Chapter 15: Dark Wings, Dark Words

"I am sorry." Uhtred rasped as he stood up. His legs shook a bit under him and Finan stepped closer to grab his arm, steadying him. Uhtred smiled at him as he pulled his pants up. His fingers fumbled and again Finan crowded in closer and smacked the Lord's fumbling hands away. Finan deftly finished lacing the other man up and stepped away.

Sihtric moved in closer and reached out to caress his Lord's face. He let his fingers trace the marks down the man's neck and he frowned. "I'm sorry if I got too carried away." He said softly and leaned forward to place a gentle, chaste kiss on one of the marks. "I couldn't control myself."

Uhtred breathed out and tilted his head back, giving his puppy better access to his throat. Sihtric continued pressing sweet kisses to his skin and Uhtred wrapped his arms around the boy's waist and held him close. Sihtric let out a surprised giggle and continued his ministrations, wrapping his arms around Uhtred's neck and holding himself even closer to the man. Uhtred breathed out again. "I am fine." He said, his voice a bit raspy. "And I am sorry."

Sihtric had begun running his tongue over the angry looking marks. He breathed out and nodded his head slightly, his breath ghosting over Uhtred's saliva-laced skin. Uhtred shivered against him and Sihtric just clung to him tighter. "I have forgiven you." He said softly, blowing against the reddened skin under his mouth on purpose. Then he tilted his head enough to peer at Finan, still keeping himself pressed against the Lord. "Fin?"

Finan stood an arm's length away, his arms folded across his broad chest, while he watched them. He wanted to be angry with the man still, if for no other reason than to have to make up again. He quite enjoyed the aftermath of fighting. But he had to admit, he hated the fighting part. Cutting himself off from Uhtred, for even a few days, had been torturous and he never wanted to do it again. He uncrossed his arms and stepped forward. He crowded into their space and wrapped his arms around both of them. Uhtred quickly lifted one of his arms from Sihtric's waist and twined it around Finan's. Sihtric likewise wrapped one of his arms around the Irishman's neck. Uhtred met Finan's eyes and there was an unvoiced question brimming in the bright blue irises. Finan leaned closer and pressed his lips against Uhtred's in answer. He nibbled and licked his way into Uhtred's mouth in a messy, lazy kiss. All the Lord's normal prowess evaded him as he let Finan dominate and claim his mouth and a low moan escaped the Lord's throat.

Sihtric couldn't help the smile that spread across his face and his nose wrinkled and he let out an airy giggle again. Then he leaned away from Uhtred towards Finan and started pressing wet kisses below the man's beard. Finan pulled away from Uhtred's mouth and turned to seek out Sihtric's. The boy eagerly moaned into his mouth and clung to the older man just as tightly as he clung to Uhtred.

Uhtred waited until they had parted before he angled for a quick kiss from their breathless boy. Sihtric breathed deeply once Uhtred had released his lips and he rested his head against the Lord's shoulder. Uhtred smiled but it was short lived and it slid from his face. "I am sorry." He repeated again. "I know I keep saying it but it doesn't make it any less true. I never meant to hurt either one of you. I just… I didn't think. And I hate to admit that, but I just didn't think about how my actions would affect either one of you. I just wanted to make sure she was safe and the easiest way that I could think of was just to marry her. But that's the only reason. I swear!" He insisted. "I do not love her and I do not want her. The marriage means nothing to me. You two are what's important to me."

Finan tilted his head. "Marriage means nothin' t' you..." He repeated slowly.

Uhtred opened his mouth slowly and shook his head. "No…" He started and faltered over the words. He sighed and shook his head again. "This marriage means nothing except keeping her and the children safe. I… I was married… once before." He admitted slowly. "A marriage I was forced into by Alfred… tricked was more like it." He added with a mumble. "And I did grow to love her before we parted." He sighed as he remembered Mildrith. He had been happy with her for a time. "But she was too pure… and the hold the church had over her was too great." He closed his eyes for a moment. "She… gave birth… to my first son… but he died."

