The next day Halt stepped out onto the veranda of his cabin a part of him almost begged the gods to see Pauline riding down the path toward the cabin but instead all he saw was the empty trail. He sighed and limped slowly back into his cabin. The only visitor he had that day was a healer from the castle he examined Halt's foot and told him it was healing well and he should be able to move around normally by months end due to the location of the fracture if he was careful. Halt barely heard what he said he simply grunted a reply. Days turned to weeks, weeks turned to months, and neither Halt nor Pauline saw hide or hair of the other.
Near the end of the year the harvest season was coming and as usual the village would host a large festival to celebrate the bounty of crops. Halt had been asked to appear as security or so the Baron said but truly he was concerned for the man, other than to deliver reports or collect mission information people were seeing him even less than usual some even wondering if he had disappeared entirely. So Halt had no choice but to consent to attendance.
Lady Sandra knocked on the apartment door of the apartment with a little more force than normal she had knocked twice already and she knew the occupant was at home. The door opened slowly "I'm sorry milady I didn't hear you I was buried in reports" Pauline said balefully giving a short curtsey to the woman. Lady Sandra looked at the young woman before her she appeared to have been working quite intently there were slight ink stains on her fingers and it was clear that she had disrupted a very intent focus. "I see" Lady Sandra replied. "Please come in, I'll fetch us some tea" Pauline said mildly opening the door wider admitting her guest entrance. Lady Sandra entered the apartment was quite clean and the bed looked like it hadn't seen an occupant in a while judging from the very flat strait press of the sheets. She looked over at the small office space at the corner of the room and saw the desk practically spilling over with documents "you have been busy haven't you?" she said taking in the large piles of decrees and dictations. Pauline nodded as the stepped into the seating area with a kettle and tray of tea cups "the king has kept me quite occupied lately with this treachery with Morgarath since he fled it has been one thing after another" she admitted. Lady Sandra nodded "I understand completely my husband feels much the same he would see him caught and destroyed as the king would." Pauline nodded but did not speak. "On a lighter note" Lady Sandra added saving them from an awkward silence "the harvest festival is this evening" she eyed the young woman with a soft smile "there is a dance and I'm sure many handsome young men will be looking for a dancing partner" she added. Pauline sipped her tea carefully thinking through what she said next "milady-…." "Sandra, we are friends are we not" Sandra cut her off. "Yes. Please Pauline then… Sandra I am busy with reports I do not very well have the time for dances as of late… or for handsome young men… my job keeps me quite busy" she said. Sandra gave a knowing smile "or perhaps there is a young man already?" Pauline tried not to choke on her tea "no nothing in the like I assure you" she said, which was true… Halt must hate her for what she told him. Sandra nodded "I think you should take an evening off it will do you good just for a short while at least" she offered. Pauline didn't have much choice "for a short while then" she consented. Lady Sandra smiled and nodded and they resumed their tea peacefully.
The harvest festival was in full bloom by the time the sun set Halt stood silently at the back of the decent size ring of lights reserved for dancing. He was hidden in the shadows where no one would bother him he hoped as he observed the party quietly. There was a pause as new couples were introduced to the arena and one name caught his name "The Lady Pauline" the announcer stated. Halt turned from his place in the shadows as Pauline came into the lit ring she looked beautiful in the simple pale blue courier gown. Halts chest clenched painfully as the past several months of hurt weighed in on him. The Lady Sandra stepped out to greet her cheerfully offering her a drink and taking her to talk to the guests of the Baron. Halt watched bitterly as a knight stared a little to long for his liking and his lips lingered on her hand a little too long. He gripped his bow in a vice-like grip having the overwhelming urge to bring it down over the man's head but he curbed the desire.
Pauline took in the man's appearance he was one of those overly handsome men that the women of the town talked about he had a charming face with blue eyes and curly well kempt blond hair. His entire appearance was prestigious, but the way he looked at her was less than chivalrous. "This is Sir William Harken" Lady Sandra introduced "Sir Harken, the Lady Pauline courier to the King." He pressed his lips to her hand as he bowed the action was standard but somehow when he did it she felt violated. "You are a knight then?" Pauline said shortly. The man nodded "I am" he said with an air of arrogance to his voice. That was enough for her "you must either be horrible at it or very good to still have a face so charming" she said. Sandra smiled to herself silently Sir Harken smiled too at first then realized the hidden insult and frowned as he watched the Lady Pauline walk off with Lady Sandra listening to them laugh softly at his expense.
