Mischief and Magic [Kazira]

[shonz]

Gwaine was doing his usual rounds around the castle. It wasn’t really part of his daily duties, but he was still too full from dinner and thought he’d fancy a walk while at the same time keeping watch around the castle, help the other guards out.

It was a quiet night like the usual. There doesn't seem to be any disturbance anywhere around the castle, up the walls, in the courtyard or even in the nearest vicinity. Save for conversations between guards on duty and the servants who still wander about doing their final chores for the night, it was relatively peaceful.

He thought maybe a trip to the tavern would be a good respite, but Gwaine dismissed it as soon as he had thought about it. He had been to the tavern a couple of nights ago. It wouldn’t do well to make himself a frequent customer now, would he? He was now a Knight of Camelot, an esteemed and respected member of the best knights all over the world. He should be an example of good behavior and decorum. Not of a drunkard and womanizer. Gone were those days. Of course, he would still go once in a while, but no longer as frequent as when he was still a vagabond. And beside, knight trainings and duties keep him too busy and too tired to have any more time for such.

He nodded at the palace guards who stood by the gates, and was now walking around the upper part of the village. Greeting villagers he would meet and giving occasional winks to lovely maidens here and there, Gwaine was all knightly in his royal garb, complete with emblems of the Kingdom Camelot. He wore it well. He wore it proudly.

[†Kazira Astras†]

She was bored and a bored Kazira meant torment for the surrounding populace. Moros was back at camp sleeping off the deer that he had caught. While she had eaten her fill she couldnt help the restlessness that had seeped into her mind. She wandered into the upper towns of Camelot. She nodded to people as they passed and danced around with some of the children that happened to be out playing for a short while. While all of this was happening she was still bored!

Kazira continued to walk on her clothes making soft rustles as she walked. She listened to her almost silent footsteps and blew her bang out of her face with a small puff of air. She sighed. There was nothing that seemed entertaining to her there. She loved Camelot but the people could be a little uptight...at least in the upper towns. She didnt know why she was there but that's what she got for letting her feet wander. After that thought she saw a bright red cape with the royal emblems and a very handsome man underneath.

"Well hot dam," she whispered."Lady luck must be smiling on me because i've just found some fun!" Kazira laughed softly to herself and made her way around the people and climbed up to a house roof and got a good look at the knight that was to be be her victim. He was tall with dark hair. He had a rugged face that seemed to ooze out confidence. She had to admit that he looked good. Though, most of the men that she's met have all looked good. She pushed the thought away. She had snagged some satchels on her way to her current position hidden slight on the roof. Carefully she used her water magic to fill the bag and then tied it off. She gently held the 'balloon' bag and took aim waiting for the knight to come into range. She pulled her arm back and then let the bag fly from her fingertips. She watched in rapt excitement and waited for the balloon to hit. She couldn't wait to see the knight's reaction. This was going to be good.

[shonz]

Gwaine stopped for a bit in his stroll as he helped an elderly woman home with all the laundry she was carrying. Gwaine carried the bag of laundry as the woman opened the door to her home. He even obliged her, and went on to take the laundry into her house. The old woman thanked him and offered him tea for which Gwaine graciously refused, and then went on his way.

The roads were already thinning with villagers as the night approaches. And Gwaine made sure to check that everything was peaceful and orderly where he was walking. Bowing down in respect to the women and greeting the men with firm handshakes, he was making friends and gaining acquaintances. His attention was too caught up exchanging pleasantries with a group of maidens that he didn’t notice the bag of water that was falling right from above him.

Gwaine barely registered one of the maiden’s warning gasp that he didn’t found time to move out of the way. He was thoroughly drenched! His hair dripping wet from the water balloon that landed squarely on his head, splashing water all over his cape and chain mail. He forced a small smile on his face as the maids chuckled at his appearance. “I’ll see you later, ladies,” he said in a clipped tone of voice.

He looked up and thought he saw a wisp of brownish golden hair floating above. He turned and ran around the house to try and find a way to get up the roof. “Hey, you there!” he shouted trying to get his prankster’s attention, as he found a ladder and made his way up.

[†Kazira Astras†]

Kazira snickered when she heard the warning gasp from some of the women surrounding the knight. She quieted her laugh after she saw how drenched he was. She didn't think that he would get that wet but it was a funny sight indeed. She head heard the clipped tone that he used when he excused himself. She yelped when he yelled up at her.

