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Finan looked at his sister before he gently kissed her temple! She smiled and snuggled against his chest! Uhtred, Sihtric and Osferth were widely smiling and McKenna was happy! After a while Lady Ælswith approached them and addressed McKenna! Finan and Sihtric immediately looked at each other before following McKenna into the palace!
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Lady Ælswith:"I need you for an urgent matter with my son!...(*Finan looked at Uhtred*)...he is in serious trouble!"
Finan:(*cleared his throat*)"Why what happened, Lady Ælswith?...(*she turned to Finan*)...and why do you need my sister?"
Lady Ælswith:"McKenna is Æthelflæd's new maid and therefore she is involved in everything that concerns our family!...(*Uhtred's face dropped*)...so if you will follow me, McKenna!"
Osferth:(*whispered in McKenna's ear*)"I will wait here for you beautiful Lady!...(*McKenna blushed*)...see you later!"

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McKenna smiled and nodded! Then she followed Lady Ælswith into the palace! Finan, Uhtred, Sihtric and Osferth walked towards an ale house and drank a mug of ale each! Meanwhile: Lady Ælswith and McKenna reached the throne room! Edward and Æthelflæd were already there and Æthelflæd immediately ran towards McKenna the moment she caught sight of her! The two women widely smiled at each other before King Alfred cleared his throat and spoke up...
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King Alfred:"McKenna, how nice that you found your way to us!...(*McKenna nodded at him*)...the reason you are here is simple: Edward has confessed that he is already married and now I would like to know if you know who his wife is! Do you have any ideas?"
McKenna:(*shook her head*)"No, I'm sorry, Lord King!...(*King Alfred sighed*)...if I had any idea who Edward's wife is, I would have given your dear wife information during our conversation earlier!"
Lady Ælswith:"It cannot be that nobody knows who your wife is, Edward!...(*Æthelflæd slightly giggled*)...Æthelflæd, do you know anything?"
Æthelflæd:(*shook her head*)"Just because I am his sister does not mean he tells me everything!...(*Edward lowered his head*)...now if you will excuse McKenna and me: she also has a brother and I think they have a lot to talk about!"

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Lady Ælswith shot her daughter a warning look before the two women left the throne room! Æthelflæd shoved McKenna towards the ale house, where her brother and the others were sat in and left her moments later! McKenna took a deep breath before she entered the ale house and looked for her brother! The moment he caught sight of her, he immediately stood up and called her name! She walked towards their table and sat down besides Sihtric!
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Finan:"What was the conversation about?...(*McKenna sighed*)...Kenna, you can talk to me about everything, you know that!"
McKenna:(*nodded*)"I screwed up, Finan! I screwed up big time!...(*Finan frowned*)...I helped Edward get his wife out of Winchester! I then took her to a convent..."
Sihtric:"And what is the problem with that, McKenna?...(*McKenna looked at Sihtric*)...has been a nice gesture, hasn't it?"
McKenna:(*leaned against Sihtric's shoulder*)"Yes, only King Alfred and Lady Ælswith know nothing about his wife!...(*Sihtric tilted his head*)...and that is what the conversation was about..."

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Osferth and Uhtred looked at each other before looking back at McKenna! Finan rubbed his beard and Sihtric sighed! Finan looked at his sister and took her hands his own! She lifted her head and looked him deep into his brown eyes...he softly smiled at her! He assured her that he would help her out of this situation and she would forever be grateful for that! Sihtric, Osferth and Uhtred promised McKenna, that they would help her as well...
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Osferth:"I will help you out of this situation, my beautiful!...(*McKenna smiled at him*)...even if it means I am even less welcome here!"
Sihtric:(*laughed*)"You can count on my support too, McKenna!...(*she kissed his right cheek*)...maybe I will help you more often in the future if it means I am getting kisses from you!"
McKenna:"You are a nutcase, Sihtric!...(*Uhtred laughed*)...and what about you, Lord? Will you help me too?"
Uhtred:(*nodded*)"But only because you are Finan's little sister!...(*McKenna laughed as well*)...you will always find help with me, Kenna!"

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McKenna widely smiled at the boys, knowing that she found a lifetime family in them! With Finan as her brother she has never had a dull moment! Whenever she was sad, he cheered her up or bought her flowers! And now that she met Sihtric, Osferth and Uhtred, she doubted that she would ever die of boredom! These 4 together were a powerhouse and no one would ever destroy their friendship! Their chemistry was something her almost husband, would have wished for their relationship!
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Uhtred:"Do you actually want to stay here in Winchester forever?...(*McKenna shook her head*)...why not? As Æthelflæd's maid you do not really want for anything, do you?"
McKenna:(*looked at Finan*)"When it comes to choosing between Æthelflæd and my brother, the answer is simple: I choose my brother!...(*Finan smiled*)...I have only got him back...I do not want to be separated from him again and I am sure Æthelflæd will understand!"
Osferth:"If you explain your reasons to her, I am sure she will understand!...(*Sihtric nodded*)...but she will surely be sad and miss you, little pearl!"
McKenna:(*took his hands into her own*)"I care relatively little, because it is also a bit about what is good for me, Osferth!...(*Osferth lowered his head*)...may I come with you, Uhtred?"

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Without thinking about it twice, Uhtred nodded! McKenna stood up and hugged him tight! Finan was happy, he finally had his little sister back! Sihtric and Osferth widely smiled at her and looked forward to the time they would spent with her! When evening came, McKenna walked towards Æthelflæd's chambers and knocked on the door! She was let in a minute later and somehow Æthelflæd sensed what McKenna was about to say...
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Æthelflæd:"Do not say anything, Kenna!...(*McKenna shot her a questioning look*)...I know what you want to say and I want you to know that it is okay!"
McKenna:(*tilted her head*)"How did you know what I was going to say?...(*Æthelflæd laughed*)...I am serious, how did you know?"
Æthelflæd:"It does not matter now, Kenna!...(*McKenna sighed*)...I am happy for you and Finan and I want you to know that Winchester will be your home forever! You can come back here whenever you want!"
McKenna:(*they hugged*)"Thank you, Lady! It means a lot to me and it was an honour to have been your maid!...(*Æthelflæd widely smiled*)...farewell, Lady!"

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McKenna smiled at her one last time before she left her chambers and disappeared! Finan, Osferth, Uhtred and Sihtric already waited for her and the moment Osferth caught sight of her, his eyes lit up and a big smile crossed his face! Uhtred handed her the reins of her horse and widely smiled at her! They then climbed on their horses and rode off towards: Coccham!
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Sihtric:"Where were you before you came to Winchester?...(*McKenna turned her head*)...I mean after you left Ireland?"
McKenna:(*took a deep breath*)"My parents thought it would be fun to marry me off to a rich Lord, so I ran away from home!...(*Finan's face froze*)...after I knew Finan was no longer a slave, I decided to leave East Anglia and travel to Winchester!"
Uhtred:"Who is this Lord you were to marry?...(*McKenna looked at Uhtred*)...and how did you know Finan was safe?"
McKenna:(*slightly smiled*)"Ever heard of Lord Æthelred of Mercia?...(*the boys nodded*)...this weasel was to become my husband! And to answer your second question, Uhtred: on my journey I talked to many people and bought information!"

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Uhtred looked at Finan and McKenna proudly smiled! After they rode through the gates of Coccham, two children came running towards them! Uhtred immediately smiled and when he jumped off his horse, he hugged them both! McKenna shot Sihtric a questioning look, but he just pointed at a beautiful woman, who came walking towards Uhtred! Once he was done hugging his children, he looked up at the woman and wrapped his arms around her waist!
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