A Close Call (Gwaine)

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

“Here, miss, your stew!”
Yassia broke from her reverie and directed a thankful smile at the bartender who had sauntered over to deliver her evening meal. The wandering princess could feel her stomach ache at the thought of finally eating, even if a year before such a simple food might have been well considered below her. But this would be the first decent meal in two days as she had to keep house with the little money that was left. Camelot might not be that far away, but Yassia had been lost before, straying for days until some kind sould had pointed her towards the right direction again.

She was about to take up the wooden spoon and dig into the stew when she heard the man standing behind her clear his throat. As she looked up questioningly he said a little awkwardly. “Would you mind paying in advance? Also for your room? No offense, but…”
“None taken, Sir!” Yassia interrupted and felt on her belt for her purse. She had had similar situations before, times were that bad people actually stooped to bilking on regular basis and the landlords had to sit it through, it was their loss. Her hand moved over her hip absentmindly and – felt nothing! Where was her purse?! Panic struck her stomach like an iron fist and she frantically felt again, darting her eyes downwards to check – nothing!

“I’m sorry, I…” her voice quivered as she searched the dim lit room for a sign of the dark brown bag that had hold her last few coins. This could only be a nightmare! There was no way she could have lost her purse just like that! Unless… now she suddenly remembered a scene right as she had entered the tavern, some man bumping into her, making an odd show of checking if she was alright. She had only thought he had wanted the body contact, but now she realised: He had snatched her purse right this very moment!
“Now what’s it to be? Will you pay or not?” The voice of the landlord had lost all friendliness, now he was all the businessman guarding his gain.

“Someone stole my purse!” Yassia insisted but realised herself how lame those words sounded. His reaction was one she had dreaded but it was only consisted. With an eyeroll he took the wonderfully smelling bowl away, saying: “Well, then I am sorry, Miss, but there is no exception. No money, no food!”
“But I swear it’s true!” The Princess’ voice now sounded desperate. “And it’s already late, where shall I sleep? Sir, please!”
Other men in the tavern had taken notice of the little drama and were slowly surrounding the table where Yassia was sitting like a culprit. “Hey, sweetheart, what about you sleep in my bed tonight and if you’re nice enough I might get you some breakfast in the morning!” one of them who clearly had too much to drink suggested with a sleazy grin, and the fellow customers broke out in roaring laughter and suggesting whistles.

No one seemed to take offense in that outragious behaviour, clearly, even the landlord was more concerned about getting his money than anything else. Like she had recalled earlier, the times where that bad. Whether she found some ‘other’ ways to pay or she slept under the brushes – it was not his problem to think of.
Now the main speaker even came so close she could smell his foul breath and he took her chin between two fingers, examining her face. "Now, let's look at you a little closer, beauty. What do you have to offer, eh?" Yassia felt a wave of revulsion wash over her and she jerked her head, but could not free herself. Oh dear God what was happening? Could it really be she, Yassia Dyfrène, princess and designated queen of Ailantha had sunk so low? Would no one help her out of this?

[shonz]

Like always, this vagabond was at his usual seat in one corner of the local tavern, alone, downing what would be his third tankard of mead for the night. It had been a pretty uneventful day so far. There wasn’t even a heated brawl threatening to erupt. No gambling going on. No hookers plying their trade about. There weren’t even much customers save for the usual ugly faces. It was one of those slow days where practically nothing happens, and Gwaine would be left with nothing but to create the disturbance (also known as entertainment) himself just to liven things up.

Taking a slow sip from his tankard, his brown piercing eyes roved over the tables, studying each and every patron, trying to see if one would tickle his fancy for a nice out-of-the-blue scuffle. How he’d love to smack the nose out of that snooty old drunkard who did nothing but terrorize the vendors at the marketplace. There he was contentedly drinking his mead and making loud grunting noises. Totally, disgusting, Gwaine thought. Maybe later.

“Someone stole my purse!”

As if on cue, Gwaine’s eyes landed on a woman he had never seen in the tavern nor anywhere in the village before. He observed curiously as she furiously searched for her purse whilst trying to have a nice quiet dinner. She’s pretty, Gwaine thought to himself, and wondered from where she had traveled from. She looked quite a bit bedraggled for a lady with a pretty face.

“And it’s already late, where shall I sleep? Sir, please!”

