A Handsome Highwayman? {Robin}

[isabel]

As she sat in the back of the carriage, the princess pushed her bottom lip out in a perfect pout, sulking prettily while she was bounced in her seat. The wheels of the carriage were not taking well to the rutted roads – if they could even be called roads, as horrid and untraveled as they were, and certainly there was a reason why they were not often traveled – and neither was Isabel.

There was one reason she was in the forest, and that was to find an herb that would supposedly help her to become with child. She was making the journey alone, because she wanted it to be secret, and she wanted to be sure that she found the right herb, not something toxic that would poison her (knowing her staff, and knowing her, such a deed would not have surprised her).

After all, it was something to be ashamed of, that she had not yet conceived a child after three years of marriage. It was not for lack of trying. She and Prince John were passionate, after all; utterly infatuated with each other, and probably the only people in the world who could love the other, as cruel as they both were to everyone else.

She was not sure where, exactly, this herb was supposed to be found, other than some specific place in the forests outside of Nottingham. When the carriage stopped, rather abruptly, and caused her to be thrown forward, she scowled and let out a squeal of protest. She sat there, indignant, for a moment before demanding of her driver and servant, “Why have we stopped? Do you see the herb?”

[Robin Of The Woods]

Outlaws by nature, had allot of free time on their hands in which to sleep, drink, or plan to annoy their lawful counterparts. Robert's free time today was hunting with a few of his men, for some meat to take in and give to the towns people. Robert wasn't a fan of giving things randomly to people who did not work for it, but they did seem to be more willing to not turn him in for his efforts and if he had to admit; they did look very grateful for the meat they badly needed.

That was how he was in the area to notice the horses. Had he not been an outlaw; he would be a Earl who paid people to breed fine horses, and that was how he knew upon first sight that whom ever was riding around in that box was rich. Grinning, Robert pulled and arrow from the pack on his back; took aim and let it fly to land close enough to the driver that he jumped and almost fell off.

Ordering his men--who only knew him as Robin the outlaw, as Robert was an noble name and too fancy for the likes of him now--to surround the coach, Robert went to the door and opened it to look inside. "Hullo, Ladies." He greeted in a charming tone, as if just passing by then in the hall rather then about to rob or kidnap them.

[isabel]

Having heard nothing from the driver, Isabel was about to open the door and yell at him again to see if he could hear her better, but before she could put her hand on the door, it opened and a man’s head was thrust in. She squealed in fear and surprise before regaining her composure almost instantaneously, emotion changing from shocked to indignant. Her eyes narrowed at the man as she looked him up and down appraisingly.

She was most seriously displeased at having her plans interrupted, especially since she was starting to hope that the desired herb had been located. “Who are you?” she demanded, lifting her chin a notch to look down at him defiantly, even though as he poked his head into the cab standing on the runningboard he was taller than she was in her seat.

“And just what do you think you’re doing? Can’t you see we have more important business to attend to than associate with the likes of you?” She had no idea who she was, but she already knew that she hated him. Perhaps it would have been wise to act less like it, seeing as she did not know who he was. And she had to admit, grudgingly, that he was rather charming, in a gruff, rugged sort of way. She stared him down, waiting for her questions to be answered.

[Robin Of The Woods]

When he'd left for the Holy Lands; women had been soft plaintive and sweet little creatures; and now they seemed to be all sharp tonged and ice. This is what happened when all the real men went to war thousand of miles away; the country went to hell. She was beautiful, granted, but the first thing Robert wanted to do was put a stocking in her mouth so she could not keep barking orders.

"My dearest lady," He told her with a smile and some charm, "I am Robin of the woods, and you are in my kingdom." The Sherwood forest woods were his realm and no one traveled in it unless you wanted trouble. Surely she had expected---

That was about the time he knew were he'd seen her noble little face before. She was fucking royalty! This went a bit his current crimes as he'd never robed anyone of the royal family before but once his mind connected her pretty little face to her noble little name he knew exactly what he was going to do. "Allow me to give you the grand tour!" He told her as he reached over and pulled her out of the coach. Looking around as he did for her armed escort. Now was why a noble such as her sneaking around out here in no man's land? It did not matter to him, either way she was not going home until a royal ransom was paid.

