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Æthelflæd watched carefully and immediately told Uhtred, what was happening outside! His eyes widened and he turned his head to Finan, who had already drawn his sword! Sihtric and Osferth looked at one another before slowly walking to the door and readied to open it! Skade, the seer, watched as Sihtric grew more and more impatient and now that his beloved was possibly in danger, he grew anxious! It made her laugh and hearing that, he quickly turned his head and shot her a warning look!

She only smirked at him and now looked at Uhtred, who seemed to be nervous somehow! Meanwhile: Runa cleared her throat and began talking! That led to the Dane taking a few steps back and listening closely...
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Runa:"I've never seen you here before, what's your name?...(*Hæsten tilted his head*)...and what is it that you want? What is it that you want to kill innocent people for?"
Hæsten:(*he grinned*)"My name is Hæsten, Lady!...(*Runa raised an eyebrow*)...and I want the Lady Æthelflæd! Is she here? Can I speak to her?"
Runa:"No, she's not here and even if she was, you couldn't talk to her!...(*Hæsten got angry*)...so why don't you just go away and leave the people here who are still alive alone?"
Hæsten:(*he laughed maliciously*)"Maybe because I don't believe you that Æthelflæd is not here!...(*Runa rolled her eyes*)...somehow you look familiar! Could it be that we have met before in Winchester at the palace?"
Runa:"No, we have never met before!...(*Hæsten raised an eyebrow*)...and now get out of here!"
Hæsten:(*he shook his head*)"Dagfinn, doesn't she look familiar to you?...(*Dagfinn nodded*)...now I remember: on my last visit in Winchester, Lady Ælswith called you 'daughter'! You are Lady Æthelflæd and Prince Edward's sister!"

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Runa swallowed and took a step back! Hæsten noticed, that she wanted to run to the chapel and quickly grabbed her by her wrist! That forced her to turn around again and look him directly into his blue eyes! Fear rose inside her and she wanted to scream...but somehow she couldn't! Meanwhile: Æthelflæd gasped and immediately called out for Uhtred! When he reached her and saw, what she saw, he immediately told Finan and Sihtric to get their weapons ready! Sihtric shot Uhtred a confused look, because he didn't understand, what was going on! But the moment he heard Hæsten's ugly laugh, he knew, that Runa was in big danger!

So Finan and himself readied their weapons and Osferth slowly opened the door! Sihtric skilfully threw his axe at one of Hæsten's men and judged by the look on Hæsten's face, he wasn't prepared for that! Runa slightly smiled and bit Hæsten's hand, which now were placed on her mouth! He screamed and let go off her...now she could run back to the chapel! But right before she reached it, an axe landed straight directly in her left leg and she fell to the ground, contorted in pain! Finan and Sihtric immediately grabbed shields and ran to her! Sihtric then lifted her up and carried her inside...
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Sihtric:"Lord, please let me take her to the
hall!...(*Uhtred lowered his head*)...Lord, please! I swear I'll be ready when the fight starts, but I can't and won't leave my girl alone now!"
Æthelflæd:(*she looked at Uhtred*)"Uhtred, let Sihtric help her now! He will be ready, as he says, when the fight begins!...(*Uhtred sighed but nodded anyway*)...Sihtric, there are rags and buckets in the kitchen if you need them!"
Sihtric:"Thank you, Lady and thank you, Lord!...(*Æthelflæd nodded at him*)...Lady, I swear I won't let your sister suffer any more!"
Æthelflæd:(*she slightly smiled at him*)"I know and I am very grateful to you for that!...(*Sihtric lowered his head*)...I'll be right with you, get everything ready!"

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Sihtric nodded and opened the doors to the hall! He placed Runa on the table and got a rag plus a bucket of water from the kitchen! Then he pulled the axe out of her leg and started to clean her wound! She whimpered in pain and her eyes widened the moment she felt the cold water on her wound! She let out a heartbreaking scream and Sihtric needed to fight back tears! It broke his heart, seeing the girl he loved to death, suffer because they were to slow to help her!

Meanwhile: Uhtred, Finan, Osferth and the rest of Uhtred's men got themselves ready for the fight! Moments later Hæsten's men stormed into the chapel and the fight began! Sihtric noticed and waited for Æthelflæd to enter the hall! When she did, he nodded at her and joined Uhtred and the others! He drew his sword and fought every man who came his way! Skade also killed a few men and proudly smiled at Uhtred! Æthelflæd rolled her eyes at her behaviour and started to take care of her sister...
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Æthelflæd:"Everything will be fine, you'll see!...(*Runa shook her head*)...sister, you are a fighter! You will get through this and you will be completely healthy again!"
Runa:(*tears rolled down her cheeks*)"Æthelflæd, I have never felt such pain!...(*Æthelflæd wiped away Runa's tears*)...please help me, Æthelflæd! I feel like I'm bleeding to death..."
Æthelflæd:"My angel, you will not bleed to death, I will not let you!...(*Runa trembled*)...Runa, stay with me! Please don't leave me...RUNA!"

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Sihtric and Finan heard Æthelflæd's scream and killed their last victims before they stormed into the hall! Sihtric saw that Runa was unconscious and his eyes immediately filled with tears! Finan rubbed his beard and fear rose inside him! Uhtred and Osferth locked the door, before they joined Sihtric, Finan and Æthelflæd in the hall! Runa lost more and more blood and pulse quickened!

Sihtric scratched his head and dabbed the rag into the cold water! He started dabbing her forehead gently and watched as she slowly opened her eyes!
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