Hostage

Chapter Four

Blankets and Stew

The wind began to hollow in the night sky, keeping Christine from falling into sleep. A sneeze bellowed out of her nose, feeling the wind against her frame. Shivering, she wished the blankets would come back. It's been four days since her arrival at the castle. What would become of her? Would Lord Ventadour give in and pay the ransom to help her out of this dismal place? Or would someone make a dramatic entrance and rescue her? Hopefully one of those things would happen before her life was taken away, guaranteeing she would make it out of the prison in one piece.

Audrey must be worrying herself out of her wits at Millbrooke Castle about her whereabouts. Instead of having fun at Diana's birthday celebration, she would be fretting over Christine. The handmaid didn't want that. She wanted Audrey to relax and have a good time at Diana's. Christine wished she knew what Audrey was thinking right at this very moment. It would ease her mind of anxiety.

The maidservant was homesick for France. She missed her mother's fine meals she cooked in the castle kitchen and her father's lectures on plants and flowers. Sure, her two brothers were annoying at times, but she longed to hear their mischievous voices. She wanted to feel Hector's protective atmosphere and Theodore's sensitivity. The curiosity of Michelle's eyes, the youngest of the siblings, was what Christine wanted to see. If she ever got out, the sight of Audrey would relieve her of her worries. She wanted to go back to doing Audrey's hair. Taking care of her clothes and bringing up her meals. She wanted to feel her boisterous nature. It was one of the things she thought about that kept her sane while she was in the cell.

Her eyelids began to feel heavy, and soon fell into a deep sleep. Christine dreamed of her family and Audrey. In the dream, they held her in a warm embrace, protecting her from harm that came her way...

Carrying a fresh blanket under his arm and a bowel of meat stew in his hands, Guy walked the stairwell of the dungeon. Once he found the cell he was looking for, he took out a set of keys and unlocked the cell door. He placed the hot soup on the small table of the cell and walked to the sleeping body. The luxurious fabrics lost their luster, leaving behind dirt at the hem and smudges of mud. The golden locks swayed in the wind like lose grass. Her hair was neat before she was brought to the castle. It was tied up in a hairstyle, but after being in the dungeon she let her strands lose.

He didn't know why he brought her the extra stew and the blanket in the first place. Was it because he pitted her? She was going through so much the past few days. She could have reacted more aggressively, but she chose to be passive about the things going around her and minded herself. It was a miracle she was holding on, still scraping up in one piece. She was silent and meek, but had strength to last herself. Even though horrid things were going on in the dungeon, she looked peaceful in the moonlight. The figure began to move, a moan sounding from her voice. Opening the blanket, he placed it on the body, quickly left through the door and locked it.

He looked back and hid in the alcove, watching her cell from a distance. She was awake, confused to why she had a blanket around her, but she looked happy she had one around her to keep herself warm. She then noticed the steam and aroma rising from the stew. She walked up to the table, observing the food. Guy hoped she liked stew, and he quickly left the dungeon.

She could have talked back to the guards, even Guy himself, but she didn't. Now that he thought about it, she could have talked back since she was a noble, but she didn't use her status to her full advantage. Maybe... it wasn't just her personality. Maybe it was more.

He came to one conclusion: this wasn't the Lady Audrey Montagne of Ventadour.

By the order of the Sheriff...

If the Lord of Ventadour doesn't pay the tax, the Sheriff hereby declares the Lady Audrey of Ventadour dead and will be hang.

x Signature

Vaisey, The Sheriff of Nottingham

Note*~

The votes are in! Anita Briem is in the lead with three votes. Kristen Bell and Billie Piper are tied with two votes each. Anita Briem will be playing Christine. :)

So! Current news on fics. "Nottingham U"'s taking longer than I expected due to writer's blockage and school taking up my time. :P But I'll try to get a chapter up in June or something. "Sins and Deeds" is just about done. One more chapter, and it's complete.

I'm so glad that everyone's liking my works here in the Robin Hood section... Thank you everyone! I'm so glad and lucky to have you guys. ^.^ :D

Peace! Please review. They keep me going. :) ^.^ *heart*