A/N: Yeah this one shot is a request and I have never written anything like this but here we go. They asked for a one shot of Finnick and Annie during medieval times. I don't know much about medieval times but I changed their names to Finnly and Annabel to fit the theme.
Medieval Times
The carriage rides up to the largest and most powerful city in the coldest deepest part of the North come to a halt. This is where House Cresta resides with the Lord being the Guardian of the North to oversee the great lands while King Cornelius rules the more lavish South.
The carriage door opens and out comes the head of House Odair, Lord Thom followed by his daughter Isobel and son Finnly.
The Cresta family has been awaiting their arrival for days. The Odair's visit twice every year to give reports of what is happening on their lands. House Odair has the most crops in all of the North and supplies almost all nobel houses if they give them something of value. Lord Cresta 'gave away' his daughter, Annabel, at the age of four to wed Lord Finnly. However the deal stated that Annabel will reside with her family until her seventeenth year.
So when House Odair visits Annabel and Finnly are told to spend time together. Which they do not mind, unlike most arranged political marriages Finnly and Annabel love one another maybe it is because they've spent time with each other their whole lives. When Annabel is eighteen they will wed and she will leave her home.
Lord Thom goes off to discuss business with her Father and Finnly's sister, Lady Isobel, walks off to explore their castle. It is very different from the one she resides in.
"My Lady." Finnly says with a smile in front of Lady Annabel.
"My Lord." Annabel says and does a curtsy. "Come with me." She takes his hand and sneaks out of the castle grounds away from everyone else.
Once they're out of sight they kiss.
"I missed you." Annabel says because they don't see each often and don't even speak through carrier pigeon.
"I missed you too my Lady." He says with a smile.
"You don't need to do formal titles with me Finnly." Annabel says.
"I know." Finnly says and kisses her again.
"We can't get caught Finnly." Annabel says
Her House believes that a woman should do no physical affection until she is wed. Even holding hands could be considered a scandal.
"What are they going to do, we are already promised to each other." Finnly says.
"They could change their mind." Annabel says.
If her Father took offense to the act of Finnly kissing her he could back out of the deal. That would cause great repercussion though. House Cresta has the largest army and House Odair supplies all the goods in the North. If a fight broke out both sides in the end would suffer.
"And start a feud between our houses, there is no need to fight one another. Besides, people aren't very happy with the King these days."
"You can't speak ill of King Cornelius here Finnly." Annabel says.
"My apologizes Lady Annabel." Finnly says and kisses her on the cheek.
"Like I said, you don't need to be so formal but the King is supposed to visit here in a few days time." Annabel says.
"Yes we all know." Finnly says.
"Some of the kingsguard have already shown up, so we don't know who else could be listening to words of treason." Annabel says.
"The king should know he isn't loved by everyone." Finnly says. "I don't think anyone is listening out here anyways." Finnly says.
"You're probably right but I don't want anything bad to happen to you." Annabel says and kisses his cheek.
"Annabel." Her mother says coming her way.
"Yes Mother." She says.
"You and Finnly should go for a walk. You need to spent time together before you wedding in the coming months."
"Yes Mother." Annabel says happily. "Which guard shall I take with me?" She isn't supposed to be leave the castle grounds without a gurad.
"The King is here so are is guards, they will have the whole area protected. I believe Finnly can protect you if something bad happens." Her Mother says.
Finnly walks over towards her and they leave the walls of the town and head to the edge of the forest they talk for awhile before they start kissing under a tree.
Annabel hears a crunch on the leaves and a small pebble hits the tree.
"What's that?" Annabel asks before Finnly can answer, Wickham, Annabel's older brother starts laughing.
"Wickham." Annabel says annoyed and throws leaves at him.
"Sorry Annabel but I wanted to see how your future husband would protect you, but your face was too hilarious." He says and Annabel shoves him.
"I can protect your sister Lord Wickham." Finnly says.
"I know you can and can you stop with the Lord and Lady stuff it's too formal for us." Wickham
"I see." Finnly says.
"Just call the adults that stuff, titles are a big thing for them." Wickham says and looks around.
"Where's your guard?" Wickham asks his sister worried. She doesn't walk around without a guard in the woods especially if the only person she is with is Finnly. They don't want her to break the traditions of her people and someone as beautiful as Lord Finnly is temptatious.
"Mother said since the King was here that they have the place on lock down. Besides, Finnly can protect me." Annabel says.
"Well not when you're kissing." Wickham teases.
"You can't tell anyone about that Wickham." Annabel says worried thinking of the traditions of both houses.
