"Ethyn, you forgot to shut the door again! What is it going to take to get it though your thick skull that doors are made to be closed?!" Silver huffed into the house.
Ethyn was lucky that the weather was pleasant today. If there had been too much wind or rain, the Guardian would have been far angier as it would have possibly done some damage to his home.
After latching the offending portal, a Silver turned around to scold his house guest further. However, he found not one, but two guests within his home. They both stood as soon as he entered.
Ethyn stepped in front of the woman. "I know this looks bad," the young man began. "But this thief didn't know who she was stealing from. I am sure she will return anything that was taken. Try not to be angry."
He gulped, hoping his words had been enough to prevent misunderstanding.
Silver gave his friend a cursory glance and then looked to the figure behind Ethyn. "What exactly did she steal?"
Grimacing, the knight held out his hand, allowing the Seeker to dangle from his fingers. The fairy looked ready to fly out the window.
With a flash of his eyes beneath his hood, Silver took the necklace from the knight. "You say she stole this? That is a very serious accusation," he said grimly.
"Don't be too hard on her. I told her it should be returned to its rightful owner." Ethyn added.
"Indeed it should." Silver unclasped the chain and prepared to adorn the appropriate neck.
However, to Ethyn's shock, that neck ended up be that of the mysterious visitor.
"Forgive my overeager friend." Silver apologized.
"What?" Ethyn's mouth nearly hit the floor.
Rose shook her head. "No need to apologize. He was only looking out for you."
Silver hesitated. "I wasn't sure you would come, yet here you are." His voice was filled with uncertainty. "Do you know who I am?"
The young woman's cheeks tinged with pink. "Yes," she breathed.
"Do you know who you are?" His emphasis on the relationship between between them was obvious.
"Yes," her voice was more confident this time.
Silver's shoulders relaxed. "Most important question…" the Guardian motioned toward Ethyn, "does he know who you are?"
Rose giggled, "No. You heard him call me a thief, didn't you?"
No one could see the Guardian's mischievous grin. "This is seriously the best day of my life."
Silver opened his arms and allowed the young lady to enter his embrace. Memories of the tiny girl who used to hug him with abandon flooded Silver's mind. It was quite possibly the happiest he had ever been, yet the fun was only beginning.
Peeking over at the knight who was watching the scene, Silver watched the dumbstruck Ethyn open and shut his mouth many times.
"Silver is actually hugging someone. On purpose. Not to save their life, just because he wants to. That isn't Sage....IS IT?!" Ethyn stuttered.
The knight was sure it wasn't the dark-haired woman. Sage was taller and more shapely, yet Ethyn could find no other reason for such a display of affection.
"This isn't Sage." Silver released the woman and pulled out the chair for her to sit. "You must be very tired. Was it a difficult journey?"
"More difficult than I would like," Rose answered.
"You can tell me all about it after you have rested a little. Would you like water or something to eat?" Silver began playing the perfect host.
Ethyn was stunned by his civility. Who was this man? It wasn't the Guardian he knew. Had the woman put a spell on him?
Rose's throat felt very dry. It was probably from all the excitement. "Water would be nice. Lily and Katherine fed me at the inn."
"I will be sure to thank them," Silver said warmly.
He moved to a small wooden box and opened it. The air in the room felt suddenly cooler. Pulling out a pitcher, Silver quickly poured the lady a cup of cold water and set it on the table before Rose.
"Thank you. You are very kind." The princess motioned for her brother to join her at the table. Nudging Ethyn aside, the Guardian took a chair and scooted it opposite Rose. Their knees nearly touching, the two clasped hands.
Silver leaned back his head, allowing his hood to fall to his shoulders. His mesmerizing silver eyes shone with joy, lightning streaking across his irises constantly. Both Rose and Ethyn gasped.
"I thought you said no one saw your face!" The princess glanced at Sir Samberg. He seemed as surprised as she was, yet he was looking at her not the Guardian.
Silver chuckled. "I said few have seen my face. Ethyn is one of those few."
Rose raised one eyebrow. "Is 'Sage' one of those few too?"
'This girl is very quick!' Silver thought to himself. "Sage is a conversation for later." He squeezed Rose's hands. "You must have so many other questions that need to be answered first."
"Uh, I have a question," Ethyn interjected. His mind was looking on this friendly scene with uncomprehending eyes.
The Guardian was never this open and free with anyone, not even Sage. It was like a different person was inhabiting his friend's body. Silver never looked happy. It was unnerving.
"I have so much I want to know. I am not sure where to begin." Rose paused, trying to collect her thoughts.
"Take your time. I am not going anywhere." Now that the Guardian had gotten Rose back, he had no intention of leaving her while she needed him.
"Uh, what about my question?" Ethyn sat in a chair at the table and anxiously ran his fingers through his auburn hair. The other two did not even look his way.
"Why didn't you tell me who you were when we met?" Rose asked Silver.
"Did you not know he was a Guardian?" the knight tried to break in.
Silver looked intently at the princess. "If I had told you my identity, would you have believed me? I wasn't even sure you would remember me."
Looking down, Rose seemed ashamed. "I am not sure. Your note with the necklace brought my memories back."
"Necklace? You gave this woman the necklace? When?" Ethyn was beginning to get a sinking feeling. The others continued to ignore him.
"I do not know whether to be happy or sad that you remember, but I am most glad you are here. I have waited years for this moment." Silver sighed contentedly. Rose was there, and what's more, she seemed genuinely happy to see him. What more could he ask for?
The knight waved his hand in front of Silver's eyes. "Can you hear me? Or have I turned into a ghost?" Ethyn spoke louder. He was growing frustrated as the anxiety built up inside him. "Who are you?" he asked Rose, hoping she would finally answer.
Silver cleared his throat and winked at the princess. "Can I tell him, please?"
"Be my guest," Rose let go of the man and brought her hand to her face. Her scarf hid her amusement.
"It seems my birthday has come early this year! This is the best present I could have asked for." Silver turned to the confused knight.
"Really now? You have no guess of who is in our presence? Use your brain for a moment, Ethyn. Who could this mysterious woman possibly be?" Silver decided to give his friend a sporting chance.
The green-eyed man snapped his mouth shut as he thought for a moment. Silver had given the woman the necklace at some point recently. The Guardian seemed to have a great amount of affection for her. That did not happen overnight.
For how they had been talking, they had known each other a long time, yet Ethyn was sure she had never seen this woman around Rynnlee.
Then there was the issue of how he had found the woman. She had been in the house clutching the rag doll. Why of all things was that what drew her attention?
And she immediately claimed that Ethyn did not live there. How would she possibly know that...unless...
"Oh no! Please don't tell me..." The young man wrung his hands. "This....this is 'HER'?!"
Silver reached over and patted his friend not so gently on the cheek. "That's right. Ethyn, I would like you to meet: my sister." He motioned to the cloaked figure as she dipped her head.
'SISTER?!?'
Ethyn realized that the person he had accused and assaulted was actually the person most dear to Silver in the whole world. As he replayed his exchange between the woman and himself, his face tuned ghostly white. "I'm doomed."