Wanderer

[Daine Merton]

(Ooc - Ok, my first post, seriously I have little clue as to what I am doing! Apologies for utter lameness... *hides*)

Daine slipped through the castle corridors unseen, well unnoticed more like. The castle was a hive of activity, and the one thing on everyone's lips was the outlaw Gisbourne had in custody. She wanted nothing more than to go down to the jail and see who it was, but Daine would be turned round before she even got close to jail.

She still considered giving it a go, letting her feet lead her down the corridors which led to the dungeons. She mind raced, trying to think who it was in custody (not that she knew who any of the outlaws were save Robin and Marian.) It certainly wasn't Robin, no way would Gisbourne have taken him to the dungeons, he'd have gone straight to Vaysey no doubt.

She scowled at the passing guards, would it be of an use to try and flirt the answer out of one? She shook the idea out of her head, it would never work. She slowed her fast pace as she drew up to the corner before the stairs which led to the dungeons. A quick peer round told her that there were guards by the stairs, she expected no less.

She moved back round, praying they hadn't seen her. She pouted in thought, what could she do now?

[Alice Brandon]

Alice had been passing by a few guards earlier that day when she had over heard that they had caught an outlaw and that Gisborne was torturing him. Alice and then quickly slipped passed them, trying to go unnoticed. From there she snuck back to her room, shuddering from the thought of torture and one of the outlaws being captured. She had known Marian when she was staying in the castle and secretly hoped it was not her. Alice only knew of Robin and Marian, though she knew there were other outlaws as well. She sat there in her room, curious as to who was captured. The curiosity overcame her and she quickly slipped on her cloak, her long brown hair in a simple braid down her back, as she slipped toward the prisons.

Alice didn't have an excuse as to why she was headed in that direction, so she hoped that she would be caught or stopped. Though her father was friends with the Sheriff, it did not completely extend down to the daughter who just happened to be breaking a few rules. But when did rules ever stop her? As she slipped through the corridors toward the moldy dungeon, Alice didn't notice another woman going in the same direction. As she began to turn the corner, her small body collided with someone else's and she was knocked to the ground, her cloak falling off her, revealing her young, innocent face.

[Daine Merton]

As Daine moved back round, someone collided into her. Daine was pushed back into the wall, a quiet 'oof' escaping her lips. But she had met a better fate than her collider. She moved her dark eyes to the figure lying on the floor. Her eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"Alice! What the Hell you doing here?" Daine hissed, while stooping to the fellow noble's side. "You ok?" Daine held out a hand to Alice to help her up.

[Alice Brandon]

Alice was startled by the harsh language, but she quickly recognized the voice and was calmed that it was female and ultimately belonged to Daine, another woman who lived in the castle. She looked up at her with her big, brown eyes, a look of guilt and curiosity engrained in her face. "I heard there was an outlaw in the prisons. I just hoped it wasn't Marian," she whispered to the woman. She took the hand and stood. Then she dusted off her light green dress and bent to pick up her cloak.

Alice then turned to Daine. "And what are you doing here?" she asked with a smile. Alice had every right to be here as Daine did. She quickly looked around to make sure there weren't any guards around, but if there were, the two girls could probably find an excuse or flirt their way out of it. Guards were so easy to trick when it came to their femininity.

[Daine Merton]

Daine too had wondered if it were Marian, but it didn't feel like it. Surely Gisbourne would have taken her to the Sheriff as well. Daine didn't know the full details of what happened in those months they all left for the Holy Land, but she did know that Marian went in the Sheriff's custody and returned with Robin. Guy would not have liked that, and she didn't even want to think about how much the Sheriff despised that outcome.

"I don't think it's Marian. Definately not Robin. I don't know who it is though. I haven't even heard any screams yet..." Daine explained, still keeping an ear out for a scream. Though the thought of hearing one chilled her to the bone.

When Alice asked Daine why she, herself, was there the young noble couldn't help but let a grin fill her face. "Snooping, what else?" Though she let the grin drop and added more seriously, still keeping her hushed tones, "I just wanted to know if I could help."

