Uhtred:"Give up Cnut it's over!...(*Cnut turned around*)...we both know that Ragnar is probably dead and that it's your fault!"
Cnut:(*laughed*)"I am not to blame, Uhtred!...(*Uhtred frowned*)...you killed my eldest son! You are more of a murderer than I will ever be!"
Uhtred:"Wrong, your eldest son is alive! Both of them and they will be glad never to see you again!...(*Cnut's face dropped*)...and now admit that you killed Ragnar!"
Cnut:(*spat at Uhtred's feet*)"Ragnar was a weasel, a coward!...(*Uhtred flinched*)...he deserved the death that he died! However, it was not by my hand!"
Uhtred:"Lie, this is all lies!...(*he kicked Cnut*)...I will rip out your throat and you will never be able to see Valhalla from the inside, you vile coward!"
Cnut:(*grinned*)"I'm sure you'd love to, Uhtred!...(*Uhtred drew his sword*)...but remember, that you are abandoning your men right now! I still have at least 30 men in the woods!"
Uhtred:"If I kill you now, I will still have enough time to join my men!...(*Cnut laughed and fear rose inside of Uhtred*)...your men have already attacked my men, am I right?!"
Brida:(*appeared behind Uhtred*)"I have stopped most of them, Uhtred!...(*Cnut and Uhtred turned around*)...you go back to your men, I will finish that son of a bitch off!"
Uhtred:"Thank you, Brida!...(*Brida kissed his cheek*)...how is Sihtric, have you seen him? If anything happens to him, his wife will kill me!"
~~~~~~~
Brida shook her head and Uhtred ran through the forest and when he reached the end of it, he looked at the battlefield! Dead men were lying on the ground...blood everywhere! But Uhtred's only aim was, to find his men alive! After a while he caught sight of Osferth...kneeling next to someone! Uhtred instantly swallowed...he hoped, that it wasn't Sihtric! He also saw Finan, collecting swords and a few shields! Then he finally saw Sihtric...coughing blood and holding his stomach! Uhtred ran towards them and hugged each of them tight!

Finan and Osferth didn't mind the hug, but Sihtric was seriously injured! His head was still bleeding and he definitely had a broken rib! Finan decided to carry Sihtric to his horse, as he was definitely not able to ride on his own! Uhtred nodded and helped Osferth preparing the horses...Brida watched from a safe distance! She killed Cnut without hesitation...knowing she was carrying his child! Meanwhile: Aviana awaited Sihtric's return and she was nearly anxious! She hoped, that he didn't pick up an injury...but today the luck wasn't on his side and she was soon to find out! The bells rang and Aviana immediately ran outside...when she caught sight of Uhtred, her eyes immediately wandered to find Sihtric! When she saw, that his horse came back without a rider, she thought of the worst...and it worsened when she saw, that Finan's horse, carried her husband!
~~~~~~~
Osferth:"Sister, Sihtric must be taken to a healer immediately!...(*Aviana nodded and made space for the horses*)...can you go get Father Beocca?"
Aviana:(*nodded again*)"Of course, I will be back in no time!...(*she swallowed*)...is he going to be okay, Osferth? For I fear that I will not survive this madness alone!"
Osferth:"If he does not see a healer immediately, he will not survive the night!...(*Aviana nearly blacked out*)...run fast and don't make any detours!"
Uhtred:(*watched as Aviana disappeared*)"On the count of 3, we lift him off Finan's horse...1, 2, 3 now!...(*they lifted Sihtric off Finan's horse*)...and now we carry him to the best healer in town!"
Finan:"I follow you silently and secretly!...(*Uhtred laughed*)...our young Sihtric scared the hell out of me! For a second I thought he was going to die!"
Osferth:(*swallowed*)"I'm sure it would have been fun for Ana to have us all hanged!...(*Finan nodded*)...we are here and judging by the look on my sisters face, we should go!"
