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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on Apr 16, 2009 23:13:51 GMT 1
Marian walked along a dark corridor, trying to avoid any guards. She seemed to be allowed a little more freedom these days, whether that was intentional or not. She of course was not complaining, it meant she could have time to herself without a guard breathing down her neck or leering at her.
Stopping, she frowned. She was sure she heard footsteps, and that was not good. Ducking into a storage room, she glanced out of the door, waiting. The footsteps were getting louder and her heart rate began to pick up, worry rushing through her. She wanted more time to walk and be alone, she certainly did not want to be dragged away by a guard.
Who she saw, she did not expect. Allan walked around the corner, seemingly without a care. Was he really not that worried that he would be found, and likely hanged? Glancing around again, she checked for anyone else before stepping forward a little, but still enough that she was hidden.
"Allan!" she spoke softly, then louder as she spoke again. "Allan, what are you doing!"
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Post by roryna on Apr 19, 2009 0:57:33 GMT 1
Allan calmly walked inside what seemed a dark and desert corridor in the castle, headed to an almost empty storage room Gisborne had showed him before letting the outlaw out after his torture a few weeks earlier.
The usual tavern was out of question that day since the gang was visiting a few families in town and it would have been suspicious to see him lingering around there.
Reason why, as arranged through the usual bar maid, Guy had consented to meet Allan inside the castle indeed, after having told his guards to let the man pass without further questioning.
And so the trickster had done, not without checking a few times if he was being followed. Truth be told, he had nothing to tell him... nothing that wasn't solid information about the gang and that he of course wasn't going to reveal. But in the last few days Gisborne had started to insist on the Nightwatchman topic, convinced on Robin knowing his true identity, and so Allan was trying to make up a story for that.
He surely wasn't going to betray Marian. As far as he was concerned, he had already done much to disgust himself for the rest of his days.
Engaged in said thoughts, he didn't hear the light nose of footsteps behind himself, and he literally jumped when someone called out his name.
A female's voice, to be exact.
He almost paled as he turned to find none other than Marian herself staring right back at him. He had never felt more ashamed of himself in his whole life. He was there, before her, a few steps away from meeting the man he was spying for.
"Allan, what are you doing!"
-"Good question"- He thought to himself as her rightful inquiry interrupted his self reproach; this wasn't the best moment for guilt to overcome him, no. He had to think of something... and quickly.
"Shh," he urged, softly pushing her back in the corner where she had evidently being hiding when he had passed by. "I was actually searching for you." He promptly lied, hoping to find a plausible story for what he had just stated.
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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on Apr 19, 2009 13:40:17 GMT 1
Marian noticed when he was surprised at hearing her voice. She must have been exceptionally quiet if he hadn't heard her. Either that or deep in thought about something and she really hoped there wasn't any trouble or awful circumstances.
Before Marian could protest, Allan was pushing her back to the dark alcove where she was hiding only moments earlier, shushing her. Frowning, she looked around, thinking that possibly there could be a guard nearby. When she saw nothing, she went to speak, only to be cut off by Allan.
"I was actually searching for you."
Marian's frown deepened at his words, instantly worried. If he had risked his life to come and see her then something must be bad.
"Me? Why? Has something happened?" She knew there was worry in her voice and she didn't attempt to hide it.
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Post by roryna on Apr 20, 2009 23:40:50 GMT 1
"Me? Why? Has something happened?"
Allan silently cursed himself for saying those words. Of course now she was worried, she was probably thinking that something had happened to Robin; but he had to act on impulse and that was the very first thing that crossed his mind at the moment.
"Don't worry, he's fine, the lads are all fine." He rushed to soothe her concerns in a whisper.
Though now he had to give her some other explanations... and that was the hard part.
He nervously scratched the back of his head as she stared at him in puzzlement, waiting for him to reveal his reason for being there.
