Misunderstandings

Ethyn had been told of the mysterious visitor briefly before going in search of Silver to inform him of the development. The Guardian always liked to know when strangers came through town.

What would he think of the young woman who hid herself from the world? It was curious indeed. Ethyn would lie if he said he didn't want to see this person for himself. Both Lily and Katherine had had odd reactions to her presence.

Passing down the lane, Ethyn noticed the door to his dwelling was ajar. 'Did I forget to close it again? Silver will have my head!' The young man rushed to the door to correct his error.

However when he reached the entry, he saw a strange impression in the dirt. Someone or something had disturbed the ground. They had…fallen?

That was when he saw that the door to the room to his left was ajar. Silver would never leave it that way. Someone was here.

—————

Rose stared in disbelief at the man in the doorway. His sword was raised but she did not think he would strike her.

'Sir Ethyn!' She recognized the green-eyed man immediately. "You!" Rose cried.

What in the world was Sir Samberg doing in her brother's house? Had he followed her from the street? Surely that was impossible. 'I mean he is slightly infuriating, but I did not peg him as a scoundrel who would corner a woman to get her alone. Wait…'

After the initial shock, Rose was filled with indignation.

"You called me a thief?!"

After hearing her speak, Ethyn lowered his sword slightly. "Hold on! I know who you are!"

The princess froze. She instinctively reached up to her scarf to make sure her face was still hidden. "You do?"

"You are the girl from the inn that Katherine and Lily were talking about!" Ethyn pointed and accusing finger at the woman before him.

"You are the knight who came into the inn?" Rose pinched the bridge of her nose. 'Of all the knights! What a sense of humor the Maker must have!'

"And to think Lily and Katherine were so worried about a criminal! It will break their hearts…" Ethyn sheathed his sword and put out his hand.

"A criminal! You don't even live here!" She snapped at the green-eyed man.

The knight was confused for a moment, but shrugged. "I am a house guest. What's your excuse?"

"I am visiting as well…" Rose paused.

"More like a visiting thief!" Ethyn scoffed.

"I'm not a thief!" The cloaked woman put her hands on her hips.

Rather than argue, Ethyn wiggled his outstretched fingers with a smirk.

"What?" Rose was genuinely confused by his action.

"Give it back, miss not-a-thief." The handsome knight reached out and pried the doll out carefully of the woman's hands. "You have no idea how precious this is."

"It is precious," Rose agreed. She had been thinking a similar thought before the man arrived.

Ethyn chuckled as he put the doll back in the chest and closed it. "I nearly died for even mentioning that I had seen it."

The princess wanted to ask what he meant, but Ethyn's then eyes went wide. He spotted the silver chain around the lady's neck and nearly choked as he sputtered.

"Now you have gone too far! You are lucky I found you before Silver did! You better return that necklace where you found it before the Guardian returns. I have never seen him harm a woman, but I do not think you want to tempt him." Ethyn looked genuinely concerned for the intruder's welfare.

'He really doesn't know who I am! I don't sound exactly like myself through this cloth I suppose.'

"I am not giving back the necklace," Rose tucked the silver pendant below her purple dress, daring him to challenge her further.

"Do you have any idea who you stole that from? I don't know why Silver took that off today of all days, but you cannot leave with it. The Guardian will track you down to get it back. Just return it, please." Ethyn took a step toward her with his hands outstretch. The princess backed away, bumping into the bedroom wall.

"For the last time, I didn't steal it or anything else." Rose was teetering between being amused and annoyed. It wasn't often that she got to experience a normal interaction with someone, though this interaction was far from normal.

What's more, she was getting an unfiltered look at the young knight before her. He was frustrating as usual, but his loyalty to Silver was at least admirable.

At least she could count that in the green-eyed man's favor. Not that she was keeping score. Not at all.

Ethyn furrowed his brow, confused by why the woman before him would not just admit to her wrong doing. It was so obvious! "You didn't steal that necklace? Oh sure, that little pixie just flew to your neck on its own. Doubtful." He tapped his foot.