~~~~~~~
Uhtred and Osferth placed Sihtric on the bed, before Osferth shoved his friends out of the house! Uhtred and Finan gave him a confused look, before glancing at Aviana's face! Tears rolled down her cheeks, as she squeezed Sihtric's hand gently! A slight grin appeared on his face, and Aviana relaxed! Knowing that he was alive, made her happy...placing one hand on her stomach, even more! Hours passed and everyone expect for Sihtric, fell asleep! He watched Aviana as her breathing got heavier and her heart beating faster! He squeezed her hand, and she relaxed once more!

Uhtred, Finan and Osferth went to their chambers and eventually fell asleep! The next morning, Aviana was telling Sihtric about Æthelwold's return and he decided to have him hanged! That made Aviana laugh, but she knew he was right! His gut feeling never lied and he was very sure about everything! He tried to stand up and with Aviana's help, he was able to take a walk around Winchester! The people in the streets watched them as they walked by...some of them didn't quite understand how a Dane was allowed to marry the Queen, but no one dared to say anything! The whole of Winchester loved Aviana and no one would ever do anything to harm or hurt her! The people saw, that Sihtric made her happy and since he has never done anything to hurt or harm the inhabitants of Winchester, they supported and loved him, like he was one of their own! Soon Uhtred, Finan and Osferth were awake and on their way to go and see Sihtric! When they arrived at the healers house, their eyes nearly fell out...Aviana tapped on each of their shoulders, it was pure entertainment!
~~~~~~~
Finan:"And I was just about to mourn you, you moron!...(*Sihtric and Aviana laughed*)...I see our warrior is well again! Did the walk do you good?"
Sihtric:(*nodded*)"Since I was accompanied by my beautiful wife, I can't complain!...(*Aviana widely smiled*)...besides, she has decided to have Lord Æthelwold hanged!"
Uhtred:"What is the reason behind this decision?...(*Sihtric looked at Aviana*)...if you have no reason, I will give you a good one!"
Aviana:(*listened carefully*)"Always give me reasons!...(*Uhtred took a deep breath*)...I see this is going to be a slightly longer reason!"
Uhtred:"To cut a long story short: Æthelwold killed my brother Ragnar!...(*everyones face dropped*)...is that reason enough?"
Finan:(*swallowed*)"If that is not reason enough, I don't know what the other option would have been!...(*Osferth nodded slightly*)...my condolences, Lord!"
Aviana:"Uhtred I am so sorry!...(*she hugged him*)...how do you know that Æthelwold killed Ragnar? What happened at the battle of Tettenball?!"
Sihtric:(*sighed*)"Uhtred was looking for Cnut and Cnut chased Uhtred to the last patch of the forest!...(*Aviana swallowed*)...you can guess what happened in the forest: Cnut either died by Uhtred's hand or Brida killed Cnut!"
Uhtred:"Cnut threatened that 30 of his men were lurking in the forest and that they would kill my men!...(*Finan and Osferth turned their head*)...I couldn't leave Sihtric, Finan and Osferth to certain death...not after what happened to Sihtric! So Brida came along when she heard that it was Cnut's idea to have Ragnar killed! Brida ended up killing Cnut!"
Osferth:(*patted Uhtred's shoulder*)"Thank you, Lord!...(*Uhtred pulled Osferth into a hug*)...I am reassured to hear that Cnut is dead and that Æthelwold will soon follow him!"
~~~~~~~
Aviana sighed before she walked away! Finan gave Sihtric a confused look, before he saw, that Aviana returned with Steapa! The two of them discussed the process for a few minutes, before Aviana fetched some of her other guards, to go and get Æthelwold! Moments later they returned and Æthelwold again had this stupid grin on his face...Aviana was already mad! She whispered into Steapa's ear and he knocked on nearly every inhabitants door! Soon the whole of Winchester stood around Aviana and Æthelwold! Aviana turned to her people and asked them, which death Æthelwold should die!

