Stranger At The Door

[Lord Merton]

Brian sat pouring over the Merton documents, the combintion of candlelight and letters making his eyes swim. He wearily rubbed them, though the numbers became no clearer. Where was his good for nothing sister when he needed her? He had no patience for this job, which was why he often lumbered it on her. After all, Father had both left them Merton to run in his will.

The smell of food drifted out from the kitchen, Maggie* was cooking something nice. But no matter how inviting the smells were, Merton couldn't eat until he'd finsihed, else he wouldn't finish. Though he did, however, need more light. The day had rapidly deteriated into night, and one candle just wasn't enough light.

He'd only just returned to the desk when a knock came from the door. "Maggie! You get that?" He yelled into the kitchen from his study, though no calls were returned. Just more knocking. Merton rolled his eyes. "She picks a fine time to leave the room." He grumbled to himself as he heaved himself from his rather confortable chair.

"If that's Daine, the no good, rotten sister of mine..." He started as he made his way to the door. He had a whole speech planned on what to yell at her - though she'd only yell back. A face of thunder he swung open the door. He looked up to see an unfamiliar face, and surprise quickly replaced the previous, thunderous look.


*(Ooc - Maggie is their housemaid-lady-person-thing... I should really make her an NPC. Where do I do that?)

[tom]

*(Ooc - I have No Clue )

Sir Thomas Looked at the puny Englishman . And with a Calm face he walked in and looked around his house. his face was unimpressed because he had a better house than this and that was in a a Castle.

Thomas then bodily spoke in his thick Scottish accent ' Are You Lord Merton " Thomas inquired as he gave his hand out to shake .

[Lord Merton]

Merton took the hand offered to him, a guarded look rapidly filling his face. "Yes, I am Lord Merton." He watched the stranger's eyes look around and Merton got the feeling he was being judged - Daine gave him the same look when she judged him. "Good Sir, I don't appreciate that look you are giving my home." He said hautily.

His annoyance had returned with avengance. That should have been Daine knocking on the door. Merton had to keep a tab on her, who knows what trouble she was getting herself into.

"Is there anything I can do for you...?" He trailed off, implying that this stranger should supply his name.

[tom]

Thomas looked at the puny man and spoke " Aye you can give me some food Englishmen and what look would i be giving hmmm " he said still judging his house " And iam Sir Thomas ambassador to the king of scotland ." he said walking into his hall of feast and actually gave it a look of interest and saw many a beast mounted upon his wall and said " iam here to help the sheriff of Nottingham with keeping law and justice in his land '

[Lord Merton]

Brian scowled as this 'Sir Thomas, Ambassador for the King of Scotland' allowed himself into the house. His house. Brian shut the door, to keep the night breeze from killing what little warmth the house had, though this newcomer had turned his mood so sour (not that it wasn't sour before) that he longer felt the warmth. Merton made a mental note to inform the Sheriff of this man, he wondered what Vaysey would make of the news.

Merton could tell that Sir Thomas was still judging his house as his eyes slid over Merton's father's hunting trophies. Merton hadn't taken to the sport, he couldn't even hold a sword let alone pull back a bow, but his father had loved it. The disappointment he saw in his father's eyes when Brian said that he wouldn't hunt almost shamed him, almost.

"It's that look you are still giving that I object to." Merton murmured, though more to himself. Now he'd had the chance to size up Sir Thomas, he saw that he was a strongly built man and Merton was a coward through and through. There would be no provoking of this Lord.

Slightly louder, he continued, "Our housemaid is cooking something right now. I'll see that she brings you a plate." And spit on it beforehand, he added to himself silently.

Merton's eyebrows raised when Sir Thomas announced his intentions - he didn't remember any new Noble arrivals being mentioned. Not that he ever heard of them, unless it suited the Sheriff. He'd only learnt that someone arrived today that very morn, as he arrived. But this man wasn't the same as the one in his front room. The one in Nottingham may as well have been a woman he was that dressed up, but Sir Thomas was far more weather beaten. Merton was wary of him - to say the least.

"What brings you to Nottingham? Scotland is a long way from here." He asked, trying to leech as much information out of the man for the Sheriff.

[tom]

Thomas then looked at the Englishmen and looked at him with his blue eyes and said " Prince john has asked my king to help him hunt down robin hood and so he sent me to hunt this outlaw down "he was feeling a chill in his spine from this Englishmen and said " Then whats for dinner " Thomas walked around and sat at the head of the table

It was an old chair but grand all the same it was covered with wood drawings and was made of Saracen cedar wood " was your father a crusader "

[Lord Merton]

Merton didn't believe the Scottish King was that interested in English outlaws, but he let it slide. He'd never met the Prince or any royal figure, the highest authority he'd met was the Sheriff. He tried to assess how high up the hierarchy scale his guest was, but it was too hard to determine. Something seemed a little odd about his guest and it wasn't the first time he'd wished he had his sister's abilty to read people.

"I'm not sure what Maggie is making, but whatever it is it'll be delicous I assure you. Maggie is a wonderful cook." He kept the harsh tone set in his voice, a family trait all the Mertons had.