"Actually it did just that. This is how I ended up here." Rose tilted her head innocently.

Even without seeing the rest of her face, Ethyn could see the woman's eyes were mocking him. The knight dropped his hands to his sides, flexing them. He was becoming exhausted.

"Enough playing. If you give back the necklace, I will not tell anyone what has happened. I can escort you safely back to the inn. Katherine was already planning to make a room where you can stay, and she feeds any poor soul, even those who cannot pay. This can all end peacefully. I don't want to call Aiden to arrest you." Ethyn took another small step toward the young woman.

The knight felt terrible for cornering the lady, but he was desperate. As he calculated how to get the necklace without hurting the thief, Rose ducked neatly under his lifted arm. The princess left the room before he could block her path again.

'I can't let her get away!' Ethyn spun on his heels and hurried to shut the front door before the stranger could escape his capture. He did not want to think about how much trouble Silver would give him for letting a young lady slip through his fingers. "Don't go any further!" he commanded.

The order was unnecessary. The cloaked woman was sitting at the table with her arms crossed. "I will stay, so don't get your tunic in a bunch." Rose placed her hands on the table in surrender. It shifted slightly and she quickly removed them to prevent the structure from collapsing.

"My tunic is not in a bunch! It's just…Ugh!" Ethyn lunged forward. Rose flinched. He was actually going to strike her!

She held up her hand to stop him. "Don't you dare!" Ethyn grabbed her wrist firmly and moved it aside. His eyes were full of frustration.

Looking away and squinting, the princess awaited a hit that never came. Instead she felt something brush against her hood. Her wrist was released suddenly. When Rose glanced up, Ethyn was stomping feverishly at the ground.

"Don't I dare what?" he said. "Did you think I was going to hit you? I am a knight and you are unarmed." Ethyn paused, motioning to the ground. "There was a spider on your hood."

"You could have just told me instead of scaring me like that!" Rose huffed. It was not the first time he had done something to her without permission.

"Forgive me for saving you. Those spider's bites can cause all sorts of trouble. A 'thank you' would have sufficed." He paused and looked at her meaningfully.

"If you had warned me of the danger I could have dealt with it myself." Rose countered. "Instead you scared me and injured my wrist." While she could still feel the sting of the sudden grab, it was unlikely to leave a bruise.

"Really? I try to help and you are ungrateful! I have never met such an insufferable thief!"

"Better an insufferable thief than a self-righteous hero." Rose bit back at him.

Sensing the woman was not likely to run, Ethyn sat down in the chair across the table. "Ha! Self-righteous, hm? I was once a thief same as you." Ethyn chuckled softly at the memory.

"You, a thief?" Rose could hardly believe her ears.

The green-eyed man nodded. "The Guardian got me out of that life. And look at me now, Sir Samberg! I can hardly believe it myself."

"Quite a change," the princess had to admit. Her eyes softened.

Sensing the shift in the woman's attitude, Ethyn reached out and grabbed Rose's hand, his eyes filled with earnest compassion. "I know stealing may seem like the only way to survive, but if I can get out and rise to such a place, just think about how high you could go!"

Rose smirked. "You think so?"

"I know it." The man assured her.

"You are not as self-righteous as you seem at first. I hope I can meet your expectations, Sir Samberg." Rose paused, realizing she meant what she said.

"With time, I am sure you can." Ethyn released her hand and lifted it quickly. The silver fairy necklace was in his hand.

"How did you…?" Rose was astonished that the Seeker was no longer in her possession.

"Former thief, remember?" He winked. "I shall make sure this gets back to its rightful owner. It is a good start on your path to honesty."

Rose nodded. "Honesty is good. As for the rightful owner…"

Ethyn stopped her and turned to the door as a horse whinnied outside. "Silver's back. Time to face the music. Don't worry, I will handle this. I think he will be understanding."

"I hope so." Rose bit her lip, her heart suddenly in her throat. 'Here we go.'