same old love - Sihtric Kjartansson

meeting another seer

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Uhtred and his men were currently on their way to Winchester, when Sihtric suddenly stopped his horse! Uhtred, Finan and Osferth turned their heads and looked at Sihtric, who was sweating! Uhtred instantly raised an eyebrow and then he saw her: Linn! Her brown hair flew loose in the wind, her blue eyes shone beautifully in the afternoon sun and her smile was enchanting in its own way! Uhtred, Finan and Osferth needed a moment to think straight again...this was either a trap or their lucky day...
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Finan:"Lady, are you all right or do you need help?...(*Linn looked at him*)...what are you doing out here all alone?"
Linn:(*she sighed*)"I'm fine thank you, Finan!...(*Finan's eyes widened*)...it's nice to finally meet you guys!"
Uhtred:"How do you know us and our names?!...(*Linn grinned*)...what and who are you?!"
Linn:(*she shrugged her shoulders*)"You'll have to find that out for yourself, Uhtred!...(*Uhtred looked at Finan*)...you have exactly 3 attempts!"
Uhtred:"You are a seer! Admit it!...(*Linn tilted her head*)...damn it, Sihtric, Finan, Osferth we have to get out of here!"
Sihtric:(*he sighed*)"But, Lord, she is so beautiful!...(*Uhtred rolled his eyes*)...why are you so put off straight away? You tolerated Skade for days..."
Osferth:"Yes, that's right, but we have to get out of here before she gets the idea to curse one of us!...(*Uhtred and Finan nodded*)...Sihtric, you can fall in love with any woman in Winchester, but not with her!"

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Sihtric sighed again, before he took the reins of his horse and followed Uhtred and the others to Winchester! Linn looked after them until they were fully gone and then she disappeared into the forest! Meanwhile: Uhtred and his men were almost there, when Finan cleared his throat and started talking about the new seer...
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Finan:"Beauty or not: this woman is a witch!...(*Uhtred turned his head*)...I just can't believe this is happening to us again..."
Uhtred:(*he took a deep breath*)"Nothing happens to us again!...(*Finan looked at him*)...as long as neither of us allows feelings to develop for her, all is well!"
Osferth:"You'll have to tell Sihtric at most, Lord!...(*Sihtric shot him a warning look*)...I have a feeling this is going to end badly..."
Sihtric:(*he rolled his eyes*)"Calm down, baby monk, as long as none of us dies, all is well, isn't it?...(*Osferth shrugged his shoulders*)...well, you see, that's not a 'no'!"
Uhtred:"Try to talk it up as much as you like: in the end we'll see what we get out of it!...(*Sihtric went quiet*)...we are here, you know what that means...so I don't have to tell you again!"

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Once they rode through the gates and led their horses to the stables, they made their way to the palace! Uhtred was still an outlaw, but he wanted to talk to King Alfred...but he first payed Father Beocca and his sister, Thyra a visit! Sihtric, Finan and Osferth sat outside an ale house, observing their surroundings, when suddenly Æthelwold sat down besides Finan...
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Finan:"My day honestly couldn't be worse! What do you want?...(*Æthelwold turned his head*)...there are many free tables and you have to sit at ours?"
Æthelwold:(*he grinned*)"Feel honoured to sit at the table with a future King, Finan!...(*Sihtric stifled his laughter*)...why are you trying to suppress your laughter, Sihtric?"
Sihtric:"Because of the fact that you really think you could be King someday, Æthelwold!...(*Æthelwold rolled his eyes*)...and now back to Finan's first question: what do you want?"
Æthelwold:(*he took a deep breath*)"Ask where Uhtred is! If you're here, he can't be far! So where is he?...(*Finan shrugged his shoulders*)...is he with his sister?"
Sihtric:"Uhtred is not here, Æthelwold!...(*Æthelwold shot him the ‚who believes will be blessed look'*)...so find someone else to bug...thanks!"
Æthelwold:(*he stood up*)"As you wish!...(*Finan looked at Sihtric*)...then I shall go and find Uhtred!"

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And with that being said, he disappeared! Sihtric and Finan shook their heads and drank their mugs of ale! Meanwhile: Uhtred sat in Thyra's and Father Beocca's house and had to listen to Father Beocca ranting about Thyra had giving Uhtred her blood! Of course Uhtred explained to him, for what he needed her blood, but Father Beocca didn't care! It didn't take long until they heard Æthelwold's and Sigebriht's annoying voices...so Uhtred needed to disappear! Thyra showed him a hiding spot under their floor and Uhtred thanked her for that! When Æthelwold and Sigebriht gained access into Thyra's and Father Beocca's house, they realised, that Uhtred wasn't there and after a while they disappeared again! Finan and Sihtric watched from a safe distance and even Osferth joined them now! Meanwhile: Linn was on her way to Coccham and right before the gates she stopped! She looked for a place to hide and waited for Uhtred and his men! After Uhtred's business with King Alfred, who was now dead, was settled and Edward accepted that Uhtred was now a free man again, he and his men saddled their horses and rode off towards Coccham!
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Osferth:"I'm glad to be back home at last!...(*Finan nodded*)...finally sleeping in my own bed again!"
Uhtred:(*he laughed*)"Yes, I think we are all looking forward to that!...(*Finan and Sihtric nodded*)...I am glad not to be an outlaw any more!"
Finan:"So are we, Lord! But that doesn't mean we pay endless visits to Winchester now, does it?...(*Uhtred shook his head*)...good, because I wouldn't feel like it!"
Sihtric:(*he sighed*)"I'm tired and exhausted, so I don't think I'll have another mug of ale with you when we reach Coccham!...(*Uhtred turned his head*)...I will go straight to my house, change and fall into my bed!"
Osferth:"That's a good idea too! Maybe we should all do it that way!...(*they laughed*)...but what we should definitely do before that is to give the horses water!"
Finan:(*he nodded*)"Good idea, Osferth!...(*Osferth grinned*)...that's how we do it!"

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They laughed again before they rode through the gates! Then they jumped off their horses, led them to the stables, gave them fresh water and then walked towards the great hall! And even though Sihtric was tired and exhausted, he wanted to get himself some water, he could take with him to his house! Uhtred, Finan and Osferth did the same and even sat down for a brief moment! Meanwhile: Linn saw how the boys rode through the gates and now used her opportunity and gained access to the village! Once she stood in front of the great hall, she opened the doors carefully and entered the wooden building! She tried to be quiet, but unfortunately that wasn't one of her many talents! Because before she knew it, Finan held his dagger to her throat and was tempted to kill her on the spot, but Sihtric held him back! Finan didn't understand why, but he wasn't in the mood to find out either so he let go off the witch and sat back down...
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