Sihtric tightened his arm around Uhtred's neck and tucked his head against him. Finan leaned forward and touched his forehead to Uhtred's. Neither said anything as they held him, offering what little comfort they could.

Uhtred waited a few more moments before he breathed out and opened his eyes. "But I do not love Gisela." He continued. "I might have, in another life, if things had transpired differently. But I am glad they didn't because as horrible as being on that ship was…" He met Finan's gaze and tightened his grip on the man's waist. "It brought you to me."

Finan smiled and nodded his head. "Aye, it did."

"And when I think about what would have happened to you if Guthred hadn't betrayed me…" Uhtred faltered over the words again and shook his head. He couldn't even finish the thought in his head. It was too much, too painful to even think about.

Finan smiled and leaned forward to press a kiss to Uhtred's forehead. "Shhhh, love. Fate brought us together fer a reason the way it did. I thank God every day that ye came into my life. I was meant to be on that ship to meet ye. I would have never left Ireland if I hadn't been forced. We wouldn't have met."

Uhtred nodded his head and sighed. "Just sorry it took me so long." He said with a hint of a smile on his lips.

Finan let out a laugh and nodded his head. "Yeah, ye couldn't have gotten sold t' Sverri a little sooner?"

Sihtric was still hanging onto Finan and leaning against Uhtred. He remained quiet as the two brought up the Trader. He hadn't known what that was like, he couldn't even fathom it. He had his own inner demons, his own trauma at the hands of his father and his brother and being treated as a slave for his whole life before Uhtred strutted into his life. But he still didn't think it could compare to what these two men had gone through. He bit his lip and breathed out softly.

Finan caught the boy's slight movement out of the corner of his eye and he smiled. He turned his gaze fully on him and tilted his head. "Do not think we've forgotten 'bout you, little one." He said softly. "Fate thrust ye upon Uhtred an' then upon myself as well an' I wouldn't change anythin' that has happened."

Uhtred raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Oh I would love to have him thrusting on me. Or on you while I watch."

Sihtric bit his lip against the moan rising in his throat at Uhtred's words. He breathed out a shaky breath and tightened his grip on both of them.

Finan smirked and nodded his head. "Oh yes. I want t' fuck you both so hard."

"Fin!" Uhtred and Sihtric both whined the nickname.

They took their turns, running their hands over one another and brushing the dirt and vegetation from their clothes and skin as best they could. Then Finan pulled the hair comb from his pocket and helped to fix the others' hair. Uhtred teased him for carrying it still and Finan balked and said he always carried it. Uhtred and Sihtric both laughed at him and wrapped their arms around him again to placate him, crowding close to press kisses to his neck.

They weren't sure how long they'd been gone but the sun was distinctly lower in the sky and looked as if it would be setting soon. They were quickly losing the light and Uhtred insisted they needed to actually hunt something or Ragnar would not leave him alone about it. Sihtric managed to catch a large rabbit right off the bat and held it up proudly. Uhtred smiled, said that would work, and they headed back to the camp. Uhtred scanned the clearing until his eyes settled on his brother. Ragnar was sitting around a fire, with Hild, Father Beocca, Steapa, and Aethelwold. Uhtred almost didn't want to approach them. He could see that Aethelwold was talking, as he always was, and Ragnar looked annoyed, as his brother frequently did.

"That's all you caught?" Aethelwold asked as he stared down at the rabbit Uhtred had dropped as he sat down beside his brother. "You guys were gone for a long time."

Finan squeezed in on Uhtred's other side, between him and Hild. Sihtric moved to stand behind the Lord, as was his proper place. Hild glanced back and smiled at him. "Sihtric, come, take my seat." She said, standing up.

Sihtric glanced at her and shook his head. "No, Lady."

"Sit." She said, nodding and stepping back. "I will fetch you three something to eat."

Sihtric nodded at her. "Thank you, Lady." He smiled at her and sat down beside Finan. The Irishman leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees and moving his legs a bit farther apart. He brushed his leg against Sihtric and kept it there.

Hild smiled and stepped closer to Uhtred. She picked up the rabbit and took the bow and arrows from him. Then she turned.

