a time to run

[Marian Cooper]

"Hate to break it to you, but that would be the hard coins that make the whores drip, and nothing hard of yours." Sure, he was handsome...but given that he used to be a Earl, she had no doubt that the majority of his women had been after his title or his lands, knowing the women of London's court. And seeing his position now...disgraced and yet seen as the people's hero, robbing the rich and selling to the poor, he was one of the few men with money to burn, so that would make the real whores flock to him.

What, no witty quips about how he didn't care about the sins of his father? Maybe she'd hit a nerve there; she didn't know anything about his family, but sons did seem to have a fondness for their fathers, didn't they? She'd have to keep that in mind. "It seems the sins of the father silence the tongue of the son." She quipped, but her plan seemed to have backfired when he pushed back against her, easily deflecting her attack and keeping his hold on her staff...but moving his other hand to a much more sensitive area. But she wasn't foolish enough to let go of her only means of defense, and held fast to her staff.

"What is this, your idea of foreplay?" She asked with a slightly disgusted tone and raising her eyebrows at him, wondering if this was really what aroused him. He certainly was an odd one. She pulled back on the staff, having to take a step back anyways as he extended his arm, trying a different tactic to wrench it from his grip.

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[Robin Of The Woods]

Robert was done playing games. If she wanted to bitch out about him and his friends and family then he was going to return in kind. Since he had not clue about her family; he was going to have to lash out a new way. Dropping his hold on her girl parts; he warped his hand around the stick and swung it so it would force her to move with it . . . and into a tree.

He didn't care if he was hurting her; he was going to get rid of this damn stick and then she was getting tossed over his horse and he was going to gag her while making her the center piece of his little hideout. Then WHEN he gave her mouthy but back to the sheriff she could bitch that him! With that thought Robert moved the stick to swing her at another tree. "No wonder no man wants and the prince kicked you out of London; all you do to bitch and moan."

[Marian Cooper]

The game was over when he seized the staff with both hands, as Marian immediately knew that he wouldn't have any trouble overpowering her now. Better to cut her losses and lose her weapon now. So as soon as he had both his hands on the staff, Marian let go, ducking under it and out of the way just in time to avoid being shoved into a tree. And she didn't stop moving as the momentum of his intended attack pulled him through to attack the poor defenseless tree. She might now be strong, but she was fast.

She dashed behind him, but instead of just running into the woods aimlessly, she made a beeline for his horse, grabbing the saddle horn and pulling herself up in one fluid movement. She didn't waste time turning to see where he was or trying to gloat, instead kicking the horse into a gallop to get away from him as quickly as possible. Gloating was sweet, but freedom would taste so, so much sweeter once she managed to get safely away.

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[Robin Of The Woods]

Robert had so been looking forward to the sight of her small body smacking the tree. He had hoped it would cause her to get quite at least if not drop the damn stick. As it was; he got both wishes! She let go of the damn stick and didn't say a word. She took off behind him but he broke the stick over his knee before.

When he turned to chase after, and he noticed she was going after his horse. "Don't you blood well dare!" He yelled after he and then ran after her. Before he could reach her however she was mounted and riding off deeper into the woods! "YOU BICTH!" He yelled at her and knew that if he ever got his hands on her again; he was going going to bind and gag her!

[Marian Cooper]

Marian didn't look back as she heard him screaming after her, but she did smirk to herself. Well, that had worked out, even if things hadn't gone exactly the way she had planned. Once she was far enough away that she didn't need to worry about him giving chase, she let the horse slow to a walk, reaching down to pat the beast's neck appreciatively. She didn't want to tire the poor thing out, and they had a long way to go now.

Yes, a very long way to go, she thought to herself hours later, as the sun was dipping down below the tree line. She probably should've been out of the woods by now, and she had definitely started to worry. Yeah, she was lost. Pretty much hopelessly so, but fortunately, she hadn't had any more run-ins with bandits or patrols, so while she was wandering around the forest trying to make heads or tails of where she should be going, at least she didn't have to deal with anymore irritating bandits.

