Jasper of Moline

Chapter Three

He fell asleep, that was the first thing that entered into his mind. the place he was different from what he’d ever known. He turned around and took in the place and from a distance watched a girl who read under a tree. She had long wavy hair that she let fly. she was beautiful. but she was also young, about riley’ s age, but maybe a little bit younger. He looked around and found she was alone. 

it hit him, one so young and beautiful, shouldn’t be left alone in the woods. it wasn’t safe. He acknowledged his desire to keep her, nudged it aside. it was only because she reminded him of his youngest sister, he thought.

he walked toward her and as if sensing another presence, she looked up from her book, bringing her hand above her eyes to shield them from the glare of the sun.

“ Hello.” she said, a shy smile forming her face. if he thought she was beautiful while he watched her from afar, he found she was extremely radiant up close.

slow down,  Jasper, she’s too young. He admonished himself.

“ Goodday milady. i don’t mean to get in your way, or scare you for that matter. but this woods-” she gestured toward the environment for emphasis, “ they aren’t very safe, especially not for one like yourself.” Her chin rose up and eyes lit up.

“ I can take care of myself, thank you.”

fiery, he could respect that. even admire it, but, the warrior in him - and if he was being honest, although he hated it, the man in him- wouldn’t budge. couldn’t see a young girl in the middle of nowhere alone, and not be alarmed. there were men, he knew who would take advantage of that. He didn’t want that happening here.

“ let’s try again, and try to be a little bit more polite this time.” her Jaw dropped open, and he nearly smiled.

“ I, sir-”

“ you can call me Jasper,”

“ sir Jasper, thank you for bothering about me. But I assure you, I'm fine. I've been coming here for years now, it’s safe. the animals-” she looked at the rabbit that watched them and then ran into a cluster of bushes, “ they’re safe.” she finished.

recognition dawned on him and he didn’t completely realise it, and without really know what prompted him, he asked,

“ Who are you?”

“ I am Hannah, Princess of Brone.”

He watched her as she watched him. 

He was sure he could hear the whistle of the wind that blew past him, on him,from that night, once upon a time, when he questioned God, when he asked why it had to be him.

could he tell her? should he tell her? 

No, he decided. not now, he decided. not in this place.

“ Hannah.” he echoed, he looked around him.” finally felt the calm, felt the peace, maybe the creator was in this place. maybe the created made a promise of his presence in this time and in the next.

“ Hannah.” he repeated, offered and then woke up.

“ Hannah.” he said, and got up to continue his journey.

~~~~

It was night time, when he awoke, but he decided, he'd put in a few miles, before he called it a day.

so he walked, and thought about the princess, whose eyes took his breath away. she was too young he had to remind himself again. But she had so much to do with all this. so much.

But she would fight. He knew it. that fire in her would be put to good use, at the rifgt time, in the right place. She would fight.

He found a place by a stream after a few hours, and decided that would be his spot for the night. he took off his clothes and washed off the day's sweat and toil, washed his sweaty dusty tunic and trousers. when he was dressed, he built a fire and sat in front of it, and then brought out the food his mother had packed for him.

He said a blessing, for the food, his family, even himself and downed the food like a starved man.

He fell asleep that night, with thoughts of his family, an entire kingdom swimming through his head. And also a girl with long wavy black hair and the light of fire in her eyes.