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

Momma's boy

It took another full day of riding before they arrived at the gates of Winchester. Whenever she returned here, she was always reminded of her lost love with Leofric, and she often found herself wondering what would have happened if he was not killed in battle. She knew they would be together, whether Alfred allowed them to be or not. But if he had survived then her child would have been different, and she loved her son with everything she could give him.

She was helped down from her horse by Finan, and their horses were taken to the stables to be looked after and Avery wasted no time to push past him and the various guards to find her son. When she finally found the nursery, she felt her heart nearly beat out of her chest as her eyes settled on her beautiful son once again. After all of the horror she had witnessed. This moment made up for it all.

"My beautiful, Sigeberht." When the wet nurse handed him over to Avery, she felt tears build in her eyes, he had grown so much already. But his eyes lit up and he seemed to recognise her still. She quickly placed a gentle kiss against his tiny forehead. "My beautiful, strong boy."

Finan stepped into the room too, quietly and reserved with his movements because he was still kicking himself for hurting her the other morning. But when he watched her interact with her child, he smiled to himself, this was when she was in her natural state. A caring and protective mother.

"He will make a handsome Lord one day." When she gave him a warm smile, he took that as an unspoken invitation to come closer. But almost as soon as his eyes fully locked onto the child's facial features, he knew instantly who the babe reminded him of. He was a Dane. His light features giving him away. And when Avery noticed the look on Finan's face she grew tense slightly.

"Regina, could you please take Sigeberht for his afternoon nap. I need to speak to Finan, alone." The wet nurse rushed over, taking the babe back from the Princesses' arms and leaving the room and then Avery turned to face Finan who had been uncharacteristically quiet. "Come with me."

His feet were following after her before he even knew what was happening and when they were in her old chambers, she pushed the door closed behind him. Hesitating for a moment as her forehead settled against the heavy wooden door.

"Why bring me in here to tell me something that I already know." He started to pace around the room, looking anywhere but at her.

"I am not telling you anything. I just need your word. That you will never speak these thoughts to anyone that you know." He still refused to look at her and she walked over to him, grabbing a hold of his arms to stop him in his tracks. "Please. Nothing good ever comes from rumours."

"And what good comes from keeping secrets?" A deep sigh left his lips as he stared down at her. She had kept this secret for far too long. "I know you. This is cutting you up inside each time you have to fabricate another lie. I see it."

"Please. Nothing good will ever come from this." Her hands were gripping the front of his tunic now, trying to plead with him and get him to understand her reasoning behind the lies. "He has a family already. A woman he loves. Do not ruin that for him."

"And what about you? Your feelings matter too." She laughed loudly at his words; she was a woman born in a time where men were superior. Regardless of their status. "Avery. Your feelings are valid." His large left hand settled against the side of her face to force her to look into his eyes. "You do not have to deal with all of this by yourself. You are not alone."

"Oh, you sweet little thing. I will always be alone. It is the curse of being a strong woman. Men fear a strong woman. I will be forced to marry, eventually. But it will be to a horrible man who will grow to hate me, and he will hate my son. That is all my life can promise me." She sighed softly, the thought of her future being like this genuinely terrified her.