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Edward turned his head the moment Asteria addressed him and sighed, when he saw the sadness in her eyes! Lady Ælswith sat down and watched her two children talk! With Æthelflæd gone and residing in Mercia, she only had Edward and Asteria left! Sometimes it made her sad, that Æthelflæd was no longer living in Winchester, but on the other hand she was proud, that she was fulfilling her duty as a wife and now a Lady of Mercia! Asteria and Edward soon sat down as well, because Asteria's began to tremble...
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Asteria:"I worry so endlessly about the boys!...(*she sighed*)...it's been hours since they rode off..."
Edward:(*he took her hands in his own*)"Do not worry! Uhtred and his men are masters of survival!...(*Lady Ælswith nodded*)...they'll be back soon, I swear to you!"
Lady Ælswith:"Probably much sooner than I would like!...(*Asteria looked at her*)...child, are you really sure you want to spend your life with a Dane?"
Asteria:(*she nodded*)"As I said to father, Sihtric is good to me!...(*Lady Ælswith sighed*)...he would never hurt me! And he would never leave me for another woman!"
Edward:"Sihtric may be good-natured, but he is and remains a Dane, Asteria!...(*Asteria lowered her head*)...he will never stay too long in one village, let alone live...not when there are still open battles to fight!"
Lady Ælswith:(*she nodded*)"And what if he dies, Asteria?...(*Asteria's eyes widened*)...what do you do then? What will you do if he falls in battle and you have to take care of your children alone?"
Asteria:"Tell me, have you two ever heard of 'encouraging'?!...(*Lady Ælswith and Edward flinched*)...probably not, otherwise you would at least have tried!"

~~~~~~
And with that being said, Asteria stood up and stormed out of the throne room! Edward looked at his mother and slightly shook his head...his sister was too stubborn and he needed to do something against it, when he was King! After a while Lady Ælswith stood up and also left the throne room, to follow her daughter! Now there was only Edward left, who instantly thought of a plan, to protect Asteria of an eventual heartbreak! Meanwhile: Sihtric was fully awake again and looked at Uhtred! He was still caressing his head and he still smiled at him! Once he helped Sihtric up and thanked Brida and the healer, he turned around, only to see Hæsten and Cnut, being angry! Both had drawn their weapons and were ready to fight Uhtred and Sihtric, but Brida had something against it...
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Cnut:"Who gave you permission to come into our camp, Dane-slayer?!...(*Uhtred took a deep breath*)...and what makes you think you're allowed to take the prisoner?!"
Uhtred:(*he rolled his eyes*)"I really don't have the nerve to fight you jumping jacks, so just let us go, okay?...(*Hæsten shook his head*)...Hæsten, you should be quiet! You've made quite a mess, you know that?"
Hæsten:"Why should I believe you, Uhtred?...(*Uhtred grinned*)...as long as I have no proof, there is no chaos!"
Sihtric:(*he cleared his throat*)"Asteria will surely be angry with you, Hæsten!...(*Hæsten's eyes widened*)...and if we are not back in Winchester by tonight at the latest, she will send troops here and then you will be nothing but dust!"
Cnut:"Why should Hæsten care about the little princess?...(*Sihtric just grinned*)...Hæsten, what do you say? Do you care about the little princess?"

~~~~~~
Hæsten swallowed and nodded! Cnut's, Brida's and Jackdaw's eyes widened! Uhtred and Sihtric just looked at each other with a huge grin on their faces! They loved drama...and this drama was good drama! Soon Cnut and Brida told Hæsten a lecture, that it's no good for anyone, if he continues thinking about Asteria! Hæsten soon had enough of Brida's and Cnut's lecture and walked away! Of course Brida followed him and Cnut Follower Brida...as he always did! Now it was easy for Uhtred and Sihtric to disappear! Moments later they reached the horses, Finan and Osferth! When the two of them caught sight of Sihtric, they hugged him tight and Sihtric smiled at them in return! Meanwhile: Lady Ælswith found Asteria sitting in the courtyard garden, reading a book from King Alfred's library...
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Lady Ælswith:"Your father loved this book!...(*Asteria turned her head*)...he often held it in his hands for hours and almost forgot to eat..."
Asteria:(*she sighed*)"I was never allowed to touch this book before!...(*Lady Ælswith sat down besides her*)...father used to take it away from me and then put it back on the shelf!"
Lady Ælswith:"He was probably afraid that pages of the book might tear!...(*Asteria lowered her head*)...not that you did it on purpose, but your brother most likely did!"
Asteria:(*she slightly laughed*)"Edward has always been the clumsier of the two of us!...(*Lady Ælswith nodded*)...Æthelflæd, on the other hand, always tidied everything up carefully and put everything back in its place!"
Lady Ælswith:"You and Æthelflæd are the most careful people I know! And I want you to keep it up, Asteria!...(*Asteria lifted her head*)...everyone here in Winchester admires you and Æthelflæd for that and it makes me proud!"
Asteria:(*she looked at her mother*)"Mother, thank you for your words but I would much rather hear that Uhtred and the others are back at last!...(*Lady Ælswith sighed*)...I want to see Sihtric and tell him I'm sorry..."

