~Memories II~

by Ola

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A/N~ Again, sorry for the delay if you haven't read my updated profile (the long list of reasons is there as well, if you care to read those). Anyway, classes started again, (lots of those) which means slow updates (as if there weren't enough of those already. Sorry) So here is the next part; you get introduced to a new character and…well, read and see. And review please! =)

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Part 6~

Mica woke up feeling tired and frustrated. And apprehensive. She longed to either stay abed all day, or leave the city, but neither was really an option. Unless she pleaded the flu or a broken leg, Tania would see her out the door with her tray of lace –it was business after all-. And winter was fast approaching, so she had no reason to leave the safety of the town to look for work somewhere else. She may not find any, or she may freeze to death in the middle of the road.

Not good. Better stay, for now. You can always leave if something goes wrong, although that should be a last resort. No running away because you get afraid. You hear me?! Don't. Do. It. It'll be the death of you, yet. A bitterly cold wind came through her still open window, as if to punctuate her decision. So she dressed –or rather changed, since she had slept in her clothes- ate, and went out the door to brave the cold, and whatever fate flung at her face.

As soon as she entered the open square of the marketplace, she saw the young guard again and decided not to tempt fate any more than she had to, so she avoided him all day. He wasn't hard to miss with that red hair and his dark blue uniform. He wasn't the only guard around –others were indiscreetly patrolling the streets as well, to discourage mischief by their presence alone- but she avoided them all.

No saying whether he told them about me to. Jeez…what has the world come to? I'm fleeing from guardsmen when I'm not even a thief or a criminal! But she continued to play cat-and-mouse with him, thankful that there wasn't that many blue uniforms walking around. And while she always kept an eye out for them, even when transacting with customers –no easy feat, but feasible if she was willing to sell slightly less than she could have if she had really paid attention to the lace- her mind went on a road of its own.

She didn't really know what to do. She couldn't keep hiding from him forever! She had two clear choices –well three-. Go straight up to him and talk, avoid him like the plague…or wait a little more and prevaricate – although she had no idea how that would help-. That wasn't a comforting thought. None of them were. For a moment, she wondered whether she would have to spend the rest of her life hiding and fleeing.

I could save enough money to move to Rethwellan…or Iftel. No one would follow me there…but…

She made a face at the prospect and kept on walking around the marketplace, stopping only to make a sale, although she would have wished there wouldn't be so many customers. What is it today with people buying lace? I was here for the past fortnight and almost no one came! Now it's an invasion! She frowned, and scanned the crowd once more.

She hadn't expected the danger to come from another source and started when someone drawled: "Well well well, look who's here…"

Mica whirled around, her heart in her throat. Before her stood a tall, broad shouldered young man. As her employer had been tall and massive, this one was tall and muscular. And used to getting what he wanted. He was not wearing the blue of the guards.

"That wasn't nice leaving off like that," he wagged his finger at her as to a naughty child; he even spoke that way, with that dirty leer still on his face. "And I was all set in becoming your dear husband. You broke my mother's heart by disappearing." He didn't seem to care about his mother in the least. But he pouted, a rather unbecoming trait on a grown man, while Mica stared at him with shock and fear.

This? My future husband? Was this my choice? Did I ever love him? Oh god…he's…he's…I'd rather die…But she was like a mouse seeing the stretched talons of an owl. Except that this is no wise owl. It's a self-indulgent idiot with ideas too broad for his little mind. She composed her face into a careful mask of a properly affronted lady.

"Excuse me sir, but I do not know what you are talking about. You must be mistaken. My name is … Mareea Ezra. I have never met you before." She hoped he wouldn't notice the slight hesitation in her voice as she made up a name from the top of her head. It was as polite an answer as a merchant's daughter would voice, so she nodded in a sketchy salute and made to leave.

But he would have none of it and before she could loose him in the crowd, he wrapped his fingers around her upper arm so hard she knew it would bruise, and wrenched her forcefully around. "Shut up wench. You're mine. And you won't leave a second time," he growled, his face so close to her that she almost fainted from the reek of bad ale and beer. Although she tried not to show it, she was terrified, and her heart beat as loudly as a drum.

