Kael whirled around to find a large burly man who now had a firm grasp on Marra's upper arms. He grabbed the hilt of his sword hanging at his side and was about to pull it out. But something in the robbers face stopped him. He knew that face. The wild graying blonde hair and the sardonic grin hidden behind the man's scruffy beard could only belong to one man. Kael felt the corners of his mouth creeping into a smile seeing the man struggle to keep hold of Marra as she kicked and fought to break free. The man must have recognized him as well for he released Marra and stared at Kael in disbelief.
Marra plopped down into the cold wet mud when the robber let her go. She sat stunned and confused rubbing her sore upper arms. Her heart was still pounding in her chest from her recent struggles with the giant man. She could clearly see Kael knew him. But how?
"Kael?" The man's gray eyes studied Kael intently through the pouring rain, "I haven't seen you in ages, lad!" The man exclaimed clasping Kael's shoulders.
Marra cleared her throat to get the men's attention, "Excuse me, could someone please tell me what's going on! Who is this man and how do you know him?" She asked Kael, frustrated and bemused.
Kael went over to where Marra was slumped in the mud. She was still looked a little shaken up from her recent scare.
"Marra, This is Alner, my father's old stable hand. He lives around here. I thought for sure he'd moved back to Harglenn."
"No, no, I still live here." Alner took a step towards Marra, his boots sloshing in the mud.
"Please to meet you miss. I'm sorry if I scared you earlier. If I'd known you knew Kael, I would have never laid a finger on you." He extended a dirty hand to help her up. Then seeing it, he pulled it back a wiped it on his tunic, which was far dirtier than his hand.
"What the devil are you doing here?" He said to Kael, pulling Marra up. "You haven't been around these woods in at least three years. How's your father been?"
Kael felt a twinge of pain in his chest at the mention of his father.
"Father passed away." Kael stated quietly, "His health was failing him long before he died though, as I'm sure you remember."
"Aye, I'm sorry to hear that," Alner sympathized as he nodded his head.
"As for me," Kael continued, "I'm on my way to Craneir to take care of some business affairs father left for me." Kael decided not to inform his friend on his real situation. He didn't want to endanger anyone he didn't have too. That and the fact Alner was known for wagging his tongue after he'd had a few drinks in him.
"What about you?" Kael asked Alner, humor in his eyes. "Since when have you resulted to robbery?"
Alner let out a bellowing laugh, "I'm no robber! Oh no, I like to refer to it as… volunteer wealth maintenance." He grinned revealing some missing teeth, "Besides, a man shouldn't have to go hungry because he's given all his money in taxes toward a nice summer home for His Majesty." There was no mistaking the anger in Alner's voice as he spoke.
"That's one of the reasons I moved out here to the woods; it's a good ways from King Soren's long greedy arm and his lot of tin soldiers. That and because I prefer the solitude of the woods. " Alner started walking, "Come back with me to my hut. It's been a while since you've been through the Stalderel woods, Kael. You have a lot to catch me up on." Alner nodded his head in Marra direction and winked at Kael.
Marra's heart leapt for joy at the thought of getting out of the rain. She would give anything to dry off for a bit. Her skirts were completely soaked and muddy. And her hair was a wet tangled mass lying flat against her head. She sent Kael a look of desperation.
"I guess we could," Kael agreed after seeing Marra's expression. After all, he thought. It would be nice to chat with his old friend.
They followed Alner until they saw a small hut peeking through the trees. Marra couldn't bring herself to believe it was sturdy, let alone keep water out. It looked like a bunch of twigs.
"Well here we are." Alner motioned to the hut in front of them. "Ladies first." He said mocking a low bow.
Marra cast Kael a wary glance before stepping inside. Much to her surprise, it was quite nice despite its shabby outer appearance. There was a bed in one corner and a table in another with remains of breakfast still lying there. Alner and Kael stepped in behind her, stomping the mud off their boots.
"How did you meet the girl?" She heard Alner whisper to Kael. She kept her back to them but decided to listen in on their conversation. She pretended to be observing the contents of the little shack as they talked.
At first, Kael didn't answer. He wasn't sure if he should tell him about how he met her. Then Alner would wonder why he was taking Marra to Craneir with him. He decided to improvise.
"We're engaged," Kael stammered. He saw Marra whirl around to face him. He gave a quick look to silence her. "When Marra heard that father left some business for me to deal with in Craneir, she couldn't bear to part with me. So she begged to come along. And here we are."
Alner's face broke into a wide smile that sickened Marra. "So much like the women folk, that is. Well, she seems like nice lass. That's for sure. I hope you'll both be happy."
Marra could've laughed aloud. Who could believe such nonsense? She knew that Kael obviously didn't want this man to know his real business but to say they were engaged!
"Thirsty?" Alner asked ready to fetch some tea if need be.