[isabel]

As he began to speak again, Isabel opened her mouth to utter a clever retort, but it only hung open stupidly upon hearing him declare his identity. She did not even have the breath to gasp, and was struck speechless for a moment in which he was probably very happy. She snapped her mouth shut, then opened it again, and that moment ended. “You barbarous fiend,” she growled, no longer finding any charm in him at all. She tried to scoot back against the walls of the carriage. “You will be caught, and-and punished, and…”

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Suddenly she was being dragged out of the carriage, nowhere near as politely as the usual coachman standing there to take her hand and place his coat in the mud so her shoes weren’t ruined… Her boots squelched onto the ground of the forest, which was almost as horrifying as the fact that a rogue was gripping her most scandalously. “Unhand me!” she shrieked, slapping at his arm ineffectually with the hand that was not currently in a vice grip. “Or at the very least, treat me with a bit more courtesy. Don’t you know I’m the princess?”

The moment it left her mouth, she realized that this had been an unwise thing to say, for royalty won no points with this bandit. Still, she was used to waving her title around like a flag and expecting that it would get whatever she wanted, and she couldn’t be expected to change her ways for a robber. She fixed her eyes upon his face to see his reaction – if he looked surprised and hadn’t previously known who she was, she was going to be very insulted indeed; not recognizing a princess! – and gave him her most withering glare. “What is it that you want?”

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[Robin Of The Woods]

He only found her insults amusing; for he expect them and had been called much worse by many others. You learned to find humor in things like wanted posters, and new nicknames quickly as an outlaw. "Yes, I know your a princess, it's why I did not rob you." He told her before grinning and adding on his last bit in a tone that dripped in a sarcastic charm, "It is also why I am kidnapping you!"

Turning to his men, he then ignored her; honestly how far could she run before he'd drag her back and this time she'd be bound up like a Christmas gift? They were surrounded by his woods which were filled with his men. "Cut the horses free, and keep them." Then he looked at the couch man and 'guest' or servants in the coach. "You are going to want to move out and away from the coach, as I am about to set it on fire." He warned them, before turning back the his men to make sure they getting the horses clear of the coach. He wasn't sure why he enjoyed setting fire to rich men's things, but it was rather fun to imagine exactly what shade their face might turn when the learned of his actions. To the princess he spoke this time, "I hope you have nothing of value in there."

[isabel]

Whatever confidence she had felt a moment ago vanished quickly enough when she was told that she was being kidnapped. She did not know why she had not considered it before; but she had nothing of value in the carriage to give him, other than the horses, and she could not have expected the famed bandit to let her go without any consequences. She gasped and stepped back a little, but it was useless; she was separated from the carriage, the horses were cut loose, and she was alone with this monster.

“All I want is to go home,” she cried, arrogance lost and fading into desperation. She wanted to see her husband again. The thought came to her that she might have become pregnant sometime in the past few days and did not need the herb at all, and she was certainly not going to endure a pregnancy, which would be bad enough as it was, out here with a bunch of barbarians! Never before had she so badly wanted to be in the castle, to have the comforts of royalty. “Please – I don’t have anything for you.”

For the second time, she considered lying about her condition. If she told him that she was with child, would he take mercy on her? Or would he just double the ransom? Given the cruelties she’d heard about, the second thing seemed more likely. She was not going to get let go for anything except the money he wanted, she supposed. So she set her lips into a thin line. Begging was not going to get her anywhere; she was going to have to figure her own way out of this. She just had to avoid suspicion and by time until she figured out what that way was. “My husband will pay your ransom,” she said primly, regaining her composure. “As soon as he finds out I’m gone, he’ll turn the whole kingdom upside down to get me home safe and sound. You’ll have your money soon enough.”

[Robin Of The Woods]

Oh course he would pay the ransom, the was the prince of England and if he did not then he would lose all public favor. Therefore, even if he hated his wife; he would have to hand over a chest or two of coins in order to save face. Which was why his plan could not fail in ransoming a princess; there was always someone willing to pay for her. Robert waited until the servants were free before setting fire to the coach. "Follow them, and make sure they get to Nottingham, tell them we want to chest full of coins by tomorrow, or she becomes the newest addition to our band of brothers." He joked and then looked at her, "Better hope your right, sweetheart."

"I don't think skin as soft and pure as yours could stand a few days out here with us earthly men; but don't worry your pretty little head about a thing. Robin will take good care of you while we wait to hear from your husband." Robert knew he was being an ass to her by taunting her with these warnings but he fully expected the ransom to come in a few hours and not even a full day. She could be home tucked into her satin or silk sheets by night fall. If the prince was out hunting, or not in resident at Nottingham then she might be looking at one night with the bandits.

