Had this little story floating around in my head, hope you like it:
In pickpocketing, as well as in life, the hardest part was in choosing the right moment. Getting anxious and acting too soon would get you noticed and caught for sure, while waiting too late would mean losing the opportunity completely. These were lessons best learned quickly by those who lived amongst the squalor of the port quarter. A missed chance likely meant whether one went without food for another day, and a noticed attempt could mean far worse, as the gallows within the port square stood solemn testament to.
Owen was more mindful of those concerns then most teenagers his age. Then again most boys his age didn't need to pickpocket to feed themselves either. He only dwelt upon that fact for a moment as he gazed about the constant bustle ever present among the arriving and departing ships. Merchants barking orders. Labors with their crates and cargo. Nobles overseeing their property. All in all not an unusual day to say the least. Now to find the right mark...
The rustle of silks caught Owen's eye at first. Silks denoted noblewomen. Noblewomen sometimes took pity upon the trials of a dirty orphan. A better bet was charity then stealing if possible. His eyes darted about to find the possible prospect, and settled on not a noblewoman, but instead a young girl, perhaps his own age if not younger. He raised a brow watching her absently. It was not often young girls of noble birth came to the harbor, atleast not without some type of armed following. Why was she looking about so?
The answer became apparent when Owen noticed the group of men following after, lead by a particularly ugly one dressed as a noble himself. The ugly man cast his eyes about the area, and upon locking on the girl, he grinned, showing yellowed teeth. The girl seemed even more distressed upon seeing the man and the others.
Owen watched for a moment longer, thinking the scene over in his mind. The girl was certainly noble by her dress. Her parents might indeed reward him handsomely for his help in finding her. Besides, the ugly man was ugly, and seemed mean. Like all the other nobles he'd met over the years, those who has ordered his aside, or pushed him out of the way when passing...
A grin crossed Owen's face as he darted forward through the crowd. He made his way quickly through the throng of humanity. Leaping over crates and dodging merchants still yelling commands. Running up to the girl, he offered a nod of his head, "Milady, I expect you wish to be away from those men...follow me!" The girl blinked at the sudden appearance of Owen, her eyes wide. She could only offer a hurried nod back as he took her hand and led her quickly down an alley the ugly man crying out suddenly behind them.
Now having lived for sometime within the harbor quarter, Owen came to know the area intimately. A quick dash among the various side streets and back-alleys were often the only way of not being caught and hung afterall. They made easy progress through the maze of shacks and old warehouses. The ugly noble's growling grew distant behind them as Owen led them on a chase through the harbor.
Gasping, the girl finally spoke, "Can you take me to the main gates? The guards...the guards can help me."
Owen stopped a moment. The idea of running up to the guards with a noble in toe, "The guards? They might think I'm up to something, have me arrested!" He glanced about, "what about your parents?"
The girl shook her head violently at the suggestion, "NO! The guards would be better. Don't worry, I'll see to it you aren't harmed. Please!" She gazed up into his eyes, pleading.
Owen swallowed. Her eyes were a soft green. Staring into them suddenly made him realize just how pretty the girl was...
"Alright. The guards then. Follow me..."
The girl nodded and offered a smile. Owen nearly tripped over his own feet from it. Getting a hold of himself, he lead her off in a dizzying course toward the guards at the main gate. Bursting out into the open road, the area was less crowded, as the guards inspected every cart and its cargo before it headed into the city proper. With the sudden appearance of an obvious peasant and a noble girl, the guards drew weapons.
"Halt! You there boy! Unhand that lady!"
Owen blinked and let go of the girl's hand, having just realized he'd been holding it the entire time.
"There she is! Arrest that boy!" Growled a rough voice. The ugly noble pushed forward through the crowd, pointing at Owen, "This rogue was trying to kidnap the princess! Execute him!"
A vision of the gallows suddenly appeared in Owen's head. A grave procession leading him forward to be hung. His head lowered in shame and fear, waiting for his final moments...
Wait. Princess???
Owen gasped and looked to the girl. She offered a muted apology, stepping over to the guards, "That is untrue. This brave man led me here safely! He was only trying to help a lost young girl."
