╚════════*.·:·.☽✧    ✦  ✧☾.·:·.*════════╝

Sigrún stood next to Sihtric as they watched Uhtred and Bloodhair fight. She knew how it would end but she noticed that Finan and Sihtric were worried. Sigrún reached for Sihtric's hand and squeezed it when he looked at her in concern.

"He will live, I swear to you." She whispered and felt him intertwine his fingers with hers. She's never been affectionate with anyone before, outside of sleeping with Skade but that was more rough and hungry. She realized she liked the feel of another person's warm touch and with that thought, she quickly looked away. She noticed Bloodhair gets the upper hand by head-butting Uhtred and letting his men cheat. She feels a gaze on her and sees Skade glaring at their hands and Sigrún smirks and moves closer to Sihtric to taunt the girl.

"You dirty bastards," Finan shouts. "Come on, lord. Get his shield! Come on! Christ, if you want to play that game."

"You are happy with this, Ragnar? You believe this to be a fair fight!" Beocca shouts angrily.

"It's a fight." Ragnar said stiffly.

"He deserves it, kill him! Take his balls!" Brida shouts. Sigrún watched as Finan headbutted a Dane and stole his sword to toss Uhtred's way.

"Take his legs off Uhtred, lord here. His shoulder!" Uhtred starts to kick Bloodhair's ass making Finan shout happily. "Yes, lord!" Uhtred goes to kill him when Ragnar harshly shoves the man down.

"It's over."

"No, it's not over until he's dead." Bloodhair screams as he stands up.

"I say it is over."

"I demand my women." Bloodhair shouts, and Skade moves next to her. Sigrún scowls at them both and feels Sihtric pull her even closer by their interlocked hands, she realizes there is no space left between them once her arm brushes against his side. Seidr slithers down her arm and wraps around their clasped hands gently as he watches the commotion.

"I will not lose one single man before the true battle has begun."

"It was to the death." Uhtred claims.

She wished he would shut up, just this once.

"If you disagree with me then fight me." Ragnar snapped and moved to Uhtred.

"Kill him, Ragnar. And be done with it." Brida snarled with anger.

"It is over. It is done, take what belongs to you. Take your witches." Ragnar says and Bloodhair seethes in anger.

"Still not a witch." Sigrún shouted just to spite the man.

"They belong to me!" Bloodhair screams childishly.

"I shall see you across the battlefield, no doubt. I will kill you." Ragnar warned.

"Leave while you're still alive. Alfred needs his ass to be wiped." Brida taunted but Uhtred did not reply as they followed Uhtred to the horses.

"Enjoy your prize." Cnut mocked as Uhtred cut Skade's bindings, Sigrún laughed when Uhtred shoved the man.

"You ride with me now." Uhtred helps Skade on her horse as Sigrún and Sihtric attempt to untangle Seidr from around their intertwined hands. Seidr finally slithered back up her arm with a small hug and she briefly thanked Sihtric when he helped her on the mare.

"Skade, he must remain cursed, it is your duty!" Bloodhair demands.

"He has defeated you, twice over. I belong to Uhtred now." Skade claimed with a wicked smile and looked her way with her obsessive eyes. Sigrún ignored her and instead faced the direction of Bloodhair.

"She has never truly belonged to you nor have I. And we never will get over it." Sigrún smirked at the man and gave him a mocking wave as she maneuvered her horse next to Uhtred's.

"I've tasted your blood! What you see is mine! Ragnar, he cannot be allowed to leave." Bloodhair demands Sigrún feel a ghost-like hand graze her back in warning, she instinctively grabs the reins on Uhtred's horse and jerks him closer to her own just as Brida throws a spear and lodges it in the gate.

"I didn't mean to miss, next time I won't." Brida threatened and shot her a glare. Sigrún silently thanked Loki for his warning and blew a kiss at Brida to piss her off.

"The gates, now. Let us be rid of them." The group rode off into the snowy terrain, she rode next to Sihtric as Finan and Skade flanked Uhtred's horse.

"I suppose this is the new normal for all of you?" She asked Sihtric with a raised eyebrow, Finan scoffed at the question and Osferth nodded in answer to her question.

"Being hunted or exiled?" Sihtric asked with a small smile despite the shiver that ran through her, she failed to plan for the sudden coldness. Sihtric, ever the observant one, surprised her when he handed her his fur cloak. With her minor distraction, she had finally noticed Uhtred stopped riding when Beocca hollered his name. "Here, so you and your snake stay warm." Sihtric had spoken as he watched her clasp the cloak around her.

"Thank you, Sihtric. You have been nothing but kind to me," She reached over to touch his arm. "Just like Uhtred, you have my protection." She replied warmly before moving back and wrapping the cloak tighter. Seidr burrowed into the cloak and slid into her blouse to gain extra warmth, Sihtric just looked at the two fondly before turning to watch Beocca and Uhtred speak.

Skade, however, was seething. She didn't understand how the man had already gained Sigrún's attention so fast while Skade couldn't hold it for more than one night.

"This is where we must leave you. There's a ship waiting at Eoferwic, Alfred will be wondering where we are." Beocca says and looks at Uhtred with Thyra following along.

"Alfred will know exactly where you are." Uhtred replied.

"Yes, you that is most likely. Do not get yourself killed until Aethelflæd is safe." Beocca demands.

"That would be unfortunate." Uhtred agrees with a smile.

"It would and I would have had a wasted journey. Aethelflæd is important to the king and to all Saxons. After she is safe, what then?" He asked the Dane.

"Fate will decide." Uhtred leans over to pat the priest on the back.

"Uhtred, you are my brother. And you shall always be my brother." Thyra speaks softly and then rides after Father Beocca leaving Uhtred stunned.