Kingdom Come

X. Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene

With her sweetened breath, and her tongue so mean

She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene

With her straw-blonde hair, her arms hard and lean

She's the angel of small death and the codeine scene

Jaehaera stood with the others in front of the men her father had. Her father decided that he both wanted to have fun while everyone, so he and Finan had snuck off thirty minutes ago to hide two small flags in Coccham. The game that the two had decided on was called capture the flag. The explanation of what they were going to be doing was in the name, her father explained. They just couldn't kill each other, this was to be training only. Her father chose Sihtric first, and Finan chose Jaehaera first then the two captains went about choosing more people for their teams. She knew it was meant to be a fun training game, but no game where there would be a clear winner and loser would ever just be fun to her. She wanted to win, and she got what she wanted. Between Jaeahera, Finan, Uhtred, Sihtric, and Osferth Jaehaera had to be the most competitive of the group. There were never 'friendly games' with her. They had separated everyone into red and blue. Her and Finan's team were red.

Osferth and Jaeahera were instructed by Finan to stand guard for their flag. They had stabbed their flag into a tree with one of Jaehaera's knives on the far side of the creek. The creek separated Osferth and Jaehaera, and with the battle training, their opponents would have to cross the creek to get to them. She, Osferth, and their new Saxon friend Rickon sat in the trees. Jaehaera in the tree with the flag, and the other two in the ones on either side of her.

After about thirty minutes since the training had begun the three saw Sihtric running towards the creek, she smirked when she saw him. Jaehaera had hoped he would be the one to find them. Sihtric crouched down at the bank to cool himself off, then he raised his head when a flash of red caught his attention. Sihtric smiled with a look of shock gracing his face. He didn't think Finan would be stupid enough to leave his flag unattended, but it was Finan, so he wasn't all that surprised actually.

Jaehaera let him cross the creek, and get about four feet away from the flag before she dropped down from her tree. Sihtric's smile wavered for a second when he saw the menacing girl in front of him, but then he smiled again, of course, she would be the one guarding the flag. "Did you truly think it would be that easy?" she asked him while beginning to circle him, turning his attention from the flag as his back now faced it. Gods he loved her accent that only seemed to get thicker he thought as she distracted him.

"Well, I was certainly hoping," he teased back through his smirk. "I will be taking that flag now, dane." The group often teased each other with the 'insult'.

"Is that what you're calling me now?" she asked him with a smirk as she walked him away from their flag. She tutted at him. "That's not the way to win my affection, dane, you know that." she shot the insult back at him.

He held up his hands slightly, "you might want to step aside, love," he told her with a teasing look. "This might end badly for you."

Jaehaera grew bored of his talk. She grazed her sword on his palm, drawing blood as he winced. She raised her sword, pointing it under his chin as he stood tall. He looked at her and the situation casually as if this was just another one of their interactions. Sihtric tilted his chin up, with an amused look on his face as he raised his sword slowly and ran the metal along hers. The smooth sound of metal dragging on metal singing in the breeze as he moved her sword away from his throat.

"You know Jae," he began again, "I would rather love you than fight, but if that's what you wish.." he trailed off with his aggravating Sihtrci Kjartansson smile.

"Sihtric," she began airly, he raised his eyebrow. "I will put you on your arse. We both know that." She winked at him.

Faster than she could have predicted, Sihtric reached forward and took her hand to pull her towards him, their blades touching hilts. His face appeared between the two swords. "You can put me on my arse in more ways than this, lady," he flirted and winked back.

Gods, she hated him sometimes.

Jaehaera batted his blade away and twisted as he did the same, their weapons clanging together as they switched their positions. Her father and the others gathered and watched the two of them. The two fought with equal intensity, Jaehaera fighting with speed and intelligence. Sihtric with speed and power, with small bits of intelligence here and there. Jaehaera was goading him, and she knew it would work. The way her face lit up as evidence. The group around watched with knowing smiles at the girl's laughter. Sihtric loved her laugh more than anything, it never failed to make him laugh as well.

Jaehaera sprang back and swiped across his cheek, but Sihtric leaned back in time and brought his sword down on her. Her blade met his halfway, and the two of them danced in a volley of movement. The people around thought the fight looked so beautiful yet terrifying in a sense, they couldn't help but watch. Sihtric stepped forward, and she stepped back. They practiced this dance a thousand times, and yet every clash sent shocks of adrenaline through Jaehaera. Somewhere in the dance, the two of them moved closer to the flag, and Sihtric pushed her back toward the tree. The sight of red in the corner of her eye edged her forward as she swiped his foot from underneath him- following with her sword as she slashed down.

"Uhtred taught you well," Sihtric commented as he easily avoided the arch of her swing. "Finan as well."

"He has," she answered him. Both sounded equally as tired. Her blade just caught his cheek, a line of the red following. Sihtric paused for a second as he touched the skin. He looked mortally offended.

"Ow," he told her monotonously, she couldn't help but smile. "Just a nick, clearly Finan hasn't taught you everything."

"Now Sihtric-" She dodged his blade when he swung and spun around to where her back faced the creek. She tilted her head at him. "You're not jealous are you?"

His sword swung into the air as she ducked again. "Why would I be jealous?" the men around chuckled. Especially her father and Finan.

Jaehaera took advantage, and switched back around, standing between him and the flag. She had twisted the sword from his hands in a way her father had taught her a few weeks ago. She now pointed her weapon at her unarmed boy. He held his hands up as she backed him toward the creek once more. "Don't worry pretty boy," she taunted. "It suits you."

Sihtric smirked devilishly, he loved the nickname more than he would care to admit. Especially when it came from her. "Love," he began, "I'm not leaving without that flag." Jaehaera had noticed a few moments ago where Sihtric's team's flag was. She saw a peek of blue sticking out of his pocket. Smart, she thought, but not smart enough.

Jaehaera smirked and walked towards him slowly, she dropped her sword when she got closer to him and quickly reached around him and pulled his flag from his pocket. "I think you'll find that you will," she answered with a smirk.

"How did you-" Sihtric began

"If you want to hide something bright blue," she began with a smirk as he walked towards her again, completely unarmed with her swords pressed against his chest. "Maybe make sure all of it is hidden."

"I didn't think you would see it," he answered with a smirk. His hand curled around the blade's edge.

"Sihtric," she warned him.

"Jaehaera," he answered, copying her tone, but keeping the smile she could either kiss or slap off.

"Move," she commanded.

Sihtric shrugged, "no," he answered as the others around watched how this would play out. He only got closer.

"Sihtric," she warned again with more force.

"I could play this all day with you, Jaehaera," he informed her. "I like you pointing a sword at me. I didn't think I would, I'm shocking even myself."

She rolled her eyes at her lover. "And I could stab you in the shoulder, and keep your flag as you bleed out," she pointed out to him.

Sihtric ran his hand up the metal, Jaehaera didn't dare move it. He tilted his head as he looked up at her with the devilish smirk from before. "Oh," he tutted playfully. "You wouldn't do that to me, would you, lady?"

"Why wouldn't I?" she asked him, tilting her head as well. The group around didn't know what to do at the moment. They didn't know whether to watch or let the two have their privacy. Rickon and Osferth smirked at each other from their trees.

"You know why, Jae," he practically whispered to her.

"Do I? Dane," she asked him as she looked up at him.

Sihtric took his chance now that he had her distracted, she didn't consider his speed of him when he took the sword from her hand as he shifted to the side. It caused her to drop the sword as she stumbled. Sihtric caught her, pulled her back against his chest, and placed one of the knives he had stolen from her when he caught the girl under her chin. She could feel his lips by her ear. "Yes, you do," he answered quietly in her ear. "Yield to me."

"Why, I won?" She answered him with an 'isn't it obvious' tone to her voice.

Sihtric slid his hand behind her and between the two of them to pull his flag from her pocket. "Jaehaera I quite literally have a knife to your throat," he pointed out to her. He kept his lips by her neck, and she could feel his breath on her neck.

Jaehaera couldn't help but lean back into him. "I know," she answered plainly, letting her words hang in the air. Sihtric raised an eyebrow down at her while she just smirked. The moment between the two of them was fleeting as she used his turned-on state against him. She didn't allow another moment and snatched his flag from his grip once free. She pulled her arm free from his, and her leg tripped him. He twisted and landed on his knees before Jaehaera. He looked up at her in awe of the woman before him, once again holding her sword to his throat. He loved this woman with every fiber of his being.

