Flashback

I nodded a little. "And your family?" I asked him. "My family died when I was a child. I grew up raised by my grandmother who passed several years ago." I admitted, looking at the fire. The only person who would miss me was Elise. And I wondered where she was and how she was doing.

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He shrugged a little, going back to separating everything. "She'll never leave you alone." He warned, but returning to what he was doing.

she smiled a little,"I don't mind, she quite reminds me of my mother,"

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He looked at her,"I am sorry for your loss," he said to her lightly as he shook his head, "I can assure you'll be taken care of here,"

I shrugged a little. "It's alright. It was a long time ago." I said, taking a sip of the tea. "And your family?" I asked softly.

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He smiled a little. "Don't let her hear that."

She laughed a little and watched as his mother kneaded the bread, then coppied what she was doing on her own dough.

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He nodded a little,"They died in a fire recently," he said softly as he looked down.

I sighed a little. "I'm sorry for your loss as well. Well, I know how hard it is and I'll be here whenever you need to talk." I said softly, smiling reassuringly.

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He stood, going to let his brother inside. Once his sister left it would only be him and his brother, his other siblings married and moved out.

She smiled a little as she licked her lips as she helped make dinner

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He smiled a little,"Thank you," he said to her.

I smiled a little and sighed, looking at the empty cups. "So what would you like to do? I'm not quite sure what people do for fun around here."

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He noticed his mother looking between the two of them, wondering what else she was planning. "Can I get anything for anyone?" He asked before he went upstairs.

"Well, we can play chess if you want," he said to her.

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She smiled a little,"I'm fine thank you,"

"Oh dear, why don't you get her a glass of water, she looks quite parched," she told him smiling/

I raised an eyebrow. "I don't really know how to play Chess." I admitted quietly, looking at the chess set. Was there really nothing to do in this time period? It was cold and late, so going outside was not a good idea, but little to nothing to do indoors?

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He hesitated and nodded, going back to refill her tin of water. "Here you go, Miss." He said politely, going to head up the stairs to his room.

"I could teach you," he said to her smiling a little.

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She laughed a little and took the glass then shook her head a little.

I nodded a little and moved, attempting to make myself more comfortable in the chair. "Alright, I'll try." I said, looking at the Chess set in confusion.

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He headed up the stairs, falling onto his bed. He was exhausted from earlier today, all he wanted was to sleep but he know he couldn't until dinner.

He smiled as he began to tell her what all pieces were capable of,"But the queen is of the utmost importance, we must protect her at all costs," he smiled.

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She smiled,"Alright I hope you like bear dear, it's very common in these parts,

I smiled. "The Queen is the most important? Why not the King?" I asked him, picking up the little piece in my hand and holding it up.

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He sighed softly, not being able to sleep.

"Oh dear, we're out of salt!" His sister said, looking over at her mother. "Can you send out James to get some more?"

"Because a king can not rule without a queen, because she bares the children," he smiled a little.

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His mother smiled,"Dear, could you go ask James to fetch some salt, maybe you could join him? It'd be good for you to know where the town is," she told her excitedly

Elise looked at her then laughed a little before nodding,"Of course,"

He sighed a little, trying to get more comfortable to fall asleep. He sat up and rubbed his face, knowing it wasnt going to happen.

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"I thought that people believed men was the more important sex?" I asked him, genuinely interested in his answer. I picked up the queen and held it up next to the king, looking at the two together.

He smiled,"But without an heir his name will not continue," He said to her.

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She knocked on the door and chewed on her bottom lip lightly.

He sighed and stood, opening the door. "Yes?" He asked, noticing it was Elise. "Do you need anything?"

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I nodded a little, putting the pieces down. "It's too bad that what you see isn't widespread." I murmured, looking at him. It was like he was a man beyond his time. That he was in the wrong time period. "Alright, how do you protect the queen?"

@ musicalpanda
"You're mother asked me to see if you could run into town and grab some salt since it seems they're out - she also offered that I should go with so I know where I the city is," Elise said to him knowingly.

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"By using everyone around her," he smiled a little,"Using them to take out the other players pieces,"

He nodded a little, reaching to grab his money bag. "Alright, then shall we go?" He asked gesturing for her to go first and he would follow.

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I nodded a little, looking at the pieces. "Alright." I said pointing them out. "Show me."

She nodded,"Sure," she said to him as she walked back down the stairs.

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He smiled and explained then showed her how the pieces would move.