New chap! I will try to post every day now for a while.


1520

The wind was blowing with a small breeze over the open landscape and carried the sound of laughter and loud voices from the four riders who were coming down the road. All four of them were wearing heavy armour, but their helmets were hanging from their saddles and the carefree looks on their faces showed more clearly than anything that these knights were not on duty, at least not for the moment.

Three of the four knights had long brown hair and brown eyes, their skin had a deep brown colour from all of the hours they had spent in the sun. Two of them had a slightly smaller build than the third.

Then there was the fourth knight, different from the others, his hair blond and his eyes blue, he was taller than the others with a leaner and yet strong build and on his saddle the crest of one of the noble houses of the kingdom shone proudly in the sun.

"Come on Marcus" The biggest of the brown haired riders said, snickering "if you are going to swallow your tongue each time a beautiful lady walks pass you, you are never going to find a wife."

"I did not swallow my tongue as you say it Correc, I was merely surprised by her sudden presence that was all." Marcus said, a small blush forming on his cheeks as the bigger and older man started laughing loudly as the other brown haired man did his best to hold back his own laughter.

"Sure you were, that was why you stammered like an idiot when she said goodbye after having tried to talk to you three times." This caused a new round of laughter from the two older men as Marcus blushed even deeper.

"Correc, Ferre, leave the poor kid alone, if I do not remember incorrectly neither of you were big bold either men the first time you were advanced upon by a women." This came from the blond rider who rode a little ahead of the three other and it caused Marcus to laugh this time and the other two men to mutter something under their breaths.

"As if you were the picture of calm yourself the first time Enjolras." Correc muttered a little louder which caused the blonde man to turn around and give him an evil smile.

"Well I never said that I was did I? But I think I did quite well since the young lady blushed like a red rose."

"Oh come on Enj, we really does not need to know." Ferre shouted loudly as the man called Enjolras just laughed loudly, turning his focus forward again, his eyes landing on a small cottage a little farther down the road.

The small house was insignificant really, with the forest laying just a few feet behind it and a small piece of land in front of the main building where it grew something which from afar looked like wheat, still there was something about it which drew his attention.

"We should stay to water the horses." He heard himself say as soon as the thought entered his mind.

"But we just watered them a few hours ago Enj, and the king was very clear in his letter that we should reach the capital as fast as we possibly could." Ferre said, the two other men in their company looking as surprised as he felt for their leader was not one to rest often, in fact more often than not the three men had to force him to rest more than a few hours when they were on a mission.

"Indeed we did but there will be a few days before we reach any kind of civilization again and we should therefore allow the horses some kind of rest, even if it is just for a few minutes."

At his reasoning the three men had nothing to say, for was not this the reasoning they often used against their leader when he was unreasonable? So despite the small cottage laying in the wrong direction the four riders set it as their new goal.

When they reached their goal they saw that what had looked like a small cottage from afar instead was a small farm. Hens were running around picking the ground and pigs were digging around in the dirt. Just as they were about to call out to see if anyone was home, two small boys came running out from behind the main house, chasing each other.

Seeing the four men on the horses the two boys came to an abrupt stop as they stared at the four men with huge eyes.

"Are your parents' home children? We would like to water our horses and be on our way as fast as possible." Correc said with a soft tone, always having been the best with children. The two boys, who were pretty much identical and had to be twins, looked at each other before they simultaneously shook their heads.

"No, they have gone to the market." One of them said.

"But our sister is home." Said the other.

"Could you be kind to fetch her then?" Correc asked when the two children simply stood still and kept on staring at the four men. Once again the twins looked at each other and sending some silent message they both got a gleeful look in their eyes.

"We will." One of them said.

"But only if we can try one of your horses and see your swords."

"For God's sake this is absolutely ridiculous, we should..." Enjolras started saying but a look from Correc shut him up.

"You two fine gentlemen have a deal." Correc said instead, causing the two boys to lit up before they started running towards the stables, screaming for their sister whose name Enjolras did not hear since the boys were already behind the building.

