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

Lust and regret

Avery was the first one to awaken, a slight pain between her thighs from what had occurred the night before. She went to move but could feel a dampness between her thighs, she subconsciously reached between her legs but when her fingers appeared bloodied, she grew nervous. She quickly reached to shake Leofric awake. He glanced at her fingers before he rolled over onto his other side, clearly unbothered that she was bleeding.

"Did your ladies in waiting not tell you about how the bedsheets would be paraded around the streets the next day? A sign of a husband taking his new wife. There will be no more blood, you are okay." He mumbled into his pillow. Seemingly not concerned with her issues.

"I need warm water to clean myself." He didn't move at first until she hit his chest and with a small laugh, he climbed from the bed to fetch the water. He was gone for several minutes while the water heated to a warm enough temperature. When he returned, he sat at the end of the bed, dipping the rag in the water and cleaning between her thighs to which she sighed softly. "You are going to have to take me back to my brothers, claim you found me hiding out again. They cannot know where I truly was."

"And why would you run away this time, Princess? What would trigger you?" He rinsed the rag, the clear water turning a pale red as he finished cleaning her up. His attention now to her bloodstained hand.

"I overheard them discussing my possible husband. Old lords who can offer them land or soldiers for my hand." She watched the way he looked at her now, wondering if she was speaking the truth and the weak smile, she forced let him know that she was. "Thank you. For showing me such kindness." She moved to kiss him, but he turned his head from her and then collected her clothes. Placing them onto the bed for her as a sign they should leave soon, and he went to get rid of the bowl.

While he was out of the room she quickly changed, feeling slightly embarrassed now by her actions last night but she knew it was Leofric protecting himself. He had revealed his feelings for her last night and now he would bury them back down. Protect himself and his heart from a relationship that could never happen.

He also returned into the room in some clean clothes, she was pacing the room – wondering what her brothers would say to her. Or what disappointment they would express at her disappearing again.

"You should leave first; I will meet you by the inn and walk with you back to the keep." She simply nodded; she didn't like how awkward things were all of a sudden. She had given herself to him. Showed him such vulnerability and now he seemed to be shutting down. But she couldn't blame him, not really. She had made him go against his honour, give into his weakness and feelings for her. She left him to clean the bedroom, to get rid of any evidence she had even been there.

The inn was eerily quiet, she usually only saw the building in the evenings. But she saw several drunks sleeping outside in the grass and she could bet that Aethelwold was one of them. He was often dragged back to his father covered in his own vomit. Avery moved away from them, not wanting to be seen with Leofric so close to his home. When he was back by her side, he was his usual expressionless self. They walked in silence. Something they had done several times before. When he was just her brothers' paid sword.

They were soon brought into the throne room; Alfred and his wife were already waiting for her oldest brother to arrive and no doubt shout at her for her actions. But the happy sounds of her niece made her smile, they shared a quick hug. Avery would honestly die for Aethelflaed. The moment was however cut short when King Aethelred entered the room. Avery automatically growing tense as she was left alone. Leofric moving to stand beside the King and Aethelflaed cuddling up to her mother.

Everyone bowed for their King, including Avery. When the King took his throne, everyone finally stood back up straight. She could feel Alfred's judgemental gaze from where she stood. Which she hated. She had met Alfred's bastard. Knew he was a sinner and here he was, passing judgement on her.