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Post by Marian Cooper on Jan 28, 2011 20:20:58 GMT -5
 It was early in the afternoon, and Marian was just waking up. She knew it really wasn't proper for a lady to sleep so late, but then, it really wasn't proper for her to sneak out of the castle late at night and return just before sunup, either, and she had done that last night. She hadn't even gotten caught this time, probably thanks to the fact that a certain bandit hadn't turned up to sabotage her this time.
Getting to her feet, she peeked out past the heavy curtains, and immediately regretted it. It was bright out there! Blinking, she pushed the curtains open a sliver to give her enough light to dress by, tying her hair back so she could wash her face with the basin of cold water the maid had left her last night. Loosing her hair, she tossed her messy curls lightly, wondering if she should bother putting it up or if she could get away with leaving it as it was. Feeling lazy, she left it loose, and slipped on a relatively plain dress.
Finally brave enough to open the window the rest of the way, she pulled back the curtains, blinking against the bright light that filled the room, until her eyes adjusted and she could look out without pain. Her room was located in one of the castle's towers, so she had a good view of the horizon past the castle wall, and she took a moment to look at the forest beyond, until she heard a knock at the door. Figuring it was just the maid, she paused a moment longer before she made her way across the room and pulled open the door. [/size] |
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Post by gysbourne on Jan 28, 2011 20:59:55 GMT -5
 Gysbourne was a knight; a man who was trained since he was a child to fight; a skilled swordsman; exceptional combatant. He was far too overqualified for what he was about to do. When the Sheriff pulled him in, stating that he had a very important task for him to do, one that required the utmost care and delicacy, Guy had been intrigued. What was it? Arresting someone? Getting someone to pay taxes that they could not afford -- which was always a pleasure to him. And that was when the Sheriff showed him all of the garments and jewelry. That was when the excitement had vanished from Guy's expression. He knew what he was going to be asked to do, and it was not in the least bit enjoyable.
The Sheriff had given him explicit instructions to deliver all of these gifts to Marian, and to make it all the more worse, he told Gysbourne that he would have to wait there, watch her open them, and then report back to him a very detailed explanation of her reaction. What a bloody waste of time. But of course, being the loyal commander that he was, he could not reject such a command, even one was menial and trivial as this one. Never the less, he walked down the hall, three other men behind him, each one carrying a large stack of packages. Some were fabric for dresses some was jewelry. Gysbourne kept his face expressionless, concealing any annoyance he felt at doing something so preposterous. When he got to her bedroom, he knocked on the door, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. Thankfully, it did not take her too long to answer. He looked at her, not smiling or displaying the least bit of friendly exchange of words.
"Lady Marian," he stated as mere acknowledgment rather than a genuine greeting. His rudeness and lack of caring only went further as he pushed open the door a bit more, not having waited for an invitation, and waked into her room rather casually. Acting as if he owned the place. The three servants behind him were unsure what to do, but when he shot them a look, they too followed him inside, staggering as the packages were piled so high, they were slightly impairing their ability to see. "Put them over there," he said, motioning to the table at the side.
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Post by Marian Cooper on Jan 28, 2011 23:41:18 GMT -5
Marian was surprised to find Sir Guy at her door, having expected to find an irate maid or something of the like. Sir Guy wasn't exactly what she'd call a social man, and the two of them had never really been friends, so finding him at her door wasn't exactly something she had expected to happen...ever. "Sir Guy," she greeted him in the same manner he had her, although her tone was a little more confused as she waited for some kind of explanation. It never came, and instead he pushed the door open and strode inside.
Marian frowned distastefully, raising an eyebrow as three servants followed him into the room, laden with packages. Oh. So that was what this was all about. Gifts from the Sheriff. She stood back to let them stack the multitude of gifts up on her table, wondering what on earth he was trying to do. He'd given her gifts before, certainly, but never so many that it took three servants to haul them all to her room. And he'd never sent Guy to deliver them before. She wondered how the knight felt about running errands for the Sheriff now. She wasn't really concerned with the gifts, probably jewels or fabric to make dresses with...Marian considered them gifts more for him than for her, since he was the one who enjoyed seeing her all prettied up.
"I didn't know knights were just glorified delivery boys these days." She commented, smiling somewhat smugly. Sure, he could knock down her bedroom door and stride about like he owned the place, but she could still mock him for it. "I trust you deliver messages, too? You can give the Sheriff my thanks." She added, having no intention of opening all of them right now. Maybe if she was bored later on...she wanted to go down to the kitchens for something to eat right now. [/size] |
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Post by gysbourne on Jan 28, 2011 23:55:27 GMT -5
Her comment annoyed him, and even more so because she was right. Because he knew that this task was far too degrading for someone of his status and position. And yet, he had never said no to the Sheriff when told to do something. He did not like the way the Sheriff pursued Marian though, and the way she lead him on. He thought it was just a plain waste of time. Of course, since he was more loyal to the Sheriff, he blamed her for everything. Women. What maddening games they played. Even the way she spoke now made her seem so unimpressed with everything. He knew he said that to the Sheriff though, he either would not believe him, or find some way to glorify her lack of excitement. If he lied to him, it would only make him want to do something more extravagant to impress her. There was no winning. Only pure torture for Guy as he had to be the one to witness and take part in this tedious exchange.
