~~~~~~
Uhtred walked towards a little clearing and turned around, when he heard Cnut's footsteps! He immediately drew his dagger and his sword and got into position! Meanwhile: Elara tried everything to ease the pain and continued to fight bravely! As she promised Uhtred: she kept everyone, he asked her to away from him! Sihtric, Finan, Osferth and the mini-version of Uhtred soon helped her and she couldn't be more thankful to know them! Back to Uhtred: he fought Cnut bravely and just as he was about to win the fight, Brida appeared between the trees and witnessed something, she rather not have heard...
~~~~~~

Uhtred:"Admit it, you were the driving force behind Ragnar's death!...(*Cnut's spat out blood*)...no one else would have been so stupid and obsessed with power!"
Cnut:(*his gaze darkened*)"Ragnar was weak and his death was a satisfaction!...(*Uhtred's eyes widened*)...I wanted to have his men and his woman..."
Brida:"You led the hand that killed Ragnar?...(*Cnut turned his head*)...how could you?!"
Cnut:(*he tried to grab her hand*)"Brida, my darling, we are meant to be together!...(*tears rolled down Brida's cheeks*)...and you are no better, Uhtred Ragnarsson! You killed my eldest son...he had nothing to do with this war!"
Uhtred:"Wrong, your son is alive! Actually, both are alive!...(*Cnut's eyes widened*)...but unfortunately you won't see them grow up!"

~~~~~~
Right when he wanted to stab Cnut with his own sword, Brida picked up Uhtred's from the ground and stabbed Cnut right in the chest! Blood spilled out of his mouth and Uhtred watched as Brida ran away! He quickly picked up his sword and dagger and followed her! Some of the Welsh warriors, took her hostage, after Uhtred refused to kill her! He then walked back to the battlefield and looked around for Elara! He quickly found his men, but the woman he secretly loved, was nowhere to be seen! He ran towards Finan, Sihtric and Osferth and asked them, if they knew, where he could find Elara...
~~~~~~

Uhtred:"Boys, do you know where I can find Elara?!...(*they shook their heads*)...didn't you keep an eye on her at all?!"
Osferth:(*cleared his throat*)"Lord, without making you even angrier: now is not the time to reproach us!...(*Uhtred looked at Osferth*)...we have just fought for hours and the fight is definitely in our bones! So please, let us have this brief moment of peace..."
Finan:"He is right, Lord!...(*Uhtred lowered his head*)...and for a woman who hates you so much, you care a little too much!"
Uhtred:(*he sighed*)"Not now, Finan!...(*Finan narrowed his eyebrows*)...she is life-threateningly injured and if she is not treated quickly, she will die!"
Sihtric:"We have seen her injury, Lord, yet we do not know where she is!...(*Uhtred lifted his head*)...believe me, I'd also like to know where she is! But as much as I would like to know, the disappointment is a bit bigger every time I realise that I don't!"

~~~~~~
Uhtred looked at Sihtric before he sat down besides him! Sihtric was holding his axe and it was visibly, that he had fought for some hours! Finan and Osferth looked like, they have seen ghosts and the mini-version of Uhtred lay on the ground with his eyes closed! Meanwhile: Æthelflæd and Edward were arguing and moments later, Edward and his men left and rode back to Winchester! The Welsh warriors and their King also left and let Edward know, that there was no alliance between their two kingdoms! Whilst the Mercians stayed and only left, when Æthelflæd left, they thanked Uhtred and his men, for fighting alongside them! Uhtred and his men nodded at them and watched them leave! Then Uhtred stood up and his men followed him after a little while!
~~~~~~

