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Aurora lowered her head, whilst she was literally begging for mercy! Not for her mercy, but for Uhtred's and Leofric's mercy! King Alfred sighed, stood up, walked towards her and pulled her into a tight hug! She got confused, but didn't fight it...she felt safe in his warm embrace! After a while of Aurora talking and King Alfred listening, he cleared his throat and decided to tell Aurora his decision...
~~~~~~

King Alfred:"I have decided to tell you my decision!...(*Aurora's eyes widened*)...I have decided that Uhtred and Leofric will fight for their forgiveness!"
Aurora:(*she took a deep breath*)"Lord King, is this the most gracious thing you can offer?...(*King Alfred nodded*)...thank you, Lord King! I will tell the two of them their fate..."
King Alfred:"Please also tell them that they will fight as soon as the first rays of sunshine appear in the sky!"
Aurora:(*nodded*)"I will let them know, Lord King!...(*King Alfred smiled*)...is there anything else you want to tell me, or may I step away?"
King Alfred:"Be careful who you trust, Aury!...(*Aurora frowned*)...if you promise me that, you can step away!"
Aurora:(*she sighed*)"I promise, Lord King!...(*she lifted her head*)...although I'm afraid I don't know who you're referring to..."

~~~~~~
King Alfred sighed and lowered his head! Aurora shot him a questioning look, but in the same moment the doors opened and Lady Ælswith entered the room! Aurora cleared her throat, bowed to the King and disappeared! Lady Ælswith looked after her until she was fully gone and then shot her husband a questioning look! King Alfred only waved it off and sat back down...meanwhile: Uhtred and Leofric waited at an ale house and when they caught sight of Aurora, they immediately stood up! Aurora walked towards them and Uhtred instantly took her hands into his own, the moment she reached them...
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Uhtred:"Aury, what did King Alfred say?...(*Aurora sighed*)...Aury, please talk to us!"
Aurora:(*she took a deep breath*)"King Alfred says that you will fight for your forgiveness when the first rays of sunshine appear in the sky!...(*Leofric's eyes widened*)...that was the most gracious thing he could offer..."
Leofric:"Thank you for negotiating this for us!...(*Uhtred nodded*)...we are forever in your debt, Aury!"
Aurora:(*she lowered her head*)"Don't thank me too soon, uncle!...(*Leofric frowned*)...you will fight until one of you dies! And I can't watch..."
Uhtred:"You don't have to watch, Aury!...(*Aurora lifted her head*)...I promise you that I will find a way in which neither of us dies!"
Leofric:(*he grinned*)"And how do you imagine that, arseling?...(*Uhtred laughed*)...do you want to escape before I slit your throat?"

~~~~~~
Uhtred shook his head, whilst laughing and Aurora just stood there...neither agreeing nor disagreeing! Uhtred noticed, that something was wrong and gently caressed her right cheek with his right thumb! Leofric sighed and kissed Aurora's forehead...even though he wasn't her biological uncle, she still loved him as if he were! After Leofric decided to go to the palace, Uhtred and Aurora went to her chambers! Once they reached them, Aurora opened the door and dragged Uhtred inside! After she closed the door, he shot her a questioning look, before he felt her wrapping her arms around his waist! He rested his head on hers and gently rubbed her back! Trying to soothe whatever was bothering her...
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Uhtred:"My little star, what's wrong?...(*she looked up at him*)...since the conversation with King Alfred, you've been kind of absent and kind of confused too...so what's going on?"
Aurora:(*she sighed*)"King Alfred advised me to be careful who I trust, Uhtred!...(*Uhtred frowned*)...I don't know who he was referring to, but I didn't have the opportunity to ask him either..."
Uhtred:"I think I know exactly who he means!...(*Aurora shot him a questioning look*)...he means me by it and he doesn't feel it makes sense to hide it..."
Aurora:(*her eyes widened*)"Why would he mean you?!...(*Uhtred shrugged his shoulders*)...he has no right to question your loyalty! You fought for him against Ubba and Guthrum, has he already forgotten that?!"
Uhtred:"Certainly not because your father probably reminds him of it every day!...(*Aurora slightly laughed*)...I promise you one thing, my little star: I will not let you be taken away from me in any way!"

