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Nilsa glanced around the room as she looked for a way to leave her chambers or rather her permanent cell as she called it. She had tried to leave through the doors but Edward had notified the guards to not allow her to leave under any circumstances. She lifted her hands to tangle in her hair as she became more stressed by the moment, she would not bend to his will.
If Alfred were here, he would release her. If Uhtred had visited-
"That's it!" She yelled happily. Uhtred, he would keep her safe. She just had to escape this place.
If she doesn't her father will kill Edward for touching her and in return will be executed. That is not something she would ever wish for.
A tapping at the window surprised her and she caught a glimpse of a sparrow, the same one she nursed back to health. It often visits her from time to time, perhaps it's the little pieces of bread she treats it with. She quickly opened the window and leaned over to pet the bird, it chirped and hopped as it flapped its wings. She observed the height of the window to the roof of the stables, it was doable. But dangerous.
She would welcome death before she chose to be a mistress.
She smiled at the little bird, people assumed the love and care she gave the animals was a waste of time, and she almost laughed at the thought now. She changed out of her nightgown and into one of her more comfortable dresses as she climbed onto the windowsill nervously, she slowly moved her foot along the railings as she avoided looking down.
Her only saving grace was that it was nightfall and no one would see her, she slowly scaled the edge of the roof as she followed the bird above her. Once she reached the corner she jumped onto the roof of the stable and slid down into the hay bale, she huffed in annoyance when one of the goats affectionately head-butted her, while she attempted to remove the straws of hay. The small price of freedom she supposed.
The black horse neighed quietly beside her, her beloved Alfie that King Alfred gifted her, as he bent his front leg down so she could climb on and gently gripped his mane with a tight hold. She never cared for bridles or saddles, she preferred to be free and allow the horse to feel relaxed as they rode.
"Show me the way to Uhtred of Bebbanburg." She whispered to the hawk. The bird chirped and flew up into the sky as it circled Winchester, she tapped her horse's side as they raced through the open gates.
The sparrow swooped down to glide next to them as he led the way. The farther they got from her only home the worse she felt, her father would think she abandoned him or worse. And she had no doubt Edward would make her out to be a whore, she understood the people adored her and that they wouldn't stand by as her name was slandered. That was her only saving grace.
She wasn't sure how long she rode in search of the infamous dane but the moment they could see a village in the distance Alfie slowed down to a simple trot, she was both exhausted and anxious about this meeting. Her father often spoke of the Dane and she knew if he rejected her, she wouldn't have a choice whether she became Edward's mistress. Though, she knew he had friends in his inner circle of trusted warriors. Perhaps she could seduce one of them as a last resort.
Nilsa slid off her horse as he followed behind her, the gates of the village were open in the chilly morning light, she liked it here. It wasn't loud. She felt Alfie nudge her with his snout and she laughed softly, even though he could sense her anxiety.
"Alright, I'll go. Stay out of trouble." She said sternly as she kissed his forehead and looked at the sparrow with the same expression. "You too." The bird flapped its wings in offense from where he was perched on the horse's back. She inhaled sharply as she gathered all the courage she had and opened the doors, Uhtred and his three men stopped their conversation as she walked in. She felt dirty for immediately noticing how beautiful they were.
"Darlin', I think you have the wrong place." The Irishman spoke, Finan, if she remembered correctly. She liked his accent a lot, maybe too much. She rolled her eyes at him as she continued to walk into Uhtred's hall, said Dane was amused and placed his chin in his hands.
"You are hurt." Another man says as he gently reaches out to move her hair, the fingerprints of Edward's torment remain. The Dane gripped the hilt of his sword as he looked at her in concern, this one was Sihtric, she was sure of it. "Who did this?"
"It does not matter." She answered instead, wincing at the soreness that lingered. Sihtric didn't seem to like the answer but understood that she didn't want to speak of it. She made the mistake of looking into his eyes, his gorgeous mismatched eyes.
"You are Lady Nilsa, are you not?" The monk, Osferth, questioned quietly. "The beauty of Wessex." He sighed breathlessly.
"I have come in search of you, Uhtred." She watched as Uhtred stood with curiosity flashing in his eyes. Sihtric moved so Uhtred could stand in front of her, just like Sihtric he reached out to graze the skin of her throat lightly with his finger. She flinched away when he touched a sensitive spot and frowned when he heard her hiss in pain.
"We will kill him."
"You cannot." Uhtred narrowed his eyes at the woman as if she challenged him. "I have an offer."
"You will eat first. Osferth, bring her some ale and food." The monk nodded as he did as ordered and Nilsa felt Sihtric nudge her to the chair next to Uhtred. She wasn't sure why they seemed so kind, she didn't understand them. They were not like any other man she'd met before. They seemed...kind.
"This offer, why is it so important that you sought me out personally?" She smiled bitterly and thanked the monk when he slid a plate in front of her.
"My offer is marriage. I want you to marry me or one of your men here. I do not care who." Finan choked on his ale as Osferth blushed, Sihtric and Uhtred looked at one another in amusement.
"Why?"
"My father cannot protect me as he believes. He has talked of you in the past and says you and these men are loyal and kind. I do not wish to be sold like a whore by the king or be his mistress like he wants." She says the word in disgust and Uhtred leaned closer in interest. "Wessex loves me, you will have free ale whenever you please and you can have all the inheritance my mother left me. I do not need the silver nor do I want it."
"We will not take any silver from you, Lady Nilsa." Uhtred spoke as he placed a hand on hers. "The offer of free ale, however." She cracked a smile at the Dane. "I will marry you." She breathed out a sigh of relief.
"Thank you, Uhtred. And I assure you, this marriage will not be fake. I will do as a wife is expected." She said determinedly and Uhtred chuckled.
"If that is what you want, it can be real. But I want you to know, I will never force myself on you. I do not expect you to have my children or lie with me if you do not wish it." She blushed as he spoke freely of such things with his friends around.
"You are a good man, Uhtred. My father was right," She squeezed his hand with a smile before leaning in close. "And I do not mind the thought of children." She whispered into his ear.
