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"Lord Uhtred." Sigebriht says as he turns away from the window.

"Lord Sigebriht you stand with Aethelwold?" Uhtred questioned in disbelief.

"I stand for a strong Wessex, where exactly do you stand lord? May I ask, is it with Edward?" Finan moved to sit down as Aethelwold poured Uhtred some ale. Sigrún followed and stood next to him as she felt Seidr slither down her arm and stare at Finan. The Irishman moved in his chair uncomfortably as the snake watched him like prey, he quickly looked up at her in fear. She hid her smile as she turned away and lightly tapped Seidr's nose to scold him.

"You say it as though there are men against Edward?" Uhtred said accusingly.

"There are men who doubt him, yes. But if Uhtred were to stand alongside him—" He is cut off by Aethelwold who hands Uhtred the cup.

"I was at Ethandun, I stood beside you in a shield wall. He is barely a man." Aethelwold snapped in irritation.

"And Alfred could barely lift a sword above his head, yet he was a man to follow." Uhtred defended.

"I say again, Edward is not Alfred. He is not a man to follow. The Danes know this." Aethelwold says with a scoff.

"It does not matter, Uhtred. He will die soon enough, I can feel it." Sigrún says with a smirk as she taps the Dane's arm.

"You're still with them, admit it." Finan spoke with boredom.

"I am for Wessex."

"Lord, you did not answer my question. Where does Uhtred stand?" Sigebriht questions and Uhtred sits the cup down. He looks at Finan as they leave and Finan gives them a mocking smile. Sigrún waved to the Saxon, she knew he would die by Uhtred's blade. He was the man who killed Uhtred's brother, after all.

Later Beocca, Finan, Thyra, Sigrún, and Uhtred sit at the table at Thyra's home once again. Finan rubs his head as he holds his cup, the man is stressed and worried for his friend. She patted his head like an animal and giggled when he swatted her hand away with fake annoyance.

"I will not leave Winchester, I cannot." Uhtred says determinedly.

"You can and you must." Finan says and moves back when Seidr slithers to the table to listen.

"Not until Edward is king." Uhtred claims with a small amount of bitterness.

"You promised Alfred this?" Beocca stated.

"I did."

"If the pardon does not hold, then you cannot stay and wait to be imprisoned and killed." Finan pleads with the Dane.

"He will be fine, Finan. I swear it." She says and places her hand on his.

"Where else should he go?" Thyra defends as she moves to Beocca's side.

"Anyway a horse can take him, anywhere a ship can go." Finan stressed as he rubbed his beard.

"Uhtred came here for a reason. He came for Ragnar's blood, he has a task to fulfill. The blood must be kept safe, a battle is coming. You must choose a side." Thyra said ominously.

"The problem being is neither side wants him." Finan claims and Uhtred chuckled in disbelief.

"Which is a further reason why you must stay, wait for Edward. Which is why Alfred asked you for what seemed like a simple promise." Beocca claimed in realization.

"Bastard thinks." Uhtred mumbled and she nodded in agreement.

"He knows your honor, Uhtred. That is all." Thyra claimed softly and placed her hand on Beocca's shoulder.

The announcement of Alfred's death is emotional for most of Wessex and the opportunity for the rest. Finan, Thyra, Sigrún, and Uhtred stand amongst the people as they begin Alfred's funeral ceremony. Tidman begins to harass Thyra once again and she quickly leaves to avoid a scene, Finan watches in confusion. Sigrún and Seidr look at one another in concern as she leaves, and she notices Tidman is glaring at her.

Steapa quietly and slowly makes his way to Uhtred, he leans down to whisper to the man in hopes of not disturbing the grieving family. Beocca watches from his place up front and makes eye contact with the queens, he frowns at the sight.

"Lord, I have orders to kill you, should you not leave the hall quietly." Uhtred sighs but does as asked and the two run out to get answers.

"Steapa, what is this? Hmm, what is this?" Finan shouts in desperation and confusion. Steapa motioned to the guards and they slam him against the brick pillar. Seidr hissed at the guard who attempted to grab her and the man quickly backed up.

"Finan, do nothing." Uhtred demanded as he followed Steapa.

"He's a free man." Finan says defeated as he slumps against the wall. Sigrún quickly left the hall and went in search of Thyra, the death that looked over them wouldn't be her.

It couldn't.