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No one knew why Gene and her children stayed by Ragnar's side as much as possible, no one but she knew the answer. While Sihtric and their children slept she cried quietly after waking from a dream that showed the Dane's death. Ragnar, the man who had shown her love and never asked for anything in return. The man who pushed her in Sihtric's path to find the things he could never give her.

And he was to die in his sleep by some spineless coward.

She wiped away her tears and left her room in search of something, anything. She had never felt so helpless in her life, the gods forbid her from telling him or intercepting it. If she didn't fear for the souls of her daughter and sons, she would have done so.

"Gene?" She choked back a sob at the sight of Ragnar. He was still so beautiful and very much alive. He moved to her and looked for any wounds and when he found none and cradled her face.

"What is, my love?" She continued to weep as he pulled her close. Out of everyone destined to die, why him?

"I-I just," She stuttered out. She looked at her wrist where her protection charms rested, would it be going against the gods if she gave him one? Finan still had his and so did her children, maybe they wouldn't see it as a betrayal? "The Gods have shown me something grave, it cannot be changed." She looked up at the blonde with a sad smile.

"Everything will be fine, I swear to you. Now, go back to bed." He kissed her forehead and nudged her back to the direction of her and Sihtric's room. When he walked away she decided against it and sought out someone who could calm her the best, knocking on his door she was called in.

"Sweetheart?" And Irish accent asked when he sat up in confusion. She broke down immediately and he quickly opened his arms for her to crawl into, he shushed her softly as she cried into his chest. "Genevieve?"

"I cannot do this anymore, father. I do not want my powers, I just want to be happy with Sihtric. I want to be blissfully unaware of what lies ahead for once." Finan kissed her head and gently rocked her back and forth to soothe her.

"I'm sorry, m'iníon. I wish I could help you." He mumbled into her hair as she trembled in his arms.

Was it too much to ask for his adopted daughter to be happy?

"Finan." Beocca greets with a smile later that day, Gene was unusually quiet as she sat next to her friends and husband. Uhtred stopped wiping down his sword to lean over and kiss her temple, she sent him a small smile at the action.

"Father Beocca, it's good to see you." Finan says and walks to the man.

"Osferth," He turns to Sihtric and Gene. "Gene, your children are lovely as ever." She nods while Sihtric smiles at the man.

"Dane boy," He trails off. "Looks like a rat." Gene shakes her head in amusement at the comment.

"I am Sihtric." Her husband says innocently and smiles at her.

"Some privacy?" The priest asks.

"Sit yourself down, father. We all need to piss." Finan says as he smacks Sihtric.

"I need to check on our children." Gene says and leans over to kiss Uhtred's head as she walks away. The first real smile that graced her face that day was the moment she stumbled upon her children sitting with Brida and Ragnar, the married couple was telling them stories and the kids laughed. She leaned against the wall as she took in the sight, Eithne was in Ragnar's lap looking up at the man in amazement, her sons sat around Brida and glanced at whoever was talking.

She hoped that this was the last memory her children had of Ragnar, of his skald-like stories and his beautiful smile. She walked away to allow them to make the most of the memories with their uncle and aunt and moved to Sihtric and Finan.

"Say nothing." Uhtred speaks when they return.

"I won't so much as fart in your direction, lord. I'll simply say to Sihtric here, that this great army we're supposedly gathering, can never hold." Sihtric avoids the Irishman's eyes as he looks at Uhtred, he instead moves an arm around her waist with worried eyes.

"Agreed." Sihtric said and turned to her with a silent question, she shook her head not wanting to speak of it at the moment.

"And I'll mention to Osferth that I didn't come north only to turn and march south." Finan mumbled looking at the monk solemnly.

"Nor me, Finan."

"Lord, I will follow you wherever you go, but we have friends in Wessex and men like Hæsten and Bloodhair are no better than Kjartan."

"If the north is your home, your birthright, then why are we not looking towards Bebbanburg? Now, that is a fight we can believe in Uhtred, I am begging ya as your friend. Do not do this, we should leave this place." Finan begs and Uhtred frowns momentarily.

"And leave my brother, how can I do that?" Uhtred asked hurt and she felt a pang of sadness at the thought.

"You must." She looked up as they turned to her.

"I-I cannot answer this for you, Uhtred. Both paths have dire consequences." She whispered with tears prickling her eyes and she quickly blinked them away and felt Osferth place a hand on her arm in concern. After some thought Uhtred decided to go speak with Ragnar and confront Aethelwold, the group walks into the feast hall feeling the tension in the air. Uhtred turned to look at them with a knowing look.

"I will be leaving. I will be leaving, though I will not be returning to Wessex. I am needed."

"By a princess? You're no more a dane than the priest here, you're a whore to the crown of Alfred." Gene breathed in softly and decided if she should intervene.

She was glad her children were playing outside with the horses.

"You would do this to me again?" Ragnar says heartbrokenly.

"I must."

"Yes, of course. You must. You swore an oath, you gave your word and that is about reputation and honor. What my father gave to you, I now take back. You are no longer Uhtred Ragnarsson." Uhtred attempts to fight back tears.

"Ragnar, you cannot do that, please." Thyra pleaded looking between them.

"You are no longer my brother, this was a game to you." Ragnar whispered.

"Never." Uhtred whispered, Gene couldn't fight the tears now as she felt Uhtred's pain in her heart.

"Go, before I kill you." Ragnar said looking at Uhtred. Ragnar then looked at her with guilt and beckoned her to him, for a moment she hesitated but Sihtric gently pushed her forward.

"Go, Genie. Say your goodbyes, in any way you see fit." He whispered and kissed her cheek.

"Ragnar, please do not do this." She begged once his hand moved to her ribs, her past lover looked down at her sadly.

"I must, beautiful. But just know this, you and your family are always welcome with me." Gene shook her head once the tears continued to flow.

"I am thankful for all you have done for me. But we will never meet again, Ragnar. Not in this life." She whispered and when he frowned she pulled him into a kiss that she hoped conveyed all the love she felt for him, when she pulled away he rested his forehead on her own.

"I love you, Genevieve." He said and caressed her cheek with the back of his knuckles before she pulled away. The look on Brida's face had one of understanding and a sad smile, Brida squeezed her hand as she slipped away. Sihtric opened his arms for her and she melted into his embrace as he rubbed her back softly.

"He does not leave with Skade. Ragnar, she belongs to me."

"Yes, Bloodhair. We shall make the square," Finan steps forward worriedly. "And you can fight for the witch, to the death."

"Agreed." Bloodhair speaks.

"Lord, say nothing." Finan pleads.

"Agreed, we fight."