At the first stop along their journey, Finan dismounts his mare and leads her to the nearby river, his daughter having stayed nestled sleepily against his chest. He’d gotten a few silly, lighthearted looks from the men, but he hasn’t a care. There’s no feeling in the world like having children of your own— the need to protect them, to cherish them. He even saw Ronan and Sigritte getting to know Stiorra along the way, and the very sight of it warmed his heart like no other. The teenagers were all so full of life. It wasn’t long before he met Revna that they were traveling the lands with the children in tow, and it reminds him of that time.
Still, the Irishman feels a bittersweet melancholy— perhaps he should have stayed a few more days with Uhtred, celebrated their union for longer. Stayed in that happy little world for as long as possible. He avoids the others with that same stubbornness he had with Revna earlier. No one saw and understood him like Uhtred did, and being with him for the 48 hours prior had been so romantic and relaxing. He gazes lovingly at the Dane from afar, his attention held by some of the men, choosing not to interrupt.
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“Rypere, take a few men and scout ahead. Find us a good spot to make camp for the night. Preferably near a stream so we can refill our water skins and have plenty of water for the women and children to bathe after all the dust from riding. I’d like to get another few more hours of travel in for the day before we stop.” Uhtred instructs the scout as he glances up at the position of the sun. It’s already past the midday mark, and personally he’d like to call it an early night. Ease the women and children into the travels before they put in a harder day tomorrow.
As Rypere and the men ride ahead, Uhtred looks at the men riding behind him until he finds a familiar face. A smile instantly coming to his face when he spots his Irishman. He’s a little surprised to see him riding alone without Revna beside him, especially considering he sees the little one nestled against his chest. Guiding Tintreg to the side, he waits for Finan to catch up to him before guiding his horse next to the Irishman.
Reaching out, Uhtred takes Finan’s hand in his, a tender smile on his face as he looks lovingly into his husband’s eyes. “Hey, baby…”
Looking at Tora sleeping against Finan’s chest, he can’t help but feel it’s the most beautiful sight, seeing the Irishman with his daughter. “How’s she taking to the ride?” Glancing around them, he turns a questioning look to Finan. “Where’s Revna?”
this is so fucking sweet. and seeing the different ways the 3 of them show their protectiveness is gorgeous. Especially Sihtric saying he wants the seax back. Like not to be deep, but reassuring him "we're about to go into a scary fight and you will need to both run and defend yourself but listen here i will see you again and i want my fucking knife back okay kid?"
Uhtred x Finan hinted smut but not actual smut not yet anyway.
‘I could get used to this,’ Uhtred thinks, feeling Finan’s body pressed against his trying to have as much contact with his lord as possible - had they been back in the halls of Coccham, Uhtred would already be in his lap. Instead, Uhtred would have to accept this ‘controlled’ form of intimacy; he takes another drink and blames the pooling of heat at his core on the ale.
“The man is naked at his point, by the way. So I tell ‘em to stop runnin’, right” Finan yells to be heard over the crowd of the alehouse, gesturing wildly as he tells his story. “He, of course, starts runnin’ anyhow, so I chase after him.”
Knowing where the story would go next, Uhtred moves his and Finan’s drink in preparation as the Irishman makes a sweeping motion over the table, knocking Osferth’s drink over. “Only I land flat on my face instead 'cause I got caught in his pants.”.
The table erupts with laughter at the end of the joke, the abundance of ale more than made up for Finan’s drunk storytelling, and Uhtred has heard every drunken version of this tale to know how the story goes.
They have been away from Coccham too long, the two men making do with quick flights of touching and kissing to sate their appetite, but the more the two drank, the hungrier they got.
Finan, at this point, relied too heavily on the dim light of the tavern to hide many of his touches, but now the Irshman had become emboldened and snuck a hand under Uhtred’s shirt, fingers tracing old scars along the other man’s soft side. Uhtred allowed the touch to continue, leaning into Finan’s touch as best he could. Both pulled away when bodies began to move away from the table.
“You alright there, lord?” Finan asks; his accent comes back more potent when he drinks. Sihtric hides a smirk in his cup as he and the rest of the men leave for the night.
“I’m fine,” Uthred replies, weakly swallowing the saliva building in his throat, as at some point, Finan had lost much of his armor and clothing; Uhtred had only now noticed it.
