The Lark of Albion: Chapter Four
Summary: The reader finds solace from life at court by working in her beloved garden. She almost never has visitors. At least, not usually.
Warnings: Brief mention of parental death.
Author's note: Wow! I apologize for how long it took me to get this story on paper. I struggled with writers block for some time, and I'm currently completing my grad program which has been taking up a lot of my energy. That being said, this is another continuation of my Sir Leon x princess! reader series. I plan to make this story more coherent in future, but for now I hope you enjoy this sweet interaction between the two. The princess' mother is mentioned briefly however, my intention is for this story to be as inclusive as possible so it is not specified whether the princess shares a mother with Arthur or if Uther remarried in this universe. That distinction is up to you. Happy reading!
The sun hung swollen and lazy overhead, the afternoon stretching long across the castle walls. Hidden below the shade of an ancient oak tree, the princess sat elbow deep in the soil carefully replanting a lilac bush, her matching skirts pooling gracefully around her. Not many outside the royal family, the kingsguard, and the servants knew about this hidden oasis. Tucked between the western wings, the garden was a beautiful escape from the expectations that came with having royal blood. In her childhood, the garden was her and Morgana’s favorite place to play. They would spend hours hidden away in the flowers, imagining they were going on wild adventures in faraway lands. Sometimes they were even able to convince Arthur to join in, usually having him play the part of a fierce dragon, or a noble knight. But as the years went by, and the three children grew up, only the princess continued to visit.
In recent years she’d taken over this potion of the garden for herself, asking the gardeners to leave it to her tending alone. Whenever she was able, the young woman would steal away to care for her flowers and enjoy the quiet solitude and fresh air. Days like today were her favorite. When she didn’t have any etiquette lessons to attend, or servants asking her opinions on decorations for upcoming galas. Days when she could be completely herself, with only her plants to keep her company and her thoughts to occupy her mind.
The Princess hand poured soil around the delicate root system with all the grace and gentility afforded by the privileges of her station. She smoothly wiped her brow as she carefully tapped the remaining loose earth, a muddy smudge marring her cheek in the aftermath.
Soft footsteps from behind alerted her to the fact that she was no longer alone. Even before she turned, she could feel his presence. A shift in the air that caused goosebumps to cover her skin.
“You know–” She started without looking back. A shy smile creeping across her features. “You really shouldn’t sneak up on people like this.” She slowly shifted to face him. Her grin fully evident as she rested her hands on her cotton skirts, staining the lavender with the soil she had just been tamping into the earth. Before her, Sir Leon stood tall. A look of surprise painting his handsome face.
“My apologies Princess.” His voice nearly faltered. “It was not my intention to sneak.”
The young woman couldn’t help but notice soft blush coloring his cheeks. ‘Surely it’s only from the heat.’ She internally chided herself for daring to think it could be in response to her.
“I was unaware the garden was occupied.” He carefully bowed his head, golden curls gently falling into stormy eyes. “I will take my leave and disturb you no further.”
“You didn’t!” She interrupted, possibly a little too eagerly. “Disturb me that is.” A sheepish look crossed her face. “You’re welcome to stay if you like. It’s no bother to me.” She finished. ‘Congratulations, now you’re holding the poor man hostage! Surely he must think you unstable.’ Her thoughts berated her. “That is unless you’re busy, of course.”
“No.” He smiled back at her. “I’ve actually found myself with a bit of free time today. Arthur’s training some new novitiate knights, most of whom have never held a sword before so your brother’s putting them through all the basic trainings. He’s given me some time to myself before I’m due back to assist with duelling.” His gaze dropped to the lilac that she had been planting. “It’s beautiful. Did you plant all of these?” Leon asked, taking in the lush greenery surrounding them.
“Only the ones in this corner.” She answered. “I try to tend to them as often as I can, and I’d like to add more but it seems there’s never enough time for it.”
“I think it’s perfect as it is.” The knight nodded with admiration. “You’ve done a lovely job, Princess.” The young woman felt her face flush at his words.
“Thank you Sir Leon, I appreciate the sentiment. Although you should take care not to inflate my ego too much.” A giggle escaped the girl’s lips.
“I sincerely doubt your humility would allow for it.” Sir Leon smiled back. “Since I’m unoccupied at the moment, is there anything I can do to help you?”
“Well if you’re offering, I suppose I wouldn’t mind some help with the weeding.” She smiled shyly. “But only if you’re careful not to dirty your uniform! I wouldn’t want to incur Merlin’s wrath if he has to scrub out any stains.” Leon huffed out a laugh.
“This cloak has certainly seen worse than a little dirt, Princess. But if it eases your mind.” He reached to unfasten the buckle at his neck that held his scarlet knight’s cape secure around his broad shoulders. Carefully, he shrugged it off and folded it a few times before draping it across an oak branch. “There.” He knelt down to meet her on the clovered ground. “Now it is in no danger, and you’re free to put me to work.” He grinned, shining blue eyes meeting her own. She quickly glanced away, smiling instead at her lap. Visions of another response to that invitation clouding her mind. ‘Stop! He’s only being gentlemanly and you are a lady of gentle birth.’ She scolded herself, brushing away any thoughts of impropriety.
This turned out to be a simple prospect since Sir Leon was such an easy companion to pass the time with. While the princess might have expected herself to feel stiff or uncomfortable, being so used to the plants being her only company in this place, she was surprised to find that the two seemed to fall into an easy back and forth.