Pleasantly amused, Gwaine wondered if she had truly lost her purse or was just play-acting for a meal and a bed to stay for the night. If she was only acting, she’s mighty good at it. She totally look distraught and panicky. When one of the blasted drunkards started teasing her, Gwaine couldn’t help but glower, anger starting to slowly boil from inside him. Now, it was one thing to play along with whatever ruse she might be doing, it’s another to disrespect a woman like that. Gwaine may be a lover of a lot many women, but he sure as hell knows how to respect and treat them right.

When that foul-breathing drunkard seized the woman’s chin, Gwaine was immediately at his feet, and was now standing beside them. The woman looked totally frightened, and the vagabond couldn’t blame her. The drunk was a big burly man with an ugly face and a big round belly. Any women would be revolted.

“Get your hands off my sister,” Gwaine declared with all cocky confidence. Yes, the man may be bigger than he was, but Gwaine didn’t care one bit. The burly man turned to him, but only strengthened his hold on the poor woman’s chin. “Or what?” the man threatened. Gwaine glanced at the woman as if telling her not to worry, and then heaved a sigh before he drew his hand back, and landed a heavy fist onto the man’s cheek sending him staggering back.

The man obviously wasn’t very happy with what Gwaine did. He glared at Gwaine, and didn’t even wait for anything before he lunged at Gwaine and they both came tumbling down onto a nearby table scattering the patrons there. Even though he was pinned down, Gwaine retaliated with another hard punch, but it didn’t seem to faze the bigger man. Gwaine got a solid punch onto his own cheek in return.

It didn’t take long for the scuffle to raze the entire tavern, and the chaos was everywhere. Now this is what I like. Gwaine thought laughing as he managed to temporarily pry himself away from the man, and found himself standing at a corner.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

Some days were just bound to get worse and worse. First the realization of being robbed and well-nigh penniless for the rest of her journey, and now this: she had to fight off the advances of an obvious drunkard who certainly did not understand the meaning of ‘No’. If only she had seen it coming, then she might have been able to draw her dagger or do something similar, but she had been too distraught and lost in her thoughts to realise the imminent danger until it was too late.
Her hand shot up to clasp around the one holding her chin, but she was not strong enough to tear it off. On the contrary, her efforts only seemed to amuse the man. His breathy laugh assaulted her nostrils as he chuckled: “A wildcat, hm? Well, that’s how I like them!”

To gather all her remaining strength Yassia closed her eyes for a split second, and so she only heard a voice calling out: “Get your hands off my sister,”
A male voice… calling her sister?! For a wonderful giddy moment Yassia told herself it must be Mircea. Finally and just in the right place and time they would reunite! Everything was going to be alright now, they could end the journey together - - her eyes snapped open to the harsh reality. It was not Mircea, of COURSE it was not Mircea and she had been a fool to even think of the possibility for these split seconds.
No, her saviour was a man she had never seen before, and he obviously lied to save her. She should be thankful, not basking in self-pity! Not to mention that this young man was far from being as ugly as the man currently demanding her attention, but that was only a side note, all she hoped for at the moment was to get out of this close call unscathed.

When the two men started to fight, Yassia jumped back and out of the way with a gasp. Oh no, she had been wandering Albion and the continent before that long enough to know that men in taverns mostly just waited to start a brawl. Until this very day though she had been able to stay out of them, not to mention being the cause of one. What should she do now? She somehow felt obliged to help the young man like he had helped her before, but neither was she a match for any of them concerning strength, nor did she want the now shouting landlord to give any more reason to be mad at her.
Slowly Yassia retreated to a corner to watch the chaos unfold, only to be soon joined by just the same man that had started this all.

With an uneasy smile she nodded at him and raised her hand in greeting, also to show that she was alright. “Thank you for helping me”, she shouted over the grunts and curses of the still fighting men who now systematically worked on anatomizing the taproom. “But was this necessary? I mean, I caused enough trouble as it is. I might get thrown out as soon as this is over.”

[shonz]

Laughing his amusement out at the raucous that he had started, Gwaine continued to watch the ensuing battle of fists and mugs before his eyes. Now this was definitely some good entertainment, he thought to himself. And it wasn’t like it was a random drunken brawl. He had come to the rescue of a damsel obviously in distress. The tavern owner couldn’t fault him. Unless of course, the woman was really actually a charlatan, and was there to rob the landlord of a good meal and a nice, warm bed.

Gwaine was looking to confront the said woman when he realized that she had been standing behind him by that same corner. He nodded courteously at her, his lips curving up into a smile as she thanked him. “All in day’s work,” he replied with a wink.