"That you're kissing your future husband how scandalous." Wickham mocks.
"It's tradition to not kiss until you're married." Annabel says.
"Please, I'm sure Mother and Father broke that rule and loads of other people." Wickham says.
"It's important to the people and if we broke the rules-"
"Nothing will get called off little sister. Besides, once you two are married it is unlikely that our Houses will fight again. Our house has a great army while House Odair has the most supplies in the North. Who would mess with that with the words of war are in the air."
"I wouldn't talk so loudly about that Wickham." Finnly says.
"We're in the forest the king won't hear us." Wickham.
"There are ears placed all around for the king to get information." Finnly says. "Our king is a great man." Finnly says.
They can both tell he is lying. The king doesn't care for the North. He uses the North for supplies and a place to banish people. The king shows mercy sometimes, to make it seem like he isn't a total tyrant. He banishes traitors to the coldest part where no one resides, it is referred to as the unknown world.
It's clear that if they are from the South they will die. He also doesn't give you nothing just food, a knife, the clothes on their back, and some flint to start a fire. The king makes sure the people who are banished stay banished and if they are caught walking back into the known world then the Northerns must kill them. So the king is really killing the people but isn't making it a public hanging.
"We should be heading back, the feast will probably be starting soon and the royal family wants to meet the noblemen and their families." Wickham says
"He's been here before." Annabel says as they start walking back. Finnly stays close to her side.
"The prince is looking for a princess." Finnly says.
"Shouldn't he be looking at princess' from other lands then." Annabel says.
"He just needs someone of noble class. Lucky for you Annabel you're already betrothed to Finnly." Wickham says.
"Why does that make me lucky?" Annabel asks confused. She's glad that she can marry Finnly who is her friend but she's confused why Wickham would say she is lucky.
"Like Finnly said, we shouldn't talk about negative things of the royal family." Wickham says this time. They are getting closer to the castle walls.
"Is he mean to his girls?" Annabel asks concerned.
"Let's just say he treats them unfairly and more like objects." Wickham says.
The guards open the gates to allow them to enter castle grounds.
"I should go back to my Father and sister. I know he would like to discuss some politics with me." Finnly says.
"Why?"
"He wants me to take over once he is dead. I am the first born son." Finnly says.
"Alright. I will see you at the feast tonight then my love." Annabel says and he nods walking off.
Off in the distance Prince Cato catches Annabel walking into the gates.
"Who's that?" The Price asks his Uncle Secena. He's pointing to Annabel.
"That is Lady Annabel Cresta. She's the daughter of the Guardian here."
"I want to speak with her." He demands. The prince is used to getting whatever he wishes. Like Wickham says he treats women poorly, some of them would call him a monster.
"How old is she.?" He asks.
"I believe she is sixteen nephew." He says/
"I want to speak to her Father then." The Prince says intending to take her back with him to capital city. The girls back their don't have light chestnut hair and green eyes he wants to show off that he has a northern girl.
"May I ask why Cato?" His uncle asks
"She's pretty and when I become king I want a pretty lady like her by my side. I want to take her back with us and I'm sure we could work out some type of deal."
"I believe Lady Annabel is already betrothed to someone."
"Not to a Prince." He says with a smile.
"People from the North honor deals until the grave my Prince, It wouldn't matter if the King himself asked, she won't be leaving with you unless you forcibly take her.
"Maybe I will have to take her then." The Prince says with a wicked smile.
His uncle finds his nephew to be a fool knowing that if he kidnnapped Lady Annabel no good would come of it, her Father and brother, along with their army would storm capital city just to get her back.
"And risk a fight to break out both House Cresta and House Odair would be very angry if she was kidnapped."
"I don't care about them, I'm sure our me could kill every last one of them."
"Clearly you have never seen the Northern men fight then my nephew."
"Don't patronize me Uncle." He says angrily and walks off to find his Father, King Cornelius "
Annabel leaves her bedroom corridors when she hears shouting down the hall.
"My daughter is not going anywhere King Cornelius I don't care what your son wishes." Her Father says angrily.
"But this is a king's order." She hears the prince say.
"I don't kill who's order it is you will have to die before you drag my daughter off to capital city." He spits back.
"That can be arranged." The Prince sneers.
"Quiet my son." The King says. "If death is an option then the young Lady Annabel could be fought for." She hears the king say and steps a little closer.
"My King-"
"We will set up an event
"The victor gets Lady Annabel's hand and she must honor this deal." The King says.