[Alice Brandon]

Alice shuddered at the thoughts of screams. "I just don't want to be forced to go to another public hanging," she said truthfully. Alice didn't like the idea of death or killing. That was one of the things that made Robin so admirable. He rarely killed, and only for a reason. "Maybe it's the Saracen woman?" she asked, since she heard o screams. Surely they wouldn't torture a woman. Even the Sheriff hadn't tortured Marian when he had her in custody. Alice then remembered Allan. It had been rumored he had been one of Robin's men turned bad. Allan had left for the Holy Land, only to return with Robin, but then the screams would have been plentiful if he had been captured.

"Same, but what could we do? Sneak down there and unlock the door? The Sheriff would be suspicious," Alice said, a worried look on her face. Perhaps they could hand the outlaw food and water, or even offer bandages if he was badly hurt, but other than that, there was not much help to be given to someone in a prison under Gisborne's watch.

[Daine Merton]

"I think sneaking down is out of the question." Daine turned to look over her shoulder, as if it would give any clue as to who was down there or how they could find out. All she saw was guards.

Alice's words floated into her mind as the cogs turned. She still didn't take her eyes off the guards. There must be a way without arising suspicsion. Truth be told, Daine didn't doubt that the Sheriff wanted her out, seen as how her father rebelled against him during the French Evidence. She had to avoid anything that gave her a one way ticket to the noose.

Blinking back the sudden burn in her eyes, that memory was not a happy one, Daine suggested, "Flirt the answer out?"

[Alice Brandon]

Alice giggled at the thought. She was still young and naive when it came to men, and hopelessly romantic, but she had gotten quite good at flirting since she came to the castle. "I think that might be the only way to find out," she said, a sly smile adorning her face. She would let Daine take the initiative as she was the prettier and more alluring of the two. Alice was still girlish while Daine had a je ne sais quoi to her, or so Alice thought.

She then let her thoughts wander to Nicholas. if he were around, he may tell them, but she hadn't seen him in awhile. She hoped he hadn't been caught, but if he were, they would all hear about it. It was almost like a big brother was watching over them all constantly and one wrong move landed you in prison.

[Daine Merton]

Daine nodded, though inside she was dreading it. She hated flirting with the guards. She had to put on a sweet, sickly face that made her want to vomit - it came as a surprise that anyone found it attractive. Things were so much easier when she could demand the information out, where was Nicholas when you needed him? What was the point of having a double crosser if he was never around to double cross?

Daine didn't think twice about going first, she had always been the more confident of the pair. Always. Even when they were younger and attending partys, it was always Daine who spoke back first to the young men who flocked to them.

She strode out confidently, lips pursed slightly into a pout. She tugged a corner, making it a coy smile. Showtime...

[Alice Brandon]

Alice followed behind. She let her cloak open more to reveal the slightly low cut, light green dress that clung to certain areas that men liked, as she undid her long brown hair and let it flow over her shoulders. Her big brown eyes scanned the surroundings, a look of fascination and sweetness reflecting out of them. Her lips were formed in a small smile as she took deep breaths, preparing herself for perverted and overly annoying guards.

Being a romantic meant Alice thought of tall, blond hair men with clear blue eyes, dashing and kind with a gorgeous smile to make any girl faint. He would be nice, yet have some confidence to him. She did not like the guards, other than Nicholas, as they were slow and most rather ugly. She had to get those ideas out of her head. In her mind she would picture handsome men in uniform.

[Sebastian Mannering]

Sebastian was rather enjoying his stay in the castle so far. Vaysey had been hospitable, if a little... eccentric, his room had been well furnished and the kitchen staff clearly knew how to cook a good meal. He was currently striding down one of the lower corridors of the castle, on his return from the kitchen. He hadn't been looking for food though, he'd been chasing that vixen of a serving girl. He had to say he'd enjoyed the hunt and the girl had hardly resisted his charms.

He turned a corner, footsteps echoing on the cold stone floors. All the décor in this place was so, he made a little gesture as he searched for the appropriate word, gloomy... typical of England. A look of disdain marred his features for only a moment before the attractive smile was back, fixed firmly in place. A couple of guards stood to attention as Sebastian passed, nodding to him in respect but with a subtle warning that he wasn't to try and pass.

Interesting... It no doubt led to the dungeons. He would have to talk to the Sheriff about getting access to all areas of the castle. It couldn't hurt to see how things were done around here, he might even pick up a few tips.