“But was this necessary? I mean, I caused enough trouble as it is. I might get thrown out as soon as this is over.”

His hands now on his hips, Gwaine tried to think things over. She was definitely right about that one. The landlord would definitely not be happy for the chaos, and they will both be banned from entering the tavern again. Gwaine looked at her, studying her as if trying to decide if she was really worth all the trouble of losing entrance to a beloved tavern.

Yes, she was, he finally decided. With those bright expressive eyes and a proud and prominent chin, yes she was. She seemed fairly grateful about the rescue as well. Right, he will definitely go out on a limb here.

“Both of us, actually. So we might as well leave now before they pummel us,” Gwaine said as he grabbed her hand without even asking for permission, and dragged her through the still ongoing brawl, that silly amused smile still plastered on his face.

In no time, they had managed to squeeze out of the door after dodging a jar of mead or two thrown their way. Once out, Gwaine gave full expression of his mirth, laughing, as he lead her, still running, towards the nearby marketplace which was now practically empty save for one or two vendors.

“You’re mighty brave pretending that you’ve lost your purse after ordering dinner. I bet you really don’t have a purse or any money to begin with,” he told her with a grin as they now slowed to a walk down the dimly lit passageway.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

It didn’t look like the brawl was anywhere near ending, as the fighting men still found tankards enough to smash on each other’s heads and where there wasn’t any left, bare fists did do the trick as well. Watching such a scenario actually was oddly fascinating to Yassia, as it also did distract her from her rumbling stomach. That wonderful stew she had missed! Not even one single spoonful she had seen of it! Oh why did the landlord have to demand payment in advance? Without that tiny fact she might still be none the wiser but at least not hungry like a wolf! And it didn’t look like she would get a meal from anywhere else soon. Well, count your blessings, Princesa Yassia, she thought. At least you’re away from this drunkard!

So surprised was she as the man grabbed her hand and pulled her through the tavern and out into the street that she didn’t even protest much. She hardly had time to grab for her precious bag en passant, then the door of the tavern closed behind them with a dull thud, muffling the still ongoing shouts and screams from the inside.
But as soon as Yassia breathed the fresh cold nightair, her common sense started to kick back in. What was she doing?! Quickly she freed her hand from his grasp and stopped, turning to face her saviour.
“You have quite some nerve, Sir!” she sounded more amused than angry. “I don’t even know you and yet you drag me out into the street, expecting me to play along to whatever scheme you have come up with.”

She took a look around the place where they had stopped, the village center apparently, though at this time of day it was deserted. She might be in worse trouble yet than she had been inside, she didn’t know anything about this man’s intentions. And yet… there was something about him that oddly enough made her trust him – to a certain extent. Maybe it was this air of happy-go-luckiness that marked him the carefree youngster, even though he must be some years older than she herself. His laugh was genuine, open, as if he couldn’t lie if his life depended on it, and yet he had lied without a second thought – to save her. No, this man was someone she couldn’t define or judge at all. And that made him confusingly intriguing…

“I didn’t pretend!” she insisted firmly and let go a weary sigh. “Believe me if I wanted to bilk I would have found a way to get at least a bit to eat beforehand. No, someone stole my purse and I, mind you, can even tell the exact moment in hindsight. Alas, that doesn’t help me now, I’ll end up starving.” Her face puckered up in disgust. “But I rather starve than…ugh!” She didn't finish the sentence as she had a feeling she didn't need to.

[shonz]

Sure, she had allowed him to lead her rashly out of the tavern away from all the chaos of the patrons and the ire of the landlord. But it seemed now that she was free of her predicament, she would now willingly ditch him. This irked Gwaine quite a bit, and he kicked himself mentally in the head for apparently making the wrong choice of helping her out.

“Well then apologies, my lady!” he blurted out in mock response to her own outburst. All mirth and amusement suddenly leaving him. He had obviously missed the amusing, not angry, tone of her voice. “I take it you can now take care of yourself and have no more use of me now that you’re safe.” Gwaine gave her a small bow, and turned around to slowly walk away from her.

When she told him she wasn’t pretending, Gwaine scoffed. “I’m sure. Good luck finding some food and shelter for the night. I myself will enjoy a nice dinner and a warm bed at a cottage around the corner.” He was teasing her. He was deliberately teasing her. Sure, she was beautiful and all even in her ragged clothes, but Gwaine had never entertained beguiling her into some scheme he had come up with. He was merely being the knight in shining armor, so to speak, to a damsel in distress.

