~~~~~~
Sihtric sat down besides Asteria, took her hands into his own and squeezed them slightly! She tilted her head and waited for him to finally tell her the news! After a little while, Sihtric cleared his throat, smiled and took a deep breath before he began talking...
~~~~~~

Sihtric:"Your brother has given me his permission, Asteria...I may marry you!...(*her eyes widened*)...it took a while of convincing but now nothing stands in the way of our happiness!"
Asteria:(*she widely smiled at him*)"That's the best news of today!...(*Sihtric nodded*)...I am so happy that I don't have to marry a complete stranger, but that I get to marry the man of my dreams!"
Sihtric:"Believe me, nothing in this world can describe how happy I am right now, Asteria!...(*Asteria's eyes lit up*)...soon I may call you 'my wife'! A privilege which many men wish for..."
Asteria:(*she cupped his face into her hands*)"True, but only one man will soon have that privilege and I'm glad it's the right man!...(*Sihtric brushed her hair back behind her ear*)...God must have heard my prayers after all!"
Sihtric:"And the gods favour me right now!...(*Asteria nodded*)...Lord, do you think Father Beocca would perform the marriage ceremony?"
Uhtred:(*he smiled*)"For Asteria, this man would do anything, so yes, he will perform your wedding ceremony!...(*Finan and Osferth widely smiled*)...I am glad you have found each other and I am very happy for you! May God/the Gods protect and guide you forever!"

~~~~~~
At some point Asteria stood up to hug Uhtred and thank him for his kind words! After she was done hugging Uhtred, she also hugged Finan and Osferth...she missed hugging her brother! Sihtric still sat and widely smiled at his future wife...in every she did, she was so breathtakingly beautiful! He soon found himself staring at her and he got a déjà vu...it was like the day he met Asteria for the first time! Meanwhile: Edward sat on the throne and listened to his mother thanking him! He knew, that he did a good thing and that his mother was proud of him for once in his life! At some point Æthelflæd decided to pay the two of them a visit and when the doors to the throne room opened and Æthelflæd entered the room accompanied by Aldhelm, Lady Ælswith turned her head and shot eldest daughter a questioning look...
~~~~~~

Lady Ælswith:"Æthelflæd, how nice that you are here!...(*Æthelflæd nodded at her*)...what brings you to us?"
Æthelflæd:(*she sighed*)"I wish my visit was for more enjoyable reasons, but alas it is not!...(*Edward raised an eyebrow*)...on our way here, we were followed by Danes and I'm not sure who they belonged to!"
Edward:"I can imagine they are Hæsten's men or even Cnut's!...(*Lady Ælswith nodded*)...but the fact that they are so close to Winchester is worrying!"
Aldhelm:(*he cleared his throat*)"Do you have anything here that the Danes might want?...(*Edward shook his head*)...are you sure? Think again, this is important!"
Lady Ælswith:"We have nothing here but supplies, silver, horses and some chronicles!...(*Æthelflæd scratched her head*)...oh and Asteria..."
Edward:(*his eyes widened*)"You think the Danes want my sister?...(*Lady Ælswith nodded*)...why would they want Asteria?"

~~~~~~
Aldhelm looked at Æthelflæd and soon left the throne room! Meanwhile: Asteria, Uhtred, Sihtric, Finan and Osferth saddled their horses and were ready to ride off, when suddenly Aldhelm appeared! Uhtred and the others greeted him, but they soon realised, that Aldhelm wasn't in the mood for jokes or anything else! Asteria got worried...why was he so worried? What happened? Were her siblings and her mother okay? Aldhelm took a deep breath before he cleared his throat and began talking...
~~~~~~

