the unlikely guest

[Nicole]

~unpacking 'er things in the guest room Agustin allotted 'er.. she takes a seat on the edge of the bed.. dark eyes scanning the chamber.. she thins 'ard.. nae remembering e'er being in this room afore this vera eve.. she was relieved that nae one 'ad noticed 'er awakening in the gardens this morn.. the night 'ad been a warm one.. the free space and the light of the moon was something 'er soul was in dyer need of.. fingering the ring on 'er left 'and.. she only sighed.. so all in all it suited 'er well fer the first night back... she paused thinking of Windstorm.. Kielder and all that she 'eld dear these days.. turning as she catches a glimpse of 'erself in the looking glass.. sighing softly at the reflection she is presented with.. 'er back slightly bent... the muscles corded in 'er back...shaking the gaze from the mirror and dropping down inta a nearby chair... leaning back and letting 'er 'eavy lids close o'er tired chocolate eyes..wondering if She ken e'en cross the floor of 'er chambers to get dressed..with each breath she draws from 'er own resilience.. reaching deftly fer the long braid that 'angs at 'er back.. pulling it about 'er neck...working the knots free.. blowing at the stray curls that 'ang in 'er eyes.. she changes 'er gown.. choosing a simple one and opting fer 'er 'air ta 'ang loose.. stepping from the chamber.. she spots the guards at Edie'e door across the 'all and leans in the door frame.. twisting a curl in 'er finger.. she offers a mischevious smile ta the guards.. 'oping it will soften them ta the point of letting 'er pass e'en though they dun know who she be... moving with slow e'en steps she reaches them and wedges 'erself between the two o'er grown Men.. peeking from side ta side.. she speaks softly and informs them both that she is Edie's Sister and was called on by the King ta come tend 'er.. looking down shyly.. drawing lil lines with 'er toe on the polished floor.. she "accidently" lets the bobble that dangles from 'er ear fall and 'it the floor.. watching it roll and the two go after said earring.. she smirks and steps in.. locking the door at 'er back.. seeing Edie laying there.. she clicks 'er tongue against the inside of 'er cheek and frowns.. pulling a drawer open at the desk in the room.. she quickly scribbles a wee note and moves around ta place it at Edie's face... scribbing one word "BOO" and turning back.. she slips from 'er gown.. keeping 'er shift about 'er and curls up at Edie's back... deciding ta nae leave till she sees 'er awake in the morn.. rolling onta 'er back.. she lets 'er tired eyes find the ceiling.. wondering iffin she 'ad left 'ome or came 'ome~

[SighehelmofKent]

((*Smiles* you may have been unaware that the guarding of the princess is done by my Sighehelm of Kent and his righthand Edward. A task appointed to by KIng Agustin. your posting of his folly at allowing himself to be fooled forced me to write this. I hope you have fun with it!))

-Edward Greyshank curses, he is nae that easily fooled by a pair of eyes and a female form. But the woman caught him at the end of his watch nae an hour to the time of that his Lord would relieve him. A moment he stands at the door undecided, then opens the door............to find it locked.

Blood courses through his veins his ears attuned to any noise within, and his mind reels. How big was the threat from this woman, one who claims to be sister to the Princess. One he has not heard mention.

Why is it this woman locks the door when the guards are there to stand guard? Does she not know it would inhibit their work. Or perhaps she is there to hurt the Princess, poison her and climb out the window, unseen in the night.

Perhaps cut her throat with a knife unseen, the Princess could be lying there dead, her blood a tell tale sign of his inaptitude to guard? Edward curls the hand around the handle again, and moves the door, trying to force open. Should he call out or force his way in? Would he give the lady time to do the deed she can and escape? Could he best the door in one............. no two barrages?

But seconds, maybe a minute have passed ere the door was locked on him by the assumed assailant Again he curses the fates that place him before this choice and steps back three paces, estimating the strength of the door, then adds the remaining 2 paces the hallways will allow and barges in on the door; his heavy frame impacting with the door. Wood splinters, the door groans as the noise carries throughout the hallways, and he steps back again, and once more drives his shoulder in to the door, and it swings open, allowing him access into the princess' chambers. Seeking his balance as he holds the short sturdy blade in his hand, freed from the leather at his belt, he growls low, menacing

YE WILL SURRENDER AND LEAVE THIS ROOM!!!

