Child's Play ((Miles!)

[hazel]

Hazel had been given permission to leave her family's house and take Archie with her. The toddler was feeling better from his recent illness and a trip outside, the fresh air would be welcomed for the little one. Archie seemed lively enough and was aware. It was good to see him like this in contrast to the lethargic, barely alive tot he had once been.

Walking through the village of Underwood, she decided to take him down to the stream very nearby. The weather was warm and the runaway didn't doubt that both herself and the toddler could do with a paddle. Anything to keep him chirpy. The warm weather had bought people out. In the past few days it hadn't stopped raining. Now with the sun people were making the most of it. Some even took a look at Archie and the boy loved the attention as he lay in her arms.

Once at the stream, she placed Archie next to her, removed her footwear and the little socks off the boy. That placed neatly in a pile, she entered the water. It was cold and lapped at her ankles, but it was refreshing. "How's that Archie?" Hazel's voice was light and giggly. Making faces and noises watching the boy smile and laugh as she danced gently in the small stream.

[miles]

It took little to no effort to convince Justina to allow Miles to take her daughter out. After all, the woman had figured that the child may as well enjoy time with her uncle before she realized he was a cad Miles decided he tired of playing the political tango for the likes of their father. So, Miles allowed the girl to ride upon his horse, Ivy, while he handled the reigns. In Underwood, a place where the former soldier frequented the taverns, a few peasants were downright astonished at the gentleness in which Miles’ handled the golden haired young Lady.

“What about that Uncle Miles, can we get that?” the spirited girl asked as she pointed to one of the pigs that were for sale to be used for meat.

Miles pulled a face, one that displayed humor rather than the disgust he truly felt when looking at the rather grotesque animal. “I don’t think your mother would appreciate it,” he supplied, his smile easing a bit into the somewhat thoughtful expression. He looked up at the saddle, where Sarah had chosen to ride sideways; easily displaying the nobility in which she was raised. “Pigs are… dirty, love. I don’t think your mother would like us just bringing a pig into the house.”

The blonde giggled as her dark brown eyes feasted on the village’s market. Unfortunately, it was Miles who had to deal with the occasional beggar. He didn’t mind brushing them off and openly ignoring them. If one did have a problem with it, his blade could easily solve any dispute. It wasn’t until one had chosen to so foolishly clutch at his sleeve that the man bared a bit of his fangs. “Keep your foul hands off me,” the man barked, pushing the peasant away. His lips sneered as the hand that wasn’t preoccupied with clutching Ivy’s reigns went to the hilt of his sword. “Then next hand that touches me won’t get it back,” he threatened.

He cast a wary eye to the rest of the street before smirking. He looked down at his sleeve as if it were something that had been dipped in the fertilizer that was being sold in a nearby wheelbarrow and shook his head. “Perfect,” he muttered beneath his breath as he took his niece down to the very stream that the other woman (whom he presumed to be a simple peasant) had taken the child. He removed his glove and rolled up his sleeve as he neared the bank. He helped Sarah down from the mare and tied the horse up to a nearby tree.

“Uncle Miles, why are those people so dirty?” she asked innocently, wondering just why he had lost his temper (a rarity, but not entirely unfamiliar to the child).

“Because they’re poor,” came the brusque answer as he removed his other glove and proceeded to wash his hands and the forearm that had been touched.

[hazel]

Hazel heard a fuss in the village, but chose to ignore it. Preferring to carry on playing with the child in her arms. The advantage she had to most was that she was cleaner and tried to keep herself clean over the peasants around her. Being bought up in nobility, it wasn't easy to change those habits of a life time. And she tried to teach the children in the house where she stayed that too. Keeping clean was everything. It made the right impression.

Behind her, the runaway heard footfalls. Someone was coming to the stream. Turning, she saw the horse, the golden haired girl and the man leading the horse. Smiling, Hazel tucked Archie in her arms. Always protective of the young boy. He was so vulnerable, all youngsters were and needed as much protection as guardians could supply. Trying to look as if she wasn't staring or watching the dark haired man kneeling and washing his arm, Hazel couldn't keep her eyes away. Unsure whether to feel theatened or not.