“You don’t look so good… maybe I should take you back to your room.” With a sensual wiggle of his eyebrows - well, an attempt at sensual. When Uhtred only snorted in response, Finan forwent any caution or subtlety, his mouth ghosting over the other man’s ear. “I need you, lord…Uhtred.”
“Finan,” Uhtred gasped, hands pressed against Finan’s firm chest, holding some distance between the two for property’s sake. “Go upstairs…wait for me there.”
The noise Finan made sent lighting down Uhtred’s spine, and fuck if he didn’t want to take Finan here and now, but they couldn’t.
Uhtred doesn’t follow Finan up right away now. They are both too hot, so he waits. He orders another round of watered-down ale, takes his time drinking it, and tries not to think of Finan. Of how frustrated his Irishman must be, how long before he’d march down in his small clothes - or worse, naked. While that idea pleased Uhtred’s body, his mind knew better, So once his ale was down and the appropriate amount of coin was left on the table, Uhtred made his trip upstairs.
Finding the room was easy enough; even in Uhtred’s inebriated state, it was the only one unlocked. Uhtred was prepared for any reactions from Finan, but the one he got us was unexpected; instead of angrily pacing the room or fucking his hand, Finan was lying on the bed asleep. His face pressed down into the pillow, and the sight of his naked backside was lovely.
Uhtred entered the room as quietly as possible; though the man was desperate for Finan, he relented that this was the best outcome. Striped down to his small clothes, Uhtred crawled on the bed, moving softly towards Finan, debating internally on how to sleep when Finan struck.
Finan The Agile, who was living up to his name, switched their position, pressing Uhtred face first on the bed while he ran his hands down Uhtred’s side.
“Finan-” The rest of Uhtred’s words were cut off with a gasp as Finan bit down -hard- on the junction of his neck and sucked, making the start of what would be a prominent mark in the morning.
“No talking,” Finan ordered, kissing the angry mark softly, then moving his mouth toward Uhtred’s ear, his lips ghosting over the skin before he pressed a kiss into Uhtred’s hairline. “Ya had your chance..but it’s my turn now.”
Uhtred moaned wantonly at the touch of Finan’s hard cock against his ass, “You feel that, lord? You thought making me wait would tame this beast?”
“Fin-” Finan growled at the sound, pulling Uhtred in for a harsh kiss taking the other man’s lip between his teeth and tugged.
“No talking,” Finan ordered, pulling back just enough to reach the oil on the table, dumping a generous amount onto his hand, “I shouldn’t be so nice to ya, Lord. Shouldn’t take you rough and fast with little preparation, shouldn’t pound you into the bed til your boneless like ya need.”
Finan’s words had Uhtred dripping; it took all his self-control not to hump the mattress. He wanted Finan in him - under him didn’t matter. He just wanted to feel something at this point; he wanted to beg so badly the words were so close to leaving his lips. Instead of speaking, Uhtred used his free hands. It was an awkward angle but Uhtred managed to get his knees under him and spread his cheeks before Finan.
“Fuck Lord- Uhtred -love - mo goá.” Finan’s lips were on him again. The forgotten oil was now spreading over Uhtred’s body; it felt cool against his hot skin. “You can’t do things like that! I’m trying to be in control, and you you.”
“Drive you crazy?” Uhtred teased, chasing after Finan again, letting his lips fall against the man’s chest and neck. “Then we are the same.”
Feeling a bit foolish having to rescind the order to his guardsman to leave, the Irishman gives Uhtred a mischievous glare as he walks back into Bebbanburg’s hall with his hand at the Dane’s arm. There’s a relief inside him not to have to travel again— but more so to not be parted from Uhtred. He thinks perhaps that their passion extends to their arguments as well as their trysts, and they demonstrate it well.
“Don’t make me regret it, eh?” Finan drawls with a smirk.
“… there’s a lot on the line here. If I give you my life, you must hold it carefully, hm? I’m a King now,” he winks.
@thedarkprinceofulaid
“I won’t…” Uhtred softly smiles at they walk into the hall.
“I will be utmost careful….you are the most precious to me.” Uhtred gives Finan a loving smile as they head up the stairs to the chambers. “That you are, baby…” he softly chuckles.
When they enter the privacy of their chambers, Uhtred softly shuts the door before taking the Irishman into his arms, wrapping them loosely around his waist.
“So…I was thinking…” the Dane gives Finan a tender gaze.
“Maybe we should get away for a little while…from the fortress and the ghosts of what happened haunting us.” Uhtred softly muses as he pulls Finan snugly against him.
