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Dalia and Edward walked past the marketplace and on their way, Dalia thought about Edward's child! Even though she never met him/her, she felt the urge to protect him/her, as if it was her own child! Edward noticed, that Dalia was in a bad mood, but decided not to say anything! Not until Dalia suddenly spoke up...
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Dalia:"You already have a child?...(*Edward stopped in his tracks*)...why didn't you tell me?"
Edward:(*he sighed*)"I actually already have 2 children, with another woman!...(*Dalia's eyes widened*)...I wanted to tell you, but believe me, I just couldn't find the right moment..."
Dalia:"And then you think it's okay that I find out from Æthelflæd and your parents?!...(*Edward lowered his head*)...Edward, do you know how painful that is?!"
Edward:(*he lifted his head*)"I'm sorry, okay?!...(*Dalia flinched*)...I am sorry that I already have 2 children! I left her and my children so that I could marry you and make you happy!"
Dalia:"Edward, your apology doesn't make the situation any better!...(*Edward rolled his eyes*)...don't roll your eyes at me, Edward!"
Edward:(*he laughed maliciously*)"Why not? Your childish behaviour makes it almost impossible to refrain!...(*Dalia got angry*)...I'd say this concludes our walk! Are you going to visit Gisela in Coccham again today?"

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Dalia nodded and then walked towards the stables! Edward looked after her until she was fully gone and then decided to go and see his ex-wife and his children! Meanwhile: Dalia reached the stables, saddled her horse and then rode off towards Coccham! When she rode through the gates, Finan came walking towards her and helped her get off her horse! She thanked him and watched as he brought her stallion to the stables! Then she followed him to the great hall and she was surprised, that Sigdeflaed wasn't there...
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Finan:"Look who ran into me!...(*Sihtric turned his head*)...isn't she a sweet creature?"
Gisela:(*she laughed*)"The sweetest creature that ever came your way, Finan!...(*Finan laughed as well*)...hello angel! What brings you to Coccham?"
Dalia:"A fight with Edward! He's obnoxious sometimes!...(*Sihtric raised an eyebrow*)...don't worry he didn't hit me or anything but..."
Sihtric:(*he frowned*)"But what, Dalia?...(*Dalia looked at him*)...what did he do to make you run from him?"
Dalia:"The fact that he already has 2 children with another woman, Sihtric!...(*Sihtric and Finan choked on their ale*)...the morning started wonderfully: we told his parents that I am pregnant and then out of nowhere Æthelflæd and his parents open up to me that he already has a child..."
Uhtred:(*he sighed*)"And then when you were alone, you asked him about it and only then did he confess to you that he actually already had two children, am I right?...(*Dalia nodded*)...I'm so sorry, Dalia!"
Gisela:"Would you like to meet his children?...(*Dalia shrugged her shoulders*)...I'm sure Edward would love for his wife to meet his 2 little mini versions of himself!"
Uhtred:(*he laughed maliciously*)"For that to happen, he should have been honest with Dalia from the beginning, Gisa!...(*Dalia looked at Sihtric*)...secrets don't get you anywhere in a marriage...I speak from experience!"

~~~~~~
Gisela sighed and looked back at Dalia! After a while, Uhtred and Gisela played with their children, Finan and Osferth somehow disappeared to a lake nearby and so there were only Sihtric and Dalia left! And yup, it ended like she thought: they went to his house, made sure no one saw or heard anything and then he humped her! She had the best time and he gave her all the love, she was longing for! He kissed from her neck down to her stomach...she loved when he did that! At some point he stopped kissing her neck and stomach and moved his head to her head! He passionately kissed her on the lips and began to move faster! Dalia rolled her eyes in pleasure and loud moans escaped her mouth! Sihtric's and her eyes widened when they heard the front door open...where they about to get caught?
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Finan:"Sihtric, have you seen Dalia?...(*fear rose inside her*)...Sihtric? Are you deaf or what's wrong with you?"
Sihtric:(*he cleared his throat*)"Don't come into the bedroom, Finan!...(*Finan frowned*)...I have nothing on and as much as I love you, brother...I don't want you to see this!"
Finan:"Okay, no problem, but have you seen Dalia or not?...(*Sihtric pressed his hand on her mouth*)...Uhtred and Gisela have asked for her and somehow I can't find her anywhere!"
Sihtric:(*he thought briefly*)"I'm sorry, I don't know where she is!...(*Finan tilted his head*)...have you already looked in the stables? Or in the attic in the stables?"
Finan:"Yes, but she's not there either!...(*Sihtric sweated*)...I looked everywhere and then at some point only your house was left..."
Sihtric:(*fear rose inside him*)"And why exactly should she be here, Finan?...(*Finan cleared his throat and moved closer to the bedroom*)...Finan, I said: don't come into the bedroom!"