She had dismounted from the horse some time ago, and as the sun went down, she figured she ought to find somewhere to settle down for the night. It didn't look like she'd be getting out of the woods tonight, at any rate. She heard the trickling of a stream nearby, and followed the sound to the source of the water, leading the horse down to it to get a drink, and while he was taking his fill, she decided to poke around for a good place to rest, so she looped his reins over a branch and walked a little ways from the stream. She hadn't gone very far when she found a glen...filled with dirty, hairy men, huddled about flickering campfires. Marian stopped dead, her eyes going wide, before she started trying to back up as quietly as she possibly could, trying not even to breathe lest she draw their attention.

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[Robin Of The Woods]

The men knew she was there; but it was their jobs to not know she was there. Decoys. When an intruder was spotted the game was set; always the same. Watch them; see where they went; and if they came upon the camp; let them come closer before surrounding them. She backed up which took out their normal ending but it was easy to get to her horse and move it before she could get back to it; and surround her before she got too far; bows and arrowed drawn tight.

'Robin' was not among the men playing their games; after his walk back to his camp he retreated to the caves near by that he used as his home. Most of his men did not even know were the caves were. One of them did however and came to fetch him. Apparently his stolen horse had found it's way home.

For a moment Robert wondered if she was alone out there; injured after his horse tossed her off. Then he was told she was found 'not far' from here. Oh goody! Looking up at the sky he grinned. Someone was on his side tonight! "Give her and opening to run;" He told the men; "Herd her this way. If she veers off course, bind her and drag her to me."

His men went off to do his bidding and he stood there waiting to see if she would run this way trying to escape or if they'd have to drag her. Either way; they were about to have a heart to heart.

[Marian Cooper]

What the hell kind of stupid bandits made so much noise as to draw attention to themselves, and then didn't even set a lookout to warn them when someone wandered too close? The kind who wanted to get caught! Or so she thought, right until she got back to the stream where her horse was supposed to be waiting for her, and instead found a few men, weapons drawn, waiting for her. Well she wasn't about to wander into that ambush! They didn't seem to have noticed her, either, which she figured was pretty lucky for her, as she turned to head into a different direction, but the sound of a raucous laugh coming from that way had her quickly doing an about face, heading in what seemed to be the only clear path. At least they didn't seem to know she was here yet, or else she could be in a lot of trouble!

She tried to move quickly and silently through the trees, not sure where exactly she was running to, but every time she stopped or tried to go a different way, there was another noise or movement that spurred her along the same path. Marian had no idea she was being 'herded' anywhere; she just knew that she had to get away from all the noises and the men if she wanted to be safe, and that meant taking the only clear path.

Right up until that clear path led to a cave. Marian drew up short as the dark entrance came into view, eying the darkness with wary suspicion, certain that wherever she ought to go, that was not the place. Caves were dangerous; even if you managed not to get lost in winding, dark passages, who knew what would be living in them? Wolves lived in caves! Bears too. Bears did live in caves, right? Yes, Marian was quite certain she'd heard that said. Her decision to avoid the caves made, she turned to go around...and was startled to walk right into a small group of men, all of which looked very amused and pleased with themselves. Marian took a step back, then whirled around to run the opposite direction, but there were yet more men that way, looking equally smug. One of them spoke up, repeating Robin's words from earlier. Walk into the cave...or be dragged.

Moments later, it took two of the biggest blokes Marian had ever seen in her life to hold the woman still enough that they could tie her wrists in front of her, before they succeeded in half-carrying, half-dragging the still-struggling Marian into the cave, dropping her bodily on the floor in front of Robin, glaring at her. One of them was limping and sporting a bloody nose and the other had a nasty looking bruise that would darken to a nice shiner over his right eye. Marian groaned in pain after hitting the ground, she wasn't without her fair share of marks, including a nice red hand mark on her cheek that was already darkening. Awkwardly pushing herself up into a sitting position, she somehow managed to look down her nose at Robin even from the floor, glaring at him superiorly. "Let me guess; since you lost all your coin, this is the only way you can get a woman to come home with you." Defiant and reckless to the last, Marian held up her bound hands up to indicate that was what she meant.

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[Robin Of The Woods]

Robert had moved out of the caves and over toward a group of trees with allot of under brush so he could sit low and wait for her to run in. However she got close to them and went the other bloody way! What the hell was wrong with this woman! She was supposed to run; he would follow her 'save' her from her self and show her how charming he could be while he tricked her into talking back to the castle on her on!