"Yield," she commanded him with a smirk. "Yield to me, or you will never touch me again." Sihtric tilted his head up at her with a look as if he had turned into a puppy and kicked him. He raised his hands and sat back on his knees. "Good boy," she taunted him.

Then she held up the flag for her team to see, and everyone cheered with triumph. The flash of blue in her hands brought hollers as Osferth and Rickon came down from their trees and Rickon raised her hand in the air. Finan found her and lifted her in his arms before spinning her. They quickly placed her back on the ground when Sihtric gave him a look. Her father cheered for her as well, even though he had lost.

Together everyone walked back to the village. Jaehaera felt Sihtric come up from behind her as she walked behind Osferth and Rickon. He resumed his earlier position with his hands sliding around her waist as he lifted her to place her next to him. He pulled her closer to his side when he placed her back on the ground.

Sihtric rested his head on hers for a second, kissing her head. "I can't believe you used my love for you against me," he told her with both shock and admiration in his voice.

"Don't make it so easy then," she teased him. She got out of his grasp once more and turned to face him as she walked backward while following the others. She winked at him before he walked quickly back to her. She turned with a laugh as she ran away from him, running between Rickon and Osferth, both glaring at the two before laughing at them.

"Sihtric! Jaehaera!" her father yelled at them when she and Sihtric had pushed through him and Finan as well. His calls fell on deaf ears as they continued horsing around with each other. Finan and Uhtred eventually laughed when Sihtric caught her and threw her on his shoulder. Jaehaera looked up to see her father and Finan shaking their heads at her. Jaehaera shrugged and chuckled as well as she accepted her current situation.

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Jaehaera stood in the cool river water, letting it cool off her body after a long day of training with Sihtric and the others. Her body was bruised and tired as she lowered her head under the slowly flowing water. She sat there on the river bed for a few seconds before reemerging. Jaehaera wiped the water from her eyes when she felt a pair of strong, familiar arms wrap around her waist. She would have elbowed the man and reacted if she did not know Sihtric had appeared behind her. Jaehaera just smiled and jumped a bit. His sudden appearance at her side did catch her off guard for a millisecond. Jaehaera smirked, "you know my father would have your head for this," she teased, leaning back against his body. She loved his body and the way it felt.

"If this image of you happened to be the last thing I saw, I would go blissfully," he flirted. She rolled her eyes, god she could hear the smirk, that frustratingly attractive Sihtric Kjartansson smirk. Damn him. His arms wrapped tighter around her waist as he pulled her closer, she could feel every part of him. Sihtric dipped his head down to kiss her neck and Jaehaera closed her eyes while making more room for him. She brought her arms through the space between his and held his back, her nails gently digging into the skin as he liked.

"They will begin to wonder where you are," she reminded him.

"Let them wonder," He mumbled into the skin of her collarbone. Jaehaera smirked and turned to face him while still in his arms. Their eyes found each other and Jaehaera had never seen him look more in love. "Gods you are so beautiful," he looked at her lips and stared at them. How could they be so red? He thought to himself. So irresistible. Sihtric finally closed the small gap between them and placed his lips on hers in a desperate kiss. Her arms went up to wrap around the back of his neck, and her hands went into his hair. He had cut it recently, and she wasn't shy in saying that she had become obsessed with it. Sihtric kept it longer on top and shaved the sides. He didn't have his twists in at the moment since they were meant to be washing, but needless to say, they often got distracted.

Jaehaera sighed into his mouth when his hands lowered to her ass, and squeezed, allowing him to place his tongue in her mouth, which she accepted. He often kissed her passionately and roughly like this only when they were alone. Sihtric couldn't control himself with her, even the short kisses they shared drove him mad. Her lips were his favorite type of alcohol. He groaned when she tugged at his roots, hitting her ass playfully even though they both knew he loved when she did that.

Jaehaera smiled into the kiss before gently biting his bottom lip and tugging. When they did that simple action to each other, there would be no turning back. Sihtric chuckled lowly, removing one hand from her ass, and placed it between her thighs. He slowly began rubbing her clit, and her lips parted from him in a small gasp. Her hands went to grab his biceps tightly, her nails digging into the skin. He hissed but relished in the sting. Sihtric gently headbutted her, keeping their foreheads together as he sped up, and he dipped a finger inside her, curling it towards him. Her head fell back with a pleasureful whine that sounded like music to him, a sweeter song than she had ever sung.

"Sihtric, please," she whined while he continued to tease her by changing the pace at which his fingers pleased her.

His head lifted from her neck and he smirked down at her, "well, it seems only fair since you've asked politely." Without warning he entered two fingers into her, making her moan loudly at the feeling. She bucked her hips against his hand, and Sihtric chuckled before attaching his mouth to her right breast. His teeth tugged on her nipple, and that combined with his skillful fingers released noises from her that were truly sinful.

She felt her high approaching, and she wanted to tell him not to stop, but as if he could read her mind, he entered another finger. He curled all three and pumped into her furiously; making ripples in the water. It was enough to have her cumming with screams of pleasure, his name flowing off her tongue in prayer.

Sihtric did not relent as she rode out her orgasm. "Sihtric," she cried, shaking in his arms. Once it had simmered down, she whispered for him to stop, but he didn't listen to her. "Sihtric, please," she cried prettily. "It's too much."

He smirked devilishly at her, "you sound too heavenly to stop, my love," he informed her into her chest, leaving more than enough marks. "You have another one for me, I know you do." He resumed his assault on her clit, her body trembling at his touch. Sihtric curled his fingers to hit her spot with another angle. She clenched around him and moaned his name loudly once more. He slowed down to tease her once more as she felt the familiar feeling building again. She encouraged him to continue. All of each other senses are hyper-fixated on each other. One more thrust and curl of his fingers, and she was gone. She tossed her head back into an oasis of pleasure as her eyes rolled back into her head. Her nails left claw marks on his arms that he would admire for days. This time Sihtric did slow down, allowing her to come back to him.

Jaehaera watched in awe at the man as he pulled his fingers from her and licked them clean. Everything about him at this moment turned her on even more. The beads of water on his body, him wearing his hair down, and the thor's hammer talisman around his neck. Everything about him she loved. He kissed her roughly and passionately again, allowing her to taste herself. Jaehaera could feel the tip of his cock poking her. "I need you," Sihtric groaned quietly against her lips. He sounded so beautiful. She smirked at him and nodded at him, telling him it would be alright. "Can you take all of me?" he teased as he slowly entered her, inch by inch.

She could feel every detail of his cock as it filled her. The both of them whimpered at the feeling of one another. Sihtric could come by just the feeling of being inside her. The gentle slap to his cheek by Jaehaera brought him back by surprise. "Sihtric, please move," she begged. He liked the look of her craving him that she wore right now.

"Are you that eager for me?" he teased her, slowly pulling out, leaving just his tip.

"By all means, lord," she began sassily, which he loved, "pull out. I will leave you here to get off by the thought of me like all the nights before."

Sihtric smirked the devilish smirk again and shook his head. He thrust back into her roughly, making her yelp. He tighten his grip on her lifted leg, nails digging into her thigh in a blissful sting. "I could say the same for you if you don't mind your attitude," he commented lowly. They both knew that out of the two of them, she would be more likely to leave him out to dry.

"Fuck it out of me then," she bit back at him. She tugged him closer by thor's hammer and kissed him roughly. She bit his lip, not meaning to draw blood, but she did. He hissed in pain, but watching her lick the blood from his lip quickly made him forget and slam into her once more with animal-like ferocity. "Fuck," she gasped out. Jaehaera held onto his shoulders for dear life. "Sihtric, gods," she moaned.

"Jaehaera," he moaned prettily while her pussy clenched around his cock. He swore he would never feel a greater joy than that. He always looked wild to her, but when they would make love, his wild nature looked more prevalent, like he could devour her, and would. Sihtric was intent on bringing her her third orgasm before reaching his own. His lips captured her in a messy kiss, their tongues dancing together. Her hands went back into his hair to tug a bit, and to keep his head close to hers. Sihtric groaned into her and cursed as well. "If you squeeze around me like that I'll go insane."

Jaehaera smirked and turned her hand towards his neck to mark more roughly. "I think it's too late for that by now." She clenched around him again for fun. She whimpered when he started moving inside her slowly.

