First Impressions

Ethyn stared through the slit in his visor at the most heavenly creature that had ever come across his vision. Her hair was long and golden, like the honeywheat harvest he had once helped to reap.

Her eyes were pools of deep blue which even the ocean would envy. Her fair skin reminded him of sweet cream, with a hint of rose coloring in her cheeks. "An angel," he muttered, echoing his thoughts.

"Sir?" The merchant looked up from her search, only to realize that the young man wasn't speaking to her. She returned to her task while Ethyn continued to shamelessly stare.

The second woman, who was next to the blonde, was arguably much prettier. A couple of years of maturity on the other female made the brunette a paragon of beauty.

Her glossy hair looked spun by the Fate's themselves, and her chestnut eyes made most any man go weak at the knees. Ethyn was sure that if the brunette wasn't married, she must have her pick of suitors. But he did not plan to be one of them.

Dipping their heads slightly to those around them, the two ladies then began to converse politely with a jeweler while admiring his rings.

The blonde smiled at something funny that was said, and her face lit like the sun. Ethyn blinked; blinded by her radiance.

When his eyes opened, he noticed a coin pouch had fallen to the ground at the angel's feet. What a perfect opportunity!

What kind of knight would he be if he did not help someone who had lost something so precious?

It was like the Fates had intervened on his behalf. He would have had no way to introduce himself otherwise. This was his chance.

Ethyn steeled his nerves and prepared to speak to the young lady who had captured his attention. He strode forward as confidently as he could, hoping to hide his eagerness.

"Pardon me," Ethyn interrupted the two ladies. He bowed. "This was dropped on the ground."

Kneeling down, Ethyn picked up the delicate coin purse. It's golden cinch dangled from his fingers as he held it out for the blonde to retrieve.

"If I may say, the purse is almost as beautiful as its mistress." Ethyn gave his most dashing smile, not that the lady could see it.

Looking at the man's green eyes, the girl's own sparkled as her breath hitched. "How kind of you to say!" She gently touched the elderly woman beside her. "Duchess Amelia, this knight thinks you are beautiful! I hope I can be so admirable someday."

The old duchess turned a wrinkled smile on the young man. Her face contained more cracks than a shattered vase.

"Such a flatterer!" The duchess took the purse with one hand and gently shoved him with the other palm.

"Oh no. I didn't mean…" Ethyn took a step back, dumbfounded.

"What is wrong, Sir Knight?" The blonde woman furrowed her brow. Behind her the brunette looked away, suppressing a grin.

"Nothing," the soon-to-be knight was cornered.

Ethyn could not defend himself without insulting a duchess. But not defending himself made him look like he was trying to get into the old woman's good graces with some ulterior motive.

"Uuuh, Sir?" The merchant whose stall he had left timidly approached. "Were you wanting to buy that eagle?"

Ethyn's face blanched. In his haste, he had shifted the brass eagle into his left hand and completely forgotten about it. 'Just great!' He lamented.

He helplessly held out the decorative knob and placed it in the saleswoman's hand.

"I do not think the knight meant to rob you," the lovely blonde offered.

Ethyn grimaced. How had things gone so sideways so quickly?

'She thinks I'm a thief! This cannot possibly get any worse…'

"Sir Dirty, is that you?"

'I was wrong. So wrong…' Ethyn had a good idea who had called him. He gritted his teeth. 'Maybe if I ignore him…'

The redheaded man felt a hand clap onto his shoulder.

"I would know that shoddy excuse for armor anywhere!" The obnoxious voice continued.

The crowd went deathly quiet and Ethyn could not ignore that he was the intended target of the jib. He swallowed and shot an apprehensive glance toward the blonde angel.

He was shocked to see that she and the brunette had disappeared. He was equal parts relieved that he did not have to explain and disappointed that he had not even learned the girl's name.

"Nuall," Ethyn sighed, "I did not realize you would be here."

The other squire laughed heartily. His long, luxurious golden hair brushed across his bouncing shoulders. Unlike Ethyn, the squire was dressed in an exquisite blue tunic with silver threads embroidered along the hem.

"Where else would I be for my knighting ceremony?" Nuall wondered aloud. "I guess you are not here to wish me well."

"I am being knighted as well," Ethyn said indignantly. At this, those around went back to business, not wanting to get on the wrong side of two future protectors of Birle.

A lack of audience did not dissuade Nuall from his taunting. "You passed all the trials? I guess the kingdom's standards have lowered considerably." Nuall winked.

'I was thinking the same thing about you…'

"Ha! I can feel you scowling even through your visor. Relax! I was only joking. You have worked very hard to achieve this." Nuall dipped his head.

"Thank you," Ethyn let down his guard for a moment.

"I guess that means in two days you will be Sir Dirty for real!" The man finished his joke.

Ethyn clenched his fists. "Nuall, you must stop calling me that. It's not even true."

The two boys had trained together on and off for years as their sponsors were friends. At one of the first tournaments, a bunch of the squires and some of the less prominent noblemen's children were fooling around telling boyish stories, playing pranks on spectators, and being crude.

The redhead tried to excuse himself from the mayhem, but Nuall had seen him sneaking off and called him out on it.

"I just don't like this kind of humor," Ethyn said honestly. He was all for fun and games, but the children were doing real damage and he didn't want to lose his chance at becoming a knight.

"I see," Nuall tapped his chin. "You go in for the really dirty stuff. Would a maiming be more to your taste?"

"What? No!" The green eyed boy was appalled by how his words had been twisted.

"Oh! You hear that boys? Nothing short of murder will be to Sir Dirty's liking!" Nuall laughed. The other boys laughed as well and as the young squired had walked away, he had left with a new unpleasant nickname.

Now Ethyn walked away from the obnoxious nemesis again, but this time he was not trying to get away. He was searching.

Ethyn headed in the only direction he believed the young woman could have gone. Maybe he could explain everything if he got a chance.

"Where are you going?" Nuall called. He chased down Ethyn.

Unlike before, where the redhead had simply remained quiet, the young man chose to confront the other squire.

"Find someone else to torture, Nuall. I have had enough."

Nuall stopped dead in his tracks. "I don't understand."

"You may call me Ethyn, or—when the time comes—Sir Samberg, but call me anything else and I will be forced to tell your master what really happened at the last tournament. I doubt he would be so willing to sponsor you if he knew."

Having said his peace, Ethyn proceeded to ignore the other squire entirely. He had no time for fools anyway.

Ethyn looked in every direction, but the woman he sought must have entered the keep through a side entrance, and the green-eyed man did not feel comfortable chasing her inside. He would have to try to seek her later.

With a sigh, Ethyn turned, walked past Nuall and rejoined the bazaar. He strode back up to the shopkeeper in the first stall, who seemed prepared to be scolded.

Ethyn dipped his head. "My apologies, ma'am. I would like to buy that eagle. And if you'll let me, I would like to see the other item you were finding for me as well."

The woman smiled at him as he pulled out some coins.

After making his purchases, Ethyn was happy to leave the temporary market behind. As he approached the stable, Sir Cyneheard was on his way to meet him.

"Find something that caught your eye, did you?" The older knight said eyeing the small sack which Ethyn carried.

The young man rubbed the back of his neck. 'More than you know…' Aloud he said pleasantly, "Just a trinket or two. But I am quite finished loitering."

"Ready to go in the palace? I can understand. I remember my first time vividly. I hope it will be as memorable for you, my boy."

Ethyn smiled at the knight. If the pretty woman had gone inside like he believed, it would be very memorable indeed.