One Fine Day [Elsa]

[Oliver Strathmore of Mercia]

The day was bright and cheery, and there was no better way to enjoy it than to jump out of his bed and experience it himself. So here is where Oliver found himself, walking alone through the marketplace in this small village just in the outskirts of Camelot. He and his friends had decided to spend the night here on their way home from a hunting trip to rest and replenish their supplies before moving on north.

The market was abuzz with people and excitement even this early in the morning, and Oliver loved nothing better than an opportunity to mingle with the crowd and maybe get himself some good produce to take on their travel back to Mercia. He knew shopping for provisions ought to be his servant’s job, but the prince was only too willing to do it himself. This prince was more at home in the company of the common people than with nobles in the halls of the castle. He would make the most of the opportunity whenever it presented itself.

Dressed in casual everyday garb, Oliver looked anything but a prince. Sure, he still turned heads as he walked around and playfully haggled with the vendors with his golden hair and tall stature, but none would have an inkling that he was of royalty, which was what Oliver had wanted in the first place. Currently, he was immersed in talking to a little girl who was plying a bunch of apples. He had picked one and took a bite. “You’re paying for that, sir,” said the girl, who was probably around 7 years old. She looked up at him with the most stern but cutest expression on her face, her hands planted on her hips. Oliver squatted on the ground so his face was level with hers. “I’ll pay for the whole lot if you eat another apple with me,” Oliver retorted playfully, his eyes twinkling with fun and delight at this amusing little interaction.

[Elsa de la Noue]

Elsa had left very early in the morning in order to get to the village. It was just on the outskirts of Camelot and held many ingredients that couldn't be found far inside the borders. Her parents enjoyed the exotic spices and herbs and the citizens of Camelot seemed to as well, and as such, they had sent their daughter out to buy some more. They had decided to make use of her while she was in her final days of working at the bakery, as they teasingly told her, and she had obliged with an amused smile.

She was not usually the one to come to the village to buy these supplies and so the villagers were obviously not used to seeing her around. Elsa was tall for a woman and her hair was big and curly. She was beautiful and attention-grabbing, thought Elsa didn't consider herself very good-looking. She carried a small, woven basket to put the ingredients in as she bought them and wore a light orange dress that was obviously homemade. Most of the people in the market that day were women and children, as the husbands were out working the fields already, and the young woman was much taller than average, standing out among the crowd.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Elsa finished buying what she needed to on the main road and ducked her head, turning down a less-busy side street. There were still some herbs along here that she needed and also some rather gorgeous trinkets and jewelry. With a small smile, Elsa moved towards a stall that housed books. She would move on to the jewelry next, but she wanted to first see if there was anything here that her brother would enjoy. As she looked through the literature, she began to absently hum to herself, which quickly turned into quiet singing. It was a song filled with nonsense words, but she enjoyed it immensely.

[Oliver Strathmore of Mercia]

The little girl's face brightened at the thought of him buying all the apples that she was carrying around. Then she scrunched her eyebrows as she looked him over, sizing him up to see if he was really telling the truth or if he even is capable of paying for all the apples. Seeming convinced that he can pay, she took an apple, and then took one bite from it. "Pay up," she demanded putting her hand palm up before him. Oliver chuckled at her gesture, and then dug inside his pocket for a small bag of coins. He fished out a couple of gold coins and handed it to her. "Keep the change," Oliver said smiling. The girl turned wide-eyed at the shiny coins in her little palm, and then instinctively jumped to give him a hug before she gave him the basket of apples. "Thank you, kind sir!" she enthused.

"Is there anything else I can help you with? Oranges? Grapes?" she asked tentatively. Oliver looked at her thoughtfully. "I would like some oranges and---" Before he could even finish speaking, the little girl eagerly grabbed his hand and dragged him towards a stall farther ahead. She handed the woman behind it the gold coins. "He bought all the apples, mother! And wanted to buy oranges and grapes, too!" she gushed out. Oliver smiled at the little girl and then at the elderly woman as he started picking out oranges and grapes.

As he was putting one fruit after another into a small sack that the woman was holding for him, Oliver's ears caught the faint but beautiful singing from someone a couple of stalls away. A lover of everything fine and beautiful, Oliver tried but failed to ignore the random music that was certainly distracting him in a good way. "I'm good. Thanks!" Oliver said with a smile as he handed the woman another gold coin before turning towards where he heard the quiet singing.

He found her not too long after, poring over old books in one stall. Oliver stepped beside her and made a small show of looking at the books there himself and tried not to stare at the svelte and tall lady standing there beside him. A full hair of bright golden curly locks framed her face, a face, Oliver could easily tell from his vantage point, that was beautiful and kind. "These are good books. Do you know where these vendors get them?" he asked her, as casually as if it was the most natural thing in the world to do, as if it was not planned at all.

[Elsa de la Noue]

Most of the books in the stall were on philosophy, science, and theories, but those were things that her brother enjoyed. Actually, he seemed to enjoy reading most anything. There were even a couple of books on magic, which Elsa knew was outlawed in Camelot. If the king were to find out the things this merchant was selling...! As she continued to look at the titles and determine if her brother would like them, she didn't notice the man approach the stall as well.

Elsa nearly jumped at his words, her quiet singing cutting off abruptly. A man was... speaking to her? That was something that didn't occur very often. "I... don't know," she replied softly, gently setting the book she was holding back on the pile. "I don't even really know if these are good books at all. I was looking for my brother... He enjoys reading." She stepped back minutely, keeping her head down. He was taller than her, but not by much. He would have been at least a head taller than a normal woman. "I apologize if you thought I knew anything about the vendor," she stated.