He stopped in his sauntering and turned to look at where she was standing. “Maybe you should have taken that burly man’s offer in the tavern. You should have shared his bed for the night and get a free meal for yourself.” That had been harsh, he knew it was. Gwaine even bit his lip the moment the words came out. He felt a huge pang of conscience hit him square in the chest, and he just stood there, bowing his head in shame, waiting for her retaliation.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

Yassia blinked in surprise at the man's outburst. What had she said that could possibly rile him so much? Was it because she was no master of this language that she had gotten something wrong? Or had she simply hit right home with her half-mocking accusation? Now what to do? Of course she could do as he said, just walk away and maybe sleep under the stars this time, dagger in hand and ready to spring at every noise? That wouldn't be a very peaceful and restorative night to be sure, and she needed all strength she possibly would need for the next day's part of the journey.

„Hey!“ she called after him, not even sure why she did it. Perhaps she still had an ounce of sympathy left for him as he had helped her out? „No need to get all defensive here! I was just a bit... taken off guard I guess... I'm Yassia!“ she added after brief consideration. This could be considered as a peace offering. But nothing more, she had no intention of just spending the night with any man, just because he was friendly and better looking than the drunkard he had gotten off her back.
Cottage around the corner... well that surely sounded tempting. But of course he would get it all wrong, so she didn't comment on it in any way, just rolled her eyes in annoyance.

His next comment though was like a slap right into her face and Yassia actually staggered backwards as if it really had hit her... which it had... only in a figurative way. Her eyes wide open and her mouth likewise, she just stared at him for a moment, not quite able to wrap her head around what had just been said. He didn't mean that, right?! He COULDN'T mean that!
„Well... if THAT is what you think of me“, she said in a dangerously composed voice while inwardly her feared temper started to simmer and then to boil... she would SHOW him! „...then you shouldn't have helped me in the first place. If I am a liar and a harlot in your eyes, why did you even lift a finger?! Or did you want me all for yourself and this other man was just cumbrous competition, is that it?! Well, too bad for you, I am neither!“
Her voice had become so sharp it was like a diamond cutting glass. „I was ready to thank you for your kindness, but now I see that would be thoroughly misplaced!“


[OOC: sorry for her temper... I hope the two of them will make amends, otherwise this might be a short thread indeed and I would hate to end it that soon!]

[shonz]

The effect his harsh words had on her was unmistakable. She had literally taken a step back, and her face registered shock and disbelief at what he had so callously thrown at her. Her voice had considerably turned shrill, hysterical, as she lambasted him back. Gwaine winced, but he couldn’t blame her. He had brought this upon himself, after all.

When she was done speaking, Gwaine turned to her, full apology in his eyes and face. He gingerly retraced his steps back towards where she was standing. “I didn’t mean to say that…forgive me,” Gwaine apologized, his eyes downcast. He heaved a heavy sigh as he tried to find the words to say. He shifted on one foot, and then adjusted the strap of his bag over his shoulder, before resting his hand around the hilt of the sword on his hip. He was obviously very uncomfortable and very ashamed.

“That cottage I was talking about…it’s owned by this kind lady who had helped me a lot of times before. I will see and ask if she can give you dinner and a bed for the night,” he finally offered. Hopefully, that would dispel whatever ill notions Yassia herself might have of him. “Don’t worry I will not be spending the night with you. I will stick around until you are fully settled and then I’ll leave,” he added with a tentative smile.

“I’m Gwaine, by the way. The cottage is up ahead…if you want to…if you trust me…” Gwaine said reluctantly, introducing himself before pointing the way back into the marketplace, wondering if she would follow him now.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

Whatever Yassia had imagined to follow her outburst, not that. Not him coming back like a beaten dog, actually FEELING sorry for what he had said and not just saying it. Cause she could tell he was genuinely shaken, words may lie, even faces may, but eyes never. No one was such a good master of deception to even mask his eyes – at least Yassia had never happened upon anyone and she doubted Gwaine was the first one to show this notion was wrong. He just had too honest a face.

And Yassia knew a peace offering when she saw one, and she also knew she could not afford to be too proud to accept it. What did they say: Pride will have a fall… and she just had reached the bottom of her fall. She was lucky she even could count on some kindness still. So, who was she to defy him?
“It is forgiven”, she said softly, shrugging. “And also, forgive me for what I said. I didn’t want to… make it sound like you’re a knave or something! And you know what, that cottage with the lovely lady sounds wonderful!”