"Actually it's the other way around," he eventually piped up again "we were out giving food when I heard someone say that Gisborne had caught the Nightwatchman. So... I decided to come here and check personally, since Robin hasn't seen you in a few days, before making him worry for nothing... you know."
He carelessly shrugged his shoulders, hoping she would believe his story. After all he could just get back to the others and tell exactly the same... with the conclusion, of course, that the peasant who had said so was the one who got the news wrong.
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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on Apr 22, 2009 20:49:07 GMT 1
"Don't worry, he's fine, the lads are all fine."
Marian couldn't help but smile in relief, glad that Allan seemed to know that she was instantly worried about Robin and the gangs safety. Of course she worried about all of them, she had struck up a friendship with them all, and would constantly worry over them as well.
"Actually it's the other way around. We were out giving food when I heard someone say that Gisborne had caught the Nightwatchman. So... I decided to come here and check personally, since Robin hasn't seen you in a few days, before making him worry for nothing... you know."
Marian nodded as she listened to his explanation, smiling a little. So he came here to check up on her? She was not sure if she should be annoyed or flattered. After all, she expected Robin to risk his neck to make sure she was safe, after all even when she told him to resist doing such things she knew he would still proceed in doing so. But Allan? She had not expected that.
"Well I am perfectly safe, as you can see. Thank you for your concern. But I'd rather you did not risk your life just to see if I was fine."
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Post by roryna on Apr 23, 2009 23:37:45 GMT 1
Allan started to relax as he noticed Marian's expression soften up, the initial concern and alarm slowly disappearing.
...Which meant she didn't suspect anything, luckily for him.
"Thank you for your concern. But I'd rather you did not risk your life just to see if I was fine."
If he wasn't already feeling guilty, sensation that he actually experienced often lately every time he was near her, Marian thanking him now surely made him feel so.
"Er, don't mention it." He sheepishly smiled, with an almost imperceptible shrug of the shoulders "You know Robin would never let us be if he heard the same voice going around as I did. I had to secure myself a night of good rest, you know." He joked with a halfhearted smile.
Anxiety was starting to build up inside as he glanced at the corridor's end, nervously scratching the back of his head.
If Guy decided to come out and check why he hadn't arrived yet, he wasn't sure of how things would end. Perhaps he'd even let Allan hang to not reveal Marian he needed a spy to control Robin Hood.
Either way, he wasn't willing to find out just yet.
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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on Apr 26, 2009 0:06:16 GMT 1
"You know Robin would never let us be if he heard the same voice going around as I did. I had to secure myself a night of good rest, you know."
Marian laughed a little as he spoke, looking down at the ground. She knew that if Robin thought she was caputred or dead he would instantly be making plans to find out what had happened, or to get revenge. She looked back up at Allan, her laughter sobering.
"I appreciate the concern but I am very much capable of looking after myself. Robin is quite aware of this and I daresay you know so too. Next time you here such rumours, please, check before you risk everything by coming to the castle."
Marian tried to make her voice sound less like she was commanding him, only that seemed to be what she was doing him. She rarely bossed them around but when it came to their safety she just wanted to make sure they did not put themselves at risk.
She glanced around as she heard footsteps, noticing a few guards walking a long the corridor. Quickly, she looked around, before grabbing Allans hand and pulling him tighter into the corner, more concerned about him being caught than herself. She kept herself quiet, even her breathing was shallow and quiet, and she allowed hardly any space between herself and Allan, not wanting to risk him being even a small amount in the light.
(Yes I may have done this on purpose...not that Marian is.)
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Post by roryna on Apr 29, 2009 23:27:10 GMT 1
"I appreciate the concern but I am very much capable of looking after myself."
Allan was already going to snicker at this, perfectly remembering all the times he had witnessed her and Robin arguing on this topic, much to his amusement; when suddenly he noticed her expression change in one of alarm.
He didn't even have the time to question what the matter was, he was only aware of Marian seizing his hand and pulling him toward her, hiding both of them in a secluded corner.