Two girls rounded the corner ahead and Sebastian's grin widened. Fresh blood, new sport. Excellent He thought with glee, his long stride bringing him close to them in no time at all. He stopped before them and offered them a quick embellished bow, making sure to maintain eye contact with both of them for slightly longer than was necessary. "And what, may I ask, are two such pretty girls doing in such an... undesirable part of the castle?" His voice was smooth and rich, with just the right tone of charming good humour.

[Alice Brandon]

As Alice followed Daine in the pursuit of dumb and easily persuasive guards, she didn't expect anyone to come up from behind them. The low and smooth voice nearly made her jump as she turned around to see a very handsome man behind them. Alice smiled sweetly as she gave him a curt curtsy, though she waited for Daine to speak first. She was the less shy of the two, and at the moment, Alice could not think of an excuse for being in this part of the area.

But while she waited for her friend to speak, Alice allowed herself to look him over. He looked to be much older than the two young girls, but not old, only more so experienced. She guessed he was the type of man her parents would want her to marry. He did have a nice look to him, though is voice was a bit too pleasant and his stare a little unnerving. He had looked at both of them longer than usually and it made her want to draw her cloak around her figure. She had not seen him around the castle and assumed he had recently arrived and was most likely allied with the Sheriff, as most men who abruptly arrive are. Perhaps he was involved in the newest plan to kill the King and stop Robin. She would have to remember him and his name, just incase.

[Daine Merton]

Daine was startled out of her facade when the stranger presented himself to them. She pulled the personality mask back on quickly, though she wanted nothing more than to raise her eyebrow when he bowed. If he hadn't have maintained eye contact, she would have.

Instead she smiled sweetly while she sized up this man. He was very attractive, a good head taller than her, and had a smile that could charm the under wrappings off Matilda, the woman who seemed to have brought half the population of Nottingham into this world.

"And what, may I ask, are two such pretty girls doing in such an... undesirable part of the castle?" He asked with a voice that made even Daine's knees weak. She knew better than to wait for Alice to answer, Daine always spoke first. But she was having trouble thinking of anything to say.

"Well, we were just wandering around the castle," Daine was blushing, she never blushed! Blushing was for girls with romantic notions and still hoped the world was all sunshine and rainbows. "We're lost." She said blunting, in a vain attempt to gain any sort of control over her rapidly worsening situation.

[Sebastian Mannering]

Both of the girls were staring at him and Sebastian basked in the attention, drinking it in. He noticed the paler of the two looking at him a little uncertainly and made a mental note to tone down the forward behaviour. She was looking at the other girl, as though she expected her to speak and Sebastian realised she must be shy. No worry, he would soon coax her out of her shell.

The other girl was already smiling at him and he returned it indulgently, he'd obviously hit just the right tone for her... "Well, we were just wandering around the castle," She said, and Sebastian was delighted to see a blush dusting her cheeks. Girls where never "just wandering" they were always gossiping or getting themselves into trouble and he wondered briefly what exactly they had set out to do. Whatever it was it would have to wait, there was no way Sebastian was letting these two beauties out of his sight until he knew more about them.

"Two fair maidens left to wander the castle alone? That will never do! I can show you some much more pleasant places to spend your time." He said with just the right hint of suggestion. He offered both of them an arm. "You'll have to forgive me, I'm new to the castle myself, but together I'm sure we can find our way back to somewhere far more hospitable."

[Alice Brandon]

Alice was blushing herself as she listened to the interaction between Daine and the man. She could tell, only through experience, that Daine was faking it, but it led her to wonder if the man was as well. Alice wasn't as innocent and naive as she acted and looked. In Kent she had her first experiences with love and faking. She had formed an attachment with one of the Prince's men, who pretended to love her back, until she found out he had a wife back in his castle up North. The Prince had found this amusing and encouraged the game, though Alice was furious. She then begged her parents to return home, but they only sent her as far as Nottingham castle. It was like they hadn't loved her anymore.

"Well, there was no one else to accompany us," Alice responded with a bright smile, looking up at him with her big brown eyes. "Perhaps," she said, looking over at Daine. She herself didn't know if he knew about the outlaw in the prisons, but perhaps if they talked to him, they might find out.