When Beth woke up from her surprisingly deep slumber, the first thing she did was shoot a look at her couch.

The huge man she was to call Cage was still sleeping, strangely enough without making any sound. He looked so massive on her tiny couch. He was currently lying on his right side, resting his head on the armrest, one arm crossed over his chest, the other one dangling out from the couch. He looked so peaceful; Exhausted, but peaceful.

Beth slowly got up from the bed and got changed while keeping an eye on him. He was out cold for another couple hours, that much was for sure.

She could not believe this was actually happening. A man was sleeping on her couch - a vagabond, she assumed. She felt strange having to go down the shop and try to continue her everyday routine, while having a fugitive staying upstairs. But knowing that if she did not, the guards could get suspicious and start asking questions. - Questions she would not like to answer.

With a last look on Cage, she opened the door and walked downstairs, slowly getting a few candles burning and rolling aside the curtains. She walked into her kitchen, put on her apron and got cracking on some fresh bake goods.

She got some flour, eggs, and milk going and started her usual morning routine. Soon she had kneaded several doughs; some for pies, some for breads, others for small treats. She placed as many of her doughs in the stone oven as she could, and then started filling the pies.

She spread a decent amount of flour on the bottom of the pies, so that the moisture from the berries would not ruin the base and crumble. When she was satisfied with the filling, she went ahead and started braiding the top dough. A few minutes later she was done and placed them in the oven as well.

Now that everything was baking, she had time to do other stuff. She went out of the kitchen, through her back door, to reveal a small enclosure for chickens. They all started cackling and spreading, when she begun searching through their nests for eggs.

"I know, I know, but we both got to eat," She told a mother-hen, who was looking reproachfully at her, after snatching her eggs and placing it in her apron.

She went into the kitchen again, after spreading some seeds to the feathery ones, and put the eggs into a small basket. She then quickly checked on her bread in the oven, making sure it was coming along nicely. Then, not knowing what to do next, she tapped her finger against the table.

She was so curious about Cage, why he was on the run and had to hide. He kept his cards closed and seemed to not want to talk much. But she wanted to know. Some part of her, maybe a strange pull of motherhood, wanted to help him or at least talk to him about his problems. But she already knew without knowing him, that he would not answer her questions easily. Even giving up his real name had been asking too much. So she would have to persuade him - but how?

She ate a quick breakfast, consisting of yesterday's old bread, while trying to come up with a devious plan. That would take some good thinking.

When she could smell the bread was ready to come out, Beth quickly grabbed it from the oven and placed it on a tray. As she walked out into the shop, she saw the first customers waiting outside her door. She gave them a quick wave through the window, as she put the tray down, quickly getting her bake-goods out, so people could see them. As she finished, she tapped off the flour on her apron and unlocked the door. Three customers walked in, smiling at her and bidding her good morning.

"What can I get you?" Beth politely replied and walked behind the counter.

Just a normal day...

A woman stepped up, one of her regulars, who was holding her basket under the arm. "Do you have any of those buns with the carrot?"

"Always for you, Fina." Beth said with a warm smile towards her. "How many do you want today?"

As she got through her customers, the store emptied out, but not for long.

Beth was just placing a few more pies on her display, when two massive guards walked in. They were wearing a coat of mail, helmets on their heads and longswords in their belts. Beth swallowed hard, but stayed focused.

"G-good morning, officers. How may I help you?" She asked in the nicest voice she could conjure, before doing a curtsy.

Their eyes roamed across the room, clearly on the lookouts for something, before one of them walked up to Beth. "We are on the lookouts for a man. We are spreading the message." The guard told. His voice was stern and his body filled with tension. They both had their hands readied on the handle of their swords.

"W-what message?" Beth asked worriedly. Could she just stop stuttering?

"Last night a man escaped from prison. He is dangerous and armed. If anyone sees him, they are too report to us, as fast as possible." The guard spoke, while looking at all the bake-goods.

Beth immediately knew they were talking about Cage. But she had to stay in ignorance, if she was to get through this. "Well... What does he look like?" She asked.

"He is tall, strong, light hair, early twenties and probably wearing a strange device upon his eyes," The guard told, while shooting a subtle smirk to his friend.

"Oh my," Beth gasped timidly. "Why was he in prison?"

The two guards looked at each other, their faces getting more amused. "There are... a few things we are not at liberty to discuss, but lets just say, he did not do his... duty to the Queen." The two men suddenly seemed to be struggling with withholding their laughter. Beth wanted to know what was so amusing to them, but she kept her tongue as they continued their snickering.

