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Uhtred thought of a way, to get Runa out of the chapel and to safety! Æthelflæd brought in an idea: they bring Runa to their father...they bring her to Aylesbury! Uhtred thought briefly, before realising, that it was their only chance! Sihtric, Finan and Osferth helped him, get her off the table!

Æthelflæd opened the door and Skade shot Uhtred a confused look! Hæsten and his men were still outside and Uhtred knew, that they needed to do something, to make them go away! So he and Hæsten made a deal: Skade in place for Æthelflæd! Hæsten agreed and soon after they made the deal, he and his men disappeared! Sihtric walked past the man he killed earlier and got his axe back! Then Uhtred and his men brought Runa to the horses and rode off to Aylesbury...
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Æthelflæd:"When we get to Aylesbury, they will take your weapons and make you wait outside!...(*Uhtred sighed*)...forgive me if I leave you alone out there, but I have to take my sister to a healer!"
Uhtred:(*he slightly smiled at her*)"Lady, we understand! Just promise me that you will report on Runa's condition as soon as it is possible!...(*Æthelflæd nodded*)...thank you, Lady!"
Finan:"Shouldn't Sihtric go with Æthelflæd?...(*Uhtred turned his head*)...I mean, Runa is still theoretically his beloved..."
Osferth:(*he scratched his head*)"I don't think Runa wants Sihtric with her!...(*Finan rolled his eyes*)...we should let Æthelflæd go alone with my sister!"

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Uhtred nodded and they soon reached Aylesbury! Steapa and Lord Æthelred stood outside the gates and watched them stop their horses! Steapa noticed Runa and he also noticed, that she was badly injured! After a little while of thinking, they all were allowed to ride through the gates and Æthelflæd was allowed to bring Runa to a healer! Uhtred, Sihtric, Finan and Osferth were to remain outside...so they did!

They waited for Æthelflæd to return and when she did, they were allowed inside, after a little while of discussing! Meanwhile: Lord Æthelred, Lord Aldhelm and Edward waited for Uhtred and his men! When they entered the hall, Uhtred immediately shot Father Beocca a questioning look! He just shrugged his shoulders and lowered his head...
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Lord Æthelred:"I see you have arrived with my wife, Uhtred!...(*Uhtred rolled his eyes*)...why are you here? What do you hope to get out of your visit?"
Uhtred:(*he lowered his head*)"With all due respect, Lord, this is really none of your business!...(*Lord Æthelred tilted his head*)...where is the King? I want to talk to him!"
Father Beocca:"The King felt too weak to appear here himself! Edward represents him!...(*Uhtred turned his head*)...so everything you have to say to the King, you must now say to Edward!"
Æthelflæd:(*she took a deep breath*)"Hæsten and his men have attacked the nunnery in Wincelcumb!...(*Edward's eyes widened*)...it was his intention to kidnap me! But unfortunately it hit one of us worse than we expected..."
Edward:"Sister, who became Hæsten's victim?...(*Æthelflæd sighed*)...Æthelflæd, please tell me it wasn't Runa..."

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Tears rolled down Æthelflæd's cheeks and Edward realised, that it was really Runa! Fear rose inside him and tears also rolled down his cheeks! After a little while, King Alfred appeared and the moment he saw his children crying, he knew that something was up! He shot Uhtred a questioning look, but he only sighed and lowered his head!

Edward needed a moment to proceed, what just happened, then he turned to his father! With tears in his eyes he told him, that Runa was the victim of Hæsten's attack on Æthelflæd...
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Edward:"Father, Runa was the victim of Hæsten's attack on Æthelflæd!...(*King Alfred's eyes widened*)...she was already taken to a healer, but her leg is badly injured..."
King Alfred:(*he cleared his throat*)"Uhtred, were you there when this happened?...(*Uhtred nodded*)...and why didn't you help my daughter?"
Uhtred:"Lord King, I did everything in my power to ensure that Runa did not die on the way here!...(*King Alfred lowered his head*)...she has lost a lot of blood and goes into a fever dream from time to time and she is steadily losing consciousness!"
King Alfred:(*he looked at Sihtric*)"And where were you when this cruelty happened to my daughter?...(*Sihtric lifted his head*)...she is your beloved, so I ask you: where were you when she needed you most?"
Sihtric:"With all due respect, Lord King, she is no longer my beloved!...(*King Alfred raised an eyebrow*)...yet I did everything in my power to stop her bleeding enough so that we could transport her here..."
King Alfred:(*he nodded at him*)"And for that I will be eternally grateful to you, Sihtric Kjartansson!...(*Sihtric sighed*)...and now go to her! Whether she is still your beloved or not, she talks about you and how much she loves you every free minute!"

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Sihtric's eyes widened and Finan literally shoved him to the door, through which they came earlier! Before Sihtric disappeared, he nodded at King Alfred and made sure, he had Uhtred's approval! When Uhtred nodded at him, he slightly smiled and then he disappeared!

Meanwhile: the healer was long gone and Runa was fast asleep! Sihtric carefully opened the door and closed it slowly after he entered her chambers! She somehow heard him, because she instantly opened her eyes and shot him a dirty look! Sihtric sighed, but sat down besides her anyway! She was still angry about his presence and she let him feel her anger! He tried to make eye contact, but she avoided looking at him! She hated him for what he said to her earlier that day and she was still hurt by his words! How could she confess her feelings to a guy, who was that heartless? She sighed and eventually looked at him...even if it was just for a brief moment! Sihtric tried to get her attention, but he soon realised, that she was very hurt by the words, she said to her earlier...
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