"We were just to water the horses Correc, not stay and play with children." He said with a sigh as he gave a tiered look at his comrade in arms whom loved children.

"Come on Enj, you were the one who wanted to stay in the first place." Correc said with a smile as he dismounted his horse, Marcus and Ferre having already done so.

With a sigh Enjolras dismounted his horse as well and just as he had taken the rains in his hand the two boys came back behind the small stable, one of them dragging a huge working horse behind him while the other was dragging a young woman.

At the sight of her Enjolras felt something shift within him, she was tall and lean for a woman and there was dirt in her face from work. Still he found her to be strangely enchanting.

Black locks had escaped from their confinement under her cap and her dark brown eyes held such warmth and affection for the children dragging her forward that Enjolras for a moment felt a strange longing within, a longing to settle down, to see a woman look at children of his own like that, and it was a feeling that both shocked and scared him, for he had never in his whole life wanted a family, always simply seeing the bonds of matrimony and children as a confinement.

When the young woman's eyes landed on them however, the warmth which had been shining through them turned colder and she got a suspicious look in her eyes.

"How can I help you my lords?" She asked as she inspected them all closely, making Enjolras wonder how many who had come through this farm with less than honourable intentions.

"We would like to simply water our horses' mademoiselle. We have a long journey ahead of us and your farm is the only one we will pass in a few days." Enjolras said seeing how the young woman's eyes landed on his family's crest and her eyes narrowed.

"The king's men are always welcome to our home." Her words and tone were the perfect form of politeness, but Enjolras could still see how the walls in her eyes had risen further than before. The rest of his company however seemed oblivious to this. "Boys, fetch one bucket of water for each of the horses." She said.

"But we were going to be allowed to see the swords Eloide". The twin holding his sisters hand pleaded as she threw a fearful eye at the group before them.

"The king's men are very busy and I am certain they are in a hurry, you just fetch the water boys and do not bother them."

"It is fine mademoiselle, just show us the well and we will fetch the water ourselves, Correc promised the boys a ride on his stead." Marcus smiled at the woman named Eloide and after a small while she gave him a cautious nod as the two boys gave a cry of joy, running towards Correc who immediately took the small boys under his wings.

"Just follow me my lords." Eloide said where she stood with the huge horse before she turned and started walking away without waiting to see if any of them followed. Walking behind her, she led them to the side of the stable where she tied up her horse, and gestured for them to do the same, before grabbing a bucket and walking towards the edge of the forest.

Each of the young men took a bucket themselves and followed her, soon seeing the small well which was placed close to the edge of the forest.

With ease the young woman then sank the bucket down in the well before she started to pull it up again.

"Let me do that mademoiselle." Ferre said, halting in his step at the withering look he received.

"I can handle it just fine my lord."

"None of us doubt that you can mademoiselle, but my men so hardly do any form of normal labour that it is quite good for them to do so once in a while." Enjolras said, smiling when he heard Eloide huff angrily. Still she handed over her work to Ferre who looked at her with new respect.

"Do riders often pass through here mademoiselle?" Marcus asked to fill the small silence, looking a little uncomfortable at the look he got in return.

"Occasionally they do my lord." Eloide said her eyes turning a little softer as she saw the blush creeping up Marcus' cheeks under her gaze.

"Are your parents' often away mademoiselle?" Enjolras asked, waiting to be pierced by another of Eloide´s looks, but instead he saw her looking at him with curiosity.

"And what makes you think it is not my husband who is away my lord?"

"Because you have not corrected us when we have called you mademoiselle so I assumed you were not."

"Is that still not a very forward question for a nobleman to ask?" He could see the hint of a smile playing on her lips, which caused him to smile back.

"Not when said nobleman cares about the safety of the people." At his Eloide huffed once more, but he still caught a hint of amusement and mirth in her eyes before she had time to turn away. When she looked at him again her eyes were unreadable.

