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It was a beautiful day in autumn and Talvi was sharpening her axe's blade! Sven and Kjartan were busy planing revenge, even though they burned down Eoferwic long ago! Since a few years, there was no word of, whether Uhtred and Brida were still alive, or if they burned together with their family! Talvi was soon done sharpening her axe's blade and decided to pay her new sibling Sihtric, a visit! He was now 18 years old and he was a beautiful, brave and friendly boy! Talvi loved him more than she ever loved Kjartan or Sven! And Sihtric loved her, because she was the only one, who was friendly towards him! She brought him food and a mug of ale!
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Talvi:"Good morning, Sihtric!...(*Sihtric turned his head*)...did you sleep well, or did I wake you up?"
Sihtric:(*he smiled at her*)"Good morning, sister!...(*she walked towards his bed*)...I slept well, thank you! You didn't wake me up, don't worry!"
Talvi:"Then I am reassured!...(*they laughed*)...father wants you to be in the great hall in a few minutes! Can you manage that?"
Sihtric:(*he tilted his head*)"Why does he want me to be in the great hall in a few minutes?...(*Talvi shrugged her shoulders*)...he didn't tell you anything?"
Talvi:"No! He just said, that I should tell you to be in the great hall in a few minutes!...(*Sihtric sighed*)...don't worry, he won't rip your head off! You haven't done anything wrong, have you?"
Sihtric:(*he scratched his head*)"Well, the usual!...(*Talvi sighed*)...Talvi, can you please come with me? I feel safe with you and since he took away my axe, I have nothing to defend myself with..."
Talvi:"He did what?!...(*Sihtric lowered his head*)...why did he take your axe?!"

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Sihtric shrugged his shoulders and watched as his big sister walked towards the door! He quickly stood up, got dressed and followed her! Moments later the siblings reached the great hall and Talvi opened the doors! Kjartan and Sven immediately turned their heads and smiled when they caught sight of Talvi! Sihtric was still close behind his big sister and soon he witnessed her, yelling at their father...
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Talvi:"How could you take away Sihtric's axe, father?!...(*Kjartan stood up*)...what did he do to you?! Did he offend you in any way?!"
Kjartan:(*he took a deep breath*)"Talvi, please stop yelling at me!...(*Talvi shook her head*)...Talvi, I'm going to say this one last time: please stop yelling at me!"
Talvi:"The axe was given to him by his mother! The axe is the only thing that reminds him of her and the only connection that still exists between the two of them, and you're taking it away from him!?...(*Kjartan lowered his head*)...tell me: was it not enough to kill her? Did you have to punish Sihtric even more?"
Kjartan:(*he got angry*)"You don't know anything about his mother, Talvi!...(*Talvi flinched*)...where do you get the right to talk about her?!"
Talvi:"Don't pretend you loved her! Everyone here knows that you loathed her and that you only got her pregnant because you couldn't resist her when she was brought here!...(*Kjartan slapped Talvi*)...and now you're hitting your daughter? You're a great father..."
Kjartan:(*he hissed at her*)"You are not my daughter! You never were and you never will be, understand?!...(*Sven's and Sihtric's eyes widened*)...and now get out, I don't want to see you again today!"

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Tears filled Talvi's eyes and she stormed out of the great hall! Kjartan sighed before he sat back down and watched his two son's, running after their sister! Even though Sven and Sihtric never got along, they always stuck together when it came to their sister! Sven and Sihtric loved her more than life itself and they were always there for her, when she received the blows that were actually meant for the brothers! Sihtric hated it to see his sister cry and he hated it even more, witnessing her getting slapped! Talvi leaned against the stable wall and rubbed her right cheek...Kjartan's handprint was now visible and Talvi felt nothing but hatred towards him right now...
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Sven:"Talvi? Can we talk to you?...(*Talvi turned her head*)...I swear he didn't follow us!"
Talvi:(*she sighed*)"Even if he were here, Sven, there's nothing I could do about it!...(*she lowered her head*)...did he hurt you too?"
Sihtric:"No, sister, we are fine!...(*Talvi breathed a sigh of relief*)...but we're worried about you!"
Talvi:(*she lifted her head*)"Why are you worried about me?...(*Sihtric sighed*)...are you afraid I'll run away?"
Sven:"No one here would be surprised!...(*Talvi looked at him*)...I hate the way father treats you, Talvi! Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?"
Talvi:(*she thought briefly*)"You could give me one of your 'Sven special' hugs!...(*Sven slightly laughed*)...don't laugh, I'm serious!"