-his angers, frustration and the pain in his shoulder makes him oblivious to the harmonious scene he barges into, his mind solely on the safety of the Princess, and the fact there is an unknown in the room.-

[Robin of Loxley]

((OOC..........an excellent recovery post Sir....well done indeed *VBS*))

[Lady Edfeil]

*She slept deep, her fever ravaged body desperately trying to regain some strength in sleep. Strong enough is morpheus embrace to nae let her notice her friend entering her chambers. Even the piece of paper nae causes more then a slight, unconscious movement. When Nicole enters her bed, Lady Edfeil unknowingly curls up closer with her, stealing some of her warmth.

The moment next all hell breaks loose. A sound loud enough to raise the dead jerks her from her sleep. Her mind still captured in the veiled mists of sleep too many things at the same time assault her senses. She sits up, nae even thinking about the sheet to cover her shift, nae realising she uncovers her friend with the same motion. Her eyes wide, her mouth open she stares at the man who has just forced his way into her room. The castle had been breached... the Franks had attacked....

Looking aside she now recognises Nicole. And before any further thought comes action: her mouth opens wide and she screams like an Irish Banshee! *

[Nicole]

~if the crashing of the doors 'ad nae jogged 'er from 'er sleep.. Edie's 'igh pitched 'owl surely did... it took mere seconds fer 'er ta blink 'er eyes open.. she grunted at the matted locks of 'air that now resided along the slits of 'er sleepy eyes... realizing that somethin.. though it 'ad nae name at the moment 'ad transpired.. 'er 'and went instinctively ta the dagger that rested at 'er upper thigh.. she was nae a fighter by ana means.. but that small blade 'ad nae left 'er since 'er Pappa 'ad gi'en it ta so many years ago.. nimble fingers clasping the 'andle... she slid it out with nae of thought of ana thin except defending Edie.. 'er movements 'endered by the shift as it was now twisted up around 'er... she cared little who saw 'er the way she was dressed.. or the lack of clothes as they were.. .. but she did know 'ow Edie w'd feel.. flaying 'er body o'er 'ers.. she curled 'er frame about Edie's.. attempting ta bring 'er inta a close 'ug.. in the only small way of protection from whome'er 'ad busted thru the doors.... 'er screams blending with Edie.. 'ers... more primal... deeper and determined.. she reached with 'er free arm draped at Edie's back.... giving 'er wrist a 'ard flick.. she sent the small dagger sailing thru the air.. nae giving a bloody 'ell where it landed only that Edie was safe~

[SighehelmofKent]

-Edward caught the blade across his shoulder, it parted the material of his tunic, then lacerated his skin, and cut the taut tissue of his muscle, he nea noticed it, his actions trained. A succession of simple steps followed.

As he screamed his eyes scanned the unlit room, just the light of the moon affording him a glimpse, seeing many shadows, yet the woman he had seen slipping into the room now threw herself over the princess trying to strangle her.

He crossed the room: a few steps, and as he heard the Princess scream afore the deeper darker sound of the wretched fiend mingled with the Princess' voice. Like a cat like predator the woman had immobilized the Princess, the weight of her body fully on the royal treasure of Windstorm. Edwin could not see much, but without hesitation he had reached the bed afore the woman had made one more sound and he grabbed her. Hair, garments, skin and flesh, his dagger lost in the scuffle, he did what any man could do, caught the witch by the hair and yanked her back from the Princess. Pride swelled within his heart, and still he saw little, just felt the struggling form of the killer, locking her as best he could.

Only then did the pain of his wound reach his conscious mind, and the pride he just felt was tarnished and anger exploded within his valiant heart. His low growl, spilled from his lips, a precise and trained warning for any assailant.

Cease and desist Witch, or I will break your neck!

From a distance, Sighehelm heard the screams, and his heart stopped, his breath caught, yet his step changed seamlessly into that of a warrior, fast, decisive, without a single hesitation, he rounded the corner at the moment the second set of screams, and by the time his second in command had uttered his growled command, He stood within a room caught in chaos.

The light of his candle lit lantern illuminated all. The scene one he would never forget. Edward his hands within the hair of a woman dressed for the night, His sleeve covered in blood, his other hand curled like an iron band around the woman, trying to immobilize her, upon the bed, the princess her form still somewhat huddled together. The weight of Nicole only seconds ago lifted forcibly from the Princess.

