Revenge On The Panty Snatcher

[Vaughn Adeney]

::vaughn::

Vaughn could not believe it. He was still reeling over the fact that his partner in crime was knocked unconscious by an old woman. An old woman! Vaughn had witnessed the entire thing and had been too busy laughing to step in and attempt to help him. It was the most ridiculous, most comical thing he had ever witnessed for some time. However, with that fate of his friend came the possibility that he would be hanged for his actions. Vaughn knew about what happened between the princess of Gwent and Alistair the druid. Such a strange combination. Of course he did not know the complexities of their relationship, but he knew enough to tease him endlessly about it.

Especially when they had sneaked into her room. And even more so when he stole her undergarments. Which he still had tucked in his pocket. Alistair thought he had been so sneaky, being a strangely honorable man and returning them to their rightful place. But no. Vaughn kept a pair, just for the fun of it. And it would be even more fun to wave it in her face now.

Vaughn had never been alone with the princess. There was no need for it. The last time they met, he had allowed a group of men to abuse her in whatever way they saw fit, and he had not cared. Did he regret his actions? Not in the slightest. It was why he did not feel guilty or uncertain while climbing up the castle wall. He knew the layout of the castle now, thanks to his and Alistair's break in escapade not too long ago; and so he made his way to the princess' window. Jumping through it, he looked around, grinning at the familiarity of it. She was not present.

He would wait. It would be worth the wait indeed. He sat on her bed, smirking at this entire situation. Alistair was in prison. The princess arrested him. And Vaughn was in her bedroom in the middle of the night, still with her personal belongings safely tucked in his pocket. He was not sure why he was so proud of this fact. He just was. And so, he sat there, waiting for her to come, so incredibly amused by what has been happening within the past week or so.

[[ Tag the Lady Isadora of Gwent]]

[isadora]

Looking up from the documents she'd spent the better part of the evening examining, she rubbed her temples, glancing at the candles she'd lit earlier that night. She'd been here for hours longer than she'd intended, caught up with her work. Yawning, she stopped up her ink bottle and set her quill aside, carefully locking up the sensitive documents and blowing out the candles before she left the little room that served as her office. Heading down the hallway, she passed the guards doing their round of this part of the castle and nodded politely, at least they seemed to be working.

Since the break-in a few nights ago, Isadora was trying to tighten up security around her; what good were all their walls and defenses against an army if a few men were able to sneak around undetected? The knight-commander was trying to figure out how they had gotten in at all, the better to devise a way to prevent it next time, but so far, she didn't feel much safer.

It helped that she knew that Alistair had been behind the theft, and that he would never try to harm her, or let harm come to her. His partner, on the other hand...she had spent part of the afternoon 'interrogating' him, for all the good it did her. He was angry that she had arrested him; but honestly, he had it coming. She didn't feel guilty, she wasn't going to hurt him, or let anyone else hurt him, just give him a taste of his own medicine for a while. So she was able to work while he...'rested' in the dungeons for a while. It could be worse.

Entering her bedroom, she didn't look around as she entered the shadowy room, too dark after being in the torchlit corridors for her to see anything beyond the circle of light provided by her own candle. She closed the door and headed to her vanity table, lighting the candles there as she started pulling the pins from her hair; but a movement in the mirror caught her eye, and she turned towards the bed, expecting it to be just the wind, and instead seeing a shadowy figure there. She couldn't make out who it was, but her eyes flickered between the figure and the door she'd entered through, wondering if she could make it...searching behind her on the dressing table, she found the decorative dagger Alistair had given her, and palmed it, keeping it hidden in her sleeve. She didn't want whoever it was to know she was armed. "Who's there?" She called, hoping it was just the maid.

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[Vaughn Adeney]

::vaughn::

Vaughn enjoyed lurking in the shadows of the darkness. This situation was no exception. He was however rather eager to see her again. Hearing her question only made him smirk. This facial expression remained frozen as he stayed in the concealment of the dark. "Come now My Lady," he began to speak. Would she recognize his voice, only with him having said a few words? Vaughn did have to wonder if Alistair had told her anything about him, prior to that mini encounter in the woods. He did not care of course if the druid spoke badly of him or not; he was just curious. Perhaps he would find out tonight.

