Sihtric:"Just like I promised you!...(*she nodded whilst crying*)...what are the tears for? It's over Ana, you don't have to be afraid anymore!"
Aviana:(*looked up at him*)"You could have been killed today, Sihtric!...(*Sihtric sighed*)...I would never have been able to say goodbye to you properly! And I would never have forgiven myself for that!"
Sihtric:"Ana, you will be Queen of Winchester and therefore Queen of Wessex!...(*Aviana tilted her head*)...what difference does the death of an expendable Dane make?"
Aviana:(*her face dropped*)"You are not some expandable Dane, Sihtric!...(*Sihtric looked her dead in the eye*)...you are my Dane, Sihtric Kjartansson!"
Sihtric:"What do you mean? Ana we would never have a chance!...(*he sighed*)...as much as I would like that to happen between us, there would be no future!"
Aviana:(*broke away from his grip*)"If we don't try, we cannot know!...(*she looked at him with puppy dog eyes*)...Sihtric, in the last few hours I have realised, that I have been longing for someone like you, my whole life! And the fact that I will become Queen will not change my love for you!"
Sihtric:"Did you just say that you love me?...(*Aviana nodded*)...Ana, please don't make this harder than it already is! Your father, your mother and the entire royal guard would kill me!"
Aviana:(*shook her head*)"As you rightly said: I will become Queen and then my rules will prevail!...(*Sihtric sighed*)...Sihtric I love you and I will never stop saying that! I will never stop trying until you are finally mine and mine alone! You are the most beautiful person I've ever seen and I cannot think clearly when you are around!"
~~~~~~~
Sihtric stopped her talking by kissing her! She didn't push him away, neither she fought against the kiss...she enjoyed it! She waited for that moment to happen and she smiled into the long and intense kiss! Once Sihtric detached from her lips, he widely smiled at her! She was right, her rules will prevail when she becomes Queen! She waited for him to tell her, that they would try being together...and after what a while of thinking he did! She fell around his neck and Uhtred happily watched them! Osferth appeared behind his sister and tapped on her shoulder...Aviana flinched and turned her head!

She saw the frame of her brother and immediately broke away from Sihtric and turned around! Sihtric kissed her forehead before he went over to Uhtred! Osferth then took a deep breath before handing her a letter! She opened it, read it and sank down...tears storming down her cheeks! She screamed and immediately Sihtric, Hild, Halig and Uhtred came running towards the two of them! Aviana's stomach twisted in pain and she felt like she couldn't breathe! The pain inside her grew and Uhtred knew, what was written in that letter! Alfred rightful King of these lands had died and Winchester was in great grief...Lady Ælswith probably lost her mind and Edward was too young to understand! But Æthelflæd surely understood, why everyone was in grief...and Aviana wasn't there, to comfort her family! She looked at the ground, tears still storming down her cheeks and she nearly clocked on them! Sihtric kneed down besides her, gently rubbing her back and kissing her temple! Uhtred hugged Osferth, because he knew, that he needed that hug! Aviana's whole body tensed up...she could no longer move and her whole world collapsed! She would never forgive herself for not being there, when her father had his last moments...and all that just because Æthelwold decided to mess things up once again...
~~~~~~~
Hild:"I am so sorry!...(*she looked at Aviana and Osferth*)...I can only imagine how painful it is...my deepest condolences!"
Osferth:(*turned to Hild*)"Thank you, Hild!...(*she gently rubbed his hands*)...Ana, can you stand up? You have to go back to Winchester!"
Aviana:"I'm off now to see you at my coronation!...(*everyone nodded*)...Sihtric, I will speak to my mother! She will not stand in the way of our love!"
Sihtric:(*nodded*)"Do that but now ride off, your family needs you!...(*Aviana pulled him into a last kiss*)...I will be there, we will all be there!"
Uhtred:"You won't be alone!...(*he smiled at her*)...you will forever be my little whirlwind...half of my life! Good and safe journey, Queen Aviana!"
~~~~~~~
And with that being said, she climbed on her horse and rode off! After a good while she eventually reached Winchester and every inhabitant was standing outside their houses, greeting the new Queen! Lady Ælswith's face relaxed when she saw, that her daughter was alive and healthy! She immediately pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her forehead! Aviana was extremely happy to be back with her family...her sister Æthelflæd and her brother Edward came running towards her, hugging her tight!

Now they knew, that she would become Queen! They said their last goodbyes to their father, before his ceremony began! A worship service was taking place and in the crowd Aviana spotted Thyra, the sister of Uhtred! The red haired woman slightly smiled at her, as Aviana was walking by! After the worship service was over, everyone returned to their houses! Lady Ælswith brought Aviana her dress for the coronation...it was a beautiful long red dress! Aviana smiled at her mother and hugged her tight...she saw the pain in her eyes and it broke her, that she wasn't able to take that pain away! Edward soon came running into Aviana's chambers to tell her, that Danes entered Winchester! Lady Ælswith knew exactly who her son was talking about and fetched Leofric! She told him, to escort their guests to their chambers! Then she told him to bring Uhtred to her! Leofric did what he was told and soon Uhtred stood in front of Lady Ælswith and Aviana...
~~~~~~~
Uhtred:"Lady, Aviana!...(*Lady Ælswith nodded at him*)...my deepest condolences! Why did you want to see me, Lady?"
Lady Ælswith:(*cleared her throat*)"I see my daughter doesn't share the disfavour towards Danes like she used to, so I was wondering if it has something to do with your boy Sihtric?...(*Uhtred's eyes widened*)...I'm neither blind nor stupid, I see the way they look at each other!"
Uhtred:"With all due respect, Lady, I know nothing about Sihtric's love life!...(*Lady Ælswith looked at Aviana*)...he knows he doesn't stand a chance once she's Queen!"
