Violette sat heavily upon the lush grass on the side of the path, carefully raising the hem of her favorite dark green skirt to rub her right ankle. "Oh... dear...," she sighed.
Violette was currently on her way to a merchant outpost in order to buy more seeds and starter plants for her garden. She had declined several offers from wagons and caravans on their way because she enjoyed the walk and the sun and wind. She always felt the most alive when experiencing the land.
"But I always forget how long a walk it is," she told a passing butterfly. "And my feet do complain so. If only I could persuade them to see the joy of the adventure..." Violette giggled, dipping her head a little into her shoulders with the sound. "Instead, they moan and groan and give me pain." She gave her foot a playful throttle. "You little dickens. We haven't even traveled--"
"Fear not, my lady!" came a familiar dramatic baritone from behind. "I shall ease your wounds!"
Violette turned toward the voice, smiling as her wide eyes glowed with welcome. "Sir Mystere!" she greeted.
Mystere halted his approach with an expression of surprise. "Why, Miss Violette!" He stepped forward again and knelt beside her. "Have you injured yourself?"
"Oh no," she giggled, waving her hands with a graceful motion. "I've been enjoying my walk and seem to have forgotten how long a ways it is. My feet began complaining, and so I decided to rest by the wayside." Her eyes widened as she regarded him. "Did my tired feet bring you all the way here again?"
Mystere's surprise melted to a smile. "Dear me, Miss Violette. This is the first time a rescue has been refused by a repeat offender."
Violette giggled again. "I am so sorry to trouble you. I don't intend to cause you difficulty."
Mystere's serious expression of drama and romance returned as he raised a hand. "Fear not, my lady Violette, there is no offense and no difficulty." He motioned toward her. "It is no bother to carry you a way toward your destination."
"Oh no, sir Mystere," she refused with wide eyes and a slight shake of her head. "I couldn't."
"Nonsense." Mystere scooped her up into his arms and straightened, proceeding down the path. "Any way I might be of service."
"But this is too much," she protested, arms wrapping around his neck. "I only need to rest a little while."
"And so you shall; as I continue." He stepped clear of a pothole. "It would be extremely remiss of me to leave you to the beasts and ruffians of the road when I am perfectly capable of shortening the distance toward your destination."
"Oh dear," Violette whispered.
Mystere sent her a quick sidelong glance, examining her expression as she watched the path ahead. "My lady Violette, what has brought you such a distance from the safety of your home?"
Visions of gardens and flowers danced within her gaze as she met his, any discomfort forgotten. "While strolling through my garden I had the most lovely of ideas," she confessed, facial expression alight with excitement. "In the farthest corner I have an adorable patch of green where I intend to build a small little bench, I do so love to read in my garden at twilight."
"An extremely enjoyable happenstance, I must say," Mystere agreed.
Violette delicately nodded. "While I planned the most lovely place to build it, I noticed that the patch of green had no border!" Her eyes widened. "A bench in a lovely garden with no border just seems so terribly melancholy, so," she instantly smiled again, "I've decided to plant some of the most beautiful flowers all around the bench. White ones, and yellow ones, and of course blue and lavender. Only the softest hues and scents will do. Doesn't that sound divine?"
Violette didn't wait for an answer before adjusting her arms around his neck and again looking down the path. "I do so hope the market has the flowers I need. I will be so disappointed if I've caused all this trouble for nothing." She focused on Mystere's profile with wide eyes. "Sir Mystere, could you come for tea when I finish the bench?" Violette smiled. "I would love for you to see it."
Mystere's dramatic expression turned solemn. "I shall do my best to attend, my lady Violette. I have no wish to cause affront."
Her eyes crinkled at the corners. "Oh I do hope you can make it. I have so few visitors."
Mystere adjusted his hold. "Have you no family residing with you?" he asked, momentarily meeting her gaze.
"Oh no," Violette told him, wide-eyed as if she couldn't understand why he thought otherwise.
Mystere met and held her gaze with an expression of surprise. "But you are so young," he reasoned. "Young ladies should never reside alone. What of the perils of daily living? Who protects you?"
Violette giggled, her head performing the same gentle dip into her shoulders. "I'm just a simple girl, sir Mystere. I don't need protection."
Mystere's expression of surprise melted to a soft smile. He refocused his attention to the path ahead, side-stepping a collection of tumbled logs from a cart that must have previously passed. "My mistake."
"Do you see many horrible things in your travels, sir Mystere?" Violette asked with her usual expression of complete interest.
"The daily perils I curtail are not so horrible as you might believe," he answered vaguely.
Violette released a deep breath. "Oh I am glad. I hate to think that you might be in danger."
Mystere blinked and halted as he looked down at her. "But, my lady Violette, how else might I prevent harm to innocents without placing myself in harm's way?"
She held his gaze, violet eyes a dark purple. "I know that you must risk life and limb to help, but I don't want anyone to be in danger," she told him, matter-of-fact. "I would much rather everyone be safe, sound, and without any worries."
"As do I, my lady," he agreed as he carefully set her on her feet. Violette looked to the tasks of straightening her skirt and cuffs as Mystere continued, "and such is why I must continue in my endeavors to rid this world of hardships."
Violette finally looked up, eyes wide. "Do be careful, sir Mystere. We haven't enough heroes, and I would be quite sad if you were to leave us along with the others."
Mystere bowed with a dramatic flare of cape as he said, "I shall tread most careful, my lady Violette." He straightened. "And I thank you for your concern."
Violette's countenance lightened with her smile. "Please don't forget to visit me. I do so want you to see my garden and the little bench."
"You have my word. I shall not forget."
"Oh how wonderful," she exclaimed as she clasped her hands. Then she giggled and turned to move down the road with a near skip in her step, occasionally looking back to wave and giggle yet again.
Mystere stood in the middle of the road with arms crossed and watched her, cape fluttering in the breeze.