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Uhtred and looked around...there was nothing! Hild and Halig looked at Uhtred before looking at each other and questioning their journey! Where was this stupid slave camp? Was someone joking with them and there was actually no Dane who would become King of Cumberland? Uhtred lowered his head and sighed...
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Hild:"Uhtred, this is Cumberland!...(*Uhtred looked around*)...how are we ever going to find the slave camp without any clues?"
Halig:(*he sighed*)"Hild is right, Lord!...(*Uhtred turned his head*)...we don't even know exactly where the brothers are at the moment!"
Clapa:"The brothers are staying in Beamfleot!...(*Halig tilted his head*)...and the slave camp is east of here, you can't miss it!"
Uhtred:(*he grinned*)"Welcome to the group, Clapa!...(*Clapa smiled*)...looks like we've got plenty of clues now!"
Halig:"What would we do without Clapa?...(*they laughed*)...thank you my friend, without you we would still be standing here so stupid!"
Hild:(*she nodded*)"That is indeed true!...(*she smiled*)...so Lord: where do we ride to first?"

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Uhtred laughed and decided, that they would go and look for that slave camp! A few months passed: it was now clearly visible, that Aurora was pregnant and Lady Ælswith treated her like she was made out of porcelain! Uhtred was still away and it didn't seem like he would be returning anytime soon! In fact: he found the mentioned slave camp, freed the mentioned Dane and brought him home! Then he watched as he was crowned and Uhtred then met his sister Gisela! A drop dead gorgeous woman...but Uhtred already had a wife! And Aurora was definitely waiting for him...and he didn't intend to break her heart! So he focused on the more important things: upcoming battles! Somehow King Guthred thought it would be clever to ask the brothers for their help, defeating Kjartan...and they actually came!
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Guthred:"Welcome Erik and Sigefrid!...(*the brothers sat down*)...would you like a mug of ale?"
Erik:(*he nodded*)"That seems like a sensible question, thank you!...(*Guthred smiled*)...but why are we really here?"
Guthred:"Kjartan must be defeated and I don't have enough men!...(*Erik and Sigefrid looked at each other*)...and since I don't want you to be my enemy, I thought I'd ask for your help!"
Sigefrid:(*he grinned*)"You seem like a wise man, King Guthred!...(*Guthred smiled*)...however, we have heard that Uhtred Ragnarsson now leads your army, is that true?"
Uhtred:"Yes, that is true!...(*Sigefrid turned his head*)...yet I say we should wait for my brother! He brings more men and hopefully a plan of attack!"
Erik:(*he rubbed his beard*)"Uhtred might be right, brother!...(*Sigefrid sighed*)...King Guthred, we will help you! But on the condition that we wait for Uhtred's brother and do not attack until he returns!"

~~~~~~
Sigefrid nodded and after a little while of thinking, Guthred agreed and thanked the brothers! Meanwhile: Aurora currently sat in the throne room and listened to her father talking to King Alfred! She was tired and her body ached...since Uhtred left, there wasn't one night, where she slept! She missed him and she had the slight feeling, that when he returns, he won't return alone! Meanwhile: Uhtred, Hild, Halig and Clapa sat in King Guthred's great hall and watched as Gisela was annoyed by some of her brother's decisions! Uhtred liked her and she liked him, but Uhtred just couldn't stop thinking about Aurora! But he also couldn't stop thinking about Gisela! So one night, he had a moment of weakness and kissed Gisela! They both enjoyed it and somehow it didn't feel wrong...
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Uhtred:"Does it bother you that I have a wife waiting for me in Winchester?...(*Gisela turned her head*)...I don't want to get you in trouble..."
Gisela:(*she sighed*)"The trouble started when we had this moment of weakness, Uhtred!...(*she lowered her head*)...and I don't think it's okay for me to help you upstage your wife...yet I just can't stop thinking about you!"
Uhtred:"I know I don't like it either but I can't stop thinking about you either!...(*he kissed her forehead*)...when I get back to Winchester, will you be with me?"