"I forgot about the ladder!" She mumbled as she moved towards the other side of the roof and sliding down to the other side. "She heard him climb the ladder. She frowned she didn't think that he would get mad over a little prank. She peeked over and saw the drenched man. "Its just water." She said as she stood up closer to the edge she had a plan to get away but he needed to be fully on the roof before she could do it. She smiled. "Besides i think you look pretty good soaking wet." She glanced at the ground and moved her feet a little wider.

She could hear the drifting chatter of the group of women below and rolled her eyes at some of the words used from some of the cattier ones. It wasn't that she had never been called an urchin before or a vagabond or anything else that they could think of. At least she knew how to have fun even though it got her into trouble. Turning her attention back to the drenched knight and situation on hand. She idly wondered what he was going to do?

[shonz]

Gwaine had managed to climb up the ladder and onto the roof. He wasn’t sure what he’d do once he catches that culprit. He would have easily shrugged it off for it was nothing but a harmless prank, but unfortunately, it had come at such a wrong timing. There he was trying to beguile some pretty village maiden with his charms, when the water balloon went splat all over him, making him look like a wet dog in front of the beautiful ladies. Totally embarrassing him. Oh, he wouldn’t forgive the prankster so easily.

When he finally reached the roof, Gwaine was taken aback to see not a little boy as he was expecting, but a girl. A very pretty girl with wide eyes, full lips and long curly locks. What was she doing up and about this time of the night playing pranks all around. “Next time, you make sure your pranks are foolproof,” Gwaine spoke a bit menacingly as he advanced towards her on the roof. He had to watch his step, the roof didn’t look sturdy enough to hold both their weight.

"Besides i think you look pretty good soaking wet."

“I look pretty good in anything, sweetheart, but you’re not getting off the hook so easily,” Gwaine retorted. He heard the comments from the spectators that had now gathered down below, and realized that she wasn’t from the village. He watched as she looked down on the ground behind her. “You’re not going to jump, are you? Come on I won’t hurt you, maybe just teach you a lesson or two!” Gwaine was worried though still a tad bit angry at having been at the other end of a prank. No one had ever done that to him before.

[†Kazira Astras†]

She pouted. It wasn't really a plan. it was more like choosing a random target? she stated sheepishly rubbing the back of her neck as she moved her feet back. She looked down at the small crowd that was forming with a small frown. She wasnt planning on drawing that much attention with the prank. Maybe she should have chosen a different target. She had to be careful though as she stood near the edge. While the roof was strong enought to hold her weight she doubted that with the knight on it with his chain-mail it wouldnt hold long. "she looked at him with a raised brow. " You think very highly of yourself. no wonder lady luck decided to show me you to pull my prank on. "She muttered.


"You’re not going to jump, are you? Come on I won’t hurt you, maybe just teach you a lesson or two!”

She laughed at that. "A Few lessons huh?" She stated with a smile. She quickly moved her feet together and did a back flip off the roof landing in a crouch on the ground in the small space between the crow. She stood up and smiled up at him and gave the man a salute. "Well it was nice meeting you sir knight but i gotta run." She gave him a wink and a mocking bow before she casually weaved her way slowly through the medium sized crowd. She didn't know what was going to happen next but she would take it one step at a time. hopefully he wouldn't follow her.

[shonz]

She had gall, Gwaine could give her that. And that was one kind he hadn’t met before among the maidens of the city of Camelot since he had become a knight. Most of the women he had met had been bashful, sometimes a tad bit bold and daring, but never this overconfident and mischievous. He couldn’t shake the fact that she was very much like him. Had he finally met his match? Gwaine thought with both unease and amusement.

" You think very highly of yourself. no wonder lady luck decided to show me you to pull my prank on.”

And so it seems he had indeed met his match.

Gwaine watched wide-eyed as she did a perfect back flip off of the roof and onto the ground below them. He rushed to where she had disappeared and saw her giving her another impish little farewell. This only fueled Gwaine’s determination to run after him. Nobody gets away so easily at having taken advantage of him like that.
He didn’t do a back flip like she did, but Gwaine just as easily jumped his way off of the roof and onto a mound of hay on the other side of the house. He dusted the hay off his clothes and then weaved through the crowd just as she did. “She went that way!” someone pointed out. After breathing his thanks, Gwaine rushed towards the pointed direction, and indeed caught a sight of that same brown curly hair he had glimpsed earlier.

