A Flustered Widow - 7

"Uhm, I should probably head to the market before it's too dark out." Ella told the three men, who had decided it was their duty to help her around the house.

"Be safe."

Hadrian, who had taken to cleaning and repairing the laundry, said.

"Can I come?" Gairon asks, looking up from the dishes he had been diligently cleaning.

"Sure." She said with a smile.

[I'm starting to get used to them.] Despite feeling initially awe-struck and nervous around the noble knights, Ella was slowly getting used to their presence. Their manners and smiles had been a big help.

Still, she could stop her heart from jumping when they got a little too close.

"Let's go." She showed Gairon to the market and had him hold a large bucket of clothes Hadrian had helped her fix. Before they even arrived at the stall designated for Ella, a small group of men and women had formed.

"Is it usually this crowded?" Gairon asked, not at all used to life in the country side.

Ella shook her head and laughed gently at the adorably oblivious ball of muscles towering over her.

Despite his traditionally intimidating features, Gairon's soft eyes and baby face made him look more cute than scary. That was, of course, until he had a blade in hands.

"They're here for you." She clarified, still laughing. The sound like the gentle ringing of bells.

"Me?"

"Yes, you. Now that they know you're not going to butcher them they all want a chance to meet you. You can't forget how famous you knights are in small villages like these, closer to myth than reality. That's why..." Ella mumbled the rest under her breath, too low for Gairon to hear.

The knight was confused but happy, he liked the feeling of being famous.

"Let's go meet them then!" Gairon said excitedly as he ran up to meet the crowd.

Screeches, laughs, and conversation filled the air as Gairon smiled, spoke, and laughed. He was like a flame, warming up the lives of all those around him.

Ella watched from the side as he sold the clothes she was supposed to be selling and made more money than she had made in weeks.

Despite their financial situation and despite Gairon's protest, the village people seemed insistent on paying him.

"I must say, I'm flattered but I really don't need it."

They wouldn't listen, showering him with silver and bronze.

Once night began to fall the customers slowly started leaving, but not without leaving their mark.

A few men had left cuts and bruises on him from insisting to spar and several women had left lipstick marks all over his face and arms.

"You nobles really are a people magnets." Ella laughed as she wiped the lipstick off Gairon with a cloth.

"Not all of us, but I can't deny I have tendancy to quickly bond with people.

"Thanks." He let her ice the few bruises he had recieved and kept talking.

"Some of the men here really know their way around a sword, it's impressive that they could even land a few hits on me."

Ella nodded slowly. "There was this prophecy a few years ago saying our village would be destroyed 'When the Lord of Greed and Filth revolts against the King of Steel'. We don't know when this will happen so many of the men in the village learned to fight in preparation for this disaster."

"That's an... interesting prophesy." Gairon knew who the King of Steel referred to, but he could only guess as to the Lord's identity.

[Probably Devis or Gazon, the Lunae Sect could also be valid candidates.]

"I have a question."

"Yes?"

"Why was the village protesting when we arrived?"

Ella hesitated, stiffening up before finally saying:

"Food.

"The Golden-Goddess company is in open rebellion against the crown and any villages swearing fealty to it. This leaves us with no crops or food as all our seeds come from them. We also can't go out to find any as most safe plantations in Zegrow belong to the company. That leaves only the Sanguinis plantations and we'd rather not pay the blood price."

[The Golden-Goddess company? Why would they rebel against his Majesty after centuries of loyalty? Has Lord Elmer gone mad? He was only just made head counselor of the company and he's already making rash decisions.]

[We'll be sure to pay him a visit.]

Gairon thanked Ella for her answer and gave her all the money he had just made. Together, they walked home under a beautiful sunset.

Well, sunset didn't exactly describe it. As the sun in the sky gave no light, the expression meant to describe the moment when the lightless day was replaced with a starry night.

...

With nightfall, it was time to decide on the sleeping arrangements.

Each room had two beds, each barely large enough for a single person.

Gairon and Sylace slept in the vacant room, leaving only Hadrian and Ella to share a room.

"I can sleep on the couch if that would make you more comfortable." Hadrian made his voice sound as reassuring as possible.

"N-No! I don't mind, I just hope you won't be uncomfortable sleeping with a peasant."

"Why does that matter? You've been nothing but kind to us, I'm the one who should be compromising for you."

Ella looked down. "But..."

"But nothing. In the few hours I've known you you've shown that you're an incredible person. I don't care what you are, you're amazing." Hadrian's tone was firm but caring, he didn't like seeing anyone put themselves down.

"Okay..." Ella reluctantly agreed, she couldn't see what was so amazing about herself. She led Hadrian to the room they would share for the night.

[Ah.]

She has forgotten a key detail.

Her daughter, Julia, had taken one of the beds when she left. There was only one bed in the room and it could barely fit one person, let alone two.

Hadrian barely batted an eye at the new development and laid on the floor.

"I prefer this anyways." He said with a smile, the warmth he intended on showing seeping through despite his frightening appearance.

[Phew, that could've went soo wrong.] Ella thought as she threw herself on the straw bed.

"I've been meaning to ask, what happened to you?" She was referring to Hadrian's monstrous appearance. Rumors of his transformation has quickly spread across the kingdom, but no real explanation had been provided.

Hadrian, who's charm has not been dulled by his new appearance, sighed. He looked like a pouting princess, laying on the ground with his long blond hair a mess on the floor.

"The price for being a hero." A note of sadness could be heard in his voice. "Still, I didn't manage to save everyone."

"Oh, I didn't know..." Ella didn't asked anymore questions after that, letting the exhausted knight sleep.

Including their time in the fortress, it has been almost a week since Hadrian, Gairon or Sylace has slept peacefully. At most, they'd sleep a handful of minutes before having to continue moving, for fear of an ambush.

[May the First be with them.] Ella sincerely prayed.

[And I hope he can protect them in the endeavors to come.]

The words seem to shake the air itself, as if knitting a silent blessing.

They were heard, but not by the First. Far beyond the seven nations and past the foggy sea, a pair of eyes cast their gaze on the wooden hut.

The pair of eyes, that seemed to glow with wisdom and power, looked to it's side.

" Son. " A voice said, it's silent echo making the air itself tremble.

" Go, be with them. Bless them in my name and answer the prayer of this kind soul, for the one she believes in will do no such thing. "

"By your will." A second voice responded.

Deep in the foggy sea, a man appeared above the "water". He should've sunk, he should've suffered the same fate as all those who had explored the foggy sea, but he didn't. He walked on the "water", in defiance of the laws of nature.

The man wore a clean white robe. His features were painfully plain, to the point of being almost instantly forgotten. The only memorable thing about him was the peaceful look in his eyes.