"Surely you would not forget such a memorable and familiar face." It was now that he stepped more into the light so that she could get a better look at him. Still smirking, he kept a bit of a distance between them, as he really had only stood up from having been seated on the edge of her bed. Did she even know his name? Had Alistair told her? So many questions. He would find out the answers soon enough but for now, he was going to enjoy being in her company once again.

[isadora]

When it wasn't a female voice that answered her, Isadora began backing away slowly, something familiar and frightening in that voice. It didn't belong to one of her knights, she was sure, and she doubted the fact that he was in her room could mean anything good. Her unpleasant feeling was confirmed when he stepped into the light, and the recognition clicked into place; he was the man who had caught her during her final escape attempt from Alistair...the one who was willing to let other men beat and rape her, as long as they kept her in one piece by the time they were finished. Not fond memories.

He was still by the bed; without another moment's hesitation, she ran to the door. Sure, he hadn't tried to hurt her then, but he certainly wasn't opposed to the idea, and she didn't think staying in a room with him alone was really a good idea. She fumbled with the door latch, if she screamed, would the guards be near enough to hear? They had better be. She didn't know anything about this man, Alistair hadn't felt the need to share any details, and she doubted it was because he was secretly such a nice guy. What kind of a nice guy broke into a lady's bedchamber, stole her belongings (because now she was certain he was in on the theft), and then returned later on to water for her? None that she knew of.

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[Vaughn Adeney]

::vaughn::

So they were going to play this cat and mouse game were they? She must have had enough practice running from Alistair and him chasing her. Vaughn had to move quickly as well if he were to grab her before she reached the door. He jumped up on the bed, only needing to take a few more steps before he hopped off, using the piece of furniture as a shortcut. While doing that, he quickly pulled out his dagger which had previously been at his side.

He grabbed her by the arm, forcefully pulling her back towards him, and feeling something hard in the sleeve. He was not an idiot. He had been around enough weapons to be able to recognize it just from the feel. He held her wrist tightly with one hand, twisting her arm behind her, and with his other hand, wrapped his arm around her neck positioning the dagger at its side, against her throat. It was not enough to cut her skin, but it was close enough so that the cold metal was touching her neck. He was now standing right behind her, his head very close to hers, too close perhaps, but it was necessary to make sure she was not out of reach. He lowered his head a bit, so that he was talking directly in her ear. He spoke in a low voice, considering they were so close to the door, he did not want anyone else to hear them.

"It would be a great shame to cut such fair skin." With one hand, he began to lift up her sleeve a bit to find the very weapon he had felt before. He took a bit too long doing so as well, recalling how he had let his hands linger before when trying her up with rope. Now, he was taking his time rolling up her sleeve, enjoying every second of this small gesture. "Well well, what do we have here?" He asked. His voice was amused and though she could not see his expression right now, he was smirking. He pulled out the dagger, and unable to keep a hold of her wrist and the weapon at the same time, released her wrist for only one second, tucked the knife in his pocket, and took hold of her arm once again. "Such a weapon really does not suit you," he added, in a mocking tone.

[isadora]

What was it lately about brigands trying to hurt her? What had she ever done to these men to deserve this? Oh, right, she was friends with Arthur. Was she the only one who thought that was an absolutely ridiculous reason to decide to kidnap a woman? And then to continue to harass her afterward? The argument that she was the one who had locked Alistair up wasn't going to sway her; she'd locked him up because he had stolen from her. And now here she was, having a knife held to her throat yet again.

She winced as he twisted her arm up behind her back, and here she thought her days of being manhandled were at an end. She took a deep breath, drawing her skin further from the blade, recalling what Alistair had told her to do the next time someone held a knife on her. One arm was still pinned against her back, but she had to try something. Reaching up with the hand that was still free, she took hold of his gauntleted arm, trying in vain to pull it even slightly away from her skin. "Get off of me," she hissed, angry that she was being put through this again.

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[Vaughn Adeney]

::vaughn::

Vaughn could do no such thing. Not when there was a chance that she would scream for help. Vaughn had no problem killing others when defending himself, but he was not stupid. He would be outnumbered for the amount of guards that would be rushing in to safe the princess of Gwent. He kept a firm grasp on her, though she had added a bit more distance between the knife and her throat. He did not move his position any more than that. "Are you going to behave?" He asked in an entertained voice. This entire think was funny to him, even if it was not to her.