Osferth:"Where exactly are we going, Lord?...(*Uhtred remained silent*)...Lord? Don't I get an answer?"
Uhtred:(*he snorted*)"When I have an answer, Osferth, you will be the first to hear it!...(*Finan stifled his laughter*)...just follow me and don't ask unnecessary questions that you don't have an answer to yourself!"
Sihtric:"You are really amusing!...(*both, Uhtred and Osferth turned their heads*)...and I thank the gods every day for giving me such funny friends!"
Finan:(*nudged Sihtric's side*)"Nevertheless, one of your funny friends is about to be the reason why you keep your beautiful mouth shut forever!...(*Sihtric rolled his eyes*)...and we don't want that, do we?"

~~~~~~
Somehow Uhtred found that amusing and laughed! The mini-version of Uhtred followed his father and only stopped, when Uhtred stopped! In fact, they walked over to the camp where the injured were taken! Sihtric and Finan leaned against each other and Osferth kneeled down besides Uhtred! He immediately spotted Elara and was now holding her hand! She was still alive, what bordered on a miracle! She slightly smiled at him, when she realised who it was and she even smiled at his men! Sihtric, who she considered her friend, because he was as capable of counterattacking like herself, was widely smiling at her and she playfully slapped his left thigh! Finan and Osferth still looked like they have seen ghosts and the mini-version of Uhtred, suddenly began to pray...
~~~~~~

Elara:"I'm not dead yet, boy!...(*mini Uhtred flinched*)...and even then, do not pray in my presence, do you understand?"
young Uhtred:(*nodded*)"Yes, I heard you!...(*Elara then looked at Sihtric*)...you've lost a lot of blood!"
Elara:"That's right! Go out to the battlefield, take a bowl with you and see if you can find my lost blood!...(*Finan chuckled at her comment*)...Sihtric, my friend, it's good to see you alive!"
Sihtric:(*he caressed her head*)"You're not getting sentimental now, are you?...(*Elara tried to laugh but her body hurt too much*)...sucks when you can't laugh, doesn't it?"
Finan:"The way she looks at you, you'll be the next one who can't laugh any more!...(*Elara nodded*)...you fought on bravely despite your injury! That deserves respect..."
Osferth:(*nodded*)"And you looked even better than that Welsh puppet of a king!...(*everyone laughed*)...somehow it feels good to be able to talk to you normally now!"

~~~~~~
Elara's gaze softened and she relaxed into Uhtred's and Sihtric's touch! 2 months passed since the battle and Elara was now living in Rumcofa! Uhtred, Sihtric and Finan were the closest to a family she had in a long time and Osferth annoyed her with his prayers! Uhtred j went back to his convent and Uhtred's daughter Stiorra, was living on Æthelflæd's estate! It's been 9 months since the death of Rognvaldr and 6 months since the death of her parents and she still felt their presence...it's like they never left her fully!
~~~~~~

Osferth:"Elara, dinner is ready!...(*Elara lifted her head*)...unless you want to starve and keep staring into space like that!"
Elara:(*rolled her eyes*)"Osferth, will you do me a favour?...(*Osferth hesitantly nodded*)...shut up and give me a plate of what's for dinner!"
Osferth:"I am already on my way!...(*Elara laughed*)...I'm glad you're back to your old self!"
Elara:(*stood up*)"When I'm done with you, you'll take that back real quick!...(*Osferth got terrified*)...I love to terrify you!"
Osferth:"I can tell!...(*Elara proudly grinned*)...the best thing is to come to the great hall for dinner! There you can get on Sihtric and Finan's nerves!"
Elara:(*thought briefly*)"Sounds tempting, I must admit!...(*Osferth laughed*)...however, there is nothing better than teasing my favourite baby monk!"

~~~~~~
She wrapped an arm around his shoulder and together they walked towards the great hall! When they entered it, still arm in arm, Sihtric immediately lifted his head! He grinned at them and when Elara sat down opposite of him, she kicked his shin! He groaned in pain and motioned for her to get payback after dinner! She blew him an air kiss and began eating! Finan and Osferth laughed at their behaviour and soon Uhtred made her happy with his presence! He sat down at the top of the table and watched her as she ate and laughed at some of Finan's jokes! He was glad, that she accepted to move to Rumcofa and he was even more glad, when they slowly became something like friends!
~~~~~~