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The day Dalia turned 18, was the happiest of her entire life! Her father finally allowed her to leave Aylesbury and to make a trip to Winchester! So she woke up extremely early and saddled her mare Luna! She said her goodbyes to her father and promised him, to return at nightfall! When Dalia reached Winchester and had led her horse to the stables, she decided to visit the marketplace! There she met Hild and Father Beocca...
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Hild:(*whispered into Father Beocca's ear*)"Have you seen her here before?...(*Father Beocca shook his head*)...she's beautiful! We definitely need to keep her away from Uhtred's boys!"
Father Beocca:"There is no escape from them either way!...(*Hild laughed*)...hello! We have never seen you here before and were wondering where you are from and what your name is!"
Dalia:(*turned around*)"Oh hello! My name is Dalia and I am from Aylesbury/Mercia!...(*Hild smiled at her*)...and who are you?"
Hild:"I am Hild! It's really nice to meet you, Dalia!...(*Dalia smiled back at her*)...this is Father Beocca!"
Father Beocca:(*smiled at the young woman*)"Yes, it's really nice to meet you!...(*Dalia tilted her head*)...what are you doing here in Winchester?"

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Dalia grinned before answering Father Beocca's question with an even bigger grin! Hild and Father Beocca shared a look of amusement as the young woman was nearly cursing the life in Aylesbury! A few hours later, around noon, Dalia searched for a place to sit and drink ale! After a bit of searching she eventually found an ale house and entered the wooden building! A group of men sent glances her way and one of them stood up, when an older men sent lustful looks her way! The man walked over to her and guided her to his table, she was to meet his friends!
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Uhtred:"Here Lady, sit down!...(*Dalia smiled at him*)...what brings you to such a depraved place?"
Dalia:(*raised an eyebrow*)"Do you mean Winchester or this ale house?...(*Uhtred laughed*)...I was looking for something to sit and ale to drink!"
Finan:"Then you've picked the right place, Lady!...(*Dalia looked at Finan*)...I am Finan, by the way! The man who led you to us is Uhtred!"
Dalia:(*her eyes widened*)"You are Uhtred Ragnarsson?!...(*Uhtred nodded*)...I have heard many stories about you!"
Osferth:"Hopefully only good!...(*Dalia nodded*)...I'm Osferth, it's really nice to meet you!"
Dalia:(*smiled at him*)"I forgot to introduce myself, sorry!...(*Finan, Uhtred and Osferth laughed*)...I'm Dalia! It's a pleasure to meet you guys!"

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Uhtred widely smiled at her and her gaze met Sihtric's! His calm manner fascinated her in a way, she thought that wasn't possible! She wondered if he was always this quiet, or if he was just not interested in getting to know her! Osferth softly nudged his side, when he noticed, that Dalia was looking at him!
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Osferth:"Would you also introduce yourself briefly?...(*Sihtric looked at him*)...that would complete the round of introductions!"
Sihtric:(*sighed and looked at her*)"I'm Sihtric and since you've probably heard 'it's really nice to meet you' several times today, I'm not going to say that now!...(*Dalia giggled*)...where are you from, if you don't mind me asking?"
Dalia:"I'm from Aylesbury/Mercia!...(*Uhtred lifted his head*)...however, it has become totally boring to live there!"
Uhtred:(*he chuckled*)"Why is that?...(*Dalia sighed*)...aren't there enough ale houses?"
Dalia:"Yes, that may be, but since our new Lord has been residing there, no one dares to go out on the street any more!...(*Finan frowned*)...it's terrible!"

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Sihtric and Osferth looked at one another and Sihtric couldn't keep his eyes of her! She was stunningly beautiful and her smile was something he would think of before going to bed! Once she looked his way, he automatically smiled at her and she blushed at the sight of it! He grinned and continued drinking his ale! Uhtred and Finan shot them smirks and the two of them ignored them! At nightfall Uhtred decided to ride back to Coccham! And since Dalia promised her father to be back at nightfall, she rode off with the boys! Sihtric wanted to accompany her until she was back in Mercia and Uhtred decided to ride along!
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Dalia:"Thank you for accompanying me!...(*Uhtred waved it off*)...have a safe journey home!"
Finan:(*grinned*)"Don't worry, Dalia, no one wants us!...(*Dalia laughed*)...sleep well and dream of us!"
Uhtred:"She certainly won't do that, Finan!...(*Finan rolled his eyes*)...I hope to see you again soon!"
Dalia:(*nodded*)"I hope so too, Uhtred!...(*they smiled at each other*)...I'll probably be in Winchester more often in the future!"
Osferth:"That's a good thing, because we will be too!...(*Sihtric nodded*)...will we meet again at the ale house then?"
Dalia:(*smiled*)"If you're lucky, Osferth!...(*Osferth laughed*)...but I really have to go now, otherwise my father will behead me!"