If he wasn't already surprised by her unexpected movement, he would have found himself taken aback by his own lack of cheeky remarks for the occasion. This was definitely a first time for the trickster.
...And also the first time he was so close to her. He instinctively held his breath as she carefully checked the way; only, the sudden racing of his heart had nothing to do with the possibility of being caught. It actually depended on the small, almost inexistent, gap existing between them at the moment.
He had to mentally remind himself that she was Robin's love -not that he hadn't already betrayed his leader enough- as she turned to him again, their faces separated only by a few inches.
"You should miss being the Nightwatchman a lot if you're starting to look after me like that." He eventually forced himsef to utter with half a smile, hoping she wouldn't notice anything different in his behavior.
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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on Apr 30, 2009 22:49:02 GMT 1
"You should miss being the Nightwatchman a lot if you're starting to look after me like that."
Marian kept her eyes on him for a moment, before checking the corridor again. The guards were not completely gone just yet, but far away enough that they could speak loud enough to hear each other. Clearly Allan realised that too when he spoke to her and she couldn't help but return his small smile.
"I do miss doing what I can to help, so in a way saving you is helping others," she said with a slight nod. "Besides, I do not think Robin would be best pleased in I let a member of his gang be taken by guards so easily when all they were trying to do was look after me."
Glancing back at the guards, she cursed them a little that they had chosen to stand at one end of the corridor. She just hoped they moved soon, soon enough that she could sneak Allan out and get him back to the forest. She would never forgive herself if she let him get found here, as it would certainly mean hanging. Though she also knew Robin would try anything to break him free.
Another reason to help him get out. Robin would end up in trouble if anything happened to a member of his gang.
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Post by roryna on May 6, 2009 23:24:35 GMT 1
Allan tried to remain perfectly still, regaining his usual composure, while Marian checked the corridor once again.
He found himself letting out a breath he hadn't even realized he was holding as she turned her back at him, peering behind a stone column.
She had no idea of what her proximity was doing to him... and he hoped she would never find out, for his own sake. If Robin would ever find out about his meetings with Guisborne and spare him for that, he wasn't so sure of what his fate was going to be if the outlaw in chief could have read his thoughts at the moment.
He was caught off guard as she turned to face him once again; the two still the closest they had ever been to each other.
Marian gave him an apologetic smile, probably excusing herself for the uncomfortable situation they were both in. Even though, it had nothing of uncomfortable for Allan.
On the other hand... well, as Anya often liked to point out to him, it wasn't like in the forest you had the best chances to take a bath everyday or to clean yourself up. And his dirty clothes were a proof of that.
"Not being funny, but you might want to be careful not to spoil your dress m'lady. The dirt of the forest would give you away." He chuckled, playfully emphasizing on the word he had chosen to address her. "It would be my fault, Robin would think me responsible, and I'll end up killed anyway. Back at the starting point." He lazily smiled, leaning his head back on the stone wall.
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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on May 10, 2009 0:27:50 GMT 1
Marian couldn't stop being worried, her eyes constantly glancing back from Allan to the guards. She hoped they would move soon, so she could help Allan escape, get him back to the camp. She couldn't help but send apologetic glances to Allan every so often, after all, he probably just wanted to get back to Robin and the forest. Hiding in corners was hardly the most comfortable situation, things were too closed in, and she guessed that was not a nice situation for him either.
"Not being funny, but you might want to be careful not to spoil your dress m'lady. The dirt of the forest would give you away."
Marian raised her eyebrow at the use of the title, something he hardly ever did. None of the gang seemed to see much point in it, after all she had tried to prove herself as Marian and not just a noble who has close history with Robin. She went to speak, but stopped quickly as she heard footsteps again, this time getting further away. Glancing out, she noticed that the guards were gone. Wanting to be sure, she did not seperate from Allan. After all, she did not want them to step out only to instantly be caught by guards.
"It would be my fault, Robin would think me responsible, and I'll end up killed anyway. Back at the starting point."
