• Thousands of years ago, I had found a new place to call my home.

    Yep, it was a really sweet place at first glance... Made some friends, got help to find my own place... Got a tip of where to find a job. That should have been ignored... Or maybe not.

    "Alex... What's the place like?" I pleaded trying to figure out where exactly he was trying to take me.

    Alex was tall, he usually loomed over people, but around me, he tried to be as small as possible. His brown hair covered his eyes all the time, but whenever we sat down, I was allowed to brush his bangs aside and see his green eyes. But the only down-side to being his friend was the many fights he got into. Many of them were for honor... Untill I came around. Then it seemed that whoever tried to mess with me, got a punch in the face.

    "I'm sure you're going to like it... Some day..." He whispered lowly. His deep voice boomed when he spoke normal.

    I gave up trying to fight him and just let him take my hand and lead us on to the building.
    Three weeks in and I haven't got a job. I couldn't figure out why. I guess it was something to do with the fact that I was a woman... Single, as they kept pointing out. In need to marry someone, or to have a man try to sweep me off my feet. Yeah, that'll happen. First he has to remove my body from the casket before I ever marry.

    The building was large, with hints of its many years edging the roof. The door must have been replaced, because it had been the only new thing there. A small, faded sign hung above the only window in front. But that didn't even give me the slightest clue as to what it was really on the inside.

    "Now, I know you're against putting yourself out there... But try this place. You walk around, give out beer, and talk with the men. Hell, you may even get paid to talk with them!" He gave me a weak smile.

    Lifting his right hand, he brushed back the stray strands of dark hair that fell out of the braid I made. Lifting my chin up, he smiled more bravely to me. Encouraging me to go enter, he put his left hand behind my back and pushed gently.

    The inside smelled of stale ale and smoke. A few men turned from their conversations, but many just laughed as Alex slumped down near me.

    "Well, Alex. If it ain't a sight for sore eyes, I don't know what is!" A large man with a scruffy beard called to him from behind a bar.
    "Who's this pretty thing?" He winked to me and bowed his head.

    "A new worker for you, sir." Alex tapped my back and I held out my hand for the man.

    Ignoring the fact that I was a female, he grabbed it and shook it tightly. "Welcome, Miss. I am Berry. This is my Tavern. I'm always looking for a fresh, new face and honey, yours is the brightest I've seen today. When can you start?"

    "Right now, Sir. I am Alice. What can I do to help?" My face held the biggest smile ever. I was glad to get work, but I had hoped for something a little more exciting.

    Two weeks had passed and Berry was close to keeping me behind the bar with him. He watched as the men became grabby and demanding.

    "Hey, Berry?" I walked up to him one day as the people in the tavern died down slowly.

    "Yes ma'am. How may I help you?" He said giving me a friendly smile.

    "I just saw someone being down and I was curious how I could help..." I glanced up to him. Crossing my arms, I rested my elbows on the long table in front of me.

    "I was just thinking..." He ran his left hand in my hair, "Why did you cut it so short?"

    I reached back and fiddled with the short bits of hair and thought of how one man used it once to pull me into his lap. It was a night Berry had been out and I couldn't do anything but cut it off to get out of his lap.

    "No reason. Easy to manage I guess." I smiled and waved him a quick bye as I walked to my soon-to-be last table.

    "Hello, sir. What can I get you?" As I rattled off the list I looked around to another table that had just been filled with an entirely new set of men. Ones I had never seen before.

    "I just want a beer... Maybe something else later." He looked at me with a goofey grin.

    After returning to him with a large glass, he held my hand and jerked me forward. He began to whisper something in my ear.

    My face grew a bright red and my hand went across his face. He laughed and people began to stare. He sat me in his lap and I kicked his shin. Jumping up, he pulled out his knife.

    I closed my eyes waiting for the last little bit of life to leave me. Hoping my spirit would just float up. Instead of my spirit, I felt my whole entire body being lifted and almost tossed to the side.

    "You're too beautiful to be fighting such a mess."

    "What?" A tall man had me at his side as he pulled out his sword.

    "You know the law. You do not kill anyone without reason." His voice was smooth.

    Berry looked to us and signed for me to run to him. He would handle this.
    "God help you. Head for my home. My wife will be there and she's always ready to help if needed. Knowing those two, you will be safe with her." He quickly gave me the directions I needed and he told me to use the back entrance.

    I gave him a fast kiss on the cheek and left.

    Only God knew what would happen next. And if He knew me, He knew I wouldn't go where Berry had told me. Instead I walked down the street and looked for a certain person. Alex.