“Playing tag now are we, you little imp?” Gwaine called out as he rushed after her. All his wet hair forgotten. “Run fast or else...” he added teasingly. Of course, he wouldn't threaten to do something bad to her. He just wanted her to know she wasn't the only one who knew how to play games.

[†Kazira Astras†]

She had quickly ducked behind another building easily weaving around other people. nodding hello's every so often to those who she had getten to know. She heard his remark about her being an imp and scoffed. She was no where near as ugly as an imp...She had met a few on her travels. ugly little creatures...no imagination contrary to popular belief. Looking over her shoulder she saw the now dark red cape with died patches and snickered. "I'm way cuter than an imp." she called back to him with a laugh. this was a lot more fun than she had originally thought. She saw another ladder and began to climb up to the other roof.

Let's see how he handles chasing someone while they're on roofs?" she thought jovially. "Betcha cant catch me!" She hollerd down from her spot. She took off on light steps over the houses mutter apologies to the home owners. they should be used to it by now though she thought. I do this all the time when i'm bored. They should be happy to know that its not them that i pranked today. She easily crossed over from roof to roof. Manipulating the air under the feet to move her. with every jump muttering "gaoithe treoir mo chosa," it was Irish for wind guide my feet. She was using basic magic to help gain a slight advantage. but it wasnt like anyone knew irish so she thought it was safe for her to use. After all her mother and father both traveled from their homeland to here. Why she had no idea. Especially if they saw how things were going to end up seeing as they were powerful seers in their homeland...at least that was what they told her.

She hadnt been there but her parents taught her the languae and she easily picked up on it incorporating it into her vocabulary. sHe was still cautious enough though to not say it to loud. she pulled another bag from her belt and filled it with water. líonadh an mála" she muttered slightly watching the water fill the bag quickly. She tied it off and threw it down hoping to hit the following knight. She wondered if he would gt mad being pelted with another bag of water?

[shonz]

“I can’t say the same thing because I haven’t exactly seen you up close!” Gwaine called back to her as she replied to his imp remark. She was light and nimble, quickly able to weave through the crowd and even managing to exchange curt pleasantries with some of them. But Gwaine just as evenly matched her paced, and ran after her effortlessly, not losing sight of her even amongst the throng of people until he was closing in on her.

Then she started to climb up the roof again. “What is it with this girl and roofs!?” he commented as he also took the ladder she had climbed on. He laughed at her taunt. “Betcha don’t know what I'm capable of!” Gwaine retorted with the same childishness back, strangely enjoying the chase that he was giving her. Gwaine was not new to chases from his years as a vagabond, living a carefree, and almost always troublesome, life. He had ample experience on either side of the chase. At times, he was giving chase just like what he’s doing now, and sometimes, he was the one who was being chased. He missed those times. Maybe perhaps, that’s the reason why he was keen on running after this one girl here.

Gwaine could see that she can effortlessly jump from one roof to another. He did the same, although not as easily as she did especially when the roofs were farther apart. Still, it didn’t deter him. Using all his energy, he scampered through the roofs in light and nimble footsteps, too. He was too busy concentrating on another longer jump that he didn’t notice the bag of water that she threw his way again. And sure enough, he staggered back as the water balloon hit him square in the chest.

Standing drenched on one roof while she was on another, Gwaine stopped his chase, and placed his arms around his waist. “What did I do to you, huh? Are you jealous that I’m flirting with the other ladies and not with you?” Gwaine said trying to sound as mad as he could. Honestly though, he wasn’t. He was having the time of his life actually, but he wouldn’t let her see that. He just wanted to know why she had singled him out as a target. “Stop this nonsense this instant or I’ll call the other guards to arrest you!” Yes, even to Gwaine, that sounded immature. Not too convincing at all.

[†Kazira Astras†]

"You dont need to!" She laughed out. Still darting ahead of him. She was having a blast. It wasnt that she didnt like camelot it was just....Boring. Yeah that was the word that she wanted to use. not boing in the sense that nothing happened here lord knows Nothing happened in Camelot! It was just she wasn't used to staying in one place like she's been doing.

She gave out a loud laugh at his remark about her and roofs. She didnt particularly like them she just wanted to make it a bit more interesting that was all. besides this was the most fun she's had in ages. Well since the last time she was in town at least. It seemed that she made Camelot her temporary home and after her travels her feet always came this way despite all of the mischief that she causes. " I have a pretty good idea what you're capable of." She muttered. "considering you're keeping up with me explains so much," she stated loud enough so that he could hear her.