Gisela:(*she nodded*)"Yes, because I would not be happy here!...(*they kissed*)...but what about your wife? Won't she realise that something is going on between us?"
Uhtred:"Oh yes she will, I'm sure of it!...(*he sighed*)...and how we will both be hanged for it!"

~~~~~~
Gisela caressed Uhtred's head and after a while they both fell asleep! The next morning: Guthred was already long awake, when Uhtred and Gislela decided to join him for breakfast! After they were done eating, Guthred told Uhtred, that there were warriors outside! Uhtred instantly grabbed his sword and left King Guthred's hall! Meanwhile: Aurora took a walk around Winchester and walked past Father Beocca's house! He somehow saw her, because she suddenly heard him calling her name! So she turned around and walked towards him...
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Father Beocca:"Good morning, Aury!...(*she smiled at him*)...did you sleep well?"
Aurora:(*she shook her head*)"I haven't had a good night's sleep since Uhtred left!...(*she sighed*)...for the sake of my health and our child, I hope he returns soon..."
Father Beocca:"He will, I'm sure of it!...(*Aurora lowered her head*)...the little rascal in your stomach is now clearly visible!"
Aurora:(*she slightly laughed*)"And I feel him/her!...(*Father Beocca laughed*)...hopefully he/she will be as beautiful as his/her father!"
Father Beocca:"No, please, that would not be a blessing! Otherwise everyone will be chasing after the poor thing from childhood!...(*Aurora lifted her head*)...I certainly hope she/he will have your character traits, Aury! Because if he/she also has them from Uhtred, then this child is ruined before he/she has even opened his/her eyes for the first time!"
Aurora:(*she laughed*)"Well, I find my husband extremely charming, Beocca!...(*Father Beocca playfully rolled his eyes*)...but I must go on now! Lady Ælswith is waiting for me!"

~~~~~~
The two of them said their goodbyes before Aurora walked back towards the palace! A few hours later: Uhtred, Hild, Halig and Clapa sat around a fire and watched as warriors came riding towards them! Clapa was sent to fetch Guthred, Uhtred and Halig got ready for a possible fight, whilst Hild just prayed! Once the warriors jumped off their horses, they greeted Uhtred, Hild and Halig! Then they briefly said, who sent them and they were actually allowed to take a seat and eat something! But in the middle of the night, the warriors attacked Uhtred, whilst he was checking his horse, because a boy said his horse was sick! Uhtred tried to fight them, but there were too many and he didn't have his sword! Moments later Hild, Halig and Clapa came to his rescue and killed the warriors...only one was spared!
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Uhtred:"Wait Clapa, I need one alive!...(*he looked at the young Dane*)...he looks like he has information about Kjartan!"
Clapa:(*he lowered his head*)"Where do you want me to take him, Lord?...(*Uhtred thought briefly*)...he needs a warm place to sleep, otherwise he can't tell you anything about anyone!"
Uhtred:"You're right, Clapa! Take him to the horses and prepare a bed for him for the night!...(*Clapa nodded*)...Hild, Halig, the three of us are going to Guthred now and tell him we are leaving for Winchester tomorrow!"
Halig:(*he tilted his head*)"And what are we doing in Winchester, Lord?...(*Uhtred turned his head*)...the brothers are in Beamfleot and Kjartan is God knows where! What the hell is in Winchester?"
Hild:"Aurora is in Winchester, Halig!...(*Uhtred's face froze at the mention of her name*)...we follow you, Uhtred, and we will leave for Winchester tomorrow!"

~~~~~~
Halig sighed but followed Uhtred and Hild anyway! The next morning: Uhtred woke Halig, Hild, Clapa and the prisoner up! Then he walked towards Gisela's chambers and told her, that they were about to leave for Winchester! She quickly packed all her belongings together and followed Uhtred outside! Once they reached the stables, one of Uhtred's men came running towards them and told them, that the prisoner would kill Halig, if Uhtred didn't talk to him! Uhtred's eyes widened and he instantly grabbed his sword! When they reached the prisoner and Halig, Uhtred saw the fear in the young Danes eyes...
