viii. the brothers
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At the camp, a storm brews, thunder rumbles, and the rain freezes any skin it may touch. A part of her felt guilty for calling upon Thor to send it, but the other part wanted to protect her brothers. The same brothers who fought to keep her safe and happy long ago.
"I see three on watch, the rest will be huddled inside their furs." Uhtred announced. Gene was crouched down next to Finan and she noticed that he started to lean against her, perhaps for good luck. Or because he feared what was to come.
"There could be more behind the tents sitting low." Ragnar muttered.
"I don't have a good feeling about this." Brida said, looking worried.
"I don't either, Uhtred. I can feel this will be the start of a war." Gene spoke quietly, Uhtred reached over for her hand and held it.
"Which tents are full and which are empty?" Brida asked.
"And in which tent is Sigefrid? Which is Erik? We are blind." Ragnar said turning to Uhtred.
"Tafl," Everyone turns to Aethelwold in confusion. "The game, tafl. The king is positioned at the center of the pieces, I would say that tent there is the king." He points to the center tent proudly.
"From any other mouth, it'd make perfect sense." Finan said. Gene giggled and leaned against the warrior, he leaned up to knock his head against hers gently and she shoved him off playfully.
"It is perfect sense." Aethelwold defended and frowned at the two.
"I will go in alone." Gene squeezed Uhtred's hand, he glanced down at her with a frown.
"No, you will not." She voiced quickly, panic filling her. She could not lose him to her brothers, but she also couldn't lose her brothers to him.
"I think you should." Aethelwold said.
"No, we go in as agreed, together." Ragnar snapped.
"We cannot risk the both of us being killed." Uhtred pleaded, he let go of Gene and flicked her forehead to annoy her.
"Yes, we can." Ragnar urged, Brida touched his arm to reassure him.
"This is for Alfred. You must save your sword for Kjartan."
"If it is for Alfred, I will go with you." Steapa looked at Gene and gave her a nod as if to say he would protect Uhtred for her.
"And me, it was my bastard plan." Finan looked up to Uhtred with pure loyalty. Gene quickly looked at the Irishman, she pulled off one of her bracelets and held it to him.
"I don't wear anything but my cross, sweetheart." He said, she put it in his palm and folded his fingers over it.
"To protect you." She whispered, he hesitated briefly before sighing in defeat, he slipped it on and watched her visibly relax.
"If you get caught?" Brida asked Uhtred, leaning around Ragnar.
"Do nothing." Ragnar scoffed at Uhtred's answer.
"Ragnar, think only of our blood feud and of Thyra." Uhtred says and walks away, Finan stands and walks to Steapa.
"I hope you're light on your feet big man." He teased and mockingly patted his chest. Once the warriors leave she is pulled close by Brida and Ragnar, all three anxiously hoping Uhtred survives. She whispered a prayer to Odin, hoping it would protect Uhtred and Finan.
A moment later, her heart breaks when Uhtred brings Sigefrid out of his tent, his sword hand cut from him, and a sword to his throat. Her brother is placed on his knees as Uhtred starts to call for Erik. She cannot let her brothers die. Before anyone can stop her, she takes off to the camp, she ignores the yells of Brida and Ragnar.
"Erik, I swear I will kill him and be damned what follows." She hears Uhtred threaten.
"No one is to move. No one! Stand still!" Erik shouts.
"Kill him! Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!" She hears Sigefrid demand.
"No one's to do much as raise their sword. Uhtred, you will spare him."
"Steady your men!" Uhtred shouts. Just as Erik orders his men to stand down Gene rushes into the clearing and holds both hands out looking at Uhtred as if he were a frightened horse.
"Uhtred, please. Let him go." She begged, she ignored Erik's gaze on her and instead looked at her injured brother.
"My little Genevieve." She could see the tears that Sigefrid was holding back fall from his eyes at the sight of her, he reached out to her weakly.
"Name your price." Erik says to Uhtred, she could feel the blonde next to her, his arm brushing against hers in a comforting manner.
"Kill him, Erik! Erik! Hæsten!" Sigefrid suddenly grows angry again, she wasn't sure if it was the pain or him being denied the comfort of his baby sister.
"Sigefrid there will be another day, another time," Erik holds out his hands like Gene. "Name your price! It will be done, I swear. I give you my word. Kill him and you kill yourself." Erik looked at Gene who finally looked at him, in a moment of weakness he looked away from the threat and instead softly touched his sister's cheek. She leaned into his palm seeking out a small comfort and smiled when he pulled her ear affectionately.
"Your word." Uhtred speaks once more, giving Gene a brief apologetic smile.
"I swear. Believe me." Erik says and jabs his sword into the mud.
"You will take one ship and you will leave Northumbria. One ship. You will not return." Gene felt a pang of sadness at that, she would never see her brothers again. But she rather they be alive instead of dead. At least this time she can say goodbye.
"For my brother's life, this is done." Sigefrid groans in pain once Uhtred lets him go. He kneels over clutching his arm leading Erik and Gene to run to him. Erik wrapped an arm around his brother to help him stand, while Gene touched his shoulder softly.
"I swear that I will kill you Uhtred Ragnarsson! This is not finished." Sigefrid threatened, Uhtred had his sword drawn and pointed at the Dane.
"No, you will not. He is mine to protect. You will anger the gods, brother." She spoke softly and turned to Uhtred.
"I see you are a funny man." Gene pushed Uhtred back as Erik placed Sigefrid's wrist into the flames, she winced, and Uhtred covered her ears with his hands.
"Go, I will follow. I wish to say goodbye." She whispers, Uhtred looks hesitant. "They are my brothers, they will not harm me. Go." She urged him to leave and he eventually caved in, but not before kissing her forehead.
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