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Right before Lady Ælswith could say another word, Steapa appeared and told the two women, that riders rode through the gates! Lady Ælswith immediately raised an eyebrow and told her daughter to wait and begged Steapa to stay with the princess! Steapa instantly nodded and sat down besides Asteria, gently rubbing her back! She turned her head to smile at him and then she rested her head on his right shoulder! Meanwhile: Uhtred and his men led their horses to the stables and then they walked towards the palace! Lady Ælswith crossed their way, as they were just about to enter the palace! Sihtric tapped on Uhtred's shoulder and pointed at Lady Ælswith...
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Uhtred:"Lady, it's good to see you!...(*she nodded at him*)...are you well and where is Asteria?"
Lady Ælswith:(*she sighed*)"Yes, I'm fine, thank you!...(*Uhtred nodded at her*)...Asteria is in the garden! Steapa is with her, making sure she doesn't do anything stupid! However, I would advise you to hurry up!"
Finan:"Why should we hurry?...(*Lady Ælswith lowered her head*)...Lady, what are you not telling us?"
Lady Ælswith:(*she lifted her head*)"Edward is probably hatching a plan in which Asteria's heart will not be broken should Sihtric decide to keep his distance from her!...(*Sihtric tilted his head*)...I'm afraid he's looking for a husband for his sister..."
Sihtric:"He's doing what?!...(*Lady Ælswith flinched*)...he can't do that...please, tell him he can't do that!"
Lady Ælswith:(*she shook her head*)"Believe me, if I could, I would have done it long ago!...(*Sihtric lowered his head*)...you've got to think of something, Sihtric! And do it fast!"

~~~~~~
Sihtric nodded and followed Uhtred and the others into the palace! When they reached the garden, Steapa immediately lifted his head and looked at Uhtred! Asteria needed a moment to realise, who the men were and when she realised, she immediately stood up and fell around Uhtred's neck! He instantly wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face in her long, brown hair! When they detached from each other, she widely smiled at him and only now, did she look at Sihtric! He looked sad and it broke Asteria's heart...she needed to find out, what made him so sad! Finan and Osferth nudged his side, making him lift his head slightly! When his gaze met Asteria's, he slightly smiled...she was so so beautiful!
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Steapa:"Uhtred, I see you are back!...(*Uhtred nodded*)...are you feeling better, Sihtric?"
Sihtric:(*he shrugged his shoulders*)"At least it doesn't feel like I'm dying any second anymore!...(*Steapa nodded at him*)...nevertheless, i am still not completely fit..."
Finan:"Which doesn't matter, because we'll be staying in Coccham for a while anyway!...(*Asteria's eyes widened*)...unless the Lady Asteria objects and wants to lock us in the dungeon again!"
Asteria:(*she lowered her head*)"No, I don't, Finan!...(*Finan tilted his head*)...god I just want this whole nightmare to end!"
Osferth:"Sister, we know that, but we don't know how to help you!...(*he sighed*)...if you could explain to us what is going on inside you right now, we might be able to find a solution...together!"
Asteria:(*she lifted her head*)"And how do you imagine that, Osferth?...(*he shrugged his shoulders*)...if I explain to you what's going on inside me, first of all you'll think I'm crazy, and secondly I guess Sihtric will lose his nerves..."
Sihtric:"Why should I lose my nerves, Asteria?...(*she looked at him*)...my love, what are you hiding from us?"

~~~~~~
Asteria didn't hesitate and ran towards Sihtric to pull him into a tight hug! It caught him off guard, as he didn't expect her to hug him, but as soon as he had regained his composure, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to his chest! She cried into his leather armour and he stroked her head gently, making sure, that she felt comfortable! Uhtred, Steapa, Finan and Osferth watched the two of them with a slight smile on their faces! Meanwhile: Edward was wandering around the palace, looking for his youngest sister! He checked her chambers, the library, the marketplace, but she was nowhere to be found! So he thought about checking the garden! But when he opened the doors and caught sight of his sister hugging Sihtric and him kissing Asteria's head, Edward's blood began to boil and he got angry...
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