He took hold of one of the horses and moved closer to her, smiling with a charming grin before speaking to her again; "Very in-covenant of you; to bring horse with no saddle but don't worry, I will hold you tight."

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[isabel]

Yes, she did hope that her husband would come get her soon, because it was going to seem like an eternity until she was rescued even if it ended up only being a couple of hours. He was right; no part of her could stand a few days out here with his men. “I don’t want your kind of care,” she retorted sharply. She turned her face away from him dramatically, refusing to even look at his roughly handsome face, giving a little hmph at being called ‘sweetheart’, which was almost as bad as being told she would be part of their brothers. What did that mean? Was that a reference to some lewd rituals – or worse, ritualistic coupling?

Her eyes widened in horror and she began to struggle. “Don’t touch me, you foul, filthy animal! If you lay a finger on me my husband will have your head! And you taunting me isn’t going to get those messengers to run back any faster for you to get your money.” This last point was the only valid one she was going to make, probably, but she hoped that it would make him think. If he did anything to her, it wasn’t going to help him any, but harm him. And she wanted at least something to be on her terms, since everything else had spiraled hopelessly out of her control.
She had no choice but to be touched, however, for he was right; there was only one horse. “I can hold onto it perfectly well on my own,” she insisted, but this was a lie. She hardly ever rode, and when she did, it was sidesaddle at a leisurely gait in an enclosed area. “Or perhaps you could treat me as I deserve and let me ride while you walk.” She doubted he would accept this suggestion, but it was worth trying.

[Robin Of The Woods]

He gave a deep chuckle that rumbled in his chest at her words and useless actions as she could not really hope to hurt him or get free; "Aside from the fact that I am already wanted to be hung, they can't hang me twice. I'm damned if I do; and I am damned if I don't; and doing it more fun." He was equally amused then she asked him to trust her alone on top of a horse he didn't stand a snowball's chance in hell of keeping up with. It was amusing that she tried, but he wasn't going to let her slip though his fingers quite that easier.

"Darlin' I don't trust you any further then you can though me." He taunted before reaching over to drag her closer to him. "Up we go then?" He asked but didn't wait for an answer as he put his hands on her hips and pushed her on the horse before climbing up behind her and pulling her tight in to his arms. "There now, all safe and sound."

Urging the horse into a walk, he looked down at her before looking back at where they were going. "So what is a royal princess doing out here all by her lonesome without a small army to protect her?" He asked trying to find out just why this was damn easy.

[isabel]

Of course he would not let her ride alone. Of course she would have wanted to escape. It was just a shame that he had connected the thoughts before she had, or else she could be out of his grasp. “I’ll have you know that I have no idea how to get out of these damned woods, so you have no fear of me trying to escape,” she informed him resentfully. It was true, and though it wasn’t helping her evade him any, she at least hoped that it would give her the chance to ride in peace.

But no such luck. She squealed indignantly as he hoisted her up, grasping her hips in a way that was most scandalous, and then he was behind her, his body hard and molded against hers. For a moment she sat there in shock before she mustered up her best glare and turned around to shoot it at him. “Oh, yes, safe,” she spat, turning back around to face away from him again, “that’s what you call being kidnapped by a wanted criminal.” She lifted her chin, miffed.

She would have crossed her arms if she could have, but the reality was that she was not anywhere near confident enough on horseback to do so, so she was forced into accepting the embrace of his arms encircling her as she grasped the horse’s mane helplessly, the other arm slung around his neck awkwardly as she just tried to keep from falling. If he did anything faster than a walk, she was going to kill him herself. “I didn’t have an army because I was going in secret,” she replied with a roll of her eyes, not exactly answering his question. “What I was doing was no one’s business, especially not yours.”

[Robin Of The Woods]

Robert could tell the princess was afraid of being on the horse. Had he actually cared as little as he was trying to make her believe he did; then he would have turned into a fully gallop. In order to not make her more frightened however; he let the horse move at a lazy pace; once that walking almost would have been faster. Almost. He tightened his hold around her waist and pulled her hand from around his neck to hold onto his arm; so he could move easier and her hand was not so close to his weapons.

Royal secrets! Now this was his lucky day indeed if she was up to misbehaving her own self! Was it a lover? Was she secretly meeting someone to feed importation to about the going ons in London? She didn't seem the spy type, so he was going to lean to a lover. If it was a lover she could loose her head for such things; which meant the information would be useful if he ever had to blackmail her. He could see it now; one day he'd be caught; ask to her; warn her that his last words would be outing her; she arranges his escape! "I love secrets! Royal secrets are even better and I happen to already know a few. Feel free to tell me yours; you might find me helping in your tasks." Would her lover pay for her too?

