The Cruel King and The Captured Queen

Chapter 2 - Part 1 - Gifts

Squeezing through the market's crowds, I make my way towards Samuel's cart. Tons of vegetables lay on display, tossed in barrels they were quickly pulled over to the market early this morning. Uncle Hamish grew too old to tend to the farm, and with Sam being his eldest he inherited the land quickly. Though Sam was never an early riser, he had to adjust quickly. I guess the display is proof of his lack of desire to wake early.

Various smells intrigue me while I reach for a few and toss them into my basket.

Sam perks up when he recognizes me, "Claire, will I see you for the Autumn Harvest soon?"

The end of summer was nearing, and soon we would all celebrate under the night sky, with food and fire to warm us. "Of course, are we creating a pot of the festival this year?" I inquire.

"Potato soup!" he announces proudly.

Each harvest festival every family brought a dish of their own. With the help of Uncle Hamish's produce, I always created the family dish. His land provided the most favourable vegetables, and my meals are praised each year for it.

Reaching into my basket for coin, a hand lightly stills my action. I watch in disbelief while the stranger from before drops payment that more than covers the items.

"Thank you, sir," Sam gasps, his eyes wide. Samuel glances from the payment to myself and the Traveller as he tries to understand how I know this stranger.

The Traveller leans down to whisper in my ear, "payment for your earlier assistance."

I'm left slightly stunned, allowing him the opportunity to purchase my supplies without objection. He links our arms together and tugs me from the cart. Afraid to offend him, I tolerate him leading me through the market streets. Each table is covered with different items. My mind falls into a daze and my surroundings blur.

"Tell me, what keeps you in such a small village?" he ponders out loud.

Scrunching my brows together, I reply with the rather obvious answer, "My whole family lives here."

"Do you not wish to travel?"

Travel? How long has it been since I considered that naive thought? I was caught continuously staring out over the fields of wildflowers, still untouched by farmland. This was just before I became engaged to Chadwick.

I look up towards the bright blue skies, "It would only be a dream, I'm needed here."

Chadwick would never let me travel, the notion of freedom left quickly after our engagement. I can only wonder what is beyond the fields. This life had doomed me to forever wondering where the sunset hid at night.

Distracted with the thought, I turn towards the book table and start flipping through the few books scattered across it. These were the reasons for my ideals of adventure and freedom. Something a commoner, like myself, never could have. Rough and brittle, the pages were old and dry. No longer had they any sign of vibrancy left inside them.

Nonetheless, the words never changed meaning just from overuse. I've almost memorized all these books. They are trapped here just like I am, we both merely age with time.

"Literature fascinates you?" the stranger asks with intrigue.

"Fondly, I have most of these memorized though," I confess, frowning.

Flicking through the pages, I do this often just to enjoy the feel of the pages fanning through my fingers.

"That is the disadvantage of living this far east of Willbridge Castle," he agrees distantly.