Sihtric chuckled in her ears at her reaction, " and who's fault is that?"

Jaehaera chucked as well, "I do not know, you tell me." Wanting him to tell her just how she made him feel because they got this way not just because of her.

Sihtric took the bait as he tells that she was getting close. "Mine," he whispered in her ear, "because you are so beautiful. Look how well you take my cock. You were made for me, and I you." She moaned his name as he tugged on her ear lobe with another rough thrust, hitting her deeply. "Even if I had an eternity it still wouldn't be enough for how badly I want to ruin you." His voice sounded raspy and hoarse.

His voice made her head swim and then go blank, "do it," she whimpered. Sihtric started kissing her to swallow her moans as he sped up his pace because he knows she was close. He called her his good girl in between breaths. Jaehaera's whimpers and moans get louder and louder as she gets closer. Her nails dug into and down his back. Not deep enough to draw blood, but close. "Sihtric, fuck," her voice sounded high-pitched and whiny, not like her at all. She tossed her head back and her back arched as she got closer. Her eyes rolled back.

"Are you gonna ask for my permission before, love?" He asked her smugly with a smirk.

"Please, please Sihtric please," she heard herself beg. Never had she ever been like this with a partner before. Never. She brought her hands from his back to the nape of his neck to bring his forehead to hers. Her head tilted up and his mouth was on her throat.

"Good girl," he answered her with a smirk. "How can I refuse when you sound like that?" He spoke against her lips while her breath hitches. Jaehaera's eyes rolled at his words again and her back arched when she came. Repeating his name and a string of curses like a mantra. She gasped out his name like it had been the only thing she ever knew. Sihtric kissed her softly and held her gently after coming down from his high. "You're so beautiful," he complimented.

"You've said," she teased him breathlessly as he chuckled. "You know, I came down here to get clean.." she trailed off.

"Now you can," he told her cutely with a boyish smirk on his face, he still held her in his arms. "I can help," he added, "I'm a great helper."

"Is that what that was?" She joked, "you helping?"

Sihtric kept his smirk and shrug as he kept her stable, "do you think you could even stand without me?" he teased.

Jaehaera just rolled her eyes, "just wash my hair if you wish to be of help," she commanded. Sihtric chuckled and did as she wished. The two washed together and only finished as it began to rain. Together they walked back to their home, Finan, her father, and Osferth sat together.

"Where have you two been?" Finan asked, knowing the answer. He found out about the two of them weeks ago when he accidentally stumbled in on them. It had been a sight he never wished to see and regretted it still.

"I was down at the river, I met Sihtric on the way up," she lied quickly.

"Why are you wet?" Osferth asked Sihtric.

"It's raining," Sihtric answered shortly. "We were walking in the rain, people are bound to get wet in rain."

"Yes, but it just started and your hair is drenched," Osferth pointed out.

"Osferth, if I wanted to be interrogated, I would commit a crime in Wintanceaster, alright," Sihtric snapped as he took his seat across from Finan and Uhtred. "What business is it of yours anyway, baby monk?" Finan just watched with another knowing smirk.

"Sihtric decided it would be funny to scare me," Jaehaera lied again. "I thought he had been someone else and pinned him at the bank of the river, his head hit the water. He's just embarrassed that he lost to me again." Osferth and her father seemed to accept this answer while Finan continued to bite back his laughter. While everyone could see the constant tension between the two, no one knew anything for sure. It was all just speculation.

That night, Sihtric snuck through her window like he often did, and they lay together in her bed. Sihtric brushed out her braids as she lay on his chest. "Jae?" he asked her quietly. She hummed in response. Sihtric paused to figure out just how he wanted to ask his question. He didn't want to scare her away. "Are you scared to tell people about us because you are afraid of what they may think?"

Jaehaera turned her head up to look at him. "No," she answered quietly. "No, not at all, I just," she paused for a second, "I don't care what people think, truly, I just don't want the pressure. My father will put pressure, you know that."

Sihtric nodded, she still didn't know of the conversation Sihtric and Uhtred had years ago before they went to see the corpse. "Alright, as you wish," he answered. He looked at her in her eyes. "You know I love you?"

Jaehaera smiled, and she nodded, "of course I do," she answered him. She wanted so badly to say it to him because she truly did feel the same. She didn't know why she couldn't. Loving him came to her as easy as breathing, so why couldn't she just say that?

Sihtric smiled and moved a piece of her hair that fell in her face. "I know you love me too," he told her. "As I've said before, I intend to be your last epic love Jaehaera Uhtredsdottir." he winked at her and she giggled at him while also wanting to vomit at her reaction. "I know you will tell me you feel the same, I can see it in your eyes. You love me, you are obsessed with me."

She truly did fake vomit this time while rolling her eyes. Sihtric tightened his grip on her as he rolled on top of the girl, crushing her with his weight. She laughed in a wheeze, "Sihtric, what are you? A bear? Get off of me you oaf," she teased.

He shook his head, "no, sorry love, I can not do that," he teased.

"And why not?" she asked.

"You are in grave need of affection," he answered with an obvious look on his face like his answer had been the simplest of things.

"Ew," she answered him with a face that matched her statement which only made him laugh. His laugh never failed to make her laugh as well. He gently headbutted her, connecting their foreheads. The two of them would gladly die for the other whether they both knew it or not. They were bound for each other. The bastard son and the Ealdorman's daughter are bound to fall in love. Jaehaera often told Old Ragnar and her grandmother about Sihtric like they couldn't see everything unfolding below on their own from Valhalla. She gladly told them anyway. She told the stars about him as well, and the moon. She thanked them for bringing him to her.

Soon they were both asleep. Sihtric was on top of her like always, listening to her heartbeat and breathing that soon matched his. His new haircut left his entire neck tattoo that led up to the side of his head exposed. He fell asleep to her tracing it lightly with her fingers.

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Jaehaera swept along with Uhtred. For once dressed in a deep red dress instead of her usual leather armor. Her father had drug her out of bed in Wintanceasterto attend his meeting with Alfred. "The little lord is getting big," Jaehaera commented as she and her father walked through the courtyard inside the palace. "Maybe one day he will be taller than you, old man," Jaehaera teased her father out of spite.

"Jaehaera it's too early for insults," he answered her. He knew she did not want to attend this meeting with him so early in the morning. She had never been a morning person. What he didn't know was that Jaehaera was so grumpy because of lack of sleep; Sihtric had snuck into her room the night before and they had spent hours talking, kissing, and talking some more. Her father didn't know that, she had snuck Sihtric back out when she saw the sunlight peek through the curtains.

"He should be practicing with a stick, not a sword," Jaehaera ignored their father as the two saw Edward, Alfred's son, and Steapa, training while they walked. "It is unbalanced."

Uhtred stopped next to the King and Queen. Jaehaera nodded to the two to maintain kindness, but she couldn't have cared less either way. "Uhtred," the king began when he noticed the two. "What is your opinion of Edward's sword skill?" Aethelwold chuckled in the corner when Steapa's blow hit Edward on the back, making him stumble forward. Jaehaera bit back a chuckle as well.

"My opinion, Lord," her father began, "is that Steapa is wasting his time."

The Queen Aelswith looked at Uhtred in shock at his honesty and slight offense. "Would you care to explain?" she questioned.

Her father nodded, "I will, Lady," he answered. He walked towards the young lord and Steapa. "Steapa, stop," he told the man, "stop this nonsense. You should not be using swords. Skills are taught with a staff."

Steapa looked at her father, and nodded, "thank you."

"I prefer the weight of a sword," Edward pressed, sounding like he had said this many times before. Jaehaera rolled her eyes from her spot next to the King.

"It is a sign of the aethling's bravery," the Queen added. Again Jaehaera rolled her eyes. Oh please, what bravery? We are standing in a courtyard she thought.

"Let us watch, my dear," Alfred commented softly.

Her father grabbed both Edward and himself sticks and handed Edward the shield he had dropped. "What have you learned?" her father asked.

"He learns by the day," the queen stated proudly. Jaehaera rolled her eyes once more and crossed her arms.

"Mother, please," Edward protested finally.

"Show me," her father told the boy. The two began to fight, and she could tell and she was should the others could tell as well that her father was going easy on the boy. Uhtred had begun teaching her when she was younger than Edward was now.

