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Delilah walked homeward from the farm, observing the autumnal beauty around her. It had been a week since she was released from the prison. Her father had been more than furious when she returned home after two days. And still was, for he did not talk to her like he used to. His mannerism showed how greatly disappointed he was in her for not listening to him.

This pained Delilah immensely, (along with her back, which throbbed out of pain time to time) yet she was adamant not to think that stepping up for Mr Morkel was wrong. She was sure that what she did was more than right.

A group of men standing not so far away near a farm caught her attention.

Huddled together, they talked in hushed voices. But what made Delilah suspicious were the axes and shovels they held in their hands. Though, her suspicion lessened as she mused that these must be farmers.

Looking away from them, she carried on walking towards her home. However, a voice from behind her made her halt.

"Hey, listen!"

She stopped and turned around, only to be greeted by the sight of one of the men from the group walking towards her.

"Yes?" she asked.

"Lass, you know the way to the castle?"

Delilah was taken aback by the question. From what she had heard, King Adeben rarely entertained his citizen's problems; they were generally handled by the magistrates and other Royal officials.

"Castle? I-why would you want to go there?"

"That's none of your business. Just tell us the way." the man grumbled.

"Uh-okay. I-I do not know the way to castle-"

"You don't?" the man asked frustrated, making Delilah shrink in fear as he clutched his axe tightly in his hand, "Then why did you not tell this before? Moron, wasting our time."

He turned around and walked away, leaving Delilah dazed. She frowned but chose to say nothing. She resumed walking and was soon back to her home.

Days passed by like this. Delilah and Gabriel kept on working their hardest to make sure the yield is the best. It was more than necessary for the farm to yield its best for the dry fruits in stock were dissipating.

Delilah wiped her face with a towel as beads of sweat rolled down from her forehead. Sun shined brightly in the sky. She cursed the Sun for rendering the day so scorchingly hot, then apologized profusely for the blasphemy.

"You want water, Deli?" she heard Timothy ask.

"No, no. You sit there and rest." she guided him back to the building which they, along with other vendors, used as a storeroom.

"Deli, pass a packet of almonds, will you?" she heard Gabriel ask her.

Picking up a brown packet, she passed it to him. The stall was buzzing with customers, as usual, still, the money they earned was not enough; blame the exaggerated rent charged by the landlord.

"I need an extra pair of hands here, girl," Gabriel stated.

"Yes, papa."

She quickly walked towards the front and started dealing with customers.

"For a little lower class lass, you are quite brave."

She looked up, her eyes widening when she saw the same soldier who had dragged her to the magistrate.

Fear seeped deep into her bones as she took in his intimidating form standing across the stall. She looked at her father in hopes of getting out of the terrible situation but found him busy with the customers.

More so, two customers.

One of the men bargained with her father continuously while the other kept quiet and merely chimed in time to time.

"Um-" deciding to be professional, she asked, "You would like to buy some dry fruits?"

A dark chuckle left his mouth, "Dry fruits? You think I am here for that?"

"What else would you want then?" she gulped, trying to ignore the malice in his voice.

She glanced at her father, who was still busy with the customers. She frowned upon noticing that now only one man stood their, still arguing while the other, the quiet one was nowhere to be seen.

Her attention snapped back to the guard as she heard him snarl, "I am just here to tell you that you will suffer, wench."  She flinched in fear at his frightening advances.

He left after that, much to Delilah's relief. Her mind wandered to many scenarios as she dwelled upon his words but soon drowned herself in work.

By the evening, she felt more than exhausted. Her eyes drooped and she found it difficult to focus on anything.

Though she sighed in relief on realising that the night had started approaching hence, it would not be long till they start for home.

"You look almost dead, madam." a familiar voice startled.

Emerald eyes peered down at her inquisitively as she moved her head up to look at the man standing in front of her.

His face covered in a red shawl, along with his head; yet a strand or two of curly hair peeked out. Only his sharp green eyes were visible, making him look familiar.

"You? Oh sir-thank you for saving me that day!" the words flew out of her mouth before she could even think as she instantly recognized him as the man who had helped her back in Brimlyn.

Then there was this uncanny feeling that she had seen this man somewhere else as well.

The man chuckled amusedly at her before speaking, "You say this now? I was waiting for this to come my way a few nights ago, after the feast."

He raised his hand up slowly, touching the veil covering the lower part of his face and uncovered it, making her gasp.

"It was you!" she almost screamed, earning a few irritated looks from the people nearby.

"I am sorry for being a little rude that day-night, I mean." she instantly apologized, her eyes still wide.

"Little rude? That would be an understatement." he chuckled at her, his eyes crinkling at the sides. Delilah was quick to rush to an apology but the man brushed her off.

"But then, I would definitely mind my sister sweet talking to a potentially harmful stranger in the ungodly hours of the night, so it is understandable." he ended with a chuckle, hiding his face again with the veil.

"Please, do not be offended." she again pleaded.

"Not at all, madam. But do tell me, how is your back?"

"My back?"

"Yes-I saw-they whipped you." the man grimaced as he said this.

Delilah winced at the memory before assuring him, "Yes, it is good now. Pains less."

"Come here, girl!" she heard her father. She saw him hastily walking into the storeroom.

With one last look towards the man, Delilah started walking away, though, a hand clasping her wrist made her halt. Swivelling on her heels, she looked back at the stranger who was holding her hand.

With eyes wide as a saucer, she looked up at the man.

"Why-What are you doing?" she asked with a stutter, trying to free her hand.

The man stared at her for some minutes, his hands yet to let go her wrists while she struggled to be free. He then smiled, letting go of her hand.

"I apologize for being rash, madam," he rasped on seeing her cradling her wrist he held, "-but I never caught your name."

Delilah stared at him for a moment, before speaking in a hushed whisper, "Delilah Black."

"Delilah," he whispered with a soft smile. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Delilah."

Taking a hold of her hand, he left a quick kiss on the back of her hand, "I hope we will meet soon."

And with that he walked away, leaving a flustered looking  Delilah behind.

"Wait!" she cried out.

The man stopped in his tracks.

Turning around with a quizzical look marring his face, he tilted his head in question.

Taking a quick look behind, she found that her father was nowhere to be seen. She hastily walked towards him.

"What can I do for you?"

"You-uh, you never told me your name?" she said with a flustered look on her face. Smirking, he raised an eyebrow at her.

"That is something I would rather not tell you, madam."

He turned away swiftly after saying this, mingling with the crowd, giving Delilah no chance to protest.

Throwing a last look towards the crowd, where the green-eyed man had walked off to, she started making her way towards the storeroom, where another storm awaited her.