"If I could not take care of my brother and I my parents would not have left us alone, but only to ease your mind I can say that they rarely leave our farm in my hands alone." This put an end to the conversation as Ferre now had gotten up the last of the bucket from the well.

With a small sign from Enjolras, Ferre and Marcus took two buckets each, something which did not go unnoticed by Elodie who now threw a curios look at Enjolras before she started leading the three men back to their companion and their horses where the twins were now both sitting on Correc's stead, lighting up when they saw their sister approaching.

"Look Eloide, we are knights of the king!" They said as one, causing their sister to smile warmly at them.

"And fine knights you are, now you need to come down so the poor creature can rest." Pouting a little, the boys still jumped down from the horse before running over and taking one of the buckets over to their new friend who greedily drank the cold water.

"Perhaps you and your knights would like something to ease your thirst as well my lord?" Elodie suddenly asked as Enjolras looked at her surprised, he had not expected her to ask, and had not wanted to do ask her either.

"That would be very kind of you mademoiselle, if it would not be too much trouble."

"Trust me, any men who can handle my brothers deserve a reward." She laughed before telling her brothers she would soon come back before walking towards the main house, the twins simply throwing themselves at Correc again with Marcus now joining them.

"Quite the woman that girl, do you not think so Enjolras?" Ferre asked, having sneaked up next to his commander and friend in arms.

"And why do you ask me this?" Enjolras said raising an eyebrow at his closest friend.

"Just saying that men like us often have a hard time settling down with women from court for a reason." He said before joining the twins, Marcus and Correc, leaving Enjolras on his own as Elodie came out of the house, now carrying a small basket as she walked over to where Enjolras was standing.

"Take this, it contains some appels and three loaves of bread which you can have on your journey to the capital."

"How did you..." Enjolras began asking but got silenced by the pointed look he received.

"I may be a farmers' child my lord, but I am not stupid. Knights who travel this way only go in one direction. Now take this, there is some ale in there as well."

"Thank you mademoiselle, for this gift and for your hospitality."

"It is I who should thank you my lord, for asking for it and not taking it, and also because my brothers now probably will sleep a full night." At this she looked over to where the boys were now carefully inspecting Correc's and Marcus' swords with faces filled with awe, faces which turned into disappointment when Enjolras had packed the food into the saddle bags and called for his men it was time to leave.

Soon all of them were ready to mount their horses and the two boys were saying goodbye to Correc, inviting him back if he was ever to pass through again.

Elodie stood watching her brothers when Enjolras led his horse up to her side.

"If they ever wish to search for a position with the king, just send a letter with them to me and I promise I shall put in a word for them." He said, knowing the boys probably would forget about them the moment they left.

"I will do that, thank you my lord." Elodie said with a smile, knowing that her brothers were destined to take over the farm, but knowing the weight of the offer still.

"I wish you good luck on your journey." She suddenly said just as Enjolras was about to mount his horse, now instead turning towards the young woman whose eyes still seemed to bewitch him and drag him in.

"Thank you… my lady." He said not caring about the rules for society as he took her hand and gave it a light kiss. As he touched her, he felt his heart speed up and how he for a moment wanted nothing more than to stay here, where he forever could drown in deep pools of brown and let his hands comb through raven black hair.

Then the spell was broken as the twins rushed to their sister's side, oblivious to the tension in the air and their sisters now rosy cheeks as they both spoke at the same time. Before he was caught again in her spell, Enjolras mounted his horse, thanked Eloide again and rode out from the farm with his friends in tow, the three men back to their normal bickering.

Enjolras however still felt his heart racing and how his mind was blank on everything except of the picture of Elodie, and turning back he saw her standing with her brothers, looking after him as well.

Using all of his self-control, Enjolras managed to turn away from the woman who had stolen his heart in mere minutes with her independent ways and warm smiles. And as the years past he would never forget about her and no woman, not even the one who he in the end was forced to marry to make sure his line survived, ever replaced her in his heart.


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