"Uhtred, you must test the boy," Alfred instructed, giving her father the okay to go harder on him. The two shared a nod. It had been hard for her to use a sword at first, hatchets were easier. Uhtred took it easy on Edward, as to not embarrass him, but as soon as he began to take it seriously her father put him on his arse in a matter of seconds.

"Uhtred we have a visitor," Alfred spoke, "an old friend of yours." Uhtred looked back at Jaehaera.

Father Beocca must have told her father that it was wise to not let Jaehaera go because Uhtred turned back to her, "Jaehaera, why don't you help the aethling?" he asked, though more so instructed her. "See if you can teach him a few things."

Jaehaera pursed her lips, she didn't like the boy, he whined far too much for her liking. But she nodded when she felt the eyes of the King and Queen on her. "I can try," she answered with a smile that she forced onto her lips. "Though, I am not in the proper attire."

"That hasn't stopped you before," Aethelwold commented, and Jaehaera openly turned to glare at him the way that scared him. Edward had only seen her stare at his cousin like this once, and it scared him this time as bad as it did the first time. Though the pig man did raise a good point. Her father placed the stick and shield in her hands.

Edward and Jaehaera looked at each other as everyone except the two of them left them. Edward looked at her with a bit of sadness, "That means, play nicely," her father called back to her.

Edward kept the same look on his face, "you are going to beat me with that stick, aren't you, Jaehaera?" he asked her with defeat already in his voice as she put down the shield. She wouldn't be needing it.

She shook her head and smiled, "no, Lord," she lied. They both knew it. "We are just going to practice. Like my father said."

"That just means you are going to hit me with that stick until I block it," Edward added. "Like always."

"See, you're already getting the hang of it, Edward, good," She teased before she used her stick to sweep his legs out from under him. "Edward, I have told you multiple times, one: the enemy will attack even if you aren't ready, remain ready, and two: anything below your knees is vulnerable. Think," she told him sharply as he looked up at her from the ground. He sighed and nodded before getting back up.

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Jaehaera appeared more than happy to be back in their part of the city, and away from the palace as Sihtric came into her line of view. He stood in a small alleyway, waiting for her. When she reached him, he wrapped her up in his arms and lifted her slightly before placing her back down. "You look beautiful, love," he flirted, keeping them close together by keeping his hands on the small of her back. She smiled as he kissed her cheek. "Red is quite a magnetizing color on you. It's now my favorite color on you." He squeezed her sides gently and placed his forehead on hers. She giggled quietly as she tangled her fingers in the curls at the back of his head. "I missed you," he mumbled as he placed his lips on hers.

"We've only been a part for a few hours," she chuckled at his clinginess.

"That's too long," He complained before kissing her once again holding her flush against his body. He gently backed her against the other wall of the small alleyway, and placed one arm on the wall, keeping her stuck against him. The kiss began to gain intensity as Osferth was sent to find the two, and he sure did find them, though he didn't expect, not entirely, like this.

"Uh," Osferth began nervously, and diverted his eyes quickly, "uh, I'm, I'm sorry, I just-Uhtred and Finan sent me to fetch the two of you," he rambled nervously and quickly.

The two broke apart, but not before Jaehaera stifled her laugh in Sihtric's neck, shielding her blushing face from Osferth. "Why has he sent for us?" Sihtric asked for the two.

"We are to ready the horses," Osferth recovered, "we are leaving before nightfall."

Jaehaera finally controlled herself enough to look at Osferth and away from Sihtric, "for where?" she asked the baby monk.

"For battle," Osferth answered.

Jaehaera sighed with relief, "oh thank the gods," she commented, her head falling against Sihtric's chest. Sihtric chuckled at his girl before wrapping an arm around her and walking with her toward Osferth.

"Osferth, you will tell no one of what you saw," Sihtric told the younger male walking next to them. "Jaehaera doesn't wish for everyone to know yet, and you will do well to keep it that way."

"Yes, Sihtric," Osferth answered with a nod as the group walked back to everyone else.

"Thank you, baby monk," Jaehaera added, and Osferth nodded to her.

"How long has this been going on?" Osferth added with a smile. "Can I ask that?"

"No," Sihtric answered.

"Yes," She corrected her man with a jab to his ribs with her elbow. He groaned before he chuckled. "Um, since we got information to get Aethelflaed back from the brothers."

"My lord," Osferth commented under his breath. "I must say I had a feeling, but I did not want to be wrong and get a knife pointed at my throat as Finan does."

The three got to the others and they sat together to eat before leaving. Once they had finished their food, Sihtric and Jaehaera took turns braiding each other's hair. Jaehaera's always took longer since it was both longer than his, and thicker. She also just had so much of it. Sihtric hissed when he scratched one of his fingers trying to get a bead inside how Jaehaera liked. "Your hair hates me," he groaned while the others just laughed at the two. "You should just chop it all off."

"Maybe if you didn't insult it, it wouldn't hate you," Rickon teased from his spot next to Osferth. He took a sip from his cup to hide the smile when Sihtric glared at him. Rickon is a Saxon like Finan, he came to them to be a warrior and they gladly took him amongst their ranks.

"Rickon is right, Sihtric," Jaehaera teased him with her best friend. "I should have your tongue for saying that."

Sihtric just rolled his eyes and continued braiding the girl's hair for battle. Then he leaned forward towards her. She felt his lips on her ear, "you shouldn't tease," he whispered, "I think I'm rather fond of the idea you just suggested."

Jaehaera's eyes widened for a second before she looked to the side to cover her face from the men around her. Sihtric chuckled to himself while Rickon watched the two. The Saxon could only imagine what the boy had told her just now, and every part of him didn't wish to know.

After that, Jaehaera returned to her home to say her goodbyes to her younger siblings, her mother, and her aunt. Gislea was now pregnant again, all three women knew it would be a boy. Her father reminded both women that Hild would be with her for the birth when and if they would not be back in time. Jaehaera kissed her mother on the cheek, and both Stiorra and young Uhtred kisses on their heads before leaving. She gave Thyra a great hug before walking out to Mareridt with her father. They were to meet Finan on the road.

*********************************************************************

Finan and Jaehaera stood above a man fleeing before tripping and falling to the ground. The man looked up at the two when Finan tapped him with his sword. "Good evenin' to you," Finan greeted, "though I am pointing a sword at your heart...I am a friend." Jaehaera didn't say anything. Finan raised his hands and lowered his sword. "Habit," Finan joked. "With me," Finan told the man. When he didn't get up to follow Finan right away Jaeharea looked at the man like how she looked at Aethelwold, which man the man move. "Then you can tell us all about your village," Finan instructed as he walked away. The fleeing man walked around Jaehaera to follow Finan. Jaehaera stayed behind the two men as they walked.

*********************************************************************

Jaehaera followed after her father and Finan as the fleeing man led them into the village. "She is in there, Lord," the man told them as they hid behind a burned-down house it seemed. There were bodies on the ground and the taste of death still lingered in the air. "Am I still needed?"

"Go find your family," Uhtred told the man, sending him on his way. Sihtric shoved Osferth into the path, they had decided (they had drawn straws) that he would be the lucky soul to speak to the Danes. "Don't do anything stupid," her father whispered to her.

Jaehaera looked at him with offense as she hit Finan's sword with her hatchets before following Sihtric and Rickon around the back so that they could ambush from the other side. The three hopped over a fence that had stayed up through whatever madness had occurred before they had gotten there. Her father looked across at her group, he needed her to wait for the right moment, but she knew he always waited for his 'okay'. Uhtred shook his head when he had caught her attention and she nodded in understanding.

"Now!" her father's voice rang out when the Danish man had gotten too close for comfort to Osferth. Jaehaera sliced the first dane down quickly as Sihtric and Rickon followed. The three made quick work of the men that attempted to attack them as they made their way to the church. Jaehaera saw a man coming for Sihtric while he had his back turned and she wasted no time in tossing her hatchet at the man coming for her lover. The hatchet found purchase in the man's skull and she smiled before Rickon called for her to duck, which she did. She sliced at the man's Achilles that attacked her before standing up and stabbing him through the throat.

Jaehaera followed her lover and best friend after yanking the hatchet out of the dead man's skull and wiping it on his coat. Sihtric draped his arm around Jaehaera's shoulder as they walked to the church. Finan looked through the window, "Haesten says she is of the devil," her father told their group.

"Then it might be an idea to bar the door, and burn the place down," Finan suggested. Jaehaera smirked and nodded in agreement. "Why not?"

