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"Lord, the real fight will be you against Aelfric." Finan said as he looked at them. He stroked her hair as he held her, just being near the woman he loved calmed his anxiety.

"Tell me, Beocca...is it the right time? I'm not leading men to defeat?" Uhtred turned to Beocca with hesitation.

"You are not leading men to defeat. The fight will be furious. Men will fall. But I would not encourage you if I thought you would lose. Feel the air here, Uhtred. Feel its cold breath. This is the air you and I were born to breathe. We're meant to be here." Beocca said with such confidence.

"Let us see if my blood runs thick...if the signal comes." Uhtred said as he glanced back at Bebbanburg.

Angrboda clutched her head in pain and was thankful that Finan tightened his hold on her. He cradled her face in his hand as she winced in pain.

She hasn't had a vision since Thyra's death.

Finan guided her to sit on the bench as he crouched in front of her in concern, he rubbed her thighs as she hunched over her lap in hopes to rid the vision from her.

She choked out a breath as she clawed at her chest, Finan quickly stopped her by holding her hands. He hated seeing her like this, it wasn't fair that she had to live with someone else's pain. Once it passed she leaned her forehead against his chest as he rubbed her back, her trembling form curled into him as she unconsciously sought safety.

Everyone went silent when they realized the truth. Someone would die today.

Finan had managed to clean up the blood she had cried and urged her to rest, he promised to keep watch over her as she slept. He caressed her arm as he watched her drift off, he frowned when she shook occasionally in her sleep.

Hours later, Uhtred whistled to alert his men.

"Move your arses!" Finan shouts quietly.

"Follow us along the rocks. The rest of you stay here until I call for the ship." Uhtred ordered the group.

"Which one do you want?" Uhtred asked Finan as they reached their destination.

"That one." Finan said as he used the hilt of his weapon to single out one man. She smiled at the two and felt Sihtric bump her shoulder gently.

"All yours."

"Halt!" The guard shouted but it didn't matter. He died a moment later, Finan waved his arms to signal to them that it was safe.

"Are you there?" Uhtred quietly asks through the bars of the gate.

"Keep this way. Backs against the walls."

"Are you there?" Uhtred tried again.

"What do we do, lord?" Finan asked nervously as he leaned into her side.

"Do we lift the gate?"

"It's worth a try." Finan said as he motioned to the men."Come on! Put your back into it!" He shouts as they groan, they watch as the gate doesn't so much as make a noise.

"Finan, stop. It's too heavy." Uhtred turned and noticed some boulders.

"Get the oars." Uhtred ordered the men, they watched silently as Osferth brought them to Finan.

"In there, Osferth." Sihtric moved and began to tie the rope around the top of the oars.

"Put your back into it! Come on! It's moving! Come on!" They had moved the oars to the gate and Finan laid on it as they pushed. "Can you get under it, lord?" Finan questioned as Uhtred unsheathed his sword and began to crawl under it. She at least knew that Uhtred wouldn't die from the gate.

"Little more."

"Go on, lord!" Finan said. Uhtred made it through just in time and they sighed in relief.

"He's got it! Yes!" Finan said happily just as a bell rang, he kissed her quickly as they walked through the sea entrance and rolled her eyes fondly.

"Is it a trap?" Uhtred questioned as he looked at his friend.

"Is it a trap we can fight our way out of?" They rush up the stairs and the men kill all the guards they see.

"We move on." Uhtred said as they moved out. Uhtred managed to grab a guard and walked out into the yard with the sword pointed at the man's neck.

"Silence! Only I shall speak."

"Get back!" Finan ordered and followed the Dane. Uhtred shoved his uncle to his knees as he put the blade to his throat with a proud smirk.

"Do you know who I am, hm? I am the true lord of Bebbanburg! And I am taking it back. I have no fight with you. Only this man is doomed. Are you happy to see me, uncle? Huh? I have waited a lifetime to avenge myself. I will enjoy taking my time with you! Mm. No one else will suffer if you swear loyalty. None of you are my enemies, you are men of Bebbanburg. And, as lord of Bebbanburg, I will provide for and protect you. And this cruel shit, who had hated you and mistreated you, will die. I've come home, swear to me and you will have my oath. Aidan...you remember me? Who has your allegiance?" Uhtred said smugly.

"I am loyal to the true heir of Bebbanburg." Aidan said. She reached out to grab Young Uhtred's wrist when he weakly walked to them. She worried that the death would be him. She used her sleeve to wipe away the blood softly and the boy sent her a look of gratitude.

"Good." Uhtred said with a smirk.

"Bear witness all, the true heir of Bebbanburg!" Aidan points up where Wihtgar rests, he holds a crossbow pointed straight at Uhtred.

"Who are you, boy?" Uhtred shouted.

"Wihtgar, son of Aelfric. Very much alive and back at Bebbanburg. Flesh and blood. And I could kill you with this arrow in a heartbeat." Wihtgar threatened.

"You can try. The arrow would miss."

"Then you know nothing of the weapons of the desert." Wihtgar taunted with a proud smirk.

"Put down the bow. Put down the bow!"

"You've lost everything, Osbert." Aelfric taunted making Uhtred distracted.

"I won't tell you again, put down the bow!" Uhtred flinched in shock when an arrow was suddenly impaled in his uncle's eye. He looked up at Wihtgar who looked smirked.

The pain in her chest was from an arrow. Wihtgar would kill one of them with his bow. She frowned at the realization and pulled Uhtred's son closer to her.

Uhtred's men ready themselves for battle as Wihtgar looked out at the men of Bebbanburg, plus his mercenaries.

"A son does not always love a father. Learn from that, fool. Now, who's with me?" Wihtgar shouted as his men cheered. "Who is with Wihtgar of Bebbanburg?" Men cheer once more.

"Get ready! Get ready to fight!" Finan shouted.