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Elfstan was cold. There was no other word to describe him. Even if Wenyld have searched for five years another word to fit him, there was none. Everything about him was in accordance with the deep blue of his eyes. And it didn't grow better with time. But at least he wasn't bad nor violent. She was grateful for that.
"Wife." He called as he crossed her way in the corridor.
"Husband." She responded, smiling. There was no love between the two. The days where Elfstan was trying to be more confident with Wenyld were far now. They were just bonded by a marriage and the daughter that it produced.
"We will receive the King in few days." He told.
"King Alfred?" Wenyld had met him several times in Winchester, but never here. Never at Glastonbury. Elfstan nodded and her smile grew bigger. Finally, a little life in this palace. "So, I should prepare his arrival with Eadwynn."
"You should." He said leaving her.
Wenyld started to walk to the garden where she found her daughter, picking flowers with Eadwynn. The young brunet ran to his mother when she saw her, holding her the bouquet.
"Look Mommy, Eadwynn helped me to pick them for you." The bright smile of his daughter made Wenyld even more happy. She took the flowers and kissed her cheek, crouching to her high.
"Thank you, Matilda, they are beautiful."
Matilda was a real sunshine. Wenyld couldn't remember a day where she hadn't seen her smile. She looked a lot like her with her brown curls, her small nose and her playful air. She was quite the opposite of his father. Even her deep blue eyes did not reflect the same thing. At Elfstan, they seemed empty of any emotion. They just looked like the depths of an ocean. But for Matilda, they were full of life. Sparkling from dusk until dawn.
Wenyld got up and walked to Eadwynn. The woman was her dearest friend. Helping her in any matters since she was married. They became close quickly. "My husband informed me that the King will visit us soon."
Eadwynn raised her eyebrows, surprised by the news. "Is that real?"
"Of course, it is." She smiled, taking her arm to walk around the garden. "I will need you to prepare everything, can I count on you?"
"You can, Lady. As always."
...
The King's arrival happened two weeks after. For the occasion, Glastonbury had a new atmosphere, a more welcoming one. People acclaiming Alfred as he made his way through the streets. The next day, a great banquet was organized. The reception hall of the palace was full of laugh and joy. Wenyld was sitting next to his husband who was speaking with the King.
"I heard you are to be married." Wenyld said to Aethelflead sitting at his left. The young girl was a beauty with her pale skin and his brown hair.
"Yes, to a Mercian Lord." She responded blushing. Wenyld couldn't help but smile. It seems that Aethelflead was already fond of her suitor. She was too when she met Elfstan for the time. Hypnotizing by his blue eyes, his brown hair, a little bit long and his low voice. Alas, it faded with time. Even if she respected him, she couldn't feel anything else.
"I hope your marriage will give you happiness." She put her palm on Aethflead's hand.
"Did your marriage give you happiness?" Wenyld was taken aback by the question. She took her glass and drank a little of wine.
"It did." It wasn't really a lie. Elfstan gave her a lovely daughter. She knew how some husbands were, and she couldn't complain her situation. The response seemed to please Aethelflead and she turned back to her plate.
Wenyld let her gaze go around the hall. A man grasped her intention, at her right. He had a long brown hair, as if he was a Dane. He was laughing with another man who was from behind. She posed her hand on her husband forearm and then leaned to him.
"Who is the man, at the right, looking like a Dane?"
"Uhtred of Bebbanburg, Alfred's oath man." She frowned. She never thought the King would take a Dane to serve him. "He was raised by Dane, but he has Saxon blood."
What a strange man, she thought. She was quickly disturbed by Matilda's nurse, telling her that the girl wanted to see her before going to sleep. Wenyld excuse herself and followed the woman to her daughter room. When she succeeded to put Matilda into bed, she made her way back to the reception hall.
"Lady Wenyld." She stopped, face to face with Alfred's man. Next to him, the man who he was talking to. She smiled, still intrigued by him.
"Uhtred of Bebbanburg, am I right?" He nodded. "And you are?" She asked turning to the other.
"Finan, my Lady." He said, Wenyld hearing his Irish accent in his words. She took a moment to look at him. His smile was surrounded by a beard as dark as his short hair. His brown eyes were sparkling with playfulness, she was sure of it.
"Are you leaving the banquet?" She asked.
"We are. My other men are waiting outside."
"Surely in an alehouse." Added the Irishman. Uhtred glanced at Finan who raised his hands. Wenyld wasn't surprised. After all, the two were warriors and even if the banquet was great to her, it could be quite boring to them.
"The festivities are not only in the palace." She smiled as she started to get back to the hall. "Have a good night."
Author's note: Heya guys ! I'm sorry that this chapter isn't really long, but i'll try to do them a little bit longer ! I hope you like Wenyld because i love her aha. Elfstan seems to be a lot like Cosimo Medici, which is obviously my inspiration for him, not only for the cast, but you'll see, they aren't quite the sames ;).