Oh that would be grand! Her lover and her husband could pay for her return; and then when the lover found out the husband paid as well he could not speak up and cry fowl! He would have to silently take the blow and pretend nothing had happen to risk loosing his own head! He knew he was getting FAR ahead of himself; what were the odds of it even being a lover and not some other secret. For all he knew she could be bait and this could be a trap.

[isabel]

Isabel swallowed and looked up into the bandit’s eyes nervously as his arm wrapped even tighter around her waist, making her suck in her breath unconsciously before her eyes darted away from his face. She gripped onto his arm fiercely out of fear, knowing that if there was any chance that she was with child, it would be dashed if she fell off the horse. It wasn’t moving very fast, at least according to the confident expression on the man’s face, but it felt rather fast to the princess who had never done anything more than a leisurely walk.

She glared at him when he burst out about loving secrets, and she would have turned her head away in disdain if she could have, but unfortunately her movement was rather restricted by the fact that she was relying solely on him in order to stay on the horse, and the fact that he was cradling her in such a way. “Well, you don’t love my secrets,” she retorted hotly, “because you are never going to know them, and that is that.” She did not wish to accept his invitation to enlighten him; she had talked to much more pleasant people, and this ruffian was hardly someone who she could consider her usual gossip buddy among the ladies of the court.

But a moment later, she came to a realization, one that was both good and disappointing, because it meant that, once more, she would have to rely on him for something. She sighed defeatedly and then looked up at him sourly. He knew the forest; he probably knew its plants and needed them for food. “I’m looking for an herb,” she said, staring him down defiantly as if daring him to accuse her of looking for some sort of mushroom hallucinogen. “Tamawan*, to be specific.” She inspected a cuticle critically. "Perhaps you might recognize it?"

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(*not a real plant)[/size]

[Robin Of The Woods]

Robert stayed silent but amused at her little out burst about not knowing her secrets. He had not really expected her to tell him about the lover, but he was just going to play bully it out of her anyway. Where was the fun in playing along and letting her just sit there when he had people to rob, prince's to ruin and now princess' to blackmail. There wasn't any fun in that, so he would just have to bully the little frighten girl until he had what he wanted.

As it was, he didn't need to for just after she was promising he'd never know her secrets she was spilling them. This right here was why women could not be spys, nor in politics. They could not keep a damn secret. With just a few words he was able to guess in a round about way what she was doing here. There were only two things you used that plant for, and he was willing to bet it wasn't to to hide her scent while hunting. The herb was good for women in such a way that they could become mothers easier, but it also had a strong scent and if you were hunting something big, or hiding the the sheriff's dogs it was a blessing!

He might have rather her secret be a lover, as it was more money in his pocket that way but he could deal with this. This he would sue too. "I happen to know were you can get your little fingers on some." He paused for a long moment, "For a price, of course." When dealing with his outlaws, everything had a price. Only this time, it wasn't money.

[isabel]

Isabel sighed. For all her luck lately, the currency was probably sex; she would take care to take the root after rather than before, to ensure her child was her husband’s, if that had to be the case, if she could even get John to love her anymore at all. Robin was already going to get money for her ransom so she doubted he wanted any more of it, and she supposed that out here in the woods, they did not often come across women, and even rarer were those women interested in a bunch of hooligans. “Fine,” she groused. “But I get the plant first.”

Really, she shouldn’t even trust him to give her the right plant – after all, he could give her some other kind and say that it was what she wanted, since she wouldn’t know the difference between them – but she had no other choice. He knew the forest, and she didn’t; she wouldn’t be able to get it any other way, since asking someone else to get it would mean making her problem more public, and that was something that she refused to do. So se just had to hope for the best, and if it didn’t work, she wasn’t in a situation any worse than she already had been before.

And maybe this whole kidnapping thing could be a good thing. Maybe when Robin said ‘price’ he really did mean money, and it wasn’t as if John didn’t have any of it to spare. And when she returned, he would miss her and feel bad about what he’d said to her and he would be so glad she had returned safely to him that he would apologize and hold her to him. That was how their love was: as violent in its declarations of praise and love as it was in arguments. It was one extreme or the other. Still, Isabel looked at Robin, a question in her eyes. “What exactly is this price of which you speak? My husband is already doling out enough money to you for my ransom.”

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