╚════════*.·:·.☽✧    ✦  ✧☾.·:·.*════════╝

At the camp, the warriors sit around the campfire as Osferth serves them some stew. Finan was pulling Eithne's hair and chuckled when the girl kicked him; Fintan was curled up in Uhtred's lap as he gazed into the flames. Gene tossed her legs over Sihtric's lap as he caressed her back. Erik sat next to his parents, glaring fiercely at Edward.

"I have noticed Aethelwold is not with us." Sihtric says bluntly as he leans down to kiss Gene's head.

"I wondered why the stench is gone. No doubt he's making his way to the Danes." Beocca said as he took the stew from Osferth. Gene giggled at his claim and slapped Sihtric's hand when he moved it lower on her back. She did not want to scar her children by being too touchy.

"He may know of Bedanford. He will tell them." Osferth asked with worry.

"Which is why we're headed towards the woods. Beyond Bedanford." Finan speaks up, and Edward pauses briefly to glance at him.

"We are?"

"We assemble at Bedanford as requested in the letter, but then we march on to attack the Danes in the woodlands. A small advantage for our smaller numbers," Uhtred says and then turns to Osferth. "You have the blood kept safe?"

"I do, lord. Always. And it is blessed." Osferth says quietly, and Gene smiles.

"Thyra's blood." Beocca says.

"Yes."

"And it will save Ragnar's soul?" He asked the Dane. Gene frowned as she moved to caress her son's head. She hated that the children she was carrying would never know the man. It was a crime, one she hoped his killer paid for.

"It will take him from Nifelheim to Valhalla, yes. From hell into heaven. I must kill the man who killed Ragnar with a blade marked with Ragnar's blood." Uhtred explained. Sihtric kissed her temple as he nuzzled his face against her throat. She trailed her fingertips across the back of his neck absentmindedly.

"Thyra's blood."

"It is the same." Uhtred said, dismissing it. Fintan whined lowly when Uhtred ignored him, and the Dane chuckled at the boy.

"Who is this man you will kill?" Beocca asked with curiosity.

"I do not know."

"Two. There were two of them, Uhtred. One made the call, and the other did the killing. I cannot tell you who; the Gods will not give me those answers, but two men had a part in killing him. Make sure to kill the right one." Gene says with a bitter expression.

Sihtric, Finan, and others drag the Dane spies to the hill. Uhtred wanted them to hang from the trees in a warning. Finan ordered them to shoot the next batch as Sihtric dragged another body.

"There is nothing more useless than a dead spy." Finan mumbled, and Sihtric stood alert as he unsheathed his sword.

"Finan." Finan turns to see a lonesome rider watching them. They bring him back to camp to speak with Uhtred, and Gene walks out with a gleam of mischief in her eyes.

"Jackdaw."

"He says he has a message, lord." Finan informs the man that the Irishman leaned over to kiss her head when she stood beside him.

"I do, lord. It's from Brida." Uhtred tensed at the name and grew serious. Gene bit her lip in anticipation and felt Finan squeeze her hand.

"Say it."

"Am I to be spared?" Gene groaned in annoyance and noticed the Dane step back at her visible irritation.

"Yes, you will be spared but not return to the Danes. Say your message." Gene felt Sihtric's hand reach out to hold her hips and pull her against his chest. Jacksaw was lucky she was too comfortable, or he would have been dead.

"She says, 'Aethelwold,' lord. She says, 'Do not fail.'" Uhtred becomes visibly angry at the message. Gene froze at the news and removed Sihtric's hands as she was so disgusted with the thought that it made her nauseous. She vomited behind the nearest tree, and Sihtric quickly gathered her hair to avoid it becoming filthy; Finan rubbed her back softly as she heaved.

"How long before they come?" Uhtred questioned and looked over at Gene in worry.

"They are near. You are facing death, for certain."

"You are wrong, Jackdaw. I will not die." Uhtred says confidently as they lead him away. "Osferth, the blood." Osferth and Finan led the prisoner away as Sihtric attempted to soothe his wife.

"Today, I ask you not to fight for Alfred. I ask you not to fight for Edward, not the crown. But to fight for yourselves and your forefathers. They are buried in the soil of Wessex and Mercia and have become the soil. They are the land. And even as I speak, it is for them we are fighting." Edward screams as they gather to hear his speech, and the men around them shout. Gene rolled her eyes at the theatrics and pulled Sihtric away the first chance she could.

"Come back to me, Sitty. I need you, our sons need you," she said, placing Sihtric's hand on her stomach. "They need you." Sihtric gently caressed her belly with his thumb as his eyes became teary. She gasped in surprise when he fell to his knees and pressed the side of his face against her stomach. She flushed in embarrassment as the men around camp turned to watch them. She cradled his head gently as he wrapped his arms around her thighs.

"You said they?" He whispered as he held her tightly.

"I did, my love. I do not know the genders yet, but I know I carry more than one. Twins, I suppose." She said with a smile. Sihtric glanced up at her softly.

"Or more." She glared down at him so intensely that most men would have begged forgiveness. Sihtric was not like most men.

"It better only be two." Sihtric grinned as he kissed her stomach through her dress. He would love them regardless of how many there were.

Finan and Sihtric stand next to one another as they prepare for battle; Sihtric is eager to return to his pregnant wife and sons.  On the order, they charge into the unaware Danes with shouts and cries of war.

"Uhtred, there's too many of the bastards!" Finan shouts as they slash down any Dane they come across.

"Keep your ground!"

"Where are the Mercians?" Sihtric shouts as he and Finan grunt.

"Uhtred, the line is breaking!"

"Push back! Where is Sigebriht?" Uhtred says in anger.

"Lord! Horses!" They turn to see Aethelflæd and her men in charge.

"It is Aethelflaed! It is Mercia!" Uhtred says happily before meeting Aethelwold's eyes and turning to Brida when he runs. The battle ends soon enough, with Cnut and Hæsten fleeing and Uhtred killing Aethelwold.