Braving it, she decided to talk to the man. But what was there to say. Would he be staying after he bathed his arm or would he continue on his way? "Good day sir" Manners first, it would feel awkward to have the pair of them there in silence. "How are you enjoing the weather?" Made a change from the rain. Rather anxious, all the time Hazel was shielding Archie, and as only vaguely aware of her doing that.

[miles]

Miles paid no mind to the woman shielding the boy. Hell, he was a soldier. That could would be eating out of his hand and asking foolish questions in a matter of minutes (nevermind whether or not he knew if the boy could talk). Instead he paid attention to the fact that the woman was clean (thank god) and so were his hands. He rose from the stream, and pulled a handkerchief from within the dark brown leather vest and dried his hands. “Good day.”

“It’s been acceptable,” he stated plainly, a heavy brow arched at the woman; wondering what she wanted. “Stuffier when in the market though,” he added curtly as he allowed himself to put his gloves in the inside pocket of his vest. The obvious aristocracy rang in his gestures as he walked back to the horse with a slight limp to give Ivy a brief pat on her muzzle; ironically, he thought his horse to be cleaner than the beggars in the street.

He glanced over his shoulder at the woman, about to say something snotty until Sarah bounded up to him and flung herself around one leg. He easily lifted her up and rested her against his side. The reminder that his niece was present kept him from being too venomous. “How about yourself, enjoying the day thus far?” he said, trying to be somewhat polite to the woman who initiated the awkward conversation.

“Uncle Miles, she’s not dirty,” the little blonde pointed out as the former soldier turned to face the woman.

[hazel]

Getting a reply off the man was something, better than just being blown off. Coming closer to the bank, she relaxed a little bit, not too much though. Fact was he was a stranger, and possiblydangerous. What was chaning her mind to that was the young child who accompanied him. With children around there was always more chance of safety. Unless the person you were conversing with was not right of mind. And it wasn't all that uncommon to run into those type of people, who were admittedly more frightening than peasants, the whole fact they were ammoral. So standing just longer than arms distance away, Hazel would try and make conversation. Archie was company, but he was still young and only could say words without any understanding on their meaning.

Listening to his responses, she quickly picked up he was a blunt to the point type of person. In all they weren't all that bad to talk to. You got a straight answer abou them and they spoke their mind instead of a load of cloak and dagger talking. Nowadays people never said what they meant because they were frightening of those in power. Reading around poeple's meanings got tiring very quickly. "It can get hot on the market with all those people." Hazel agreed, large crowds didn't bother her, but it wasn't pleasant company, the traders and buyers in one lace, pushing and shoving, it was mostly an unpleasant experience, even more so with a child. For the times she could help it, the brunette avoided crowded places with youngsters.They got lost, scared, intimidated and sometimes claustrophobic when encrouched upon with a large amount of people.

"I am enoying the day. It's been nice to get out. And to bring out Archie." Hazel doubted he man would want to hear about how the boy was ill, it was unlikely to interest him in the least. In fact she doubted if even she interested him and whether he was being polite for the sake of it. This runaway, however, was determined to find the good in everyone she met, and wasn't going to give up so easily. Nor was she going to be intrusive or a drag on the man. If he wanted to leave or discontinue talking at any point then he was free to do that. Being new to the Shire, Hazel only wanted to meet as many people as possible.

At the young girls words, the first Hazel had heard her spoke, she chuckled lightly. "No young miss, I am not dirty."It sometimes astounded her, how much she spoke to children as she was spoken to when she was a child. Not so long ago a woman had confronted her about her past. How she guessed that Hazel was from noble origins and not the humble ones she was masquerading as baffled her. That encounter had opened her eyes to how she spoke around others, learning to talk as a less educated person was difficult though, so she stopped attempting and acted naturally. "Might I know your name miss?" Hazel enquired to the blonde girl, hoping 'Miles' didn't mind the fact she was talking to her.