After she ran the other way he walked back to the cave knowing what was coming. He kept his back to the door way; until he heard the sounds of them dragging her in before turning but not looking down at her. "Let me guess; since you lost all your coin, this is the only way you can get a woman to come home with you." She was trying to annoy him; but he was wining so he didn't let it bother her. He had his horse back; hand her bound at his feet.

"You boys might want get cleaned up," He warned them; knowing others would give them hell if they saw them. Robert wasn't against them tossing her tot he ground; it looks like she earned it. The ground was hard; but he doubted it would do much damage. There was a strong difference between giving a woman hell and beating her however. He would let her reap what she sewed; but had he looked at her then his reaction would have been greatly different. Yet it wasn't but he did not even bother to glance her way. Wanting her to know he cared not.

[Marian Cooper]

When she noticed that he wasn't going to turn around to face her, Marian touched her middle gingerly, barely containing the gasp of pain that caused. Robin's men weren't the sort to have qualms about hitting a woman who fought back; these were desperate peasants, not high born boys who'd learned right from wrong from their nannies. But she'd still managed to struggle on the way in, so she figured the damage couldn't be that bad. Hitting the ground probably didn't help things, but she was still in good enough shape to talk back, even if she wasn't sure she could stand up yet.

She did so hate men and their plans, especially when she was an unwilling pawn in them. She stared up at him, her expression unimpressed at his show of dominance, wondering if he'd even turn around to face her. So he was the delicate sort of nobleman who could order others to dirty their hands on his behalf, but didn't even have the stomach to face the consequences. "What I said before was right. You're nothing but a petty thief...with delusions of standing. Sad little king of a sad little hill."

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[Robin Of The Woods]

"What I said before was right. You're nothing but a petty thief...with delusions of standing. Sad little king of a sad little hill." He ignored her while watching him men take leave. He wasn't going to feed into her little effort to annoy him. She was the little idiot who rode his horse back to him. She could have escaped ANYWHERE but no; she rode it home! Let he mock him while she knelled at his feet. "Sticks and stones, love" He told her; still not looking at her.

Once they were alone he knew the games could begin. The cave wasn't dark; but even if it was there was a 'room' or 'hole' back in it that had an open top. During the season when it rained the area flooded but thanks to the slightly dry summer; it only had a little pool and the rest was dry as a bone. Come the wet colder winter he'd be looking for a new home. If someone came upon him from above; he could duck into the caves below. Being the caves were pitch dark and had other such holes; they would be allot slower in following him.

Standing at the opening with his back toward her; he watched all other forms of life disappear into the trees leaving them alone. 'Marian, Marian, Marian; the girl that no man wants to marry. Or take for a mistress. . . . . or talk to . . . " Because her tongue was sharper then her wit. "Good thing you have a pretty face, love, because there isn't much going for you."

He turned and looked down at her back; walking around her as he spoke; a huge grin on his face. He was pleased with himself. "So spew you shew words at me and try to annoy me. You will see---Bloody fucking hell, woman!" His tone changed as he came around to look at her and saw the hand print on her cheek. His men. Robert was going to have one less idiot in his court when he found out who the bloody hell hit a woman! "Who?" He demand, dropping down on his haunches to get a closer look at her. "Which one?"

[Marian Cooper]

Sticks and stones? Did he think he was being funny? She didn't think she had any broken bones, although maybe he planned to rectify that. Marian watched him as he circled around her, turning to watch him over her shoulder and grimacing at the pain that twisting her torso caused, but refusing to make a sound. "I am not your love, stop calling me that. I would never stoop so low." She growled, he certainly seemed to be enjoying himself, strutting around like the cock of the walk.

And still he carried on with his little tirade, finally coming around to look her in the face. She glared up at him levelly, her expression unimpressed...until it became a confused frown when he swore. She would see bloody fucking hell? Was that a threat? But his tone had changed completely, as if he'd meant to say something else and been caught off guard. She looked back over her shoulder, in case there was something behind her that might have elicited this sudden change in the man. But there was nothing. When she turned back, she was startled to find he had come down to her level, and instinctively tried to get away, forgetting her injuries for a moment, but the motion caused the pain to ripple through her anew, and she inhaled sharply, wincing as her hand went to her abdomen.