The noble gave Owen a baleful look, "I must have been mistaken then, your highness. Perhaps I judged to harshly. I shall take it up personally to see that he is...rewarded." The last word seemed twisted as he spoke it. Owen gulped.
"That shall not be necessary, Lord Mander." The princess said, suddenly speaking as if before the royal court, "I shall see to his reward personally. He shall accompany me back to the castle at once, so that I may present him to my father. His courage deserves public recognition."
Owen's head suddenly felt like it was full of soup. It swam with the sudden events. Princess. Reward. Castle. King. He gulped again, his throat suddenly very dry. The guards glanced awkwardly at him, but offered only a shrug and moved to lead both he and the princess through the main gates, the castle sitting quiet in the near distance.
Owen coughed, whispering, "You're a princess?? Then why didn't you just have that man killed right there? Why do I need to go to the castle??"
The princess offered a soft smile, looking at him "My name is Bethany, and you will call me such. None of this princess this, and milady that business. Atleast when we speak privately. Unfortunately, you will have to use such titles at court. That can't be avoided. As for Lord Mander, He's a very wealthy noble and has too much influence to face him in such a direct way. The best option was to bring you with me, because if I left you at the harbor, he would just have you killed anyway."
Owen thought his eyes might very well fall out of his skull, "Court?? Why would I have to be in court?? I'm just an orphan. Give me some coin and I'll be on my way..."
Bethany giggled slightly and shook her head, "You'll have to learn the ways of court, because I intend to ask my father to have you inducted into the knighthood. You'll become a squire, and once your trained, you'll be a knight. It's the only way to ensure your safety. If you're part of court, Mander can't act against you without raising suspicion." Bethany blinked, "I realized I haven't asked your name. What is it?"
Owen sputtered, his entire world seemed like it was crumbling. This could not be happening. Not to him. Not to some pickpocket, "My...my name is Owen."
Bethany renewed her smile, "Good then. I can not have a champion without a name, afterall. Thank you for what you've done, Owen."
Perhaps it would have been better if he had just decided on picking the pocket of a merchant instead...
In pickpocketing, as well as in life, the hardest part was in choosing the right moment. Getting anxious and acting too soon would get you noticed and caught for sure, while waiting too late would mean losing the opportunity completely. These were lessons best learned quickly by those who lived amongst the squalor of the port quarter. A missed chance likely meant whether one went without food for another day, and a noticed attempt could mean far worse, as the gallows within the port square stood solemn testament to.
Owen was more mindful of those concerns then most teenagers his age. Then again most boys his age didn't need to pickpocket to feed themselves either. He only dwelt upon that fact for a moment as he gazed about the constant bustle ever present among the arriving and departing ships. Merchants barking orders. Labors with their crates and cargo. Nobles overseeing their property. All in all not an unusual day to say the least. Now to find the right mark...
The rustle of silks caught Owen's eye at first. Silks denoted noblewomen. Noblewomen sometimes took pity upon the trials of a dirty orphan. A better bet was charity then stealing if possible. His eyes darted about to find the possible prospect, and settled on not a noblewoman, but instead a young girl, perhaps his own age if not younger. He raised a brow watching her absently. It was not often young girls of noble birth came to the harbor, atleast not without some type of armed following. Why was she looking about so?
The answer became apparent when Owen noticed the group of men following after, lead by a particularly ugly one dressed as a noble himself. The ugly man cast his eyes about the area, and upon locking on the girl, he grinned, showing yellowed teeth. The girl seemed even more distressed upon seeing the man and the others.
Owen watched for a moment longer, thinking the scene over in his mind. The girl was certainly noble by her dress. Her parents might indeed reward him handsomely for his help in finding her. Besides, the ugly man was ugly, and seemed mean. Like all the other nobles he'd met over the years, those who has ordered his aside, or pushed him out of the way when passing...
A grin crossed Owen's face as he darted forward through the crowd. He made his way quickly through the throng of humanity. Leaping over crates and dodging merchants still yelling commands. Running up to the girl, he offered a nod of his head, "Milady, I expect you wish to be away from those men...follow me!" The girl blinked at the sudden appearance of Owen, her eyes wide. She could only offer a hurried nod back as he took her hand and led her quickly down an alley the ugly man crying out suddenly behind them.
