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

Winchester is not safe

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Osferth:(*heard the sound of a horse*)"Lord, someone is coming!...(*Uhtred drew his sword*)...looks like that someone is alone!"
Finan:"Still, it could be someone who wants to cook baby monk soup tonight!...(*Sihtric laughed*)...Lord, do you think there's danger?"
Uhtred:(*shrugged his shoulders*)"Actually, I'm not in the mood to find out!...(*the rider slowly approached*)...identify yourself, now!"
Valeria:"I didn't know I was on your 'to kill' list!...(*Uhtred lowered his sword*)...hello friends! I saw you riding away and was deeply saddened that you didn't ask me to come!"
Sihtric:(*stood up and she jumped off her horse*)"Val, how nice that you found us!...(*she pulled him into a hug*)...we just didn't want to wake you up!"
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Valeria rolled her eyes before she turned to Uhtred, Finan and Osferth! She looked the baby monk up and down before she warmly smiled at him! Then Uhtred pulled her into a hug and later Finan did the same! She sat down besides Osferth and leaned against his shoulder! They were childhood friends, but she didn't recognise him right away! He put an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him! Sihtric and Uhtred soon fell asleep and it was Finan's turn for the night watch! Osferth and Valeria also fell asleep and Finan covered her with his coat! She snuggled against the warm like blanket and smiled slightly as she woke up to Finan's stare...
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Finan:"I didn't mean to wake you up, I am sorry!...(*Valeria giggled*)...will my coat keep you warm? If not, I still have the fur I'm sitting on, which I could offer you..."
Valeria:(*shook her head at his offer*)"Who would I be if I let you freeze?...(*she sat herself up*)...tell me something about yourself while everyone else is sleeping!"
Finan:"I am originally from Ireland and met Uhtred as a slave!...(*Valeria tilted her head*)...we had lost everything and the prospect of returning home was hopeless..."
Valeria:(*sat down besides him*)"And who rescued you?...(*she leaned against Finan's shoulder*)...I can imagine that you were very scared!"
Finan:"Uhtred's brother Ragnar rescued us!...(*Valeria looked over at Uhtred*)...I thought my fear would finally kill me..."
Valeria:(*rubbed his back*)"I'm glad your fear didn't kill you!...(*Finan turned his head*)...otherwise I would never have met you!"
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Finan widely smiled at her and took her hands his! She still rubbed his back and fell asleep on his shoulder! The next morning: Uhtred and Sihtric were awake first and after a while, Osferth woke up as well! Valeria and Finan turned their heads, when they felt Sihtric's hands on their shoulders! Finan stood up and helped Valeria prepare some breakfast! Osferth, Sihtric and Uhtred prepared the horses and ate, when the breakfast was ready! Finan and Sihtric laughed at Osferth's weak try, holding Uhtred's sword! Then Uhtred wanted Valeria to hold his sword...knowing, that Steapa taught her a few skills! Finan, Osferth and Sihtric watched, as Valeria and Uhtred made the ‚square'...
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Uhtred:"Are you ready, Val?...(*Valeria shook her head*)...come on! A few scratches are part of life!"
Valeria:(*rolled her eyes*)"For someone who has been fighting all his life, it's easy to say that!...(*Uhtred laughed*)...why are we even doing this circus?"
Sihtric:"He wants you to know, that you must be on your guard at all times!...(*Valeria turned to Sihtric*)...you didn't hear it from me!"
Osferth:(*shook his head*)"Wouldn't an axe be much lighter than your killer piece of sword?...(*Sihtric and Finan laughed*)...at least that's what you said to me the first time I dropped a sword!"
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Uhtred and Valeria looked at Osferth before Uhtred ‚launched' his first attack! Valeria dodged his attack easily and tried to remember, what Steapa taught her! After a bit of thinking and recalling memories, she finally knew, how to defend herself! She easily dodged the two following attacks as well, before she launched her first attack! It caught Uhtred off guard, as he began to stumble and finally lay on the floor in front of her! Finan, Osferth and Sihtric cheered...Uhtred just rolled his eyes and laughed! When it was noon they rode off towards Danelaw to follow up a prophecy! Uhtred, Finan, Osferth and Valeria crossed Æthelwold's way and Uhtred immediately got mad!
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Sihtric:"How come you always show up when we don't need you?...(*Æthelwold rolled his eyes*)...what are you doing here anyway?"
Æthelwold:(*smirked*)"I follow a prophecy!...(*Valeria's eyes widened*)...don't worry, King Alfred doesn't know about your little slip!"
Finan:"And we only let you live so that you perish with us!...(*Æthelwold swallowed*)...but now go on!"
Æthelwold:(*cleared his throat*)"When we get there, we have to go to the great hall, but only 3 of us are allowed in there!"
Uhtred:"What nonsense, we will all go in there!...(*Valeria took a deep breath*)...Val, what do you think?"
Valeria:(*snapped out of her thoughts*)"That I will have a big problem if King Alfred finds out I was there with you!...(*Uhtred sighed*)...listen, we are not there yet! I can still wait for you here!"
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Uhtred thought briefly and nodded! Osferth stayed with her and together they watched the others ride on! After they fully disappeared, Osferth turned to Valeria and looked her deep into her eyes! She knew, that he was probably going to ask, why she left Winchester...
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Osferth:"Why did you leave Winchester?...(*Valeria turned her head*)...have there been any problems?"
Valeria:(*shook her head*)"Not directly but I think something will happen soon!...(*Osferth frowned*)...Osferth, it is not safe in Winchester!"
Osferth:"Why do you say that?...(*Valeria sighed*)...do you know something we don't?"
Valeria:(*closed her eyes*)"Rumours are circulating that King Alfred's troops are to be stationed near Devon!...(*Osferth's eyes widened*)...they want to march against the Dane brothers Erik and Sigefrid!"
Osferth:"Why would they do that?...(*in that moment horses appeared*)...perhaps Uhtred knows why!"
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Uhtred, Sihtric, Finan and Æthelwold approached them and Uhtred was tired! Sihtric and Finan looked at Osferth and Valeria before they jumped off their horses! They told them, what the ‚dead man' said! Valeria gave Osferth the ‚I told you' look before she looked at Uhtred! He just rolled his eyes and after a while, they rode off towards Winchester! They reached it and Valeria immediately went home, hoping, that her absence gone unnoticed!
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