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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. Lilith watched Uhtred carefully, if either of those brats attacked him she wouldn't hesitate to rip them to pieces.

"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. She instinctively followed the man and stood next to him with suspicious eyes, she didn't trust the two boys.

"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.

"So are you, rat. The Danes controlled you like a dog to its master." She felt Finan pat her arm proudly as he chuckled.

"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.

"You're still with them, admit it." Finan spoke with boredom. Lilith scowled at the thought, why was he allowed to live but her father was not?

"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. Finan tossed an arm over her shoulder as they left and she allowed the Irishman due to her growing attachment to him.

Later Beocca, Finan, Thyra, Lilith, 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 smacked the back of his head as she walked by and felt the Irishman kick her in return, she narrowed her eyes and took the jug of ale, and poured the last bit into her cup. Finan looked offended as he watched and she laughed at him.

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

"You can and you must." Finan says and huffed when she shoved him over to sit next to him.

"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.

"Well, at least I know I'm safe." She said with a teasing smile and Uhtred looked at her blankly.

"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.

"Sorry, Uhtred. He speaks no lie." She yelped in pain when Uhtred kicked her under the table. "You little-" Finan grabbed her and shoved her back in the seat when she went to attack Uhtred.

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

"Bastard thinks." Uhtred mumbled.

"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, Lilith, 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.

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, Lilith and Finan run out to get answers. She reached for her secret dagger that was in her boot as she watched in silence.

"Steapa, what is this? Hmm, what is this?" Finan shouts in desperation and confusion. Steapa motions to the guards and they slam him against the brick pillar. Lilith's vision went red the moment they touched Finan, she blacked out for a second and came to with two of the guards that held Finan dead at her feet.

Shit.

"Finan, do nothing." Uhtred demanded as he followed Steapa and the remaining guards looked at her fearfully. Steapa grabbed her roughly and shoved her closer to Uhtred, she glared at the man.

"He's a free man." Finan says defeated as he slumps against the wall.