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

you are my best friend, Sihtric!

~~~~~~
Finan:"Lady, you should get some sleep!...(*Valeria shook her head*)...yes Val, you should, don't be stubborn!"
Valeria:(*she sighed*)"I'm afraid of nightmares, Finan!...(*Finan frowned*)...I haven't slept properly since my kidnapping..."
Finan:"Have you ever had a nightmare before? I mean, since your kidnapping?...(*Valeria nodded*)...do you want to tell me what happened in that nightmare?"
Valeria:(*she took a deep breath*)"Actually, I wanted to tell Sihtric when he was there to check on me and Æthelflæd!...(*Finan tilted his head*)...but I didn't have the chance, because he was gone again immediately..."
Finan:"So you'd rather tell Sihtric first?...(*Valeria nodded*)...do you want me to bring him back in the house? Or do you want to tell him tomorrow?"
Valeria:(*she thought briefly*)"Could you bring him back into the house?...(*Finan nodded*)...thank you Finan, that's really nice of you!"
~~~~~~
Finan smiled at her before he walked towards the door and disappeared! He then walked toward the ale house, where the others waited and approached Sihtric! Finan told him, that Valeria wanted to talk to him and Sihtric immediately stood up and walked towards her house! Eadgyth instantly opened the door, when she saw him coming and he thanked her in return! Meanwhile: Finan sat down besides Osferth and Uhtred shot him a confused look...Finan just shrugged his shoulders and sighed! Back to Sihtric and Valeria: when Sihtric reached her bed, she immediately lifted her head and smiled at him! He sat down on her bed and looked at her, waiting for her to speak up...
~~~~~~
Sihtric:"Finan said you wanted to talk to me?...(*Valeria nodded*)...what's it about, Val?"
Valeria:(*she sat up straight*)"Do you remember the night you wanted to check on Æthelflæd and me? There in the fortress of Beamfleot?...(*Sihtric nodded*)...I wanted to tell you what they did to me when Erik allowed Æthelflæd to wash..."
Sihtric:"Val, you're scaring me...what have they done to you?!...(*Valeria lowered her head*)...and above all, who has done something to you?!"
Valeria:(*she swallowed*)"Hæsten and Dagfinn!...(*Sihtric's eyes widened*)...they...they...raped and...abused me!"
Sihtric:"Those bastards did what?!...(*Valeria's eyes filled with tears*)...I will bring those two to justice! No one will ever hurt you again, I promise you, Val!"
Valeria:(*she took his hands into her own*)"Sihtric, you are my best friend, my heart and my soul! I trust you and hope that nothing will happen to you!...(*Sihtric kissed her forehead*)...please take care of yourself! I don't want to lose you..."
~~~~~~
For a moment they both went quiet and just looked at one another! It was true, Sihtric was Valeria's best friend and she would do anything, to keep him safe! He was her rock, her heart and her soul...she loved him more than anything! After a while Sihtric pulled her into a tight hug and kissed the top of her head, when he stood up to leave! She smiled at him and watched as he disappeared...and somehow she felt empty now! Meanwhile: Finan, Uhtred and Osferth watched Sihtric approach them and shivers ran down their spines...they had never seen him this angry! Uhtred immediately asked him, what Valeria told him, but Sihtric only told Uhtred two names: Hæsten and Dagfinn...
~~~~~~
Uhtred:"What did Val tell you?...(*Sihtric lowered his head*)...Sihtric, answer me! We only want to help her..."
Sihtric:(*he took a deep breath*)"All I can and will tell you is two names, all right?...(*Uhtred nodded*)...Hæsten and Dagfinn..."
Finan:"I can guess what happened!...(*Uhtred and Osferth nodded*)...these two must be brought to justice! Best soon..."
Osferth:(*he thought briefly*)"And how are you going to track them down?...(*Finan shrugged his shoulders*)...now that both their lords are dead, they're probably over the hill!"
Sihtric:"Not if they were so stupid as to stay in the fortress of Beamfleot!...(*Uhtred's eyes lit up*)...Lord, are you thinking the same thing as me?"
