Halt sat down by the river bank near the edge of his cabin fletching arrows. He was relaxed he usually was when he was left to his own devices and could slip away to the woods or a nice quiet spot. He had come back from a mission not to long ago and was returning to his normal routine. Normal to a point truth be told his mind was slightly addled, Halt was a young man... Well youngish he was in his early to mid twenties and given his job wasn't one to settle and take a wife being domestic didn't suit him. At least not in his mind. But truth be told a fair maiden had caught his eye and not matter how hard he tried he could not get her image out of his mind. The lass of course was the fair Lady Pauline, she was but nineteen but poised and elegant for a lady her age. She had blond hair and a slender body and elegant knowing eyes. She was wise beyond her years in her work which was the key to her success and position in the castle. Halt could barely speak to her he was to shy though he would never admit it.
He was handsome in his own way, she thought to herself as she leafed through a stack of papers, albeit a bit gruff. Pauline couldn't help but think of the man she had come to know over the past few months as she sorted through a stack of documents. He was short compared to other men and lacked the "pretty" face that so many women fawned over he has a simple stern face and a scruffy beard and hair but knowing eyes that surrendered his emotions, to her at least everyone else would call him fierce or grim somehow she never got those emotions from his presence. She collected her courier bag and placed some documents in it when one caught her eye the simple green oak leaf mark on it betrayed its owner she picked it up skimming it over only to realize that the document hadn't been signed. She rolled her eyes placing it in her bag with the rest rather than going through the measures of having someone go and fetch Halt to the castle which she knew he hated she would just go find him and have him sign. It seemed simple enough. She walked down to the stable and collected her horse and went about her tasks.
She got to the cabin about a half hour later knowing its location only vaguely but seeing the slightly worn path on the edge of the village. She turned down the path smiling softly when she saw the little cabin on the edge of the meadow. She dismounted her horse and walked toward the cabin when a movement caught her eye she could see the Rangers brown head of hair sitting by the edge of the river. She walked toward him easily "Ranger Halt?" She said as she got nearer. Halt had heard her approach but it wasn't until he heard the soft female voice that his attention peaked he looked up and was met with the same soft brown eyes that had plagued his mind all day. He stood "my lady" he said gently bowing his head respectfully. She felt gutsy all the sudden "Pauline... Just Pauline..." She nodded at him with a slight dip of a curtsey. He cocked a brow curious at her informality but pleased by her friendliness knowing not many got to reference her by her first name. "Halt then" he replied gently there was a softness to his voice when he spoke to her sometimes that she noticed but never spoke of it, she liked it. She pulled the paper from her bag and started toward him "I have something... A couple forms you forgot to sign." Halt started up the slippery bank "be careful of the-..." He was to late. The bank of the river was littered with smooth stones covered with a slick moss that camouflaged them with the grass Halt knew exactly where they were making the bank less hazardous to him, not so much for visitors.
Pauline stepped on one of the smooth stones sending her normally graceful form reeling Halt made it to the top of the bank just in time to catch her flat against his chest sending him sliding as well. Halt slid backwards Pauline sliding with him until he landed flat his back the wind being driven from his lungs with a loud huff. He felt pain shoot through his foot as it twisted in his boot as he tried to break Pauline's fall. Her face pressed against his her lips accidentally pressing to his cheek. They both flushed and pulled apart. It took him a moment to get his breath "are you alright?" He asked as she started to scramble to her feet. "Yes oh my... I am so sorry... Are you alright?" She reached down to take his hand. He started to pass it up but then slowed and took it as she helped to haul him up "I think so- ah!" He winced favoring his foot. He reached out trying to grab the branch behind him but missed but was caught by the arm and waist by Pauline who stabilized him and held him close "I don't think so. Come on let's get you up to the porch" she said helping him. His body pressed close to hers as she wrapped his arm around her shoulders and helped him limp up to the porch. She settled him down onto a chair pulling another in front of him. "I'll be alright you don't need to do all that ah" he winced again as she looked at him stubbornly and lifted his leg into her lap. She ran her hand up to his calf "is it sore up in here?" She asked testing the muscle he shook his head and she worked higher up to his knee he shook his head again and then she moved up his thigh he felt his face getting hot but shook his head again "well its consolidated to your foot so that's good news" she said "I'm going to have to take your boot off... It's going to hurt." Halt put his hands on the sides of the chair gripping it and nodded as Pauline took ahold of his boot. She started to ease it off slowly and saw halts pained look and settled for a quick yank hearing the man yelp in pain. Once the boot was off halt let out a slow pained breath as Pauline removed his sock. She let out a hiss as she saw his already badly bruised foot she ran her fingers carefully over it "it's fractured but not badly broken at least" she said then met his gaze his eyes were a lovely green and brownish gold color that reminded her of the muted tones he usually wore "I'm sorry halt I didn't mean to." "I know you didn't it's alright" he said softly.
Their faces were close now Pauline blushed and pulled away first followed by Halt. He could have cut the tension between that two of them with his Saxe it was so thick. She stood and moved to her saddle bag removing a small first aid kit she wrapped and stabilized his foot carefully chastising him to stay inside and rest once she settled him inside by the fire. "And who will be telling the baron that I am not to leave my home?" Halt asked cocking a brow. "I will and I will also be checking in to make sure you behave" she said easily before contemplating what it meant fully. Halt couldn't help but give a soft smile at her warning 'quite the determined woman' he thought to himself. She felt her heart skip a beat at his smile and smiled softly back "get some rest I'll come by tomorrow to check on you... And don't argue if I don't do it a healer will" she warned causing Halt to snap his mouth shut silencing his argument before it started. She nodded and smiled "I'll see you tomorrow then" she added before heading for the door. As soon as it shut behind her he let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding suddenly thinking that it might have been worth a fractured foot.