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Post by Robin Of The Woods on Feb 26, 2012 2:43:58 GMT -5
"High handed?!" Robert wasn't sure what the hell was going on in her silly little girl head. "Woman, I was trying to keep your head on your shoulders or your virtue in your dress!" Lowly outlaw his lily white ares! Yet he could not return her words with anything like he wished; for it would be insulting to her rank. Though much lower compared to his real one; it was caring for his mother. A rank he would not ignore; nor cheaper; because it was his mother.
"What would the sheriff say if he found you here?" Robert reminded her; "He would have you strung up so fast a guard would not even had the proper time to lift that skirt." Harsh but true; and she seemed to think she was doing anyone a favor. She was risking her damn neck and that was all she was doing! "What do you think my men would have done; had I not happened to be around?" She'd rather the sheriff find her; that was for sure. Robert didn't pretend these men were god men. Most had earned the outlaw title.
It was the few who had not that formed in inner band of trusted men. The ones who had done the right thing; no matter the arrogance of a sheriff who claimed them wrong.
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Post by Marian Cooper on Feb 26, 2012 3:20:03 GMT -5
Marian waited until he was finished ranting about her head and her virtue to respond. "And I appreciate that." She repeated, and it was true; she was glad that he felt the need to keep her from being robbed, murdered or raped out in the woods while she was doing his family a favor. "But it would be nice if you would speak to me like I were a person, instead of just a servant." She shrugged, and spoke calmly, although he was seriously starting to damage that calm.
She was used to being spoken down to. Like she were a simpleton, sometimes even a slave, she was used to being given orders. And he was used to giving orders. But she wasn't working right now, even if she was here on the orders of another noble, and she was tired of him barking orders at her and treating her like she didn't know what she was doing. "I knew all that when I came out here, and I came out anyways because I love your mother and I want her to be happy. Maybe I'm a soft-touch, but I'm not an idiot." [/size][/color] |
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Post by Robin Of The Woods on Feb 26, 2012 3:44:53 GMT -5
"And I appreciate that." She should! "But it would be nice if you would speak to me like I were a person, instead of just a servant." Bloody hell; she would! Robert knew of only four ways to speak to women. His family; there he was restful but charming and never crossing a line. With Ladies; he was charming and suggestive and bold. With tavern ladies; he was more suggestive and bold and a dirty sort of charming--if he spoke to her like this she'd still be bitching to him! And then to servants.
"Maybe I'm a soft-touch, but I'm not an idiot." "We at lease agree one of of them." He muttered under his breath; before deciding that he would pretend to give her what she wanted in order to make peace. "Then the next time my mother plays on your heart strings, please, give the letter to Evie. My sister. She can mock my handwriting and give her a reply with out risking anyone's life and limb. My sister hates me; but she will not let my mother go wanting." He said please; and was trying to give her what she wanted so she would not risk her neck again for a note. "What was his trade?" Who was this man; that she would marry.
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Post by Marian Cooper on Feb 26, 2012 5:09:09 GMT -5
 Marian just gave a soft sigh when he refused to agree that she wasn't an idiot; yeah, he was still a noble, after all. She could have argued, but what would be the point? She wasn't going to change his mind, and he would continue to think what he wanted. At least he said 'please'. She had already agreed to do as he wished, although she wondered if Evie wouldn't also try to use the letter as an excuse to seek out her brother; she was quite far from hating him, after all. But it wasn't like Marian could forge a reply, she couldn't even read, let alone write.
"As you wish." She nodded, it wasn't much, but he had said please, even if it was still an order. It would take more effort than Marian was willing to put in to break him of his bad habits...let some other, younger woman without any children try to make him into a decent human being. "Did you want to give her a reply tonight?" If she would never again receive a real letter from her son, Marian figured she should at least get one...if he was willing to do so. [/size][/color] |
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Post by Robin Of The Woods on Feb 28, 2012 0:59:44 GMT -5
She wanted to give his mother a reply; but Robert knew better then to ever send one. "No; I am not replying." He would never reply to a single letter she tried to send. "Tell her I took the letter and that I did not open it." Robert didn't even plan to read it right now. If his mother begged him for a visit he might give it too her. That would get her killed.