Halt couldn't help but smile to himself at the insult clearly quicker in the head than the knight who was still trying to figure it out. He watched realization fall on the man as he leaned on his bow clearly Pauline could fend for herself in some departments. The rest of the evening went relatively smoothly some younger children tried to slip wine from the table when they thought it was safe but a good stern look from Halt made them think twice and scurry off like mice.
It was late in the night before people started to head home Halt watched as they began to disperse he noticed Pauline leaving out of the corner of his eye he had managed to go unseen by her all evening justifying in his head that it was for the best not to dig up old bones. But then he noticed someone else leaving, Sir Harken. He watch the man mutter something to another gentleman then stumble slightly in the same direction as Pauline as he announced to his friend that he was going to 'turn in for then evening.' Halt's stomach twisted he knew the man had other things in mind. Halt slipped through the shadows on the edge of the lit ring and followed. The drunken man stayed far enough back to go unnoticed for a while but as they entered the narrower alleyways of the city heading for the fief he drew closer. Halt was close behind them but both were oblivious to his presence.
Pauline rounded the last corner of the alley as Sir Harken drew in close to her "milady Pauline" he said making her jump slightly as she stopped. "Sir Harken?" she said turning to eye the man. He sauntered toward her "perhaps we got off on the wrong foot you and I… or maybe my intentions were unclear" he said cornering her in the crook of the alleyway. Pauline stood defensively her mind drifting to the couriers knife she carried at her skirt "I think your intentions were and are quite clear" she said backing to the wall to get away from the man realizing she was cornered. She drew the knife but was only able to cut the man's hand as he reached forward and grabbed her. "Now that wasn't very nice was it" he said grabbing the knife wrenching it from her hand tossing it aside. "Let go of me" she said trying to shove him off of her as his bloody hand stained her dress as he groped at her. Instead the man laughed and leaned in toward her.
What happened next was so quick Pauline wasn't sure what happened at first. She glanced a shadow then the next thing she knew Sir Harken was on the ground. Halt had moved quickly once the knife was taken from Pauline drawing his saxe turning it to the heavy end and tossing it. The Hilt thudded hard against the man's head with a crack and he was out cold landing heavily on the stone path. Halt was right behind it. "Are you alright?" he asked as he stepped out of the shadow inspecting the heap of a man, making sure he was unconscious and out of the way before turning to Pauline. Pauline was in shock at the events but recognized the voice speaking to her "Halt? Halt… yes I think I am I just…" she stammered shaking lightly. Halt could see the event had shaken her he slipped out of his cloak and wrapped it around her shoulders "Pauline, you are ok" he said reaching out gently carefully touching her shoulder trying to calm her and not send her into shock again but he was to late she collapsed. He caught her against his chest. He shifted his weight collecting his knife from the ground tucking it away then slipped his arms beneath her knees and lifted her, cradling her carefully against his chest. He looked up the path which was still empty toward the fief and started on his way.
Halt arrived at Pauline's room a short while later having moved through the shadows so as not to attract attention. Mysterious ranger carrying lady of the court was bound to not fly over well. Halt opened the door and slipped inside shutting it behind him. He slowly eased her down onto the settee and settled into the chair next to her he reached for the jug of water and pulled a clean rag from under it soaking it and ringing it out placing the cool cloth to her forehead. Pauline stirred slightly at the cool cloth opening her eyes she saw someone looking down at her and started "take it easy" Halt said gently. Pauline relaxed at his voice "what happened?" she asked. "You fainted" he said gently. She lifted her hand to her face ashamed "I feel so stupid…. I was trained better… I-…" Halt touched her arm "hey… don't blame yourself… being trained to do something and actually doing it is two completely different things." She took in the man's face as he spoke "you are too kind to me." He gave her a rare smile "are you hurt in any way?" he asked her gently. She shook her head "no he didn't harm me… thanks to you." Halt nodded gently "you will be alright…. I had better go" he said standing slowly and moved toward the door collecting his cloak. Pauline stood moving toward him "Halt?" she said softly. "Hmm?" he turned slowly. She stepped toward him her hands resting on his chest as she pressed a soft kiss to his scruffy cheek. As soon as it started it stopped and she stepped back from him. Halt gave her a soft smile and nodded stepping out the door into the empty hall fading off into the shadows. Pauline closed the door behind him she knew there was no other man for her but him, even then. 'One day' she thought to herself softly.