Summary: Anne holds her ground against Prince John while Guy is tortured by him

N.b. Italics for foreign language, won't tell you which though :p

The banquet was certainly a self indulgence of sorts. Pheasant, quail, oranges, spices even roast swan. Vaisey certainly had pulled out all the stops for this. He didn't even know how long Prince John was staying.

Anne was originally sat next to Gisborne but had been moved after Prince John's request. Typical.

Still. If she was to sit next to the thug, she might as well see it as a challenge.

She entered the hall to general awe. Her red satin dress with gold trim hugged her figure tightly so everyone could see her for her "value". She loved seeing Gisborne's face as she stood in her place. She could feel his eyes ravage her as she sat down, her dress tempting him to steal a moment with him later.

Prince John arrived to rapturous applause, his eyes stopping at her as he gazed around the room.

Everyone moved to their place as she and Gisborne sat down. At opposite ends of the room.

"Shame about Gisborne. Can't even catch one outlaw, let alone a group when he's had every resource available."

"I wouldn't know sire,"

"I didn't ask for your response, did I?" He grimaced at her before looking her up and down.

"You didn't do this for me, did you?"

"I couldn't say sire,"

"Because it won't help you. You owe me far more than a night looking at you in a dress,"

"Of course sire,"

He looked round his nobles again, stopping at various people to make some comment about them before moving over to someone else of little importance he could make fun of.

"You didn't wear this for Gisborne, did you?"

"I dress for me,"

"Of course you did. Of course you did,"

She left before the dancing began, excusing herself.

She couldn't bear his eyes on her, his crudeness, his lack manners, him insinuating every time he could.

She could only hope Guy really had sent that letter.

************************************

Guy had been placed at one of the lower tables amongst the other lords and nobles. He found it odd watching Anne from a distance. How jealous he became when anyone talked to her. He couldn't bare anyone looking at her.

She glanced at him once when Prince John was talking to her. She seemed the same as before: empty, vacant, devoid of emotion.

He left late, drinking most of the time. Some might call it "drowning your sorrows." "Draining his emotions" was what he preferred.

He was awoken late. A commotion in the courtyard.

He was out quick enough to see a small boy, no more than six, bleeding, surrounded by guards, Vaisey and Prince John.

"What's going on?"

"It's the devil, Guy, I swear,"

It certainly seemed like that. It wouldn't stop talking and seemed to end everything like s snake.

"Well, if we don't know what it's saying kill it,"

"My lords,"

Anne.

"Go," He couldn't bare to see her here.

"I can't if I can't go to sleep," She saw the boy. "What happened?"

"He doesn't speak a world of English,"

"And that's a reason to kill him,"

"Long live King Richard! Long live King Richard!"

"Wait! What's your name?"

"Anwyll,"

"Why do you say "Long live King Richard"?"

"I have a message for Robin Hood,"

"What's he saying?"

"He's not making much sense,"

"Then kill him,"

"NO!"

Why was she so desperate to save him?"

"Let him recover and I'm sure he'll make some sense,"

She was almost begging to John. Why would she not let him go? He was only a child. He'd probably rob someone and die anyway.

"No," John didn't care. He even smirked at her.

She didn't care. She picked the boy up and started to leave.

"I said no!"

"And I don't care,"

He stormed up to her so only they could hear.

"Disobey me and you will pay,"

"I thought I already was,"