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"Bloody hell, woman." Finan gasped as he collapsed beside her, Nilsa giggled at his blissed-out smile. Uhtred had never returned with Sihtric, no doubt being intervened by the lady of Mercia, but she did not fret. Finan stayed in worry that she would be attacked and Nilsa used that as a way to get him to warm her bed. And warm it they did, with her lack of partners she did not have much to compare when it came to sex.

Just the slow lovemaking from Uhtred but she found she liked the rough but passionate sex she and Finan had. It was odd at first to feel his beard scratch against her inner thighs and his vulgar words that made her stomach tighten with an unexplainable feeling.

It made her wonder how Osferth and Sihtric would treat her. She assumed Osferth would be shy and let her take control, something she found unbelievably attractive. And Sihtric, well, she wondered if he could place his hand around her neck, it was something unheard of but she just couldn't shake the thought.

"Good?" She asked with a giddy smile, Finan scoffed playfully and pulled her into his naked chest.

"I am certain my heart stopped for a second. You might be the death of me, my love." He whispered against her temple as she used her fingertips to trace shapes on his pecs.

"Hmm. I do not see any death for you soon, Finan." She raised to her elbow and leaned in for a kiss, the moan he released made her want to ravish him. But the soft knocking on her door stopped it, perhaps another time. She watched as Finan just laid back in the furs with his arms crossed behind his head, what a beautiful sight he made. She fixed her gown and reached for Finan's cloak to cover her front, she didn't want to seem too improper.

"Oh, Osferth!" She said happily once she saw the shy monk, she noticed his eyes lingered on her smile before glancing down. Finan's boisterous laugh startled the younger man and she smirked when his eyes widened and his face flushed in realization.

"Lady Nilsa," He cleared his throat. "Finan. Lord Uhtred requested both of you, we are to leave soon." Nilsa frowned softly before sighing, she didn't feel good about this. Osferth reached out instinctively and held her hand in a subtle act of comfort, she smiled at the man when he slowly rubbed her wrist.

"Thank you, Osferth. Allow us a moment to dress, we will join you soon enough," She pulled him close and guided his face up with her finger. "Unless you wish to join us?" She questioned playfully, at the man's look of shock she leaned in and kissed him. Osferth reluctantly pulled away, he sent the lady a small smile before rushing off.

Not long after, the two now fully dressed and prepared for the war, walked to the center of the fortress where Young Uhtred was sending the lost souls to his God.

The same God she had begun to abandon, her mother's death was the start but Edward's betrayal nailed it in. What God would allow such a horrid act to be taken but yet, she would have been the one punished if Edward had finished it. It was cruel and unnecessary. She wondered if Uhtred and Sihtric would introduce her to their Gods.

"Oh, Lord, grant us the knowledge of your power when it comes to pass that a man and wife may bring a child into this world they clothe him, they cherish him, but God alone may know his fate. For these children were in darkness, now they are saved." A woman sobs as Aethelflæd cries softly. Nilsa moves her hand to her stomach with a frown. She hoped her child would never be subjected to these horrors.

She felt someone behind her and without looking she knew who it was. Sihtric, the beautiful bastard Dane that danced with the shadows and wore the eyes his Gods no doubt bestowed upon his birth. She turned to him and closed her eyes momentarily when he leaned down to kiss her forehead, he was so gentle with her, his mismatched eyes always holding pure adoration and yet, he always had a speck of insecurity swimming in them.

His father's doing, she's sure.

She grabbed his hand and placed it on her stomach, he smiled down at her unborn baby and gently rubbed his thumb against it, she hoped her child could feel how loved he was. How he would have not one, but four loving fathers to train him how to defend himself and to cherish him.

"Bring them the light of your love, Lord God. And let them walk as children of the light." Uhtred made himself known as he glanced in confusion.

"Where are they? Why is she not ready?" Uhtred asked Sihtric.

"They mourn the dead." Sihtric answered as he watched his friend carefully, Uhtred sighed at the claim and instead chose to kiss his beautiful wife and patted Sihtric's shoulder.

"Than he who considers before his soul's departure how worthy he may be deemed after his death." Young Uhtred continued. Uhtred intertwined his fingers with Nilsa and motioned for her to follow him, she was a bit annoyed that she was led to Aethelflæd but she knew Uhtred had valid concerns.

"There is no time for this." Uhtred whispered with frustration.

"They are children, Uhtred. Sons of Mercia's most revered men," Aethelflæd breathed heavily as she looked at the scene before them, the lady began to sob. "When did children become the cost of war?" Aethelflæd looked at Uhtred and moved closer, Nilsa watched Uhtred carefully. She trusted him but her insecurities made her doubt herself and him. She despised it.

"Women and children have always been the cost of war, princess. That is nothing new." Nilsa hissed out bitterly. Uhtred did not comfort the sobbing woman but rather pulled his wife in close as if sensing her mental battle, he slid his arm around her waist to rest his hand on her stomach.

"You did all that you could. Now, come."

"They took their heads, all of them." Aethelflæd continued.

