Follow the Darkness -Lachlan-

[Aida Benn]

It was mid-afternoon when Aida decided to leave the monastery. She gone there early morning to escape her life at Nottingham. It also happened to be her day off and Aida found she had nothing to do on her day off. No family or friends to visit. She also did not feel like visiting the market, as she had to go there occasionally for her mistress. So the only place she could think of was the Monastery. It was far enough away to take a whole day to go there, visit, and come back. It also held a large library and Aida loved to read. She had been given a good education, which she had intended to use, but as fortune saw it, she became a lady’s maid instead. Aida would normally not complain, but the Lady Liselle was someone she could not like. Respect, she did, but like was impossible. To watch her mistress try and find a wealthy husband was stomach churning and low in Aida’s mind. But then Aida believed in love, whatever that was.

The sun had already hit it’s peak in the sky and was slowly descending to it’s comfy bed, allowing it’s soft rays to caress the trees and grass around her. She rarely traveled the main road as she rarely traveled. But Aida did not feel as if she were in danger. She was only a maid where a dove gray dress. Her light blond hair was braided simply down her back, reaching the lower curve of her back as she trotted on a brown mare. The horse was the only thing worth stealing, and she knew her horse could outrun any half-starved crazy peasant. She didn’t think lowly of peasants, but she felt like it wasn’t her duty to do anything. They had Robin Hood. Who did she have who would dare to save her?

Robin didn’t seem to think of her class. The class that was almost well off, but not quite. She still had to work for the nobles who sometimes mistreated her. But it was true she had a bed at night and warm bread and mead in the morning. She didn’t have to beg for her breakfast. Only clean up after her mistress and avoid the leering guards in the hallways. Aida thought about running away, but she didn’t know where. Her family wouldn’t have her, hoping she would marry someday. But she was already 21 and therefore considered an old maid. She didn’t look old. In fact she could almost pass for younger.

These thoughts were too depressing and she tried to thin of something else as she trotted further down the main road to Nottingham.

[/blockquote]

[lachlanmackenzie]

There was blood on his hands again. Well, not really. He knew there wasn’t, but that didn’t stop Lachlan from seeing it in the short time it took his brain to fully wake up. He needed more alcohol. This couldn’t keep happening like this. The further he was getting from the Holy Land the worse things were getting.

It was an odd time to be sleeping, true, but resting at night was becoming no longer possible. Lachlan would always find himself sitting up painfully awake, staring down the road with the same sense of fear and apprehension that had come just before the storming of Antioch back in the war. One thing was for sure, staying up was hardly doing wonders for his health, the Scotsman was looking positively ill.

With a groan, Lachlan slowly propped himself up off the ground onto his elbows, squinting heavily and grimacing. The bright sun was almost burning into the back of his skull after his eyes being shut so long and he suspected that the light falling on his face was probably what had woken him. Although, the rock he’d accidentally rolled on and dug into his shoulder was an equally good bet. God, that killed.

An attempt to stand only resulting in some muffled very Scottish-accented swearing followed by a prompt return to the ground. When it came to the choice between intensely graphic nightmares or a hangover, the hangover usually came out victorious. Giving up, he settled into a cross-legged position, leaning his on his knees with his elbows and head clutched in his hands to await some improvement while Cecil, the draft-cross tied to a tree further into the forest, watched his owner’s antics with some degree of curiosity.

Huan however, wasn’t paying as much to what his owner was doing as his equine companion. The wolfhound didn’t move from his ‘Alphas’ side, but was staring intensely down the road with his back and legs tense, ears up and alert, tail and hackles stiff. Something was down there he didn’t like, but Lachlan didn’t notice until the dog suddenly put his head down and gave a soft, low ‘woof’ when the hoof falls became audible.

Immediately Lachlan snapped to attention, heart racing wildly as his first instinct was that a raiding party was coming down and he lunged for a large stick. Logic caught up after a second or two and he leant it against the tree he'd been sleeping next to; it was one set of hooves, not many, but he still didn’t trust whoever was coming down to be friendly and he cursed himself for throwing his sword away after he got past Constantinople. He hated it, but the same time he felt complete prone without it and would have killed to have that dreaded weapon back in his hands at that instant.

