Nanna had known Uhtred and his men for a year now and yet she had the feeling that she didn't really know them at all. Every time the boys were called to battle and they came back, they acted as if nothing had happened!

It was the same this time! Uhtred, his men, his son and Father Beocca set off for Bebbanburg to recapture it and Nanna had a weird feeling right from the start, but said nothing! Uhtred was convinced that he was doing the right thing and she didn't want to take away his hope!

They were away for a total of 4 days and during this time Nanna looked after Rumcofa. Edward and Æthelflæd came to visit her a few times, which she was very happy about! But when the boys came back, neither of them were there and Nanna was alone.

From the look on Uhtred's face, Nanna could tell something bad had happened and when she didn't see Father Beocca among them, she knew he was dead! Immediately her whole body began to tremble, tears formed in her eyes and it felt as if she couldn't breathe...

She didn't know Father Beocca as well as Uhtred did, but she knew him well enough to know that his death was a bitter blow for her! He was always there for her when she needed help and he always had an open ear for her! They often went to pray together and otherwise they often bumped into each other in the palace!

Completely lost in thought, Nanna didn't notice how Sihtric slowly walked towards her and carefully laid his head on her left shoulder. When she finally noticed him, she flinched slightly, but then began to stroke his head. His breathing was heavy and he had several scratches on his face, neck and arms.

Nanna's eyes widened instantly when she saw Osferth's broken arm and how sad and broken Uhtred was! Finan and young Uhtred took the horses to the stables and when they got back, Finan hugged Nanna tightly. The two of them would be siblings in another life, they were sure of it! Finan was the first of the boys to immediately take Nanna to his heart and teach her how to carve!

They loved each other dearly and Finan would never leave Nanna alone again! It took a while for Uhtred, Osferth and Sihtric to accept and like Nanna, as she was a little arrogant and conceited when they first met. But now the boys loved Nanna and could no longer imagine their lives without her! Young Uhtred had never really talked to Nanna, which made her a little sad but this time, however, he was happy to see her and even smiled at her!

A few minutes passed and Finan still hadn't let go of Nanna. He needed a hug...he needed her! After he finally let her go, he looked at her with tears in his eyes and she wanted to cry with him! It broke her heart to see the boys so sad and broken, but she knew that there was nothing she could do to make the situation better...

At some point they went to the great hall and seconds later watched as Aldhelm rode into the village. Nanna and Sihtric looked at each other in confusion - what was he doing here?

"Aldhelm, my friend, what are you doing here?" Uhtred asked with a raised eyebrow and a confused look on his face. It took Aldhelm a while to answer, as he first dismounted his horse and walked over to Uhtred and the others.

"I'm here because Æthelflæd needs your help, Uhtred!" Uhtred's and Nanna's eyes widened at the same time and both looked at Aldhelm with concern.

"Is Æthelflæd all right, Aldhelm?" Nanna couldn't hide her concern for her best friend, no matter how hard she tried! Aldhelm looked at her and sighed, which only made Nanna worry even more...

"She is doing well, but the threat from the Danes is increasing!" Uhtred sighed too and lowered his head. He knew that the Danes were getting stronger, but he didn't realise that they were after Æthelflæd again!

"We'll help her, but you go ahead!" Aldhelm nodded and walked back to his horse. Just before he mounted his horse, he nodded at Uhtred and the others and then rode off.

After he left, Nanna immediately made her way to the stables, but she didn't get far as Sihtric held her by her right wrist. With a confused and partly angry expression on her face, she turned her head and looked at Sihtric.

"What do you think you're doing, Nan?" he asked with the same confused look on his face. Nanna tried to break free, but Sihtric's grip was firm and all her attempts were in vain.

"Well, I'm coming with you, what did you think?" all 4 boys shook their heads at the same time and now Nanna was really angry! She was no longer a child and the boys often left her alone in the village!

"No, Nan, that's too dangerous!" Finan tried to calm her down and get her to stay in the village, but that didn't work, as Nanna somehow managed to free herself from Sihtric's grip and continue on her way to the stables!

Annoyed and irritated that they couldn't convince Nanna to stay in the village, the boys finally followed her to the stables. When everyone had saddled their horses, they each mounted up and finally rode off. On the way to Æthelflæd's estate, they met Hæsten and his men in the forest and Uhtred was immediately in a bad mood. Nevertheless, he accepted Hæsten's offer to sit with them and drink a mug of ale.

Nanna stood behind Sihtric and besides young Uhtred and had her right hand resting on Sihtric's left shoulder. She didn't take her eyes off Hæsten for a second, because she knew how cruel he could be! And this time, what a surprise, he provoked Uhtred and made him fight him! Nanna rolled her eyes and sighed - would Hæsten's childish behaviour ever end?

The worst part of the whole thing was that Hæsten mentioned Æthelflæd and dragged her name through the mud! Nanna became angry and restless. When she started shaking and took her hand off Sihtric's shoulder, he turned his head and looked at her. He was worried and stood up seconds later.

But when Hæsten started talking again and mentioned Nanna's name, Sihtric turned away from her and looked at Hæsten with a warning look! No one knew about Sihtric's feelings for Nanna and it was going to stay that way for the time being. But Hæsten didn't make it easy for him and he almost gave himself away!

"Tell me Uhtred, how did you get Nanna to live in your smelly and dirty village?" Uhtred looked at Hæsten with a warning look, but he didn't care, instead he just kept talking...

"I'm sure she'd like it much better on Æthelflæd's estate! Or she could move to camp with us, then she'd have something to laugh about and do every day, if you know what I mean!" disgusted, Nanna turned to Osferth, who rolled his eyes and slowly put his hand on his sword. Uhtred, meanwhile, punched Hæsten in the face and pushed him against a tree!

"Talk about Nanna or Æthelflæd like that again and I swear you'll never see Vallhalla!" Uhtred hissed at him before letting go off him! After Uhtred had turned away from Hæsten, he looked at 2 little boys who were sitting there calmly watching the fight!

"Do you like the boys? I could let you have them and tell you the name of Ragnar's killer!" Uhtred and Nanna's ears perked up and they both turned back to Hæsten. Only Uhtred had long known who had killed Ragnar so he didn't really care about that information!

"Æthelwold killed my brother, so this information is of no concern to me!" Hæsten thought for a moment and then said something that made everyone shudder...

"Only Cnut was the driving force behind Ragnar's death! And these are his sons! You can have them, I don't want them anymore!" Nanna looked at young Uhtred, who looked at his father warningly and hoped he wouldn't take the two children with him! But Uhtred had other plans, in which the others were simply supposed to play along!

Even if it sometimes became dangerous and everyone would rather live in a world where there were no wars or casualties...