~~~~~~
The night passed faster than Aurora would have liked, but she needed to let Uhtred return to Cumberland! Once they all saddled and readied their horses, they said goodbye to Aurora! Uhtred kissed her passionately, before he climbed on his horse and watched as Aurora pulled Sihtric into a tight hug! He wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face in her long hair! She widely smiled at him, once they detached from each other and then watched as he climbed onto his horse as well! After a while they rode off and Aurora looked after them until they were fully gone! Only then did she turn around and walk back to her chambers! And only to make matters worse, Æthelwold leaned against the wall, right next to her door...
~~~~~~

Aurora:"Æthelwold, you gave me quite a fright!...(*Æthelwold proudly grinned*)...it's kind of creepy that you think this is some kind of success..."
Æthelwold:(*he rolled his eyes*)"Was it a tearful farewell?...(*Aurora tilted her head*)...or are you glad that Uhtred is gone?"
Aurora:"Sometimes I really wonder who screwed you, Æthelwold!...(*she sighed*)...and no, it was not a tearful farewell or do you see dried tears somewhere on my face?"
Æthelwold:(*he shook his head*)"I'm afraid I don't, no!...(*Aurora shot him the 'you see' look*)...still my question: or are you happy that he is gone?"
Aurora:"Æthelwold, what is your mission?...(*he shrugged his shoulders*)...find someone else, who listens to your stupid drivel!"
Æthelwold:(*he sighed*)"Once upon a time we were friends, Aury, remember?...(*Aurora's gaze darkened*)...in the past, you would never have treated me like this..."
Aurora:"You were friends with my brother, Æthelwold! And if he hadn't been such a rotten traitor, you'd still be friends with him today!...(*Æthelwold flinched*)...and now if you'll excuse me: I need some rest!"

~~~~~~
Without waiting for his answer, Aurora opens the door to her chambers, entered the room and slammed the door! Æthelwold frightened and realised, that it would be best for him to leave her alone! Meanwhile: Uhtred and the others reached Cumberland and they immediately felt, that something was wrong! Sihtric and Clapa instantly jumped off their horses, whilst Halig and Hild checked their surroundings! Uhtred put his one hand on his sword and readied himself to fight...he just didn't know whom...
~~~~~~

Uhtred:"Hild, Halig, do you see anything unusual?...(*Hild shook her head*)...Sihtric, Clapa, do you see anything?"
Sihtric:(*he shook his head as well*)"No, Lord, I see nothing at all!...(*Uhtred sighed*)...but I still have a bad feeling about this..."
Halig:"Where are Guthred and Gisela?...(*Uhtred shrugged his shoulders*)...I'll go and have a look around, maybe I'll find one of them!"
Uhtred:(*he nodded*)"Do that and when you come back, report what you saw!...(*Halig nodded*)...good luck!"
Halig:"Thank you, although I don't think I really need it!...(*Uhtred rolled his eyes*)...Sihtric, will you come with me?"
Sihtric:(*he lifted his head*)"Yes, I'm coming with you!...(*he jumped off his horse*)...see you soon, Lord, Hild and Clapa!"

~~~~~~
They nodded and watched as Halig and Sihtric disappeared! Then Uhtred and Clapa led the horses to the stables, leaving Hild alone and unprotected! Meanwhile: Aurora sat on her bed and sorted out her clothes! Though her thoughts were with Uhtred, she tried to put on a smile and suppress her sadness! Being pregnant and without her husband, she felt useless and depressed! Lady Ælswith tried everything to make her feel better, but Aurora was just a walking tear sac...
~~~~~~

Lady Ælswith:"Aury, my angel, he will come back healthy, that's how it has always been and that's how it will always be!...(*Aurora sighed*)...you have to eat something, the child needs nutrients!"
Aurora:(*she lowered her head*)"What if my father and the King are right, Ælswith?...(*Lady Ælswith narrowed her eyebrows*)...what if Uhtred does return here with another woman?"
Lady Ælswith:"Your father and the King are wrong! Uhtred promised you and he would be really stupid to leave his beautiful little family!...(*Aurora slightly smiled*)...I don't think Uhtred would dare break your heart! Especially as Father Beocca would skin him!"
Aurora:(*she tilted her head*)"I think he could handle that!...(*they laughed*)...I hope my gut is lying and you are right!"
Lady Ælswith:"Always remember: even if Uhtred returns here with another woman, he is still married to you!...(*she smiled at Aurora*)...don't drive yourself crazy and think positive!"

~~~~~~
Aurora sighed but nodded! Meanwhile: Halig and Sihtric walked around and looked for any sign of life, but there was simply none! Halig got worried and Sihtric hoped, that Lady Gisela was alright! Uhtred and Clapa had led the horses to the stables and caught up with Hild again, agreeing on walking around together! Even after several hours, there was no sign of life and they all were about to give hope, when suddenly Gisela came walking towards them! Uhtred instantly opened his arms to hug her and when she reached them, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to his chest! Sihtric looked at Halig and both seemed to think the same: what about Aurora? Did he knew what he was doing? Soon they shook off these thoughts and widely smiled at Lady Gisela! Hild also hugged her and after a while, Uhtred asked Gisela what happened...
~~~~~~

