~~~~~~
Lady Æthelflæd widely smiled at McKenna and asked her to sit down! McKenna took a deep breath before she sat down and watched as Lady Æthelflæd closed the door! McKenna thought briefly before she spoke up!
~~~~~~

McKenna:"You surely want to hear my answer to your question, am I right?...(*Æthelflæd nodded*)...then I am happy to inform you that I would like to be your maid! Thank you for this great opportunity!"
Æthelflæd:(*hugged McKenna*)"Thank you for your trust and your commitment!...(*McKenna widely smiled*)...are you happy in Winchester?"
McKenna:"More than you can imagine!...(*Æthelflæd clapped with joy*)...everything here is beautiful and the people here are super nice!"
Æthelflæd:(*nodded*)"And my family is not the worst either!...(*they laughed*)...I will introduce you to my brother and my father tomorrow if you like!"

~~~~~~
McKenna nodded and Lady Æthelflæd stood up to get her a cup of water! McKenna thanked her and took a sip! Then she put the cup on Lady Æthelflæd's bedside table and looked out of the window! Lady Æthelflæd first braided her hair and shortly after, she also braided McKenna's hair! The two girls smiled at each other once again, before McKenna said her goodbyes and left to find her chambers! She found them and was about to enter when Lord Æthelwold stopped her and addressed her!
~~~~~~

Æthelwold:"Well, well, well!...(*McKenna turned her head*)...the lost wife of Lord Æthelred!"
McKenna:(*sighed*)"Æthelwold, go away and leave me alone!...(*Æthelwold shook his head*)...you are even more annoying than I thought!"
Æthelwold:"What a nice compliment!...(*McKenna slightly smiled*)...listen: we don't have to be enemies, we can be acquaintances who smile at each other from time to time!"
McKenna:(*thought briefly*)"For my sake, but we do not know each other when it comes to Lady Æthelflæd, agreed?...(*Æthelwold nodded*)...well then we have an agreement!"
Æthelwold:"A good agreement if you ask me!...(*they laughed*)...I have to go but it was nice to see you, McKenna!"

~~~~~~
She nodded at him and watched him disappear! Then she entered her chambers and closed the door behind her! Then she walked over to her window and looked out of it! At the streets of Winchester, they streets she had fallen in love with! Hours passed and she was still looking out of her window! Then suddenly someone knocked on her door and she winced! She asked the person who had knocked to come in and turned around when that person closed the door after he/she had entered! McKenna's eyes nearly fell out and she held on to her window ledge...
~~~~~~

Æthelred:"Did you really think you could hide from me?...(*McKenna swallowed*)...what was your plan? Never show up in Mercia and start a new life in Winchester?"
McKenna:(*nodded*)"Something like that!...(*Æthelred rolled his eyes*)...what are you doing here anyway and how did you find me?!"
Æthelred:"I have asked a few people you have spoken to recently!...(*McKenna sighed*)...why did you never show up in Mercia?"
McKenna:(*stepped forward*)"Because I did not want to marry you under any circumstances, Lord!...(*Æthelred got angry*)...is that answer enough for you to leave?"
Æthelred:"Didn't your parents teach you respect and decency?...(*he moved closer to McKenna*)...because that is what you need as my future wife: respect and decency!"
McKenna:(*laughed maliciously*)"My parents could not teach me these two things because they did not own it themselves!...(*Æthelred raised an eyebrow*)...counter question: did your parents cut the phrase 'I do not want to be your wife' out of your vocabulary and hide it, or why don't you understand it?"

~~~~~~
Lord Æthelred clenched his fists and left McKenna's chambers without another word! She walked back over to her window and watched as he and his guard rode off! The name of his guard was Aldhelm, if McKenna was not all wrong! Probably Aldhelm was the funnier of the two and his Lord just a bitter snob who thinks all the world belongs to him! Hours later McKenna left her chambers to take a walk around Winchester and she eventually crossed prince Edward's way...
~~~~~~

Edward:"Lady McKenna, how good it is to meet you at last!...(*McKenna looked up at him*)...how are you?"
McKenna:(*smiled at him*)"I am fine, thank you Your Grace! How are you?...(*Edward smiled back at her*)...I heard you are getting married soon?"
Edward:"Unfortunately, I will soon, yes!...(*McKenna tilted her head*)...I do not even want to marry this girl my parents have chosen!"
McKenna:(*took his hands*)"I know that feeling, but you are the Prince of Winchester, it is required of you!...(*Edward sighed*)...have you already met your future wife?"
Edward:"No, that is also the reason why I am always running away from my mother!...(*they laughed*)...I would rather much stay married to the mother of my children!"

~~~~~~
McKenna's eyes widened and Edward scratched his head! He had hidden children? With a girl who was no older than him and about whom his parents knew nothing? Edward lowered his head and McKenna took a deep breath! Then she cupped his face in her hands and looked him dead in the eye! He knew what was coming so he closed his eyes and waited for her to speak up...
~~~~~~

McKenna:"You have hidden children?...(*he nodded*)...and your parents do not know about your wife and children?"
Edward:(*broke the eye contact and looked away*)"No, my parents do not know about my wife my children!...(*McKenna's eyes widened*)...and you have to promise me that you will not tell anyone!"
McKenna:"Edward do you know how much trouble you are in?...(*Edward shook his head*)...and do you know how much trouble you are getting me into?"
Edward:(*shook his head again*)"No, but I am sorry!...(*McKenna sighed*)...what am I supposed to do now?"
McKenna:"Make sure you get your wife and children out of the danger zone!...(*Edward nodded*)...I will take care of the rest, I promise!"
Edward:(*his eyes lit up*)"Thank you, McKenna!...(*McKenna nodded at him*)...do you have any idea where I should take my wife and children?"

~~~~~~
McKenna thought briefly and nodded shortly after! She told Edward, to bring his wife and children to a convent! She also told him, that she will visit her and check on her well-being! Edward thanked her and disappeared! McKenna again took a deep breath and walked towards the marketplace! On her way she met a abbess named Hild! They smiled at each other before Hild addressed her!
~~~~~~

Hild:"You are Lady McKenna, am I right?...(*McKenna nodded*)...the princess could not have chosen a prettier maid!"
McKenna:(*smiled*)"Thank you, that is really nice!...(*Hild smiled as well*)...what is your name?"
Hild:"My name is Hild, it is really nice to meet you!...(*McKenna still smiled at her*)...where are you going? I saw that you found the prince!"
McKenna:(*thought briefly*)"I am on my way to the stables and the marketplace!...(*Hild nodded at her*)...I want to go on a little trip!"
Hild:"It is the perfect thing to do in this beautiful weather!...(*McKenna nodded*)...then I wish you lots of fun and come back here safe and sound!"

~~~~~~
McKenna smiled once again before she continued her walk! She soon reached the stables and watched as Edward handed over the reins of his horse to his wife! Edward caught sight of McKenna and whispered in his wife's ear! Presumably he told her that she would soon be safe and that McKenna would make sure that she was! His wife slightly smiled before climbing on his horse and looking at McKenna! McKenna smiled at her and watched as Edward kissed his twins on the forehead and then placed them in the cart tied to his horse! His wife's maid sat in the cart, holding the twins tightly in her arms! Edward then walked over at McKenna and looked her dead in the eye! She knew what he wanted to say...
~~~~~~