Hestitantly Yassia extended a hand with an equally tentative smile. “Gwaine is it then. How about we start over with a “it’s nice to meet you”? And oh, no please, don’t let me cause any inconvenience! I mean, I don’t want you to sleep under the brushes just because I am too afraid you might try anything. If you give me your word you won’t I will take it at face value!”
To show him her goodwill and trust – however misplaced it might be, but Yassia felt sorry enough to take that chance and give Gwaine some credit – she followed him down the street. “After all, we’re battle buddies now, aren’t we?” she teased him with a little amused laugh.

[shonz]

Good thing she wasn’t angry about things anymore. Good thing Gwaine hadn’t helped a woman who seemed to be beyond reason. He gave her a grateful smile when she forgave him, and he shook his head vigorously when she offered her own apologies. Gwaine had never met a lot of women who could easily swing from anger to humility in one breath. An attitude like that takes practice, breeding, or mayhap years of a schooled upbringing, he thought.

This made him looked at her more curiously. The way she looked, the way she carried herself, even the way she talks. They speak volumes more than what she looked like. If it weren’t for her ragged clothes, Gwaine could easily mistake her for a lady, a noble, one of good bearing and ilk. Ah, but she couldn’t be. No noble would be caught pretending to be impoverished just for the fun of it. And then he remembered himself, and the very thing that he was doing. He was noble, and yet here he was living on the kindness of other people, taking odd jobs here and there. Then he stopped all scrutiny. He cared not if she was a princess or a homeless wanderer. Though a good part of him hoped she wasn’t a princess or anything of the like.

“Please, you reacted that way because of my outburst. You have nothing to apologize for,” Gwaine said. When she offered that they start over, Gwaine couldn’t help the laugh that escaped his lips. “It’s a great a pleasure to meet you, Yassia. You have a very beautiful name.” He wanted to say that she had a very beautiful face, too, but then stopped himself. No use flirting now when they had just reached an amiable understanding.

They started walking towards the direction where he was pointing at, Gwaine a tad bit happier now that he was forgiven, that Yassia wasn’t angry at him anymore. “I don’t really mean to sleep under the bushes tonight. Hopefully, there are other warm beds I could crash in. But I do want to see you all safe and sound until the morrow, so yes, you have my word that I will not try anything funny with you. And besides…” Gwaine suddenly became interested in the pebbles underneath his boots. He wondered if Yassia could already tell what kind of a man he is. He is a vagabond, he practically lives on ale and women, the good life.

“…besides, I don’t think the kind lady of the cottage would want me in bed with another woman right under her own roof,” he added chuckling. This ‘kind lady’ had actually been one of Gwaine’s many dalliances, at least she was one in this particular village. One he hoped his charms would still work on for tonight. “If she asks, you are a cousin of mine who had come in search of work or something. Speaking of which, if you don’t mind my asking, where are you headed tomorrow?”

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

It might be one of Yassia's most peculiar character traits that her anger could flame up and die down like a straw fire. It was hot and bright, but then after mere seconds it was gone if it wasn't fuelled further. And Gwaine did do anything but, he rather took the wind out of her sails entirely with his nearly irresistible charm. Oh, be careful, Yassia Dyfrène! And don't you dare blush just because he called your name pretty, that's just what he wants... don't you dare, don't you...

Of course it happened. Truly, Yassia was by no means hard-boiled enough to hide her embarrassment that well. There was just something about Gwaine that made her feel slightly uncomfortable in a not alltogether unpleasant way. But at the same time she was apt enough to realise that he probably knew very well what effect he had on most women and that he knew how to exploit that fact to his utmost advantage. And however embarrassed Yassia felt, she was not ready to follow in all the ladies' footsteps. No, she just wouldn't give him the satisfaction!

„So many have said“, she teased him to work over her confusion. Well, many was maybe pushing it a little, but he didn’t have to know that.
All the less as he was now starting to sound just like the philanderer he appeared like. ‘other warm beds I could crash in’ … ‘not try anything funny’… oh now that was just typical! And nothing she could leave uncommented, for that he was just too outrageously full of himself – but not in an arrogant way, he made it sound like it was the most natural thing in the world, that’s why Yassia made sure to keep her voice friendly when she stated:
“And that when I almost started to feel bad for you, sorry, my mistake. I should have known a man like you wouldn’t need to knock on doors for long.” She winked, but hoped he wouldn’t take it in a suggestive kind of way. “I think I must call myself lucky to have such a chivalrous guardian angel… I would hate to be the cause of you missing your fun tonight.”

