WORSHIPPING HANDS, FINAN
chapter one.          a wedding in winchester
( a year and a half later )

          SHE RECEIVED HER Uncle's letter that morning.  Elvina had only just awoken when her Husband, Arthur, handed her a tightly entwined and folded piece of parchment. He hadn't opened it out of respect for whatever the letter contained and left her room to allow her some privacy. The blonde ripped the roped material around the letter with her thumb, it snapping quite easily as she did so. Her quick and nimble fingers opened the folded piece of paper and as she began to read the contents of the letter her King Uncle had written to her, Elvina felt her stomach dropped at what she read.

ELVINA AND HER Husband were invited to witness the marriage and union between Æthelred of Mercia and Princess Æthelflæd of Wessex. The grown woman had felt sorry for her younger cousin, knowing that having an arranged marriage is something that many didn't want. She felt rage boil within her stomach the more she thought about it. Alfred first marrying her off to one of the Nephew of one of his Ealdormen and then marrying off his only daughter nearly two years later seemed like all that he wanted to do was marry off the women in his life so he could further strengthen the foundation of Wessex. Even if it wasn't his intention at all, the thought of it still made Elvina sick to her stomach.

"WE HAVE BEEN invited to my cousins wedding," Elvina spoke up as she entered the main living area of her and Arthur's home. The house they lived in wasn't large by any means and if she had only raised her voice slightly from the confines of her room, Arthur would be able to hear her as clear as day. But the pair usually spoke to each other face to face whenever something needed to be discussed, it was mainly a thing out of respect.

"OH, IS EDWARD getting married?" Arthur asked, gently leaning against the wooden table in their designated dinning area.

ELVINA GENTLY SHOOK her head and stepped closer to Arthur, trying to keep her voice down as to not awake anyone else within their house, "It is Æthelflæd who is getting married. Alfred arranged for her and Æthelred of Mercia to be united".

THE MAN BEFORE her knew that the topic of arranged engagements struck a chord within Elvina, knowing of what his Wife had lost and been deprived of as a result. So he took her pale hands in his own and gently kissed them in attempts to comfort her. Another thing the two of them did in respect for each other. Their entire marriage had been built upon respect. Arthur respected and understood that Elvina was in love with another man and she understood that his preferences laid elsewhere. Their marriage was more of a friendship than anything, which provided great comfort for the both of them during times of sorrow or loneliness.

"DO YOU WANT to go, Vi?" Arthur asked, tone gentle and kind as he waited for her answer.

ELVINA HAD BEEN shocked that her Aunt Ælswith was correct regarding how kind and gentle the men from Devlin were. She nearly cried the first time Arthur asked to take her hand and walk her around the gardens of the castle in Winchester. She was forever grateful to whatever higher beings there were that they aligned her path with Arthur's for she didn't know what she'd do if she married a man who had abused and hurt her everyday and expected her to pop out heirs at every chance she could.

"I...I WOULD like to attend. I think it would be nice to see my cousins again as well as express my support to Æthelflæd," she responded, softly tightening her grip on Arthur's hands. Elvina didn't truly know if she was ready to go back to Winchester again, especially if she managed to catch the sight of Finan. But she highly doubted that he still resided in Winchester,  that's if Uhtred hadn't already towed them somewhere else.  They had left things on less than great terms and she didn't know if she wished to see him or if he wished to see her at all. Elvina hoped that he wished to but she knew that this hopeful side of her would only leave more heartbreak in its wake.

ARTHUR NODDED AT his Wife's answer, rubbing both of his thumbs against the smooth skin of Elvina's hands. "Of course. We will go if you wish and will leave when and if you want," he replied as he flashed a smile at the blonde woman in front of him. Arthur would always support Elvina in her decisions, never feeling the need to complain about it.

ELVINA THANKED THE man with her eyes as she released her hands from his and gently smiled back. The couple also didn't need to vocalize anything in order to communicate with each other. They just understood and that's all that really mattered to the two.

A LOUD, HIGH shrilled cry had echoed throughout the wooden house, causing the man and woman to jump back in surprise at the sudden noise.

"I'LL GET HIM," Elvina whispered as she stopped Arthur midmovement from leaving his current position. "He's probably hungry. I should feed him anyway," she continued as she gently placed a kiss on her Husband's cheek and swiftly strode towards the source of the loud crying.

ONCE SHE HAD entered the room and bent down to pick up her nine month old son, his cries had quieted down once he was in his Mothers arms. Elvina cooed at the dark haired baby, fingertips barely gliding over the smooth skin of her sons plump and pink cheeks. She smiled down at the child in her arms before she began to talk to him, like she did every morning.

"HELLO, MY LOVE," she whispered, gently rubbing her nose against her sons tiny one. Elvina held him close to her chest as she ever so slightly rocked from side to side, his high pitched giggles echoing throughout his temporary room as he laid comfortably within his Mother's arms. "Are you hungry?" She asked, making her way towards the rocking chair Arthur had made for her during her early stages of pregnancy. Albeit knowing that the babe does not have to capacity to answer her, Elvina still talked and asked him questions. She heard that it was a good thing to do for the babies. It allowed them to get used to your voice as well as help jump start their ability to talk.

