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Finan and Revna stood behind Uhtred's chair in the throne room as he explained the plan. Finan was hunched over the chair while he sighed in relief at the feeling of her hand rubbing his aching back, he leaned into her side when she moved closer.

"If the Danes are moving through east Anglia and towards eastern Mercia, then that land is Danelaw. Their army can only grow. As before, we must march out to meet them." Uhtred explains as he paced the floor.

"I have spies inside Danelaw, they confirmed they are moving closer. I have issued an order for my men at the frontier to retreat." Aethelred speaks up and Edward frowns.

"Retreat?"

"It is good sense, lord, every warrior must be made to found." Uhtred added in Aethelred's favor.

"But how far do I retreat? Where and when does Mercia make a stand? Where and when will we be joined by Wessex?"

"That is to be decided."

"I would like to know because Wessex appears to be in a land of chaos and doubt. Does each of the handful of Ealdormen here stand with Edward?" Aethelred questioned. Revna narrowed her eyes at him, she didn't trust the man.

"We do. Of course, we do. He is to be king."

"Lord Sigebright?" Aethelred asked.

"We do."

"And what if those who are not here? Those who hurried back to their halls, despite knowing there is talk of war?" Aethelred taunted and Revna was about to hit the guy if it wasn't for Finan grabbing her belt and jerking her closer to him.

"They are with us." Edward stated.

"Wessex will not have great numbers, I am hearing."

"We shall be marching to fight, lord." Uhtred speaks.

"Lord king." Aethelred corrected in anger.

"Do not dare to believe there is another option. Hæsten and Cnut are men without honor. They will take your land, your silver, and the tin crown from your head. All of you hear me. Yes, it is likely the Danes will have the greater numbers, but this is a battle that we can win. Though, it will take all of us, every man and every sword. And we will fight with all the guile and wit that Alfred has instilled." Uhtred said to the men.

"God is with us." Edward adds.

"I shall return to Mercia. Send word of your intentions, and soon, but, I warn you. I will not fight a battle that cannot be won. I won't send my subjects into a slaughter." Aethelred says with a threatening tone.

"Do you wish to become a puppet, lord Aethelred?" Revna snickered at Uhtred's comment.

"Send word." Aethelred leaves and soon the discussion is dismissed, Finan shares a worried look with Uhtred.

"He is right. I am not my father."

"When Winchester fell to Guthrum, your father hid himself away in the marshes, for months. He hid in fear for his life and of failure. But he overcame that fear. We will find the words and you will write to every Ealdorman and thegn of Wessex and they will answer your call. They will come." Uhtred says with confidence.

"To where?"

"Lord, if we have fewer men, the very last place we want to fight is open ground." Finan speaks up and he grabs her hand as they walk closer to Edward.

"Bedanford." The two men share a look at her choice of place.

"Bedanford is a good distance away." Edward says with uncertainty.

"That is the path they would take. It is Al long march, lord, but the land could be to our advantage." Uhtred replied as he looked at his two friends with a smirk.

"It could, lord. Bedanford it must be." Finan said and played with her fingers.

"Then I will do it. With your help, I will find the words." He grimaced at them and left.

"The devil will not and cannot win. I will need a sword or an ax. This is a battle I will not watch. I need to fight Uhtred, till I can fight no more." Uhtred nods and pulls the priest into a hug. Finan and Revna smile at one another as they leave with Uhtred.

"Lord Sigebriht, you are leaving in the night?" Uhtred says as they corner the lord. She has her head lying on Finan's shoulder as they watch and listen.

"There is an army to raise."

"You have been sitting with Aethelwold for some time." Uhtred stated.

"If you are questioning my loyalty, do not. I am Wessex, as was my fathers and my grandfather." Sigebright says as he looks at Uhtred.

"But you are for Edward." Uhtred says in suspicion.

"That does not make me a traitor to my country."

"Then you will be there, in battle?" Finan asked and kissed her head with a smile.

"I will."

"Wessex will need the men of Cent. W letter will soon find you." Uhtred speaks.

"We will be there, for the good of Cent, and for Wessex."

"Yes, for Wessex, lord Sigebriht. You are one day Saxon, the very next day Dane, Uhtred." The trio begins to walk away. "I have not yet offered you my condolences for Ragnar." Uhtred turns and walks to him with anger. "Your brother deserved a warrior's death. I am sorry you will not see him in Valhalla."

Revna wouldn't have allowed the boy to live after that but it was Uhtred's choice.

"This is where you belong, Aethelwold."

"Winchester?"

"Standing on a stables floor, like a horse's turd. Will you be riding for Edward?" Uhtred claimed as he glared him down.

"Like Sigebriht, I will be there and I will be praying for a great victory."

"For Saxon or for Dane?" Uhtred questioned.

"Do you care? You belong to neither. I did once fear you, Uhtred. But now I see you are nothing but a sword, a lump of metal. Yes, you have reputation, but that will fade. And you will die forgotten. And unwritten, you will go neither to heaven nor to Valhalla." Aethelwold claims that Revna wanted to rip his diseased tongue out.

"This letter from Edward, it had better be good." Finan says with a sigh.