It was a weird experience to talk about such things with a man, always toeing the line between friendly banter and actual flirting. It might sound that way as Yassia was quick to adopt demeanours and expressions, but her knowledge and experience on this terrain was far and few between. And it also showed when Gwaine suddenly started to talk about his relationship with the host. An awkward silence ensued as Yassia just didn’t know what to say to that, and so she readily jumped at the chance to change subjects.
“No, I don’t mind in the slightest, as it is no secret.” At least not all of it… “My destination is Camelot, but I don’t know if I’m still on the right path. I came a long way.”

[shonz]

Gwaine could not mistake the teasing tone of her voice when she responded to his compliment about her name. Oh, how tempted he was once again to follow that up with comparing it to herself -- a name so lovely could only belong to one just as worthy of its beauty –- which was all but the truth. Yassia was beautiful, too beautiful to be a wanderer, to be just any village maiden. But Gwaine managed to keep his mouth shut, and only gave her another one of his trademark grins. That’s it Gwaine. Easy on the flirting.

“And that when I almost started to feel bad for you, sorry, my mistake. I should have known a man like you wouldn’t need to knock on doors for long.”

The laughter that escaped him could never be contained now, and there was full mirth not only on his lips but on his eyes as well. He had to give it to her. She had the gall to retaliate like that, and Gwaine couldn’t help but like it. Most women he’d meet are shy and meek, and would willingly let Gwaine do all the talking while they bash their pretty lashes at him. Not Yassia. She was a fighter. Gwaine felt like he had met his match.

“A vagabond like me lives for the good life, my sweet lady, I am not denying that or pretending to be anything that I am not,” Gwaine told her truthfully. Well, he had been a vagabond for years now, hadn’t he? He had completely forgotten about his past. He was more a wanderer than a noble now. “And worry not about me missing my fun. Every now and then, I find it imperative to give rather than receive.” Oh, meeting her and talking to her like this was more fun than he could ever ask.

She had grown silent at his little confession with regards their host, and Gwaine wondered if he had revealed too much too soon. He hoped she wouldn’t run away from him now. Now that he was enjoying her company, he wanted to know more about her, or at least more of what she choose to reveal or be known to him.

“Camelot, huh?” Gwaine expressed, grateful that even though she didn’t comment about his confession, she had answered his query nevertheless. “I know where Camelot is. I can accompany you there if you’d permit me. It’s a two-day journey on foot from here, if you can endure my company that long,” Gwaine offered with a sincere smile, hoping that she wouldn’t decline his offer. He’d had enough of this village now anyway. It was time to move on.

Realizing that they have arrived at their destination, Gwaine asked Yassia to pause as he walked up to a door and gave it a gentle knock. A few heartbeats later, the door opened with a red-haired woman with a full bosom, deep cleavage peering from the top of her bodice, grinning ear to ear when she saw who was on the door! “Gwaine, my love!” And she had launched herself at him without any ceremonies whatsoever and gave Gwaine a full smack on the lips. Laughing and trying so hard not to show his embarrassment, Gwaine indulged her for a bit, snaking his arm around her waist and kissing her back before pulling away. Linda wasn't exactly a young woman. While she was svelte like Yassia, she looked a tad bit older than Gwaine with that heavy make-up on her cheeks and the lush bundle of curls on her head.

“Forgive me, but I would have to intrude upon your hospitality once again, Linda,” Gwaine said while taking her hand and then turning to introduce her to Yassia. “I came with my cousin, and she needs a place to stay for the night. Would you---”

Gwaine didn’t even get to finish his sentence. “Oh Gwaine, you know you didn’t have to ask. When I heard you were in town, I couldn’t wait to see you. You naughty boy, why haven’t you called sooner?” She clung onto his arm, and rested her head on his shoulders, before turning to Yassia. “Come in! Come in! I’ve only just started preparing dinner.” Linda grabbed Gwaine into her small cottage, and Gwaine beckoned Yassia to follow with a small sheepish smile on his face.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

