~~~~~~
It was presumably morning, when Aurora was woken up by her older brother, Odda the younger! He knocked on her door and she tiredly opened it! She was greeted by a warm smile her brother sent her way and she let him in! He closed the door and she sat back down on her bed!
~~~~~~

Odda the younger:"Good morning, Aury!...(*Aurora smiled at him*)...I won't ask if you slept well because I can see it on your face!"
Aurora:(*lay down*)"What do you want, Ods?...(*Odda the younger sighed*)...or rather: what does father want?"
Odda the younger:"Father wants you to come down to the throne room in the next few minutes!...(*Aurora sat back up*)...that was quick..."
Aurora:(*she shot him a confused look*)"And did father also say why I should come to the throne room?...(*Odda the younger shook his head*)...will Æthelwold be there too? Because I honestly don't have the nerve to see his stupid face!"
Odda the younger:"Æthelwold is probably lying in some side alley and is drunk!...(*Aurora laughed*)...so get dressed and then come down!"

~~~~~~
Aurora nodded and Odda the younger left! After a few minutes, Aurora entered the throne room and King Alfred widely smiled at her! Her gaze soon met her brothers and he slightly pointed to two Danes, who were standing in front of him!
~~~~~~

Aurora:"Good morning, Lord King!...(*he nodded at her*)...father, you asked for me?"
Odda:(*nodded*)"Aury, I would like to introduce you to two Danes!...(*Aurora turned her head*)...the two of them are named Uhtred and Brida! The two of them think they have information that could be important!"
Uhtred:"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady!...(*Aurora smiled at him*)...your smile is enchanting!"
Aurora:(*she blushed*)"Thank you, Uhtred!...(*he smiled back at her*)...Brida, it's really nice to meet you!"
Brida:"It's really nice to meet you too!...(*they smiled at each other*)...beautiful palace!"

~~~~~~
King Alfred smiled at Brida and then stood up! Uhtred lifted his head and cleared his throat! Brida took his hand and squeezed it slightly...Aurora could tell, that she felt uncomfortable! The moment Uhtred began talking, Odda the younger immediately tried to cut him off! Aurora kicked her brothers leg to make him stop, but he didn't! Soon he was banished from the room and Aurora slightly laughed!
~~~~~~

King Alfred:"Sorry for the inconvenience, Uhtred! Please continue!...(*Uhtred lifted his head*)...so you're saying there's a war coming?"
Uhtred:(*nodded*)"Yes, and I would suggest that you choose the place of battle!...(*King Alfred sighed*)...I don't know how many men have joined Ubba and I don't know if Guthrum is with him!"
Brida:"Ubba's seer should be killed first!...(*Aurora chuckled at her comment*)...then Ubba and Guthrum should be killed! They are weasels and traitors!"
Odda:(*looked at Aurora*)"Honey, would you leave the room for a minute and go get Leofric?...(*Aurora nodded and disappeared*)...after all, Leofric should also be part of this conversation when it comes to a battle!"

~~~~~~
King Alfred nodded and looked at Brida! She was still feeling uncomfortable and he felt like, that she hated everything about Winchester! Uhtred tried to calm her down by caressing her cheeks with his thumbs, but he failed miserably! Meanwhile: Aurora was on her way to find Leofric and walked past Æthelwold! Her brother was right, Æthelwold was drunk! He mumbled something and Aurora just rolled her eyes at him! After a while she found Leofric and he immediately turned around, when he heard her call out his name...
~~~~~~

Leofric:"Aury, what are you doing here?...(*Aurora smiled at him*)...am I needed in the palace?"
Aurora:(*nodded*)"The King has visitors and my father wants you to be part of the conversation!...(*Leofric stood up*)...my brother was once again banned from the room!"
Leofric:"This guy probably won't learn anything more in this life!...(*Aurora laughed*)...how is my darling?"
Aurora:(*she turned to him*)"I'm fine, how are you uncle?...(*Leofric sighed*)...are the new guards getting on your nerves? Judging by the look on your face, you're already fed up!"
Leofric:"I've never seen a bunch of such lame-assed and lazy sacks!...(*Aurora opened the door to the throne room*)...but that's a story for another time! Lord King, you wanted to see me?"

~~~~~~
King Alfred nodded and pointed at Uhtred and Brida! Brida was still uncomfortable and Aurora thought of a way, to make her feel better! So she quickly decided to take the young Dane for a walk around Winchester! Brida was visibly surprised by Aurora's kindness and hesitated, before she took Aurora's hand and followed her outside! King Alfred, Uhtred and Odda shot Aurora a confused look, which she easily waved off! Brida slightly laughed at this and then they were completely gone! Once they were on the streets of Winchester, Brida looked around and her tensed posture softened! Aurora smiled at her, and bought her a flower on a near flower stand!
~~~~~~

