"Did you just apologize?" Rose's words mirrored Ethyn's thoughts.
"Yes, but I know why I said it. Why did you?" Ethyn's mouth hung open, genuinely astonished that the princess of Birle would deign to seek his forgiveness.
"I am sorry for making you anxious when I clearly could have eased your suffering. Why are you sorry?" Rose's blue eyes searched his for meaning.
"For all the embarrassment I caused you," Ethyn answered quickly. "Wait, did you say I was suffering?" He blanched.
"Did you say I was embarrassed?" The Princess's cheeks tinged pink.
Both young people snapped their heads toward the Guardian.
"How much did you tell him?!"
"How much did you tell her?!"
Rose's and Ethyn's voices overlapped but the indignation was clear in each tone. Silver was tempted to pull back up the hood, which he had just lowered, to hide his amused grin.
"I told each of you the same thing. Nothing. If you are feeling guilty, that is between you and your conscience. I will not be blamed for any misdeed." The Guardian laughed heartily as the two younger people both turned redder than the tomatoes Lily grew behind her cottage.
Rose felt bad for blaming her brother for gossiping. Ethyn likewise felt the weight of his accusation. They both shot each other anxious glances and then looked away.
"But if you didn't tell him anything, why would Sir Ethyn think I was embarrassed?" Rose tucked her hair behind her ear. Her calm demeanor was all but gone.
"Because you would be a fool not to be embarrassed after all the problems I have caused." The green-eyed man answered before the Guardian could.
Rose straightened her back. "So I am either embarrassed or a fool? What kind of options are those?"
"I did not mean it like that. Why are you always twisting my words?" Ethyn felt like he was always having to defend himself against the lovely woman. Her tongue was sharper than any sword he had encountered.
On the other end Rose was frustrated with being insulted. "I am merely repeating what you said. You claimed I was either embarrassed by your actions or a fool. If there is a third option I would love to hear it. You seem to think I am some shrinking violet who shies away at every little comment."
"No one would ever accuse you of being shy, Your Highness. Of that you can be sure." Ethyn began to prepare his own defenses. If Rose wasn't going to listen and be reasonable, he saw no reason that he should be either.
He opened his mouth to speak when he felt a firm hand grasp him under his armpit. Giving a low growl, the Guardian forced the young man into the chair beside the princess with a shove.
"Only kind words from here on out, both of you. If you won't do it for each other, then do it for me. Now, without bickering, I want you to work out whatever....this is." Silver made a circle with his palm down between the princess and the knight.
He went to reach for a chair of his own when there was a knock at the door.
"I'm busy!" Silver yelled without asking who was there.
"I know," Conall answered, "But this is important." There was an urgency in the mayor's voice that Silver could not deny.
He sighed. "Don't move." After pointing a finger at each of his guests, Silver flipped up his hood and went outside to talk to Conall in private.
Although neither would admit it, both the princess and the knight strained their ears to eavesdrop on the conversation outside. Their efforts were in vain, for the two men were quite adept at preventing themselves from being overheard.
When Silver returned and lowered the cloak, his face was grim. "I am going to have to leave for a short while..." he paused.
Ethyn stood up. "I will go with you." He took a step to where his sword and armor were kept in Silver's 'old room', but the Guardian blocked his path.
"No, I can handle it myself, and this is more important." Pushing the knight back into his seat, Silver's eyes turned fierce. "Both of you stay here until you can get along. You each have some explaining to do."
"But!" Each wanted to argue, but Silver held up his hands to silence them.
"When I return I expect you both to be getting along so we can have a nice lunch together." Pausing, Silver amended his statement. "Actually, it will likely be dinner." The Guardian's eyes flashed at Ethyn. "Take care of my sister, you hear me?"
"Yes Sir," the young man answered dutifully.
Silver looked at Rose. "Be polite and keep him out of trouble, will you?"
Rose nodded. "I will."
"What makes you think I will get into trouble?!" Ethyn furrowed his brow.
"Experience," the Guardian chuckled. "Now do I need to send a chaperone or can you both behave? Maybe I should ask Conall to stay while I deal with things..."
"No need!"
"We are fine!"
"I'm a very good chaperone!" Conall called through the door.
"And an even better eavesdropper!" Silver snapped back. "Be good." He looked at each of his guests and pointed from his eyes toward theirs. "I'll be back as soon as I can…the three of us will have a lovely dinner together, I am sure of it. I will see you then."
The Guardian did not wait for an answer. He ghosted to the door, which mysteriously opened, and headed into the street.
It shut just as inexplicably, leaving the two people alone as they had been only the day before.
"I can't believe it!" Rose puffed her cheeks. "Imagine him treating us like children!"
Ethyn nodded his head, "Right?!"
"Did you know he gave me a whole lecture before you got here?" Rose puckered her lips at the memory.
"Me too!" Ethyn gasped. It seemed they had each gone through similar treatment that morning. However, he was far more shocked that Silver would scold his sister in such a way. "Imagine him trying to order around the Princess of Birle…"
"And a knight of His Majesty's court!" Rose nodded emphatically.
"Who does he think he is?" Ethyn threw his hands in the air exasperated. "I mean...other than a Guardian..."
The two paused.
"Well, my brother is the one who named me, and saved me, and took care of me as a baby..." Rose said slowly.
"And Silver gave me a home when no one else would, pulled me out of a life of thievery, and helped pay for my apprenticeship with Sir Cyneheard," Ethyn recalled.
"Really?" Rose was surprised.
"Really," the green-eyed man confirmed. He chuckled briefly before frowning.
"I guess in his eyes we are both still children then. And the way I just behaved didn't help things," Rose fiddled with her fingers in her lap, unwilling to look Ethyn in the eye.
"Hey! You don't get to take all the credit. I have had more than my fair share of childish moments today alone." Ethyn started to mention his failed attempt to escape on Courage, but decided against it.
"It seems we both have been acting like Silver has been treating us. Perhaps we should listen and try to get along." Rose held out her hand.
"For Silver's sake, of course, I think that would be best," Ethyn took the woman's delicate fingers in his own.
She blushed. "Of course, what other reason could there be to do such a thing beyond duty?"
"No reason at all." Ethyn leaned down and kissed the hand that Rose had offered. He received a small shock as his lips touched her skin.
"Perhaps, for Silver's sake, we should start again?" Rose pulled her hand away.
'Did she feel it too?' Ethyn wondered. "I think a fresh start would be for the best." The young man stood and the princess followed suit.
"Allow me to go first, I am Princess Rose, adopted daughter of King Rhodri. But you may call me Haven because I recently discovered that is my name all along." Rose curtsied.
"A pleasure, Your Highness. I am Sir Samberg, knight of Birle who hails from the town of Rynnlee. But you can call me Ethyn." The green-eyed man bowed.
"It is nice to meet you, Ethyn. But please, here you should call me Haven." The blonde's eyes entreated him with her request. How could he refuse?
"Haven." The knight said softly. The word tasted sweet in his mouth. He hooked a mischievous grin. "So, Haven, would you like to tell me what will put me out of my 'suffering'?"
Rose tapped her chin. "Afterwards, will you tell me about my embarrassment?"
"Absolutely," the knight promised.
"Alright, Ethyn. I have some good news...and some bad news."