╚════════*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*════════╝

"Sihtric!" The man in question turned to her with a gentle smile, he was brushing his horse's mane when she found him. She didn't how many people to confide in but she knew the Dane wouldn't judge her.

"Lady Sigyn." He said kindly and she hesitated for a moment as she rubbed the cursed rune on her wrist.

"Can I speak with you about something? I do not feel comfortable with anyone else yet." She whispered to the man and Sihtric raised his hand to cradle her face.

"You can always come to me, little one." He said gently and she nodded with newfound confidence.

"Do you think Osferth would..." She trailed off with a blush, Sihtric observed her for a moment before he grinned.

"If you are asking if he would hump with you, he would without hesitation." Sihtric said with a slight laugh and squeezed her shoulder.

"But how do I ask him? It must be today." She said shyly and Sihtric frowned.

"Why? You do not have to rush these things." She glanced at the horse as she mumbled her answer.

"It will weaken my sister, if I am no longer a virgin it will help Uhtred kill her." Sihtric placed both hands on her shoulder to turn her to him, he gazed into her eyes as he gave her a small smile.

"Uhtred would not want you to force this, little one. He can kill her regardless of whether you have your virginity or not. Do not force yourself to do something you might not be ready for." Sihtric spoke kindly and kissed her forehead reassuringly.

"But I do want this, I mean, if Osferth wanted it too," She said with a flustered face. "It is just a bonus that it will help Uhtred." She said quietly and Sihtric looked at her for a moment to determine if she was speaking the truth.

"Alright, if what you speak is true then all you have to do is ask him. You are both shy about these things but he would not turn you down. But if he hurts you or forces you to do something you do not want, I will kill him." Sihtric spoke with a glint in his eyes that she's known to be protectiveness. She hugged the Dane who had become like a brother to her and felt him kiss her head.

"Thank you, Sihtric."

"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.

"I have a guard. And Wessex is not a land of banditry." The Bishop claimed and gave her a dirty look, Sigyn noticed that her newfound family glared at the Bishop.

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

"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 a dirty look. Sigyn groaned in annoyance at the sound of her sister's voice, Sihtric snickered next to her.

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

"My business is my own." Uhtred claims.

"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 wife to Mercia, lord. Meet you there." Sihtric says with a grin from where he is perched on his horse.

Sigyn watched as Osferth pulled Finan to the side for some privacy and she looked at Sihtric who gave her an encouraging nod. She could do this, she just had to ask. Once the men left she cornered Osferth with a nervous smile, her monk pulled her closer as he shyly leaned in to kiss her. She gently nudged him into the bed as she straddled the man, his answering gasp made her smirk. She placed one of his hands on her breast as she kissed him deeply, Osferth having realized her intentions moved his free hand to her waist.

"Are you sure, Sig?" He questioned quietly as he moved her hair that fell around her face.

"Yes." She giggled when the monk pushed her back against the bed and hovered over her, she blushed at his loving gaze and let out a shocked moan when he kissed down her throat. When he hiked up her dress past her knees he looked to her for permission, with a nervous nod he trailed his fingers down her thigh. She gripped his arm tightly as he rubbed her gently with his thumb, she had never been touched before not even by her fingers.

Once she relaxed enough he leaned down to kiss her again as he slipped in one finger, she didn't feel any pain but she noticed it was a little uncomfortable at first. Eventually, he managed to fit three fingers in her as he trailed kissed down her body, she clenched her thighs around his hand as she came and unintentionally arched into his mouth as he took a nipple into his mouth.

"Ready?" He whispered and she smiled as she caressed his face.

"Please." She begged and sunk her nails into his shoulder as he slowly entered her. He groaned once he bottomed out as he took a moment to breathe, his face was buried in the crook of her neck as he slowly began to move, and she tangled her fingers in his hair with a blissed-out smile.

The longer it went on the burning in her wrist intensified, she felt him kiss her neck as she looked over his shoulder and looked at her wrist. The redness and the wound itself were mending as if time passed and it was beginning to fade, she smiled sadly at the sight. Her sister would die soon and a part of her would always miss her.

She gasped in pleasure once she reached her end and soon Osferth followed, Sigyn and Osferth held one another through the aftershocks of pleasure and once he laid on his back he pulled her close as she curled into his body. Sigyn was attempting to drift off into a peaceful slumber when felt the curse snap between them, she grabbed her wrist with a gasp of pain. Osferth quickly looked over the mark but found nothing but a scarred rune.

"You are free." He said with a smile and she pulled him into another kiss.

Uhtred goes back to the village at nightfall cold and wet as he enters the hall, he pauses at the sight of Osferth. He briefly wondered where Sigyn was.

"I thought you would need a fire, lord. Something warm to eat." Osferth said softly as he stirred the food and Uhtred sat next to the fire.

"You saw?"

"I did." Osferth answered.

"I am not proud of what I've done." Uhtred said distraught as he looked down.

"But it was necessary, lord. She was of the devil and you are free of her now. And so is Sigyn." Osferth said and smiled softly at the thought of the woman.

"Why are you here?" Uhtred asked quietly and watched fondly at his friend.

"I could not leave, lord."

"You feared I could not rid myself of the curse." Uhtred stated.

"I did. I stayed here for the lady Gisela, lord. This was her hall and there was no kinder, gentler lady." Osferth said confidently. "And I refuse to leave Sigyn alone."

"You clearly did not know the lady Gisela." Uhtred said as they smiled. "But thank you, Osferth. I am sure Sigyn appreciated the thought too." Uhtred arched an eyebrow when Osferth blushed.

A day later, Osferth and Sigyn walk by, and Osferth grabs Finan, scaring him and making Sigyn giggle.

"Finan."

"What the...Osferth? You're here?" Finan asked confused as Osferth walked them to a fire pit. "Sigyn?" Finan asked in confusion.

"So, we are inside the walls of Winchester. Where will he go? To father Beocca?" Osferth asked his friend as he felt Sigyn hug his arm.

"Yes, he'll find us. Be sure of it."

"And he is free of his curse." Osferth whispered.

"She's dead?" Finan asked and glanced at Sigyn in worry, she smiled softly at the man.

"Very." Osferth answered.

"Then we're all free of the curse, baby monk." Finan said with relief.

"She was of the devil, wasn't she?"

"No, more than that. She was the devil in disguise." Finan claimed to make Osferth frown as he kissed Sigyn's head.

"It is what he would do."

"Ale and women." Finan says suddenly as he taps Osferth's chest. It didn't escape him that the look shared between the monk and woman was one of fondness.

"And prayer."

"Absolutely, but in that order." Finan said with a grin and crossed himself as they laughed and walked away. Sigyn swings her and Osferth's hands as they follow the Irishman.