4 Powerful knight

It was a bright new day in the village of Avalon. The villagers were already up and ready to start heading to their different workshops.

Hermione squinted her eyes, avoiding the rays from the sunlight. Usually Avalon used to be a very cold village, what brings about the sun today? She questioned herself internally.

She was standing right outside of her doorstep with a wooden bucket in her hands. She strolled towards the public well that was made for their neighborhood.

Sinking the bucket, she began to pull on the ropes after she had fetched the amount she needed.

"Let me do that." A male voice she very well recognized fell on her ears.

Offering a polite smile, she gently refused. "Do not worry Sir Aspen, I can manage."

"How many times have I told you to drop the formalities Hermione."

"I'm sorry, sir….Kasper." She slipped again.

He is Kasper Aspen, a very famous knight in their town. He is one of the strongest and most powerful knight of the king. His duty was protection over the kingdom, and she had somehow stumbled on him during her time of need. She shivered remembering the circumstances in which they met. Not wanting to think about it anymore, she put it aside when she heard him say something.

"Hand it over." He carefully took the wooden bucket from her. He then turn to her with a playful smile. "This sure has some weight, I must say you are a strong woman."

Hermione replied with a soft laugh. She knew he was joking with her. How will a powerful knight complain about a single bucket filled with water, hilarious. She shook her head with a smile.

Ignoring the stares from the neighbors Hermione calmly followed behind him until he reached her door. "I will take it from here sir…I mean kasper."

"Is it that hard to get used to?" He said, dropping the bucket down.

"Sorry." She mouthed.

"Don't be." He said, now looking at her with that gentle smile of his that attracted most of the women in the village but not her. Taking a good look at his features she knew the reason why all the women would want to trip on their dresses whenever the saw him coming, he was indeed good looking.

He had deep brown hair that contrasted with his honey brown eyes, with a perfectly chiseled jawline, and nice well built up physique. He was a very fine man, but not as fine as the handsome stranger she met yesterday.

Hermione cleared her throat at her thought, that is what she usually do when she caught herself doing or thinking something she shouldn't in the first place.

"Is something wrong, Hermione?"

"No, I'm alright. I'll take this in now."

"Wait." Kasper called out to her.

"Yes?" She replied inquisitively.

"The is a fair going on tomorrow."

"I'm aware." She responded with a nod

"I'll like for you to go with me Miss Larabee."

She couldn't believe he wanted her as his companion to the fair on the next day. Oh how Hermione wished she heard it wrongly.

Suddenly her brows furrowed. She didn't expect this, it was difficult to give a reply. "Umm…you cannot be serious, right, Sir Aspen?" Hermione said with a chuckle, hoping for him to say that he was indeed not serious but the look on his face spoke otherwise.

Hermione knew well that he was not joking with her, but! The women! God!.

"I am, Miss Larabee."

She immediately ceased her chuckles hearing him say that. All her hopes were just destroyed by that simple sentence, No!. She felt like sighing out loud but she held the urge to do so.

He only calls her with 'lady' or 'miss' when he wants to tell her something important. It reminded of the…..Urghh not the handsome stranger again!

At this moment if not for Sir Aspen, Hermione would have tugged on her hair out of frustration.

Coming back to reality, she looked at the man Infront of her who was patiently waiting for her answer. "Okay." She breathed.

A smile immediately appeared on his face, at her reply, and it was different from his usual kind and gentle ones, it was more of a happy smile and she could sense relief in them.

"That's good to hear, I will come pick you up tomorrow evening." He said to her.

"Sounds fine." Came her response.

With that he wished her good bye and left to perform his knightly duties.

Hermione could finally sigh out loud now that he was gone, which she didn't hesitate to do. Oh Lord! What has she gotten herself into.

. . .

Time passed by as it was already noon by now, the blazing sun had becomed hotter.

Hermione was in the market, doing some food shopping. She has quite gotten used to the stares everywhere she went, including their whispers.

"Look, it's the witch." A whispering voice, she heard.

"Yeah, I hope she isn't here to bewitch us." Whispered another one.

"I don't care, as long she just takes what she wants and leave." A different voice said.

Hermione ignored them and went on with what she was buying. Funny how they called her a witch but still took her money. She stiffled her laughter.

Hermione picked up an apple, after giving it a good look, she tossed it into her basket. She brought out a coin and gave it to the seller.

It was getting less sunny, meaning that the evening was soon approaching. Having nothing else to do, Hermione decided to take a long stroll in the market before heading home. If only she knew how badly she will regret her decision.

She passed through various shops. The fashion shop, where most of the prominent ladies usually got their dresses made. The footwear shops, and then she came to a halt when a certain something caught her attention. It was a bow made of bronze material. The firmness of the strings made her eyes lit up. Her hands itched to feel the texture, and maybe shoot an arrow or two.

Hermione had a thing for shooting. The is no better way to pass time than shooting arrows in a quiet and desserted area, while hearing the chirpings of birds and singing of the wind in the woods. Thinking about this made her eyes lit up more.

Her imagination was stopped halfway when she heard a loud noise coming from behind her. She turned to the direction of the noise only to see a group of angry marketers making their way forward, and if she is not wrong, they are coming….. towards her.