Guy allowed himself to look at Marian from afar. It would be no use to engage her in talk, she would only turn him away. And yet even those rebuffs would be better than silence. He shook his head. The road had to be secured. There was no time for dallying, and he had learned that Marian's pretty smiles and gentle glances were a guise. He refused to play the fool again.
"I still do not understand why I had to accompany you, sir," Ada's voice caught his attention. Turning quickly from Marian's form, Guy gave her a sharp look. Her face had become a cool façade, and he found he preferred that to adoring, lying eyes. "The guards have not left my side I assure you."
"I'm aware," he replied. Since that short visit he'd made to her room, the lady had avoided him. She hadn't been rude, not once, but when he entered a room, she found reasons to leave or something to busy herself with. It seemed confrontations were not her strong point. Perhaps it was out of sheer curiosity that he took her with him, to see what she would do were she given no alternative but to acknowledge him.
Where Marian would have acted impulsively and offered acidic retorts, Ada had seemed to take a step back and detach herself from the situation. She was not overly welcoming, just pleasant enough not to bring offence. Smart girl, he thought. And that made him all the more curious of her. He shouldn't want to know what went on in that pretty head of hers.
"You might like to know that the Sheriff has written to you father," Guy told her suddenly. She had no need to know that, yet as it did not hold tremendous importance, he found himself not at all reluctant to tell her. "And in response it would seem your father will send a man of his own to look after you. Just to make sure no more unpleasant incidents take place."
Ada gulped. Her father hadn't been pleased about the cost of sending her to her uncle. She had expected something like that to happen. "You don't happen to have the name of the man he's sending, do you?" she asked, affecting ennui. The shake of his head made her sigh. There was nothing to be done but wait and see. Meanwhile, she would concern herself with the impending threat of the Prince's visit. "Will it be long until our most beloved Prince is here?"
"Eager, are we?" For some unfathomable reason his voice sounded like the crack of a whip. Her silence made his lips curl. Guy turned the full heat of his stare on her to find a pale-faced child staring back at him. He could practically see the shackles and chains. As the words rolled out, something vile filled his mouth.
"Of course," Ada agreed, her composure returning. The momentary lapse was put behind. Guy wasn't sure if she was answering his question or simply speaking for the sake of saying something.
Digging his heels in the horse's flanks he left her atop her mare. Thankfully, a carriage, massive and heavily decorated, was coming down the road. Or rather unfortunately, if one was to consider his current predicament. As it happened that was Prince John's carriage and those were his men. The procession stopped, and a few words were exchanged between Guy and the gurad at the very head. They nodded at one another.
He returned to Ada's side. "We see them safely to the gates and then you may better acquaint yourself with the Prince." The sight of her trembling brought something akin to pity to Guy's mind. Instead of offering her comfort he gave her a half-smirk. He set a deliberately slow pace.
Despite her holding her silence, he could see the grateful look she sent his way. Foolish girl. He wasn't doing this for her benefit. Although, privately, he admitted to being pleased by those dark eyes glinting for him. The Prince could wait awhile longer.
Alas, all good things came to an end. Ada could see the castle looming in the very near distance. No doubt her uncle would be waiting to greet the Prince, and throw her in his arms like some pagan sacrifice. Ada forced her body to stop trembling. Whether she liked it or not, she would service the Prince. How bad could it be? She would simply have to speak to the man a few times. A small number of words thrown around, meaningless compliments. She could do that.
Reaching the gates, she was met with a cordial stare from the Sheriff. "Niece, allow me to help you down." He yanked her off the horse, nearly ripping her arm. "Remember your promise," he hisses, for her ears only.
Gisbourne dismounted, and stepped to her left, standing just a bit behind her. Ada would have given anything to have some sort of shield. Pity, that. She would make do with her skirts and smiles. Training her eyes on the man stepping out of the carriage, Ada felt a shock going through her. Prince John was a good-looking man, lean and tall. Not as tall as Guy, but it was a decent height. He smiled charmingly and for a moment he seemed almost affable. Until, of course, his eyes landed on her. Orbs previously warm and slightly mischievous narrowed in something like seduction.
"Why, Sheriff, what have you been hiding in those dark corners of your castle all this time?" The Prince bent over her hand, which he had taken quite without her consent, and pressed a warm kiss to her knuckles.
"Pray, allow me to introduce my niece, Ada of Carlisle." Vaisey was clearly pleased by the way things were going. "Should you not take offence, I would have her joining us."
"Offence?" Prince John gaped. "My dear, dear Sheriff, how could I possibly take offence? Come my pretty darling," he invited, taking Ada hand in the crook of his arm.
