[Episode OOM -- "Ducking and Diving" 2.05 (2)]

[queenofmay]

Marian hadn't been far, fretting and not even able to pace, from the room where The Sherrif and his physican were, with the unconscious body of Henry of Lewes. She couldn't do anything about Robin's spy, but she had to keep an eye on The Sheriff's spy, and whether he relayed King Richard's information to him and The Black Knights.

Nothing was going on, yet, because she could still hear Vaisey's voice rising higher and higher every few minutes. Still not getting what he wanted. She'd had to shrink into the shadows when Mathilda, the old wise woman, was brought in cursing everyone up a storm, and saying something Marian couldn't catch about her daughter.

She'd finally managed to sneak up on the corridor walkway, catching bits of conversation, promises about getting to go, snippets of Matilda's warm snark, only to have to flatten herself against a wall when the door flew open again. Blight, The Sheriff's physician, stalking out, heading one way.

But the gaurds who followed him, had divided. Half of them following the man, and the other two headed toward her. Guy, right there, at the head of another. Barely twenty feet from her when she turned, trying to flee the walkway. Unable to run without looking even more suspicious.

Comments

[landlesslord]

That she follows him is something of a surprise, but not an unpleasant one. Just unusual.

"I'm on business."

It's an easy refusal.

[queenofmay]

She let her smile fall small, almost secretive.

"Sounds interesting."

[landlesslord]

"Marian, it's private."

Not even the Sheriff knew who he would be going to meet - all that a handful of his own men knew that they were to watch for a sign at the Trip Inn.

[queenofmay]

The tone was already a no -- but his answer meant he might be going to do any number of serious things, which might somewhere in there, include meeting Robin's spy.

She leaned in, pressing it, even knowing the answer. "Sounds doubly interesting."

[landlesslord]

This was rapidly becoming less amusing. He didn't have time for this, if he wanted to catch his informant at the Trip Inn.

"Marian. No."

[queenofmay]

Marian sighed, frustrated un-surprise, letting it come out as a sound of being denied. Like a child, or a court girl denied her want. "Very well. But--"

But she tilted her head, staying close, still imploringly. Without pretending it didn't give that of course, she was overtly trying him for her freedom, by any and every means. "But at least let me have a day unchaperoned."

[landlesslord]

Guy is not so blinded by Marian's charms that he can't tell when she wants something. At least, when she is this obvious.

Hmm. He leant against the pillar beside them.

"You're up to something."

[queenofmay]

Marian smiled brightly, leadingly, "Yes."

"I’m charming you," Said with that same brightness, even though it was more off cuff, said blankly, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"So, that I can have," The pretense slipping for a touch of more earnest honesty, and apparent restless, her need to not be watched for all her jobs, than she'd originally thought she would. Pointedly, toward the man behind them, "An hour or two without a goon on my back."

[landlesslord]

The opening salvo of her renewed attack isn't quite what he was expecting.

There might have been more smiling and small talk and...who knows what.

The honesty. The plain speaking.

It's unexpected, but he much prefers it. He gets enough politics from the Sheriff all day.

Guy glanced over Marian's head at the guard, before dismissing him with a nod.

[queenofmay]

Marian's eyes had gone wide, her mouth opening in, surprised. It had been such an impossible, last attempt. Her smile was going to take over her whole face soon.

She'd be able to keep track of the traitor. She'd be able to try and see if he saw the spy. He was going to let her have any amount of trusted freedom.

[landlesslord]

Marian would be free of her guard.

Guy moved to pass her, catching hold of her wrist and then her hand as he did so, turning her to face him as he stopped at the top of the steps.

There could not be complete freedom though, not while she was still a guest of the Sheriff.

"But you stay in the castle." On this point, he was firm.

Now though, he had to hurry to meet his informant at the Trip Inn.