Aldhelm:"Uhtred, Sihtric, Finan, Osferth, princess, normally I would say 'it's good to see you' but we don't have time for that this time!...(*Uhtred raised an eyebrow*)...Danes we don't know who they belong to are approaching Winchester!"
Uhtred:(*he tilted his head*)"And why exactly is that worrying now?...(*Aldhelm sighed*)...let me guess: you're going to tell us the reason that makes the whole thing worrying, aren't you?"
Aldhelm:"Knowing the Danes, they want something and since they can't get their hands on Æthelflæd, they are trying to get their hands on Asteria!...(*Sihtric's eyes widened*)...that's what makes it all worrying, Uhtred!"
Sihtric:(*he shook his head*)"The Danes will not get their hands on Asteria!...(*Asteria looked at him*)...not a second time...not if I can help it!"
Finan:"Only over my dead body will those bastards get their hands on Asteria!...(*Osferth nodded*)...I would never forgive myself if they took Asteria away from us again..."

~~~~~~
Uhtred and Sihtric nodded and Asteria just leaned against her horse and sighed! What made her so special? She didn't understand and she probably would never understand! Meanwhile: Hæsten, Dagfinn, Jackdaw and Æthelwold rode towards Winchester and when they rode through the gates, Steapa and the other guards immediately drew their swords! Hæsten laughed, jumped off his horse, walked past Steapa and the other guards and towards the palace! He would get what he wanted and everyone knew by now, that it was Asteria, who he wanted more than anything else on this earth! And if he couldn't get her in this life, he would definitely get her in his second life! Meanwhile: Uhtred, Sihtric, Finan and Osferth were to follow Aldhelm to make a plan and for that they needed to leave Asteria with the horses! She was okay with that and watched the boys disappear! Then she turned to her horse and began braiding his mane! At some point and without her realising, Æthelwold and Hæsten came walking towards her...
~~~~~~

Æthelwold:"If it isn't my favourite cousin!...(*Asteria turned around*)...where are your watchdogs?"
Asteria:(*she rolled her eyes*)"Æthelwold, it's none of your fucking business!...(*Æthelwold laughed*)...what are you doing here anyway? Don't you have some secrets to tell?"
Æthelwold:"No, I guess I've already told my new friends all the secrets!...(*Asteria rolled her eyes*)...Hæsten and I are here to bring you where you belong, dear cousin!"
Asteria:(*she tilted her head*)"And that is exactly where?...(*Hæsten grinned*)...oh no, wait I know the answer: in Sihtric's bed! That's where I belong!"
Hæsten:"No, the answer is wrong!...(*he got angry*)...you don't belong in Sihtric's bed, you belong in mine, do you understand?!"
Asteria:(*she laughed maliciously*)"Do you think you can scare me?...(*Hæsten nodded*)...forget it, Hæsten! You can't scare me and I definitely don't belong in your bed! So why don't you two do me a favour and find someone who's actually interested in your drivel?"
Æthelwold:"But cousin, we've only just started talking!...(*Asteria shot him a warning look*)...the best part is yet to come!"
Asteria:(*she sighed*)"Let me guess: Hæsten will kill Sihtric if I don't come willingly?...(*Æthelwold looked at Hæsten*)...you can try, Hæsten, but I guess this time he's not alone and not sick!"
Hæsten:"Asteria, don't make me angrier than I already am!...(*Asteria laughed*)...why are you laughing now?"
Asteria:(*she tilted her head*)"Because you're funny, Hæsten!...(*Hæsten raised an eyebrow*)...you think you can just come to Winchester, molest King Alfred's youngest daughter, tell her she belongs in your bed and then want to kill her lover because she won't come willingly! Don't you think that's funny?"

~~~~~~
Hæsten got even angrier and right when he wanted to grab Asteria's right wrist, Steapa and some of the other guards, appeared behind him and dragged him away from her! Æthelwold swallowed and wanted to escape, but Aldhelm blocked his way! After Æthelwold and Hæsten were thrown into the dungeon, Asteria thanked Steapa, the other guards and Aldhelm! They all nodded at her and Aldhelm then, brought her to Æthelflæd! She wanted to see Asteria more than anything else and she couldn't wait, to hug her little sister again! When finally the doors to the throne room opened, Æthelflæd instantly turned around and when she caught sight of Asteria, she immediately walked towards her and pulled her into a tight hug! Asteria buried her face in her big sister's long hair and snuggled against her chest! They were being watched by Uhtred, Finan, Sihtric and Osferth and all four had huge smiles on their faces! When Asteria detached from Æthelflæd, she looked at Sihtric and smiled...she was glad to have him by her side! After a while, Asteria sat down and began talking about the little incident, which occurred in the stables...
~~~~~~