His mind tried to understand, why it was Edward held the woman who had obviously been asleep, who was this woman? Why was she in the room of the Princess, a woman he thought he had never seen before? Why was his man hurt, the scent of blood in the air, and who had dared cut him? And foremost why was that everyone it seemed, was screaming?

[Dream Loxley]

((Oh my!! wonderful *Applauds loudly*))

[Admin]

~ suddenly, a ear piercing scream snaps me awake from a dream... I bolt upright in bed.. me warrior instincts kicking in as i leap out of bed . Mid stride towards the door, me right hand grabbign a sword as me left yanks open me chambers door. Me bare feet slapping against the stone floors as i dash out into the hall , lookign around and listening to where the noises come from.. I take the stairs three at a time, running full tilt as i relize tis from me daugthers chambers..

growling softly as I round the corner to see her door smashed in , laying on the floor in pieces.. " whom ever the are.. prepare to taste the vengence of a fathers swords " I say loudly as I step into the darkened room ready to defend me daughters life with me own.....

[Teresa O'Connor]

((Nic, You know how to have a PJ party *LOL*))

[Lady Edfeil]

*Lady Edfeil blinks as two more enter the room. Stopping the godawful noise only to take breath. With the light of the candlelantern, she can see who 't be that has stormed in. She can't think though, fever and confusion reign within as she crawls in her shift over the bed, trying to reach Queen Nicole and her assailant. Her breathing is rapid, her motions uncertain and weak. But seeing Sighehelm she sighs, reassured, he'll nae let her friend be harmed*

HE'S GOT THE QUEEN!!!!

*The somewhat inadequate explenation says it all to her, nae realising the Lord has nae yet met her majesty. Her own fathers voice be the next sound that breaks through the stillness. Crawling over the large bed, she tries to reach Edward to help Nicole, nae waiting for the mens assistance.*

[SighehelmofKent]

-Sighehelm may not understand much of what ensues here, but he does know that a woman in her sleeping attire would nae likely be a murderer. Also the exclamation of the Princess that the Queen is attacked makes even less sense. Unless the woman in the steel grip of Edawar is in fact .............a queen?

Sighehelm growls and almost despairs. The castle of Windstorm holds more royalty, then the Court of the King of France. Before you know it the stablehand is royal too!

He stepped between the Princess and Edward, the words of the King ringing in his ears, and utters a short, almost bark like command-

Desist Edward, now!

-almost immediatly, as commands his training, the man releases the woman, steps back, and grabs his arm subconsciously, not even aware of the reason. Blood seeps through his fingers, warm, sticky, but his eyes are on the tall man blocking the princess from view full. A living wall to protect her if his judgement is wrong. The woman dubbed as queen between them, the King to his side. Edward still protests. -

But.............she's a witch, trying......................

-He sees the face of his Lord, then the face of the king, and for the first time since his started, doubt enters his mind-

[Nicole]

~'er struggles now stopped.. she felt 'er body finally be released.. the aching from the back of 'er neck from where 'e jerked 'er up thumped 3 fold in 'er 'ead... she 'it the side of the bed and rolled off inta the floor.. all the voices.. all the yelling.. she recognized only Agustin's... and of course Edie's.. still attempting ta focus on evera thin.. she crawled off one of the corners ta regroup and figure out exactly what was going on... 'is words caused 'er 'ead ta snap up with a jerk.. "a witch" .... she blinked and shook 'er 'ead... why w'd ana thin 'er witch of all thins.. unless they were using the word in another context besides the actual meaning.. then aye.. she indeed 'ad been called such or worse.. but seeing ta 'er friend was nae a bad thin.. or was it?

[Admin]

*running into the chambers, sword in hand.. ready to kil whom ever is in here with me daughter.. my voice dark, mean and very very demanding and forcefull as I growl...

" Stand down, or I shall remove thy arm from thy body and beat thee with it... What be going on in me daughters chambers? "

[Sinold Bragasson]

Agustin said:

" Stand down, or I shall remove thy arm from thy body and beat thee with it... "

(LOL, that sooooooooooooo reminded me of the scene with the Black Knight in Monty Python's Holy grail! "But good knight, you have no arms any more!" - "Then i shall bleed on you!" LOL)

[Admin]

Come back here and i bite you in the ankles..

But Good knight, you have no body..

Its just a flesh wound...