~~~~~~
Right when he closed his mouth, Finan stood right in front of them! Sihtric and Dalia looked at each other, before they both swallowed! Luckily Sihtric covered Dalia's body, so Finan couldn't see anything! A huge grin on Finan's face, told Sihtric, that he wouldn't say anything to anyone! After a while, Dalia put her dress back on and sat down besides Sihtric and Finan! Sihtric was still shirtless and Dalia needed to bite her lip, to stop the moans, which were about to escape her mouth! Finan looked at them and waited for one of them to speak up...
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Sihtric:"It wasn't planned that we fall in love with each other even though we're both married, okay?...(*Finan tilted his head*)...but it kind of happened and as much as I love Sig, I can't and won't stop loving Dalia..."
Finan:(*he looked at Dalia*)"Is she like your mistress then?...(*Sihtric nodded*)...just so we're clear: I'm not going to tell anyone anything! However, you should tell Sig and Edward!"
Dalia:"How do you imagine that? ‚By the way, I've been secretly humping your wife for a year now!'?...(*Finan's eyes widened*)...it doesn't go down well, believe me!"
Finan:(*he took a deep breath*)"You've been humping each other for a year now?!...(*Sihtric nodded*)...are you even sure your child is Edward's, Dalia?"
Dalia:"No, I'm not sure, if that's Edward's child!...(*Finan sighed*)...I will burn at the stake..."
Sihtric:(*he shook his head*)"Nobody is burning anywhere here!...(*Finan nodded*)...if the child should be mine, I'll make sure that you both want for nothing! And I am sure that Finan will help me!"

~~~~~~
Finan nodded again and Dalia slightly smiled! After a while, the three of them left Sihtric's house and Uhtred shot all three a questioning look! Dalia wanted to sink into the ground and Sihtric just wanted to disappear to somewhere far away! Finan just sighed and lowered his head...when he turned his head to look at Dalia, he saw the hickeys Sihtric had left on her neck! Finan swallowed and Dalia's face froze...she saw how Uhtred's facial expressions changed and before she knew it, she found herself in a tight hug from Uhtred! She relaxed into his soft touch and even cried a few tears! After another while, they all sat in the great hall...Dalia and Sihtric needed to tell Osferth, Uhtred and Gisela, which now could no longer be concealed!
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Uhtred:"So, is there possibly something you both have to tell us?...(*Sihtric and Dalia nodded*)...whenever you are ready to tell us what you have to tell us: we are listening!"
Sihtric:(*he sighed*)"Dalia and I have fallen in love! It was not planned, but it happened!...(*Gisela tilted her head*)...besides, we've been humping for 1 year now...and Dalia doesn't know if her child is even Edward's!"
Gisela:"Even a blind man could see how crazy you two are about each other!...(*Dalia lowered her head*)...I'm not saying I think it's okay for you to cheat on your partners, but somehow I understand you...life isn't always easy and sometimes you just have to make choices that hurt!"
Dalia:(*she lifted her head*)"How do I explain the whole thing to Edward if the child really isn't his?!...(*Finan rubbed his beard*)...Sihtric and I kept the whole thing secret for 1 year! The child could ruin everything..."
Osferth:"No matter what you both need, I will always be there for you and stand behind you!...(*Sihtric slightly smiled at Osferth*)...and I won't tell Sig or Edward about your relationship!"
Finan:(*he sighed*)"My point of view is known to you, but I also keep quiet!...(*Dalia looked at Sihtric*)...I will stand by you forever!"
Gisela:"Just like Uhtred and me!...(*Uhtred nodded*)...we love you both and want you to be happy! And if you can only be happy together, then so be it! We won't stand in the way of your love, but at some point you'll have to tell Edward and Sig..."

~~~~~~
Dalia nodded and lowered her head again! Sihtric gently rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head! Somehow it felt good, that the secret was out, but Dalia knew, that Gisela was right: they had to tell Sig and Edward! Meanwhile: Edward reached his ex-wife's house and knocked on the door! She opened and immediately smiled at him! When he entered the house, closed the door and hugged her, he heard his children babble! Edward and Ecgwynn laughed...they still loved each other! When they both sat down, Ecgwynn asked Edward, what happened since they were forced to part...
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