~~~~~~

Sihtric:"I could have killed him, Lord!...(*Uhtred looked at Halig*)...made good my escape!"
Uhtred:(*he walked towards them*)"Kill him and you will die slowly!...(*Sihtric tightened his grip on the hilt of the sword*)...did he hurt you, Halig?"
Halig:"No, Lord!...(*Sihtric looked down at him*)...but I told you, prisoner!"
Sihtric:(*he took a deep breath*)"I asked your men to fetch you, Lord!...(*Uhtred tilted his head*)...I do not murder, I wish to bargain!"
Uhtred:"A life for a life, is it?...(*he looked Sihtric up and down*)...or how do you see it?"
Sihtric:(*he sighed*)"My life for my sword!...(*Hild looked at Uhtred*)...I wish to serve you, Lord! I could have killed both, but I wish to serve you!"
Uhtred:"You are Kjartan's man!...(*Sihtric shook his head*)...what are you then?"
Sihtric:(*his gaze darkened*)"I am Kjartan's bastard son, whelped on a slave girl!...(*Uhtred's eyes widened*)...and you are, Uhtred Ragnarsson and I wish to serve a warrior and a Lord, a true Lord!"
Uhtred:"If you believe me to be these things, then put down your sword!...(*Sihtric weighed up his options*)...go on!"
Sihtric:(*he looked at Uhtred*)"You guarantee my life?...(*Uhtred nodded*)...promised?"
Uhtred:"Put down your sword!...(*Sihtric lowered his sword*)...that's it, keep going!"
Abbot Eadred:(*he rolled his eyes*)"Kill him!...(*Uhtred shook his head*)...kill him while you have the chance!"
Uhtred:"No!...(*Abbot Eadred took a step forward*)...put down your sword!"
Sihtric:(*he dropped his sword*)"I can be of use to you, Lord!...(*Halig looked at Hild*)...I swear to you!"
Abbot Eadred:"He's nothing but a heathen, kill him!...(*Uhtred got angry*)...he deserves it no other way!"
Uhtred:(*he turned his head*)"No one is to move!...(*Abbot Eadred got angry as well*)...is that clear now?!"
Abbot Eadred:"Kill him now!...(*Sihtric lowered his head*)...he will be the downfall of us all!"
Uhtred:(*he turned around*)"I say no one is to move and no one is to speak but me!...(*Abbot Eadred flinched*)...no one! What is your name?"
Sihtric:"I am called Sihtric, Lord!...(*he swallowed*)...please...I'm not loyal to Kjartan and never can be!"
Uhtred:(*he thought briefly*)"You swear your sword is mine?...(*Sihtric nodded*)...forever?"
Sihtric:"On Thor's Hammer, I do, Lord!...(*he grabbed Thor's Hammer*)...I swear!"
Uhtred:(*he slightly smiled*)"Then you have my protection!...(*Sihtric's eyes lit up*)...forever!"
Sihtric:"Lord, thank you!...(*he exhaled with relief*)...thank you!"
Uhtred:(*he looked at Guthred*)"Sihtric is with us now!...(*he turned around*)...he serves in King Guthred's army!"

~~~~~~
Guthred smiled and Sihtric stood up! A few hours later: Uhtred, Hild, Halig, Clapa and Sihtric saddled their horses! Gisela decided to stay in Cumberland and come with Uhtred the next time he rides to Winchester! Uhtred sighed but needed to accept Gisela's decision! After they said their goodbyes, they rode off and at noon they reached Winchester! They weren't to stay for long, but for a brief visit to ask King Alfred for men! Once the group led their horses to the stables, they walked towards the palace! Aurora was sitting in the throne room, rubbing her stomach and waiting for her father to bring her the tea he wanted to bring her two hours ago! When the doors opened she turned her head and was almost sad that it wasn't her father, but when she took a closer look, she saw that it was Uhtred and she couldn't contain her happiness...
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