Aurora:"I know that such a palace makes you feel uncomfortable when you are inside for the first time!...(*Brida lowered her head*)...but rest assured that all the people here are super nice and happy to help you if you need anything!"
Brida:(*she sighed*)"Well, until now you were the only one who was friendly to Uhtred and me!...(*Aurora's eyes widened*)...no one in Wessex likes Danes...why do you?"
Aurora:"I like all people as long as they do me no harm!...(*she smiled at Brida*)...Uhtred and you seem like really nice people!"
Brida:(*she smiled back*)"Thank you! What's your name again?...(*Aurora laughed*)...everyone calls you 'Aury' but somehow I doubt that's really your real name!"
Aurora:"You're right, that's not my real name!...(*Brida tilted her head*)...my name is Aurora, it's really nice to meet you Brida!"

~~~~~~
Brida grinned and took Aurora's hand! The two girls walked around Winchester, visited an ale house and had lots of fun! But that fun ended, when suddenly Leofric walked towards them and had 5 of his new guards with him! Aurora shot him a confused look, before she was held by one of his guards and had to watch, as Brida was taken to the dungeon by two others! Leofric sadly looked at Aurora, who just spat at his feet and struggled to free herself from the guard's firm grip! After a while, the guard who held Aurora let go of her and she immediately ran towards the palace! She looked for her father, but all she found was a plot against Brida and Uhtred...
~~~~~~

Odda:"Aurora, what are you doing here?!...(*Aurora's eyes widened*)...you shouldn't be here, child!"
Aurora:(*tears rose in her eyes*)"And you shouldn't conspire against Uhtred and Brida, father!...(*Odda sighed*)...for what reason were the two of them brought to the dungeon?!"
King Alfred:"Your father and I fear that they might be spies and that is why we have decided to have them brought to the dungeon!...(*Aurora shook her head*)...Aurora, your good-natured heart will be exploited one day! You have to be careful who you trust!"
Aurora:(*she hissed at him*)"If the two of them are spies, why did Uhtred give you important information that will save Winchester from destruction?!...(*King Alfred flinched*)...with all due respect, Lord King, this decision was wrong and based on mistrust! You don't even know them yet, how can you be so sure that they could be spies?!"
Odda:"Aurora, that's enough! I forbid you to ever speak to the King like that again!...(*Aurora's gaze darkened*)...get out of here, I don't want to see you again today!"

~~~~~~
Aurora turned around and stormed out of King Alfred's library! She ran past Lady Ælswith and she immediately grabbed Aurora's wrist! Lady Ælswith pulled the young woman into a tight hug and caressed her head! Tears rolled down Aurora's cheeks and she couldn't suppress her sobs! After she calmed down again, she told Lady Ælswith what happened! And even though Lady Ælswith hated Danes, she understood why Aurora was upset! Everyone in Winchester knew of Aurora's kind hearted nature and it was no surprise, that Aurora wanted to help Brida and Uhtred!
~~~~~~

Lady Ælswith:"Child, what exactly happened?...(*Aurora lifted her head*)...why are you so upset, my darling?"
Aurora:(*she took a deep breath*)"You must have heard about the two Danes who asked for a hearing with King Alfred this morning, right?...(*Lady Ælswith nodded*)...the two of them have just been taken to the dungeon and I may have overreacted when it came to why the two of them were taken to the dungeon..."
Lady Ælswith:"I understand why you're so upset about it, because you can't help it because of your kind hearted nature!...(*Aurora lowered her head*)...give the King time to think, he will surely make a decision soon for the good of all!"
Aurora:(*she sighed*)"Also for the good of Uhtred and Brida?...(*Lady Ælswith nodded*)...I'll just take your word for it! Thank you for listening to me!"

~~~~~~
They said their goodbyes and Aurora made her way over to Father Beocca's house! She knocked on his door and he soon opened it, with a big smile on his face! He already saw her coming, because he looked out of his window! He let the young woman in and asked her for any news, regarding the palace or her family...
~~~~~~