But he can't hurt me here. Not with so many people around us as witnesses.

Obviously he could, for he wrenched her again and began dragging her off with him, while talking as if to a dim-witted and disobedient servant. "Now, now. Do not be difficult missy. Mother told you to come home as soon as you were done. She will be most unhappy to know you dawdled on the way for so long." To her horror, the crowd didn't pay any attention to them above several glances of disdain meant for her!

She tried wrenching away, but it was no use; the man was like a bull, and he only increased the hold on her hand –any more pressure and it would break-. In a blind panic, she took in a large breath and opened her mouth to scream, but before any sound could emanate from her throat, she heard a loud "let her go!"

"I think not, brat. She's mine, and I'll do with her what I want."

"Let her go. I will not repeat myself." There was a dangerous growl in his voice that made her captor slow down, then stop, and turn around, while still keeping her pined before her, thus giving her a clear view of the speaker. But she knew that voice; she had recognized him even without seeing him.

The red haired guard. And right now, he's a much better prospect than that…that…brute. She tugged one more time- it had no more effect than her previous attempts.

Let's settle this in between us, shall we? Among men. Unless you only try your strength with ladies?" the guard's voice was calm, cold as ice, scornful, and made to anger.

The large man scowled, his eyes lingering on the blue uniform, then sneered. "And have half the town's guards on my back for fighting with one of their brats? What do you take me for, an idiot?" he made as if to leave, when the guard slowly too of his dark blue jacket and threw it on a nearby crate.

"It's a personal matter." His opponent looked him up and down, smirked, and threw her roughly to the ground, spilling the contents of her tray all about her. The guard glanced at her, his eyes narrowed in sullen furry she did not understand, just as the brute took the opportunity of inattention to swing at him. Mica gasped as he barely avoided the crushing blow meant for the throat, and the fight was on. People quickly moved out of the way, while others gladly took their place, coming to watch, forming a circle around the combatants. And Mica could only stare, unable to move, while her numb mind noticed the most inconsequential things.

The dark red highlights in his hair, the way his muscles play when he crouches, that moved he just pulled off…I know it from somewhere…

She hissed when he got a rather nasty punch on the cheek, realizing that she badly wanted him to win. Her heart clenched painfully. Yes, I want him to win. And I want to beat that other bastard myself. Down to a bloody pulp if possible…

…he knew me…                      …unless he lied, to make me more tractable…but he's dangerous anyway. Leave.

There'll be more like him wherever I go.

But maybe not someone who knows you! Leave! Now! While you still can!

But…what about…the guard?...Sindarin? …He…I…

Leave! Leave leave leave!!

With a sudden crack, the young guardsman broke the other man's nose, then punched him a few more times in the gut for good measure.

Now!

Mica scrambled to her feet and fought her way through the crowd of onlookers. She didn't wait to see the burly man fall to his knees, or the guard's panicked expression as he found her gone. She didn't wait. She ran to the shop, up the stairs, hastily threw her belongings into her bag, and ran back down two minutes later, gasping for breath. The shop was empty. Good. But… She stepped behind the counter, rummaged for a blank piece of paper and scribbled a quick note that she hid in the log book. The girl was almost out the door before she noticed with bewilderment the tray of lace still around her neck. Must have picked it up...can't really remember… She took the time to deposit it on a nearby table, as guilt washed over her over the rushed departure, then turned her back on everything and walked out.

"Hey, you…" with a sudden idea, she grabbed a kid's arm. "Do you know who owns this shop?" the boy nodded. "Will you tell the lady that I am truly sorry; and to everyone else asking for me that I was sent to the next village to the East to deliver a package?" the child looked at her for a moment, with big brown eyes. "I'll give you a copper." The boy beamed and nodded enthusiastically.

Well, money can't buy you happiness, but it sure is helpful.

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A/N~ wanted to get it out as soon as possible, so didn't proofread or edit. Hope there aren't too many errors. Please review! (anyone still reading this? Really hope so.)

*grins and waves*

ola.