The road to Winchester was uneventful as Aestas hummed quietly to herself as she trotted along on Ghost at the back of their travel group. Her sweet stallion enjoyed the casual pace for a change unbothered by the woman draped across his back in a far less joyous mood.
"You look about as thrilled as I am about this wedding." Gisela teased as she had fallen back to enjoy the young woman's company instead of the conversation between men. One of which was a Sihtric asking Uhtred if he had permission to marry. "At least we can enjoy the festivities."
Aestas sat up rather abruptly, nearly slipping from horseback as she looked at Gisela as if she had lost her mind "This is to be a Saxon wedding, a royal Saxon wedding at that." She pointed out as she menouvered Ghost to ride beside her. The rules of her banishment were still in place even if Muireach knew she had broken them, but she couldn't hold her tongue at the fact Saxon weddings were notoriously boring.
Gisela bit back her laughter at her friend's near misfortune before letting her laughter ring freely from her lips at her comment. "Tha mi creidsinn gu bheil beagan fìrinn anns na faclan agad." She responded stumbling over her words but still rather proud to be able to respond in Aestas's native tongue. (I suppose there is some truth in your words)
The response had Aestas's attention in an instant as a warm smile drifted across her lips. "Better." She praised as the two continued on their conversation in the Pictish tongue, one with ease while the other fumbled over words but with a fierce determination to continue.
It allowed them to speak rather freely even when they were just a few paces away from the rest of the group who couldn't help but take constant glances at the two woman. Aestas never responded this much. Her responses were still clipped and short but still more than her usual silence after a single rare response. A couple of the men tried to translate, but it sounded like complete nonsense especially with how quickly Aestas spoke, but what surprised them the most was laughter between the two. They indulged in one another protected by a language few spoke this far south, to the point they forgot they were traveling with others.
"Will you really not marry Sihtric?" Gisela questioned rather surprised Aestas hadn't even considered the idea. The two were quite close, and since the boy was asking permission to marry, Aestas had to be the woman he was pondering on asking.
Aestas sighed as she glanced at the Dane in question. She didn't love him, but she had love for him. "He deserves of a proper wife...not a beast." She responded before a grin slowly crept across her lips "He will have no problem finding a wife, he is quite skilled at making women happy." She insinuated with a chuckle at Gisela's shocked expression.
"Your wife is a good influence on her." Finan hummed as he felt the most at ease when his sister was in Gisela's company. It was about the only time Aestas behaved like a woman instead of a creature of the forest. He knew the freedom of being a wildling was something Aestas treasured, but had he been around she would have grown up to be a fine woman, the regal princess she deserved to be. There were quite a few occasions where his mind would wander, given Aestas's intelligence and strength what kind of ruler she would be, had she been allowed to claim her birthright.
Untred nodded with a hum rather happy his wife has such a dear friend considering she was surrounded by men and women who didn't fully understand her. In that moment he had a the perfect loophole for one of Alfred's many requests. "Aestas!" He called with a smile and waved the two women join them back at the front of their little group.
She knew that look all too well, and it both concerned and excited her as Aestas let Gisela ride up first while she carried up the rear. When she join her brother's side she raises a brow in Uhtred's direction in a silent question. He wouldn't have that look if he didn't have some sort of plan in his head.
