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Gene mumbled an incantation as she slit her palm to mix her blood with the ingredients of her spell, she tried to be quiet to avoid waking her husband but Sihtric was known for his acute hearing and sight. He turned to face her while lying on his side, she couldn't help but laugh at his sleepy eyes.

"What are you doing?" He asked as he sat up behind her, one of his arms wrapped around her waist while the other moved her hair to the side so he could kiss her shoulder and neck.

"Skade said I could not protect all of you and myself, she said I would die." She felt Sihtric tense behind her and turned to kiss his cheek.

"She did not lie. You did die, Genie." Gene frowned lightly when he inhaled shakily.

"And I want to avoid that ever happening again, this is to ward off any potential curses at me and Uhtred." She stirred the bowl with her finger and watched it turn coal black telling her the Gods had accepted the offering, she relaxed into Sihtric's hold with relief. She smiled as Sihtric nuzzled against her neck before using his finger to guide her face to his to kiss her softly.

"Are you sore?" He asked as his fingers moved up the inside of her thighs softly.

"Any woman would be if they were ravished by you. But you like it when I do spells with your seed leaking out of me, do you not?" She grinned when she felt him harden at the thought and bit back a whorish moan when his fingers slipped inside of her. She felt his other hand splay across her stomach holding her in solace as she trembled in pleasure. "Perhaps, I should ask the Gods to let it take root inside me." She said into his ear and gasped when he tossed her onto her back and he hovered over her.

"I do not need the help of Gods to put a child in you, my dear wife." He said cockily and slipped his cock inside her making her arch her back with a loud moan.

Thank the Gods, that their children were with Ragnar and Brida.

She dug her nails into his back and she knew blood was drawn by his groan, she fisted his hair and pulled him down for a kiss that was all teeth clashing and tongue. Gene moved her free hand to his throat and squeezed it lightly and bit his shoulder when she came leading to Sihtric following a thrust later. The two laid their panting for air in each other's mouths before Sihtric gently removed himself and pulled her into his arms to hold her.

Later that night the couple joined the men outside for a game Ragnar announced. Gene stood next to Uhtred and Brida as her daughter held Ragnar's hand as he gave a big poetic speech, Erik was hugging her waist with a big smile as he watched. Her youngest, Fintan, was standing between Uhtred and Brida holding both of their hands with awe making Uhtred chuckle.

"We are divided, it seems. We are two people, it seems." The crowd laughs at Ragnar's joke. "Over here, we have the ugly, the unwashed, the shit-smelling, the pig-humping, frog-licking, the Rome worshipping, ugly, frog-licking Saxons!" Gene looks at Uhtred with a raised eyebrow, he shrugs with a smirk.

"Frog-licking?" Osferth muttered confused.

"That is who we are." Finan shouted as Sihtric bent backward Finan poured a pitcher of ale into Sihtric's mouth. Gene bit her lip to stop the filthy thoughts that entered her mind at the sight.

"But we do not lick frogs." Osferth corrected softly. Ragnar pulls Cnut into a side hug as he turns to them. Eithne giggled when Cnut pulled her braid softly and hid at Ragnar's side.

"They face, in a battle of strength the pretty," Ragnar tapped Eithne's nose softly with a grin. "The sweet-smelling, the light of foot-"

"Whoo-hoo!" Brida yelled with a grin.

"Apple-cheeked." Cnut added and Ragnar moved to place his forehead against his cousins.

"The apple-cheeked, golden-haired boys of Denmark and beyond." Ragnar shouted as the crowd cheered.

"Ragnar, you are a Skald, not a warrior." Uhtred shouted to the blonde.

"I have the gift, I really do," Gene laughed softly at her ex-lover and watched him smile at her softly. "You may take the rope."

"Come on! Let's do this! Come on!" Finan yells.

"Are you prepared?" Ragnar asks.

"Look at him, he loves it." He says to the two women next to him.

"He'd play games every day if he could." Brida says and swings her and Fintan's clasped hands playfully making the young boy shout happily.

"And he'd make sure he is always the winner." Gene added and ruffled Erik's hair when he nuzzled against her stomach to get more comfortable.

"Is there spit in your hands?" Finan immediately spits in his palms and Osferth looks disgusted. "Good earth beneath your feet?" Ragnar shouts.

"Come on! Get with it, Ragnar." Brida yells teasingly.

"Come on, let's do this!"

"Pull! Saxons, pull! Pull! Pull! Are you a dane? Pull!" Ragnar yells watching the men, the crowd cheers in excitement.

"You never tire of this game." Uhtred said.

"If only all wars were fought this way. Pull you, bastards!" Ragnar unsheathed his sword and moved Eithne's hand to hold the hilt of the sword with him as he slashed the rope in half. "Ragnar, son of the fearless, and Eithne, the daughter of the favored seer is the victors!" He screamed as the men fell to the mud and dirt, and she and Brida laughed at the sight. "We bring twenty men on their arse while drinking ale!" He picks up Eithne who screams with the crowd happily and claps her hands.

"You are life itself." Uhtred says and hugs Ragnar, their moment is cut short by a guard ringing the bell.

"Ragnar!"

"We're playing games, can't you see that?" Ragnar said annoyed and knocked his forehead against Eithne's affectionately. Gene frowns when a bad feeling washes over her and she quickly moves to Uhtred and Ragnar's side.

"Ragnar, it is the watchman."

"The gate, open it." Ragnar said urgently.

"Ragnar?" She and Uhtred questions.

"My watchmen don't return for no reason." He speaks as the watchman rides in.

"What is it?" She asked the man.

"Men and horses, lord. Warriors."

"How many?" Uhtred asks and takes Eithne from Ragnar.

"Forty or fifty, I don't recognize them."

"Spears and arrows to the walls till we know who they are and what they want. Hold your aims until command!" Gene moves to stand by Finan and Sihtric, Erik runs to her side scared while Fintan is being shielded by Brida and Eithne rests unbothered in Uhtred's arms.

"Finan." Sihtric says as he jumps up and retrieves their weapons.

"Bar the gate!" Ragnar dunks his head in the water to sober up ending their fun.