"If you do not, then I will be forced to make you behave." Though he said it in a bit of a perverted way, he meant more so physical violence. He was so tempted to, if only it was to satisfy Vaughn's curiousity as to what Alistair would do if he harmed his precious little gem. Still. Alistair's usefullness had not worn out yet, so Vaughn would keep him around. You never know that could happen in the future though. Vaughn tended not to make long term plans.

[isadora]

He sounded so damn smug. She hated the way he spoke to her like she was some common harlot, and her anger with him overruled some of the fear she felt at having such an utterly detestable man have his hands on her, and hold a knife on her. Of course, she had no intention of behaving for him, but she wasn't so stupid as to say so. She bit back a retort when he claimed that he would have to make her behave if she refused, indignant fury swelling up inside her. If he thought she was just going to roll over like a dog, he had another thing coming.

She still remembered what Alistair had told her to do, and so, hoping that it would work and prepared to blame Alistair if it didn't, she lifted one foot, and then stomped down on his foot as hard as she could, at the same time shoving his arm away with as much force as she could muster, silently praying that this would work, having no doubt that he would be willing to hurt her very, very badly if it didn't. There was no kindness in his eyes, no compassion in his voice, he was the kind of man who cared for no one but himself, and she had a feeling he would not take kindly to any attempt to hurt him.

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[Vaughn Adeney]

::vaughn::

Son. Of. A. Bitch. Vaughn cringed in pain and it was enough for her to be able to move his arm, and thus eliminate her vulnerable position. He did not cry out, but he would be lying if he said it had not hurt. After a few moments of waiting for that initial intense pain to subside, he regained his composure. He looked at her, knowing that it would only be moments before she probably called for some guards. He would never admit defeat or allow this one foot stomping, literally, incident to stop him or discourage him. "I have a challenge for you." An amused, and very sinister smile began to reappear on his face. His eyes locked on her as she was now standing across from him. He wanted her to know that he would not be kidding with what he was about to say.

"I have been in your castle before. I explored the entire thing. I know where all the rooms are, including the other royal chamber." He continued to smile in the most devilish way possible. "Call the guards, and I will go visit the king. Let us see who gets there first." He paused, mentally planning the quickest way for him to get to her father's chambers. "You may be healthy enough to defend yourself. Let us see if your crippled, sick father will be. If not, then congratulations in advance for you will become Queen of Gwent." Yes, he was threatening to kill an old, defenseless man. Not because he had done anything to him. But because he was Isadora`s father and was now the leverage he would use against her. "So call the guards. I will just be on my way then," he said as he began to head to the window. Was it a risk she would be willing to take? He was about to find out.

[isadora]

It worked? Good Lord, it worked! She pulled away from him, now all she had to do was open the door and scream, and someone would be bound to hear her. She wasn't really listening as he mentioned his challenge, what did she care for challenges? Her hand was already on the door handle when he described the details, and as he went on, her fingers slipped from the handle, knowing that she couldn't put her father at risk like that. Still, she wasn't going to sit here at his mercy; she bent over and pulled the second dagger Alistair had given her from her boot. She knew she wouldn't be any match for him in a fight, but there was always a chance she could get lucky.

"I won't call the guards..." She said, then pulled the door open just a crack anyways. "As long as you stay away from me." It was her condition; she would not allow him to touch her again. With the door open, she could scream at any time and be heard enough to bring a dozen guards running. If he chose to go out the window then, she'd have to run to her father's room, raising the alarm. But maybe he would leave on his own...she didn't know what it was that he wanted, and while she was loathe to give him anything, she would not let harm come to her or her father for his amusement.

The windows were how they were getting in. She'd have to tell the knight commander, they'd need to post more guards on the inner wall...did they climb the outer walls too? That didn't seem likely, someone would have seen them. Maybe they found another way in. "What is it that you want?"