"And if you do not listen to my husband, yours will be next." Nilsa snapped in anger, be it hormones or her dislike for the princess she didn't know. But not listening to someone trying to save you was just plain ignorant.

"We must move on before the Danes know that you are here." Uhtred urged once more, he looked to his wife who was chewing on her lip in a sudden flare-up of anxiety. He leaned over and placed his forehead against the side of her head, she felt her lip tick up before resting back into a frown. Something was wrong, she could feel it in the air. But nature wasn't giving her the signs she had come to read. Nature was not helping her.

It had seemingly abandoned her. That was enough to nearly send her into a panic.

"Not until they have been blessed." Aethelflæd demanded.

"Aethelflæd, please-" Uhtred pleaded but was cut short by the woman in question.

"Not until, they have been blessed!" Nilsa pulls Uhtred away with a huff, she didn't forget to send the princess a deadly glare. If Uhtred, his son, or her lovers die because of this cunt, she will not hesitate to kill her in the most painful yet slow death imaginable.

"Danes! The Danes are here, lord!" Finan shouted in warning. "They're headed towards the gates!" She looked at Aethelflæd with a smirk before leaning in close.

"Uhtred is mine. His men are mine. His son is my son," Nilsa reached up and fisted Aethelflæd's hair in her fist and slipped her arm around the princess in a mockery of a hug. "If they get hurt because of your choice to stay, I will gut you where you stand and feed your entrails to Edward. And as he's unknowingly eating your organs, I will watch as he chokes on the blood you share. Cowards and cunts, that's all your family seems to produce." Nilsa released the princess with a fake smile and gently fixed her hair.

"Uhtred would never-"

"Uhtred would always choose me and our unborn son over you. You need to find a husband elsewhere, princess. Your old whoring ways are beginning to show, but that's just from one whore to another." Nilsa said calmly as she watched the princess clench her jaw.

"Nil?" Sihtric asked as he approached them, she whipped around with a fond smile. She allowed him to guide her to safety. "Threatening the lady of Mercia? Hmm. So unlike you, beautiful. But I do enjoy you claiming us as yours." He whispered into her ear before pulling her into a deep kiss that had her weak in the knees. "Gods, I plan to give you as many children as you desire. I am yours, you hold my heart in your palm."

Had they been somewhere private, she would have undressed him and had her way with him.

"And I look forward to it, my dear. I had thought I was a whore for wanting what I could not have, but I have realized that I do not mind it. The title of being your whore, days ago it ripped me apart, but now. Now, I know it does not matter. What I feel for you four, is returned and freely given. That is all I want." She whispered with a growing smile.

She could be known as the whore of Wessex for all she cared. She loved these men and she would not allow them to be killed for the king and his family, not while they are treated as scum under their heels.

"I love this side of you," Sihtric slid his hand down to rest on her throat as he kissed her again. "The Dane life suits you." The two separated reluctantly and forced themselves to join the group. Uhtred raised an eyebrow in amusement as he passed them.

"How many?"

"Too many, lord." Finan answered back.

"Stay back, Aethelflæd. Seeing you will inflame them. Go! Upstairs now." Uhtred demanded and she would blame it on her pregnancy but she wanted Uhtred to order her around in the bedroom with that tone. She watched as her husband pushed them deeper into the building.

"They got past the entrance."

"Go, we will hold them off." Aldhelm appeared next to his love and Nilsa glared at the man.

"Give me the lady and you will not be slaughtered!" The intruder shouted and Uhtred sighed.

"Do not even consider it." Uhtred demanded as he grabbed the princess.

"I will not have men murdered in my place."

"I will not see you taken." Uhtred answered, Nilsa could see his patience wearing thin.

"You have the word of Cnut! He only wants Alfred's daughter!"

"Is there another way out?" Finan spoke with nervousness, he hovered near Nilsa for some comfort.

"No."

"Can we get to the roof?" Finan looked at Nilsa with a frown as he worried for her safety.

"We would only get trapped." Uhtred answered and allowed himself a second to caress Nilsa's arm.

"Let me bargain."

"Lady, you are the bargain." Uhtred answered making Nilsa snicker.

"We cannot just let death come to us. I will not just wait for it."

"What are we doing, lord? The door will not hold." Sihtric shouted to them and Nilsa shared a look with Uhtred, she gave him a nod. Whatever it was he had planned, she had full faith in him.

"Bring me Cnut's sons." Finan told Sihtric as they gathered the little gremlins.

"Uhtred, you cannot. There will be another way." The princess pleaded with Uhtred. Nilsa covered the mouth of the princess with her hand.

"Let my husband work, stop with your useless talking." She removed her hand and sent the princess a flying kiss out of mockery.

"You must trust me and you must swear to me you will stay here. Both of you," He glanced between the two women. "Swear to me."

"I will stay here, husband." Nilsa said with a teasing smile and Uhtred kissed her quickly with a smile of his own.

"Do not do this-"

"Swear to me." Uhtred ordered as the intruder shouted.