She slid to a stop one roof away from him and watched in awed curiosity.. It was like watching a jousting match in slow motion. The water 'balloon' fly threw the air and hitting her target square in the chest. She blinked. She thought that she would miss by a while since she'd thrown it over her shoulder.

She put a hand over her mouth. It was a sight to funny to see. There was a knight standing on another room holding his waist completely soaked. She had to say that she was impressed that he moved as swiftly as he did because she knew that wet clothes had to be heavy especially with chain-mail. That alone was heavy enough. "Oh yes i was completely horrified that you were paying attention to other girls. Especially since i had no idea who you are, nor do you know who i am." She stated with a very sarcastic and dry tone giving him a deadpanned look. Did he really think that he was all that and a bag of Peruvian emeralds? She would admit hat he was cute but not her type he seemed to much like her to be healthy and that alone was a scary aspect in of itself. "Like the guards would be able to catch me." She stated proudly before continuing, "we both know that if you had wanted to arrest me you would have called for help the moment you saw my face and flip off the roof." She crossed her arms across her chest jutting one hip to the side. she kept on her toes though ready to spring away should she have to. She didnt come this far to get nabbed when they were having a descent conversation.

[shonz]

Her target had been impeccable. Despite all the rush from the running, she still managed to hit him squarely in the chest with that proverbial water balloon of hers. Any ordinary girl couldn’t do that, and Gwaine couldn’t help but be intrigued at this one. He had never met one who could easily scale the roofs as ably and quickly as she can, and still managed to throw well aimed water balloons at their pursuers. And normally, Gwaine would almost always just ignore pranksters like this, but there was something about her that made him want to get his hands on. Something that he wanted to find out.

Now that she had stopped to face him, he could clearly see that she was but a wee little lady. He couldn’t remember seeing her in Camelot before so she could most definitely be a traveler, not a villager. And besides, no villager could dare prank a knight the way she was teasing him. “I am a knight of Camelot, after all. I make sure the likes of you stay in their right places,” Gwaine retorted back. Of course, there was only half a hint of seriousness in his tone. He didn’t really know what “like” this girl was of.

Gwaine let out a laugh as she sarcastically retorted to his allegation that she was merely jealous. “Come on, don’t be shy to admit it now. You aren't the first one to fall for my ruggedly handsome wiles. Barmaids and courtiers all over the kingdom and beyond fawn over me,” Gwaine said as he slowly took one small step after another in her direction.

"we both know that if you had wanted to arrest me you would have called for help the moment you saw my face and flip off the roof."

Gwaine was standing on the edge of the roof he was on, and nonchalantly looked down to see how far a drop it was going to be. Then he looked up to her and shrugged. “I’ve just realized I’m wasting my time running over roofs chasing after a girl like you when I should be defending the village from scarier thugs,” he said as he effortlessly leaped over the gap, closing the distance between them now.

[†Kazira Astras†]

Kazira bristled at his comment. If she had been a cat she would have been hissing at him that was for sure since she didn't hear that half serious tone in his voice. She hated people like him! Looking down on people."People like me?" She said though it sounded like a question. "You have no idea who i am to judge me." She glared at him. "People like me could be the very reason you don't die a horrible death from poison or from a seemingly fatal wound!" Kazira clenched her hands tightly trying to control her anger. That little statement angered her to no end weather the person meant it the way it came out or not she hated it. Being looked down upon like a bug that needed squishing made her want to fry someone with her fire." And what is my place? Knight?" She spat. "Under your thumb like dirt under your nail?" She glowered at him awaiting his answer. He probably didn't mean it that way but it was just the wording and tone that angered her more than anything.

“Come on, don’t be shy to admit it now. You aren't the first one to fall for my ruggedly handsome wiles. Barmaids and courtiers all over the kingdom and beyond fawn over me,” Gwaine said as he slowly took one small step after another in her direction.