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[Vaughn Adeney]

::vaughn::

Vaughn watched her take out the knife and let out a bit of a snicker. How many daggers did that woman carry with her? Maybe he would have to search her. Now there was an amusing thought. He did not like the idea that she was making conditions for him. He did not follow rules and guidelines and certainly did not take well to being told what to do. He did not say anything though. No need to argue about it. He would just not listen to her.

What did he want? Oh how that was a very loaded question. "Just a few moments of your time," he answered, rather honestly. He did not want anything from her specifically, apart from a bit of information. He began to move towards her, clearly disregarding her 'stay away condition'. But he did it with purpose. He went to the door and leaned against it, his back now rested against it hearing it creak to a close. He would remain in this position for now, just to make sure she did not make a run for it. "So, how have you been My Lady?" He was just stalling, trying to make small talk, hoping it would annoy her and make her feel like it was a waste of time. He just leaned there, casually, acting as he had not in fact broken into her chambers in the middle of the night, but rather, looked like was having a civilized conversation with a friend.

[isadora]

He wasn't listening to her. Of course he wasn't listening to her, he was an ignorant cretin who was used to getting whatever he wanted. He was also faster than she was, so it meant he had the door closed before she even moved to stop him. She backed away from him again, she hated even being in the same room as he was, being within arm's reach was more than she could bear. She glared at him as he pretended to be friendly; she knew better than to think he was anything close to civilized.

"Well, as it appears I have no choice in that regard...by all means. Have your few moments." Her irritation was evident in her tone; she wasn't at all happy about this. If she ever got the chance to see this man hanged, it would happen, and sooner rather than later. He was dangerous.

Her eyes narrowed at his question. "I've been better." She answered, wondering why he was wasting her time. Couldn't he just get to whatever the point of his invasion of her home was? She doubted he was genuinely here on a social visit. Just breathing the same air as this vile man made her want to vomit.

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[Vaughn Adeney]

::vaughn::

While he knew she was not thrilled by the idea of him having his few moments, he was going to take advantage of her compliance and try to drag out this encounter with her as much as possible. After all, he had not planned to just come in here, question her, and them immediately leave. Oh no no. This time, he would spend more time with her. This time, Alistair was not here to stop her. He was locked in the dungeon because an old lady kicked his ass. Some formidable partner in crime Vaughn has allied himself with.

He stayed silent, as if he was expecting something. He was acting as if he was, but he knew that she would not ask it. After a few moments of silence, he finally spoke. "I am not sure how familiar you are with formalities, but the way it usually goes is that when ones is asked how they have been, the polite response is reciprocating by asking the questioner, the same thing." He really was drawing this meeting out, and he was enjoying every single second of it.

[isadora]

Isadora waited for him to get to his point, but instead, he questioned her manners. He questioned her manners? What kind of a game was he trying to play at? Whatever it was, it wasn't very funny. She raised an annoyed eyebrow. "My apologies. Perhaps I should point out that it's typically considered extremely 'impolite' to enter a lady's bedchambers without an invitation." She said, understating something that should already be obvious.

"If that's all you came here to discuss, feel free to be on your way." She still didn't know what he wanted, but she wasn't about to volunteer any information he didn't explicitly ask for. She raised her eyebrows at him plaintively, wondering if he'd actually go. Or even if he would get to the reason why he was here anytime soon. She was getting bored.

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[Vaughn Adeney]

::vaughn::

"Well I am not your typical man, so typical rules do not apply to an untypical person such as me." He was just playing around. Clearly enjoying this far more than she was. He was not sure when he would get the opportunity to harass Alistair's gem again anyway. This may be his only chance, and with the druid not here to defend her, it was even more fun. Feel free to leave. He would not allow her to have the liberty to dismiss him. He was not making any intention to leave. He would have made himself completely comfortable had he trusted her not to call the guards or make a run for it. But no. For now, he would have to remain near the door.

"You still have not asked," he said smiling. He knew she probably would not, but he was having a great deal of fun teasing her. "Are you really still that bitter because of what happened during our last, encounter?" When he had unleashed the pack of dogs on her and stood on the side, watching. Well, sort of watching. He had diverted his attention as he had not cared about what about to her. So long as she was alive because he got a fair deal of money from it.