Uhtred nodded at her and turned his attention back to the smirking twit. He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, much like Finan. "I have not seen you volunteer for hunting duty."

Aethelwold smiled smugly and sat up straighter. "I went with Steapa and Hild this morning."

Steapa was beside the bumbling would-be King and he clenched his jaw, clearly trying not to say anything.

Hild, on the other hand, let out a laugh as she walked around the circle. "You tripped over yourself three times and scared everything away. We would have come back with less than them if Steapa hadn't yelled at you to stand still while we hunted."

Aethelwold glared at her as she continued to laugh, walking away.

Ragnar smiled as he turned to Uhtred. He tilted his head and studied his brother for a moment. "You do look rather… relaxed for such a failed hunting trip."

Uhtred smiled at him and shrugged. "Oh I am very relaxed, brother. We did a lot of relaxing…"

Sihtric pointedly looked at the ground, a blush spreading across his face. He silently prayed the light was too low and that he was too far from the fire for anyone to notice if they looked his way.

Finan cleared his throat loudly and looked across the fire at Steapa. "So you're tall." He said loudly and bluntly. "An' ye look pretty strong. Can ye pick up Aethelwold an' throw him up in the air?"

The question caught the man off guard and he just stared at Finan for a moment. He frowned and tilted his head. "Throw… him?" Steapa repeated.

Finan nodded his head. "Yeah, like a ball." He moved his hand in the air, as if throwing a ball. "Straight up."

"I admit I have never thought about such a query." Steapa turned to look at Aethelwold.

"Because that is a stupid question!" Aethelwold snapped. "Why would he throw me?"

Finan shrugged. "Maybe on yer next hunting trip, he can throw ye at a rabbit. Might make ye a little more useful."

Steapa's lips curled into an uncharacteristic smile. "Might be worth a try."

Aethelwold's eyes widened and he lifted his hand to point a finger at him. "You do not touch me!"

They all laughed and Hild returned with food for the failed hunting party. They thanked her and she smiled and nodded and took a seat between Steapa and Ragnar. They all continued chatting idly for a while as the sky above them darkened. Aethelwold continued prattling on about whatever came to his mind and no one really paid him any attention.

Uhtred rolled his eyes when Aethelwold started bragging about all the progress he'd made sparring with Steapa and how he couldn't wait to fight in the next war. The Lord was beyond exhausted and he stood up suddenly. He rubbed his hands together and looked around at Aethelwold. "It's getting late. It's time to sleep and stop talking, Aethelwold. Lots of riding to do tomorrow."

Finan stood up and pointed at the annoying twit. "Best rest yer ass tonight. Don't want Steapa t' have to carry ye." Sihtric tried and failed to stifle a laugh as he jumped up and fell in step behind the other two.

It was so easy to fall back into, so natural and normal to have them a step behind him, following him and moving with him. Uhtred vowed he would never take it for granted again, that he would never take them for granted. He paused and turned and smiled at them both. "I didn't want to assume but…" He tilted his head. "I was heading to my tent. It is small so we will have to sleep very close." He smirked. "If you want to. You do not have to."

Finan and Sihtric didn't even pause to think or look at each other. They simply both walked around Uhtred and continued forward, walking in perfect sync with each other.

Uhtred turned and hurried to catch up. He fell in step between them and they moved closer, brushing their arms against his. "I just didn't want to make you feel like you have to… I know it'll take some time…"

"No time." Finan said, shaking his head. They reached the tent and stopped in front of it. Finan turned around and crossed his arms. "I already told ye I loved ye, Uhtred. That never changed. I 'ave been waitin' long enough fer ye. I'm not wasting any more time away from ye."

Uhtred sucked in a breath and nodded. He turned to look at Sihtric, standing at his other side. The boy was staring at Finan with wide eyes and he smiled when Uhtred looked at him. "What about you, Sihtric?"

The boy's eyes widened more and he looked away. "I… I uh…" He stuttered for a moment and looked too nervous to answer.

"Do you want to sleep in my tent with us, Sihtric?" Uhtred asked with a smile on his face. "That is the question I was asking you."