[Oliver Strathmore of Mercia]

Oliver had not expected he take her unaware, but he was glad that she did not throw a book at him when he did. A small sheepish and apologetic smile appeared on his lips when he realized that he had disturbed what was obviously a quiet and introspective alone time. “My apologies, I didn’t mean to interrupt whatever you were doing,” he told her when he saw her setting back the book on the pile. She had her head down so Oliver took the opportunity to inspect the pile of books and realized he was familiar with most of them, having seen or read a few from the library in the castle in Mercia.

“Oh no, please don’t apologize. It’s hardly your fault,” he said entreatingly, feeling rather guilty now for making her uncomfortable. He needed to make it up to her. Perhaps he could help her find the books she said she’d give her brother. “What kind of books does your brother enjoy reading? I’m no expert but perhaps I can help you find him a good read,” he told her. She seemed very shy, and it even made Oliver all the more interested in getting to know her…or at least see more of her lovely face. With glorious and gorgeous golden locks like hers, it would be no surprise if they framed an equally lovely and sweet face. He should know, he can tell even from what he can see with her head bowed down low.

[Elsa de la Noue]

At his apology, Elsa glanced up briefly to give him a curious look. He was sorry for interrupting her...? Most men didn't apologize for things like that, nor did they even really consider that they had interrupted anything at all. "You didn't interrupt," she assured him with a small smile. "I was just a bit distracted is all." It was true; she had been lost in thought and song, looking for a book for Kendrick. Though it was a nice change that he had considered that he may have intruded on her alone time. As a baker's daughter, she wasn't often given that respect; she wasn't a woman of status and therefore didn't call for such things.

"Oh! Er, well... Kendrick really likes to read anything," Elsa told him honestly, finally raising her head a bit. She was beginning to feel a bit more comfortable with this man; she didn't know his name, but she knew that he was more considerate than most. "He particularly enjoys philosophy, though. Do you know if any of these books on philosophy are good?" She wanted to get her brother a gift. He didn't often get to travel, due to his frail nature, and she tended to buy him something whenever she went somewhere outside Camelot. "I'm Elsa, by the way. I apologize for not introducing myself first."

[Oliver Strathmore of Mercia]

Finally, she had graced him with a smile that was enchanting. She had unknowingly caught him entranced as he just stood there mesmerized. You don't find a lot of beauty like hers in the middle of a marketplace. She looked like a princess with those big eyes, cute nose, and kissable lips--he shook his head at the thoughts running there and composed himself. Who knows? She might really be a princess in disguise. "I heard you singing to yourself...and I...I couldn't resist a beautiful voice when I hear one," Oliver said honestly. He didn't know what made him do it, but he just thought it was best to come out clean. "It was your voice that drew me in. Do you perform or sing to crowds?"

"He particularly enjoys philosophy, though. Do you know if any of these books on philosophy are good?"

Philosophy, huh? Oliver have had his fair share of reading philosophy books, mainly because it was expected of him as a prince. He put the bag of fruits he was carrying on the ground before turning his full attention to the pile of books before him. He grabbed one and put it aside, then continued to search for more titles. "Does your brother like Aristotle or Plato? You can't go wrong with those if he likes touches of science as well. If he's an avid reader, I'm sure he has already read that." He placed a copy of Plato's 'The Republic' on top of the pile, then continued to search for any more good or interesting books. "How about Confucius or...Sun Tzu?" he asked holding up a tattered copy of 'The Art of War,' a favorite of Oliver as it focused on military strategy.

"I'm Oliver. No, I'm supposed to have introduced myself first..." he said then chuckled. That was funny. How many times had they apologized to each other without any real reason to in a span of a few minutes? "We seem to be doing a lot of apologizing to each other. It's nice to meet you, Elsa," he remarked with a grin. He instantly liked her. This was what he liked most with girls that he met in the villages. They don't have the haughty air that most noble women do. They are always sweet and kind, unlike some of the the snob nobility.

[Elsa de la Noue]

Elsa noticed his momentary silence at her smile. He seemed... speechless. Why? Was it something about her smile? She flushed a bit at the obvious attention and it quickly darkened as she realized that he had heard her singing. "Thank you," she replied softly, pleased and embarrassed. Her voice had drawn him in... The idea that he had come to speak to her because her singing was beautiful made her extremely happy and she couldn't help the large smile that came to her lips. "No, I don't usually... I have a few times, but only for small crowds at my father's bakery. Normally I just sing for myself or my family."

Then they were back to discussing books and Elsa glanced back down at the piles. "He has read both Aristotle and Plato," she told him. "I picked those up for him years ago on a trip into Mercia." When the man picked up "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu, she decided that this book was a good choice for Kendrick. "This is perfect." She gave him a grateful smile and looked around for the merchant. They were with another customer, so the only choice she had was to wait for a few minutes.

"Oliver," she repeated. "It's a pleasure to meet you as well." His comment on their apologizing made her laugh quietly. "I suppose there have been quite a few apologies made in the last few minutes. I would apologize for that, but that would defeat the purpose of trying to stop saying sorry." She gave him a small, teasing grin and then was distracted by the merchant approaching. "I would like to purchase this," she told the older man. He nodded and relayed the price; Elsa reached into her small money pouch to pull out the required coins.