"I would not let that happen, after all I only need to explain to Robin. Surely he trusts us both." Taking a moment, she quickly glanced down at her dress. "I will change once I get you out of here. If I am found after you've gone I'll think of something, some reason why my clothes are like this."
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Post by roryna on May 16, 2009 22:30:44 GMT 1
"I would not let that happen, after all I only need to explain to Robin. Surely he trusts us both."
Allan inwardly winced at the mention of his leader and trust in the same sentence... that surely wasn't something that got along well for him at the moment.
Therefore he tried to mask the instinctive grimace on his face. Last thing he needed was to give away said emotions in Marian's presence. She could show enough benevolence to him, but she was in love with Robin nevertheless; and that meant that he had to be careful, making her find out about his betrayal equaled to make Robin know as well.
He tried to turn his discomfort into a fake cough, distancing himself a bit from Marian.
As things weren't already bad enough, he had just realized that if he had easily fooled Marian with his made up story, things wouldn't be as smooth with Robin. She was secluded in the castle, therefore she couldn't know whether he had told the truth or not; bur Robin... well, he would take him only a few minutes to ask around about that Nightwatchman rumor.
"Actually... I was thinking... would you mind keeping this between us? I mean, I don't want to make Robin worry about both of us without any real reason. You're evidently still very much alive," he joked "and he won't be happy to know I came here to check on you without telling the gang first, y'know how's he..."
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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on May 19, 2009 23:34:07 GMT 1
"Actually... I was thinking... would you mind keeping this between us? I mean, I don't want to make Robin worry about both of us without any real reason. You're evidently still very much alive, and he won't be happy to know I came here to check on you without telling the gang first, y'know how's he..."
Marian frowned a little as he spoke, checking the corridor and feeling relieved when she noticed it definitely clear. Not even a sound of footsteps, the guards must have left quite a while ago. Looking back at Allan, she stepped to the side, distancing them both away from each other a little.
Not tell Robin? Clearly Robin would want to know everything. But even if Allan had risked his life to help her, by the sounds of things he hadn't told Robin. Something which Robin was very clear on, she got the impression. That he was in charge, and that was it.
"I suppose," she said after a moment. "But if he asks about it, I wont hold back."
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Post by roryna on May 26, 2009 22:34:39 GMT 1
Allan found himself letting out a breath he hadn't even realized he was holding back when Marian stepped backwards, taking the distance between them to a more reasonable one. Not that he was particularly glad of that, quite the contrary actually, but at least he could feel more at his own ease now.
"But if he asks about it, I wont hold back."
He slowly nodded as he took in Marian's words. After all he wasn't expecting anything different from her. Of course she was loyal to Robin through and through... he had already been enough lucky that she had accepted to keep what had just happened silent. Not to mention he had a lot to be grateful for since she wasn't suspecting anything about his real reason to be there in the castle.
"Of course," He agreed with half a smile. "Thanks... err... for understanding." He added after a brief hesitation; that kind of conversation wasn't surely his forte, he was more used at cheeky remarks and silly comments. "Then I suppose I'd better get going... not being funny but they could start missing me at the camp."
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Post by Marian Fitzwalter on Jun 4, 2009 10:02:14 GMT 1
"Of course. Thanks... err... for understanding."
Marian nodded, brushing down her dress a little. She could seem the little imprints of mud on her dress that came from his clothes, but knew that could be washed out very easily. After all, she occasionally got stains from when she goes to the forest so she knew that it was relatively a quick clean
"It's not a problem, Allan. It's understandable why you came here I suppose, even though I do not like the thought of you risking yourself just to check up on me."
"Then I suppose I'd better get going... not being funny but they could start missing me at the camp."
Nodding, she checked the corridor again before walking out. It would be a shame that he was caught now after managing so long, and she would never forgive herself if he was put in the dungeons for the reason he is here. But she couldn't leave him to walk out himself, he made sure she was safe and she was going to return the favour.
"Come, we can try and get you out a way no one will notice you."
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