Elena's P.O.V.
"Whoa," I awwed for myself, throwing the apple core into a bucket filled with old food. My head was turning everywhere to see all the details of the preparations, spinning in every degree like an owl.
Ethan chuckled with a warm sound that mirrored his smile. "You look like you haven't seen a jousting tournament before." His eyebrows arched in the air, causing a small, puzzled look to form on his face.
I sucked a sharp, low air through my dry lips, a mask of a grimace breaking the admiration that danced in the air around me. "Well, I mean - oh, look at that! Is that a Belgian draft horse?"
The prince's eyes followed my pointing finger, "By the look of its size, it is most likely- hey, wait up, don't change the subject."
Damn, I knew I should have talked about the weather instead.
"Have you never, in your entire life, been to a jousting before?" Ethan asked, his eyes blinking with disbelief that matched his voice and words. "First you don't know who I am, and now this? Were you locked up in a room your entire life or something?"
I rolled my eyes, "Yes, I'm Rapunzel who was kidnapped as an infant by an evil, adoptive mother who locked me up in a tower for sixteen years." The sarcasm dripped from each and every word that flew out of my mouth, and for a brief second, I thought that he would understand my reference. But then I remembered that he has probably never even heard the name, Disney.
Although my words were supposed to be, somewhat, a comical and great comment, it only reached the prince's annoyance that was mixed with confusion. "Why do I even bother. . ."
We continued to walk around the world of horses and people dressed in armors. Children ran around, laughing and pulling pranks here and there on a couple of the participants, who, in return, chased them for a couple of feet while shouting threats until they disappeared.
Women, especially the young girls, were either talking, smiling, staring or winking at some of the young participants, which these young men returned with either a wink or an air kiss. I inwardly cringed, more than PewDiePie could ever do, at the supposed 'flirting' between the both sides, which was shown on my face as I shook my head with a sharp grimace.
When Ethan saw my expression, his warm orbs followed where I was looking and cringing at, which had him burst out laughing. "Yeah, I know, it's. . ." Even he couldn't find words to describe what we were witnessing.
"Painful, uncomfortable, disturbing and awkward as heck to watch," I finished his sentence, turning my head towards his gleaming state.
"Yeah, pretty much," Ethan shrugged his shoulders, agreeing to my summary. "Come on, the tournament is about to start." As a cue, the sound of horns broke through the crowded place of animals and people, causing the area to empty in a quick speed.
We walked to the field where the jousting was taking place, settling close by a corner with a first-row-view as others began to fill up the room around us. It was the perfect location to see the entire tournament.
"This is amazing," I almost had to shout so Ethan would be able to hear me. "How many of these have you been at?" He leaned close to me with his ear facing my lips.
The prince chuckled, which I could barely detect due to the turbulence of sounds blocking my ears like cotton. "Enough to take a part in the tournament and win."
I snapped my head towards him, a skeptical look evident on my face as I raised my eyebrow. Although our faces were too close for it to be considered as a normal distance, it didn't affect us in any uncomfortable way. "Really?" My single word, containing a strong suspicion of doubt, replaced the smile on His Majesty's face with an eye roll.
"Oh, don't look so surprised, Ella, I'm not as useless and stupid as you think I am." He answered, pulling down the hood of his night-colored cloak to give me a clear sight of his face that was covered with irritation. "If you weren't kidnapped and locked up in a tower, you would have known that I am one of the greatest jousters in this kingdom."
"As well as one of the greatest stalkers in this world," I added, removing the entire hood.
Ethan sighed, opening his mouth to say something to only be cut off by the horns' barking sounds that echoed across the field.
"O, hear now, o, hear now!" A short man, his belly round and big as an exercise ball, spoke loudly through the thick mustache that covered half of his face. "Tonight shall be a terrific day with sweat, blood, and broken bones hurled around. Only fair play shall be seen from both sides, rules shall be complied from sunset to sunrise and from sunrise to sunset. If a cheater is to be discovered, then he or she shall be banished from the jousting tournament. Let the game begin, and must the best jouster win!"