"You say you love my mother; fine; but she can't love me. Not anymore. You have to harden your heart to her some." No more letters; no more encouraging her. " Tell my sister the next time my Mother asks something of you like this. Evie will speak with her." Because his sister would pretend to hate him to everyone--even their mother if that was what it took. "Thank you for the act of kindness; but do not be kind again." He wasn't trying to be an ass; but he could not let her risk everyone with these acts again.
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Post by Marian Cooper on Feb 28, 2012 1:26:51 GMT -5
Marian nodded when he told her he would not reply, she wouldn't press him for one. She hoped it would be enough to tell Lady Vivian that her son was alive and well...relatively well, at least. But when he said that his mother couldn't love him, Marian gave him a mournful smile. "She's your mother. She will never stop loving you." She said it with certainty, because she knew it was true. He could commit the worst crimes in the world, he could be the devil himself, she would still love him.
As for Marian... "I won't indulge her again." She shouldn't have done it the first time, she'd already said that. She nodded when he said to tell Evie...but she would feel bad making Evelyn say nasty things about her brother, even to their mother. She knew how it broke her heart even to just lie to the court. She looked up to meet his eyes when he told her not to be kind again, and she knew it was sincere; kindness was weakness. She just didn't know if she could bear to be strong like that. She nodded, then looked away, she didn't have anything else to say to that.
But she did have something else she wanted to ask... "Robert...while you were in the Holy Lands, or afterwards...I don't suppose you heard any word of my brother? Jacob Hart...he would have been an archer. He hasn't returned." She knew it was a big army, and Robert couldn't possibly have known everyone...but she had to ask. If there was any chance he was still alive, or if his death was certain, she wanted to know. Besides, she had told him of his family. [/size][/color] |
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Post by Robin Of The Woods on Feb 28, 2012 21:19:36 GMT -5
Yes; well his mother needed to harden her heart too. She would be so much better off if she did hate him; and if she did not care what other said and if she . . . . If she were more like Evie. His sister wasn't perfect but at least she knew how to stand tall; rather then hide in her rooms. Robert wasn't mad at his mother; and if anything felt more protective about her then anything; but he wished she was stronger so this fight would not be costing him her.
He looked down at Marian when she asked about her brother and at first he did not answer. No; he did not know the name but it wasn't hard to guess. She was the lower class; and the lower class filled the ranks of the first lines; and marching men; and most of them die or would not survive the trip home. If they did; then it would as he had returned. Soul sick and the nightmares . . .
Bloody hell the nightmares. "I do not know the name; but there were over 500 men under my guard." He didn't know any of their names. Too many died too quickly for him to want to know their names.
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Post by Marian Cooper on Feb 28, 2012 23:58:49 GMT -5
She nodded, trying not to let her disappointment show on her face when he didn't recognize the name. She knew it was a longshot, but it didn't keep her from asking anyone who had knowledge of the war in the Holy Lands if they knew anything. No one who had returned had heard of him, and of course, she hadn't heard anything since he'd left. He couldn't even send letters, since he couldn't write and she couldn't read, so she had no idea if he was alive, or if he'd died years ago.
"Thank you anyways," she responded quietly, well at least he hadn't said he was dead. It would be better if she'd just give up hope about ever seeing him again, it might be easier, but she couldn't abandon what little hope she had left. She would just have to keep praying for him to be safe and return home soon. But so many men had left for war, and now it seemed that only a trickle of them were coming back....