"I agree with the Irishman," She told them, not liking the feeling she got as she got closer to the church. "Though I could barely understand him."

Finan flicked her ear in retaliation. "To Bloodhair, she will be priceless," her father answered. He pushed the door open with his sword, the door creaked as it opened and they followed Uhtred inside. The second she crossed the threshold, it became a few degrees colder to her. Immediately she became uncomfortable with the situation, Jaehaera's reaction didn't go unnoticed by Rickon and Sihtric.

The woman stood at an altar, dead bodies of priests pilled around her, blood still on the floor. Two men hung from the rafters. The woman held a human body part in her hands, and it made Jaehaera want to vomit, she didn't want to know the body part the woman held. She turned her head away to grimace at Sihtric. Rickon and Sihtric looked just as uncomfortable as she did. "You are Skade?" her father asked. The blonde woman watched her father's group but didn't answer. Her guard drew his weapon as they entered the room further. "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," the witch woman answered. So she could speak Jaehaera thought, though it didn't make her any more comfortable as she looked around. Every part of her body wanted a way out.

"There will be a ransom to pay," her father told whoever was listening. Not Jaehaera, she wanted out of this church and to be away from this woman.

Skade shook her head. "No," she answered. "You will go to my lord, and you will tell him that from this moment forth, Uhtred of Bebbanburg is cursed." Jaehaera noticed that both Rickon and Finan wrapped their hands around the crosses around their necks. "The witch holds his heart in her hands, and she will squeeze it..." so it's a heart in her hands Jaehaera thought lovely. "And break it." the woman dropped the heart to the floor with a gross-sounding thud.

Jaehaera looked at Finan and Sihtric with widened eyes. She did not wish to be here any longer. Not one part of her wanted to be a part of this anymore. Finan, Sihtric, and Rickon shared in her discomfort. "Go," the woman hissed the command at the guard. Jaehaera watched and moved back slightly as Skade got closer to them. "It is you who are my prisoner now, Uhtred."

"Seize her," her father commanded. No one moved as Skade got closer, and Jaehaera retreated. "I said seize her Sihtric, Rickon. Now! Bind her hands."

Sihtric touched Jaehaera's hand for his comfort as well as his own before he did as Uhtred commanded of him. He fetched some rope quickly while Uhtred pressed his sword to her chest. "I have aligned myself with the three spinners of fate, and seized control of your life," Skade explained. "You belong to me now."

"And her mouth," her father added. Jaehaera ripped a part of the priest's dress that wasn't covered in blood for the woman's mouth. Finan took it from her as she watched the woman with horror.

"Your path is the path I choose for you, Uhtred Ragnarson," Skade continued, "and your spirit is mine to torment." Finan gagged her finally as Jaehaera and Osferth watched with unease. She moved them away from her, pulling Osferth back by his sleeve.

Once Rickon and Sihtric had finished, Sihtric rushed back to Jaehaera as Rickon and a reluctant Finan held the woman. "Cover her eyes," her father told the men. Rickon didn't have another cloth so he just placed his hand over her eyes. "We will take her with us to Aescengum." Uhtred noticed his daughter's fear-ridden face and form. He gently took her, placing his arm around her, and walked with her out of the room with Osferth and Sihtric shortly behind them. "Come," he spoke to her gently.

"I do not like this father," she whispered to him. "We should have burned the place down around her."

"I know," he muttered to her. Jaehaera glanced back at Sihtric with worry as they walked.

*********************************************************************

The group rode on after her father. One of the men held onto the bound Skade on top of one of the horses as they rode. Jaehaera found herself between Rickon and Sihtric. Rickon and Jaehaera had become fast friends after he beat her at a game once one night. Rickon and Sihtric seemed to be the only people who truly understood Jaehaera. It shocked her that Rickon could understand her after only knowing her for half a year. Sihtric on the other hand liked Rickon well enough. He just wished that Jaehaera and Osferth would be closer, or that Hild would return. If that happened Sihtric would gladly get closer to Rickon seeing as they were the same age, twenty-three.

They had not been riding for long when they reached Aescengum. Finan came up to ride alongside the youngest of the group. "I think she may have got herself inside his head," Finan commented as they rode.

"He should kill her and be done with it," Rickon added.

Sihtric and Jaehaera shook their heads. "That will not kill the curse," Jaehaera explained to the Saxon men.

"There is no curse," Osferth told them with confidence. Again Sihtric and Jaehaera shook their heads.

Jaehaera sighed growing frustrated at everyone in the group not trusting the other when it came to beliefs. "And If Sihtric and I say there is no Christain God," Jaehaera began with a hint of venom in her words, "does that make it so?"

Osferth and the other two Saxons looked at the girl. Sihtric nudged her with a look of concern. She just shook her head and continued riding. They would never agree so what was the point of speaking about it? "There is no curse, Jaehaera," Osferth repeated.

"I have seen women throw a curse, and the next day a man is dead," Sihtric defended Jaehaera, glaring slightly at the monk.

"Right, that is enough talking," Finan told them, regretting ever bringing the topic in the first place. "To speak of it makes it stronger, Jaehaera told me that much. Whether or not you believe it doesn't matter. Let's just not risk it, yes?" The group seemed to agree on that at least.

They reached the gates of Aescengum at nightfall, the torches on the gate already lit. Finan and Sihtric led the group inside the gates. She saw Steapa watching as they entered the city. Finan and her father broke off from the group to meet with the King and the others of his court. She appreciated that her father seemed to realize that she had had her fill of Saxons for today, and didn't tell her to sit in with him at the meeting. She wanted to, but she didn't think she would be of any use at the moment.

Instead, she lay with Sihtric in her bed. She messed with his fingers while they spoke together. "Do you think my father knows what he's doing?" she asked Sihtric. She tilted her head on his chest to look up at him.

Sihtric shrugged, "do any of us ever truly know what needs to be done?" he asked her in return. "I think he's trying to do whatever he thinks will give us the upper hand, and we can only agree with him for that."

Jaehaera nodded, "right," she mumbled. "I guess I just don't like the feeling. The feeling of her being here. There's a darkness around us now." Sihtric hummed as he brushed through her hair with his fingers. "Can I tell you something?" she asked him.

"You can tell me anything," Sihtric told her. "Always."

"You are the first person that doesn't treat my ability as a crutch," she informed him, "as a hindrance or a complication that needs to be dealt with. Everyone, my father, my mother, and even Bjorn thought that while it does need to be controlled, it's something bad or negative. I can't always truly explain the way I feel and how I feel, but you never seem to make me feel like I'm mad or a mutant when we speak. I am truly grateful for you."

Sihtric smiled at her and kissed her head. "Of course, Jaehaera," he answered. "I love you. Because I love you, I would never make you feel like a hindrance in any way. I love that you trust me enough to speak to me about how and the way you feel how you do. You have never been wrong yet, so I have no reason to believe you are insane. You can talk to me for as little or as long as you like. I will always be here to bring you back to earth, to ground you when you feel swept underneath the water."

Jaehaera looked at him. She had never told him of it felt like she was drowning when emotions and feelings overwhelmed her. She had never told anyone that specific part before. Sihtric raised an eyebrow when she sat up to look at him. Gods, she truly couldn't be more in love with this man she thought, and oh how she wanted to tell him. He tilted his head at her, "what?" he asked.

"I never told you about the water before," she answered. "When the feelings and emotions take over, I never explained to you how exactly it feels. Like I'm drowning." She paused and gently fixed Sihtric's hair that was no longer in his braids. "You know," she began softly as she leaned back on her forearm, laying above him. "You know when you're drowning you don't inhale until right before you black out," she explained. "It is like no matter how much you are breaking down, your instinct to not let the water in is so strong that you won't open your mouth until you feel like your head's exploding. But, when you finally do let it in, that's when it stops hurting. It's not scary anymore. It is, it is quite peaceful." She paused and traced his tattoo again like always. "That is how I feel every time there are too many emotions in one room. I keep fighting and fighting the water, never letting it in, I have never let it in because you always seem to pull me out before my instinct to inhale takes over and I black out." Sihtric looked at the girl he loved like she had been made of glass. They both knew she was stronger than that, but at this moment, Jaehaera felt like porcelain in his hands. "I have never told anyone that, so when you compare the overwhelming emotions to water, I just wanna know how you always seem to know what I'm thinking."