Sihtric breathed out in relief and looked back. He nodded his head quickly. "Yes, Lord. I do."

Uhtred smiled again and held his hand out towards him. Sihtric placed his hand in Uhtred's without hesitation and Uhtred pulled him closer. His puppy let out a giggle and Uhtred stepped back, pulling Sihtric with him. Sihtric followed and reached out for Finan.

The Irishman hesitated and glanced around quickly. It was getting darker by the moment and there were people still milling about, but it didn't look like anyone was looking their way. Still, Finan sucked in a breath and didn't move. Sihtric grabbed at his collar and pulled the older man along with them. Finan breathed out again but followed as Uhtred pulled back the tent flap. The tent was small, not even big enough for two people let alone three, but still, Uhtred pulled them inside with him and they curled up impossibly close.

… … …

Sihtric was the first to wake when a sound outside the tent roused him. He sat up quickly, detaching himself from the two men clinging tightly to him. Finan had been snoring heavily at his back and Uhtred had been curled up against his front, with Sihtric in the middle. He immediately missed the warmth of their bodies against him but the noise he'd heard outside kept him from laying back down. He carefully leaned towards the tent flap and pulled it aside enough to peer out. It was still rather dark out and for a moment, his eyes strained as he glanced around at the moonlit camp.

But the only person he saw was Aethelwold, pacing back and forth across the camp. Sihtric glanced back at Uhtred and Finan and he could just barely see them, lit up by the moon and still sleeping. He turned and slipped from the tent. "Aethelwold." He said softly as he drew closer. He smiled at him and was about to ask what was wrong.

The young man stopped and turned towards Sihtric. He frowned and held up his hands. "You're Uhtred's slave, aren't you?" He asked softly.

Sihtric stopped and frowned. He shook his head. "No, I am not a slave. I am his oathman."

Aethelwold shrugged and laughed sharply. "Same thing."

Sihtric shook his head. "It is not the same thing. It is not even close."

"It is… whatever your name is. I do not recall." He continued on, not giving Sihtric a chance to give his name. "You are a slave to a brash Danish brute pretending to be Saxon… or is he a Saxon pretending to be a Dane?" Aethelwold shook his head and sighed. "And I am a slave to my uncle Alfred, who stole my rightful crown right out from under me. We shall die for Lords who couldn't care less about us, who just force us into battle where we shall perish. We are just replaceable."

Sihtric shook his head again. "Uhtred does not force me. It was my choice to swear myself to him. I gladly serve him."

Aethelwold let out a sharp laugh and shook his head. "Then you are indeed a foolish bastard. Uhtred is a Godless heathen, a selfish weasel who cares only for himself and his own ambition and vengeance. He will not think twice about sacrificing you and me and every man here to gain either."

Sihtric stepped closer and narrowed his eyes at the spineless man. He drew his knife and was on Aethelwold before the self proclaimed rightful King even had a chance to blink. Sihtric pressed the blade against Aethelwold's throat and practically snarled. "I do not know you, I do not know your story, but you will not speak of my Lord in such a way ever again unless you desire to lose your head."

Aethelwold's eyes widened as fear flashed across him. He swallowed and his lips quivered for a moment as he tried and failed to find his voice. He flinched against the look in Sihtric's eyes and he breathed out. "You… you are a fool…" His voice shook with each word he managed to get out. "Holding a knife to the throat of King Alfred's nephew."

Sihtric smirked and tilted his head as he pressed the knife harder against Aethelwold's neck. The sharp blade grazed the skin enough to slice through the top layer and a drop of blood collected and slid down Aethelwold's soft, unmarked skin. "You said you are replaceable and your uncle cares for you not. I could kill you where you stand and no one would miss you. No one would notice you are gone except for the lack of incessant whining and empty bragging."

Aethelwold's eyes widened and he didn't even dare to breathe.

Just as quickly as Sihtric had pounced on him, the boy withdrew his knife and stepped away. He slipped the weapon back into his belt and he spun around.

