Through the summer festival crowd, Elleree watched, wary, as the Captain tugged gently on the leather reins attached to the bridle of his horse and glanced once over his shoulder at her before he moved on. The expression on his face was clear - she was to follow him directly, or the consequences would be most unpleasant. She thought about turning and stomping away...but that would probably serve only to make her look guilty, so she swallowed her pride and followed him.

Anyway, it wasn't such a horrible position to be in…

Unthinkingly, her gaze lowered along the lines of his fitted black and silver armor and down. She watched as he sauntered in front of her, his hips moving with a natural swagger that she couldn't help but notice.

In the next moment though, he turned to look at her again, that same eyebrow raised. "Don't fall...behind, girl."

Elleree felt her face heat promptly. Caught again. Why was she looking in any case? She sighed softly to herself, she hadn't noticed a man... well not in a very long time. Not since the 'men' had been boys. Perhaps she'd never noticed a man.

But he kept calling her girl as if she were a naughty child, who needed disciplining, instead of a woman who deserved at least a modicum of respect, so she scowled at him again.

Bloody hell, what was he, anyway? A year or two older than her maybe? Elleree gritted her teeth, suddenly wishing she could just close her eyes and disappear, huddle in a corner and hide like she did when she was little.

If only he was fat and ugly. Then she could deal with him without blushing or getting distracted. But he wasn't, and she didn't have the power to disappear, so she took a breath and drew on some strength from within, the only thing she'd ever had to rely on.

Finally they reached the back of the market square and he led her round the corner to a quiet alleyway that was empty.

"What's this about?" She asked immediately, clutching the folds of her skirt to keep from wanting to smack that expression off his face. "If you wanted to get me alone, you could've just asked for an outing." Her fingers curled around the soft worn material she wore, and the familiar feeling brought her a measure of comfort, and confidence, in turn.

Ignoring her jest, his expression hardened as he stared her down, one hand on the hilt of his scabbard once more. "I saw your foolery, Rowan, you stole from Lord Benson, you bumped into him twice and you picked his pocket. I expect you to confess immediately, and perhaps I will be lenient, though I can't say as much for the King."

"I did not," she argued, the corners of her mouth turning down. "I took nothing that was his..."

Elmont took a step towards her but she stood her ground, not about to let him intimidate her so easily though she felt his presence with every fiber of her being. Her heart sped up, fluttering beneath her ribcage but she ignored it.

"I saw you quite clearly," he continued. "You slipped something into his pocket while you distracted him with a pretty smile."

He thinks I'm pretty?

The dreamy thought rose unbidden to her mind but she shut it down as quickly as it had sprung up. "Well, that's absurd," she scoffed. "That's giving, not stealing, Captain whoever-you-are."

"Then what were you putting in his pocket, may I ask?"

Elleree swallowed, and decided to use a different approach. Looking down at her old brown boots, she answered quietly. "I knew this would happen. I knew you would judge me."

"I don't know you. I'm upholding the law and doing my duty, that's all. What were you doing?"

Elleree risked a glimpse of him, a flare of relief rushing through her as she noticed his expression had softened, then continued with her story, lowering her gaze and attempting to appear contrite.

"The first time I bumped into him, he dropped his purse, but I didn't notice at first. I didn't see it on the ground until he walked away."

She peeked up again through her lashes to find him listening intently, so she continued. "And I - I knew I would be accused of stealing if I turned it in... and I was scared, so I - I just ran into him again, so I could return it without him knowing."

Elmont frowned - a disapproving sort of look - and she could tell he didn't quite believe her but he didn't seem as if he wanted to argue.

"And I suppose if I were to ask," he said, "you'd claim you have absolutely nothing that doesn't belong to you on your person."

Elleree shook her head. "No, I don't. I'll strip off every stitch of clothing if you want to search me," she added for good measure.

The disapproving expression became much more pronounced, and she had to bite back a grin as he flushed. "Most certainly not," he said sternly. "I would never ask something so coarse of a woman."

Elleree shrugged, the corner of her lips twitching. "Suit yourself, Captain."

He studied her for another moment, trying to decide what to do with her she assumed, and she stood stock still. At this point she hoped that he would have little choice but to let her go and she hoped he would decide this soon. The afternoon was fast disappearing and she had little time left.

"You're free to go then, Miss Rowan, though I have my reservations."

Elleree contained her relief, not wanting to give him the satisfaction, but nodded. "Fine then," she answered. "I'm sorry my clumsiness seems to have ruined your day, Sir -" She looked to him to find him watching her closely, though she couldn't quite read the look in his eyes. Still it felt as if he was trying to see through her, and it made her wish she could disappear again. No one else had ever caused her to feel uncomfortable the way he did.

"Elmont," he said. The tone of his voice was softer somehow, and nice without the undercurrent of arrogance.

"Elmont," she repeated, and they stood, hazel eyes locked on blue, for how long she had no idea.

But it was soon broken. "I plan to keep my eye on you, Miss Rowan," he said. "Thievery will not be tolerated, not here."

Elleree had no idea what to say to that, nothing that wouldn't sound like a challenge, so she kept quiet, but she couldn't help thinking this could not be a good thing...

Flipping her hood up to cover her head and hide her face in shadow, she gave him one last look before she turned and hurried away. She had an awful feeling that everything was about to change.

AN: Thank you for reading, please let me know what you think! :)