Suddenly one guard stopped and started sniffing the air. "What is that smell?"

Beth gasped genuinely.

Oh God. Could they smell him?

He did smell a lot, but she did not realize it was that bad. These guards had probably been trained to smell things that were hard to smell.

Her eyes shot the dirt spot, he had made on the floor last night. Why had she not cleaned that? Stupid, stupid girl.

The other guard started sniffing as well. "I smell it too."

They walked up to counter, making Beth stumble back a step. They were so huge and she was completely defenseless...

"Is that..." A slight grin crossed the left guard's face, "Cinnamon I smell?"

Beth's heart nearly stopped from relief.

Thank the Gods, she had made cinnamon bread yesterday!

"Yes, it is!" She tried to laugh, but it came out strained. "I have cinnamon bread, would you care for one?"

"Well, how much do you charge?" The guard asked.

"For you guards, I will give you a good price. As a thank you for keeping our streets safe." Just keeping sucking up to them, Beth.

"In that case, we will take two. I do enjoy the handcraft of a beautiful woman," The guard spoke, giving her what was probably supposed to be a flirtatious smirk.

Beth swallowed, but stayed focused as she wrapped up two cinnamon breads and handed them to the guard.

"Thank you," He said and let his eyes trail over her body, before eventually landing on her cleavage.

Filthy pig.

"Make sure to keep your eyes open, and report if you see anyone who fit the mentioned description," He said, as he handed her the money. "We also advise you not to go out at night alone."

"Of course," Beth said, and curtsied again, when they headed for the door. They left, after glancing at her one more time.

Now she was really curious, as to what Cage was hiding and the guards had given her the perfect idea to how she could butter him up.

She went over to the door, locked it to show the shop was closed for a while, then went into the kitchen. She placed a fancy tray with legs on her table and put a plate and a mug on top. She picked out her best bread, cut two pieces off, and took some of her homemade butter and spread it on the bread. The rest of the bread, she placed on the tray as well, just to show how generous she was. She finished of by pouring a mug of milk. This was a breakfast he could not refuse.

As she walked up the stairs with the tray in hand, she thought about how to smoothly ask him about what he was running from.

Good morning, Cage. I made you some breakfast. By the way, why are you a criminal?

- Perhaps not.

She sighed, before opening the door to her bedchamber. He was still sleeping heavily, only he had turned over, now facing the couch. She stepped inside and closed the door, then walked towards Cage. After putting the tray down, she sat down on her knees, and cleared her throat, trying to wake him up.

"Uhm, Cage?"

He shifted on the couch, then made a vague grunt to let her know he was awake.

"I uhm... I thought you might be hungry," She took a deep breath to calm her nerves, "I-I made you breakfast... I-If you would like."

His right hand slowly moved over his head, to grab his device, and after placing it on his nose, he turned around, slowly sitting up. "Say that again."

"I made you some b-breakfast?" She repeated nervously. Maybe her trick was too obvious?

He frowned deeply, almost suspiciously. "Why?"

"Well... Your stomach was growling last night," Beth carefully say. "You looked starved, and I just thought you might like something to eat."

He looked at her as though she was mad. "Why are you being so kind to me?"

Beth blushed under his scorching gaze and looked away. "Well... I was raised to show kindness to one another. Even if the circumstances are complicated."

His frown grew deeper. "I bust into your home, and you willingly let me sleep on the couch. Now you provide me with breakfast, as though I am a mere guest," He breathed and tilted his head. "I do not understand your kindness."

Why was kindness so hard for him to comprehend? Granted, they had not met during the best circumstances, but she could tell just by looking at him, that he was a good man. He may have burst into her life, but she had also welcomed his entrance.

She sighed and dropped her eyes to her hands. This was not going according to her plan. He was suppose to be the one talking, not her.

"Look, I can tell you have had it rough," She slowly begun and looked up at him. He stared back with shock. "Life have not been kind to you, and if I may speak frank; It has not to me either," She confessed and nervously bit her lip. "You do not have to understand my reasons, but I want to help you. Starting with a meal," She said and pushed the tray towards him.

Cage was quiet for a good while, looking at her as though he could not fathom her words. She spoke truthful about wanting to help him. But for some reasons, he found it impossible to believe.

Finally, he sighed and looked down, "I do not know what to say."

Beth smiled softly. The poor man looked touched by her simple kindness. "You can thank me and eat your meal. Then we will call it even."

