[Episode OOM -- "Angel of Death" 2.04 (2)]

[queenofmay]

Part I - Part II - Part III - Part IV - Part V

~*~

Marian paced back and forth in her room. It would be the perfect time. The Sheriff and Guy would both be too busy, with the protesting man's death, and the people fearful of the plague and the barricades, to pay much attention to her. She needed fast food, and medicine. She waited, pacing, trying to think of where to go first, how and when. Who needed to see her, what alibi.

Glad when the door to her chamber opened and she turned, opening her mouth, only to draw back. That was not the face she was expect. This younger, mousy brown hair girl, with her Amy-like up-turned nose, and hopeful apology written all over her expression, timidly stepping in, carrying a washed dress, and closing the door behind her. "Where's Sarah?"

"Don't you know?" The girl said quickly. "She lives in Pitt Street."

Marian felt her heart clench. "Is she affected?"

The expression of the girl was almost worse, as she shook her head. "Little Jess."

Marian toyed with her hands, crossing the room. Closer and closer this plague got. She stopped beside her bed, deciding in a snap, as her hand closed on her bed post. "Right. We must get them medicine..." Sizing the girl up, hoping the cause would help overlook the next words. "...and I need your clothes."

It hadn't taken much prompting in the end. How could she go, in a Lady's Finery. Even if the garish bright colors, and low cuts of clothing the Sheriff left at her disposal made it harder to believe these clothes were it, than saying it. But striving on the want to help Sarah, she'd won over this newest serving girl, Jane. She'd changed into the black dress, while Jane collected the jars and bottles of medicine she had into a shoulder bag.

"We'll need to take food, as well," Marian told her, pulling the brilliant colored ribbons, and the pins holding her hair up, out.

"No need, Miss," Jane said, smiling, tenatively. "They’re all fed. The Nightwatchman visited last night. Pitt Street."

Marian frowned, fingers still in the pins of her hair, as Jane went back to organizing the bottles. Except. Except she hadn't been to Pitt Street the night before. She'd been here. The same as she'd had to be the last several days. She hardly had her way of the kitchens, and her weapons from Teja hadn't been brought here yet.

Comments

[landlesslord]

As much as Sir Edward's imprisonment was not an out of character or unusual punishment for the Sheriff to bestow, this did not mean that Guy approved of the treatment he had received. Still, there was little he could do about it and as much as he had wanted to offer some word of comfort to Marian earlier, he had found himself unable to.

Time, and being out of sight of the Sheriff, had given him the opportunity to find the right words and they would be easier to say to Marian in private. He hoped.

Guy still felt unsure as he walked down the corridor and knocked on Marian's door.

[queenofmay]

Marian looked from Jane to the door, still pulling more hairpins out of her hair. "Don't come in!" She called out, wondering who could be troubling her now, formulating reasons for the dress and Jane and digression instantly.

[landlesslord]

"Marian?"

At this time of day it seemed unlikely that she could be dressing, but Guy could think of no other reason that he could not enter.

[queenofmay]

If she hadn't panicked at the knock she did now. All but literally flying across the room, to throw herself on the door. Slamming the latch to lock, anger at his earlier once again silence mixed with the fear.

"You can't come in!" Her hand grabbing the handle of the door.

She really wouldn't get this dress past him. And she had to get out.

[landlesslord]

Can't come in? It still didn't make sense. Why wouldn't she see him? Would he have to talk to her from outside where anyone might pass?

The situation was becoming somewhat humiliating.

"I cannot talk to you through the door."

[queenofmay]

He sounded slighted. Annoyed by her denial. Good. He thought this might be embarrassing? After all they made her go through, every day? Today?

"Well then, you cannot talk to me at all."


She nodded to Jane to get the bag. If he forced his way in , she needed as much of it hidden and not obvious as possible. A bag of full of medicine bottles could not be lying out.

[landlesslord]

"I just wanted to apologise," it is marginally easier to talk to Marian, without seeing her (or her disapproval), but it feels strange. Slightly unreal. "For what happened today, the way the Sheriff treated you."

She had seemed so upset earlier, though now it sounds like her recent hostility towards him has come to the fore.

[queenofmay]

"Am I preform like a monkey?" Marian asked, sharper now for his senseless apology for more things he had stood by through.

Her eyes on Jane, holding the bag, and her shoulder never leaving the door. "Whilst my father starves in the dungeon?"

Would they stop at nothing? Dresses and throwing her to guests and forcing her to read proclamations of death? Keeping her by the one thread she could not break.

[landlesslord]

"No, I will see it it that your father is properly fed." He would have to be careful, and visit only in the dead of night - there was sure to be one of the Sheriff's guards who was scared of him on duty.

Or at least, very easily intimidated by him. They wouldn't ask any questions.

And maybe it would show Marian that he did care, in some small way. As angry and humiliated and heartbroken as he had been, he could not remain at odds with Marian forever.

[queenofmay]

"Really?" Marian scoffed.

The bitterness, scalding her words.

"And what do you want in return?"




As she stared at the wood, thinking of the Sheriff's demands only that morning. His silence only that morning. Ever smallest step and it's cost.

What would she be made to give up now, a second time this morning, that her father might eat?

[landlesslord]

"Nothing," it's said without thought, without consideration as to what he might gain from her. In truth, he had been so caught up in his apologies and consolations for her that the idea that he'd want something stuns him for a brief moment.

He can almost see her expression, her look of disdain for his attempt to make things right, as he tries to be sincere through an oak door.

"You have my word."

[queenofmay]

Marian almost pulled back from the door at the first word. Surprised, wary, at whatever this newest ploy would be. Ready to tell him the cost of nothing here.



Except he kept speaking. Making it a vow.

She shifted, confused. Staring at the door between them. The few inches separating them. Thrown but required to say something. Especially if there were any chance of truth. If it were only her pride and disbelief before the slightest care for her father.

Her voice was so much quieter than intended, "Then, thank you."

[landlesslord]

"Marian, please."

What did she mean by that? He had half expected some kind of disagreement on her part, not such swift acquiescence. It was difficult to know what she felt when he could see her, it was near impossible when he could only hear her voice.

He needed to see her.

"Let me in."

He gave the doorknob a slight test, but still it refused to budge.

It was no use.

[queenofmay]

The plea only confused her more. But it was the sudden turn of her door handle still resting in her hand that made her heart race. As he strove to enter by force, even as he asked. She pulled it back, holding the door firm.



Unwilling. She couldn't.

There was Jane. And her dress.

The medicine. Those in Pitt Street.

[landlesslord]

It was no use and now he had no more time. The Sheriff would be expecting him.

There was nothing he could do to please her now. No reparation that she would expect.

He felt the small flame of hope gutter and go out, as he turned away from Marian's door and left.

[queenofmay]

Silence. Silence and pounding of her heart. Seconds that stretched, promising anything, and then, she could hear the heavy booted foot steps simply walking away. Echoing down the hall, and she had to shake her head.

She couldn't focus on this now -- on whatever it was he wanted, or what that was supposed to mean -- as she turned back to Jane, nodding. Walking toward her, in a rush, and turning around to have the girl's cloak put around her shoulders.

Having to force herself back to the shock before this one. Pulling her hair out from the tied cape. "The Night Watchman went to Pitt Street?"