I avoided the stranger's question and left that place immediately. Because my grandma had forbidden me to talk with strangers. I went to the fruit store and then sold all of the fruits to him. Then I came back to home. I knew that my grandma must be worried. She told me to return home quickly. But I took so long to get back home.
"I'm home. Sorry I am a bit late. Grandma where are you?" I said. Grandma ran to me.
"What took you so long? I was so worried about you. I hope you didn't get into any trouble." She said. I could see how worried she was. Her worried face has looked at me.
"Come on grandma, you can see that I'm fine. Actually two guys were quarrelling. So I became late." I said. Then I explained everything to her. She heard the story.
"But you shouldn't go in the mess without being sure." She said. I smirked looking at her.
"Who said I was not sure? I noticed the whole matter from the first." I said. She became confuse.
"And how did you find out the matter?" She asked.
"Easy. When they were quarrelling with each other I noticed melted gold on the customer's dress. It means the necklace was remake or newly make." I said.
"You are smart." She said and smirk.
"Yes I am. I was a princess, remember?" I said and went to the bathroom to fresh myself.
"Hey, I hope nobody realizes you." When I came out of the bathroom grandma said that.
"Yes, they didn't recognize me. But there was a guy who asked me some questions." I said.
"What questions?" She asked. I explained all about the stranger. She looked at me with her worried eyes.
"Did you tell him that how you find out the matter?" She asked. I replied in the negative.
"I just ignored him." I said.
"You did a good job. Now come and eat something." She said. I finished my my lunch and went to the river. I sat in the riverside and started to play flute. It was my hobby to play flute. My mother taught me to play it. The flute was also my mother's. It is my mother's last memory. Suddenly I heard some noises. I looked around. The noises were coming from the left. I went there and saw a man. A bear was trying to catch him. He had no weapons. I quickly threw an arrow in front of the bear. The bear saw it and got scared. Then left the place immediately.
"Wow you can also throw arrow!" The man said. I recognized him. He was that stranger I met in the city. Did he follow me here? Or it is just a coincidence.
"You? What are you doing here?" I asked him.
"I have lost my friends and then I met with this bear. To save my life I threw my sword to hit the bear. But my sword got stuck in the tree. Then I ran and met with you." He said.
"You throw your sword to hit the bear?" I chuckled at him.
"Yeah actually I am not good with weapons. I even can't throw any arrow." He said made me laugh.
"Anyway, why did you have sword with you? Are you any soldier or something?" I asked made him nervous.
"Umm... Yes actually no. My father is a soldier. I brought his sword for safety." He said. His nervousness told me that he was lying. He must be an important person in undercover. I have to stay away from him.
"By the way, do you live in this forest?" He asked.
"Yes. It is a quiet peaceful place. So I live here with my grandma." I said.
"Oh I see." He said.
"OK, I have go now. Grandma must be worried about me." I tried to hurry up and go. I don't want him to doubt me.
"Wait. Can I come to your home?" He asked.
"Why?" I asked him. I didn't want him to come with me.
"I have lost my friends. I think when they will see your house, they will go there to ask about me. And I also want to see how you live in this forest." He said made me feel nervous.
"Why do I bring a stranger in my house? My grandma does not like this." I tried to ignore him and leave. But he didn't let me leave.
"Please. I'm in trouble. Won't you help me. If you leave me here, the cruel animals will eat me." He said. I did not know what to do. Is he any spy or something? But I had no other choice. I agreed and bring him home with me.
"I am back grandma." Grandma came to me.
"Where were you? I wa.." She stopped.
"Who is this young boy? Where is he from?" She said.
"Grandma it is that stranger I told you about." I said.
"Hello, my name is Robin. I came here with my friends but I lost them. Can I stay here for a while?" He said.
"OK stay here then. But where are you from?" She asked.
"I am from the city. My father is a soldier of the king." He said. Grandma wasn't happy I guess. I know she is mad at me because I brought a stranger here. She told me to stay away from strangers. But I had no other choice.
It's evening, but no one came to find him. We waited so long. We didn't want him to stay here at the night.
"No one came." I said. He looked at me and then looked at my grandma.
"Maybe I have to stay here at night. Can I?" He said made me annoyed. He is so annoying. Did he got any doubt on me? Otherwise why he have to live here? Is he any child? Can't he go home alone?
To be continued.....