I think he may well be sitting at your table, Father." Beocca stands and leaves.

"A problem we can help resolve here?" Finan calls out as he and the men gather behind Aethelwold. A whore had informed Finan of the gathering, Hvitserk hugged his mother close as his little brother stayed with Uncle Osferth.

"It is a minor disagreement, that is all, involving a minor Ealdorman." Pyrlig says.

"Sigebriht, send for Steapa and the king's guard. Tell him we have all but captured Uhtred Ragnarsson." Aethelwold says smugly.

"You believe Uhtred is inside my house?" Beocca asked with an amused look.

"I do."

"You are ever the fool." Beocca stated.

"Beocca."

"Stay inside, my dear." Beocca spoke as Thyra walked to him.

"Beocca, I have been listening. If these men wish to look inside our home, then we should allow it. We have nothing to hide, nothing at all. Please, come inside, Aethelwold." Thyra said as she motioned for them to go inside, they kicked open the door dramatically.

"Come on." Finan says.

"Are you satisfied? I asked, are you satisfied?" Beocca asked.

"You have my sincere apologies, father, lady."

"He was here, I can smell him." Aethelwold says in frustration.

"Will we see you at the wedding, lords?" Finan questioned smugly as Aethelwold shoved past them. They all move into Thyra and Beocca's shared home to speak, and Hild joined them not long after. Althea's sons were sitting on the ground taking a nap as their blankets were covering them. Althea was sitting in Sihtric's lap, something her husband didn't expect with their relationship being damaged as it is.

"It could be months before Edward's king, by then the Danes will be marching." Finan spoke softly as he glanced at the princess, she had moved to tuck her face into the crook of Sihtric's neck.

"Alfred will be gone much sooner, even than one month. It will be days." Beocca corrected.

"Then there's the argument, for want of a better word. Edward is not every Saxon's choice for king." Hild added bluntly.

"Judging by the cackle in the alehouse, Edward is not any man's choice." Finan says as Hild looks at Thyra in concern, the Abbess approaches the Dane woman.

"Men are saying what?"

"Edward is naive, Uhtred. He is easy to manipulate." Althea spoke up with a quiet voice, Uhtred looked at her sadly. Their father and daughter bond was just as in shambles as the couple, if not more.

"Edward looks like a woman's arse. And you are here to kill him." Sihtric spoke with an amused tinge in his voice, Althea smiled at sighed when his tattooed fingers caressed her cheek.

"News of your pardon will change what people say. Thyra?" The man says seeing Hild hug the Dane woman as she cries, he approaches his wife in concern.

"Thyra, what is it? Why the tears?" She glanced around before telling the men and Abbess what happened. Not long after, Beocca marched angrily with Uhtred and his boys following along. Althea had asked her sons to stay with Hild and Thyra for the time being.

"Maybe you should let me speak to this man." Uhtred said to his father figure.

"I'm quite capable. She's my wife."

"Yes, but you have a temper." Uhtred stated as they walked.

"I do, and it's up. Tidman! I'm looking for a rat named Tidman! Are you Tidman?" Beocca asked as he looked at a man drinking ale. "I asked are you Tidman?"

"Father Beocca, good morning, and Uhtred, free man of Wessex." Aethelwold said as he walked out of the house. Her cousin glanced at her briefly with a frown, he had ruined any bond they shared by betraying her and Uhtred. Sihtric reached out to intertwine their fingers and smiled at the ground as she squeezed them.

"I'm looking for a man named Tidman does the coward belong to you?"

"He does not." Aethelwold spoke.

"I am not a coward. What is it you want, priest?" The man who was drinking stood.

"What I want, oaf, is for you to heed my warning. Speak to or go near my wife again and I shall beat the shit from you." Beocca threatened as he moved closer.

"Oh, well said."

"It is a promise." Beocca snapped at the one-eyed Saxon without looking away from Tidman.

"I called your woman a Dane, is that...is that not what she is?"

"Have you not understood me? You don't appear to be the cleverest of men." Beocca said and Tidman glared at him.

"Do you speak to me as a man or a priest?" Just as Tidman asks Beocca headbutts him and proceeds to punch him when the man collapses. Althea gasped in shock and felt Finan tug the side of her dress to get her attention, Finan guided her closer to him and away from the fight.

"Does that answer your question? Does that answer your question? I do not hide beneath these robes!" Beocca shouted as Uhtred and Sihtric pulled him away.

"Beocca, enough! No more!"

"Bastard! She's a woman! A gentle woman and she's suffered enough." Beocca snarled as Uhtred and Sihtric released him. Beocca shoved past the two Danes to move close to the Saxon. "I'm warning you once. I'm calm, I am calm now." Beocca said as Uhtred patted his shoulder, Tidman started to stand and Beocca lunged.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hey, hey!" Uhtred and his men all shout as they grab him. Sihtric chuckled with a wide smile as Beocca punched the guy one last time.

"I am calm. This rotten air that fills Winchester is due to you and the likes of you. England is a land for all tribes who wish to settle and live in peace. Your father would be ashamed of you." Beocca snapped as he looked at Aethelwold, he then walked away in anger.

"Go follow him." Uhtred ordered Sihtric and Osferth. Sihtric paused by her and she leaned up to kiss him softly, he used his knuckles to slide down her jaw before leaving with Osferth.

"I fear the priest does not like me."

"No man likes you, Aethelwold. Your soul is as scarred as your face." Uhtred stated with a glare.

"Courtesy of my uncle Alfred in his mercy." Aethelwold said as a joke and then looked at one another in silence. Althea flinched at the mention of her father, her dying father. She knew he would send for her, a speech of broken words that he didn't mean.

"Why are you here? Do you still dream you can be king?"

"It is my home and I will not move. This is a land I love. Can you say the same?" Aethelwold taunted as Finan stood up.

"Ah, Uhtred, I am tired of listening to this squirrel's arse." Finan said with a tired sigh.

"Let me offer you a cup of ale. Come inside and sit with me. Let me convince you, I am for a Wessex. Hear me, please." Uhtred and Finan share a look as they begin to walk away, Uhtred pauses with a look of contemplation, he motioned for Finan and Althea as they follow Aethelwold in while Finan sighs.