[isadora]

She rolled her eyes at his excuse, clearly, he thought he was amusing; at least he was keeping himself entertained, if no one else. "Ah, of course, I should've known." She answered, unsurprised that he thought so much of himself that he should have special rules that didn't apply to everyone else. She raised an eyebrow when he still expected her to ask him how he was; he really did think himself special, didn't he?

She didn't answer him, and of course, that was some kind of invitation for him to ask even more uncomfortable questions. She glared at him. "Bitter? Yes, I suppose you could say I am." She growled, did he really think she was going to get over that? He hadn't simply stood aside...he had given those dogs his permission, as if he had the right! Yes, it took a very special kind of man to have no moral compass or conscience whatsoever, indeed.

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[Vaughn Adeney]

::vaughn::

Her comment at being bitter did not surprise him at all. He had expected nothing else really, but he chuckled in amusement anyway. "No harm was done. Besides, I did not give them permission to kill you so you would have survived." Vaughn had the authority over them. Why? Because they were morons. Because he had 'hired' them, promising to pay them for their efforts with the silent decision that he would just get rid of them once he collected the ransom. The only thing he was annoyed by, was the fact that he had to go back out and find more men after Alistair basically killed all of them.

"Though I suppose your anger is justified, since it was clear you were saving your virtue for another man to take." He was obviously referring to her little, intimacy with the druid in the woods. Alistair did not have to say the exact words for Vaughn to know. He was going to play up the fact that she had been so intimate with a druid. With her kidnapper. With Vaughn's partner in crime. He was never going to let this go, and see just how much he could benefit from it.

[isadora]

Her eyes narrowed. No harm done? Yes, because Alistair had arrived and killed the four men! How could he think that it would have been fine as long as she survived the encounter? He was a monster. That was the only way she could think to explain how he could think that, how he could completely lack any empathy whatsoever. She knew some men used rape as a weapon, to scare women and keep them subservient, but she had never met someone that she had thought was willing to do that...not before, at least.

Her surprise was evident when he spoke of her virtue, Alistair had told him?! How could he? She felt hurt and betrayed and angry all at once, but she knew she couldn't let this man see that; so she showed only the anger, the indignant fury any noblewoman, or hell, any woman would feel at having her honor questioned so lightly. Even if Alistair had told him (for which she would lynch him later) she would just have to convince him that the druid had lied. She didn't really care that she was the one who was lying, she couldn't have him going around spreading rumors about her 'virtue' as he put it. "Just what are you implying?" She growled dangerously, refusing to give him any more information that what he apparently already had.

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[Vaughn Adeney]

::vaughn::

Vaughn smirked. "Do not play innocent My Lady. You lost your innocence that night in the woods." Vaughn was not about to let this subject off easy. He was going to enjoy teasing both her and Alistair about it, having plans to spread rumors and very specific ones that yes, involved him. Even though he had nothing to do with her and the druid's relationship. Then again, maybe he could over state his role; it would not be the first time he did so. "You do know that if it were not for me, perhaps you never would have met Alistair and found, what, love?"

He chuckled, finding the entire notion ridiculous. Was it love that they felt. Vaughn had already seen a chance in his partner in crime when he refused to raid the princess' bedroom. He was trying to be honorable. Noble. Vaughn just thought he was an idiot. "Or maybe it was the night where he saved you from the evil clutches of those men. You felt you owed him something, and so paid your debt in the only way a woman such as yourself knows how." He was insulting her of course; calling her a bit promiscuous without using that exact word. "Why else would a woman bed a man who was kidnapping her in the middle of the woods."

[isadora]

She wasn't going to be able to change his mind, was she? No matter what she tried, he was so sure...how could Alistair have told him? It cut into her like a knife, she had trusted him, and he trampled on her heart so lightly. She knew that men were like that...but she'd thought Alistair was different. She couldn't believe how wrong she'd been.

Still, even knowing that he would persist no matter what she said, her pride wouldn't let her agree with him. "Clearly I should be more concerned for my safety...because evidently you are completely insane if you would believe such a thing." She kept her voice cold, and raised an eyebrow at him in curious disgust. "Are you ever going to get to the point of why you're here? Because if you just stopped by to chat...well, I have to say, I'm already bored. So could we hurry this along?" She really wanted to get off the delicate subject of her virtue.

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