Authors note: so how is it so far? Please comment or vote to let me know. :)

Ps I need to know if I should continue this story

Twas only a jest ...

Fury at the commoners words still beat through his blood as he and his guards came to the small path nearly hidden by the willow trees diverging from the road. Once they entered the path it felt as if an enchantment lay over this place. His anger seeped away with every step his mount took farther into the property.

After the old willow trees came large fields filled with flowers and held livestock. Sheep on one side and horses on another. A few cows came and went. All the animals were magnificent especially the horses. If he didn't know better he would think they were of elvish stock.

The fields passed by as rows upon rows of beehives surrounded by a large field of barley. The cottage lay just beyond, it was small but well kept with a barn just behind it and a few other buildings.

He noted three women working about the place. One tended to the chickens ducks, and swans. Another peeled vegetables. While a third toiled in a garden.

He motioned his servant onward. He spoke to the lady seeing to the pheasants. She motioned them to a building just to the right of the small cottage.

He dismounted and followed his servant into the wide spacious building. It was clean and obviously used to hold and make wine, the scent of fermenting alcohol was heavy in the air. Though he saw no barrels or mashing pits. All he found was a very familiar golden brown head bent over grinding corn up.

"If you are looking for the Mirkwood go back the way you came. If it is Craínsvale you seek continue on the road you traveled down. And if your here to get wares I will be set up in my stall as usual on market day every week. " she spared them no glance as she meticulously ground her grain.

"I am here seeking to purchase wine from you. As you requested my lord has saw fit to come along. "

"If the lord you speak of is the same I passed on the road then you my dear elf are in the wrong place. " her head rose and the same lightning struck grey green eyes landed upon him and then his servant.

"As I said Mirkwood is back the way you came. " she motioned them toward the east and continued on grinding her corn.

"Your wine has been deemed by the king of the greenwood worthy to grace his tables at the summers eve festival. Will you not sell to us? It is hardly fair!" The servant reasoned heatedly.

She giggled lightly looking up with humor in her eyes. Something he found extremely annoying considering that she appeared to be laughing at him.

"Oh my wine is worthy to drink but I am not worthy to be given proper respect on the road?" Her mirthful eyes turned hard. " as I said before Mirkwood is back that way. There's nothing here for you. "

"You would show such impedance to a king?" The imperious voice echoes through the quite building. Her eyes flashed to his own. "If you were my subject I would have you thrown in the dungeons for less"

"I would kill some kings just to spite them. Get out of my sight. Get out of my workshop. Get off my land. And away from my farm. Now. If you need anything else I will be open on market day. "And she rose and moved to walk out the door which he was conveniently blocking. When he refused to step aside she glared hotly at him. It was gone in a moment and a serene calm smile replaced it on that heart shaped face.

"Now if you will sir please make way I must go with all haste. " she gave him only a moment to decide before she shoved past him.

He found himself far from bored now. He felt enlivened in the presence of such a albeit stupid but reckless young human. She found himself smiling ... Almost mind you.

*********************************

She knew belatedly that she was taking her ire at her sister out on the unexpected guests that arrived. Fala had not listened to any suggestion she had given when trying to convince her to delay her return to the bandit camp. And so she had stalked off to make more mash for her whiskey.

Why on earth the elf called it wine she had no idea. She found it extremely amusing. Then there was the slight insult he had given her at the crossing. She was acclimated to nobles pulling rank on her. In the entirety of her life she had never been what one would consider royal.

She as glad she was unlike her older sisters who remember what it was to be princesses. To be looked upon with awe. To be catered to and groomed to rule a land and the people on it. She was used to being poor and wandering from place to place. To barely scraping by for food.

She had never had a home until her farm. She made to walk into her home until Fala quick as a snake grabbed her arm and twirled her about.

"Is this how you treat your guests? Is this the hospitality we taught you? This elf is a king of our mothers kin. All he asks if you is your whiskey." Fala's silvery grey eyes bore into her soul to the empathetic part of her. "Is the fact a king wishes to drink your brew not compliment enough?"

"All I ask of you is to stay. To give up this senseless violence. To seek out peace instead of war. Is that not a simple enough request? "She jerked her arm away and strode into the home.

Fala's eyes followed her younger sister. She knew that it was best to leave her be. Every time she became upset at the fact that they were leaving again no one was spared from her melancholy. It wasn't intentional but Nessy had the ability to be the sunlight in a darkened room or be the one to put out the light.

She walked toward the elf servant that had showed up the other day. His names had never been given or asked of him to give.

"Tell your master to go to her stall on market day haggle with her there. Today isn't a good day to make dealings with her." She advised.

"She insulted a king after he personally came per her request and refused to let him purchase her wine. You expect my master to seek her out again? Ridiculous. " he shook his head.

Fala laughed loudly. " twas just a jest. And besides you king insulted my already upset sister. What do you expect?"

"A jest what are you talking about?"

"She was jesting you thinking you were far to kind in complimenting her brew. She says that to everyone who spouts off flowery nonsense about her wares. "

"Twas just a jest?" He mumbled as the female walked back to continue her task at peeling potatoes.