Many people chose the death of hanging, others chose beheading and others chose the death of a warrior...in a fight! Aviana liked option 2 and 3 and she decided to have him executed! Steapa and the other guards fetched the man, they trusted the most: the strongest in Winchester! His name was Ulf and actually he was the kindest soul, but when it came to the Queen, he wasn't a man to joke with! He sharpened his axe before he slowly made his way over to Æthelwold...he cried and screamed but nothing could change Aviana's mind! He betrayed not only his family, no he also betrayed Uhtred's family...her father would've done the same thing! Lady Ælswith heard Æthelwold's screams, so she came running towards Aviana! A quick explanation followed...then Lady Ælswith hugged her daughter and told her, how proud she was! It didn't take long until Æthelwold's head, rolled on the ground...a horrible sight! Aviana turned to her people...they were cheering and shouting her name! In the chronicles, the priests wrote, that Aviana Queen of Wessex and Winchester, was the most feared Queen in the lands...she was more corrupt than her father and thus made herself the most dangerous enemy of those who seek her crown!
~~~~~~~
Lady Ælswith:"Uhtred, Sihtric read the last sentence of this chronicle!...(*Uhtred nodded and took the piece of paper*)...isn't it wonderful to hear, what the priests think about your wife, Sihtric?"
Sihtric:(*cleared his throat*)"Aviana is dubbed the most dangerous Queen of these lands?...(*Lady Ælswith nodded*)...and she is the greatest danger to the Danes and those who seek her crown?"
Lady Ælswith:"I have personally asked the priests to write this in the chronicles!...(*Uhtred and Sihtric looked at each other*)...isn't it a sign of strength to know, that Aviana is corrupt enough to have her enemies killed without batting an eye?"
Uhtred:(*swallowed*)"Lady, a lot of Danes can read and if they get their hands on these chronicles, it would make Aviana a big target!...(*Sihtric nodded*)...with all due respect, they will require Aviana to know how to fight!"
Sihtric:"I will teach her but I will not drag her into battles, where she could be killed!...(*Lady Ælswith sighed*)...she will know how to defend herself but she will not learn anything else from me!"
Lady Ælswith:(*thought briefly*)"Perhaps Steapa should take over her training!...(*Uhtred's and Sihtric's eyes widened*)...I will send her to him first thing in the morning!"
~~~~~~~
With that being said, Lady Ælswith disappeared! Uhtred shook his head and Sihtric nearly crumpled the chronicle! He feared that Aviana would want to be part of battles...which would mean, that she could get killed! Uhtred and Sihtric soon met the others in the ale house and Finan already knew, what was going on! And it got worse, when Aviana decided to join the guys! The Queen in an ale house? In which world was that normal? Sihtric shielded his wife from the lustful men and Finan did well, to throw stones at them! Uhtred and Osferth just sat there, looking at her and thinking about, what Steapa would teach her! Aviana didn't quite understand why nobody talked to her...not even Sihtric! He just shielded her from men and Finan only drank ale and threw stones!

After a while, she banged on the table! Osferth, Uhtred and Finan flinched...Sihtric didn't move at all! She got angry and soon left...it made her sad, that nobody dared to say a word! These guys were her friends and one of them was her husband! At night fall, Sihtric came into their chambers, expecting Aviana to be fast asleep! But she was not...she turned around as he got undressed! She stood up and walked over to him...somehow she was very quiet, because he didn't notice her! She wrapped her arms around him from behind and he slightly flinched! She kissed his shoulder and he drew circles on her arms with his fingers...she was careful not to touch his injuries! He eventually turned around, wrapped his arms around her waist, pulled her close and kissed her intensely! When he broke away from their kiss, he looked her deep in the eye! She admired his two different eyes...one was brown and the other one was blue! He was really drop dead gorgeous...and she was so in love with him! He smiled at her and she stroked his head gently...also careful not to touch his injuries there!
~~~~~~~