Her glower lessened a fraction at his laugh and nonchalance but it was still there she wasn't happy with him at the moment. "And i am not one of those Barmaids or Courtiers. I am not falling for yourruggedly handsome wiles." She stated easily in bland tone as she shifted her weight and moved back a little. She wanted to keep space between them. She didn't trust him. He wasn't like most knights that she had met. She bristled again. She was not a thug! "I am not a thug!" She growled at him as he crossed the little space between the roofs and stood before her. She realized she was acting like an animal and it was not that uncommon for her when she was angry it was also not that uncommon for her powers to act up since she didn't have to much control over them. She had enough so that they wouldn't spin out of control but there has been a few noted flash floods and fires. Her hands felt warm but she didn't look at them in fear that they were on fire or at least glowing red from heat. "Stay where you are knight." She growled out. "I don't want your kind that close to me." She moving back wards closer to the other side of the roof without knowing.

[shonz]

Gwaine knew he had overstepped his boundaries at seeing the angry look on her face. He had not expected her to react so adamantly to his words, and he didn’t mean it to discriminate her, still he knew what he said was uncalled for. “Please…I apologize. I didn’t mean it like that,” Gwaine said totally bringing his guard down even as he stepped closer towards her. Gone were the intentions of catching her and making her pay for what he did to her. He just wanted to make amends for his ill behavior.

“Your place is not on top of these roofs but down there with everybody else,” Gwaine said in reply hoping he could redeem himself in her eyes. All he had been doing had been in good fun, and it was never his intention to hurt her. “Please don’t say that. I may be a knight, but from my behavior just now, I may as well be lower than dirt. Forgive me.” Humbly, Gwaine bowed his head before her.

When she continued to reply to him in spite, he shook his head shamefully. He deserved all this lashing. He should have learned long before that not all teasing would work quite well on all maidens. “I know you’re not like any one of them. You’re different in your way, and it is wrong of me to treat you that way.” When she told him to stay away from her, Gwaine finally stepped back, and raised his hand in front of him in surrender. Perhaps, this was the end to his fun. Too bad, he would have wanted to jump over a few more roofs running after her just for the sheer amusement of it.

“Again, I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me. I am not a bad man. I leave you to your peace now,” he told her. But just as he was about to turn and walk away from her, he saw that she had stepped away from him and was getting a tad too close to the edge of the roof. Fearing that one step would send her tumbling down over it, Gwaine moved a little too suddenly towards her. “Careful, you’re getting too close to the edge!” he warned her.

[†Kazira Astras†]

She calmed somewhat at his words. She still wasn’t used to knights apologizing…or well anyone apologizing to her for that matter. She still however took a step back from him, not fully trusting him. She put a hand behind her back and pulled out another leather bag and pushed water into it. She wasn’t as crafty as some of the people she had met but she had a few tricks. “Then how did you mean it?” She asked tilting her head slightly. Curiosity slipping into her icy gaze. “Because however you say it; I doubt it will ever come out the way you meant it.” She had an idea of what he meant. But that didn’t meant that it didn’t anger her. No it would have upset her one way or another because they all assumed the same thing. No matter the man or knight. She paused slightly. Well, that wasn’t true she had met others who hadn’t done so.

What was with this knight, this man? “Do you have some sort or mental affliction? You have apologized twice to me yet I’m a…” witch, “…trouble maker.” He was very confusing this one was. She was half tempted to just say forget it like she was going to half a second ago but the words were said and she had opened her big mouth. She was over her little irritation at him. Rather quickly now that she thought it over. She moved back more not paying attention to what she was doing. Listening to him as he seemed to beat himself up over his behavior.

“Listen. I get that you’re sorry. And I’m over it. I slightly over-reacted.” She gave a small smile to show that there were no hurt feelings between them. She didn’t want him to go and do anything rash because of this. She didn’t really know him and didn’t really want the guilt of making him feel bad on her conscious. “I got the feeling that you weren’t a bad man. You seemed to enjoy our little chase way to much to be.” She was shocked though when he moved forward suddenly. So much that she moved back and lost her footing. With a yelp she slipped her free hand grasping the edge. She had to find the highest roof to stop on. She frowned and looked to her right hand. Looking down she saw a merchant who tried to con her and smirked. It seems that her balloon wouldn’t go to waste. Carefully she took aim and dropped it onto the merchant and then grasped the roof. Giggling as she heard the angry shouts start after a loud SPLAT! She looked down and saw him walk away soaking wet. “Serves the rotten crook right.” She looked up and tried to pull herself up and sighed. Normally this would have been a piece of cake but in all honesty she was tired. She looked up. “As much as fun as hanging around is my arms are getting kind of tired.” She laughed out .

[Sorry its REALLY late and kind of suckish :/]