His cheery chatter confused Ada. Despite that she tried her best to keep up with his firing questions, and provide adequate answers. No, she hadn't been here long. Yes, she quite liked her uncle's residence. She was not an only child, she had a younger brother. Her mother was dead, but her father still lived. Oh, she would be delighted to be lead into supper by him. Behind her she could almost swear that she heard a very male, very familiar grunt.
"A thousand pardons, fair lady, but I fear I must relinquish your exquisite company. I would refresh myself before supper." His arm brushed her side, and before she could stiffen, he let her go. "You shall not be cross with me, will you, my dear girl?"
"Your Grace, it is I at your disposal," Ada answered, falling into a short curtsy. "You must but wish and speak." She would have liked it more had he retreated forever, but Ada supposed one had to take their pleasures where they could. His over familiar handling of her filled her with dread.
Once the Prince was safely into his quarters, Ada found herself grabbed by another pair of hand. Her uncle had caught her face firmly between his spindly, rough palms. "Well done," he praised. "Should you continue on this path, I will see that you are rewarded." Happy with the outcome, Vaisey walked away all the while murmuring about dinner plans.
Left alone with Guy, she gave the man a dubious glance. "I will see myself to my chambers," she told him mildly. Her strength felt sapped. Did the Prince have this effect on everyone? To say that Guy's next move surprised her would fall short of doing her feelings justice.
"Such a pretty song," he said, his hand wrapping around her elbow. "You'd best take care not to stir his interest too much," Guy warned.
Prince John possessed charm, or a diluted version of it, an appeal of the flesh. Once the first layer was peeled off what remained was a spoiled boy ready to take whatever he wanted and bite and scratch whoever stood in his way. Something about the way she'd appeared before made Guy apprehensive. Against the buoyant display of their Prince, she had looked a small mouse fooled into entering the serpent's lair. Why keep her out? Guy didn't know.
They moved together down the corridor. Ada considered his words. She wished he wouldn't make her so unstable. One moment he was kind, then he became cruel, and after he was considerate again. "I am a woman," she finally said, as if that hadn't been the most obvious thing in the world. "There is hardly anything I can say if he does take interest in me."
Hardly could he fault her logic. Should the Prince be displeased with her it would have repercussions over them all. Still, the thought of her on his arm, smiling and playing along to whatever whim the man had; it didn't sit well with Guy. Of course if it came to the Prince actively seeking her, then she would be unable to refuse. This, supper, was a game. He'd seen it numerous times. The only thing that would save her was the bond to another, and even that was not certain.
Donning a rich velvet dress for the event to come, Ada struggled to ignore the taste of ash on her tongue. The cross around her neck, which would have brought her comfort once, now stood to mock her. If this was to be her fate, she would not greet it in tears. Ada wiped away angrily at the small salty drops on her cheeks. "Be brave, be brave, be brave," she whispered to herself, clinging to the mantra. It would pass, everything would be fine. Prince John would have his fun and then he'd be gone. She would not have to endure his attentions again.
"There you are," the breezy voice of the Prince caught her unaware. Ada plastered a quick smile on her face. "Come, come. You must allow me to have a better look." He was not forceful, not even demanding. In a way the Prince presented himself as cavalier. He looked at her as if she were a simple object, something to be used and discarded, something to be consumed.
"Begging pardon, Your Grace, but they must be waiting for us," Ada managed to get out despite the uneasy fluttering in her stomach.
"So they should," he spoke softly, this time trapping her waist with his arm. If she had thought Guy bold, Ada suspected the Prince was impudent. "My dear, you must realise-"
"Your Grace you will forgive our interrupting." Oh, Ada knew that voice. She knew it all too well. "And the most honourable lady of Carlisle." She took advantage of this chance to free herself from the Prince's hold.
"Robin Hood," Ada breathed out. Never had she been so pleased before to see a man who had held her at knifepoint. Granted, she hadn't been held at knifepoint before her walk into Sherwood.
"Hood!" Guy's raged bellow erupted from somewhere down the hall. Ada could only press herself to the wall, or else he would have run her through, she was certain.
Something like a tavern brawl ensued. Ada had to admit she hadn't ever stepped into the inside of a tavern, but she'd heard enough talk from her father's guards to gather that it was typically a graceless, alcohol induced tussle between men who ordinarily had better things to do. In other words it was the male equivalent of embroidery.
Fascinated, Ada crept along the wall. She watched the duel between Robin Hood and Guy. Brash and harsh they were, but not graceless. Clearly they followed a pattern of some sort, rather like a dance. The sound of metal hitting the floor caught her attention. Ada looked down to see a dagger. She bent carefully and picked the weapon up, the resumed her neutral position. Fortunately she returned her eyes to the still ongoing fight just in time to see a fist connecting with the Prince's nose and her uncle yelling like mad for the guards to come. It was mayhem.