Sihtric smiled, "you and I were destined," he answered confidently. "You were made for me, and I made for you. I knew that from the moment I saw you. I studied you, learned what each of your facial expressions means, what you liked, and mostly what you didn't like." he explained and she chuckled. "I have loved you since I laid eyes on you, you know that. So of course I know what you are thinking. I may never truly know whatever it is that you are feeling, but I do know what you're thinking. I can read you like the back of my hand Jaehaera Uhtredsdottir. I will love you until my heart stops beating, maybe not even then."

"It feels like I have known you all my life Sihtric Kjartansson," Jaehaera told him. "I told the stars about you, you know."

Sihtric raised an eyebrow and pulled her back into his chest, causing her to laugh, "is that so? Have you told the moon as well?" He laid kisses all over her face, making her laugh even more.

"I have," she spoke through breathless laughter. He finally stopped and just held her. "I have spoken to my grandparents as well. I wonder about them and what they think about everything here. They never truly answer, but when I asked for signs I receive them."

"Of course you do, your ancestors love you," Sihtric commented while kissing her neck gently, "who wouldn't love you?" Jaehaera just smiled. She could think of a lot of people who wouldn't love her, but she didn't answer him. Instead, she lifted his head gently and placed her lips on his softly. "How are you?" he asked her, she knew he meant a deeper answer once the two pulled away. "Truly?"

"I'm fine," she answered him. Then Sihtric brushed the hair from her face. "Except for the not sleeping without you here with me, the jumpiness, the constant, crushing, and overwhelming fear that something terrible is about to happen. Like while we are all relatively okay now, at any second it could all just come tumbling down like the walls of Jericho that Beocca has told me about. Like if I stay joyful for too long, something is wrong, that I shouldn't be this happy."

"I know what you mean, love," Sihtric answered, resting his head on hers. "I feel that way often as well. Especially now with your father and this curse, this seer woman has thrown at him. The constant feeling like we are under threat."

"It's not just a feeling though," she explained to him, "it's like a can't breath even though I know I am getting enough air."

"Like you're drowning," Sihtric commented softly, holding the girl tighter to his chest as she lay on top of him.

"Yeah," she spoke equally as softly into his chest.

"Well, I will always be there to rescue you," he told her. "To haul you up from the depths and pull you to the surface." He kissed her head.

*********************************************************************

Sihtric and Jaehaera were awoken by the piercing wails of Skade calling out of Bloodhair. She groaned and Sihtric laughed at the grumpy girl as they got dressed to find the others. "Come for me," Skade called with a shrill and piercing voice. She hated it. "Avenge me, free me, I demand it!" Sihtric and Jaehaera glared up at the girl as they walked to their group. "Bloodhair!"

They found her father and Osferth first. "When can I bind her mouth shut," Jaehaera asked angrily. The group all knew that Jaehaera had just been awoken in the middle of the night, and was nowhere near amused.

"Die for me, desire me!"

"Let her sing," Uhtred answered, and Jaehaera groaned at his response. This song is horrendous she thought to herself.

"There is a king in this town!" Skade yelled.

"That is not singing," Osferth pointed out, which Jaehaera nodded in agreement with. "Jaehaera sings, what Jaehaera does is singing. This......this is wailing."

"Bloodhair!" Skade screamed once more.

"Lord Uhtred," a man called for her father, getting his attention.

"Come for me!" Skade continued to scream in the background, giving Jaehaera a headache. She leaned against Sihtric, too tired to fight and hide at the moment.

"Are you going to allow that woman to wail all night?" the man asked her father once he had gotten closer. He sounded just as irritated as Jaehaera felt. As well as Sihtric. He could be sleeping peacefully with Jaehaera, but instead, they were here, outside.

Skade continued in the background, making Jaehaera want to grab her bow and send an arrow through the witch's throat. "For a little while longer, yes, Sigebriht." Finan sat, blanket around him while leaning against the post. He looked as tired as they all felt. Rickon glared up at the woman from his spot on the ground. Skade screamed out the name of Bloodhair once more. Jaehaera finally had enough. She found a knife on the table beside her and Sihtric and took it in her hands.

"Jaehaera, no!" her father commanded and she went to throw it. The other men around her laughed, but truly were slightly afraid of the woman when she didn't have enough sleep. Sihtric grabbed her arm and hand gently, placing it back around his arm. He took the knife gently from her and placed it back on the table.

"Bloodhair!" Skade shouted for the millionth time, "there is a king or you to kill!" the man her father called Sigebriht left them, Aethelwold took his place much to the disdain of Jaehaera, who didn't have the energy to hide her disappointment.

He sighed in frustration at the wailing woman. "Here is a bit of loose talk for you," he began and Jaehaera groaned at his voice, shoving her head into Sihtric's chest. "Be quiet for once in your dane life Jaehaera."

"Aethelwold," She began. "I would rather someone tie me to a boat and drag me through the rough waters than listen to your's or her voice any longer."

"Jaehaera," her father warned. Jaehaera just rolled her eyes and shut her mouth. She closed her eyes as she leaned her head back against Sihtric.

"Sigebriht there," he gestured after the man, "son of whoever, would like to rip the innards from young Edward's belly. Would you like to know why?" in the silence Skade's voice interrupted them.

"No," Jaehaera answered flatly, without emotion. Sihtric and Rickon smiled at the girl.

"I'll tell you," Aethelwold continued anyway. Even after her father had also answered no as well. "Edward, the non-bastard son of Alfred," he looked at Osferth, and Jaehaera reached for the knife again, but Sihtric held her away from it. "Has whelped twins on the girl whom Sigebriht did love."

"And does Sigebriht still love this girl?" Osferth asked, though sounding like he didn't care either way. Again Skade's voice pierced through the night air.

"Can someone not just cut her throat?" Jaehaera asked in utter annoyance.

"Jaehaera," her father warned again but looked at the girl with affection. "Why are you telling me this? It is of no concern to me." her father asked Aethelwold.

Aethelwold turned his head away from the fire to look at her father. "They will make it your concern, Uhtred." Jaehaera had to agree with Aethelwold on that statement. She found the truth of the matter to be utterly annoying. "They will find a way, and Edward shall become your charge. You are a kingmaker, my friend." Jaehaera made a face of disgust at Aethelwold calling her father his friend. One of which made the men around her laugh. Aethelwold glared at the girl before she returned an even more menacing one, even more so in the glow of the firelight. "And Alfred knows it."

Eventually, the group decided that they would try sleeping again. The woman would have to grow tired at some point. Sihtric walked Jaehaera back to her room and stayed there with her. He would return to his room with Finan and the other two in the morning before anyone awoke.

*********************************************************************

The next morning Jaehaera awoke, not feeling the warmth Sihtric gave off any longer. She frowned as she got up to get dressed. Once she did she gathered a plate of food for the two to share. Jaehaera found him with a few other guards on the ramparts. Sihtric slept peacefully, leaning against the wall. She smiled at her man before running her hands through his hair gently, the act alone making him wake up. He also could smell her familiar perfume from a mile away.

"Good morning beautiful," he flirted right away when he opened his eyes to see his love crouching next to him. "This is a sight to see coupled with the beautiful sunrise. You should wake up earlier more often, love, I could get used to this sight."

Jaehaera made a 'yeah right' face at him, "you know, I do not see that happening," she answered with a smile. "Eat, I brought you food and cider."

Sihtric smiled brightly at her, she looked younger to her like this. His boyish smile made her smile as well. "Finan is all wrong about you," he commented. "You are not a she-devil, you are an angel. A goddess, woman." Sihtric forgot himself for a moment and kissed her, lucky for them only Finan saw, and he already knew the nature of their relationship. The kiss was shorter than she would have liked, but Sihtric remembered there were people around. "Thank you, Jaehaera."

"You're welcome," she answered shyly at his affectionate words and Finan watching them with adoration. Finan loved seeing the two so happy, he wished the girl would understand that her father would be happy for them as well if they would just come out with it.

"Sit with me," Sihtric told her. "You need to eat as well."

"I was going to do that anyway," she answered with a smirk. "I didn't just get this for you." She chuckled.

The two ate for a few minutes, shared Sihtric's drink, and then the sound of bells ringing ruined their peace. They looked down over the ramparts to see Bloodhair, and not alone. Sihtric turned and found Uhtred walking below them. "Lord!" he called to him. "It is Bloodhair! He has hostages!"