"Yes please," replied Marra wanting to get a chance to talk to Kael alone without Alner overhearing.
"I'm going to kill you," Marra said through clenched teeth when Alner was out of earshot, "Have you gone mad?"
"It's only for a little while. I couldn't tell him I was King Derek's long lost son, which no one even knows exists, now could I? I would really like to keep it a secret until I talk with Sir Belron." Kael replied. He felt laughter rising to his throat at the look on Marra's face. She was glaring at him angrily with her large green eyes.
Marra said nothing, knowing he was right and not wanting to admit it. She busied herself looking at some maps lying on a chair nearby. Alner had marked several caves and streams on it, as well as short cuts and roads. She studied it trying to make note of what was there. Soon Alner returned with some tea and after handing a tin cup to Marra, fell into conversation with Kael.
Marra listened to Kael as he and Alner talked about what had happened since they'd last seen each other. Kael mostly talked about his father. And Alner told Kael about the things he'd heard in town. Suddenly Alner turned to Marra who was lost in her own thoughts and asked her about Kael.
"So Marra, tell me how you met this fine fellow here?" Alner exchanged a glance with Kael.
Marra grinned mischievously, "How did we met? Why don't you tell him, Kael? You tell it so well." She did her best to fake admiration in her voice. Kael was staring at her stupidly.
Kael straightened up where he sat. The little devil. His eyes met Marra's. He cursed her mentally and did his best to come up with a believable story.
"We met in the town market back home. Father sent me to visit one of his friends when I saw a beautiful girl selling herbs. We talked for a while until it started to get late. I visited her everyday after that. I think it was her sweet disposition and kind-hearted patience that won me in the end." Kael stated trying his best not to sound sarcastic. He suppressed a laugh when he saw Marra was shocked or horrified or both at his answer. Thankfully, she regained her composure quickly and Alner didn't seem to notice.
"Well I'm glad to see you're settling down. For a while back when I worked for your father, He said his greatest fear was that you would never fine a girl to suit you." Alner chuckled. "I guess you both will be leaving soon. I'm sure you're trying to get to Craneir as soon as possible having to travel in this horrible spring weather. I have something that might come in handy on your journey. I'm not sure where I put it though." He stood and began digging around on his table across the room.
"Just wait until we're back on our own." Marra whispered a warning to Kael making sure Alner couldn't overhear.
"I don't see why you're so angry." Kael said. Suddenly flustering he leant forward and much to Marra's disgust kissed her on the cheek. "We'll be in Craneir in no time. Don't worry you're pretty head one more minute."
Marra was just about to slap him when she saw the reason for Kael's actions. Alner had just come up behind her holding the map she'd been looking at earlier.
"I hope I'm not interrupting," He said, a slight blush showing through his beard. "I thought you could use this map I made of the forest. I have another copy of it for myself. If you take the shortcuts you might get to Craneir faster than using the road. But be careful. There are a lot of robbers that take them as well."
Kael took the map and glanced at it. Alner then turned to go, "I'll go see if it's stopped raining."
As soon as Marra was sure Alner was gone, she held back her anger and disgust no longer and slapped Kael across his cheek.
"What is wrong with you?" her green eyes blazing with rage.
Kael rubbed his reddened cheek, "You were about to give us away. I had to think fast." He only wanted to shut her up. He really wasn't sure why he thought to kiss her. She was pretty but he'd seen prettier girls. He rubbed his cheek again. She had a hard hit, too.
When Alner returned, Marra and Kael restocked their packs with food while Alner told Marra stories of when Kael was a boy, much to the annoyance of the stories' subject.
"Thank-you, Alner for the map and the food but we should be going now." interrupted Kael once he and Marra finished packing.
"Yes, you're right. Just make sure you don't wait three years before coming by again." Alner chuckled showing them out of the hut.
"I won't." promised Kael like a little boy after a good scolding.
"Bye little miss! Take care of your man!" Alner called to them as they walked away from the tiny house.
Marra rolled her eyes then she looked over at Kael who was laughing, "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
"Perhaps a little," answered Kael with a smirk spreading across his face.
Marra marched on ahead leaving Kael to his own amusement. She sighed; it was going to be a long day.
A/N: I have been meaning to update a whole heck of a lot sooner but I had a horrible problem. I lost the notebook that I had this chapter written in so most of this I had to recall from memory. It was a longer chapter but this was all I could remember. I hope I find it soon so I can get the nextt chapter typed. Now a thanks toAriel32, who was my only reviewer for my last chapter. And to the rest of you…please say you haven't abandon me! I really need your reviews. Also, I noticed that there are a many many stories named "Once Upon A Time" so I might change the name of this. I only used that one because I couldn't think of one at the time I posted it. Ok, now I'm done blabbing. NOW GO REVIEW!….please? There could be cookies (girl scout kind of your choice) for you if you do…