Aviana:(*lifted her head*)"And I told him, that my rules will prevail when I am Queen!...(*Uhtred sighed*)...Uhtred please tell me, he hasn't changed his mind?!"
Uhtred:"It pains me to tell you this, but...(*Aviana's eyes widened*)...Leofric has been ordered to kill Sihtric, if he gets too close to you!"
Lady Ælswith:(*nodded*)"All for your protection, my child!...(*Aviana turned her head*)...I will find you a suitable husband, one who is a match for royalty!"
Aviana:"Too bad, that I am going to be Queen and not you, mother!...(*Lady Ælswith flinched*)...I order MY guards what to do and what not to do! Never again take the right to give orders to MY henchmen! Sihtric is tolerated here at the palace court and he will be my husband, whether you like it or not!"
Lady Ælswith:(*swallowed*)"Aviana, you are scaring me!...(*Uhtred also swallowed*)...but if it is your wish, I will stay out of your affairs!"
Uhtred:"Ana, do you want to marry Sihtric?!...(*Aviana looked at him and nodded*)...I will give him this happy news, Your Grace!"
~~~~~~~
She smiled at her friend before he disappeared! Lady Ælswith helped her put on her dress...then they walked down the many stairs! Into the throne room...and Aviana immediately spotted Sihtric, Uhtred, Hild, Osferth, Halig and Clapa! She widely smiled before standing right in front of her throne! Edward and Æthelflæd were standing besides Lady Ælswith! Lady Ælswith widely smiled at her daughter and Aviana could see, that she was proud of her! Father Beocca then brought in the crown and the whole crowd applauded and cheered! Uhtred looked at Sihtric...his smile was brighter than the sun!

Osferth avoided looking at Edward and his other sister, but he made sure to look at Aviana! After the ceremony was over, every inhabitant of Winchester was forced to swear their loyalty to their new Queen! In fact, no one needed to be forced, as they all loved Aviana...and they were happy, that she was their new Queen! Only one inhabitant was stubborn: Lord Æthelwold! Lady Ælswith rolled her eyes, as he walked into the throne room! Aviana and Uhtred immediately looked at each other...flashbacks from the worst night of her entire life, came back to her mind! It was like, she needed to relive this night...but this time even worse! Uhtred and Sihtric made their way over to the door, to stop Æthelwold from doing something stupid...Lady Ælswith gave her daughter an hopeful look and it seemed like, her daughter had more sense than her father ever had! Edward and Æthelflæd were hiding behind the throne and Osferth ducked himself behind Clapa!
~~~~~~~
Æthelwold:"Can't I even wish my dearest cousin all the best for her coronation?...(*Aviana's expression was sombre*)...congratulations on your coronation, dearest cousin!"
Aviana:(*cleared her throat*)"What do you really want, Æthelwold?...(*Æthelwold tilted his head*)...every time you are here, you want something! So what is it?"
Æthelwold:"Are you being silly? I just said what I want!...(*Aviana got angry*)...if you like, I will now go back to my royal chambers and be quiet!"
Aviana:(*laughed maliciously*)"Your chambers for tonight are the pigsties!...(*the whole throne room laughed*)...and when you wake up tomorrow, dearest cousin, you pack your 7 things and move in with your new Dane friends, because I don't want to see you here any longer!"
Æthelwold:"Don't be ridiculous, we are family!...(*Aviana shook her head*)...what do you mean, no? We are family by blood, you know that!"
Aviana:(*walked towards him*)"Family, you say?...(*he nodded*)...which family kidnaps each other and takes them to a camp full of Danes?! I have not forgotten your treachery, Æthelwold! You are lucky you are not dead yet!"
Æthelwold:"Who said I kidnapped you?...(*Aviana took a step back*)...are you quite sure that everything is right in your head?"
Aviana:(*clenched her fists*)"Leofric?...(*Leofric turned his head*)...get him out of my palace court! I never want to see him here again and if he ever dares to set foot in here again, kill him!"
Leofric:"Yes, Your Grace!...(*Aviana smiled at Leofric*)...so weasel dirt, you heard the Queen! Be glad that she is still in a reasonably good mood!"
~~~~~~~
Leofric shoved Æthelwold out of the throne room! They walked through the halls and as they reached the front door, Æthelwold turned around one last time! Leofric brought him to his horse and watched as he rode off! Then Leofric returned to the throne room and watched, as all the inhabitants disappeared to their houses! Only Osferth, Uhtred, Beocca, Hild, Sihtric, Clapa, Halig and Lady Ælswith were left! Prince Edward and princess Æthelflæd went back to their chambers...they took a nap!

Aviana was now sat on her throne, looking into Sihtric's eyes! He was standing in front of her, calming her down! Lady Ælswith watched them closely and eventually her face relaxed, when she saw, that they made each other happy! The next day, Aviana announced her engagement! All of Winchester was happy and all of Wessex was invited to the wedding! Sihtric was nervous, marrying a Queen! Uhtred and Osferth prepared him for his big day and Hild helped Lady Ælswith to do the same with Aviana! Eventually Lady Ælswith gave in and allowed her daughter to marry young Sihtric! Edward and Æthelflæd picked out the flowers, they wanted to braid into Aviana's hair! Osferth helped Sihtric write a little speech...he wanted to express his love for Aviana and everyone should hear it! 3 days later: the wedding knocked on the door and Sihtric's anxiety grew! Uhtred and Osferth tried to calm him down, but he was too anxious! Aviana relaxed and watched her siblings braid her hair! They did a good job and Lady Ælswith was also very proud of them! Once they finished, Lady Ælswith took the opportunity, to talk to her daughter...
~~~~~~~