Uhtred:"Gisa, what happened?...(*Gisela sighed*)...and where is Guthred?"
Gisela:(*she lowered her head*)"He's in trouble, Uhtred!...(*Uhtred's eyes widened*)...do you remember Erik and Sigefrid?"
Uhtred:"Yes, what about them?...(*tears rose in Gisela's eyes*)...is your brother in trouble because of them?"
Gisela:(*she nodded*)"When you visited Winchester, the brothers and your uncle came here!...(*Uhtred's face dropped*)...everything went well at first, but when Abbot Eadred started talking about you, your uncle got angry and asked Guthred if he had had you beheaded yet and if he had your head to prove it...but when Guthred denied it, your uncle left the great hall and the brothers made their own plan! They teamed up with Kjartan and Guthred fell straight into the trap..."
Sihtric:"This is worse than I feared!...(*Halig nodded*)...Lord, if we want to help Guthred, we need more men!"
Halig:(*he looked at Sihtric*)"Do you think King Alfred gives us men?...(*Sihtric shrugged his shoulders*)...Lord, what do you think?"
Uhtred:"I do think King Alfred gives us men! After all, it was his idea to free Guthred from the slavers in the first place!...(*Hild nodded*)...Gisa, would you like to come to Winchester?"

~~~~~~
Gisela nodded and after a while they all walked towards their horses, saddled them and then they rode off! Right before they reached Winchester, wood cracked and a warrior, none of them had ever seen before, came riding out of the forest! Sihtric looked at Uhtred before both looked at the warrior...was he okay? Was he injured? Halig and Hild looked at Gisela and Clapa before they also looked at the warrior! A few minutes passed until the stranger started talking...he was an Irishman! Sihtric tilted his head and Uhtred listened closely, to what the Irishman had to say...
~~~~~~

Finan:"Lord, you don't know me, but my name is Finan!...(*Uhtred nodded at him*)...I escaped from slavery a few days ago and am now looking for a Lord to serve!"
Uhtred:(*he slightly smiled*)"Then it must be your lucky day, Finan!...(*Finan tilted his head*)...my name is Uhtred! These are Sihtric, Clapa, Halig, Gisela and Hild! We are on our way to Winchester, would you like to come along?"
Finan:"Nothing better than that, Lord!...(*he widely smiled at Uhtred*)...thank you for allowing me to serve you, Lord!"
Uhtred:(*he turned his head*)"You're welcome, Finan!...(*he smiled back*)...one more sword and shield won't hurt and Sihtric definitely needs a new friend!"
Sihtric:"That's not true!...(*they laughed*)...I have more than enough friends! For example, your wife, Uhtred!"

~~~~~~
Uhtred's and Gisela's eyes widened and Sihtric knew exactly, that he shouldn't have said that! Uhtred sighed and then he looked at Gisela...he fucked up and Aurora would hate him for that! Their child wasn't even born and he already brought a new woman home! He wasn't a cheater, he didn't want to be, but Gisela was just too beautiful and their kiss was a moment of weakness! Sihtric had lowered his head...he felt bad for what he had just said! Finan didn't understand and Hild made it her goal, of explaining it to him!
~~~~~~

Hild:"Uhtred has a wife in Winchester and she is expecting her first child from him!...(*Finan tilted his head*)...but Uhtred and Lady Gisela had a moment of weakness and kissed!"
Finan:(*his eyes widened*)"And Uhtred's wife knows nothing of this?...(*Hild shook her head*)...will he tell her when we reach Winchester?"
Uhtred:"I'll have to, Finan!...(*he sighed*)...at the latest, when she sees Gisela, she will ask herself who she is and why I brought her along..."
Sihtric:(*he cleared his throat*)"Lord, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that earlier!...(*Uhtred waved it off*)...I had no right to make an innuendo about your wife..."
Uhtred:"Sooner or later I would have done it myself, Sihtric!...(*Sihtric slightly laughed*)...I feel bad, but I just couldn't resist you, Gisa..."

~~~~~~
Gisela slightly smiled at him and then she led her horse closer to his, so that she could place her right hand on his! Meanwhile: Aurora sat in her chambers, when suddenly Eartha stormed in and told her about Uhtred's, Sihtric's, Hild's, Halig's and Clapa's return! A huge smile formed on Aurora's face and she immediately stood up and followed Eartha! When they reached the throne room, Eartha opened the doors and Aurora instantly entered the room! When she caught sight of Uhtred, she also caught sight of Gisela and Finan! Immediately tons of questions ran through her mind, but she only wanted two answered: who was this woman and why was she travelling with her husband?
~~~~~~