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Sigrún groaned as she woke up, she placed a hand on her throbbing head. She wasn't sure what happened but she assumed she had blacked out, she felt Sihtric's arms around her waist as he pressed himself against her back and Seidr asleep by their heads. He must have placed her in bed after the spell, she sighed softly and relaxed into him.

Maybe she overdid it a little bit.

"Sihtric." She whispered and when he didn't move, she just shrugged. Screw it, she was going back to sleep. Sigrún huffed and turned over to nuzzle her face against Sihtric's throat as she moved as close as possible. She relaxed into her lover's chest and allowed herself to fade into a deep and peaceful slumber.

"My men are free men still. They'll travel with you to Winchester, ensure your safe return." Uhtred tells the Bishop as he walks to his horse. Sigrún and Sihtric had joined not long ago after they woke up, Finan teased the two a bit when they arrived looking a little too happy.

If they had laid in bed kissing for hours, well, no one had to know.

"I have a guard. And Wessex is not a land of banditry." The Bishop claimed.

"Priests and Ealdorman aside, you should never refuse the offer of a sword, Bishop Erkenwald." Finan tells the holy man.

"Is it your intention to remain at Coccham?"

"It is not. My lord's intention is to rule at Winchester." Skade adds as she stands next to Uhtred and the Dane-slayer sends her an annoyed look.

"Is that right, lord?" Finan asked sardonically.

"She's delusional, Bishop. She licks frogs and believes they speak to her in the voice of the Gods." Sigrún said with a smirk, Uhtred's men laughed at her comment. The Bishop looked horrified at the thought which only added fuel to the laughter. Sihtric moved to help her on their shared horse and mounted the horse not long after her, Seidr waited for the Dane to grip the reins before laying in her lap and curling his tail around Sihtric's wrist.

"My business is my own." Uhtred claims and shoots her a glare.

"And your children?"

"Are Christian now." Uhtred said through gritted teeth.

"I will ensure they are cared for." Hild tells them reassuringly.

"If it pleases you."

"I will bring my woman and our son to Mercia, lord. Meet you there." Sihtric says with a grin from where he is perched on his horse, Uhtred rolls his eyes at the statement, he will never understand while they consider the snake a child. Sigrún felt her heart flutter at Sihtric's claim and shared a soft look with Seidr when he shook with happiness at the thought of having a father.

In Winchester, the Bishop stands in front of the yelling and shouting for Steapa. Sigrún chose to ignore the holy man and instead moved her hand behind her to grip Sihtric, her Dane inhaled sharply and moved one hand to her thigh to squeeze it warningly. Luckily, Seidr was asleep and would not be scarred by the display.

"Steapa! Steapa!" The guard appears looking down at them.

"Ah! Do you not recognize me, Steapa? Why have the gates not opened?" The Bishop asked.

"Bishop Erkenwald, you have guests."

"They did ride with us from Coccham." Erkenwald spoke. Sigrún grinned at Finan innocently when Sihtric gasped and gained his attention, she had managed to work her hand into his trousers and gripped his hard cock. Finan sent them disapproving looks but knew better than to say anything.

"Where Uhtred remains. He'll be going directly to Mercia." Finan shouts to the guard.

"Steapa, he had hoped to visit his children there." Hild added.

"This is true, lord?" Steapa asked.

"You do not believe me?" Hild asked in disbelief but she was ignored.

"That is not very Christian-like behavior. She is an Abbess after all." Sigrún shouts making the guard scowl at her and Hild smiles her way. Sigrún heard Sihtric moan into her ear as he neared release and instead of finishing him off, she pulled her hand out of his trousers. She smirked when Sihtric whined at the lack of touch and gripped her thigh roughly.

"Not now, my love. But later, I swear." She whispered and then kissed his jaw.

"It is true that Uhtred Ragnarsson remains at Coccham. That is all I know to be true." The Bishop answered.

"It is Uhtred's intention to return to Mercia. He asked me to petition to the king to have his children follow. Now, open the gates, and let us rest." Hild claimed.

"Hey, big man. We are guilty of being hungry and tired, my friend. That is all." Steapa watched them with suspicion as he ate his apple. Soon after, the gates open, and Finan and Sihtric smile. The couple and Finan stand in the stables with ale when Finan gets their attention.

"Is that Aethelwold? The sword-Dane I see? Looks like you've mislaid your eye." Finan mocked with a grin.

"I see you perfectly, Finan. Though I do not see your master. Uhtred, where is he?" Aethelwold asked with annoyance. He flinched back when Siedr hissed at him, the little one had no tolerance for Saxons. The only Christians he tolerated were Finan and Osferth.

"Standing at your blind side, perhaps?" Sihtric smiled at his joke and she cackled at the scowl the one-eyed Saxon wore. Finan and the couple walk away making Aethelwold angry.

"Your men have been telling me there's to be a wedding, lord." Finan asked the Bishop when he separated from Sihtric. She frowned when her lover claimed he needed to go get something and asked if Seidr could join him, she agreed since she could never say no to him.

"Edward, is to marry, yes. A sweet girl." Erkenwald confirmed she doubted that.

"I, uh...I do enjoy a wedding. Ale flows and kisses are a little easier to come by. I might stay a short while." Finan said with a sly smile, Bishop did not like the comment.

"You are welcome, Finan. I am sure, as are your people." The Bishop walks away as Finan grins and Sihtric appears with flowers, her gaze softened at his wide smile and Seidr practically glowing in happiness.

"Finan, we will be away for some privacy." Sihtric says with a bright smile as he hands her the flowers, she blushes lightly at the gift.

"She might drain you of your blood like a bat." Finan says teasingly and both of them waved him off.

"I still love her." Sihtric said hopelessly in love and Finan laughed. Her heart warmed at his confession and she quickly pulled him down for a kiss.

"I love you too, Sitty. And so does Seidr."