"Every man to the walls!" her father commanded when he heard Sihtric's information. "Every sword and spear must be ready!" Jaehaera watched the man she figured Bloodhair to be dragging a woman with his as he walked to the gate. Her father came to stand with her and Sihtric. Jaehaera stood between them like always. Bloodhair only had women as hostages, and they were screaming. She took her bow in hand, she could kill him right now if she wanted to. Her father sneered before scoffing and returning to the village below them. "Osferth, prepare to open the gates!" He instructed the baby monk. "Finan, with me."

"Uhtred, what is it?" Beocca called over the sounds of the bells.

"Who is it?" Alfred asked as well.

"Bloodhair, Lord," Uhtred answered. "With hostages."

"He wishes to negotiate?" Alfred asked as Jaehaera listened from above them. She looked at Sihtric and rolled her eyes.

"Possibly," her father answered. The woman yelped as the men pushed them to their knees. Alfred came up to where Jaehaera and Sihtric were, standing next to them. No one said anything to each other as Jaehaera scooted down to make space for him. He nodded at her.

"Uhtred Ragnarson," Bloodhair called.

"What depravity is this?" Alfred asked Sigebriht that stood with him on his other side. Jaehaera stood sandwiched between her lover and the king.

"Alfred of Wessex," Bloodhair continued, "you have my woman. Return her now, or your people will die." Without missing a beat, he slit the throat of the woman he had dragged and she fell to the ground beneath her. Jaehaera blinked in mild shock, her hand going to Sihtric's sleeve.

"Lord," Sigebriht whispered to Alfred, "I know each of those wretches."

"Does he wish to negotiate or not?" Alfred asked. Jaehaera rolled her eyes inwardly again.

"If it is your woman that you want," Beocca called down to Bloodhair, "then let us negotiate! We do not wish to see the death of another innocent!" Jaehaera doubted that what Beocca had just informed the man of would deter him in any way.

"I've said all I will say," Bloodhair announced as he turned to leave.

"I beg you, not the young," a woman begged Bloodhair from her spot on the ground. "Spare the young!" she cried out as Bloodhair took the woman by her hair to lift her head to slit her throat as well. Jaehaera blinked again as she watched the woman fall. Her hand found Sihtric's. Bloodhair slit the throat of another woman who begged for the life of the younger women with them. Jaehaera's hand tightened around Sihtric's.

Jaehaera heard the gates open, and she watched her father walk out with Skade still bound as the day they had seized her. "Earl Sigurd!" Uhtred called, and Bloodhair turned to the call of his true name. Finan walked beside him. "Kill one more hostage, and I shall let every man here see her nakedness," her father warned Bloodhair. "And then I shall spill her guts. Just one more!"

"Do it, lord," Skade told Bloodhair, "I will see you in the next life." Her father yanked her in front of him. "Kill them all! Attack!" Uhtred pushed the woman in the gut. Jaehaera smirked as the sorceress fell to her knees. "Bloodhair, kill them, attack!" she instructed again.

"She is an angry woman," Aethelwold pointed out with slight attraction in his voice. He looked across at Jaehaera, lingering on her for far longer than she liked. Sihtric glared at the pig man over her head, making him stop out of intimidation. Jaehaera liked when Sihtric kept other men from looking at her with prying eyes, undressing her with every second they leered at her. She loved when his protectiveness took over.

"What is your answer?" her father asked Bloodhair. "I have a mind to kill her regardless. She tires me."

"He cannot do it," Skade cut in. "He is cursed!" Uhtred removed his hand from her which kept her up. Once again Jaehaera smirked when she didn't catch herself and fell face-first into the dirt. "Kill them all!" she commanded again. Uhtred kicked her, and Jaehaera's smile widened.

"You will not harm her again!" Bloodhair called to her father. Jaehaera rolled her eyes and sighed.

"The price has risen," her father told Bloodhair after a beat of silence. He held Skade up once more. "You will not only spare the hostages, you will free them all and send them across to the burh."

"What I will do is feed you your cock," Bloodhair answered. Yes, I doubt that immensely, Sigurd she thought as she rolled her eyes once more, and for once not at the King. "Release her."

"You have until sunset to free the hostages," her father informed the man. He yanked Skade back and drug her back towards the gates. "Or each man in this fortress will take his turn." He pulled her to her feet.

"I believe the negotiations are over, Lord," Beocca told the king who stood next to Jaehaera.

"You will not see Valhalla, Uhtred Ragnarson," Bloodhair warned. "I swear it!"

"Bloodhair!" Skade called for her man.

"Uhtred Ragnarson!" Bloodhair called after her father once more. Finan taunted the Dane man before following her father inside the gates which made Jaehaera smirk. "Uhtred Ragnarson, do not harm one hair from her head. She's mine!"

Jaehaera and Sihtric rushed down to follow the others into the hall after the King and her father. "Lord, we need to change our plan," her father told the king as they all walked inside of the hall. "We cannot wait for him to attack because he will not. Her value is even greater than I first thought." Jaehaera stood with Rickon, Finan, and Sihtric. She didn't seem to notice that she had not let go of his hand until Finan gently tapped her, and pointed down to their hands. She didn't want to let go, and neither did Sihtric, but they did anyway. "He will wait for as long as it takes."

"Aethelred and the Mercians will be close," Alfred told her father. Uhtred walked to stand in front of the king instead of behind him at the front of the hall.

Her father nodded, "they will be seen," he added. "What we must do is stop them on the road. I can send Finan and Rickon to do just that, and then we must join them. We must choose the place of battle." Beocca and Alfred shared a look, knowing her father was right but didn't want to admit it. "Lord, but we must act quickly, while his blood burns."

"Join Aethelred where?" Alfred asked.

"I am thinking Fearnham," her father answered after a second. "There's a hill."

Beocca nodded in agreement, "I know it, lord," he gave the king a nod of confidence. "It gives us an advantage."

"But how do we join Aethelred at this hill," Alfred asked, "and how do we ensure Earl Sigurd will follow if that is the plan?"

"Finan will find the Mercians," Her father began, gesturing to the Irishman next to her, "and we will ensure Bloodhair follows. You and I, Lord, we will draw him."

"And if Aethelred cannot be found?"

"Then we fight alone," Uhtred answered, "but we must act quickly. It must be today."

Finan stood up and stopped leaning against the pillar to stand next to her father as he and the King looked at each other. "I am ready, Lords," he told them. "It won't take me long to find the Mercians." Alfred nodded at her father, giving him the 'okay' which surprised her. She thought there would be more arguing.

"To Fearnham," Uhtred told Finan once more, "go." Finan bowed before leaving the hall with Rickon closely after him.

Minutes later every one of the men with both her father and king gathered in the square. She sat on her horse like her father and lover both did with everyone else, ready to ride out. "Open the gates!" a man yelled in preparation for them to leave.

"We go and we do not stop!" her father informed as snow began to fall around them. She hated the cold, but she thanked the gods she had a warm fur coat around her. She pulled her horse next to her father on his right side. Mareridt longed to ride, he snorted. "They cannot overtake us! They must not overtake us!" he held out his hand for a guard to hand him the rope that Skade was attached to. "For the freedom of Wessex!" he shouted, and the men around answered with shouts just as loud as they all thundered out of the fortress. Mareridt neighed joyfully as she began to run him out with her father, Sihtric close behind her. Not long after they had started the cart got stuck, and Jaehaera groaned.

"Lord, the cart is stuck," one man informed her father.

"Release the horse from its harness and ride," he commanded the man as he climbed down from his horse. "Sihtric, your ax." Sihtric pulled it out and tossed it to her father at once. Her father quickly broke the wheels and opened the chest into the water the cart sat stuck in. "they have been after silver, so let's give them some. Keep going! Ride!" her father instructed as Sihtric, her, and Osferth rode on with the others.

They only stopped once they reached a large hill. She could only assume this was Fearnham. "Is this the place, lord?" Osferth asked her father. "Is this Fearnham?"

Her father nodded once. "It is," he answered.

She sat on her horse between her father and Sihtric like always. Fog rested slightly above the grass making the land around look enchanted. She had never seen something so peaceful looking. They watched and waited for Finan, but he had yet to appear. "Maybe Finan didn't make the journey," Sihtric spoke rather warily, not fully believing his own words.

"Do we wait for the danes to catch us?" Osferth asked as he looked around in the trees.

