Domnal:"We are not finished yet!...(*Sihtric looked at Aviana*)...why are you two together again?!"
Sihtric:(*rolled his eyes*)"Because I am hot and you look like a fucking rag!...(*Aviana stifled her laughter*)...Domnal do me a favour: be quiet and enjoy your wedding dance!"
Domnal:"How can I without a bride?!...(*Sihtric shrugged his shoulders*)...you think you are funny, don't you?"
Aviana:(*shook her head*)"He doesn't just think it, he is funny!...(*Sihtric smiled at her*)...there are so many girls here who would love to dance with you!"
Domnal:"Would you do me the honour and dance with me?...(*he held out his hand for her*)...then I would be the happiest man in the world!"
Sihtric:(*slapped his hand away*)"Touch her and you are dead!...(*Domnal swallowed*)...she doesn't want to dance with you, nor does she want to look at you! So do us a favour and get lost once and for all!"
~~~~~~~
Domnal lowered his head and turned around to walk away...but he turned around once more! Only to see Aviana kissing Sihtric passionately! It made his blood boil but he knew, that he didn't have the slightest chance! Uhtred, Finan and Osferth weirdly smiled at Domnal, when he passed them and then turned their gaze back at Aviana and Sihtric! The two did not even notice that Domnal had left! Sihtric was just happy to have his Aviana back! And Aviana allowed herself to surrender to Sihtric's love and feel his passion! She was mad at him way too long and she definitely missed his kisses and his touch...she missed feeling his hands on her body and she missed feeling his warm breath on her neck! The two broke away from each other and turned to Uhtred and Finan...Domnal was nowhere to be seen! Aviana's plan had worked and Mildrith was safe! When they arrived back at Winchester, Aviana immediately went to bed...
~~~~~~~
Sihtric:"'Because he is hot?' you serious?...(*Aviana laughed*)...is that the best you can come up with?"
Aviana:(*nodded*)"That is the first thing I think of when I look at you!...(*Sihtric joined in laughing*)...I don't mind saying it again...you are hot!"
Sihtric:"And you are overtired!...(*he kissed her forehead*)...but anyway, thanks for the compliment!"
Aviana:(*pulled him in for an intense kiss*)"I missed your kisses!...(*she placed her forehead against his*)...I also missed feeling your hands on my body and your warm breathing giving me shivers!"
Sihtric:"Looks like you have been mad at me for way too long!...(*Aviana nodded*)...is everything okay between us again now or do I have to go back to my personal prison?"
Aviana:(*thought briefly*)"Since I missed your kisses, your touch and you in general...(*Sihtric smirked*)...I would say that you can sleep here but only under one condition!"
Sihtric:"What is the condition this time?...(*he gave her an annoyed look*)...do I have to kiss your holy feet before I go to sleep?"
Aviana:(*shook her head whilst laughing*)"I was thinking more of lifting your ban on touching and kissing!...(*Sihtric laughed as well*)...what do you think of that?"
~~~~~~~
Sihtric smiled and got into bed! Aviana stroked his head and kissed his forehead! He widely smiled at her and apologised for his behaviour and his choice of words towards her! Aviana waved it off and apologised as well! She was happy, that they made up and it made him happy, that she was smiling again! Samarthia woke them up the next morning and literally dragged the two to breakfast! Sihtric was still tired and Aviana quickly got dressed, before walking into the throne room! Uhtred, Gisela, Finan, Osferth, Eadith and Lady Ælswith were already there...only Edward and Æthelflæd were missing! Lady Ælswith became impatient and sent Steapa off to check on her two other children!
~~~~~~~
Lady Ælswith:"Steapa, could you please check on my other two children?...(*Steapa nodded and disappeared*)...Aviana, do you know where your brother and sister are?"
Aviana:(*shook her head*)"I know where my daughter is but definitely not where my siblings are!...(*Lady Ælswith gave her an annoyed look*)...and I know that the child inside me also has something to say on this subject!"
Sihtric:"Is it kicking you again?...(*Aviana nodded*)...is it bearable or does it kick more than usual?"
Aviana:(*looked at Sihtric*)"It kicks harder than usual!...(*Sihtric placed one hand on her stomach*)...this child is driving me crazy and I cannot wait until it is finally born!"
Uhtred:"This birth will be harder than the last, you know that, right?...(*Aviana nodded*)...but we will all be with you when it starts!"
~~~~~~~
Aviana smiled at him and turned back to her mother! Lady Ælswith gave her worried look and Aviana immediately placed her right hand on her mothers arm! Gisela and Osferth looked at each other before they watched as Æthelflæd and Edward entered the room! Steapa closed the door and nodded at Lady Ælswith who was widely smiling at him! Sihtric and Finan stood up and excused themselves before they left the throne room! Aviana knew, that Sihtric wanted to pull a stone out of his horse's hoof, but she thought he would at least wait until the farrier had time for him! Finan just followed him for his own entertainment and not because he wanted to help him! Uhtred and Osferth soon also left and went to Hild's house, to pick up herbs that could possibly be useful to Aviana during the birth! The two men hoped that Hild had found herbs that could possibly take away some of Aviana's pain! In the end there were only Aviana, Lady Ælswith, Æthelflæd, Edward and Steapa left!
~~~~~~~
Edward:"We are sorry, we overslept!...(*Lady Ælswith looked at him*)...is the birth of the child approaching?"
Aviana:(*shook her head*)"I am probably only 6 months along, so it is going to take a little while yet!...(*Edward nodded at her and continued eating*)...Æthelflæd my sunshine, how are you?"