Uhtred:(*he slightly smiled*)"Like always?...(*Sihtric laughed whilst nodding*)...then I think the same thing as you, yes!"
~~~~~~
Finan and Osferth looked at one another before turning their heads back to Uhtred and Sihtric, who already stood up and were ready to go! Meanwhile: Æthelflæd walked around her estate and felt the child, which was growing in her, kick! She smiled and when she re-entered the building, she was living in, she immediately felt something strange! It was quiet and none of her maids was to be seen...she quickly grabbed her dagger and snuck into her bedroom! There she nearly died of an heart attack...Lord Aldhelm, her husbands personal guard, was sitting on a chair, playing with his sword! She put her dagger down and approached the man, she didn't knew what to think of...
~~~~~~
Æthelflæd:"Lord Aldhelm, what a rare honour!...(*Aldhelm lifted his head*)...what are you doing here?"
Aldhelm:(*he lifted his head*)"Lady Æthelflæd, how good it is to see you!...(*Æthelflæd rolled her eyes*)...the reason I am here is actually quite simple! Your husband wants to have you and your child killed, which is why I suggest you go back to Winchester for a while!"
Æthelflæd:"And why should I believe you?...(*now Aldhelm was the one who rolled his eyes*)...Aldhelm, we don't like each other and we certainly don't trust each other! So why should I believe you?"
Aldhelm:(*he took a deep breath*)"Listen to your gut feeling, Æthelflæd!...(*Æthelflæd sighed*)...your stay in Winchester need not be of long duration! Just until I get this matter sorted out!"
Æthelflæd:"And how long do you think it will take you?...(*Aldhelm shrugged his shoulders*)...well, I'm going back to Winchester for a while! At least I'll have time to visit my dear best friend!"
~~~~~~
Lord Aldhelm nodded and soon watched as Æthelflæd packed her things! He brought her to her horse and accompanied her on her way to Winchester! When they reached the gates he said his goodbyes and rode off towards Aylesbury! Meanwhile: Uhtred, Sihtric, Finan and Osferth were on currently on their way to their horses, when Æthelflæd rode past them! Uhtred shot her a questioning look, before she jumped off her horse and explained it to him! Not long after she started talking, Gisela came walking towards the small group and had her daughter Stiorra with her! Finan immediately smiled at his ‚niece' and she hugged his leg! He caressed her head and softly smiled at Gisela! She ruffled his hair and leaned against his shoulder...
~~~~~~
Uhtred:"Æthelflæd, why are you back in Winchester?...(*Æthelflæd looked at him*)...shouldn't you be in Saltwic?"
Æthelflæd:(*she laughed maliciously*)"You mean on an estate where everyone has access and where I cannot distinguish between good and evil?...(*Uhtred frowned*)...Aldhelm visited me and told me that my dear husband wants to have me and my child killed!"
Finan:"Child? What child, Æthelflæd?!...(*Æthelflæd lowered her head*)...why does Æthelred want to have his own child killed?"
Gisela:(*she rolled her eyes*)"Finan, think about it!...(*Finan turned his head*)...it may not be Æthelred's child at all?"
Sihtric:"Who else's child would it be?...(*Gisela and Æthelflæd looked at each other*)...wait a minute...Æthelflæd, don't tell me that the father is the one I'm thinking of!"
Æthelflæd:(*she scratched her head*)"Surprise?...(*Sihtric's face dropped*)...you're free to think what you want, but please shut up, okay?"
~~~~~~
Sihtric lowered his head and Uhtred, Finan and Osferth were still confused! Gisela saw her husbands confusion and decided to tell him, the missing information! She walked over to him and whispered a name into his ear: Erik! His eyes immediately widened and he nudged Finan's and Osferth's sides...he then told them, what Gisela told him and their faces dropped! Æthelflæd was still scratching her head and she was clearly embarrassed! Gisela soon wrapped an arm around her shoulder and together they walked towards the palace! After the boys had processed the information, they climbed on their horses and rode off towards the fortress of Beamfleot...
~~~~~~