After a brief moment, she recovered enough to answer. "What are you talking about, who?" She had no idea what he was referring to, as she was still under the assumption that he had ordered them to beat her, or do whatever else was necessary to bring her before him. Apparently, no one got away with humiliating this little king.

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[Robin Of The Woods]

Robert ignored every other thing the damn woman said except for her, "What are you talking about, who?" He didn't care about her hate of nicknames or annoying the crap out of her right now. He looked back at the men who had disappeared and knew they were damn lucky; for if he went and found them right now he'd kill him.

He had a baby sister and if a man annoyed the hell out of her; he was fine with it. He might teach him a little lesson and give him a little taste of his own medicine but it wasn't the end of the world. Had he found her like he found Marian just now; he'd drag the man alive by parts that were not meant to be used in such ways.

"Who hit you? Which one?" He demand; his furry easy to see. Robert was almost shaking he was so angry. THIS was not how to fight a war! He could still hear the order being given to slaughter the people in Acre. The women who held their children in fear; only t find them dead later. Robert had lost his will for war then and he wasn't about to let his own damn men become as cold and heartless as the war had been. "This is not game I play to play, and I will not let my men treat women this way. I need to know which one hit you. Now." Then he'd take care it, his way.

[Marian Cooper]

She gave him a slightly incredulous and suspicious look as he demanded to know who had hit her, oh, so now he cared? "The big ugly one," she answered, not sure she could be anymore specific than that. It was dark outside, and she hadn't really seen where the blows had come from. It wasn't like she'd introduced herself and asked for their names before they startling tussling, after all. She watched him warily, but his steadily increasing rage didn't seem to be an act. He seemed genuinely outraged.

"Maybe you should have told your men that before you sent them after me." She answered bitterly, even if it wasn't an act, what good did his anger after the fact do her? Nice as it might be to see those who had hurt her punished, she wasn't even sure she could identify them if she were placed face-to-face with the man himself; it had been dark, and over quickly. She might have been able to hold Robin off with a stave, but unarmed and against multiple foes, Marian hadn't stood much of a chance. Especially when one of them was more than willing to dole out as much punishment as he could muster.

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[Robin Of The Woods]

Big ugly one? Really women were no help with the details! Bloody useless information she gave him! "I can assure you;" He told her in a barley controlled tone; "That such actions will not happen again." Because he was going to bloody kill them both. He was not fighting this type of war; and anyone who broke his rules; in his camp; dealt with his punishment. It would be bloody; and public; and a warning to everyone to understand the message.

His word was law; and they fight as gentlemen not monsters. Pulling a short knife from his boot; he reached over to cut her bonds. Robert did not care if it frightened her; or didn't think to care until his actions were done with. "Come, I will show you were you can get cleaned up." Though to be clear; "If you run then you'll be back bound and on the floor when I catch you." Though he would not beat her; or harm her. Embarrassing or robbing nobles was fine; hell encouraged. But he drew the line at beating women.

[Marian Cooper]

He promised that such things would not happen again, and she just rolled her eyes. He was even sadder if he thought he could control his pack of mad dogs with just a few words. These weren't gentlemen he was dealing with, good little noble boys like himself who had gotten themselves into a bit of trouble and were out for revenge, they were desperate men, rough and I'll-mannered peasants who had already lost all they could bear to. But, if he wanted to delude himself into thinking he could curb whatever base desires drove them, well, who was she to question the little king? This was his kingdom, after all.

She didn't flinch back when he took out the knife, but she did watch him warily for any sudden movements. Wouldn't it be just her luck that after being promised that this violence would never again occur, he would murder her. But he used the knife to cut the coarse bonds from her wrists, and she looked at him curiously instead. Last time she'd been free, she'd attacked him, escaped and stole his horse. Did he really think this round was going to go any better? She got to her feet gingerly when he told her to come with him, a grim but somewhat ironic smile curving her lips upward at his threat. "What a fine example you set for your band of miscreants." He wouldn't beat her; just tie her up so she couldn't run away. Because kidnapping was so much better than violence.

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