"How is me eating your food ever going to make anything even?"

"Well, since I used my own homemade butter, it would be a shame for it to go to waste."

He palmed his face and looked absolutely overwhelmed by that statement. Had he never had butter before?

"Cage? Just eat the food." She chuckled and handed him the tray.

He slowly looked up, and gave her a baffled look. For a second all he did was stare, but then he finally took the tray and placed it on his lap. "Thank you."

Two so simple words had never sounded any more sincere. The way he said it was like he had never experienced such a gesture before. It puzzled Beth. Where did he come from? Had his mother never made him breakfast before?

With a low groan coming from the back of his throat, Cage raised the buttered bread to his nose and took a deep inhale. A look of pure adoration ran across his face, as the sweet smell seeped through his nostrils. He looked amazed, as he let the bread move to his mouth, before letting his teeth sink into the soft buttered baguette.

A deep moan escaped his lips, as he chewed and Beth felt a misplaced blush creep to her cheeks. She did not understand why, but her stomach tingled and she felt a sudden heat place in her abdomen. She almost completely forgot that she had come here with a purpose.

"Cage?" She nervously said as he took another bite. "I have to tell you that... While you were sleeping..." She noticed him look up and look at her, "Well... Some guards came by my shop."

Cage stopped chewing and swallowed hard. "And? What did they say?" He asked cautiously.

"Well..." Beth started carefully and looked at her hands. "They said they were looking for you and that you were dangerous and armed."

He scoffed. "At least they got half of it right." He was referring to the dagger. Hopefully. "They did not know I was here, right?" He then asked.

"No, they did not suspect anything." Beth assured him, before she cleared her throat, rather awkwardly. "They also said that you were... in prison."

Cage froze for a second, but did not say anything. Just slowly chewed the bread. When he did not seem to want to comment on that, Beth continued, "I asked them about... Why you were locked up."

Now Cage put down the bread and looked at her. At least she thought he did, she could not tell because of the device, she was beginning to hate.

"Is that so?" He asked curtly.

Beth blushed and looked at the floor. "They said... They said that you had not done your... duty to the Queen."

Cage's entire body tensed, his fists balled up and his jaw tightened. Was he actually growling?

But then all of a sudden, he eased up, slowly starting to move again. Just like that, he boiled down again.

"Well... They have got a sense of humor." He flatly said, picking up the bread again.

"What do they mean by that?" Beth asked, confused by his odd behavior.

Caydrick took his time chewing the next bite, but when he finally sank, he held another pause before speaking. "It means that... I disobeyed the Queen. She did not like it. Got me locked up."

That shocked her. "Is that it? You got in prison for that?" She could not believe that. Their Queen was just. Maybe not the best ruler, but at least she was just. He could not be telling the truth. - At least not the whole truth.

"Yes. Something like that," Cage moved on to the rest of the bread, slowly ripping of small pieces and putting it in his mouth. "This is delicious, by the way. You made this, did you not?"

Beth had been so focused on the conversation about him, that she was startled when he suddenly changed the subject just like that. "Uh, yes I did. I am glad you like it."

Cage chewed another piece of bread and Beth got so occupied staring at his jaws, working the bread, that she did not hear his question.

"Beth?"

"Sorry, what?" She looked away and reddened embarrassed.

"I was just asking, do you not have your shop to mind? I do not want you changing your schedule because of me."

She shook her head. "No I closed it for a while. It is alright, I do not mind."

"No, you do not understand," Cage said seriously and swallowed the bread. "If you start doing anything unusual, like closing at strange hours, the guards will start noticing and ask you questions."

She had not thought about that. "Oh, I see. Well... I better go down there, then."

Cage nodded and finished the glass of milk. "This was an absolute pleasure to eat. I do not know how to thank you enough for this." He stood up and handed her the tray. She had to crane her neck back, to look at him. As she took the tray, his hands grazed her fingers. "Thank you for the food, Beth."

The corner of his mouth lifted into a little smile and Beth was so startled she just stared.

"You should hurry down. You do not want to raise any alarm." He then said and turned back to the couch.

Beth snapped out of her daze and blinked a couple of times. The shop. Right. "Of course. You can sleep for another few hours as well. Nightfall is still far away and you will need your strength, I reckon." She replied and watched him as he sat down on the couch.

"Yeah, I think I might. Wake me up, if you need anything." He said, as he laid himself down.

"I will." She turned to the door and cast one last look at him, while he took of his device. Then she sighed and closed the door on her way out.

- Back to work.