Chapter Text
Uhtred lead Athelstan to the alehouse. He walked in and saw that Sihtric was the only friendly face there at the moment. He lead the boy over and watched as the boy actually smiled at the sight of the Dane. Sihtric saw them. He shot Uhtred a questioning look but smiled as Athelstan climbed on the bench beside him while Uhtred sat across from him.
“It seems we meet again, wee man,” Sihtric said calling Athelstan by the nickname Finan had given the boy. “Have you eaten?”
Athelstan shook his head. Uhtred watched as Sihtric handed the boy the bread from his own plate. Athelstan took it and took a bite. Sihtric handed him his dagger and the boy's eyes lit up. Uhtred smiled as Sihtric turned and leaned closer to him.
“Why do you have Edward's bastard?” Sihtric asked.
“Lady Aelswith has fallen ill. Edward asked me to take Athelstan because Winchester is not safe for the boy. He wishes me to bring him away from Wessex but I am not sure exactly where,” Uhtred said.
Sihtric sighed. “We could go to Mercia.”
Uhtred felt a pang in his heart. Mercia meant Aethelflaed and he was nowhere near ready to deal with that. He looked over at the solemn boy. The only time Athelstan had smiled since Uhtred had met him had been when Finan had been building the boat with him and they had sent it down creek. Uhtred looked around.
“Where are Finan and Osferth?” he asked as a barmaid dropped a mug of ale in front of him.
“Finan mended Eadith's ribs but he wanted Osferth to check on them to ensure it was done right. They should be back soon,” Sihtric answered. He looked at Athelstan. “If you are to come with us, we will need to find you something better to wear.”
Uhtred watched as Athelstan looked down at his monk robe and looked back up at Sihtric. He took in the Dane's leather tunic and half shaved head with beads in the braid separating his hair from the bald side. The boy then reached out and touched the Thor's hammer necklace around Sihtric's neck.
“Will I have to dress like you now?” he asked Sihtric.
Uhtred chuckled and shook his head. “Your grandmother would kill me,” he said.
Sihtric turned and looked at Uhtred. “And what exactly is wrong with what I am wearing?”
Athelstan's green eyes turned and looked at him. “Yes, what is wrong with what he is wearing?” he asked.
Sihtric nodded and waved at the boy. Uhtred shook his head and raised his hands. “Fine, if you wish to dress like Sihtric, I will say nothing against it.”
Athelstan smiled. Like an actual smile that Uhtred had not seen in weeks. Sihtric smiled as well and ruffled Athelstan's hair. Athelstan beamed at Sihtric and Uhtred suddenly wondered why exactly it was this boy liked everyone else but him.
“Well, hello there, wee man, what are you doing here?” Finan's Irish voice seemed to echo in the half empty alehouse.
“I am to stay with you now,” Athelstan answered beaming at Finan.
Uhtred watched as Finan looked at him but didn't say anything. He sat on the bench lifting Athelstan up and sitting him on his lap. Finan eyed Sihtric when Athelstan set Sihtric's dagger on the table. Uhtred moved over and smiled as Osferth stumbled in and sat beside him. Osferth looked at the boy but didn't say anything. He turned and looked at Uhtred. Uhtred just nodded.
“I was telling Aeth-,” Sihtric stopped and realized that perhaps he shouldn't be using the boy's name, “the little man here that he is going to need some new clothes. We decided he wants to dress like me.”
Osferth laughed. “I will pay good money to see that. Perhaps we can bring him to visit Lady Aelswith after,” he added.
Uhtred nodded. “That was what I was saying.”
Uhtred watched as Athelstan finished the bread and rested his head on Finan's shoulder. The boy picked up Sihtric's dagger from the table and held it gently in his hand close to his chest. He watched as Finan stroked the boy's hair. He had seen the bond building between the two of them as they had been on foot fleeing the Mercian guard. Uhtred had meant to ask Finan about it but than the siege had occurred and other concerns had gotten in the way. Uhtred made a mental note to ask his friend about it when they had a spare moment together.
“You want to dress like Sihtric?” Finan asked as Athelstan turned his green eyes on the Irishman.
Athelstan nodded. “I want to look like you and belong.”
Silence surrounded the table. Sihtric mumbled about needing more ale and got up. Uhtred saw Osferth reach out and take Uhtred's mug and drain the rest of the ale. Uhtred felt his heart ache for this little boy who had never belonged anywhere. He watched as Finan nodded. The tough loud Irishman smiled and tapped the boy on the nose.
“Then you shall look like us and you will belong. You will be our bastard,” Finan said.
Uhtred felt a sad smile tug on his lips as Athelstan actually glowed at those words. The alehouse seemed to disappear around them. Uhtred turned and saw that Osferth was also smiling. Sihtric came back with a jug of ale and mugs. He set a mug in front of Athelstan. Athelstan took it and took a sip. His smile disappeared. Sihtric laughed as the boy placed the mug back on the table.
