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"I am asking you to join me, Ragnar, as Hæsten has joined me."

"When did I join you? I gave you food, I did not give you my oath." Hæsten said standing up slowly.

"You believe you should lead?" Bloodhair questioned.

"Yes, why not?" Ragnar stands and moves around the room, he places Eithne next to Gene with a tired smile.

"Name your victories." Bloodhair demands getting in Hæsten's face. Gene sighed at them, men are so easy to goad into a fight.

"Says the man who lost half his army to a sickly king." Gene snorts in amusement and Uhtred smirks as it proves his point.

"That is enough shit-talk." Ragnar demanded.

"Next, you'll compare cock sizes." Gene and the men laugh, Ragnar moves to Cnut's side as he looks around.

"There can only be one leader."

"It must be you, Ragnar." Uhtred says and Gene agrees.

"He is right, Ragnar. You and Uhtred are the only two able to lead a great army." Gene announced, Ragnar looked at them both shocked but grateful. Sihtric placed a hand on her back to draw her attention, he handed her his fur cloak to cover the twins with. She pulled him into a kiss, she couldn't help it, alright? Anytime he did anything fatherly it made her heart flutter. She then covered the children as they cuddled beside her, both using her lap as a pillow.

"Why because he's your brother and her past lover?" Bloodhair asked with a scoff, Gene glared at the Dane.

"Past lover or not, he's a good leader." She affirmed with a dirty look and turned to her youngest son who was focused on Uhtred's stone in the hilt of his sword.

"Because Ragnar's the only man each of us will trust, the only man." Uhtred said and nodded at his brother.

"You do not trust me, dane-slayer?" Cnut asked with a smirk.

"No." Gene spoke with a smirk. Sihtric grabbed one of her hands before kissing her wrapped palm, which she had cut a few nights ago, and then proceeded to kiss up her wrist making her grin.

"Do not know you nor do I like you. But you are Ragnar's cousin."

"It is not about who leads, it is about how the wealth is divided." Aethelwold cuts in, and Gene fights the urge to strangle him. So she instead used her free hand to play with Eithne's hair.

"We do not talk of wealth until we have it in our hands. Uhtred says that we must become one army, I see no man fool to disagree. You all know of me, you know of my father and my grandfather and I tell you now, I would be proud to lead the next great army. But only if it is agreed by each one of you. In return for your trust, I give you my word when Alfred is defeated, and he will be defeated, there will be silver. But more than that there will be reputation and honor in this life and the next, so who is with me? Bloodhair?" Ragnar questions and watches as Bloodhair stands.

"Yes, I am with you. You have my sword, I swear."

Gene still doesn't trust him.

"Hæsten?" Ragnar asked. Sihtric intertwined their fingers together and kissed the back of her hand.

"I have no argument, I too will follow." He says.

"And me, cousin, always but you knew that." Cnut interjected.

"And me. I am a man that knows every Saxon grudge and grievance held against Alfred, and there are many. You will need me." Gene scoffed at the boy and watched in disbelief as Ragnar nodded.

"That leaves Uhtred." Brida says.

"My sword is my brothers, no doubt." Finan and Gene look at one another with worry, she tightens her grip on Sihtric's hand.

"Then it is settled. The kingdom of Wessex will surrender or burn." Ragnar announced as the men around them cheered and laughed.

"We cannot go against the men of Wessex". Osferth says and Gene snacks his forehead and motions for him to be quiet.

"Be quiet." Finan hissed out as he turned around.

"They're our people Finan, our friends."

"Osferth, be quiet." Finan snapped and helped Gene off the table as she picked up Eithne and Sihtric carried both of their sons. The small family left the hall and in the direction of their room, Gene opened the door for her husband as he gently laid the boys on their bed and kissed them on the forehead. Gene soothed Eithne when she began to squirm in her hold and allowed Sihtric to grab her.

"The runes have told me things, Sitty. Things that cannot be fixed." She whispered and watched Sihtric lay their daughter in the bed and cover the three up. Sihtric looked over at her with a concerned look as he cradled her face in his calloused palms, she looked into his beautiful eyes and knew that as long as she had him and their children everything would be alright.

"What did they say?" He placed a kiss on her forehead and then her jaw making her blush when he smiled against her skin.

"I fear Uhtred and Ragnar won't be brothers for much longer, the damage Alfred and Skade have wreaked cannot be undone."

"You are hiding something, my beautiful wife." Sihtric practically purrs into her ear making her shiver.

"I have a horrible feeling about this. I fear we will lose people."