Gwaine’s laugh was so contagious Yassia couldn’t help but join into it, finally clearing the air of all tension that might have been there still from her previous outburst. Really, she did like Gwaine in her own way, he was so open, so totally sure of himself in a non-arrogant way and he was blessed with some kind of humor similar to her own. All the flirtation and come ons aside, Yassia believed her and Gwaine could maybe even become friends.
to give rather than receive… she couldn’t help but wonder though how she was supposed to take that. Another come on or just a friendly remark? Maybe she was just getting too oversensitive around him… she was not used to this subtle kind of toeing the line… most men she had come across had made it pretty clear from the start what they wanted and so her answer had been as clear. This was an entirely different matter.
“Not a bad philosophy to live by” she joked and grinned, adjusting her steps to his confident stride. “Just make sure luck carries on to shine down on you, or develop a plan B just in case. Wouldn’t want anyone to shut the door in your face, right?” Yassia knew what she was talking about. Inside a day luck had turned its back on her and from that moment on it had all gone downhill very fast.

For a moment Yassia closed her eyes in unfathomable relief when Gwaine’s words reached her mind. Two days! Only two days left! It seemed like a whole weight of maybe twenty pounds was lifted off her shoulder when she heard this absolution. After all this time, after all she’d been through, now the destination was within reach! What did they say again? 'Midnight is when day begins'... the darkest hour was also the beginning of something new. That was almost too good to be true, and yet she trusted Gwaine to know the true estimation of time. Now… should she agree to his offer?
“Well, that remains to be seen”[/color], she concluded with an earnest nod, but her eyes belied the mirth hidden behind it. “I will not jump to premature conclusions, so that I have to take my words back… let’s say, you’re on probation for a guarded ‘yes, you’re permitted’”

Yassia then subconsciously held her breath when the door opened. How would this Linda look like? Well, whatever she had imagined, probably not this!! Not this firey redhead storming out the house like a natural force, engulfing Gwaine in a so very unsubtle hug and then she even KISSED him! On the mouth, not caring if anyone watched! This sent a hot sting of unease through Yassia’s body, reaching down all the way into her guts and she quickly avered her gaze. In the royal surroundings she had grown up no one would have ever dreamt of showing affection so openly, and even if she had come across many things that had took time to get used to, this was another matter… some might have even called it outrageous! In Yassia’s world only women working in certain facilities would even think of showing feelings so openly… not that a lady of her status should even know such things existed!
So all Yassia could do for the moment was clear her throat akwardly and mutter. “I … I am Yassia, it’s nice to meet you Linda. And thank you so very much for your hospitality.”

Her unease though was crowded out a little by the anewed flaming up of hunger, when a very appealing scent passed her nostrils. Dinner… she never would have thought this word might one day seem to her like a miracle, brightening her mood in an instant. Before her journey had started eating had been a matter of course, maybe even an annoying interruption to whatever game or task she had been up. But now her life depended on it, and she was long since past turning up her nose at any meal.
“That smells absolutley delicious already!” she commented and took in a deep breath. “Once again, thank you!”

[shonz]

“Just make sure luck carries on to shine down on you, or develop a plan B just in case. Wouldn’t want anyone to shut the door in your face, right?”

“Oh, but there is a plan B, my sweet lady. It’s called under the trees,” Gwaine teased in response to her comment. It was true though, and he had done it a lot of times before. At times when he was too drunk to knock on some woman’s door and charm her into giving him a bed for the night, Gwaine would go to the trees for a night’s sleep. It’s not always comfortable and there are always threats of dangerous beasts lurking about at night, but it did well for him during those times. The forests had become quite a friend to Gwaine all these years.

He gave her a small bow when she gave him his probationary permission in accompanying her to Camelot. “You will not go wrong with me as your guide. I know these lands like the back of my hand,” he remarked quite proudly. Which was again true. Gwaine had been to most of Albion in all his wandering for more than five years now since he left home. He knew the valleys and the plains quite well.

The reaction on Yassia’s face at Linda’s attitude towards Gwaine had gone unnoticed though. Linda was monopolizing all of Gwaine’s attention that all he could worry about was for Yassia to get her dinner and bed. “Sit there, my dear, while I take my lover to the kitchens to finish up cooking,” Linda told Yassia with a giggle just as he pulled Gwaine towards the kitchen which was really just on the other side of the big one-room cottage.

Linda didn’t seem to care that there was someone else with them as she took Gwaine’s hand and wound them around her waist from behind her, while she stood in front of the stove and stirred the pot. She even continued to loudly giggle as she moved his hand up to her bosom. “Linda…we have company,” Gwaine whispered which only made Linda giggle.

