Lady Penelope & Gordon + Childhood Friends (Royalty AU)
So I definitely didn't forget about this (ok maybe I did a little) but don't worry because I'm back! And this one is exciting because it actually gives me a bingo on this card! :D I hope you enjoy!
The first time she saw him that day was across the training field as she was making her way past. He was busy trying to take down another child with a blunt, wooden sword. However, it didn't take him long to notice her. It never did.
He glanced over in her direction, and she could make out the exact moment his eyes connected with hers. He relaxed his stance as his sword fell down by his side, and a large grin spread across his face before he waved over at her.
His distraction didn't end in his favour, though, as his opponent seized the opportunity and landed a hit with their own wooden sword right to his stomach. He fell and landed on his backside, and she giggled, before she raised her hand to wave back.
It was only a brief moment. She was quickly ushered on by the adults with her to keep moving past, and he was yelled at for not paying attention. Still, it was a moment shared between them.
The next time she saw him, it was just past midday. She was in the middle of one of her morning classes, hoping it was nearing the end because she was starting to go out of her mind with boredom. Plus, she was getting hungry and it was already past lunchtime.
As her tutor groaned on, she found her gaze drifting over to the window next to her desk. It overlooked the courtyard in the centre of the palace, and down below she could see people outside enjoying the sunshine as they took a break from their daily tasks.
She wished she could be down there and not stuck in here studying. It always looked like more fun to be out there where she could join in, and not isolated with the only people to talk to being the adults that were only there to teach her.
As she looked out the window, a familiar mop of blond hair caught her eye, and she smiled to herself as she realised who it was. He was sitting at one of the stone tables, joined by who she soon realised were his brothers. They must have been done with their training for now, and had gone outside to enjoy their lunch.
From where she was watching, she could see him laughing at something someone said, but she was too far to hear anything. He probably wouldn't be able to see her from where he was, unless he knew to look up at this exact window.
The thought of him noticing her staring made her cheeks warm up and she almost looked away, but she found that she couldn't.
At least not until her tutor noticed her lack of attention to his teachings. She could tell he was annoyed at having to go over everything he just said again, but it wasn't like it was the first time her mind had wandered when she was supposed to be learning. However, it's not like he could tell her off, for fear of getting on the wrong side of the royal family.
She sent one last quick glance back outside, before she began to tune back into what her tutor was going over. She wasn't any less bored, but maybe if she paid attention the class would be over with soon.
Later that day, she found herself sneaking down to the kitchen. The only people that came down here were the cooks and those who lived in the servant quarters or barracks. Everyone else felt that they were too noble to come down here, so she knew she wouldn't be found.
It wasn't the first time she had run from her lessons and hid down here. The cooks were used to seeing her, but their loyalty to the royal family meant that they usually ratted her out when someone came looking.
This time, it fortunately seemed like there was no one around. It was the afternoon, so the cooks were likely having their break before they got started on preparations for dinner. It meant that she could sneak in and hide away before anyone saw her and decided to spill on her location.
As she reached the kitchen, she looked around for a good place to tuck herself out of sight. It wasn't long before she heard footsteps making their way along the corridor, so she had to think quickly. She had no idea how they had found her so quickly, maybe because this was where she usually hid, but she didn't have time to think about that now.
She opened up cupboards under the counter until she eventually found one that was empty, bar a couple of old pots. She moved the pots aside and then squeezed herself into the small space, before she closed the cupboard door behind her.
Not long passed until she heard someone enter the kitchen. She tried to be as quiet as possible as she heard the noise of someone opening the cupboards, praying that they wouldn't decide to open hers.
She held her breath as the person got closer and closer, but then her heart sank when the door to her hiding place swung open.
However, the disappointment quickly turned into surprise and then relief when she saw it wasn't her tutor crouching across from her.
"What are you doing?" He asked, the shock clear on his face too. Although, there was a grin creeping onto the corner of his mouth.
"Hiding. What are you doing here?" He was the last person she was expecting to see on the other side of the door. Then again, he was probably down in the kitchens quite a lot.
"Looking for a snack," he replied. There was a look on his face that said he wasn't actually supposed to be in here either, and she quickly realised that they were both doing things they shouldn't be.
"I won't tell if you won't."
