Dagfinn:"When were you planning to tell us, you were travelling with the Queen of Wessex?...(*Sihtric clenched his fists*)...and when were you planning to tell us, that Sihtric has the honour to hump her?"
Finan:(*rolled his eyes*)"Dagfinn, be so kind and just shut the fuck up!...(*Eadith giggled*)...where are you holding Aviana? And what do you want for her release?"
Hæsten:"Who says I want to release the Queen?...(*Sihtric moved closer*)...she will fetch a good sum! Slave traders long for a Queen!"
Sihtric:"(*banged on the table*)"You will not dare to humiliate Aviana like this, Hæsten!...(*Hæsten flinched*)...as you rightly say, she is a Queen! But she is not just any Queen, you imbecile! She is the Queen of Wessex and therefore the Queen of Winchester! And if I hear that you humiliated her, Hæsten, I will have your balls!"
Dagfinn:"And Hæsten wants Winchester!...(*he swallowed and Uhtred lifted his head*)...so if Hæsten marries Aviana, doesn't that theoretically make him King of Wessex and therefore also of Winchester?"
Uhtred:(*cleared his throat*)"The people of Winchester would never consider this weasel their rightful King, get that idea out of your stupid head!...(*Aviana appeared behind Uhtred*)...besides, she would never marry you out of her own free will, Hæsten!"
Hæsten:"Are you sure about that, Uhtred Ragnarsson?...(*Uhtred, Finan, Osferth and Sihtric frowned*)...Aviana, dear come here please!"
Aviana:(*walked over to Hæsten*)"What is it, my love?...(*Sihtric's eyes widened*)...are these people bothering you? Should I have them removed?"
Dagfinn:"It would be lovely if you could do that, Ana!...(*Uhtred turned his head to look at Sihtric*)...see you in Winchester, Uhtred!"
~~~~~~~
Aviana fetched the guards, that Hæsten has placed at her cell door for her protection and surveillance! They shoved the others out of the great hall! Back at the stables, Uhtred looked at Sihtric...he clenched his fists and had an angry expression on his face! Eadith and Finan were now holding hands...they held on tightly to each other! Osferth sighed, shaking his head...just looking at the ground! Uhtred approached Sihtric, trying to talk to him but Sihtric was too angry! He cursed Hæsten and all his men...he even cursed his own wife! She was the Queen of Wessex and Winchester...how could she betray him? How could she trust a man like Hæsten? Sihtric needed to find out the truth...he saw the bruises on her neck and wrists!

Eventually they rode off and reached Winchester after hours of riding! Lady Ælswith and Æthelflæd were standing outside, awaiting their return! But the moment Lady Ælswith saw, that her eldest daughter was not travelling with them, she got worried! She waited for Sihtric to jump off his horse...then she would ask him about Aviana! When he finally jumped off his horse, he immediately stormed into the palace and into his and Aviana's chambers! Lady Ælswith's eyes filled with tears as she looked at Uhtred! He sighed and approached her slowly...also remembering Aviana's bruises! Osferth, Finan and Eadith nodded at Lady Ælswith, before walking to their chambers! Eadith would spent the night in Finan's chambers...they were close! Æthelflæd decided to pay Sihtric a visit...so she walked to his chambers, knocked at the door and waited to be let in...
~~~~~~~
Sihtric:(*heard the knock and sighed*)"Come in, the door is open!...(*Æthelflæd entered the room*)...Lady Æthelflæd, it is already late, what are you doing here?"
Æthelflæd:"Sihtric, no matter what my sister did, she must have been forced!...(*Sihtric frowned*)...I overheard Uhtred and my mother! So I want my sister back as much as you want her back!"
Sihtric:(*sighed*)"Even if she was forced, why does she allow these Danes to go to Winchester?...(*Æthelflæd sat down besides him*)...if I find a way to get her back, I will use it, I promise!"
Æthelflæd:"I have never had any doubts about that!...(*Sihtric slightly smiled*)...but also promise me, that nothing will happen to you! It would destroy my sister if something would happen to you!"
Sihtric:(*turned his head*)"Then I hereby promise you, that nothing will happen to me!...(*she hugged him*)...but you must promise me, that if it comes to a fight, you will stay in your chambers!"
Æthelflæd:"I promise you, Sihtric!...(*he smiled*)...when are these Danes going to invade here? Because if it is not directly tomorrow, yet we can set a trap for them!"
Sihtric:(*his eyes widened*)"If we could send a letter to your sister, we could warn her and she could help us!...(*Æthelflæd nodded*)...are Uhtred and your mother still in the throne room?"
~~~~~~~
Æthelflæd nodded and Sihtric stormed out of his chambers and towards the throne room! Lady Ælswith flinched and Uhtred just shook his head...Sihtric walked over to them and told them about Æthelflæd's idea! Uhtred nodded and prepared a letter...then he sent a messenger to Beamfleot! Somehow Sihtric and Uhtred stayed up the rest of the night, awaiting the return of the messenger! After what felt like ages, the messenger returned! He told Sihtric, that he gave the letter to Aviana and that she read it instantly, saying that she would help them! Uhtred and Sihtric smiled and thanked the messenger...then they prepared the trap!

