The Forgotten Princess | Avery x Leofric x Uhtred | The Last Kingdom

Training to be a soldier

Every night for the next two weeks, Avery had managed to sneak away and return to Leofric who had been nothing short of a perfect teacher. He considered her to be a great student. Even when he left her weak and bruised, she never gave up. Leofric had grown quite enamoured with her, not that he would ever tell her. He was a soldier; she was part of the royal bloodline. There was no future for them, he understood that. He would never be worthy of a woman such as her.

This was now the third week in which she would escape the walls of her prison. Trying to avoid all of the townsfolk as she made the familiar journey to Leofric's home. She was merely feet away from his home when she heard the annoying familiar voice of her nephew. Of course, he had recognised her, even hidden beneath her cloaks.

"Does my father know you frequent these streets like nothing but a common whore?" Aethelwold spoke as he stumbled over his own feet to get closer to his aunt. If she was being truly honest, he scared her. She often caught him lurking near her rooms or making inappropriate advances towards the female members of staff. Avery would always save them, giving them another job to do which was far away from him.

"I mean, that is rather rich coming from you. I can already smell the amount of ale and women on you." She didn't even look his way; they were similar in age. Avery and Aethelwold had been born on the same year. The age difference between Avery and her brothers was often the gossip for the townsfolk. Some even saying she was a bastard girl forced on a common slave and that the late Queen was that desperate for a child she cared for Avery as if she was her own, until a short illness had taken her away.

"Is that where you are headed? If so, may I suggest another choice for you?" Just those words falling from his lips was enough to turn her stomach. Was he really suggesting something so vulgar to her? His family. She pulled her hand back, Aethelwold was expecting a slap for his troubles but was immediately surprised when her closed fist made contact with his face. Forcing him to stumble backwards into the table where he was previously sat. Cups and plates flying from the table – breaking on the floor and his companions broke out in laughter as Avery ran the rest of the way.

When she finally reached Leofric's home she was out of breath, full of anger and fear as she knocked erratically against the wooden door. When he finally opened the door, she pushed herself inside, closing the door quickly and resting her back against it. Still unable to calm her breathing.

"What is wrong? Did something happen?" He instantly reached for her shoulders, trying to get her to look back at him so he could check for any injuries or the source of her newfound fear.

"Aethelwold, he saw me. He said such vile things. He threatens to tell my brother lies." Her breathing slowly returned to normal, feeling safe hidden between these walls. With him.

"If you ask it of me, Princess. I will leave these walls and go and find him. He will regret saying such horrible things." His hands now moved to slowly remove her hood, to reveal her raven hair and when her eyes finally met his own there was a softness there that she couldn't quite explain.

"The King would have your head." Her words barely a whisper. No one had ever offered to protect her in such a way before.

"Then I would die a man of honour. The world would be a better place without Aethelwold." His words could be considered as treason. A direct attack against the crown but Avery knew he was right. Aethelwold was not fit to be a King. He wasn't even fit to be a man. But he was still the King's only child. Her brother was blinded by love.

"But why would you do that? I am just a woman. I am destined to never amount to anything." Women never made history. They were just a prize to be given to the highest bidder. She was no different, regardless to what family she was born into.