~~~~~~
Aurora widely smiled at him and tightened her grip around his waist! He laughed and kissed the top of her head! Once she lifted her head, to look at him, he took the opportunity and kissed her! Aurora's eyes widened, but she didn't push him away nor did she fight it! She returned the kiss and deepened it! Uhtred hummed in pleasure and Aurora slightly grinned! Once they broke away from each other, Uhtred lay down on her bed and waited for her, to lay down besides him! When she did, he wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him, so that she could lay her head on his chest!
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Aurora:"When do you think the next battle will be?...(*Uhtred shrugged his shoulders*)...are you afraid that in the next battle someone you love will be killed?"
Uhtred:(*he sighed*)"Almost every person I have ever loved is long dead, Aury!...(*she kissed his chest*)...but yes, I am afraid that in the next battle, a person I love will be killed!"
Aurora:"And who is this person?...(*she turned her body, so that she could look at him*)...do I know this person?"
Uhtred:(*nodded*)"You even know this person very well, Aury!...(*Aurora's eyes widened*)...she has blue eyes, blonde curls and a stunningly beautiful face..."
Aurora:"Uhtred, don't tell me you love me?!...(*Uhtred lowered his head*)...why didn't you say anything?! I would have laid the world at your feet, you idiot!"
Uhtred:(*he laughed*)"I know you would have!...(*Aurora slapped his chest*)...but we wouldn't have a chance to be together, Aury! Not here in Winchester...not in front of the King and his wife..."
Aurora:"I love that you left out my father and brother!...(*Uhtred playfully rolled his eyes*)...just because you have doubts about whether we could be together here doesn't mean we can't at least try!"

~~~~~~
She looked at him with puppy dog eyes and after a little while of thinking, he eventually gave in! Aurora widely smiled and gave him a passionate kiss! He deepened the kiss and only stopped, as he heard a knock on the door! Aurora broke away from their kiss, rolled her eyes, stood up, walked towards the door and opened it! Father Beocca widely smiled at her and when he caught sight of Uhtred somehow, he shot Aurora a knowing grin! She decided to let him in and closed the door, after he entered her chambers! Uhtred hugged Father Beocca tight and Aurora nearly cried, because their reunion was so beautiful...
~~~~~~

Father Beocca:"You're probably wondering why I'm here, Aury, am I right?...(*she nodded*)...well, your brother is looking for you and demands that you appear in the throne room in less than 10 minutes!"
Aurora:(*she laughed maliciously*)"He demands it?...(*Father Beocca nodded*)...he can shove his stupid excuses and whatever else he has in mind up his arse!"
Uhtred:"How do you know he wants to apologise?...(*Aurora turned her head*)...is your brother even capable of doing something like that?"
Father Beocca:(*he shot Uhtred a warning look*)"Odda the younger, is an estimable young man, Uhtred!...(*Uhtred laughed maliciously*)...I can guess what you have against him, so I don't want to hear it!"
Aurora:"He may be an estimable young man, Father Beocca, but he is a false snake when it comes to his family!...(*Father Beocca sighed*)...can you tell him that his dear sister prefers the company of Uhtred Ragnarsson?"

~~~~~~
Both Father Beocca's and Uhtred's eyes widened, before Father Beocca nodded and disappeared! After Aurora closed the door, took a deep breath and turned around so that she could face Uhtred, she looked into a very anxious face! She laughed and walked towards her lover...she placed both her hands on his chest and kissed him passionately! Uhtred smiled into the kiss and wrapped his arms around her waist! Meanwhile: Father Beocca reached the throne room and entered! Odda the younger immediately turned around and shot Father Beocca a confused and questioning look...but Father Beocca only sighed and lowered his head!
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Odda the younger:"Where is Aury, Father Beocca?...(*Father Beocca lifted his head*)...why isn't she here like I asked?"
Father Beocca:(*he took a deep breath*)"Your sister is a strong-minded young woman, Odda...(*Odda the younger tilted his head*)...she didn't want to come!"
Odda the younger:"Who does this brat think she is?!...(*Father Beocca sighed*)...if I get my hands on that bitch, even father won't be able to help her!"
Father Beocca:(*his eyes widened*)"Please remember how much you love your sister!...(*Odda the younger lowered his head*)...you don't really want to hurt her, do you?!"
Odda the younger:"Of course not! After all, she is my sister, isn't she?...(*Father Beocca nodded*)...but somehow it seems to me that something is coming between us..."
Father Beocca:(*he thought briefly*)"Something or someone?...(*Odda the younger shrugged his shoulders*)...I would suggest you try to figure that out before you keep trying to ask your sister to go somewhere she doesn't want to be!"

~~~~~~
Odda the younger nodded and watched as Father Beocca disappeared! Meanwhile: Aurora and Uhtred took a walk around Winchester and walked past a group of guards! Each of them shot Uhtred a disregarding look! Aurora sighed and shoved Uhtred towards an ale house...there they looked for a table to sit at and Uhtred soon ordered two mugs of ale! And if those guards weren't annoying enough, Lord Æthelwold decided to piss Aurora even more off! Uhtred just sighed and rolled his eyes, when the young and greasy boy, took a seat next to him...
~~~~~~