“We can go anywhere you want…back to Dunholm for a little visit, or we can explore these lands that we have claimed as ours. Sleep in a tent, under the stars…with plenty of furs.” Uhtred softly snickers as he pinches Finan’s side teasingly. “Whatever you want, baby, I’ll make it happen.”
“I think it would give us a chance to find ourselves again, to reconnect after all the heartbreak we have suffered. Just you and me…” Uhtred rasps as he kisses Finan’s temple.
“Maybe get back some of the time we lost on our honeymoon…” the Dane’s eyebrow raises as a mischievous glint comes to his eyes. “…perhaps we even ask Tessa for some more of those herbs.” Uhtred husks against Finan’s ear with a sultry tone to his voice.
“I’m sure Ragnar would be happy to hang around a little longer to help protect the women and children. Lagertha and Revna can keep everyone in line in our absence. Sihtric, Osferth, Ronan, and Sigritte will make sure everyone’s protected, and the fortress will keep them safe from any harm.
Perhaps with some time away, when we return we’ll see our home in a new light, without the darkness hanging over us…hm?” Uhtred looks into Finan’s eyes with a hopefulness in his. The thought of spending some time away, just him and Finan brings a flutter of excitement to Uhtred’s stomach. He came so close to losing his love, his heart, and he wants to prove to his husband how much he loves him. Over and over again.
Having made himself ready, the Irishman simply cannot stand the idea of waiting to see his beloved, or for Uhtred to see him. In fact, everyone best leave as the vows end, because Finan isn’t sure how long he can last without ravaging Uhtred’s lips.
As Uhtred comes down the stairs, Finan startles him and grabs his hand, looking him up and down in the most sultry, and seductive way. God, he looked amazing.
“I wanted you to have the first look,” Finan drawls, his eyes drifting to Uhtred’s lips before the Dane backs him into a wall and ravages him in a kiss, surely enough to give the women standing by a blush to their cheeks.
@thedarkprinceofulaid
Having finished bathing, and donning his finest clothes and leathers, Uhtred tucks the ring for his beloved in a small pocket near his heart. He rests his hand against it for a moment, feeling the excitement drumming through his body. Running his hand over his freshly washed hair, he makes sure everything is in place.
Taking a deep breath, Uhtred opens the chamber door, an anxious nervousness coming over him. He wants everything to be perfect for his love. As he comes down the stairs, he is pleasantly startled when Finan grabs his hand. A grin quickly comes to the Dane’s lips, as his breath is stolen from him.
Finan is absolutely breathtaking. Uhtred quickly notices Finan’s freshly trimmed hair and beard, and his fine clothes and he is mesmerized. Uhtred barely hears Finan’s words before he is backing him into a wall, capturing Finan’s lips in a ravaging kiss.
“Gods, you’re going to be mine, baby….forever.” Uhtred rasps against Finan’s lips, his heart already pounding in his chest in excitement. It takes everything in him not to skip the ceremony and go straight to their room.
“Mabon in Bebbanburg, eh?” Finan drawls excitedly as he approaches Uhtred in the kitchens, finding the Dane shirtless and picking at random assortments of food.
“I love it here… I really do. I’m so filled with joy,” the Irishman says jovially as he approaches.
“I think the women and children are comfortable, and so am I… you know me, I never settle. But in this place… it makes it possible.” He says, grinning as he approaches Uhtred with a tender hand to his cheek.
“Hey… what is this?” Finan says then, his brows furrowing as he points to the newly sutured wound at Uhtred’s shoulder.
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When he hears the Irishman’s voice, Uhtred looks up as he steals some tasty morsels from the platters of food the servants have prepared for supper.
“Can you believe it?” Uhtred grins as he playfully raises an eyebrow. “Mabon in Bebbanburg…” he shakes his head, still feeling like he needs to pinch himself.
“It brings me so much joy to see you happy, baby.” Uhtred gives Finan a loving smile. Just hearing that Finan is comfortable, that he is settling into their new home, is all the Dane has ever wanted. To provide his husband with everything he has ever dreamed of. As the Irishman reaches up to cup his cheek, Uhtred leans into the touch. The warmth of his husband’s hand brings him such comfort.
“Uh…” Uhtred gives Finan a sheepish look. “There was a sliver of wood left behind from the arrow, and I asked Revna to remove it for me. She had to make a little incision to get it out.
Everything is alright…Revna didn’t see any signs of infection, and it already feels so much better.” Uhtred gives Finan a tender look.