“You get milk until you are older,” he said.
Uhtred smirked as well. He saw Finan ruffle the boy's hair again before the Irishman finally looked up and met Uhtred's glaze.
“I told Eadith she was welcomed to join us in Coccham,” he said.
Uhtred nodded. “We will be headed back there for now. I do not know exactly where else to go just yet.”
“We will need to make plans before we go anywhere,” Osferth nodded. “We will have to ensure that wherever we end up is safe for our little bastard here.”
“We can talk about it more when we are back in Coccham,” Uhtred decided. “For now, let us get him some clothing for the journey and other things he may need.”
“That may be hard for a couple of days,” Finan answered. “Winchester is still recovering from the siege.”
“I will go see Hild tomorrow,” Sihtric answered. “She may have some clothing for children at the convent.”
Athelstan yawned. Uhtred smiled. He watched as the boy just snuggled down in Finan's arms. Finan for the most part sipped his ale and held the sleepy boy as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Uhtred tried to search his memory and see if he had ever held his own son in his arms that way when he had been a young boy. Storria, aye, that girl had been his shadow since she could walk. She had followed him around Coccham getting into trouble constantly. Finan had taken to calling her little trouble in Irish and carrying her on his shoulders when she was around to prevent her from causing havoc. But he did not remember holding Young Uhtred that way. He had been too determined to make his son into a strong warrior. Gisela had held their son and loved him. Until Young Uhtred had pulled away from her wishing to be a man.
And now neither of them are children. Storria is grown on her own adventure and my son would rather join the church than come home with me. And my last child does not even know who I am for his own safety. I have failed my children. But Edward somehow believes that I can protect his bastard?
“I was able to get us your old house here in Winchester, lord,” Sihtric said. “So, we have a place to stay. It may be a bit crowded but,” Sihtric shrugged.
Uhtred nodded. He looked at Finan. “Does Eadith have a place to stay?”
Finan nodded. “She does,” Uhtred saw him stroke Athelstan's back and one of the boy's hand curl around Finan's leather armour. Finan turned to Sihtric. “Does the house still have beds?”
Sihtric nodded. “It does but someone will have to sleep on the floor or share.”
Uhtred sighed. He was suddenly tired. He looked around and saw that they all were. They were drained. He rubbed his face.
“Perhaps we should head over there now. It will give us a chance to discuss plans in private and then our bastard here can sleep in a bed,” he said.
Osferth nodded. “I'll talk to the barmaid and see if I can't get us some ale and bread to take with us.”
Uhtred watched as he stood. Uhtred pulled out the pouch of coins he had and handed it to Osferth. Osferth took it and walked over to the barmaid as she stood at the long table at the end of the alehouse. Sihtric stood and went over as well. Finan finished his mug of ale and poured himself more. Uhtred looked at his friend.
“He likes you,” Uhtred said.
Finan smiled. “He reminds me of my sons,” Uhtred caught the pained look on Finan's face then. “I keep forgetting they are not mine any longer. And neither is he,” Finan looked down at Athelstan.
Uhtred saw the longing look on Finan's face. He had given up on a family and devoted his life to keeping Uhtred alive. The bond that had begun on that slave ship had grown and become a brotherhood. But Uhtred realized this brotherhood had been slightly one sided. Finan had always been there to cheer him up, to hold him up, to comfort him. Uhtred never had the opportunity to repay Finan for those moments.
Until now.
“He is ours at this moment, Finan,” Uhtred said. Finan's brown eyes looked up and met Uhtred's blue ones. Uhtred saw hope in them. “Edward is trusting us with him, so he is ours to raise, ours to love. We will protect him but we will also love him. I believe some of us may need that as much as he does.”
“Osferth is without a doubt a miracle worker,” Sihtric said as he walked back with Osferth. Osferth smiled as he carried two jugs of ale and two large pieces of bread.
Uhtred saw Osferth blush slightly. “I was just polite.”
Finan smiled. “I am sure you were more than just polite, baby monk.”
Uhtred smirked. He stood from the table. He watched as Finan drank more ale and slowly stood as well. Finan held Athelstan in his arms so carefully and close. Athelstan did not stir. Sihtric took the opportunity to take back his dagger that Athelstan still held loosely in his hand. Uhtred lead the way out of the alehouse and back out into Winchester.
They all stood close together to be sure that Finan, who was carrying Athelstan is protected. Uhtred looked around and saw people trying to get back to their normal lives after the siege. Winchester would go back to normal but Uhtred had a feeling they would not be in Wessex to see it.
Their little bastard needed somewhere safer to grow.