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

don't be stupid

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Novalee:"Valeria?...(*Valeria's eyes widened*)...where were you?"
Valeria:(*indicated to her that she should be quiet*)"I will tell you later, now you have to promise me that you will tell mother and father that I was in the forest and fell asleep there!...(*Novalee nodded*)...thank you, I love you!"
Novalee:"I love you too!...(*Valeria kissed her forehead*)...and where are you going now?"
Valeria:(*thought briefly*)"Visit someone I hold in high esteem!...(*she smiled at her sister*)...see you later!"
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Valeria opened the door and disappeared! She walked towards the palace and Steapa led her to the throne room! Æthelflæd and Æthelred came to visit the King! She was happy to see her best friend, but she would also witness, what the King has to say about Uhtred's visit in the Danelaw...it made her shiver! When she entered the room, all heads turned to her and she immediately locked eyes with Æthelflæd! The two girls smiled at each other and Lady Ælswith wanted Valeria, to sit next to her! She hugged the girl tight and Valeria held her hand! Uhtred, Finan and Æthelwold came in moments later...and King Alfred immediately got mad!
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King Alfred:"Uhtred, it has come to my attention that you crossed Danelaw without my permission!...(*Uhtred sighed*)...did you bring at least one useful piece of information with you here?"
Uhtred:(*nodded*)"The brothers Erik and Sigefrid invaded and occupied Lunden!...(*Lady Ælswith sighed*)...their fleet is currently a maximum of 8 ships, but the number is increasing!"
Aldhelm:"And what tells us that you are not their ally?...(*Uhtred looked at Aldhelm*)...are you really giving us true information?"
Odda:(*rolled his eyes*)"Uhtred is here or is he not?...(*Aldhelm looked at Odda*)...Uhtred don't worry, this man doesn't know what he is saying!"
Uhtred:"Thank you Odda!...(*Odda smiled at him and Uhtred turned to Aldhelm*)...I'm not quite sure I remember what your name is?"
Aldhelm:(*gave him an annoyed look*)"My name is Aldhelm, I am in Lord Æthelred's guard!...(*Uhtred grinned*)...do you want me to write my name down for you?"
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Valeria couldn't suppress her laughter and she eventually made Lady Ælswith giggle as well! Uhtred, Aldhelm and King Alfred looked at them...just shaking their heads! Finan and Æthelwold sat down besides some of the people in the throne room and waited until the talking was over! King Alfred sent Uhtred, Æthelred, Aldhelm and some of Winchester's guards, to Lunden! Valeria wasn't allowed to go with them, so she remained in Winchester and visited her best friend...
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Æthelflæd:"Val, come in!...(*Valeria entered the room*)...tell me everything that happened after I left!"
Valeria:(*thought briefly*)"I went to the forest a few times as usual and fell asleep there!...(*they laughed*)...and what do you have to report?"
Æthelflæd:"I had imagined my marriage differently, Val!...(*Valeria's face dropped*)...he is not very gentle and I'm afraid to say something wrong!"
Valeria:(*took her hands*)"You should talk to your father, he can help you!...(*Æthelflæd shook her head*)...Flæd, don't be so stupid!"
Æthelflæd:"Could Uhtred help me?...(*Valeria shrugged her shoulders*)...would you ask him? For me?"
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Valeria nodded and hugged Æthelflæd! After a while, she went back home! The next morning: Uhtred, Finan, Sihtric, Osferth and the guards returned! Æthelred and Aldhelm returned moments later! King Alfred listened, when they were telling about the brothers demands and ideas...they were clever! They wanted silver...much silver and they wanted to keep Lunden! King Alfred sighed and gave the order to attack! Uhtred knew, that it would end in chaos, as Lunden was too big to monitor and attack! Erik and Sigefrid suspected an attack and prepared their departure! When Uhtred, Finan, Sihtric, Osferth, Æthelred and Aldhelm reached Lunden, it was abandoned! Valeria, Thyra and Æthelflæd remained at the camp, near Lunden! Father Beocca soon also reached Lunden and approached Uhtred slowly! Uhtred knew, that it was an ambush, but the moment Æthelred listened...it was already too late and Finan's only thought was: Valeria!
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Thyra:"Death...death...death is coming!...(*she rang all the bells and made noise with tableware*)...Valeria, Æthelflæd we have to get out of here!"
Valeria:(*fear rose in her*)"And where shall we go?...(*Thyra pointed towards the forest*)...we are dead before we even start running!"
Æthelflæd:"We have to try!...(*Valeria shook her head*)...what are you going to do about all of them?! Don't be so stupid, Val!"
Thyra:(*nodded*)"Come with us, please!...(*Valeria sighed and eventually gave in*)...on 3 we run...1, 2, 3 now!"
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The three of them ran towards the forest and tried to hide! But horses came from everywhere and Valeria got scared! Her only thought was: Finan! She wanted to snuggle against his chest and she wanted him to tell her, that everything is going to be fine! But she got snapped out of her thoughts, when she heard a horse behind her! She slowly turned her head and looked a Dane deep in the eyes! He jumped off his horse and approached her...she wanted to run but her legs burnt! The Dane told her, that they had captured Æthelflæd and that she would be next! Valeria shook her head and screamed as loud as she could! The Dane knocked her out and threw her over his shoulders and carried her to his horse! Thyra hid behind a tree and when every Dane was gone, she slowly walked towards the camp...she heard Beocca scream her name!
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Father Beocca:"Thyra? Thyra? Thyra?!...(*he cried*)...Thyra, where are you?!"
Uhtred:(*sighed*)"All women are dead, Beocca!...(*Beocca shook his head*)...with luck Æthelflæd is still alive but all the women who were not called 'Æthelflæd' are now dead!"
Æthelred:"Do you think the Danes kidnapped my wife?!...(*Uhtred nodded*)...why would they do that?"
Uhtred:(*rolled his eyes*)"Because she is valuable, pea brain!...(*suddenly Thyra stood behind him and tapped on his shoulder*)...Thyra?!"
Father Beocca:"You see, Uhtred, she is alive!...(*he hugged his wife*)...Thyra can you tell us where Æthelflæd is?!"
Thyra:(*shook her head*)"We were running and then everything was black I am sorry!...(*Uhtred kissed her forehead*)...have you seen Valeria? She was with us when this happened!"
Finan:"Valeria has been kidnapped as well?!...(*his blood began to boil*)...Uhtred we must now go to Winchester and report them missing! And if the King does not provide us with troops, I will take the brothers' fortress apart myself!"
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Uhtred sighed but nodded! After a while they reached Winchester and Lady Ælswith was already awaiting their return! Her face dropped the moment she saw, that Valeria wasn't with them and ahe didn't have the slightest clue, that her daughter travelled with them! But that was Lord Æthelred's fault! Uhtred, Finan and Sihtric led their horses to the stables and then went to knock on Valeria's parents door! Aldwyn opened and then Uhtred told him what happened...he also told him, that they would find Valeria! Aldwyn thanked Uhtred and then closed the door...now the boys followed Osferth, Lord Æthelred and Lord Aldhelm, into the throne room...
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