Cheers broke out from all kind of places, making me jump a millimeter because of the suddenness. Jeez, it feels like I'm at a Justin Bieber concert or something.
"Give an applause to the first knights to take the starting round; Sir Brighton and Lady Peyton!" The man continued, his words hitting the crowd so hard it made them scream even louder.
Just as I thought that the cheering would die out, it broke the world record on the decibel scale. Two armor-covered people came riding down from opposite sides of the field, sitting on each of their chocolate-colored horses with long spears in their hands.
The crowd lost it once again, and I was sure I would go deaf any second now. "If I knew it would be this loud, I would've brought my earmuffs with me," I leaned towards Ethan's ear, hoping he heard my shouting words through the screaming people.
"What's reguffs?"
Before I could correct the misunderstanding, the horns barked again, signalizing that the jousting was about to start.
The knights positioned themselves on each side of the field, making themselves ready for the show that the crowd has been waiting for. The jouster with the red spear, Sir Brighton, was riding towards the side where Ethan and I were standing by, and due to us having a first-row-view, we had a great sight of the horseman and vice versa.
Brighton waved to the screaming crowd, pulling the silver, bird-shaped helmet up to flash a smile to the people behind the poor fence. Villagers began to push both Ethan and me forward, trying to get as close as possible by squeezing us until the wooden barrier was stabbing our stomachs.
Jeez, and people call me crazy.
"You are the best crowd a jouster could ever ask for," Sir Brighton waved his heavy, armor-covered hand, looking at some of the villagers, which resulted in them screaming louder. "But you, my dear flower," he bent forward, holding out a small, beaten-up rose that rested between his fingers. "Are standing out like a rose surrounded by thorns."
I will give you guys a chance to guess who he gave the rose to. Come on, take a guess.
The people behind us growled and sighed in jealousy, whereas Sir Brighton's warm smile was waiting patiently for Ethan to take the rose.
I swear, I literally died of laughter.
"Ehh. . ." The dear flower bumbled with his words, not even knowing what to do or say or anything at all. "Thanks?"
Brighton only winked, obliviously not seeing anything through his helmet and the person behind the black hood. "Anything for you, my flower."
And then I died of laughter again.
The jouster left when the horns barked again, indicating that the participants could now strike at each other. Not only did Sir Brighton leave some jealous girls behind, but also a blushing Ethan and a laughing maniac.
People stared at the dear flower with either admiration or a glare with smoke coming out of their nose and ears. While His Highness was trying to conceal as much of his face as possible, I just wiped another tear of joy.
"Oh, God, I can't breathe," I said between my heavy breaths, giggling all over the place. "You must be the happiest girl right now, Ethanie," I patted his shoulder, letting a bubble of laughter escape my lips at my own joke.
Ethan groaned, "I'm never gonna live this down, am I?"
Before I could answer his rhetorical question, the jousters' horses neighed loudly before they suddenly charged at each other. The huge animals ran like the wind, their hooves meeting the ground in a loud, galloping sound that echoed across the silence of excitement.
All eyes were turned on the jousters that were riding with spears turned against each other. They came closer with each step their horses took, and just in a couple of seconds, a painful encounter would take place.
I found my eyes glued on the scene with excitement, but my heart still beat in jittery. Hopefully, no one would get hurt - and to clarify who my concern is aimed for, you should know that I'm talking about the horses, not the knights.
Sorry not sorry, but I'm that kind of a person.
And then the encounter we have been waiting for finally came. I almost closed my eyes because of the nervousness that tightened the knot in my stomach.
The distance between the jousters was now closed, and it was closely followed by the impact of a blue spear hitting Sir Brighton's chest. He was yanked off the horse and he flew in the air before he met the ground with the face first.
"Oh!" The crowd cheered and grimaced at the painful sight.
"Well," I winced, turning my head towards Ethan who had the same expression that mirrored my grimace. "Looks like your dear knight didn't even last the first round - perhaps you should go and comfort him with a kiss."
