After insulting my sister, he just stood there staring at me with the smirk still present on his face. I gave him a look, indicating to him to continue whatever it was he was going to say, but still he just stood there.
"I don't have all day," I snapped.
As if not hearing me, he continued to stand there smirking. At this point, it was starting to become a little unnerving since I'd never seen this man in my life. I ignored the subtle feeling of familiarity that was deep inside me and began to move past him. I wasn't about to spend the rest of my day standing outside having a complete stranger gawk at me. There were things that needed to be done, like cleaning and preserving the rabbit's meat that I was still holding in my hand.
"If you don't need any help," I spat icily, "then I'm going to have to ask you to leave. I have things to do," holding up and gesturing to the rabbit's carcass.
This seemed to bring him out of his trance. The smirk that was on his face was gone, replaced by a suddenly serious look. He straightened his back, bringing himself to his full height, and finally opened his mouth to say, "In fact, I do need help."
I think he expected a response, but all I gave him was an annoyed look.
With a slight roll of his eyes, he continued. "You see, it's kind of a funny story. I was riding my horse around the area when I decided to tie him to a tree and go for a walk around the town. Next thing I know, I'm back at the tree and my horse is gone."
"Really? That's interesting… since we're on the edge of the village. What made you wander so far?" I asked, eyes narrowing at his obvious lie. No one left their horses unattended in a town like this.
The man shrugged, a glimmer in his violet eyes. "I suppose you could say something drew me here."
"I'm still listening for the part where I can help you." I was getting tired of him already.
"Well…" he started, beginning to smirk once again, "I was hoping you would let me stay the night until I figure out what to do in this predicament."
"You want me to let a complete stranger stay in my house tonight? As far as I can remember, I don't know you from anyone or anywhere." I say, and again, gestured to the rabbit and then to the shack I called home, "And as you can see, we aren't exactly a bed and breakfast."
"Oh I'm not so bad, perfectly civil, even... most of the time." He purred, gaze never leaving my own. "Would you really let me stay out in this chill all night?" He asked, pretending to shiver from the nonexistent cold.
"You'll be fine," I told him, starting to walk up to the door. This man wouldn't have admittance to our house. We didn't have anywhere to put him, anyway. My sisters and I were cramped, my father sleeping in the chair by the fireplace nightly. Still, though, he stepped in front of me blocking my way to the door and the warmth of the fire that I surely knew would be burning. That's the one thing I can always count my father on doing.
"Wait," he started, "you're really not going to let me stay the night?" The look on his face was nothing short of shocked and incredulous. I'm guessing he isn't used to be turned down.
I stared back at him, unflinching at how floored he was. "Why should I?" I asked him, thoroughly bored with the conversation.
The man sighed, and dug into the pockets of his jacket, pulling out a small pouch. "I suppose I could make it worth your while, if you're going to be so rude about it." He grunted, extending the pouch to me.
Still glaring, I took the pouch from him and looked inside. Gold. The pouch was filled to the brim with gold. Of course, I thought. Of course he just happens to be rich. Who does he think he is? Does he really think I can be bought?
"Take your money somewhere else," I barked, my pride surging as I threw the pouch at his feet. "I already told you, we're not a bed and breakfast."
This particular snarky remark seemed to bring his ever present smirk back, the one that had disappeared when I told him he couldn't stay. Leaning down to pick the pouch up he responded, "So you're really going to reject the gold when your family is inside starving and cold? I would have thought that you would have jumped at any chance to earn money you had. If you let me stay, I promise I won't get in your way."
The more he spoke, the more rage I felt. "Do you really think that insulting my family and I will get you anywhere?" I snarled.
"Just take the gold." He said, eyes suddenly seeming a bit softer, as if he didn't mean to insult us that way.
"No." I began to hear rustling from the other side of the door. Slowly, Elain cracked open the door to see what the commotion was outside. Took her long enough, I thought. It's not like he's been standing out here talking to me for nearly five minutes already.
"Feyre?" she whispered. "What's going on?"
"Don't worry Elain, I'm just trying to get this man to go away and leave us alone."
"What does he want?"
"He's trying to get me to let him in and stay the night. Apparently his horse ran away and he has nowhere to stay."
"I'm willing to pay!" the still mysterious stranger interjected.
"Pay? Really?" Elain squealed, voice getting louder, the idea of having some extra money making her excited.
"Yes," he said. "I have a pouch full of gold here, but your sister refuses to take it."
"Oh, ignore her," Elain scoffed, opening the door wide now. "What's your name?"
"Rhysand, my name is Rhysand."
"Well, Rhysand, please do come in and make yourself as comfortable as possible." The door was now fully open, and the stranger, whose name I now knew to be Rhysand, waltzed right in. I could've sworn the smirk on his face was meant especially for me.
Great. Just great, I mentally scoffed, rolling my eyes as I, too, walked inside. Another mouth to feed tonight.