say yes to heaven, say yes to me - Finan the agile

false promises

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King Alfred:"Lady Valeria, how good it is to see you!...(*Valeria nodded at him*)...to explain your pick-up at home: Æthelflæd is afraid of her wedding tomorrow and wants you to stay with her!"
Valeria:(*she looked at Æthelflæd*)"Flæd, what are you afraid of?...(*Æthelflæd lowered her head*)...he will be quite a nice and sincere man!"
Æthelflæd:"And what if he doesn't think I'm pretty?...(*Valeria and King Alfred looked at each other*)...I am simply scared, Val!"
Uhtred:(*appeared behind Valeria*)"If he doesn't think you are pretty, he's either blind or stupid!...(*Æthelflæd turned around*)...hello princess!"
Æthelflæd:"Uhtred, how nice that you are here!...(*she fell around his neck*)...I missed you!"
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Uhtred smiled and poked her nose with his finger! Æthelflæd laughed and Valeria took a step back...then she suddenly touched someone with her back! She turned her head and saw Finan standing behind her...his breath made her shiver! She swallowed and turned her head back to where Æthelflæd and Uhtred were standing! Finan looked down at Valeria and placed his hand on her lower back...that sent shivers done her spine! Sihtric noticed and smirked...he has never seen his best friend being in love before! Uhtred and Æthelflæd widely smiled at each other...Lady Ælswith just sighed and rolled her eyes at the Dane! Steapa and King Alfred also smiled at Uhtred and were happy about his visit...
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Steapa:"Uhtred, my friend!...(*Uhtred turned to Steapa*)...what brings you here?"
Uhtred:(*looked at Valeria and Æthelflæd*)"On the one hand, Æthelflæd's wedding and on the other, I wanted to see Val again!...(*Valeria lifted her head*)...it's good to be back!"
King Alfred:"It's good to have you back, Uhtred!...(*they hugged*)...have you and your friends eaten yet?"
Finan:(*nodded*)"We don't want to inconvenience you, Lord King!...(*King Alfred waved it off*)...we are actually only here because I wanted to see Valeria!"
Valeria:"You flatter me, Finan!...(*Finan grinned*)...Lord King, Lady Ælswith it seems Æthelflæd has spoken her fears, so I would go back home now!"
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She turned around and gently removed Finan's hand...he smirked and watched her disappear! Uhtred, Finan and Sihtric left the palace moments later and watched Valeria enter her house! Sihtric punched Finan's shoulder and dragged him into an ale house! Uhtred laughed before he sat down and ordered three mugs of ale! Finan rolled his eyes as always...and Sihtric laughed! The next morning: Valeria woke up, because Novalee yelled her name! Then she remembered: it was her best friends wedding day! And it was already late! She quickly got dressed and then she ran towards the palace! Just in time she reached the throne room and locked eyes with Father Beocca! He needed to suppress his laughter and pointed towards Uhtred, Finan and Sihtric!
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Uhtred:"Did you seriously oversleep?...(*Valeria shook her head and rolled her eyes*)...thank you for the confirmation!"
Sihtric:(*felt a random touch*)"Lord, what is this weasel doing here and why is it touching me?...(*Uhtred turned his head and locked eyes with Æthelwold*)...now I can go wash again!"
Finan:"Æthelwold if you want to keep your hands, you let go of Sihtric now!...(*Æthelwold stood besides Uhtred*)...that they let you in here is criminal!"
Valeria:(*moved closer to Finan*)"Can I stand next to you?...(*Finan quickly turned his head and nodded*)...thank you! Lord Æthelwold has actually been expelled from the palace..."
Sihtric:"Are you sure, Val!...(*she nodded*)...Uhtred, this weasel has actually been expelled from the palace!"
Uhtred:(*his eyes widened*)"Then what is he doing here?!...(*Sihtric shrugged his shoulders*)...Val, can you reach my dagger?"
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Valeria nodded and took it! Then she followed Uhtred's instructions and placed the dagger in Æthelwold's belt! Finan widely smiled and Sihtric watched in amusement...Uhtred turned his head and smiled at Valeria! Valeria then pushed her way through and stood in right front of King Alfred's throne and whispered something in his ear! Lady Ælswith and Æthelflæd entered the room, in the exact same moment, King Alfred accused Lord Æthelwold of an ambush! Lady Ælswith and Æthelflæd looked at Uhtred, because the dagger was familiar...he just smiled and watched, as Steapa shoved Æthelwold out of the room!
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Father Beocca:"Now that the hustle and bustle is over, we can get on with the ceremony!...(*Æthelflæd smiled at her husband-to-be*)...princess Æthelflæd, Lord Æthelred, are you ready?"
Æthelred:(*nodded and whispered in her ear*)"I can hardly wait!...(*Æthelflæd giggled*)...let me say that you look beautiful!"
Æthelflæd:"Thank you, Lord!...(*they smiled at each other*)...Father, continue!"
Father Beocca:(*smiled*)"We are gathered here today to witness the marriage of these wonderful people!...(*Uhtred rolled his eyes*)...and since I do not wish to keep you waiting any longer, I hereby declare you lawfully husband and wife!"
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The whole crowd applauded and cheered and Lord Æthelred gently kissed Æthelflæd! Valeria closed her eyes, the moment Father Beocca was done talking! She felt something strange...she didn't like the idea, that her best friend was now married to that arrogant person! She knew, she wouldn't see Æthelflæd in a long time...once they rode off to Mercia! She leaned against Finan's shoulder and sighed! Finan rested his head on hers and rubbed her back gently! Uhtred and Sihtric already made their way out of the throne room and waited for Finan and Valeria! After a while, the two of them approached them and together they watched, as Æthelred and Æthelflæd widely smiled at each other! After a little while, Æthelflæd approached them and turned to Valeria...
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Æthelflæd:"It's time, my beautiful best friend!...(*tears rose in Valeria's eyes*)...I am sure we will meet again soon!"
Valeria:(*sighed*)"Please promise me you will be careful!...(*Æthelflæd nodded*)...and don't even think about travelling to battles!"
Æthelred:"At some point, it will be her duty!...(*Valeria turned her head*)...but how would a maid like you know that!"
Finan:(*shoved Valeria protectively behind him*)"Watch your mouth!...(*Æthelred flinched*)...Valeria is more than a maid! She is your wife's best friend and has known her longer than you!"
Æthelflæd:(*looked at her husband*)"We should go now!...(*Æthelred nodded*)...see you, my beautiful!"
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Valeria gave her a weak smile before turning around! Finan, Uhtred and Sihtric watched them ride off and Finan then turned to Valeria but she was gone! Valeria reached her house and knocked on the door...her mother opened it and let her daughter in! Aldwyn looked at his daughter and knew, that Æthelflæd's husband, was an arse! Novalee and Delilah hugged their sister and snuggled against her chest! That made Valeria laugh and she kissed their foreheads! Valeria suddenly woke up in the middle of the night...she looked out of her window and saw how Finan, Uhtred, Sihtric and King Alfred's bastard son Osferth, rode off! She quietly walked down the stairs and opened the door! She walked towards the stables and greeted her horse! She then saddled her stallion and rode off...
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