I awoke to my head throbbing. I had very little sleep last night and I felt as if a horse had ran me over. All I could think and dream about was that sword. I couldn't get it out of my head.
The vines and roses.
That silver and gold.
The pull I felt was getting stronger. I wasn't sure how much more I could take.
I forced myself to get out of my bed and get ready. I needed to look for work and get more money. I put on a simple tunic with brown trousers. I wrapped my hair into a simple up do and headed out.
Work in Winstead was easy to look for. Many people wanted the help and could pay well. Sometimes the poor will offer whatever they had left to spare. I usually picked up work with the more wealthy. It's great pay for things so easy to do. Once I had to shovel out the horse stalls and I made an easy eighty shillings.
I walk up and down the streets offering my hand to help, but many people refused. Harvest Week is in two days and everyone is preparing. My best bet would be the town square, but I want to avoid the square at all costs because the sword was there.
I don't know if I can handle being that close to it.
"Oi, you, girl. I heard ya askin' for work. I'll hire ya on." A thick accented voice called from behind me. It was a tall and round, big burly man, and he was walking straight for me. He looked as if he ate and drank very well. He had rosy cheeks and a long brown beard with shaggy brown hair to match. His dark brown eyes were focused on me, and his beard spread to show his teeth and small lips spreading into a smile.
"Thank you. I greatly appreciate it." I say.
"Me name is Chesteir. What's ya name girl?"
"My name is Aria."
"Ya got a pretty name, Aria. Now, I just need ya help setting up some of me stands. I grow many vegetables and fruits in Arnemen. I have so much that I hired me self merchants to help sell it all. I have ten stands total. Sound good to ya? Will ya help?" Chestier asked.
"Of course!" I say, smiling. Even though his name says other wise, He reminds me of a gentle giant. I instantly liked him.
"Good! Let's get to it, shall we?" Chestier said, practically running with the length of his tall legs. I had to jog to keep up.
"Me stands are spread through out the town square and I have three outside the square that are already done. I need ya help setting up the ones in the square." Chestier said, still walking at a fast pace in front of me. So much for avoiding the square.
"Will you be helping me set them up?" I ask.
"I hired me self another helper. The young lad will be the one working with ya today."
I couldn't help but frown. I was hoping to work alone or with Chestier, but I needed the shillings. I would have to tough this one out.
The square was straight ahead, and the closer we got to it, the more I felt that weird pull. It felt as if I had a string tied to my waist and it was pulling me to the sword. No matter how hard I tried to ignore it, I just couldn't seem to shake it off.
Once in the square, Chestier led me to the first stand needing set up.
"Here ya are, Aria." Chestier said, looking around as if looking for someone. "The young lad should be here by now... He should be here soon. I'll let ya get to work and check on ya in a little while. If he ain't here when I come to check on ya, I'll help ya."
"Sounds good to me." I say, relieved. Chestier smiles at me and half walks half runs away. I felt my body slacking with relief again. I was on my own for now, and I really preferred it this way. I'm not much a talker like Cicili is and because of that it makes me awkward around others, especially boys.
I start setting up and not long after, I'm almost finished with the first stand. It is very easy work, stacking the vegetables and fruits into neat lines on the stand. The next stand isn't that far away from this one, and I can tell it's chestier's stand because of the small family crest on the wooden crates of goods.
Before long, I was making my way to the next stand, repeating the work I had just done at the stand before. The streets weren't that crowded this morning, but everyone was getting ready for Harvest Week. It would be later in the day until the square became as crowded as yesterday. Thankfully, I'll be long done by then.
My mind ripped away from my thoughts as I felt a weird sensation that made me turn around faster than I could process what was happening. My eyes widened at what I saw. A stand, about four stands away, was the sword. Someone was standing at the stand holding the sword, examining it. My stomach dropped and it took all I had not to scream at the person holding my sword.
I dropped what I was doing at Chestier's stand, and ran to the person holding the sword. As soon as I made it to the stand, I stared up at a tall young man with dirty blonde shaggy hair, and blue green hazel eyes, with a glare. He is very attractive, but my anger and frustration has the best of me right at the moment.
"Can I help you?" The handsome tall young man asked. An arched eyebrow raised. His voice would have made me melt if it weren't for the boiling blood running through my veins now.
"Put my sword down." I snapped.
"Excuse me?" The young man said. Both of his eyebrows were raised in surprise now. His deep manly voice gave me chills, but I couldn't focus on anything but the need for the sword to be in my hands, my possession.
