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the-common-cowgirl · 10 months

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The Lost Children -

Part 3

Summary: You try to escape only to hurt yourself. Osferth gives you a lecture. Edward is suspicious. Uhtred has a new task and a new lie to uphold. The group readies to leave Winchester. Osferth isn’t good at concealing his feelings toward you.

Rating: Mature

Warnings: swearing, innuendo, blood, injury, no use of Y/N, fluff, angst, brief mention of reader having long hair, brief illusion to female masturbation

Word Count: 2.8k

You awoke to loud rapping at your door. It startled you from your sleep and you threw your arms out from where they were laying comfortably underneath your head. Before you could straighten up in your bed, Uhtred came into the room you were sleeping in, followed by Finan, Osferth, and Sihtric.

“Get up and get dressed,” Uhtred ordered, “I have to meet the King this morning and my wish is that you are safely in the nunnery before I do so.”

You rolled your eyes and blew a stray piece of hair out of your face. “Why must the burden of my presence be off your hands before you meet the King?” You shifted in the bed so that you sat against the headboard now with your arms crossed and your legs still warm underneath the covers.

Uhtred took in a deep breath, obviously as a way to subside his frustration. He began walking out of the door. “Do as I say,” he called to you as he left the room, leaving no space for you to argue with him.

You turned your glare from the open doorway where your father just left to Finan, Sihtric and Osferth, still standing in the room. “I presume he told you to make sure I don’t run?” Finan slowly nodded, eyeing you. You laughed with haste, “Well, I need to change and I’d prefer privacy.”

Sihtric was the first to nod and step outside the door, followed closely behind by Finan. Osferth lingered, just long enough that it wasn’t noticed by Sihtric or Finan exiting the room but long enough for you to notice. He made eye contact with you before leaving, his face seemed to say, don’t try anything, but you weren’t able to tell for sure.

Once all three men were waiting outside your room, you walked over to the door, closing it then rushing to get dressed. You dressed quickly and grabbed your bag from last night on the chair bedside the bed, not realizing that it had been returned to you in the midst of your sleep. You threw the bag on the roof outside the window once again and started out the window.

You were pulling your second leg through the window when Sihtric came through the door of the bedroom, “What are you doing,” he yelled as he rushed toward you but you were quicker than he. Your foot barely escaped his grasp as he reached the window. “Get back here!” Sihtric started climbing through the window after you but it took him longer due to the fact that he was not nearly as nimble as you in his bulky armor.

You skidded across the slanted roof, grabbing your bag and glanced down to the drop from the roof. The fall would certainly hurt but you couldn’t possibly break any bones unless you landed terribly wrong; you’d have to try not to land terribly wrong. You could sit at the edge and ease off to dampen your fall but that would require a little more time than you thought you had. You looked back behind you, Sihtric was nearly out the window, you didn’t have time. Leaping off the roof, you landed in the mud behind the inn on your feet but then a sharp pain that shot through your legs and you fell to your knees and hands. Mud nearly covered half of the front of your dress now and the tips of your long hair. Groaning, you put your hands on your knees and eased yourself up on sore legs but the pain in your left ankle was too great and you fell back into the mud puddle on your arse.

“Fu-uck,” you whined high pitched as tears began pooling in your eyes. Pulling up your dress to access your ankle. The skin was red and inflamed but no bones were appearing thankfully.

Suddenly, there were a pair of hands scooping you up from the mud puddle. You didn’t see who had began picking you up but you reeled back and slapped at their face anyway. You heard a deep groan after your hand hit their cheek and then you blinked away your tears, looking at your abductor to find Osferth.

“Lady, that was quite rude,” is all he said as he began to carry your muddy form to the front of the inn.

You wiggled in his hold, trying to free yourself but he just held you tighter to his body. You couldn’t bring yourself to hit him again despite your need to flee. “Let me go Osferth! I don’t want to go to the nunnery! I don’t want to live that life anymore!” You grabbed at a nearby pole to try and stop Osferth but he shifted sideways making it out of your reach as he continued down the alleyway beside the inn.

“It’s safest for you,” he quipped. “Not only from Brida but from Edward.” Your brows furrowed in confusion and you stopped your attempts at freedom for long enough to look up at Osferth who kept his sight ahead of him in the direction of his destination. He could feel your questioning gaze though, as he continued, “Edward will use you as a pawn against Brida.”

You laughed, “Brida doesn’t love me, she wants to kill me. Why would I be of any use of her?”

Osferth finally looked at you, his brilliant blue eyes settling on your own, “That’s the point.”

When you reached the front of the inn, Uhtred was thoroughly frustrated with you. He would have told you to go change your dress or even bathe but the longer you were in Winchester with him, the more suspicious your relationship would grow. Surely, Edward would have spies informing him when Uhtred entered the city gates and who all traveled with him. Edward’s interest would pique the moment he heard of a newcomer in Uhtred’s presence. And of course, Edward had heard of Uhtred’s quest to find his lost daughter before Brida could get to her, although, Uhtred did not know Edward knew of that.