Now having lived for sometime within the harbor quarter, Owen came to know the area intimately. A quick dash among the various side streets and back-alleys were often the only way of not being caught and hung afterall. They made easy progress through the maze of shacks and old warehouses. The ugly noble's growling grew distant behind them as Owen led them on a chase through the harbor.
Gasping, the girl finally spoke, "Can you take me to the main gates? The guards...the guards can help me."
Owen stopped a moment. The idea of running up to the guards with a noble in toe, "The guards? They might think I'm up to something, have me arrested!" He glanced about, "what about your parents?"
The girl shook her head violently at the suggestion, "NO! The guards would be better. Don't worry, I'll see to it you aren't harmed. Please!" She gazed up into his eyes, pleading.
Owen swallowed. Her eyes were a soft green. Staring into them suddenly made him realize just how pretty the girl was...
"Alright. The guards then. Follow me..."
The girl nodded and offered a smile. Owen nearly tripped over his own feet from it. Getting a hold of himself, he lead her off in a dizzying course toward the guards at the main gate. Bursting out into the open road, the area was less crowded, as the guards inspected every cart and its cargo before it headed into the city proper. With the sudden appearance of an obvious peasant and a noble girl, the guards drew weapons.
"Halt! You there boy! Unhand that lady!"
Owen blinked and let go of the girl's hand, having just realized he'd been holding it the entire time.
"There she is! Arrest that boy!" Growled a rough voice. The ugly noble pushed forward through the crowd, pointing at Owen, "This rogue was trying to kidnap the princess! Execute him!"
A vision of the gallows suddenly appeared in Owen's head. A grave procession leading him forward to be hung. His head lowered in shame and fear, waiting for his final moments...
Wait. Princess???
Owen gasped and looked to the girl. She offered a muted apology, stepping over to the guards, "That is untrue. This brave man led me here safely! He was only trying to help a lost young girl."
The noble gave Owen a baleful look, "I must have been mistaken then, your highness. Perhaps I judged to harshly. I shall take it up personally to see that he is...rewarded." The last word seemed twisted as he spoke it. Owen gulped.
"That shall not be necessary, Lord Mander." The princess said, suddenly speaking as if before the royal court, "I shall see to his reward personally. He shall accompany me back to the castle at once, so that I may present him to my father. His courage deserves public recognition."
Owen's head suddenly felt like it was full of soup. It swam with the sudden events. Princess. Reward. Castle. King. He gulped again, his throat suddenly very dry. The guards glanced awkwardly at him, but offered only a shrug and moved to lead both he and the princess through the main gates, the castle sitting quiet in the near distance.
Owen coughed, whispering, "You're a princess?? Then why didn't you just have that man killed right there? Why do I need to go to the castle??"
The princess offered a soft smile, looking at him "My name is Bethany, and you will call me such. None of this princess this, and milady that business. Atleast when we speak privately. Unfortunately, you will have to use such titles at court. That can't be avoided. As for Lord Mander, He's a very wealthy noble and has too much influence to face him in such a direct way. The best option was to bring you with me, because if I left you at the harbor, he would just have you killed anyway."
Owen thought his eyes might very well fall out of his skull, "Court?? Why would I have to be in court?? I'm just an orphan. Give me some coin and I'll be on my way..."
Bethany giggled slightly and shook her head, "You'll have to learn the ways of court, because I intend to ask my father to have you inducted into the knighthood. You'll become a squire, and once your trained, you'll be a knight. It's the only way to ensure your safety. If you're part of court, Mander can't act against you without raising suspicion." Bethany blinked, "I realized I haven't asked your name. What is it?"
Owen sputtered, his entire world seemed like it was crumbling. This could not be happening. Not to him. Not to some pickpocket, "My...my name is Owen."
Bethany renewed her smile, "Good then. I can not have a champion without a name, afterall. Thank you for what you've done, Owen."
Perhaps it would have been better if he had just decided on picking the pocket of a merchant instead...