Guy turned to face her for a brief moment, before going near her window to look out into the court yard. "Well the Sheriff seems to think you are worth it." His tone implied that Guy himself did not think she was. But he would not speak negatively about the Sheriff. No. This was all her doing. Women were manipulative and while Guy enjoyed the company of them, he would never go through all this trouble or be so persistent over a single one. Why bother, when there were so many more in the world.
Once the packages were laid down, Guy nodded to them to dismiss their presence, and they did such, slightly lowering their head in a bow before exiting the room and closed the door behind them. Guy however, remained in place. He would not enjoy this anymore than she would. "He requests that you open the packages now, so that he can determine whether they are to your liking." He was not a messenger! And yet, he had been turned into one . . . for her sake. A delivery boy and a messenger, as she so eloquently put it. What a way to spend his time.
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Post by Marian Cooper on Jan 29, 2011 0:27:10 GMT -5
Marian knew that she was at least a little to blame for the Sheriff's affections for her. She had only ever encouraged his interests...but to be fair, when she had arrived here four years ago, being able to toy with a grown man like that had just been fun. She'd only been sixteen, and wielding power over anyone had been exciting. It was a game she played, and she kept it up now, because why not? It was still fun to twist him around her finger, and even if she knew she had no intention of ever indulging whatever twisted desires he harbored towards her, he had yet to figure it out.
From the way Sir Guy spoke, she could tell he didn't approve of the Sheriff's indulgences with her, and she really didn't blame him. If this latest display was any indication, the man was stepping up his efforts to win her over. She supposed it was to be expected...he'd been at this for four years with no results. He probably wanted to seal the deal and just marry her, already. Not that it was ever going to happened.
She raised a disbelieving eyebrow when he dismissed the servants but remained, claiming he was there to gauge her interest. Really? Marian rolled her eyes, and headed to the door. "Tell him I loved them...or hated them. Whatever you like." Because Guy couldn't possibly want to do that anymore than she did, right? So he could just tell the Sheriff something, and she could go and get something to eat. [/size] |
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Post by gysbourne on Jan 29, 2011 0:41:35 GMT -5
This was growing more painful by the second. "I will not lie to the Sheriff. He wanted that to be clear. He was not going to do his job half way and return to the Sheriff with vague, ambiguous answers. No. He was already here and he was going to see this all the way through, even if he disapproved of everything. The fact that he was very meticulous in what he was told to her, was what had landed him in this position. He had sent Guy for a reason. He would not disappoint his superior. If he started now, then it would only go downhill. He had worked too hard to get to where he was to allow one moment of laziness cause everything to unravel and crumble. This was how men fell from the top, way too the bottom and he was not about to risk it.
Why couldn't she be like all the other women?! Ones who oo'ed and aww'ed at such attempts to woo them. He supposed the fact that she was not like all the others was why the Sheriff had his eye focused on her and only her. But still. How fun could this whole 'hard to get' game truly be? Did she not grow tired of it? Did he not tired from rejection? It was all so senseless, and yet, he could do nothing to dissuade it. "So you have two options." Yes. That's right. He was giving her only two things to choose from. "Either you go tell the Sheriff yourself how much you absolutely adore them, and while you are at it, just put everyone out of their misery and accept his proposal." His pending proposal that never seemed to get his desired answer. "Or you can open them one by one, right now." Either way, get on with it.
To further show his determination, he pulled out a chair and sat on it, folding his arms behind his head, leaning back a bit, and putting his feet up on the table. This was not his room, and he was acting as if it was. "I am a patient man, Marian." No he wasn't! "I have all day." No he didn't! But what other choice did he have? If she did not open them, then he would have to find another way to get this job done in all its entirety.
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Post by Marian Cooper on Jan 29, 2011 1:08:50 GMT -5
She raised an eyebrow when he refused to lie to the Sheriff, folding her arms over her chest defiantly. Why couldn't he be like all the other knights, who were more than willing to lead the Sheriff on in his delusion if it meant they wouldn't have to sit around doing things that were beneath him? Or at least, that's what she assumed other knights would do, he'd never sent one to watch her open presents before. Why didn't he just come himself? She could charm her way out of that. But she knew that technique wasn't going to work on Gysbourne.
