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      The journey to the nunnery was short, but the pit that settled in Signe's stomach only grew larger as they stepped foot into the building. Signe held no personal ties to nunnery's or the people in them, but she knew better than to attack unarmed and untrained helpless women. She knew priests were favored in the eyes of the king and lords.

So as she stared at the body of a priest on the floor in the middle of the nunnery, Signe knew that uneasy feeling she had was right. In her moment of shock, Signe met Ragnar's eyes from across the room. The oldest brother seemed to share the same sentiment as her, they were never getting their freedom now. Not even if they brought Uhtred back to the king alive, they would never be able to walk free from this.

Uhtred called for everyone to follow him, as he led Gisela out of the building and back towards the horses. "The King will have our heads for this." Signe hissed, grabbing Ragnar's arm to hold him back from leaving. "Uhtred struck him down, but he is under our watch, brother."

Ragnar sighed, running a hand over his face as he processed his sister's words. "We will talk with the king when we return to Winchester, I promise." Ragnar assured his sister, gripping her shoulder tightly in a small attempt to comfort her. Signe stared at the man in disbelief before shaking her head and stepping out of the building. She couldn't help but glare at the back of Uhtred's head as she mounted her horse.

"Are you okay, Lady?" A voice broke the woman from her hate filled stare and to Finan.

      "I'm angry, Finan." Signe deadpanned, making the man nod his head as they rode beside each other away from the nunnery. "We are to clean up yet another of Uhtred's messes, and hope that the King doesn't have our heads for this." She told the man, shaking her head in disbelief.

      "Perhaps the King will be merciful." Finan spoke quietly, cowering slightly at the pointed stare she threw his way. "Then again, I've never met this King before." He spoke quickly, clearing his throat as he looked away from her. If looks could kill, everyone in the party would be dead where they stand.

      When the week had come to an end, the sound of bustling streets greeted the party with open arms. They were finally back in Winchester, which only meant that Ragnar and Signe were to have an audience with the King. The siblings were brought to the throne room, with Steepa as their guard. Over the journey, Signe had come to not hate the man. Despite that, she knew that the man had no obligation to the Dane's and would inform the king of what happened at the nunnery.

      Signe very rarely felt small in the presence of another. She had never cowered under the gaze of the King, and yet she found herself wishing she could hide behind Ragnar like a child. "You two have kept your word." King Alfred spoke, stepping closer to the pair with his hands folded in front of them.

      "Yes we did, Lord King." Ragnar spoke for the pair, standing tall as he did so.

      Signe let her eyes wander to Steepa, who stood off to the side watching the interaction unfold. "You have been granted your freedom from the crown. Horses and supplies will be waiting for you in the courtyard, you are free to go where you please." Alfred told them, offering the smallest of smiles as he did so. Signe looked at the man confused, Steepa hadn't had a moment alone with the King to tell him what had happened, and she was sure the King would change his mind once he learned of it.

      "Thank you, Lord King." Ragnar said, bowing his head slightly in respect. The blond Dane nudged his sister slightly as he did so.

      "Yes, thank you." Signe spoke quickly, bowing her head slightly. Alfred looked at Signe surprised but happy at the smallest form of respect she had shown him.

      "I will speak with Uhtred now, you two are free to go." Alfred dismissed, making the two scramble out of the room quickly.

      "Don't look too happy, brother." Signe warned. "The King will know soon enough."

      "Yes, well, let's enjoy this for a moment." Ragnar told her, the two of them being cut off by Brida being escorted towards them. Signe offered the woman a small smile, patting her shoulder before slipping away to allow the pair a moment alone. It had been a long time since they had been able to see each other, or be alone without Signe there for that matter. The woman stepped into the courtyard, finding Finan talking to Hild and Father Beocca.

      "Father Beocca! What a surprise!" Signe spoke happily when her eyes landed on the man.

      "Signe, it is lovely to see you, my child!" Beocca greeted, bringing the woman into his arms. Signe laughed lightly as she wrapped her arms around the man, enjoying the feeling of his embrace for a moment before she pulled away.

      "Come with me to the alehouse, we should catch up." Signe said, making the man let out a small sigh.

      "I wish I could, but I have to go with Uhtred to see the King. Save me a seat for after." The man told her, making Signe's smile falter slightly as she nodded in agreement. Signe turned to Finan who watched the interaction fondly.

      "Irishman, you're with me." Singe told him. "I require Ale, and a night of being drunk."

      Finan let out a barking laugh as he took the woman's arm leading her out of the Castles courtyard. "That my Lady, I can help with." He told her, as they made their way through the crowded streets of Winchester.

      It wasn't long before the pair had huddled themselves in an alehouse, mugs in front of them as Finan scanned the room. He had never been to Winchester before his slavery, and Signe had never been able to walk these streets freely. The pair talked quietly amongst themselves, Signe laughing as a woman passing by let her eyes linger on Finan. "Finan, you are free to find yourself a woman to bed while we are here. You do not have to stay with me." Signe told the man who sat across from her, feeling a strange pang in her chest as she spoke.

      "Oh I'm very aware of my freedom to do so, Lady." Finan spoke with a grin, his eyes looking back to the woman who had passed them. "I'm afraid none of them have caught my interest enough for that though." He told her, lifting his mug with a grin. In the time Signe and Ragnar had been in the presence of the King, Finan had cleaned up slightly. The dirt that coated his skin was now gone, and Signe had to admit he was quite handsome.

      "Well, you've caught plenty of their attention." Signe told the man through a small laugh, her eyes falling to the door of the alehouse as Ragnar stormed through it. The woman cleared her throat and sat taller while Ragnar slumped on the bench beside Finan, calling for one of the barmaids to bring him a drink. "What crawled up your arse and died, brother?" Signe asked, tilting her head to the side slightly to observe her brother. Finan snorted slightly, trying to hide his grin behind the rim of his mug.

      "You are aware that our brother renewed his oath?" Ragnar asked, nodding at the barmaid handing him a mug overflowing his ale. Signe sighed and looked down to her hands that rested in her lap before looking back to her brother. Should she be surprised that Uhtred had renewed his oath to the King? Uhtred was loyal, and his word meant more to him than any God ever would.

      "I'm sure Uhtred had his reasons for it." Signe muttered. "He did kill a man of the lord." She mocked, a small smile tugging at her lips as she said it. Rangar chuckled at his sister's antics, shaking his head in disbelief before silence hung over the trio.

      "Will you stay with him?" Ragnar finally asked, looking almost like an injured pup as he did.

      "Do you ask as a request, or fear of me leaving you behind?" Signe asked, taking a sip of her drink.

      "Both?" Ragnar and Signe had been side by side for years now, he didn't know if he was ready to see her go just yet.

      "I think Uhtred may need me for a while." Signe said softly, picking at the wooden table with her fingernail. Signe didn't want to leave Ragnar's company, he let her do as she pleased, gave her several men when she was going into battle, and never pushed her to fight for the things she didn't believe in. She also knew Ragnar would never stay in Winchester while Uhtred carried out his oath with the King, he would go and find his men and find somewhere to settle. She felt as though she was at a crossroads, she wanted nothing more than for both her brothers to be in the same place for more than one day. Uhtred would need any able body and loyal person to follow him this time around as he found his footing once again. "I do expect a welcome party when I come visit in Dunholm."

      "What's in Dunholm?" Finan finally asked, leaning forward to get a better look between the siblings. Signe grinned, looking from Ragnar to the Irishman, copying his actions by leaning over the table slightly.

      "Dunholm is the birthright of all children of Earl Ragnar, my dear Irishman; and it's time they reclaim it."