I Promise

Hermione sat dazed on the bed, confused with the chain enclosed in her palm. Honestly she was worried, but she vividly remember that she didn't touch anything that day, then how…..?

God! She was worried about the possibility that she really took it without her knowledge, and coupled with the way she refuted the crowd, oh Lord! What sort of temptation is this?

She shook her head eliminating the thought. That cannot be possible, she was very aware and conscious of herself, she is not a child that will just pick up something that fascinated her and not be aware of her actions.

Truth be told, this is the first time of seeing something like this, something that symbolized meaning.

She did not just know it, she felt it.

Hermione looked at the necklace in her hand one more time, it look liked and ancient antique, it spoke history.

Now that she thought about it, no wonder the merchant charged twenty crowns for it. It was worth it and more. She remembered the glow he gave off when her hand came in contact with it. Then….why isn't it glowing now?

Was it just her? She was sure she saw it glow. Hermione raised it up to her eye level, she held the pendant with her left fingers. Was it a dragon or a serpent? She zeroed her eyes on it.

A gasp escaped her lips as she pulled away with an astonished face. The eyes of the creature on the pendant spiralled a light, highlighting the shade of it's red eyes.

Is it an illusion? Is she seeing things? Hermione wondered. She was wary of bringing her head closer, but her curiosity got the better of her. She looked closely into the creature's eyes one more time, but all she could see was her reflection which showed fear, in it. Strange! No. scary!

A knock on the door almost knocked Hermione out from the bed as she threw the chain on the floor on impulse.

With a hand on her chest, and her eyes tightly shut, she heaved a sigh.

The knock echoed again and Hermione stood up to go see who nearly gave her an heart attack, she stepped backward, looking at the chain on the floor. She was scared to touch it, but with the persistent knocking on her door, she rushed and pick it up. Pulling out a draw from her cupboard and stocked it in before rushing out to the door.

She wondered who it could be by this time. Or had Rosalie found another excuse to leave her mother's watchful eyes?

Unexpectedly, upon opening the door, it was Kasper. Hermione wondered what he was doing at her house today, wasn't he supposed to be around the borders by this time?

"Hi." She still acknowledged with a small smile despite her thoughts.

"Good evening Hermione." He said, smiling back at her.

"Evening Kasper." She replied.

"You are not working today? She curiously added.

"No, I am not, I have been assigned a special task from the king which requires me to leave Avalon for a few days. I came to say my goodbye first."

Hermione blinked. So that was it. "You will be leaving from Avalon?" She asked a little bit worried.

"Only for a few days." Kasper chuckled, seeing the worried look written on her face.

"Oh, will you like to come in for a cup of tea then?" Hermione politely invited.

"I will love to." Kasper replied.

Hermione made way for him as he got in, she followed right behind.

He carefully took a seat as she strolled into her tiny but neat kitchen. Within seconds she came out with a cup of vaporizing hot tea.

Carefully, she placed it on the wooden table Infront of him. Then she took her seat opposite. "Does this special task have anything to do with the creatures?" Hermione asked what was on her mind.

Kasper picked up the hot tea cup, he looked her way before looking down again to reply. "It does."

"What? Are you going alone or….?"

"Don't worry Hermione, I have some soldier going with me." Kasper rushed to dispell the worry in her heart.

"Okay, that sounds fine." Hermione nodded.

Kasper took his time to down the tea slowly, when he heard Hermione ask again.

"When do you depart?"

"At night fall." He blandly replied.

"Isn't that too dangerous?" Hermione furrowed her brows.

"It is the king's order, no one can protest against it." He explained.

"Why is it by night fall? Shouldn't it be earlier than that, or rather the next day instead?" Hermione displayed her discontent for the king's decision.

"It will be easy to lure them knowing the wouldn't be expecting us since it's their time of the day." Kasper hollered.

"But, that is risky." Hermione protested, continuing to see faults.

"Dont worry Hermione, I will be fine. I promise." He reasoned.

"You better be." She mumbled underneath her breath.

Kasper paused the movement of the cup to his lips when he heard her mutter something. He hid a smile behind the cup before he proceeded to down the whole thing. 'I promise, I will be back for you.' He willfully conceded in his mind.

"Have you gotten your things ready already?" Hermione inquired with a straight expression.

Kasper looked towards her direction with a smile he tried so hard to hide. Watching her act all nonchalant as if she does not care was quite amusing to him. He licked his bottom lip with a heavy nod, in attempt to hide his disobedient smile.

He knew Hermione, even when sometimes she acts like she doesn't care about him, he knew deep down she did. Although she does not show it, he knew the place he had in her heart, but not the position.

Hermione blinked her eyes rapidly, seems like she have been caught showing concern. The place became awkward for her.

To dispell such unnerving feelings Hermione decided to question him. Afterall he was a knight, he must have read book connecting to history and ancient things. The merchant claimed for his possession to be so precious and cherishable. Expectedly, it should have a certain well known meaning behind it right? Or was she wrong?

Well let's try and see.

"Si-Kasper?"

"Hmmm." He hummed in reply.

"Do you perhaps have any little knowledge about a gold chain. You see, during the time of the fair, a merchant exhibited a rare gold chain, and he sold it at a very high price. He claimed for it to be a very precious and valuable object." Hermione sorted out a plausible possiblity.

"Can you describe the way it looked?" Kasper asked, seeking for more details.

"Oh, yeah. It has a thin line, more thinner than any other chain I have seen. With strange design pattern crested on it. And the pendant, the pendant is a very unique one." Hermione said as her brows drew together. She watched Kasper listen attentively, nodding his head slowly to every point in her description.

"The pendant, is a…."

"Dragon."

Hermione was surprised as he completed it for her. She nodded frantically.

"Yeah, yes. A dragon that sembled a serpent." She added.

"It was the first dragon king's symbol of love to his wife, Leticia." Kasper divulged.