For a moment he considered taking the horse and slipping out of sight, but Huan quickly put that idea to ruin as the dog decided to play defensive after sensing Lachlan’s panic. Hackles raised and teeth bared, the wolfhound made a run down the path to meet the horse head on, darting from side to side and barking in as furious a tone as he could muster in an attempt to scare them off and protect everyone.

Now, 180lbs and 36 inches in height of barking, snarling and teeth snapping canine was a not a particularly welcome sight to many people. Lachlan’s first thought was that the hound was going to get shot down by an arrow for his trouble and almost went chasing after him before getting cold feet. Whoever was down that path he didn’t want to know. Instead he shoved his fingers in his mouth and gave a piercing whistle to summon the dog back.

Huan stopped making affront and looked back in the direction of the noise, torn between following orders to retreat or getting rid of the ‘threat’. After a short hesitation, he gave one last angry bark at Aida, then whirled around and left through a gap in the trees.

Once he arrived his only thanks was to have Lochlan grab the hair on the scruff of his neck with gritted teeth and hold on tight to stop him running off again. At least the adrenaline was doing something about the headache. If whoever came up the path was hostile, at least he could threaten to set the dog on them.

[Aida Benn]

As Aida made her way down the road she started to hear faint sounds. Perhaps a dog bark, or maybe a little rustle of the leaves. Like she had thought earlier, her horse could outrun any rogue trying to do her harm, but her horse was deathly afraid of dogs. It was probably the only flaw in her trip today, but she had not counted on running into a dog. But then she thought her mind was playing tricks on her.

Some people in the castle thought Aida was a little crazy. To one man, it did look like she was going to put her hand in the fire, though she really wasn’t. Perhaps she was just eccentric. She did have morbid thoughts, though she would never commit suicide. But Aida was somewhat depressed and no one understood it. She did handle her situation very well. Aida was strong of mind and will, but Nottingham was so depressing under the rule of the Sheriff. Even being under Lady Liselle’s protection, Aida still felt scared. And though she still had fantasies, Aida didn’t believe that she was going to be saved by a knight in shining armor. And falling asleep at night was getting difficult when she really didn’t want to wake up the next day.

Aida always ended up going to sleep and she was graced to not always getting dark circles under her eyes, unless she stayed up the whole night. The horse moved closer and then suddenly made a distress sound before coming to a complete halt and tossing Aida out of the saddle. She went flying and landed safely closer to the forest. A small grunt escaped as she landed and her hair quickly fell out of it’s braid.

“Shit,” Aida said as she watched her horse gallop in the opposite direction. Thankfully it wasn’t really her horse, but unfortunately now she would have to travel by foot. It wasn’t too difficult, but it was hot and it would be a little longer.

Aida sat up and looked around, suddenly remembering that her horse spooked because of something in the forest. With her back to one tree, Aida continued sitting as she called out. “Whoever is out there, come out and show yourself.” She was going to include coward, but she didn’t want to offend anyone who might be dangerous.

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[lachlanmackenzie]

Lachlan gave a sigh of relief when he heard the hooves disappear quickly, as though whoever was on it had quickly turned around and galloped back. So they were gone, but he didn’t want to risk them coming back with more people. Letting go of the dog, he gave it a swift pat then ran down the short distance to fetch Cecil. All the saddlebags were in place, nothing stolen, good, but the horse was definitely looking a little put out and came only reluctantly.

He had just finished pulling the horse up to the road and was pulling the reins back over the geldings head when a voice called out defiantly in his direction. Shit was right, that voice belonged to no soldier. Lachlan stared in the direction of the demand, his mind instantly running through all the situations that would possibly cause a woman to be out wandering through Outlaw-infested forests on her own. One thing was for certain though, no matter all the possibilities, he couldn’t just leave her there after Huan’s little stunt. If she wasn’t in danger before, she would be now that she was stuck on foot and possibly injured. Plus, it was sort of his fault owing to it being his dog that did the damage.

Against his better judgement, Lachlan abandoned the reins and grabbed the cheek-piece of Cecil’s bridle to drag him over. Once Aida came into view Huan started snarling at her again, so Lachlan growled a ”No!” in his direction. Looking sullen, the hound stuck his tail between his legs submissively, but didn’t lose the suspicious look he was giving her. Deciding to leave the animals where they were Lachlan let go of the horse, trusting that Cecil would have enough sense to ground tie at least for a while.