So they dropped you off with the nuns who stripped your of your muddy clothes, bathed you, combed your dirty hair, and wrapped your sprained ankle without much more than a “goodbye.” Although, Osferth looked rather sad and Lady Eadith gave you a quick hug. Stiorra did not say anything to you and hung at the back of the group. You heart felt cold again, what little warmth that had breeches it in the short time you were with the group had disappeared the moment you hobbled into the nunnery.

When Uhtred went to the King’s palace, he was welcomed by the guards stating that he, “kept the King waiting.” As Uhtred entered the throne hall, Edward was waiting him on the chair itself; they were alone.

“Lord Uhtred,” the King greeted from his chair, “I assume you found your daughter?”

Edward’s words haulted Uhtred in his tracks but ever the warrior, he held a straight face in the presence of an enemy, “I was not aware you knew of my recent journey.”

Edward gave a queer smile and nodded.

“Nevertheless, no.” Uhtred lied, “By the time I reached the nunnery, Brida had burned it to the ground. There were no survivors.”

Edward dropped his expression and offered Uhtred a feigned sadness, “Yet, I hear you traveled through the city gates with a new girl in your pack.”

Uhtred shook his head and smiled at the lie he was creating but Edward could have taken Uhtred’s smile at the thought of what he was to say next, “It seems one of my men had fallen in love on the road.”

Edward tilted his head. “Forgive me if I’m wrong, but your man, Sihtric, is married, correct?” Uhtred nodded. “And Finan, well, he’s quite old for the age of the lady that traveled through the gates.” Edward was trying to catch Uhtred’s lie, “And for the bastard monk Osferth-“

Uhtred thought quickly about how Osferth and you had grown close in the short time together and decided that was the best course of action. Raising a finger in correction and smiling, “No longer a monk my King…. a warrior.”

Edward looked mildly disturbed that Uhtred had ruined his game but he still wasn’t convinced. “Osferth and this lady….” He began, waiting for Uhtred to correct him but Uhtred didn’t. “This lady who shares a striking resemblance to you…” Uhtred nodded. “Uhtred, do you take me for a fool?”

“No my King,” he lied, “never.”

“Uhtred, if I find you’re lying to me, there will be consequences.”

Uhtred furrowed his brows, “My King, what need would I have to lie to you? I know that if I had brought my daughter here safe and unharmed, you would allow her refuge behind these walls.” He lied and lied well, because Edward sat back in his chair, realizing he seemed all but too eager to find Uhtred’s daughter.

“Yes, of course,” he dismissed. He would have to drop the issue for now, but he wasn’t convinced the girl who rode in with Uhtred was Osfeth’s lover. “Anyway, Uhtred, the reason I called you here this morning is that I have a task for you.”

Uhtred nodded, “Anything my King.”

“Kneel girl, on your knees!” The elder nun had not been in your presence long before she grew frustrated with your antics. She put a strong hand on your back and pushed, forcing you to the hard, stone ground in front of the pew you were sitting in. When you landed, you made sure to jut out your ankle so it wouldn’t take the hit but being too focused on your ankle, your nose hit the pew in front of you and started to throb and bleed.

You grabbed your nose and turned to glare at the nun who didn’t apologize. She just sighed with contention and kneeled beside you. The fact she was content with hurting you made your anger bubble up and you took the blood on your hand from your nose and flung it at her, staining her coif.

The old nun’s mouth hung agape with her eyes closed for a number of seconds, in disbelief that you, a girl raised in a nunnery as Uhtred said, would act like a heathen. After her initial shock wore off and she looked at your through scowling eyes you smiled, letting the slowing blood from your nose run into your upturned lips and drip into your mouth.

“Devil child,” she huffed under her breath to herself as she got up and began to stride out of the chapel, away from you. You closed your smile triumphantly and the taste of blood filled you mouth.

You heard the chapel doors open, assuming the nun was leaving you and spit the blood onto the stone aisle way. As you did, you heard feet approaching. You looked up as you couldn’t see where you were nestled on the ground between pews. You saw Uhtred and Osferth.

Anger rose immediately, alongside hope. “Are you coming to take me away or coming to move me to a different nunnery as I’ve already been kicked out of this one?” Your teeth were yellow from the remnants of blood and your nose still throbbed.

Uhtred scoffed, “If you haven’t been kicked out yet, you certainly will be soon.” He looked to the glob of spit and blood sitting beside their boots in the aisle. “Osferth, help her up.”

Osferth moved in between the pews toward you but you began rising before he could reach you, using your upper body strength to pull yourself to stand and balancing on one foot. “I don’t need help.” Osferth stopped with his arms halfway outrstrected and looked back to Uhtred.

Uhtred pinched the bridge of his nose in agitation. “Do you think you can ride?”