The feeling of dislike grew when the guest helped himself to his father's chair - ignoring the papers that were splayed out in front of the chair. "No my father never fought. He was a pacifist, though he fully supported the King. He died believing in the old way of life." He said whilst gathering the paper up, before the got messed up. He'd have had to have finished up soon anyway, dinner was amost ready.

"The chair is an antique, family hierloom. I'm not too sure of the origin, my sister does." He turned, shuffling the papers together and putting them away neatly.

"Would you like a drink, Sir?" he said through politely gritted teeth.

[tom]

" good i cant wait " he said with deep tone and he took of his sword and shield and placed them at his side " yes i would like some wine please ' he said with a polite tone " interesting well i hope the best for your king and hopefully this conflict can be resolved peacefully " he kept a stern face and he placed his gloves on the table .

"So tell me Englishmen what can you tell me about the sheriff"he said with a dark tone in his voice

[Lord Merton]

(Ooc, no I didn't just post as Daine by accident *shifty eyes*)

Merton nearly spilled the wine he was pouring when he heard Sir Thomas' dark tones. His dislike grew greatly, Was he just here to snoop? He would definately have to tell the Sheriff about this man, warn him that he might not be quite what he seems. But for now, Merton had to keep the tones pleasant - no matter how difficult.

"There isn't much to tell. I thought the Sheriff's reputation had surpassed him." Keep it vague, yes that's good. He thought to himself. "He's exactly what you'd expect him to be."

Brian sat opposite his guest, in his mother's old seat. He'd never sat in the chair, and the room looked oddly different. He didn;t like it from this point of view. But he had to swallow the feeling of discomfort. He'd sat there to size up Sir Thomas - try and get a feel for who he was.

He couldn't tell a thing. The man looked like a rock! This was going to be harder than he suspected. So he downed the wine and poured himself another glass, encouraging his guest to drink. It might just loosen his tongue.

[tom]

Thomas looked at him with cold eyes of steel blue and said " Well i have to say this wine is okay i prefer French myself thats another thing you English cant do is make good wine " he said with eyes still looking at this puny man who could break him like a twig if he wanted to but he must find robin hood and mabye this man knows where he is.

"So tell me why do you have so little men guarding your manor i only saw mabye 10 - 20 men thats not enough are you even a lord i wonder " he said with eyes piercing threw the man like a knife threw the belly

[Lord Merton]

Merton hated him, he really did. He had to be better than everything. "That's another thing you English can't do, is make good wine." Who did he think he was? That's what Merton wanted to know. "I save the best of our wine for special occasions." I might break out a bottle when you're gone/ He added to himself.

"So tell me why do you have so little men guarding your manor? I only saw mabye 10 - 20 men, that's not enough. Are you even a Lord, I wonder " Brian openly gave him a dark look.

"It is one thing to judge your host's home, but another to insult them in their home. I am a Lord, I think you'll find - though I'm beginning to doubt whether you are. I don't have excessive amounts of guards because I trust my peasants. They repected my father and fear my sister. They dislike me and keep away. So there is no need for an entire army to protect my house thank you very much." There was a slightl lie in there, the peasants loved his sister. Well, they could fear her, she could be quite scary, but they loved her nevertheless.

"Besides, the Sheriff needs the guards in Nottingham for when outlaws break in and whatnot." A self important tone rang through Merton's voice as Maggie brought out the dinners. He hadn't told her of the company, but he guessed she'd heard them. He muttered thanks then glared at the Lord before him. If he even dared insult Maggie's cooking he'd sent him packing - or try to anyway.

[tom]

Thomas just looked at him with cold eyes and darkly replied " i never said i was a lord my father is one iam just a knight who happens to own a little land " he said thinking about breaking this man in two

And he saw him eating before saying grace " what are you a hethan you must grace before we eat " he said with hands forming together and saying it "Come lord Jesus be our guest and lets this meal for us be blessed Amen " he ate some of the meat and drank a little more wine " this is good food my complements to your maid "

[Lord Merton]

Merton scowled to himself, his father had called him the heathen for not saying grace aswell. So he forgot sometimes, he only ever did when he was really hungry. Or annoyed. Or angry. He was all three at the moment.

"Yes, Maggie is very good." He muttered, suddenly then anger draining him and the coward inside taking over. "I tell her she should enter village fetes but she never does."

Merton sighed, his appetite slowly vapourising. He didn't know how ling this could go on until he killed his guest... or the other way round!

[tom]

After Thomas was done he got up and took his sword and shield and went up to the Englishmen he then grabbed Merton by the
collar and said " All right your going to tell me where robin hood is or i will break you in two englishmen "

[Lord Merton]

Merton had hardly finished when he was being dragged off his seat by his collar. He whimpered openly, he truely was a coward. This man was crazy! First he was rude to his host, and now he was threatening to kill him!

"I don't know! No one knows! Believe me, if the Sheriff knew where Hood was Hood would be dead!" He felt wam tears trickle down his cheeks, a sharp contrast to the cold metal against his neck. (Ooc - Godmodding a bit there, sorry!)

"I honestly don't know!" Merton tried to think what would happen if Maggie walked in, would this 'Lord' go for her as well? Use her as a threat? He willed the woman to not enter the room to tidy up. He also willed his sister home, she would sort out this mess. One of her steely glares and all that would remain of this man was the dust he kicked up when he ran.