He seemed to consider that for a moment, before he nodded, a full, cheeky smile on his face now. Honestly, she wasn't expecting any other answer from him. They had each other's backs.
A moment later, he closed the cupboard door, and she relaxed. Barely a couple of seconds passed before she heard another set of footsteps enter the room.
It was the voice of her tutor she heard next, asking if he knew where the princess was. She pictured his face as he replied that he didn't, and she tried to keep in the giggle that threatened to escape.
The voices drifted away a moment later as he suggested to her tutor places in the palace she could be, and she couldn't help but note they were all places far away from this room. Her tutor grumbled as he left the room, the boy in tow to ensure the man steered far away from here.
She breathed a sigh of relief when the room grew quiet again. That was the third time she saw him that day.
Their final encounter of the day was the same as most days. When all her lessons were done with and she was allowed a small moment to breathe before it was time for bed and it all started again in the morning.
No one knew where she spent this small moment of time to herself. She always snuck out so no one could follow where she was going. What made this time all the better was that it was private.
She made her way through the palace gardens, after she made sure there wasn't anyone around watching her. The sun was on the brink of setting, and she knew she only had until it got dark until she had to be back.
There was a place only two of them knew about, tucked near the back of the gardens. As she got closer, she searched for the bush that marked where she needed to be.
When she found it, she glanced around once more for any onlookers, before she got onto her hands and knees. There was a small opening amongst the leaves, and she crawled through, avoiding any thorns that tried to grab ahold of her dress.
There wasn't far to go until the small tunnel ended and she was met with the opening on the other side.
The leaves and branches of the bush created a small dome inside, a little hideaway only for those who knew where to look.
He was already there, like usual. He was always finished with his daily training before her classes finished up.
"Hi, Princess!" He smiled and waved at her when he saw her arrive.
She groaned as she went to sit cross-legged across from him.
"I told you not to call me that."
"I know, but it's funny how annoyed you get." He was still grinning at her, before he turned to something on the ground next to him. "I got here a little early, so I made you something."
He held out what at first looked like a collection of flowers in his hands, but a moment later she noticed the intertwined pattern and realised they made up a crown.
"Oh, Gordon, it's lovely!" Her eyes lit up at the sight, but then a thought occurred to her. "Did you pick these from the garden?"
"I might have done, but no one will notice." Gordon shrugged, seemingly not worried at the possible consequences of touching the flowers that were only there to be looked at. However, he then seemed to grow shy before his next words. "Can I, umm, put it on you?"
"Of course!" She was quick to nod, and his nervousness dissipated instantly.
He leant forward, and placed the flower crown on top of her golden locks. She wished she could see what she looked like with it on, but with the look Gordon was giving her, she guessed it was really beautiful.
Then, a sombre thought overcame her.
"You know I won't be able to wear this out, right? I'll be asked where I got it." And if she was asked that, then she could say goodbye to these secret meet ups.
Gordon seemed to already know that, but that didn't make him look any less upset at the thought.
"I know. We can just leave it here and you can wear it tomorrow."
She liked that thought.
"Anyway," Gordon continued, "one day I will fulfil my promise to become your personal guard, and then we won't need to hide to see each other. We'll get to spend every moment together!"
She remembered that moment, back when they first met here under the bush. When he promised he would work harder at his soldier training than anyone else, even his brothers, so he could be the best and her parents would have no choice but to pick him as her guard. She had no doubt he would rise to the challenge, she just didn't know if it would work out.
Still, she admired his optimism, and couldn't help but let it rub off on her as well. If he believed it could happen, then she believed that just through his sheer will it would.
"Lord Gordon at your service, Princess Penelope." He put his hands on his hips, and she couldn't help but laugh. "Ready to defend you from any and all bad guys."
"Stop being silly." She gave him a light shove, but she was still laughing and so was he as he fell into the bush.
After that, they fell into their usual conversations of what they had both been up to that day. They talked until the sun no longer crept through the gaps of the bush and their little spot grew dark. That was when they both knew it was time to part ways again for the night.
One by one they crawled back out of the hidden hole, Penelope making sure to leave her flower crown safety tucked away to be worn again. And then they said goodnight, with a promise to see each other again tomorrow.
because this is a fluff challenge I'm not going to give into the angsty ideas this au gives me, but just know that I'm thinking them XD