"Put. The. Sword. Down." I said through clenched teeth.
"And if I don't? What will you do?" The mans lips parted into a smirk, showing pearly white teeth. My heart skipped a beat, but this pull to the sword was too strong.
"I'll rip your tongue out and feed it to the pigs." I say. My mind peeled into two. The better half, my normal self, wanted to cover my mouth, apologize, and run away never looking back. This new half, this protective side of me, wanted nothing more than to kill the man for just holding my sword. I had no choice but to internally watch this new side of me take control.
"You are one crazy lady. You threaten me over a sword that's not even yours. It is not even bought yet." The man grinned now. His blue green eyes dancing with amusement.
"After I'm done with these stands it will be mine." I snap. I told him too much information and the normal me scolded this new half of me.
"Oh, a lady working for her money now? It's not very often you see a lady truly working for what she wants. How about this, I buy this sword-"
"No! I need that sword, it is MINE!" I scream, drawing attention to us. I see heads snap at us from the corner of my eyes.
"Ah, ah, ah. Let me finish." The man said, ignoring the audience of on lookers I have drawn in. "I buy this sword and once you are done with these stands, I will give it to you for free."
"I don't need your charity. I can buy it myself."
"And risk it being gone by the time you can buy it? If you even have enough money to buy it. I assure you, I will give it to you once you're done."
"At what cost? I'd be in your debt."
"At no cost, but for one favor."
"What kind of favor?"
"Nothing physical, if that's what you're thinking. I will just need your help when the time is right."
"When the time is right? What's that supposed to mean?"
"You'll find out... eventually. Do we have a deal?"
"I..." I wasn't sure about all of this, but that damn sword was calling to me like it was meant for me. Like whoever forged this sword meant for me to find it.
"If not, then I'll just keep this beauty for myself."
"No!... I mean.. no. I'll take your deal. I'll go back to finishing the stands." I say. Both sides of my mind relaxing and melding back into one. My normal me was back! I quickly ran my hands over my face and sides. I was in control again.
"Everything okay?" The merchant asked. I quickly nod before walking back to the stand I had abandoned. I glanced around and everyone was back to minding their own business once more. I quickly glanced back to the stand to see that the young man was paying for the sword.
He eventually made his way to me and flipped a crate over to sit on it. We didn't speak as I worked. He would watch me, watch the people around us, or pull my soon to be sword out and flip it through his hands and legs.
I was half way through being done with the last stand when the man finally spoke.
"My name is Ollie." He says. I glance up at him in surprise before going back to work.
"Am I not allowed to know your name?" Ollie asks.
"Aria. My name is Aria." I say. Keeping my focus on the stand and getting it done.
"Aria. A very rare name. I've meant an Aria once." Ollie says. This makes me freeze. My name is a very, very rare name. Many have never even heard of such a name before. For Ollie to know someone else with my name only means that he is some sort of traveler.
"You're not from around here are you?" I ask. Ollie shakes his head no.
"I'm from nowhere and everywhere."
"So you are a traveler then?"
"Some would think so, others would think not. I'm not your ordinary traveler." Ollie said, flipping the sword into the air and catching it's hilt.
Before I could ask what he meant, I see Chestier coming my way.
"Oi, Aria, I apologize for not coming sooner. One of me merchants horses broke its leg yesterday. I was helping him with getting a new horse. I see ya are almost done. Ya are a fast worker, girl. And I see me helper showed up. I thought ya was a no show, boy. I'll go ahead and pay ya both. Thank ya for the hand, both of ya. Here's ya shillings then," Chestier said, handing both me and Ollie a small pouch. "I'll be making me way to me stand now. Everyone should be making there way here to the square. Thank ya again." Chestier waved, then quickly walked away.
"You were the young lad that was supposed to help me? Is that what the favor was, to do the work by myself?" I said, very annoyed. I wanted nothing more than to get my sword and never see Ollie ever again, no matter how good looking he was.
"You never asked." Ollie said, shrugging. "And no, this wasn't the favor. That will happen once you're ready. Here's your sword. I have to get going, I have other things to take care of. See you around, Aria."
Ollie handed me my sword and left. I was happy he was gone, but I didn't mind his presence. Either way, I didn't want to see him again, but I knew that would never happen. I owed him a favor and have no clue as to what it could be. At least I got my sword. I'll have to hide it somehow so Cicili won't see it. I don't want her knowing I have it. If she finds out I got it she will push her own feelings aside and act like it's not bothering her. I won't let her do that to herself. I will make sure she won't find out.