She snorted at his 'options', rolling her eyes. Did he really think that was going to happen? Evidently, seeing as how he pulled up a chair and put his feet up on the table. She looked from his feet back to his face with an expression that clearly showed how unimpressed she was. If either Gysbourne or the Sheriff thought they could annoy her into getting married, they had another thing coming. Her sister had been trying that for years. While it was clear that Marian didn't like her 'options', that wasn't why she wasn't going to do either of them. She hated being ordered around, especially by someone like Gysbourne. Okay, so technically she didn't outrank him...but that didn't mean anything. If he was so loyal to the Sheriff, he wouldn't be willing to hurt her, so he had no way to make her do what he wanted.
He went on to tell her what a 'patient' man he was, and she smiled innocently. She certainly hoped so. In sitting down, he'd moved away from the door enough for her to escape. "Great! Then you don't mind waiting." She told him, even as she quickly made her way behind him and out the door, hurrying down the stairs outside her room to get the meal she wanted. [/size] |
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Post by gysbourne on Jan 29, 2011 11:56:41 GMT -5
What?! Damn it! Gysbourne quickly got to his feet, but he did not seem to be fast enough for she had already made her way out the door. He knew he could just wait for her to come back... but he was not that naive. She could stall, and stall and not return for hours. He could be watching from the window, and she could be riding off god knows where. No. It was best that he follow her, watch her like a hawk until she did what the Sheriff told her her. This was going to be the most useless day he had encountered for some time. He also knew that complaining to the Sheriff about Marian was like talking to a stone road. He refused to hear it. Had he heeded to any of Gysbourne's advice, then he would not be hurriedly walking after her right now, trying to bring her back to her room.
Now she was going down the stairs? Terrific. Just terrific! He stormed down them after her, reaching forward just in time to forcefully grab her arm as soon as she got to the bottom of them. He turned her to face him, his expression not a happy one -- not that it ever truly was jovial. "Marian, you will open those presents." What a ridiculous command to tell someone. Who the hell did not want to open presents?! Clearly she did not. Which only frustrated him further. But he was done playing games. He was not going to engage in a castle chase, running around after her. It was far too immature for his taste, and he would not tolerate it.
Unfortunately, she was one of the few people that he would not get away with harming. If anything happened to her, then the Sheriff would be determined to get to the bottom of who committed the crime, and it would be one crime that Gysbourne would not be exempted from. So, he would have to find other ways to get her to do it...apart from threats, though it was always fun to throw one in there every now and then. Instead, he looked at her for a brief moment before picking her up, and throwing her over his shoulder. With him now carrying her, he turned, storming back up the stairs, and not caring who would see this bizarre sight. If she wanted to act like a child -- in Gysbourne's mind anyway -- then he would treat her like one.
[ Hope you don't mind the slight god mod there. If you want me to change it, I can! ]
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Post by Marian Cooper on Jan 29, 2011 22:30:17 GMT -5
Marian was being immature. She knew it even as she fled her own room to escape the clutches of the tyrannous Sir Guy, but she wasn't just about to give in and let him win without a fight. Which was apparently going to be more difficult than she'd at first anticipated, as he caught up with her and grabbed her arm, turning her around by force. Why didn't Marian want to open her presents, like any sane person? Because she already knew they weren't to her tastes. Delicate silks and intricate lace, shining gems set in finely worked gold and silver, and sadly, none of that appealed to her.
Sure, she'd wind up wearing the jewels, both to blend in with the other nobles and in order to make the Sheriff happy, and she'd have the castle seamstress make gowns for her with the expensive fabrics, and she'd wear them. Why not? She needed dresses to wear at court, and as little as fashion appealed to her, she'd hate to let the noble ladies who had follow the prince out to the country snicker at her unfashionable gowns. The Sheriff would buy her a bow if she asked, but she knew he didn't like it. Oh, certainly, he adored that she hunted, because it meant they could go together, but he didn't like the reminder of how good a shot she was. He wouldn't buy her daggers, however, claiming that she didn't need them, that all his guards and soldiers would protect her. As if she relied on them.
Marian gave a surprised yelp when Gysbourne stooped to pick her up, her surprise shifting quickly into fury. She pounded on his back with her fists, hoping that she could hurt him enough that he would drop her. "Put me down at once!" She growled, before he finally set her back down in her room. She glared at him, straightening her dress indignantly. "How dare you put your hands on me!" She couldn't believe his impudence! She was a lady of the court, not some...some...ragdoll, to be slung over his shoulder and hauled about like a sack of potatoes. Seeing nothing but red, she balled her fist up and took a swing at the much larger man. [/size] ((Nah, it's fine. Don't worry about it. ^^)) |
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