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

Another fallout

When Finan had managed to find her hours later, he was careful in waking her so that she did not draw a blade on him. With soft whispers and a gentle touch, she finally opened her eyes, her hand automatically went to reach for her blade, but she stopped when she saw it was Finan who had disturbed her sleep.

"Uhtred has ordered we leave. Our horses are well rested now." He helped her from the covers, chuckling softly as he attempted to tame her wild hair by flattening it with his palms. "Did you tell him about us?"

"No. He does not know about Sihtric either. I plan to tell him the truth." They both left the war-torn building and when she saw Osferth she was so relieved to be greeted with a gentle hug. She loved her nephew, even if her brother continued to pretend that he did not exist. She was proud of him and everything he had accomplished.

"Skade is not far. We should have her with us in a few short hours." Uhtred had barely looked her direction; he was too focused on wanting to put an end to this dreaded curse. Maybe once he had dealt with all of that, Avery could have an open and honest conversation with him.

Everyone climbed onto their horse, and they left the tall gates of Beamfleot. It felt weird to already be leaving the place she had been anxious about arriving for the last week. But the most important thing had happened, she finally told Uhtred about their son, and he wanted to see him. So once Skade had been found, they could return to Sherborne. But Avery wanted to go and see her brother first, ask Alfred what he knew about the woman who repeatedly haunted her dreams – her rumoured birth mother.

"Once we have found Skade and before I return to Sherborne, I need to return to Winchester. I do not expect you all to accompany me, you are more than welcome to carry on to Sherborne. James should recognise Finan as one of my men and you will all be welcomed." Her hands held onto the reigns tightly, helping to keep her horse level with the others.

"Your brother has exiled me. I am no longer welcome in Winchester." Of course. Alfred and Uhtred were too alike in many ways. Both head strong. And she herself had witnessed countless arguments between the pair.

"My brother is a stubborn man. He probably felt pressured by the witan to exile you. You often liked to see how far you could push his restraint." She found herself smiling over at him and he playfully rolled his eyes at the comment but almost instantly when she saw Finan's small questioning gaze she found her smile instantly vanishing.

So, the rest of the journey was full of silence and people only spoke when they needed to. It did not take them long to arrive at a small wood, they all quickly dismounted their horses and before Avery could tie them up within the branches – Uhtred had scared them all away in the direction they had just come from. What was he doing? That was their way to Winchester. But rather than questioning the madness behind his decision she bit her tongue to avoid another argument with him.

They hid between the trees; the skies were full of grey clouds and the air was bitter. Avery was in the process of raising her velvet hood when they heard branches snap around them and she was quick to grab her blade instead. Her heart completely sinking when it was Sihtric who stepped out from the shadows and he himself had his own blade at the ready, aimed at Uhtred. There was a glimpse of something in his eyes when he spotted Avery, but she had missed it.

"What did I say would happen if I saw you again?" Uhtred had his own sword pointed towards Sihtric, and Finan was already trying to play peacekeeper. But before Avery could process what was happening, she watched in horror as Sihtric and Uhtred greeted each other in a firm hug. No. He wouldn't. Would he?

"They were playing us. Finan, they were playing us!" Osferth spoke happily when he realised that he would not loose anyone in his friend group, but Avery felt like she couldn't breathe. It was all for show. The things Sihtric had done and said that night, the heartbreak she has felt daily since. The pain that brought her to Finan's bed.