"What was the war like?" She asked, it was supposed to be all honorable deaths and glorious battles, right? That was what all the songs about war said, that it was the road to riches and fame and glory for those who survived, with war stories that could entertain their children and grandchildren in their old age. That was what she heard, at least. She hadn't heard much about this war, however, and she was curious...besides, men liked talking about their conquests in battle, didn't they? [/size][/color] |
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Post by Robin Of The Woods on Mar 3, 2012 2:55:05 GMT -5
"Thank you anyways," For nothing. "He could be left in the Holy Lands; for many men stayed to man the hospitals until more men could be moved home." He offered the lie; knowing damn well any men left behind would never make it out. Small numbers were easy targets. It wasn't called war because it was pretty; men died and the fact that he came home with no major limbs missing was nothing short of a mir--"What was the war like?" Bloody hell!
Robert looked down at her; after coming to a full stop. She might have worked for his family for year; but she was still a stranger! A servant! Who the hell was she to ask these things? Robert's face wasn't angry; as talking about the war brought up other less pleasant emotions; but nor was it one that suggested the topic was open for discussion. "Like Hell; but with better food." He answered sarcastically before walking forward again.
In an effort to make her shut up about the war; he decided to change the subject to ANYTHING besides the war. Even something he had not cared to ask a moment ago. "How did your husband die?"
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Post by Marian Cooper on Mar 3, 2012 19:24:15 GMT -5
When he offered the explanation of the hospitals, she considered it briefly, giving him a skeptical look before she looked forward again. If he was still in the Holy Lands now...well, it would be better than death. But would he ever make it home? Would she ever hear from him again? She had her doubts. And would Jacob really stay to take care of others? They say war changed a man, and it had been years...but somehow, that was the most far-fetched thing of all.
She stopped when he did, turning slightly to look at him, realizing she'd said something wrong as he stared at her. She looked up at him, her eyes slightly wide and her lips parted slightly as she waited for his reaction, somewhat like a deer in the headlights. Marian hadn't realized that it was a taboo to ask about; she heard men bragging about violence and battles all the time at the tavern. How was she to know this was any different? When he answered, she felt slightly puzzled, but from his reaction before, she knew better than to ask for more information. "I'm sorry," she apologized, not for the situation, but for asking more than she should have.
He started walking before she did, and after a moment of puzzlement, she turned to follow him, hurrying a bit to catch up. When she did, she was surprised by his own question; now it was a subject she wasn't eager to speak on. "He was hanged by the Sheriff." She answered simply, offering no more details than the simple fact of how he died, exactly what he had asked. [/size][/color] |
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Post by Robin Of The Woods on Mar 6, 2012 22:14:43 GMT -5
"I'm sorry," Everyone was sorry; it changed nothing. "Don't be; it wasn't your war." Hell it had barley even been his. The idea of the Holy Lands had meant something; not he just wanted England. Ironic; that he knew he'd lost her too. When he outlawed himself; he had made his life take one of two courses. He could die here; or leave here.
If he could stay alive long enough for the king to return; then he would leave here. "He was hanged by the Sheriff." Such as life; and the way of men here with the sheriff's rule. "Why?" He asked; his tone blank but he did really want to know. The bastard in charge held no love for the people; only it's coin. Robert had felt the same until seeing how they lived. He wasn't sure quite where they left him now; but he knew that he couldn't just ignore them.
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Post by Marian Cooper on Mar 6, 2012 22:34:39 GMT -5
She frowned again at his answer, still puzzled, but aware now that she had no business asking more of him...well, anymore than she already had. Unfortunately, he didn't seem to share that sentiment. She could tell him to keep his nose out of it, or refuse to answer much as he had, but Marian didn't see the point of it. It wasn't a secret, and while it was a particularly bad memory; it had long since faded, the sharp edges dulled by the years.
"He owed taxes to the crown," she started, and wished that was simply where it ended. "But he gambled away the coin, so he made a deal to save his skin. He couldn't deliver on that either, so the Sheriff had him hang as an example to others." She finished with a slight sigh, it was a slightly longer story than that, and probably full of many more sighs, but that was the short, palatable version, the one she told people when they insisted. It was all really quite tragic, but she'd heard worse. [/size][/color] |
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