"I will personally lock you up in a tower for another sixteen years if you don't shut up."
A huge grin made its way to my lips, but before I could use my words that matched my sly smile, the short man spoke again.
"Give a huge applause to Lady Peyton for winning the first round!" He shouted, gesturing towards the knight that rode around the field. Peyton was waving and showing off, flashing smiles like Brighton had done before he was carried away on a stretcher.
Both Ethan and I clapped along the screaming crowd, and I could feel my ears drowning in this deafening cheering. It would be hopeless to hold a conversation in this roaring place, and impossible to hear anything else than these screaming villagers.
Or so I thought.
"Wait, I see the prince."
"Aye, I see the bilge rat too, bucko."
"What are we waiting for? Come on, let's take down that scurvy dog!" The first voice spoke with anger attached to his odd words. "He'll meet the rope's end for that little stunt he-"
"Avast! We're not here for the rapscallion."
"Ye've got to be sinking me, Mada. . ."
"Captain's orders, me bucko. Ye don't want to get him mad again, now do ye?"
There was a long pause before the first man finally spoke again. "Then what are we doing here? If it's not the prince we're here for, then who?"
Another silence passed by, and it was as if the person owning the second voice was smirking. "Isn't it obvious?" A sly tone was entwined in his sick words, something that made my body freeze due to the uneasy feeling that was going down my spine. "We're here for the girl."
Instantly, I turned my head around to find the source of the voices. But there were too many people, too many villagers blocking my sight from doing so.
"Hey," I was pulled out of my hopeless attempt of finding the men as Ethan's voice rang in my ears. "You okay?" He stopped shaking my arm.
I met his eyes for a split second before returning back to my pointless search. "Yeah, I just. . ." It was certainly too late now, the men must have melted into the crowd a long time ago. "I just thought I heard something."
Ethan raised an eyebrow, "You heard something beside these screaming villagers? Really now?"
"Just forget it," I pushed his stupid, smirking face away. "It was probably nothing either way."
Or was it? The voice rang inside my head, which I quickly dismissed before I got too paranoid.
The prince smiled, letting an amused-filled huff of air leave his nose. "Come on, there's more to see of this place." He nudged me with his elbow, gesturing me to follow him.
We left to go to the jousting market. Not only were there salespeople who desperately tried to sell their food, armors, weapons, and souvenirs (which were mostly teeth from the competitors), but the jousters themselves had settled down in the market, getting ready for their matches.
By the look of it, I knew that Ethan had lead me to the 'backstage' of the jousting tournament. I would have been more thrilled about it, had it not been for the conversation I overheard earlier.
They were talking about Ethan and me, the voice clang loudly in my ears, And they didn't seem to be a fan of him - which I can relate to, but at least I don't act like Liam freaking Neeson.
My stomach wasn't feeling it - there was an air of unease around the fishy situation.
"Hey, you okay?" Ethan shook me out of it, making my eyebrows fly out of the deep concentration I had knitted them in. "You're so. . . quiet, and you are never quiet. At least not for an entire minute," he joked and nudged me, trying to lighten my mood.
"Well, I'm just. . . thinking." I replied, throwing a watchful glance behind me.
The followed my gaze before he settled his puzzled orbs on me. "About what? Conner and Lorenzò jumping on you?"
I rolled my eyes, holding back a comment when I caught the glimpse of Sir Brighton laying on a poor bed outside of a hospital tent. "No, I'm just wondering how you're going to comfort the love of your life."
"What?"
Not a second later, I dragged the dear flower to the knight in the shiny armor.
"Whoa, hold on," Ethan stopped abruptly, not wanting to move an inch when he saw where I was leading him to. "You're not getting me-"
"Sir Brighton!" I shouted, waving my arm with a big smile on my face. "Sir Brighton, I found your dear flower among the thorns!"
Upon hearing his name, the knight slowly lifted his head from the pillow, looking around the crowded place for the source of my voice.
Ethan quickly took a hold of my waving arm, giving me a frustrated look with blushing cheeks painted all over his red face. "Elena, stop it - you're exposing me!"