The question gave life to the hope you began to experience prior but you guarded your heart, not allowing yourself too much. “Yes…why?”

“Because we are leaving.”

“We?”

Osferth nodded, answering your question to Uhtred. You looked at him and began to mouth, why, but Osferth began, “King Edward has given a duty to Uhtred and he needs our help, as always.”

Our. His men. Not you.

“Why do I need to go?” You tried to play indifferent to leaving, worried if you seemed too eager, Uhtred would change his mind.

Osferth smiled nervously and turned to Uhtred, “Should I tell her-“

“No,” Uhtred cut, “I’ll tell her.” Your father looked at you and for a mere moment he looked embarrassed. That moment passed quickly and he looked around the chapel to make sure they were alone. “I may have lied to the King.” You raised your eyebrow, smiling. Uhtred making mistakes, big mistakes such as treason, was quite funny to you. “About who you are. Edward knows you not as my daughter,” he looked at Osferth who was staring at the ground,nervously wringing his hands. You started to get suspicious. “But, as Osferth’s lover.”

The words took a few seconds to hit you fully but once you understood them, you reacted in a way neither of the two men had thought you would, you laughed. In fact, you laughed so hard that tears had begun to form in your eyes and your nose startled to trickle blood again. When you finally regained your composure, wiped your eyes and smeared the tricking blood across your face, you found they were dumbfounded. Osferth maybe a bit withdrawn too.

“Are you…are you laughing because Osferth-“ Uhtred began but you cut him off.

“I’m laughing because you’re worried I wouldn’t like my new title…” you began with the remnants of laughter still held within your voice, “But I’d rather be Osferth’s lover than your daughter.”

Osferth tried to conceal a blushing smile but his cheeks reddened and tightened at your words. Uhtred bit his lip in anger and began walking out of the chapel. Again, walking away from an argument with you. Before he reached the doors he called out behind him, “She’s your responsibility now then Osferth.” He turned and pushed the doors open with his back, looking at Osferth helping you hobble out into the aisle way. “Saddle the horses, we leave soon.”

When Uhtred was gone, Osferth and you barely made it out of the chapel, he asked you through a smile that wasn’t faltering. “So uh, you’d take me as a lover?” He didn’t glance at you as he asked, maybe too bashful now.

You gave a quick chuckle as you began to descend the stairs outside the nunnery, “I mean, if we have to pretend…” you let the rest of the question hang in the air, insinuating that you’d prefer to pretend Osferth was your lover than being Uhtred’s daughter.

Osferth scowled softly in discomfort but you’d never know it because your eyes were set on the next place you’d hobble with your good foot. “But you’re not pretending.”

“Not pretending what?” You didn’t understand what he meant.

“You’re not pretending to be Uhtred’s daughter. You are his daughter.”

You finally looked at Osferth and you saw it, the pain. The realization of the root of his pain hit you, what Uhtred said to Edward may have been a lie, but Osferth didn’t want it to be. Osferth wanted you. Suddenly, you felt uncomfortable.

Sure, you had thought about Osferth, his perfect lips or his humble, kind nature but your anger and frustration upon entering Winchester has clouded that desire. And now, upon the understanding that Osferth might share those feelings that your forgot had harbored inside you, quickly brought back the membrane of said feelings and it was overwhelming. You felt yourself grow hot and suddenly, the large, strong hands he had on you as you hobbled across Wessex toward the stables were stinging through your clothing and burning your skin.

“Osferth,” you said weakly, “I think I can make it from here on my own.”

Osferth shook his head, “We have to pretend in Wessex and I’m not leaving you alone in the streets with an injured ankle.”

You flinched as he tightened his grip on you. It was gentle but firm. It made you feel strangely in more intimate parts. It made you confused. But you didn’t tell him to let go of you again.

“Osferth?” You asked, not daring to look at him. You began to feel strangely wrong too, for being so angry as of late. You felt the need to right things.

“Yes, lady?” His voice was so polite.

“Thank you. And, I’m sorry.” Apologizing again, maybe this time, you won’t mess it up.

“Uh, may I ask why to both?” A confused snort came from his nose. His perfect nose. God, why did you have to remember the lust you held for this stupid man in such a close proximity? Why couldn’t you remember alone in your bed at night? A place where you could find relief?

“For putting up with me…that’s both.” Osferth chuckled, you continued. “I know I’m unkind, stubborn, and truly rude. Borderline feral at times. You’re the opposite. I don’t know how you remain so kind with me.”

Osferth chuckled. You both were nearing the stables, “I suppose that’s your parentage in you, as is mine.”

You shook your head, hearing Uhtred yelling for Storria inside the approaching stable, “We have no parentage. We’re bastards. Bastards stick together, right?”

Osferth smiled down at you, hearing his words from yesterday on your lips. “Bastards stick together.”

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#fanfic #osferth #osferth x reader #uhtred #sihtric #Finan #eadith #stiorra #king edward #Brida #the last kingdom #osferth smut #the lost children

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