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an unknown amount of years later

Luna smiled softly at the sight that greeted her, Sihtric had his head resting on her breasts and a hand splayed across her stomach. She knew he must have been talking to his child or on a rare occasion singing a dane lullaby. She raked her fingers through his long hair, this specific style was the reason she was with child. There for a week straight she had only allowed Sihtric's cock inside her, his new look made her want to ravish him in every way. She was proud of the man he had become, no longer the shy dane she had met but instead a witty and strong-willed warrior.

The door quietly opened revealing her other husband, the Irishman took off his boots and sword and walked to them. Finan smiled at the sight before him, he reached over to touch her belly for a moment. He leaned down to kiss Sihtric's forehead affectionately and crawled under the furs to cuddle up to her side.

"My beautiful wife, you have given us so much," He mumbled against her neck. "Thank you, for giving him a child, a family. For giving us a family." Finan reached out and traced the tattoos on Sihtric's fingers softly. She kissed his head and used her free hand to rub Finan's back.

"I admit that I did not care who fathered a child first, but when he left for a few months and arrived with this look I could not help myself." She confessed embarrassingly, she looked away as Finan grinned up at her.

"He does look handsome, I agree." Finan softened immediately when Sihtric unconsciously intertwined their fingers together on her stomach. "Our gorgeous boy." He mumbled quietly and soon fell asleep in her arms.

Unfortunately, they would soon need to be elsewhere. Sihtric and Finan woke first intending to sneak out and allow her to rest, but it did not happen that way. Sihtric kissed her softly when she reached for him, he tugged on his boots when she leaned over to be kissed by Finan, and then her two husbands reluctantly left her in the bed alone. Having not seen Gisela the last couple of days she decides to seek out the woman, upon arriving Uhtred's son ran to her and grabbed her hand to pull her deeper into the home.

"Gisela, my lover." She greeted and placed her hands around the woman's shoulders lovingly, Gisela kissed her just as Uhtred entered.

"What's this Gisela? We have servants to prepare food. You should be resting."

"I have said this to her and Luna both." Luna shot the girl a brief dirty look and frowned when Thyra laughed.

"How can I rest with this wild boy inside of me?" Gisela said teasingly, Luna watched the woman walk around.

"A priest has just told me the same, that you are carrying a boy," Uhtred handed his sword to his son and looked over at Luna. "I am surprised my men have let you out of their sight."

"They know better than to restrain me to one place." She says instead and walks to Uhtred.

"Of course, it's a boy. He will not keep still. Thankfully, he will be the last."

"That is not something you can prevent." Uhtred says looking at his wife.

"Oh, I know how to prevent it, he will be the last." Uhtred grabs her gently and settles his hand on her stomach. He then reaches out to pull Luna close, his other hand goes to her barely there bump.

"You are marching."

"Yes, I will join Finan and then we are marching." He moves his hand to Gisela's heart and rests it there.

"Thyra will be here and I have sent word home, to Coccham, to Hild. She will be with you for the birth should I not return in time. But I promise I will return."

"Mmm-hmm. And when you do you will be sleeping alone." Gisela states with a smile.

"You would do that to me?"

"Oh, yes, I will do that to you. For a time." She kisses him briefly. "And what of you Luna?"

"I will go with them, I promised Finan and Sihtric I would flee if things became too dangerous." Gisela frowned but chose not to argue. She pulls her into a kiss and she walks them to their horses giving them one last goodbye.

"We move!" Uhtred yelled out as they rode to their destination.

"Good evening to ya," Finan points a sword at the fallen man. "Though I'm pointing a sword at your heart," He moves the sword and holds out his hands with the palms out. "I am a friend, ask the wife it's a habit. With me. Then you can tell me all about your village." Finan pulls Luna close to him as they walk, she settles a hand on her stomach in comfort. She felt something simmering in her skin that felt a little too much like dread.

"She's in there, lord. Inside the church, am I still needed?" The man asked the group.

"Go find your family." Uhtred orders. Finan and Sihtric then shove Osferth forward into the clearing, and the two warriors briefly clash their weapons together for luck. Osferth slowly walks deeper into town as she follows Sihtric to the other side, he jumps the fence and turns to her. He picked her up bridal style and carefully placed her back down with a quick kiss. They hear a guard laugh at the sight of their baby monk, she notches her bow ready for Uhtred's signal.

"Who are you? What do you want?"

"I would like you all to surrender or I will smite you." Osferth says.

"What did he say? Smite? What is smite?" The dane guard asks.

"It's a word, isn't it?" Luna fights back a laugh and looks at Sihtric who grins. "A word from the holy book. It means slay it kill, I will kill you." Osferth threatens. Finan and Uhtred smile at one another in amusement.

"You will smite all of us?"

"Yeah, most. Some of you might run away, hopefully. I've got a..." He trails off as the guard moves closer. "I've got a sword. A very sharp sword but I prefer if you surrendered."

"Kill him." Uhtred gives the signal as he and the men fight. Luna shoots men dead left and right making sure no harm comes to her lovers and the baby monk. Once the men lay dead, Finan moved to the window to peek inside.

"Hæsten says she is of the devil." Uhtred informs.

"Then it might be an idea to bar the door and burn the place down. Why not?" Finan says with a tinge of fear.

"Fin is right, Uhtred. She is not someone to underestimate." Luna comments.

"To Bloodhair, she will be priceless."  Uhtred uses his sword to push the door open, as they enter the place is filled with dead priests. The devil herself leans against the altar with a heart in her hand.

"You are Skade?" Her last guard unsheathed his sword and pointed it at Uhtred. "You! You will do nothing except go to your lord. You will tell him that Uhtred of Bebbanburg has his witch."

"I knew it was you." She finally speaks.

"There will be a ransom to pay."

"No, you will go to my lord and you will tell him that from this moment forth, Uhtred of Bebbanburg is cursed." She holds out the heart, Finan reaches up to grab his cross pendant, and both of her husbands move closer to her as if to ward off a potential curse directed at her. "The witch holds his heart in her hands and she will squeeze it and break it." She tosses the heart down and Luna sees Uhtred flinch. She grows worried for the man and notices Finan and Sihtric glance at each other. "It is you who are my prisoner now." Skade walks closer.

"Seize her. I said seize her. Sihtric, now! Bind her hands." Uhtred demands and Luna feels uneasy seeing the father of her child so close to the witch.

"I have aligned myself with the three spinners of fate and taken hold of your life. You belong to me now."

"And her mouth." Uhtred says a moment later, he reaches behind him for Luna. She quickly slips her hand into his to give him some comfort.

"Your path is the path I choose for you, Uhtred Ragnarsson. And your spirit is mine to torment." Sihtric binds her hands as Finan puts a cloth in her mouth and ties it. Skade stares at Uhtred as if she can see into his soul.

"Cover her eyes." Finan placed his bloodstained hand over her eyes. "We'll take her to Aescengum."