The next day: Hæsten, his men and Aviana arrived in Winchester...the inhabitants stayed in their houses! They were glad, that their Queen was back and they didn't care about the Danes! Sihtric, Uhtred, Finan and Osferth hid themselves in the stables...Eadith was the one to greet Hæsten! She did and after a while, they got into a conversation! Aviana's eyes searched for Sihtric...she found him and they immediately locked eyes! She slightly smiled but soon interrupted the eye contact! Hæsten and his men jumped off their horses...that was the perfect time for the ambush! Uhtred, Sihtric, Finan, Osferth and the guards stormed towards Hæsten and his men! It was a horrible fight...many already lay dead on the ground! Dagfinn protectively shoved Aviana behind him, but Finan grabbed her wrist and pulled her close to him! She felt his breath and it made her shiver for a moment...but then she felt safe! Hæsten got angry...he launched his next attack and his victim should be Sihtric! But he dodged and cut open Hæsten's leg...Hæsten limped away and towards his horse! Dagfinn whistled and all of Hæsten's men stopped fighting and turned around! Hæsten climbed on his horse and looked at his men...after a while they left Winchester and Aviana's heart skipped a few beats...
~~~~~~~
Finan:(*he still held her close*)"Wonderful good morning, Ana!...(*Aviana gasped for air*)...are you okay? Ana, does anything hurt?!"
Aviana:"I...I...have a pain in my stomach!...(*Finan's eyes widened when he saw blood running down her legs*)...what are you looking at, Finan?!"
Finan:(*swallowed*)"Ana, I am so incredibly sorry!...(*she frowned and looked down as Finan pointed at her legs*)...did you know you were pregnant?"
Aviana:"Yes, but I wanted to wait for the right moment to tell Sihtric!...(*tears rose in her eyes*)...when Hæsten found out the same evening, you left Beamfleot, he made sure, that there was nothing to tell!"
Uhtred:(*turned around and got pale*)"Oh my god, Ana!...(*Aviana turned her head*)...you were pregnant?! Why didn't you say anything?!"
Aviana:"Uhtred, when was I supposed to tell Sihtric?!...(*Uhtred silenced*)...in the forest when we met Hæsten?! It doesn't change the outcome of the situation, because Hæsten found out first and kicked me until I lost my child! The wound has just opened up again...I don't want to talk about the rest!"
Sihtric:(*appeared behind her*)"What rest are you talking about?...(*Aviana flinched*)...I will kill Hæsten for hurting you and killing our child in the process!"
Aviana:"My darling, I am so unbelievably sorry!...(*Sihtric clenched his fists*)...I should've told you and I should've stayed here and send a messenger..."
Sihtric:(*turned around*)"Uhtred, Finan, Osferth are you coming? I need to clear my mind!...(*Aviana's face dropped*)...I won't be away for long, Ana!"
~~~~~~~
The boys disappeared and Aviana sank to the ground...she lost her child and now her husband won't even look at her! Eadith watched from inside the palace and came running out, as soon as the boys were gone! She kneeled down besides Aviana and held her close! The two girls didn't know each other but in that moment, it didn't matter! Aviana held Eadith's arms close to her chest...she cried into Eadith's hair! Eadith didn't seem to care...she stroked Aviana's head and tried to calm her down!

Suddenly Hild and Lady Ælswith came walking towards them and thanked Eadith for being there for Aviana! But Aviana wanted Eadith to stay...she wanted her safe place to stay by her side! Lady Ælswith sighed but nodded...and Eadith was allowed to stay! Hild rubbed Aviana's back and together they waited for her to speak up! About what happened and about why she was crying! Aviana took a deep breath before she wiped away her tears and tried to find the right words...
~~~~~~~
Aviana:"When I was captured, I knew something that no one else knew!...(*Lady Ælswith and Hild frowned*)...I was pregnant, mother! I was carrying Sihtric's child and I was so sure, that I would bring this little miracle into the world..."
Lady Ælswith:(*tears rose in her eyes*)"You were pregnant? What did you lose your child to?...(*Aviana's body tensed up*)...and what else happened during your captivity?"
Aviana:"The Dane who captured me, kicked me until I lost my child!...(*Hild's, Lady Ælswith's and Eadith's faces dropped*)...afterwards he undressed me for the pleasure of his men and put me on display..."
Hild:(*her blood began to boil*)"Ana, did these men touch you?...(*Aviana nodded with tears in her eyes*)...oh my god...did you tell Sihtric about this?!"
Aviana:"No! I don't want him to know about the terrible things, I had to go through!...(*Eadith sighed*)...and the touching was not all..."
Lady Ælswith:(*tears rolled down her cheeks*)"Angel tell us everything that happened!...(*Aviana nodded*)...we will help you overcome this, I promise you!
Aviana:"After these men had finished touching me, the Dane took me back to my cell!...(*Hild, Lady Ælswith and Eadith sighed*)...I thought it was over but then...then these men came back and tore off my clothes again and took pleasure on me..."
Eadith:(*her eyes widened*)"Did these men rape you?!...(*Aviana nodded whilst crying*)...Lady I don't want to offend you, but you have to tell your husband!"
Lady Ælswith:"I agree with the Lady!...(*Eadith slightly smiled*)...Ana, you have to find the strength and look for Sihtric! Tell him everything you just told us and he will understand and help you!"
~~~~~~~
Aviana nodded, stood up and disappeared! She looked for Sihtric at every ale house, in the garden, at the gates, at the stables and found him nowhere! But she eventually later found him, standing near the forge! Uhtred, Finan and Osferth weren't there, so she just supposed, that they gone to sleep! When she approached Sihtric, he slightly flinched...she apologised for scaring him! He finally turned around and she saw, that he was crying...just like she did! He looked her deep in the eyes...reached out his hand for her to take! She took a deep breath before she began to speak up!

He listened closely and his mood changed immediately! They needed to sit down...Aviana stopped a few times! And that wasn't even the worst part of the story...she hadn't yet told him, what she just told her mother, Eadith and Hild! She just told him how Hæsten treated her and that she hadn't much to eat! She also told him about the kicking and how she felt their child die! For that she also apologised and Sihtric immediately pulled her into a tight hug...she definitely needed that hug! Then she again took a deep breath and told him the things, that made her shiver...
~~~~~~~