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"Lord Uhtred." Sigebriht says as he turns away from the window. Gene almost turned around and left had it not been for Uhtred looking at her with pleading eyes.

"Lord Sigebriht, do you stand with Aethelwold?" Uhtred questioned in disbelief. The twins grabbed one of Finan's hands as he walked past Gene and Uhtred.

"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 sat down on the brick and hissed when a piece cut her finger; she moved to check on the wound but paused at the sight.

As the hand of the Gods, she would often depict characteristics or traits that weren't of a mortal, one of which was blackened blood. It would be crimson on regular days but darken the two times she'd been pregnant. It was a warning from the Gods not to overdo things; Erik must have unconsciously known as he had protected her stomach for the last couple of weeks.

She was pregnant. She subtly placed the bleeding hand on her stomach and smiled softly; Sihtric would be overjoyed.

"You say it as though there are men against Edward?" Uhtred said accusingly, drawing her back into the conversation.

"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. Uhtred sighed and used his free hand to stroke her hair, someone he had done ever since the dreams they shared when he was enslaved.

"I was at Ethandun; I stood beside you in a shield wall. He is barely a man." Aethelwold snapped in irritation; Gene arched an eyebrow in amusement. He was such a brat.

"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. The twins stood beside him in confusion. Eithne turned to Finan as he said, while Erik watched his mother with concern.

"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. Erik immediately grabbed her hand and frowned at the cut; Finan chuckled at the boy as he fussed over the wound. Eithne shrugged, knowing her mother was untouchable in her eyes. Gene was her inspiration, and she wanted to be as strong and brave as her.

Later, Beocca, Finan, Thyra, and Uhtred sit at the table at Thyra's home once again. Gene walked in as the twins stayed with Osferth and Sihtric. Fintan ran to her in happiness and gently hugged her. Finan rubs his head as he holds his cup; the man is stressed and worried for his friend. Gene ushered the little boy to sit with his uncle Uhtred as she moved to her father figure and touched his back.

"I will not leave Winchester; I cannot." Uhtred says determinedly. Gene loved the man, but he was stupid at times.

"You can and you must." Finan says, looking at her for help.

"It is his decision, unfortunately." Gene tells Finan softly.

"Not until Edward is king." Uhtred claims with a small amount of bitterness.

"You promised Alfred this?" Beocca stated bluntly.

"I did."

"If the pardon does not hold, then you cannot stay and wait to be imprisoned and killed." Finan pleads with the Dane.

"Uhtred, if you believe you must do this, then I will support you. But I will do nothing that might put my children at risk." She says in wanting, and Uhtred reaches out to squeeze her arm.

"Thank you, my Valkyrie." She smiled sadly; he hadn't used that nickname in so long that she had almost forgotten it.

"Where else should he go?" Thyra defends as she moves to Beocca's side.

"A horse can take him anywhere a ship can go." Finan stressed as he rubbed his beard; little Fin climbed into his lap to comfort the man.

"Uhtred came here for a reason. He came for Ragnar's blood and had a task to fulfill. The blood must be kept safe; a battle is coming. You must choose a side." Thyra said ominously, but she wasn't wrong.

"The problem is that neither side wants him." Finan claims, and Uhtred chuckled in disbelief. Gene snickered at Uhtred's offended look and kissed the Dane's head in apology.

"Which is a further reason why you must stay, wait for Edward. Which is why Alfred asked you for what seemed like 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, 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. Gene is too busy trying to settle Erik, who feels death looming over the town, to see Thyra leave, and Eithne and Fintan are yawning in boredom.

Steapa quietly and slowly makes his way to Uhtred. He leans down to whisper to the man, hoping not to disturb the grieving family. Beocca watches from his place up front and makes eye contact with the queen; 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. Steapa doesn't stop there as he looks at Gene sadly. "Unfortunately, you are included in that." Gene huffed in irritation but nodded. She orders her children to stay with Finan.

"Steapa, what is this? Hmm, what is this?" Finan shouts in desperation and confusion. Her children glare at Steapa when he motions to the guards, and they slam Finan against the brick pillar. Erik drew his sword out and almost stabbed a guard if it wasn't for her calling him off.

"No, Erik. Stay with Finan, please. I do not want any trouble or harm to my children, Steapa." The man in question touched her shoulder with an apologetic look.

"I will make sure they are safe, Gene."

"Finan, do nothing." Uhtred demanded as they followed Steapa.

"He's a free man." Finan says, defeated, as he slumps against the wall. "And she is a mother! Do not separate her from her children!"