A sly smirk made its way to my lips, "Well, I don't know about you, Your Majesty, but I don't think you should keep such a huge secret from him. It can ruin the relationship."
The prince gave me a dirty glare and rubbed his reddened face. "I'll buy you food if you shut up."
"Deal," I responded in a heartbeat, shaking his hand at the same moment I felt my stomach itch for food.
We turned on our heels and faced the opposite direction of where Sir Brighton was, walking away from the knight who was still looking helplessly for his dear flower.
First, he loses his match, and now his love? Damn, what an agonizing day.
Ethan lead me to the endless booths that were lined up down the street, each and every one of them having something we 'must have'. However, we settled down to just get some baked buns.
I swear, these salespeople are more enthusiastic than my choir teacher in second grade who waved her arms so intensely that I thought she would fly away.
"Good afternoon, Madam, if it is not too much trouble, I would like to have two chocolate buns, please." Ethan politely asked, handing the money to the old lady that was standing behind the counter with the baked rolls everywhere. Her face was full of smiling lines, and she nodded in reply and quickly began to fix our order.
"Wait, no, I want with raisins," I chimed in, ignoring His Majesty's disgusted look.
"Raisins? Are you seriously considering raisins over chocolate?" He looked at me as if I had gone mad, heck, as if I had betrayed him. "You can't be serious?"
I rolled my eyes, watching the small woman getting our orders and putting them into a brown paper bag. "Why so against raisins? They're delicious!" He made a gagging sound to my statement. "You're being ridiculous," I continued, taking the bag the lady held out and dug my teeth into the fresh raisin bun. "Mmm, it's lovely"
Ethan's face turned into another disgusted grimace, "You're insane. How can you not like chocolate?"
I swallowed the bite, thanking and complimenting the old woman. "I never said that I didn't like chocolate," I corrected him with a pointing finger. "Don't get me wrong, chocolate is the best invention through the entire history, but. . ." I dragged the 'U', "I prefer raisins buns over chocolate ones."
He shook his head, "I can't believe it."
"Why so dramatic? You're acting as if I just told you that I killed a puppy."
"I wouldn't be surprised if you did that too. . ." I hit his arm, annoyed by his overreacting behavior for just some baked buns. "Ow! Okay, okay, I'll stop - jeez!" He pushed my hand away, rubbing the sore spot while holding the baked roll with his teeth.
Just as I was about to throw a comment about how 'elegant' he looked with chocolate smeared all over his face, I caught the sight of the darkening sky.
"Well, this has been a. . . pleasant and interesting day - that's for sure," I started, looking at the boy with food on his face. "I wish I could stay here longer, but I have to get home before someone burns my house to the ground."
I knew I shouldn't have left Carl alone. . .
Ethan gave me a puzzled look, "Should I be worried?"
"If you mean worried about the idiot staying over at my house, then yes," I walked past him, resting my hands inside my pockets.
"Wait, let me follow you home," he insisted, but I shook my head and turned around to face him.
"No, you've done more than enough for me," I threw a coin that flipped in the air before it landed in his hand. "Thank you for the food, Your Highness. I'll see you later considering that you're my stalker and all."
Although he rolled his eyes at my statement, I still caught the brief smile that was painted on his lips before it was washed off. "I'm not a stalker."
"Whatever makes you sleep at night, Ethanie." And then I turned on my heel, walking towards the street that would lead me back to the forest.
But before I passed the corner where the horses were standing, I fed my last apple to one of them, not wanting to bring a 16th-century old fruit back to my time.
And because I wanted to pet a horse. Sue me.
The feeling of a pair of eyes following me made me turn my head to the side, and soon enough, I met Ethan's orbs. I stopped stroking the chocolate-brown horse to mouth 'stalker', to which he responded with a roll of his eye and a smile that beamed from his face.
With one last wave to the hooded boy and a short pat to the animal, I finally trudged away from the market and to my way home.
But the weird thing is; although I was out of Ethan's sight, the feeling of someone watching me did not disappear.