Aethelwold sputtered out a shaky breath and shook himself. For a moment, he didn't even believe what had just happened had indeed transpired. His hand flew to his neck and he felt the sting. He withdrew his hand and saw the tiny dot of blood on his finger. "What's stopping me from telling everyone you just tried to kill me?"

Sihtric spun around and smiled at him. "If I wanted you dead, you would be. I merely threatened you."

Aethelwold narrowed his eyes. "Then I will tell them you threatened me!"

Sihtric stepped closer to him again and Aethelwold flinched back. "You would be wise to remember how loose your lips have been and I am more known and more liked in our current company." He smiled, waved his hand, and turned again. He heard the scrape of Aethelwold's boots as he stormed off in the other direction and Sihtric headed back towards the tent.

"Sihtric."

He stopped and turned as he heard his name. The voice was barely a whisper but he recognized it before she stepped out of the shadows of one of the tents. He wasn't sure who it belonged to but he stepped closer to her and lowered his voice. "Lady Hild." He nodded at her.

She pressed closer, her expression guarded. "Be careful." She whispered. Sihtric tilted his head and she continued. "Be careful with Aethelwold."

Sihtric sighed and shook his head. "You heard what he said?"

She nodded her head. "I have heard similar rumblings from him, both about his disdain for King Alfred and Lord Uhtred. He is not the most discreet."

"He is the one who should be careful." Sihtric mumbled.

Hild nodded her head. "He should. But Aethelwold is smart, even if he doesn't act like it. And he is cunning. Just… watch your back. I do not want to see any harm come to you."

"Thank you." Sihtric nodded his head. "And I will, Lady. Have been my whole life."

She smiled. "Get back before you are missed."

He let out a light laugh and nodded again. "Yes, Lady."

"Don't have too much fun." She said, a warning tone in her voice. "We have to leave early."

Sihtric quickly spun on his heels before she could see the quick blush spreading across his face. He hurried back to the tent before anyone else could stop him. He paused as he reached it and glanced up at the sky. The moon was full and bright, shining down on him. And for a moment, it made him smile. The night sky had always made him smile and the moon frequently comforted him on the long nights he was forced to sleep outside in the fields when he was younger. He shook his head, forcing the memories of the cold, dark, wet nights from his mind and pulled open the tent flap.

"Boy! Where were you?"

Sihtric stopped at Uhtred's voice. He couldn't really see either of them, he could just barely make out their shapes. "Lord!"

"Answer 'im, boy!" Finan said.

Sihtric opened his mouth slowly. "I… I heard someone… I went to check… but it was just Aethelwold… pacing because… he said he couldn't sleep." He hated lying to them and it left a bad taste in his mouth. But he knew if he told them what Aethelwold had said, it would only make them mad and Uhtred might attack Aethelwold as Sihtric had.

Finan let out a groan. "If he spends the whole night up an' then spends the whole day whining 'bout being tired, I am goin' t' smack 'im off his horse."

Uhtred stifled a yawn and nodded his head. "I may join in on the whining if we do not get back to sleep."

"I'm sorry if I woke you up, Lord." Sihtric mumbled.

"You didn't wake us up, Sihtric." Uhtred breathed out and held his hand out to Sihtric. "Come lay back down with us. And you should call me Uhtred."

Sihtric took Uhtred's hand and let the Lord pull him back down between him and Finan. Sihtric shook his head. "I cannot, Lord. It isn't proper."

Uhtred smiled as he wrapped his arms around Sihtric and pulled him closer. "Like what we did earlier was proper."

Finan pressed himself closer to the boy as well. "But it was fun." He said, his voice coming out in a low growl.

Uhtred nodded his head. "Very fun. Our boy did so well."

Sihtric wrinkled his nose and tucked his chin against his chest. He breathed out and bit his lip, smiling like a fool and praying to the Gods neither of them could see him well enough. "Lord!" He said almost breathlessly.

Uhtred pressed his mouth against the boy's neck. "Call me Uhtred when it is just us."

Sihtric shivered between them and nodded his head. "I… I'll… try, Lord… Uhtred." The boy stammered over the words as Finan touched his lips to the other side of Sihtric's neck.