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Without any further thinking, Sven pulled his sister into a tight and loving hug! Sihtric stood besides them and watched them hug with a warm smile on his face! Once they detached from each other, Talvi pulled Sihtric into a tight hug and kissed his forehead! She knew, that it hurt him, thinking about his deceased mother, but she needed to tell Kjartan, what she said earlier! Sihtric understood what her motives were and he was thankful, that he could always rely on his big sister...even though he sometimes wished, that his mother was still alive! Sven soon disappeared, because Kjartan called out for him! Sihtric and Talvi remained in the stables for a few more minutes, until Kjartan also called out for Sihtric...
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Kjartan:"Sihtric, my boy, where are you?...(*Sihtric appeared*)...ah there you are! I have a task for you!"
Sihtric:(*he sighed*)"Anything you want, father!...(*Kjartan smiled*)...what can I do for you?"
Kjartan:"I have already sent Tekil and some of the others to get their weapons!...(*he handed Sihtric his axe*)...I shouldn't have taken your axe away, I'm sorry!"
Sihtric:(*he sighed*)"It's okay, father!...(*Kjartan slightly smiled*)...why did you send Tekil and some of the others to get their weapons?"
Kjartan:"I will send him, some of the others and you to bring me Uhtred Ragnarsson!...(*Sihtric's eyes lit up*)...can you do that, my boy?"
Sihtric:(*he nodded*)"Yes, father, I can do it!...(*Kjartan proudly smiled at him*)...I won't disappoint you, I promise!"

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Kjartan nodded at him, then he watched him hug his sister and disappear! Talvi slightly smiled, but it faded away when she looked at her ‚father'! He sighed, sat down besides her and placed a hand on her right knee! He always did that when they had an argument and he wanted to apologise! And so it came to pass, that he took a deep breath before he looked and addressed her...
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Kjartan:"Talvi, my little star, I'm sorry!...(*Talvi lowered her head*)...I shouldn't have slapped you and yelled at you! And of course you are my daughter and I love you more than you can imagine!"
Talvi:(*tears rolled down her cheeks*)"It wasn't the slap that hurt me, no, it was your words that hurt me!...(*Kjartan sighed*)...I don't know if I can ever forgive you for that!"
Kjartan:"Talvi, darling, please don't do this to me!...(*Talvi wiped away the tears*)... tell me what I can do to make it up to you, my little one!"
Talvi:(*she thought briefly*)"Nothing at the moment and if Sihtric is killed trying to bring Uhtred Ragnarsson here, you can forget about reconciliation anyway!...(*Kjartan swallowed*)...and now if you'll excuse me: I'm going to go and clean the great hall with Sven!"

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And with that being said, Talvi stood up and disappeared! Kjartan felt bad about how he treated his little girl and followed her moments later! Meanwhile: Tekil, some of the others and Sihtric were long gone and reached Cumberland around noon! There they were warmly welcomed and even got ale and some food! At nightfall, Tekil ordered his men to seize Uhtred, but it didn't go as planned! Tekil and his men were killed in the process, only Sihtric was spared! He should give Uhtred the information he needed and tell him everything about Kjartan's weaknesses! About 3 days later: Talvi and Sven were fast asleep, when suddenly Fiske called out for Kjartan...
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Fiske:"Lord, there's something you need to see!...(*Kjartan woke up*)...I'm really sorry to wake you up, but it's important!"
Kjartan:(*he rubbed his eyes*)"If it's not important, I'll rip your ears off!...(*Fiske swallowed*)...what is it that you have to show me now of all times?"
Fiske:"Someone has put heads on our spikes outside the gates!...(*Kjartan tilted his head*)...I'm afraid it's Tekil's and some of the others..."
Kjartan:(*his eyes widened*)"Do you think or do you know, Fiske?!...(*Fiske flinched*)...I swear if his head is impaled down there, I'll kill Uhtred Ragnarsson myself!"
Fiske:"Who are you talking about, Lord?...(*Talvi appeared behind Kjartan*)...and how do you know that Uhtred Ragnarsson put the heads on the spikes?"
Talvi:(*her gaze darkened*)"He's talking about Sihtric and he knows it was Uhtred Ragnarsson!...(*Kjartan turned his head*)...and I swear when Sihtric's head is impaled down there, you'll be the first to die, father!"

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Fiske looked at Talvi before he watched, how Kjartan slapped her! Then he walked away and Talvi's facial expression became unreadable! Fiske was scared of her and he wasn't afraid to say so...she was scary as hell! Moments later she disappeared and Fiske was left alone! Meanwhile: Sihtric was now a part of Uhtred's group and was happy to serve a real Lord! Hild, Halig and Clapa started to like the young Dane and Uhtred was happy to see that! When Ragnar came back from Ireland, Uhtred introduced Sihtric to him! The two of them got along immediately and even Brida seemed to like Sihtric, what was actually a surprise! Once they made a plan, how to defeat Kjartan and take the fortress of Dunholm, Sihtric mentioned his sister! Uhtred's, Ragnar's and Brida's eyes widened and the three of them remembered Talvi immediately! Even though Ragnar had never talked to her, he remembered her pretty well! Uhtred and Brida looked at each other, before Uhtred and Ragnar reassured Sihtric, that his sister would be spared...
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