“Now this one I do know.” Leon nodded towards a tall cluster of deep purple flowers as he carefully pulled a butter yellow dandelion from the soil. His brow furrowed upon further examination. “At least I should, it practically covered the grounds at my family’s estate.” He considered another moment, his mouth pursing in concentration. “Dogsfoot?” He finally answered.
The princess let out a bubbling laugh. “Dogsfoot?” She giggled. “Is that your final answer?”
“I take it from your reaction that I’m incorrect in my identification.” He smiled, this time the blush across his cheeks and nose, undeniable.
“You’re actually not far off, it’s foxglove.” The princess answered with a grin.
“See, I knew it had to be shoe or foot something.” His gaze returned to the task at hand. “It was my mother who was the botanist in our family. My father always said it was an unsuitable hobby for a lady.” He broke off abruptly, eyes wide with apology. “Not, of course, that I share that belief, Princess.”
She smiled understandably.
“I take no offense. Please.” She gently rested a hand on his arm. “I’d like to hear more about her.”
“Well she would have loved this place.” He told her, glancing around at the vibrant florals surrounding the pair. “Her favorite flowers were bluebells. In spring, she’d fill every room with vases full of them.” He dipped his head solemnly. “When I think of her, even now, I can smell those flowers as surely as I did when I was a boy.”
The princess’ chest tightened with sympathy. She had known that Sir Leon’s mother had passed before he’d had the chance to grow into a man, but she had never heard him speak of her before. Carefully, she took his hands into her own smaller ones. To her surprise, he held them firmly, his thumb gently stroking the soft skin of her wrist.
“She must have been an extraordinary woman.” She said with sincerity. “I’m sure you miss her very much.”
“I do.” He met her with a soft gaze. His blue eyes shining with unshed tears.
“But you know that feeling as well as I do, Princess.” The girl’s eyes dropped to her lap. Although her own mother had died soon after giving birth to her, she felt guilty comparing the two losses as she’d never had the chance to know her mother. To love and understand her the way that Sir Leon had. Her loss, she felt, was insignificant next to his.
Always the gentleman, Sir Leon quickly pulled the conversation away from thoughts too distressing for the princess.
“I speak the truth, Princess.” He squeezed her hands with a careful strength. “If my mother had been able to see what you’ve done here she would be most impressed.” A bright smile lit up his handsome features, pulling a similar one from the young woman.
“I wish I’d been able to meet her.” She answered. “I’m sure there’s so much I might have learned from her.” Sir Leon’s eyes softened, tracing over her delicate features.
“I know one thing for certain, Princess. If you had met, she would have absolutely adored you.” He told her in earnest.
Before she could even begin to form a response to such high praise, she was distracted by a high pitched buzzing near her face. She pulled in a sharp gasp, as what she was almost certain was a wasp, burrowed itself into the front of her hair.
“Don’t worry it’s only a bee, Princess.” Sir Leon leaned forward, only a fraction closer than he was before, but she could feel the space between them shrinking just as clearly as she could feel the movements of the poor creature that had become caught in her locks. “Hold very still and it won’t hurt you.”
With a practiced steadiness, the knight leaned in even closer. His hand cautiously reached up to brush the insect away, gently grazing the side of her cheek as he did so.
“There.” He nodded. “All gone.” But he did not move away. Instead, he turned his hand, agonizingly, painfully slowly, to gently cup the princess’ face. His thumb lightly stroked her cheek, the way it had her wrist just minutes before, causing her to be devoid of all speech. Her lips dropped slightly open, but no words came to follow. Any thoughts of decorum were banished to the far reaches of her mind as she covered his hand with her own, leaning further into his tender touch.
Without meaning, her eyes dipped down to his mouth, primrose pink and gently parted. His face tilted ever so slightly closer, and glancing up the princess saw that his own gaze was fixed on her mouth. As if drawn by gravity, she leaned her chin almost imperceptibly towards the knight’s own. But before she could draw any closer, the clamorous clanging of the bell tower rang through the garden, interrupting the heated moment.
The pair practically leaped apart, the princess sheepishly brushing her skirts in an attempt to disperse her embarrassment, and Sir Leon looking anywhere but at her. Clearing his throat, he broke the silence between them.
“Erm,” He stammered as he got to his feet. “That’ll be the top of the hour. I’m afraid I’m needed back at the training grounds.”
“Of course you are!” She fumbled slightly as she stood, a smile threatening to break through at the thought of what had almost happened. “Tell Arthur I said hello!” She winced at the request. ‘Can you at least try to be normal?’ She berated herself. ‘When have you ever sent along good wishes for Arthur?’ Sir Leon, mercifully, ignored the strange request, dropping into a low bow.
“Thank you again, Princess, for allowing me the pleasure of your company.”
“The pleasure was all mine, Sir Leon.” She said instead, resisting the urge to take his hands one more time. “Oh!” She turned suddenly, reaching up into the branches above her. “You might need this.” She gingerly handed him his cape, just as neatly folded as it was when he’d hung it there in the first place.
“Yes.” He let out a dry laugh. “I guess I might.” Upon taking it, their hands brushed again, causing the princess’ fingers to tingle with electricity, and her mind to go blank once more. Draping the cloak over his broad shoulders, he was instantly his serious self once more. But she couldn’t help but notice a hint of a smile pulling just slightly at the corner of his mouth. “Will I see you at dinner tonight, Princess?”
“Of course you will.” She smiled. Briefly, he bowed his head once more.
“I will look forward to it.” Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heels and was gone just as quickly as he’d arrived. Leaving the princess with nothing to do but sit back against the trunk of the ancient oak and lose herself in her thoughts of him.
