Hassan
James thought of her, walking with him, a pleasant thought.

He waved the noble goodnight, certain he would see her again.

He undressed in private, revealing his skinny white body, he had barely any hair and pink nippples that weren't very much visible.

He fell asleep straight after he put his head down.
Diana
**Joseph Everard**
**Outlying Village of Barrmount**

Joseph swept the dirt and horse manure off the streets, sun setting, the large man working hard to keep the street clean. Probably too hard. But he needed this job, so best to be enthusiastic. The former woodcutter hummed tunelessly as he worked.
Angel
Lady Anna Barrmount
Outlying village, near the Barrmount manor

As the warm last rays of sun kissed the Iron Plaines for the last time today, Lady Anna got ready to leave the village on her percheron stallion. She always made sure the horse was well taken care of and didn't freeze to death, as it was practically her best friend. 

The sound of the newly put horseshoes against the ground was muffled by the various voices of the people and the birds who where returning home for the day. The freezing nightly breeze was starting to make its guest appearance, making the young woman slightly shiver, and her dark brown hair get all over her face.

She carefully passed by the man sweeping the ground as she put her hair back to its place. A small ball of yarn fell from her coat to the floor and she immediately halted the horse.

"Oh no! It will get ruined..." Her soft voice was slightly sad.

She came down of the black and white horse.
Diana
**Joseph Everard**


Joseph heard the horse approaching and neatly stepped to one side without looking up. As the horse halted next to him, the yarn fell into his vision and he looked up slightly at the rider disembarking. The big man bent down, picking up the ball of yarn and trying vainly to brush off any dust it had picked up.

"I'm sorry, ma'am." The man said. His voice was *Ridiculously* Low. He held up the ball of yarn to the woman. 
"It's a little dirty..." He said in a slightly apologetic tone. Maybe if he had cleaned the streets better it'd be okay. But oh well...
Angel
Lady Anna Barrmount


She looked up at the man, her certainly tiny height of 5'3 making her look up to look at his face. A huge smile appeared on her face, her dimples digging deep into her round cheeks. Her soft pale hands took the yarn carefully.

"Oh no, don't be! It's me who dropped it! Thank you..." She put the ball back in her coat and looked back at the unknown man "I don't recognize you, are you new here?"
Diana
**Joseph Everard**
**Outlying Village**

"My pleasure." He smiled slightly, but not showing his teeth.
"Yes, just arrived here two days ago. Got this cleaning job." He said, shoving his hands in his trouser pockets. Despite the fact he was working, he had an enormous backpack on his back like he was a hiker. How peculiar.
Angel
Lady Anna Barrmount
Outlying village

"Welcome to the Iron Plaines then! I'm Anna, pleasure" She did a small bow as she introduced herself "Who are you, sir?" Her eyes were full of curiosity.

The sun was slowly disappearing behind the horizon, but meeting new people was something she couldn't resist. The soft wind caressed the fur of her coat as well as her now pink cheeks and nose.

Her horse stood calm behind her, waiting, as she observed the man with a smile on her face.
Diana
**Joseph Everard**
**Outlying Village**

"Joseph Everard." He bowed his head slightly, attempting to follow suit. He leaned on the broom, his muscled frame looking almost awkward on the slim handle. He didn't react to the passing of time at all, and looked to the streets where people were retiring with a soft smile. He'd be out here for more time yet.

"Thank you for the warm welcome, Anne. I've lived in other parts of the Witherlands, but no doubt, this place has a certain beauty to it."
Angel
Lady Anna Barrmount
Outlying village

"It does, doesn't it? You should have a walk around the forest, there are some stunning spots you can't miss..." Her mind flew through the pines, to her favourite places, as she spoke "Oh but don't go at night! Wolves are hungry"

At the word *Wolves*, the horse nodded numerous times, not being specially fond of those creatures.

"Glad to have met you, you have a place to live yet?"
Diana
**Joseph Everard**
**Outlying Village**

"Oh." He grinned somewhat.
"Well I do actually work through the night. I haven't had a chance to find a spot to get some rest yet."

It was true, he'd been working for 24 hours straight and was about to continue for another 12. Well, he had a couple 30 minute naps during the day today to keep him standing. 

Thinking of work, he immediately began sweeping again, though still looking up at Anne, implying that she could keep talking if she liked.
Angel
Lady Anna Barrmount
Outlying village

Her eyebrows furrowed and slightly rose, her blue eyes showing worry. How long had this man been working?

"You haven't rested? That can't be! You will get sick, mister Everard..." She put both of her hands over his, stopping his sweeping. Her hands looked small in comparison to his.

"Why don't you go to the tavern? They usually have spare rooms, say Lady Anna sends you, they will take care of you"
Diana
**Joseph Everard**
**Outlying Village**

"Oh I won't get sick. My immune system is quite strong after I was healed... And I need this job. The night shift pays very well."

Joseph wanted to sleep, yes, but he wasn't sure if he could. His wife and his own actions haunted his dreams, making it nearly impossible to sleep. 

His hands were rough and dry, a result of the cold air in the wintery Witherlands. He smiled just a little. "Don't worry, I'll be quite alright. I don't often sleep. I find more productive things to do instead."
Angel
Lady Anna Barrmount
Outlying village

As she listened to his words, curiosity filled her. Judging by what he was telling her, this new friend had some interesting stories behind him.

"You were injured? What happened, if I may ask?" Her eyes were glistening like ice in the early morning, not being able to wait to hear what he had to tell "And what do you do instead of sleeping? Don't you feel tired?"

The horizon swallowed the sun, the night taking over the sky. Crickets soon followed, singing along to their own melody. Snow owls woke up and roamed the forests.
Diana
**Joseph Everard**
**Outlying Village**

Joseph chuckled just a little and shook his head before smiling sheepishly. "I don't know how it happened. No clue." 

Then his voice grew more serious. "All I know is that I was lying on the ground, unable to control myself and my movements. It felt like I was being possessed." Joseph shuddered slightly.
"But a traveling doctor was kind enough to help me."

When Joseph heard the next question, his eyes lit up with the light of excitement, and tried to keep his voice normal. "Oh, I carve sometimes..." He slung his backpack off his shoulder and laid it on the ground gently before taking out a tiny wooden delicately carved tree. He looked almost childish, and it was a comical sight, the enormous man holding a tiny beautiful tree, very proud of his work. Carving was the thing Joseph loved the most in life. It used to be second to his wife, but no longer.
Angel
Lady Anna Barrmount
Outlying village

She stared at the man as she listened closely to his words. As soon as she saw the small tree carving she gasped. She clapped her hands together and squeaked.

"You made it?!" She stared at the carving with the excitement of a child though she was already 18 "It's so... So beautiful"

She was smiling wide, amazed by the small sculpture.
Diana
**Joseph Everard**
**Outlying Village**

Joseph's smile became enormous, stretching ear to ear. "Thank you. You're too kind, truly." Joseph was a sucker for compliments really, because of his naïveté of the world in general.

A thought struck him, and he held out the tree carving. "If you want, it's yours..." He said, seeing the look on her face. Really, Joseph just wanted to make people happy which is why he loved woodcarving so much.