A persistent knocking invaded Kalet's dreams, disturbing her weary slumber. Blearily she awoke, more aware of the painful tightness in her neck than the ongoing pounding at the front door. It took her some time to process her surroundings: a dripping candle melted down to a hollow shell on the stool, her book clumsily knocked onto the floor, but mostly the thick cloud of darkness still outside the window. She patted the nest of hair that had matted itself against a cushion and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. Still, the oddness of her situation did not set in. They so rarely had visitors, she thought the knocking made more sense in the context of her dream than in her waking. As the aggravating sound faded and silenced, she felt her suspicions confirmed. Until it began again, only this time closer and accompanied by a shadow in the window.
Fear set in as she considered the distance of the nearest farm. There was little chance she could yell loud enough to raise an alarm; much less, have help arrive in time should anything happen. She struggled to imagine a good reason for such a visit other than burglary or, perhaps, a messenger. Garnering whatever courage she could, and comforted that a villain would never knock, she started toward the entryway with what remained of her pitiful candle.
Finding the nearest weapon- the dirty cheese knife they used for dinner- she gripped it in her hand as she cracked the heavy door open. The latch, which she was certain she had locked earlier in the evening, was already undone. If he had tried, the late night visitor could have easily pushed his way into the house. Reassured, Kalet peeked through the crack between the door and its frame.
Before her eyes had adjusted to the dim lighting, she heard a familiar mumbling. With a sigh, she opened the door wide.
"Oh, papa" She reached toward his form, looking past the figure standing at his side. Finding her father's feeble hand, she gently tugged him inside.
Hovering her candle over his form, she patted him down to be sure of his welfare. She breathed a sigh of relief at the lack of abnormalities or injury. He appeared as she had left him; minus the bed and snoring. Confusion evident in his eyes, she thought he must be coming out of a dream. She had, in the past, heard him scuffling about their small cottage in the night. What she had always dismissed as harmless sleepwalking in the past, now seemed like a more dire issue.
A soft release of breath from the stranger at her father's side brought her back to the present moment. Her attention turned toward the shadowed man. The full moon provided her barely enough light to make out his features. She stayed silent a moment too long, allowing a wary awkwardness to descend on any potential conversation. Her hesitance faded as she noticed the youthful openness on his face. He had a prominent brow overshadowing eager, expressive eyes. His mouth seemed to rest in a half smile. She wished she could see him in the daylight, the dark of the night combined with his tall gangly form made it difficult to judge the color of his eyes or hair. Whatever semblance of danger she may have felt faded away. This endearing young man could hardly be much older than herself.
"Would you mind waiting there a moment? I must help Papa to his bed." He seemed to nod his head in consent before she tugged her papa back towards his bedroom. It only took moments for him to settle back into bed. Any inquiries she made regarding his late night venture went unanswered, met only by blank stares and a garbled murmuring. Mindful of the man waiting at the front door, she allowed him his peace for the night. She could press him for further answers in the morning.
Regretting the decision to leave her papa with the nearly extinguished candle, she shuffled back towards the entryway- wary of any out of place obstacles. Her father had a tendency to make a mess when he walked in his sleep. She halted before she became visible to the stranger again. Allowing herself a moment to breathe and calm her nerves. The young man heard her pause and offered up an explanation before she had the opportunity to ask.
"I, uh" his voice cracked, revealing his own anxiety about the situation, "bumped into him at the old ruins. Or, well, not bumped into him… heard him?"
Kalet raised an eyebrow in surprise. Her father had wandered a long distance in the middle of the night. It was a miracle he returned unscathed. She wondered what had drawn him to the ruins. In her childhood, they were a frequent topic of conversation. Her mother had put them in her story- only one of many fanciful tales the townsfolk had dreamed up in an effort to explain the mysterious site.
"Huh, it's a wonder that you happened to be out that way. Last I heard, no one ventures out there these days. Something about ghosts, or perhaps it was monsters." She smiled at him as his eyes widened in terror… or some other indecipherable emotion. "I'm only kidding, of course. Thank you, truly, for returning him home safely. However did you know where to bring him?"
His posture relaxed as he returned her smile. Kalet noticed he had a lovely grin: just the right amount of straight teeth and little crinkles appearing at the corner of his eyes. Who is he, she wondered, unable to place his face anywhere.
"Well, he seemed to know his way home alright. I only trailed him from the ruins in case he encountered any trouble." The young man paused a moment, as if working up to something. "If you don't mind me asking, are you here alone? Forgive me, but your… father, doesn't seem entirely present."
Normally, a question like this would heighten her worry. She was painfully aware that her situation with her father was unusual; if not downright unsafe. Yet, she had the lingering feeling she could trust this smiling, gangly stranger.
"Yes, I know it's a bit unusual, but we do alright. He has never done anything quite like this before." His disbelief seemed evident as he gave a clearly unconvinced nod of consent. "No, truly, we rarely have any problems!", Kalet exclaimed. His sardonic expression did not alter. "What do you suppose we do, then? We only have the two of us."
"Perhaps I'm being unfair…" His expression softened again. "Your situation is downright concerning to me. You're just so small." He applied emphasis to the observation regarding her stature, as his nose and eyes crinkled humorously.
"What!? Why, we only just met!", she said. Without a moment's hesitation he fired back, "Well, it doesn't take more than a moment's acquaintance to notice your size." Kalet's jaw dropped- the audacity! His grin widening, he conceded, "Where are my manners? My mother would be ashamed. My name is Sss...", a visible hesitation, "Sage".
Before she could stop herself, she released a chuckle. "Like the herb? Perhaps you're familiar with my dear friend, Basil… He stays in our pantry." He smirked. "Oh, Ha Ha, very funny. It's far too late for such jokes. What's your name, anyways?"
"Parsley." She coughed as she tried to hold in more giggles. He shook his head. The moon provided just enough light to see the twinkle in his eye. "Seriously, now."
"Oh, very well, it's Kalet." Gazing intently at her, he repeated her name. His smirk returned, "Better than Sage, I'd say."
Another giggle disguised as a cough escaped her, "I daresay the lack of sleep is making me loopy. I best follow papa's example and return to bed." With some quickening of her heart, she noticed a drop in his demeanor. She thought it could be a trick of the light, but he certainly seemed disappointed. "May I expect to see you in town?"
A series of emotion played across his face. He seemed conflicted, but also pleased she expressed interest in seeing him again. "I don't spend much time in town, you see; but, perhaps on market day?"
"Yes, I'll look for you." Uncharacteristically, she offered him a wink which had the desired effect on his face as it lit up with another brilliant grin and slight reddening of the cheeks.
Clutching his hands to his chest and feigning a swoon as though he were a fine, courtly lady. He spun his long legs one over the other with surprising grace and made for the road. Turning around for a brief exclamation of, "Farewell, Kalet!"
"Farewell… Sage" She whispered. Any thoughts of her unusually exciting day overcome by a foreign fluttering of her stomach.