THE CHILD SHE held in her arms was not Arthur's and he knew that. The two had never consummated their marriage and therefore the child could not be biologically his. The only people that knew of this though where Arthur, his family, and Elvina. Arthur's family had knew of his preference of the same sex and never judged him for it. They had only encouraged the marriage so they could protect him from the scrutiny others who loved differently often faced. They had offered their support towards Arthur and Elvina during her pregnancy and were delighted once the babe was born. Elvina was truly lucky to have married into a family that accepted her as she was and loved her and her child without question.

EVERY TIME SHE gazed upon her son, Elvina felt a tug on her heart strings as she realized he looked so much like his true Father. She had wished that she was able to tell Finan of him. But she knew that if she did, she'd risk her and Arthur's reputation as well as Finan's. And she couldn't do that to either of them. She'd have to endure this secret until it was appropriate to inform Finan of his son, but she wasn't hopeful that there'd ever be a time for that.

"MY LOVE, MY dear Cian," Elvina whispered as her son quickly and soundlessly fed from her breast, brushing away some of his growing dark locks from his face.  The amount of love she held for her son was indescribable.  She was grateful to have him in a time of her life where she often found it was hard to continue.  He was her saving grace and so she named him Cian,  meaning enduring in his true Father's native tongue.  Elvina and Finan never discussed what they wished to name their children,  if they ever had any,  so she struggled coming up with anything during the nine months.  Finan had only mentioned a few names and their meaning in passing and Elvina's brain landed on Cian,  a name he'd only mentioned once or twice with a grin on his face.  She thought it was fitting for a boy like her son,  someone who encouraged her to continue on even when she felt like she couldn't.

          "HE STOPPED CRYING," Arthur whispered out from his new position underneath the doorframe of Cian's room,  "He's doin' alright?".

          ELVINA NODDED AT her Husbands words without looking away from her son,  the only sound coming from her was her breathing and the movement she caused from the rocking chair. 

          ARTHUR SMILED AT his Wife and his son,  heart warming at the sight.  He didn't mind that Cian wasn't his.  He had no desire to have any children but that didn't stop him from loving and treating Cian as his own.  Arthur would do anything for the two people sitting in front of him.  He might not love Elvina romantically but he deeply cared for her as a close confidant and therefore would give up his sword for the woman.  He felt like she understood him in ways others couldn't and was thankful that God had crossed their paths.

          "I WILL LET Cedrik and the guards know that we are to be heading to Winchester soon," he spoke up after a few minutes of comfortable silence.  "Lenora and Ælflynn might want to join if that's alright with you.  The pair sure do like free ale and parties," he finished with a chuckle,  rubbing his hand against the growing stubble on his face.  His cousin and his lady Wife often liked to party well into the night whenever they could,  finding any and every excuse they could to party.  It was inevitable that the couple would ask if there was a chance that they could join Arthur and his Wife to her cousins wedding.

          ELVINA COPIED HER Husbands actions in chuckling and nodded,  giving him her permission to allow them to accompany them on their journey to Winchester. She never minded Lenora's company.  Lenora had been one of the first people to introduce themselves to Elvina following her wedding.  The brunette woman had commented on how ridiculous the wedding feasts were and how there was nothing to celebrate on a matching that was forced.  From that moment forth,  the two had become great friends and often sought each others comforting presence whenever one needed.

A SMALL BURP and groan had exited from little Cian's mouth as he detached from his Mothers teat, whole body and face scrunching up as he stretched the best he could. Cian had decided that he was done eating for the morning, snuggling up to his Mothers bosom before letting out a tiny breath of air.

"ALL DONE?" ELVINA had gently asked as she pulled up the front of her dress to cover up her breast, being careful as to not disturb her sons peaceful state of being. She smiled as he wiggled about before he found a position comfortable enough for him. His dark brown eyes laid wide open as he stared up at the blonde woman above him, a wide smile spreading across his gummy lips that proudly showed off the four baby teeth that broke through his gum lines months before. Two were on the top and bottom jaw of his mouth and were pearly white. Albeit Cian being a mere child, he was still gentle while feeding from his Mother so she didn't experience as much pain as one would while breastfeeding their hungry babe.

"HE'S GOING TO be a sweet kid, Vina," Arthur whispered as he approached his Wife and laid a very soft kiss atop Cian's soft forehead. "I can just tell. He'll be just like you," he finished, offering Elvina a warm smile at his statement. Arthur truly believed that the boy inherited all of the good parts of his Mother even if he couldn't exactly be proven right of his theory yet. He believed that Cian would grow up to be a sweet and kind boy his Mother was when she was just a child as well. At least, he hoped that he'd be able to see him grow and become whoever God intended his son to be.

ELVINA FROWNED SLIGHTLY at her Husbands words, not sure if she wanted her son to inherit certain traits of hers. But nonetheless, she smiled at Arthur and cuddled Cian closer to her body as the three of them found comfort within each other's silence and presence. The pressing matter of Æthelflæd's wedding hung over Ellie's head but she ignored it for now, wanting to enjoy her limited amount of time with her son and Arthur before she had to face whatever, or whoever, waited for her in Winchester. She just hoped that this trip didn't result in any drastic alterations of her life for she didn't think her heart nor mind had yet recovered from Finan and all that she left in the kingdom of Wessex.

authors note!
— i really tried to make arthur unique &
different from laenor from hotd but idk if
i achieved that 😭
cian's name is pronounced kian or key–in :)
anyway, art & ellie are literal platonic
soulmates & no one can change my mind
about it!!!
hope you guys enjoyed!! 💋🤍🤍