"My-"
"This will be the only offer if you decline we will be dragging her to captial city… tonight. You may pick two men along with Lord Finnly and I will pick my best guards." He says.
Annabel leaves when she hears someone coming her way. She walks to the hall where guests are always kept. Lord Finnly always stays in the same room.
She knocks on it hard.
"Finnly." She says.
"Annabel?" He says and goes towards the door quickly. "What?" He asks with concern when he sees the look of worry and fear on her face.
"The Prince has become interested in me. He wants to take me back to the capital city and my Father-"
"He won't sell his only daughter away even if it was for royalty. He already gave a vow to someone else and if it were broken a battle would break out." Finnly says trying to comfort her.
"That's right he wouldn't sell me away, that is why a fight to the death has be purposed. Whoever wins gets to take have my hand in marriage. If you win I will also be leaving with you that day. Three Houses fighting just for one silly little girl." Annabel says.
Finnly knows battles have been started for much less, even if it was just for one girl.
"Don't worry about it my love." He says and hugs her tightly. "I would gladly fight to the death for you. I would give up my titles and come to rescue you from the king. I will make sure you never go to capital city. We can run off to the Emerald Isles by the sparkling sea."
The Emerald Isles are probably the furthest place from the North, but it is an independent part of the world and not run by King Cornelius.
"We should leave tonight then." Annabel whispers.
"Anna-"
"Wickham will have to fight for me as well and I can't have either one or both of you die for me. The prince will surely pick a great warrior to fight in his place. You can't die and I don't want to go to the capital. I am leaving tonight with or without you Finnly." Annabel says confidently but her hands are shaking..
"Annabel go back to your room." He says gently.
"But-" Annabel starts confused and terrified.
"I swear I will come for you in one hours time." He says and kisses her forehead.
Annabel nods and hurries back to her room. When she opens the door someone is sitting on her bed. When she gets closer she notices it is her Father.
"Overhear something you shouldn't have Annable." He says as she sits in the chair across from him."
"Possibly." Annabel says.
"Hearing information like that can get you killed." He says.
"I won't let them do it. I'm leaving tonight even if it is by myself.' Annabel says.
"You're a stupid girl if you think you would be able to survive by yourself out there let alone escape the castle walls."
"I have to try. I can't have something happen." Annabel says.
"I know, which is why you will be leaving with your brother tonight."
"But Father-"
"Even if Finnly does come with you people will still go looking for you, which is why we will be faking your death."
"How?" Annabel asks.
"The less you know the better. Wickham will be here in twenty minutes time, take only what you can carry my daughter." He says. He kisses her forehead and leaves the room.
She starts picking things up she wants to keep. She doesn't have supplies in her room that will help with survival. She has a knife under her night table, but that is it.
The door open and she jumps. She turns and sees it is her brother, he is panting slightly.
"Come on Annabel." He says and grabs her hand.
"We can't leave yet Wickham, Finnly said he would see me in an hour." Annabel says.
"I went to Finnly before I came to you. He should be waiting with horses and supplies for us to leave as soon as possible."
"Wickham, I'm scared." She says.
"Don't be." He says and looks into her eyes. She doesn't see any fear in his just courage.
He starts dragging her through the wall ways. She can't run fast enough to keep up. They leave the castle going through the secret tunnels that were built to escape a siege. Once they escape they see Finnly about twenty yards away waiting for them.
It takes them three years before they reach the Emerald Isles, assassins chased after them for years. Wickham did many things to protect his sister some would call it unhonorable, but he didn't care about his honor any longer. He just cared about the safety of his sister. He knew if she was caught she would be brought to capital city to the King and Prince and they would punish her in awful ways. She would be locked away and raped and eventually killed when the Prince grew tired of her.
Annabel and Finnly look at the sunrise on one of the many beach of Emerald Isles.
They built a small house near the beach when help of the locals. There is a decent amount of people who live there that are run away noblemen and high class citizens. They all wanted to be free of King Cornelius and his family.
They have lived on the Isles comfortably for one year now. They had to work odd jobs and take the kindness from people to survive, but they were able to gain enough money and supplies to live here comfortably. They have been accustomed to the way of living and rules of this land. It is nothing like how King Cornelius rules.
Finnly rests his hand on her stomach Annabel is pregnant and within two moons time their baby should be born. Born away from all the political noble classes and King Cornelious with his iron fist. They can be free here, they can start there new life here."
"I love you Finnly." She whispers.
"I love you too Annabel." She says and kisses him.
A/N: Yeah I didn't really know how to end this without making it super long so Annabel and Finnly running away from King Cornelius seemed good to me.