"Robin Hood!" the Sheriff screamed, as the outlaw knocked him to the ground having somehow escaped Guy. "Get him! Kill Hood!"
Robin laughed. "Maybe next time, Sheriff." He jumped over to Ada's side. "My lady, I believe you have something that belongs to me. May I?" He reached for the dagger in her hands and gave her a soft smirk. Ada relinquished her hold on the weapon. "Thank you."
Havoc, Ada repeated in her mind. Robin Hood had left a minefield behind. And she had to thread carefully. Like a good subject she approached the now furious Prince. "Allow me," she offered him her kerchief, a dainty sewn piece. He grabbed at it blindly and wiped the blood from his face while spewing choice words towards her uncle and his men. Ada had the sudden urge to laugh. Men were such complicated creatures. The now soiled cloth was pressed back into her hands, and it seemed that the lady had been relegated to servant.
"You are useless!" Prince John thundered pointing to the Sheriff. "You cannot even stop one measly band of outlaws."
For the first time Ada noticed that Guy had been hurt. She stepped away from the Prince, fully intending to see if she could aid somehow. Let the Prince bicker with her uncle. They could stand in the hall all night if they so wished, she was going to do something worthwhile.
"You have good timing," Ada told Guy who had fixed his eyes on her. She reached out to catch his arm in her hands. "If you would allow it, I could clean the wound for you."
"You have medical knowledge, my sweet bird?" Prince John's eager voice sounded from her. "Such a fortunate turn of events. You must help me."
"A thousand pardons, Your Grace," Ada excused herself. "I am most certain that a physician should be consulted. His care would be indispensable. I am ashamed to confess that I do not have the necessary skills, Your Grace."
"You, my lady, are a marvellous diplomat," Guy whispered. Apparently he had caught onto her meaning, and saw what she had intended to actually say.
Ignoring him for the moment, Ada bowed to the Prince. "If Your Grace would but make for his rooms, I shall see that our best physician is there to attend him."
Sheriff Vaisey breathed out in relief. "Indeed, Your Grace, my niece is quite right."
"Silence, fool!" the Prince snapped. Then with a placid mask back in place, he addressed Ada. "Very well, gracious hostess. I shall follow your instructions, but I will have a promise from you."
Ada barely managed to keep herself from making a stunned face. As if he were doing her a favour, she raged silently. "And what would you have me promise?" This was a dangerous move.
"Only that you accompany me on my morning walk," he requested with undue humility. "If you would consent to being seen with me, you would make a wounded man most happy."
Theatrics were his strong point, Ada decided. He acted as if he'd been mortally wounded. "But of course, Your Grace. Nothing would please me better. I shall see you on the morrow."
God knew she would have left right then, but Prince John had other plans. "A moment, my dear. You seem to have forgotten something." He sauntered up to her and pressed a blood-red kiss to her cheek. Ada nearly doubled over in shock. How dare he?
"Good night, Your Grace," she uttered, perhaps more stiffly than she had intended. "Come, sir Guy. Let us allow my uncle and his honoured guest their privacy." A bit too late did she realise exactly what she had done. She turned with a startled look to see the same half-smirk from before on his lips. "Forgive me, I had not meant to make it sound like a command."
"But, my lady," he said in a mockery of the Prince's style, "I am yours to command." Ada only wished his words were true. She reigned in a smile. "Now about that treatment you have promised me."
"Ah, yes." Ada had thought to get away from the Prince most of all. "I will summon the physician, and then I shall come to you. Unless, of course, you plan to follow me around." As it turned out Guy did plan to follow her around. Ada shrugged, but went about her business. She located one of the kitchen workers and asked that they bring her the best physician around. Then she instructed the guards at the door on what they were to do with the physician. It was only after that she ordered Guy to sit on one of the benches.
"And what exactly do you plan to do to me?" he drawled, seemingly bored. Despite that he eyed her quite warily, clearly not dismissing the possibility of a threat.
"Well, I am going to take advantage of your weakened state and have my way with you," she deadpanned. Her veneer held for all of five seconds and then she broke into peals of laughter. She hadn't thought herself bold enough to ever say such words. "Don't worry, sir. I will just clean the wound and apply a bandage."
It was very helpful of the staff to give her the objects she had asked for. Ada set about her work, washing the dried blood away and making sure the cuts were properly cleansed. Guy waited until the mirth was gone from her face and only concentration remained. He leaned in. "I rather liked your first plan better," he told her just as she was wrapping the bandage around his arm, startling Ada. She gave him a wide-eyes stare full of reproach.
"Flattery will get you anywhere," she replied, patting the unharmed appendage, "with my uncle, and with the Prince too, I'm sure. But not with me."