She wasn’t a peasant that was for sure, she was too overdressed, but then, also underdressed to be a noble. She had a horse, true, but anyone of much importance would probably also have an escort instead of being allowed to gallivant off wherever they pleased. Unable to work it out, he decided to play it safe and treat her as highborn. She looked uninjured from that distance but he quickly found even jogging was doing his head no favours and slowed down to an uncomfortable walk before he got there.

”I’m sorry Madam,” he apologised, inclining his head downwards a little in a show of respect for, well, whoever she was. Feeling awkward now, he did the next thing he could think of, which was to offer her his hand to help her up if she needed it. Bad idea, he spotted some dirt on it and quickly withdrew his hand to wipe it on his pants quickly before offering again. What had he gotten himself into? ”Are you okay?”

[caity]

.:Ooc: Hey is it ok with you two if I join you?:.

[Aida Benn]

It's fine with me

Aida looked down at her legs, which were conveniently covered up by her gray dress. There was a little dirt on the skirt and now at the elbows and her slightly exposed left shoulder had the smallest of scratches from a twig, though that was nothing. The worst was probably the bruises that were hidden. Aida was about to stand when she saw a man jogging toward her. She took in his appearance and noticed the dog. That dog was probably the dog that scared her horse. Aida grumbled and looked back up at the man.

From his appearance, she could not tell if he was dangerous or not. There wasn't a sword, so he'd have to choke her to kill her, or maybe he had a dagger. But he did look quite scary and gruff. As he neared, though, she noticed something about his face. His features looked worn and tired, but his eyes. She couldn't quite place it. Aida didn't know if she should be afraid or not, but she thought it was smarter to stay down. She didn't want anymore bruises if he decided to push her down once she stood up again.

But then the strangest thing happened. He slowed to a walk and once approaching her, he asked her if she was alright. Aida was no damsel in distress, but she thought that was very kind of him to do. Many of the noblemen were not kind. He probably was a rogue peasant on the run. "I am fine, thank you," she said, looking up at him. Her blue eyes piercing deep, trying to figure him out. She smiled a little when he called her madame.

And then he offered his hand, though not before wiping it off. He was very polite. Something she was not used to anymore. Aida took it, her own slender hand small in comparison. She used his arm as leverage to stand up and felt her leg a little bruised. "Your dog seems to have less manners than you, and that's quite rare." Perhaps that sentence didn't come out right and Aida almost questioned herself. Had she complimented him? Or was she insulting the dog? "My horse seems to have run away," she added after looking around. Aida's gaze then landed back on the man.

[caity]

A young man stretched and yawned loudly. Travelling all night had made Edward extremely tired. The black stallion he sat upon merely snorted and looked ahead, absentmindedly playing with the bit in his mouth as he walked. Once again Edward yawned and slackened his hold on the reins, giving Jack a bit more freedom than he should have.

The man began to take in his surroundings, a tree, another tree and, surprise, more trees. Edward glared, god he was sick of Sherwood Forest. It was pretty and wondrous at first, what with all the tales of outlaws and magic that existed in its deepest parts, now it was just boring. His thoughts dwelled on the outlaws for a bit. He was confident he would make it out of the forest, after all Edward was a peasant and had nothing of value.
He thought of the stories of an outlaw named Robin Hood and the tales of his exploits.
‘It can’t be possible,’ Edward thought to himself, shaking his head, ‘no outlaw is that unselfish that they give all their takings to the poor.’

Soon Edward found himself nodding off to the gentle rhythm of Jack’s footfalls.

He was back in Acre training war horses and sitting around a fire in the stables, listening to frightening tales of mad Saracens, hidden assassins and the great Saladin and King Richard. Suddenly the peace of the night was broken as shouting began to come from the main gate. Edward and his friends ran to investigate. They saw hundreds of wounded pouring into the port city.
They either walked or were carried. One disfigured man on a stretcher was carried past Edward crying out. As they past, the man reached out and grabbed Edward’s arm.

Edward woke with a start, gasping for air. He looked around and sighed in relief to find himself still on the forest road. He wiped a hand over his face as if to try and wipe the memories from his mind.
Jack, sensing Edward’s agitation grew tense and began to trot nervously.
“Easy, there’s nothing to be worried about,” Edward whispered calmly into one of the horse’s ears. Instantly the horse calmed and slowed back into a walk.