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Uhtred laughed and they watched as she rode off towards Aylesbury! A few months later: it was Æthelflæd's wedding day and Dalia got herself ready! When she reached Winchester she immediately heard Finan's precious laugh! She decided to sneak up on the men and every one of them flinched, when she appeared behind them! It made her and Uhtred's wife laugh! She quickly greeted Lady Gisela and introduced herself! The two women quickly became friends and stood besides each other, when the wedding ceremony started!
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Gisela:"Your dress is beautiful!...(*Dalia smiled at Gisela*)...everything about you is beautiful, Dalia!"
Dalia:(*swooped their arms together*)"Thank you Gisela!...(*they smiled at each other*)...who is Lady Æthelflæd actually marrying?"
Finan:"Lord Æthelred of Mercia!...(*Dalia's face dropped*)...why are you making that face?"
Dalia:(*looked at Finan*)"Because Lord Æthelred is the man I told you about a few months ago!...(*Finan's eyes widened*)...the royal family really does not have good taste!"
Uhtred:"I agree! He won't treat her the way she deserves!...(*Osferth sighed*)...he definitely does not look friendly!"

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Dalia nodded and the ceremony began! After the ceremony was over, the small group gathered outside only Gisela remained in the throne room with Hild, Uhtred's sister and Father Beocca! Sihtric, Dalia, Osferth, Finan and Uhtred were standing outside the palace, looking into the crowd of people, who have gathered before the palace! Moments later, a woman came walking towards Sihtric and Dalia immediately shot Uhtred a questioning look! When she turned back around, the woman was all over Sihtric and Dalia felt her heart ache! She liked Sihtric even though she barely knew him and it hurt her, that he seemed to have a wife and that Uhtred hadn't had the idea of telling her...
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Osferth:"This is Sigdeflaed, Sihtric's wife!...(*Dalia turned her head*)...they just got married a few weeks ago!"
Dalia:(*she lowered her head*)"And you heroes didn't think to tell me?...(*Osferth's eyes widened*)...thanks for that!"
Osferth:"How were we supposed to know, that you like Sihtric?...(*Dalia shot him a warning look*)...you never said anything!"
Dalia:(*rolled her eyes*)"You can tell, Osferth! Wasn't it obvious?...(*Osferth shook his head*)...now I can't look him in the eye...great!"
Osferth:"Why don't you get to know his wife first, Dalia?...(*Dalia kicked Osferth's shin*)...ouch! What was that for?"
Dalia:(*hissed at him*)"Your far too great imagination!...(*Osferth sighed*)...I'm done with you for today! If you're looking for me in the next few days, I'll be in Aylesbury!"

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Osferth watched as she walked away from them and when she was completely gone, he turned around to face Uhtred! He gave Osferth a questioning look, but Osferth was just shrugging his shoulders! A few hours later: Dalia was sat on a bench outside of an ale house and drank a mug of ale! Uhtred and his small group walked past her and she immediately rolled her eyes at the sight of Sihtric! His wife wasn't with him so she assumed, that she had gone back home! Osferth and Finan were the first ones to sit down and moments later Uhtred and Sihtric did the same...
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Dalia:"I didn't think I'd see you again so soon!...(*she shot Osferth a dirty look*)...did you enjoy the festivities?"
Finan:(*nodded*)"If you had stayed a little longer, I'm sure they would have been even nicer!...(*Dalia slightly smiled at him*)...why did you leave so early?"
Dalia:"That's a story for another time, Finan!...(*she felt Sihtric looking at her*)...do you like what you see?"
Sihtric:(*got snapped out of his thoughts*)"Mhm yes, really beautiful views!...(*Finan and Uhtred chuckled*)...how many mugs of ale have you had?"
Dalia:"Not enough it seems!...(*Sihtric rolled his eyes*)...when do you ride back to Coccham, Uhtred?"
Uhtred:(*thought briefly*)"When it's evening!...(*Dalia nodded at him*)...would you like to visit us sometime?"

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Dalia quickly nodded before she stood up and said her goodbyes to the boys! A few days later: Dalia rode through the gates of Coccham and Uhtred was already waiting for her! She jumped off her horse and gave the reins to a boy, who seemed responsible for the horses! Uhtred then pulled her into a hug and showed her the way to the great hall! They entered the wooden building and Dalia was immediately greeted by Finan and Osferth! Sihtric was sitting on a bench, drinking his ale and not paying attention to what was happening around him! Only when Dalia sat down right in front of him, he lifted his head and quickly nodded at her...
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