Chapter Text
Remus heard the approaching rider long before he appeared galloping from behind, the sound of the horse’s hoofs hitting the ground and the metal armour clinking agitating the sheep the shepherd was trying to bring back to the town.
When the black stallion stopped next to him, the brunet shot the man on horseback a dirty look. He had to lean his head back to see the knight, because of the animal’s large size.
The receiver of his accusing look was a young man, roughly his age, with clear skin and long dark locks held in a messy bun pinned up with a stick. He was enclosed in metal or mesh almost everywhere, only leaving his head visible. His cape covering the horse’s backside displaying a lion’s head on a red and yellow background; the monarchy’s colours. His gloves pulled hard on the beast’s reigns until it was completely still.
“Which way to get to Abergavenny?” A tenor voice asked between pants.
Remus forgot to speak for a few seconds, surprised that a royal knight would need to go to his unimportant town, on the edges of the kingdom, struck in the middle of nowhere. A part of him was also suspicious of any man under the king’s orders.
“Boy! Did you hear me? I asked you a question!”
His tone further irritated the shepherd, who already couldn’t wait to lose this stranger out of sight.
“It’s three more miles down this very road. Anyone with their head out of their arse would’ve seen the placard at the last crossroad. Good day to you, sir.” He rejoiced in the shock plastered in the rider’s face, probably used to having his authority respected by everyone.
With that, Remus turned back and ignored him until the man on horseback gave up and spurred his horse, disappearing under the heavy foliage.
The view of his hometown came into view before sunset, far earlier than usual. The rage from the previous interaction had probably fuelled him. He was grateful he didn’t have to deal with the rider anymore.
Or so he thought.
The next morning Remus went to the sunday market on the village’s main, and frankly only, town square. He had a basket with the list of necessities for the next week on one hand and his helpful cane on the other. He had only retrieved half of the groceries when a too familiar shadow appeared next to him.
“Hi! I’m Sirius Black, nice to meet you.”
Remus simply looked at his outstretched hand, unimpressed. After two awkward seconds, when it was obvious he would not take it, Sirius removed it, choosing to scratch at the back of his neck instead.
“Although we technically met yesterday. That’s part of why I’m here. I believe we started on the wrong foot and I wanted to apologize.”
“Then, go on, apologize.”
Taken back by the shepherd’s indifference, Sirius took a moment to recompose himself.
“I’m sorry I yelled at you, I was exhausted from mounting all day and took it out on you. It was unfair on my part and for that, too, am I sorry.” He looked expectantly at Remus, remorse tainting his facial features.
“I don’t forgive you.” He turned back to the vendor in the stall, completely missing the knight losing all his composure like a little kid. He searched in his basket to pay the expecting woman, who had looked at this exchange with overt curiosity. But before he could reach his stash of money, the sound of coins clinking forced his gaze upwards where a gloved hand and an outstretched one were exchanging coins.
He turned to Sirius, incredulous.
“Then I’ll make it up to you.” He said, a wide toothy grin adorning his face. Remus didn’t know what to say back, so he simply watched as the knight secured a plump brown bag to his belt.
Now, in the morning sun and at the same eye level, he had a chance to take a better look at this curious stranger. He wore his black wavy hair in a half up hairstyle, but the other half framed his pale face and fell over his shoulders. He had opted to leave his cape, but other than that he was wearing most of the previous day's armour. It glinted in the sun, sending small specks of light in every direction, momentarily blinding Remus when he turned back to face him. Thankfully, he was a few inches shorter than the brunet and looked too young to have such a high position, so he wasn’t that intimidated by him anymore.
“So, what? You expect to just buy my silence?”
“Do you really think so lowly of me?”
“Do you want to know what I think?” He started, walking away, Sirius falling close behind. “I think you never had a hard day of work in your life. It’s clear you never set foot outside of your precious capital, otherwise you wouldn’t be parading through the most congregated part of town with a bag full of money in full view. You’re fresh meat for any thief. Although anyone with a pair of working eyes would see right away you’re not from here, everyone is wearing brown or dull clothing and you’re in full armour, chainmail and all. You stick out like a sore thumb.”
Sirius crossed his arms, suddenly self-conscious. He opened his mouth, ready to retort back, but never got the chance to, because a pair of girls came out of nowhere and stopped them, giggling in the knight’s arms.
“There you are, handsome! We’ve been searching for you all morning!”
“Yeah, we didn’t know where you went and I’ve been telling her all day we needed to find the man from last night! Can you come with us?”
“That would be lovely, ladies,” he said, ever the gentleman “but right now I’m with my friend here. Why don’t we catch up later?” He ended, shooting a pleading look to the brunet.
Both of them turned to him, almost disgusted by his presence. They had stopped acknowledging him a few years ago when it was clear he wasn’t interested in their approaches. So had most of the other villagers.
“Oh, hi Remus.”
“Then we’ll see you later. Does noon at the Hog’s Head Inn sound like good?”
“As good as any.” He answered with such a constipated look that Remus was amazed neither of the girls caught the hint before running away in a fit of giggles. Then again, it had also been like that for a while in his teenage years.
“It’s not what it looks like.” Sirius replied, blushing under Remus’ inquisitive gaze.
“I won’t tell you what you can and can’t do on your free time, mate.”
“So, you’re Remus? I forgot to ask your name.”
“Of course you did. After all, the rest of us don’t matter in your eyes.”
Just then they passed next to a large gathering, all watching the mayor speak from atop a platform.
“Attention everyone! Please, I said attention! I have an announcement to make!”
The place fell silent.
“As some of you might have noticed,” he announced with a rumbling voice, looking directly at the pair of boys, “we have a visitor in town.” Some heads turned, following the mayor’s gaze. “He’s a member of the royal’s personal guard and was sent here on a mission. Everyone’s cooperation would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.”
A murmur of “James Potter” “his majesty” “lucky” “Gryffindor monarchy” and “knight” engulfed them. Remus took advantage of the group of people surrounding Sirius asking questions, to get away unnoticed. When the knight turned back, he was already gone, without having said goodbye.