Æthelflæd:"I am fine, thank you Ana!...(*Aviana smiled at her sister*)...shouldn't Sihtric have waited for the farrier?"
Lady Ælswith:(*laughed*)"He is a man and they always want everything done right away!...(*Aviana nodded whilst laughing*)...but you are right, waiting for the farrier would have been the wiser decision!"
Edward:"Our farrier is always so busy and his mare has already gone lame!...(*Lady Ælswith looked at Edward*)...that probably broke his heart!"
~~~~~~~
Aviana lowered her head and thought about Edward's words! Then she stood up and left the throne room, to look for Sihtric! Sihtric was pretty much busy removing the stone from his mares hoof and Finan laughed his arse off watching him do so! Aviana approached them and Finan immediately stopped laughing and offered Aviana his chair! She thanked him but insisted on standing so that he could sit down again! Finan nodded and sat back down, still watching Sihtric! Sihtric did not notice his wife at first, but when she put her hand on his shoulder to signal him to take a break, he slowly turned his head!
~~~~~~~
Aviana:"Hello my busy little bee!...(*Sihtric smiled at her*)...you have been pulling on that stone long enough, take a break! I will go straight to our farrier and bribe him, if necessary, to take care of your mare!"
Sihtric:(*sighed*)"She is already lame, Ana!...(*Aviana sighed as well*)...I cannot watch this any longer...it breaks my heart!"
Finan:"Where on earth did you ride that she has such a fat stone in her hoof?...(*Sihtric turned to Finan*)...if all our horses had such fat stones in their hooves, the farrier would end up rich!"
Sihtric:(*rolled his eyes at him*)"You know, if you had just helped me instead of laughing at me, I would have been done by now!...(*Finan and Aviana grinned*)...really? My wife and my best friend are ganging up on me?"
~~~~~~~
Aviana and Finan nodded and clapped! Sihtric again rolled his eyes and sat down! Aviana looked for the farrier and found him, leaning against a wall near his house! She excused herself and walked over to him...she tapped on his shoulder and he turned around! She smiled at him but he did not return that smile and somehow that made Aviana sad! Nevertheless, Aviana asked him what she wanted to ask him and waited for his answer!
~~~~~~~
Aviana:"Good morning, Bodo! I have a question for you, so if you would listen to me for a moment!...(*Bodo nodded at her*)...Sihtric's mare has a stone in her hoof and he cannot get it out on his own...would you help him?"
Bodo:(*thought briefly*)"Just because you have become his whore does not mean I have to suffer the same fate!...(*Aviana's face dropped*)...let the Irishman help him or his Lord!"
Aviana:"How do you talk to your Queen?!...(*Bodo spat at the ground*)...I have never seen you like this! What is wrong with you?!"
Bodo:(*rolled his eyes*)"Not everyone is under your thumb, Ana!...(*Aviana got angry*)...since your father died, the Danes have more or less taken over Winchester and you let them!"
Aviana:"Danes are people just like Saxons!...(*Bodo laughed maliciously*)...I will not be the peacebreaker!"
Bodo:(*grabbed her by her arm*)"Now listen to me, Queen Aviana!...(*fear flowed through her body*)...I don't give a shit what those Danes want! I only accept Sihtric and Uhtred because they never did anything to me!"
Aviana:"But that will change soon if you do not take your hands off me right now!...(*Bodo tightened his grip*)...Bodo please let me go!"
~~~~~~~
He shook his head and shoved Aviana into his house! Tears rose in her eyes and she was scared...he still had his hand as a grip around her arm! Bodo pulled her to the ground with a jerk and laughed at how scared she was! She tried to get up but he would not let her! She cried and begged him to let her go but he remained stubborn! Meanwhile: Sihtric and Finan waited for Aviana's return and Finan began to worry! Sihtric leaned against a wall and Finan looked at the ground! Suddenly Osferth approached them and informed them that the farrier had disappeared into his house! Sihtric and Finan looked at each other and thought about what this could mean! Osferth gave them a confused look, as they Finan jumped off his seat and Sihtric grabbed his sword! Finan just grabbed Osferth's arm and pulled him with him! Aviana was still scared and tried to escape but Bodo watched her closely! He even locked his door and put his chest of drawers in front of his door...and when he heard footsteps, he took Aviana in his arms and carried her into his bedroom! There he tied a rag around her head so that her mouth was covered and she couldn't scream! Then he locked that door too and turned his attention to his front door! He opened his door and looked the three young men in the face!
~~~~~~~
Bodo:"How can I help you?...(*Sihtric looked him dead in the eye*)...or are you looking for someone?"
Finan:(*took a deep breath*)"Have you seen Ana?...(*Bodo nodded*)...where did she go?"
Bodo:"She ran back to the palace!...(*Sihtric raised an eyebrow*)...the child you planted in her stomach is once again kicking the life out of her!"
Sihtric:(*looked at Finan*)"Did she say anything before she left?...(*Bodo nodded again*)...and what did she say?"
Bodo:"That I should take a look at one of your mare's hooves!...(*Sihtric looked back at Bodo*)...I will come to the stable in a minute and take a look! I just have to get my pliers, but you go ahead!"
~~~~~~~
Sihtric nodded and then the three of them disappeared! Bodo took a deep breath before turning around and closing the door! Then he opened the door to his bedroom and tied Aviana's hands and feet together! She still cried and that made him angry, so he punched her in the face and watched her blood run down her cheeks! Then he grabbed his pliers and left! Aviana whimpered in pain...but her efforts were in vain! No one would hear her cries and no one knew where she was! She was afraid of the things he would do to her when he came home again...she almost choked on the musty air in his house!
~~~~~~~