"Your man is here," Skade informed the group, though Jaehaera didn't recall asking for her opinion. "I know it."

Jaehaera turned to inform the woman of her thoughts when they all heard the neighing of horses in front of them. They looked up, they could know Finan and his horse from miles away. "It is Finan and Rickon," Uhtred announced. They watched as a large army formed around him. "And the Mercians." Jaehaera smiled at the men who she thought to be her older brothers. Of course, he would make the journey. She looked at Sihtric with a knowing smirk. You dare doubt the Irishman? She thought while glancing at her lover. Sihtric smirked and shrugged as if answering her. "We are an army!" Uhtred pulled his sword from the sheath on his back. "Glory shall be ours!" he called as cheers erupted around them. Jaheaera couldn't but join in.

Finan and Rickon joined in with the cheers when he heard them coming from his family across from him. Jaehaera laughed at him from her horse when she saw him enthusiastically copy her father. "Shield wall!" her father called once the two groups came together, again Jaehaera stood in between Finan and Sihtric behind the shields safely. Aethelflaed sat on her horse with Osferth next to her at a safe distance from the battle. "We will stand our ground!" her father called over the cheers from the Danes. "They will come onto us, and we will take their head from their shoulders! Hold firm!" her father instructed as the danes came barreling towards them with great numbers.

Jaehaera closed her eyes and prayed to her ancestors and the gods that they would be with her mother, as well as the small she had with her here. She kissed her talisman before getting ready behind her father. A few shields lowered as the archers released arrows at Bloodhair and his army, sending many to the ground. "We do not break!" her father commanded them once more. "We stand our ground!"

"For Mercia!" She heard Aldhelm shout behind her which was answered with cheers from their numbers. They all yelled as the two armies met each other. Shield wall against shield wall. The shield opened and she watched her lover stab a man through his chest as he shouted with the others. Blood splattered on his face, and she watched in awe of him.

"Fight for your women and your children!" her father commanded encouragingly as he killed danes and held the shield wall firm. "Hold the line!" her father commanded as they moved back. Finan stumbled back, leaving a hole in the shield wall and she and her father killed the man that tried to attack Finan as he looked up from the ground.

"Get me up, man!" Finan called Rickon and Sihtric and they reached down for him as her father and she closed the gap. Finan popped up and killed a man at once. A horn sounded around them, getting their attention, but they all kept focused on the battle before them.

"It is Alfred!" her father called once he recognized the shields in the distance. "It is Alfred and the men of Wessex! Hold the line!" Bloodhair and his numbers falter when they realized they were caught between two shield walls. Jaehaera and Finan erupted with terrifying laughter at the danes. Sihtric smirked at the two as her father instructed them to advance. Sihtric and Jaehaera advanced as one, matching each other's ferocity at the danes in from of them. They danced around and with each other, protecting each other like always in battle. She sliced into the belly of a dane as Sihtric stabbed one in the throat. The couple's backs face each other.

Bloodhair got upon his horse and rode away from the battle it looked to Jaehaera when she had a moment to look. She laughed, tossing her head back in slightly psychotic laughter before she practically cut off the head of a dane in front of her. "Give them no ground!" her father yelled over the shouts of men. "Give them nothing but your sword!"

Jaehaera did just that. The danish men in front of the pair stood frozen in fear, mainly at the bloodied face of the girl. Sihtric looked at her smirking evilly at the dane men. To them, she looked like Hel. She had dropped her shield ages ago it seemed it weighed her down. Rickon appeared on her other side as the three advanced further. She made the first move between the men, slicing into men with terrifying accuracy and speed. "They are running scared!" she heard Aldhelm yell over the sounds of the battlefield. "They are beaten!" She only stopped when her stomach suddenly filled with dread, something just happened.

"Jaehaera?" Sihtric asked her, his bloody face riddled with sudden concern.

She shook her head before she saw a fleeing dane, she tossed her ax and it hit him right in the back. She ran to him, yanked it out, and swung it down on his skull. Sihtric watched her with a smile and Rickon looked at the other looking at her. Rickon chuckled and shook his head. Finan had been right, she was a she-devil, but also Steapa when he compared her to an angel of death. Either one, to Rickon, fit the woman.

Even after she had heard the battle was finished and they had beaten the danes, the pit in Jaehaera's stomach remained, and she couldn't figure out why. She walked with Sihtric and Rickon to Finan and Uhtred. Uhtred saw her concerned face. "Jaehaera, what is it?" he asked her.

Jaehaera shook her head, "I do not know," she answered. "Something has happened. I have a terrible feeling in my gut. Something to do with Witanceaster. The group looked around at each other in worry. Not often was the girl in front of them wrong.

*********************************************************************

Cheers met them as they rode into Wintanceaster. Though deep down Jaehaera didn't share their sentiment. The pit in her stomach only worsened as they got closer to the city. Sihtric watched his heart with immense concern even though she wore a joyous smile on her face. She followed her father and the King and his son toward the palace, and it just continued to get worse. So much worse in fact, that she wanted to break down in tears. She looked up, expecting to see her mother with Hild as usual, but only saw Hild.

Jaehaera's heart sank as she saw the nun, connecting the pieces in her head. The nursemaid behind her holding a child, but her mother was nowhere to be found. She placed a hand over her mouth to not cry out. Uhtred watched his daughter and so did the other men. Uhtred got down from his horse with dread, and the others followed. Jaehaera got down shakily, and Sihtric held her safely in his arms when she reached the ground.

She couldn't break down, not here, not in front of everyone. She drew in a shaky breath and nodded to Rickon and Sihtric as the two men watched her closely. Finan as well. Sihtric draped an arm around her as he and finan and Jaehaera followed her father to the nun.

When she and her father reached the nun, she could tell the woman held back tears. "Uhtred," Hild began shakily. Jaehaera closed her eyes, reaching the conclusion, like always, way before everyone else. She turned into Sihtric, and his heart broke for the girl he loved. He held her with one arm around her shoulders, and one placed on her head gently. "She's gone." Jaehaera turned her head to see her father through blurry vision. He stood frozen, for the first time in his life he didn't know what to say. Hild embraced him, beginning to cry herself. "She's given you a son, but she's gone."

Jaehaera felt her knees give out as her world crashed around her, but Sihtric held her firm so she did not fall. Quiet sobs fell from Jaehaera, she felt as if her heart had been ripped from her body. Everything around her went quiet. Finan and Sihtric just looked at each other. "I must go to her," she heard her father say brokenly.

"Uhtred, no," Hild told him.

"No, I must go to her!" his voice broke, and it crushed Jaehaera further if possible. She wanted to scream in the pain she left, but nothing left her open mouth. Rickon watched with Osferth, he sniffled, and then quickly rubbed his nose.

"Uhtred, she is gone," Hild repeated, deepening her sword into the girl and man's hearts and twisting. "She's in the ground. It was days ago." this time sound did leave Jaheaera making the crowd around them look, at least the people closest. The wound of a wounded animal left her as Sihtric felt her wanting to go to the ground, but he tightened his hold on her. He only wished to bring her comfort, and he did, but not enough. Not now. Her father looked back at her and lost it at her broken state, tears flowing.

She had felt her mother leaving them on the battlefield just days ago. That fact danced around and mocked her in her head. Uhtred walked away from them all, and Hild watched him go. She turned to see Sihtric holding Jaehaera in his arms, now on the cold stone of the steps. Broken weeping came from the girl who looked so strong not two days ago, scaring everyone around them with a face covered in blood. Finan crouched down trying to wipe his own tears from his face at the girl's reaction. He placed a fatherly hand on the girl's back and covered his face.

"It's okay," Sihtric whispered to Jaehaera. Alfred and the others had never seen the girl like this before. They had always seen her so cold, so frightening, and now they saw her like this. For the first time, they saw her truly look her age, a girl of nineteen. "It's okay," he repeated.

Jaehaera let herself fall into Sihtric's chest, holding him by his leather armor as she let out a broken sob incoherent to her as well as the others. Sihtric kissed the top of the girl's head as he rocked her gently.

Later that night Jaehaera and her father stood at her mother's grave. She clenched her jaw, she didn't want to cry anymore. She and her father didn't speak, they just stood together, and somehow that's all they needed. They both looked up at the stars. Jaehaera searched for her mother in them, she found the brightest one and knew. She closed her eyes as another tear fell.