Edward thought about his continuous nightmare and became disgusted with himself. He had no right to have nightmares about the Crusades, he had never seen battle. He had simply been a horse trainer, always left behind.
He had been called part of King Richard’s army, was even given armour (which he seldom wore) but never was he aloud to fight. Some soldiers used to tease him about it, others hated him for it.
He had never seen battle in the Crusade but he had seen what it did to people.
‘Still,’ he thought, ‘it’s rather pathetic compared to what ex-soldiers have to suffer through.’

Blocking thoughts of that night out of his mind, he stared hard at the road and was startled to see a horse quietly standing a bit further down. He looked about for the rider but saw no signs of one. He overlooked the horse to see its coat darkened with sweat, its breathing still slightly rapid and the saddle askew from hurried movement.
These signs Edward had seen many times before.
“Ahh, so you’re a runaway,” Edward cooed at the horse, stroking its head with one hand and quietly grabbing its reins in the other, “I’ll take you into the village to see if I can locate your owner.”

Leading the horse further down the road, Edward was once again surprised to see life ahead of him. Two people, a man and a woman by the looks of it. The woman looked like someone of nobility, judging by the clothes, and the man looked like, an outlaw!
Edward’s heart missed a beat as he spurred Jack into a gallop, clutching at the sword tied to his belt.

As they drew closer he quickly dismounted and went to draw his sword but stopped. The body language of the man didn’t seem threatening and the lady didn’t seem at all scared.
“Oh dear, I’m sorry,” he smiled, half-embarrassed.
“I thought you were an... well I thought you were up to no good,” Edward laughed and apologised to the man.
He turned to the lady and almost forgot about the gruff looking man.
“I’m Edward and it is very nice to meet you ‘milady. I believe this must be your horse unless I am mistaken,” he introduced himself, bowing as he did so then going to fetch the new horse who stood behind Jack. He winked as he handed over the reins and then remembered the man.
“As you heard, I’m Edward,” he said hurriedly, offering his hand.

[lachlanmackenzie]

Lachlan wasn’t thinking too much into her words, and chose to take her confusing comment as a rather justified jab at Huan. ”Um, yes, sorry about that,” he said apologetically, glancing at the dog who was once again staring intently at the path. Unsure what to do with himself again, Lachlan stepped back to give her a little room, averting his gaze to her feet as he had no idea where else to look. No, the clothes were too plain for outright nobility unless she was in hiding. Maid, perhaps?

The horse too would be a problem, she wasn’t going anywhere without one, and he was about to offer to help her look for it, but all he got out was ”I could-“ before the sound of hooves and a renewed wave of barking cut him off. Lachlan’s head snapped around in the direction of the noise with the speed of a thrown knife, just in time to see a mounted stranger give a worried look in his direction then spur the horse forward in a gallop, hand very noticeably on a sword hilt.

”Shit.” Lachlan’s face blanched immediately. There was no weapon to speak of to grab for any hope of defence, so without thinking he found himself taking a step forward as his brain seemed to go numb. The Turkish horseman was almost running at him and his fallen comrade in slow motion before drawing up his mount in a flash and leaping off. The Turkish never dismounted, it was suicidal, was this one insane? The Saracens hand went back to the blade again and Lachlan found himself bracing for an attack, teeth gritted, his mind quickly weighing up the chances of getting out of this unscathed.

An apology? No, wait. His head was definitely blocked now. He wasn’t an infidel, but an Englishmen, and this wasn’t the war. The Scotsman took an unsteady backwards step, and raised a sweaty hand to his forehead with a grimace, shutting his eyes for a second as though to try and gain a moment of clarity. His heart was still racing and he felt an awful lot like he’d been hit in the chest by a carriage. For a moment it almost looked like he was about to fall over, but he quickly regained himself and was looking at Edward as though he had no idea what to think.

Wow, a wink already. The man sure wasted no time flirting.

”What in the hell do you think you were doing?” Lachlan scowled angrily, his voice tempered a little with a hint of shock. Then again, if Edward hadn’t reacted and Lachlan had of been up to something, the whole situation could have gone a lot worse.

[Anni]

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