“Oh but I’ve missed you, Gwaine. I’m hungry for you. You promise to satisfy my hunger tonight?” she asked him as she scooped up a ladle of the stew and placed it in front of Gwaine’s mouth for a taste.

“Of course,” Gwaine replied distractedly. “Your stew is delicious.”

“Only my stew, my love?”

“Well, of course…so are you…”

Linda giggled some more and then gave Gwaine another kiss before proceeding to scoop up their dinner of sumptuous smelling beef stew onto a large bowl. She placed the bowl onto the dinner table while Gwaine went ahead and took care of setting up the plates.

“Oh your cousin here sure knows how to please a woman. I can never get enough of him,” Linda told Yassia when she brought out some bread and then sat herself opposite the girl. “Sit beside me, Gwaine, please.”

Gwaine indulged her while trying not to make eye contact with Yassia. He didn't know how she was taking all this. “Eat, my dear. You’re all skin and bones. Help yourself. I myself will have to take care of my handsome lad here,” Linda said to Yassia while she scooped up some stew onto Gwaine’s plate. Linda then moved her chair closer to Gwaine’s, and then scooped out a spoon and started to feed Gwaine. Gwaine opened his mouth and ate. It was delicious indeed.

“I’d give anything just to have this stew everyday, Linda,” Gwaine remarked.

Linda pouted. “Why are you calling me Linda now? I like that you call me peaches, or my lady, or my sweet lily…I especially like it when you call me ‘my love’.”

“Apologies, my sweet lily. I forget myself when I am with you,” Gwaine said and then leaned in to supposedly plant a kiss on the edge of her shoulder. Linda, however, had other plans. She stretched her neck some more, and leaned closer so that Gwaine was now kissing the crook of her neck, which only made her giggle out loud.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

‘My sweet lady’… how long since last time someone had called her that? Well, in that tone of voice probably no one ever before… it was quite something Yassia could imagine to get used to – hadn’t her common sense told her this probably was Gwaine’s standard addressing to any woman he came across, whether she was secretly noble born or a tavern wench. It probably did the trick, Yassia mused, and it most likely would with me also, there is just something that keeps me, though I cannot name it for my life!

Yassia nodded gracefully when Gwaine boasted about his knowledge of Albion. Even if it wasn’t true, this was the best she could hope for, her best shot, and so she would let him lead her and be smug about it as long as he liked. And it wasn’t like Gwaine was bad company. Already he had made her laugh, an almost impossible task nowadays, the embarassing and hurtful incident in the tavern was all but forgotten. She didn’t need to go to bed hungry, she would actually sleep under a roof tonight without having to pay a single penny. All because she had met him and even though she was not responsive to his advances, he still was nice enough to help her out.
“Good to know then. I will place the fate of my way in your hand, to reach Camelot safely” she said, adopting his flowery speech. She didn’t need much to think up such sentences, it was the noble way to speak after all, something she had grown up to.

While Linda was cooking, Yassia couldn’t help but sneak a glance at her and Gwaine every now and again, as knotholes in the tabletop could only occupy her for so long and the one room didn’t provide much privacy. Not that those two did care about privacy much… Even though Yassia thought to here something like ‘we have company’ whispered by Gwaine, Linda herself seemed totally shameless. How she talked about spending the night with Gwaine… with a jolt the princess realised that she was about to spend the night under the same rooftop… and with so little privacy involved there would not be much she would miss! The thought was enough to make her shudder and gag inwardly. No… Gwaine really couldn’t be THAT thoughtless! It might be something completely natural for the common people, but Yassia was not that and she would probably never get used to it. She had had her own room with thick stone walls ever since she could remember. This… this was just too much!

And then Linda was even addressing her in the same shameless way, talking about Gwaine’s abilities as a lover. Ugh… that was something Yassia really didn’t want to dwell on, even more as he just wasn’t her cousin, like they pretended.
It was hard to not respond in a snappish way, but this time Yassia’s upbringing really helped her. At court you learned to mask your feelings very well and did even approach your worst enemy with a friendly smile. “Well, on that I cannot comment, but I will trust your judgement. Besides… I have heard you are not the only woman thinking so.” She couldn’t just forsake herself this little side blow. It was nothing compared to what she had to go through right now!

The farce moved on to another act when the three of them actually started eating. Even though they were so very close now around the tiny table, Linda just couldn’t keep her hands off Gwaine. How was she supposed to eat while having to watch this? And Gwaine, the womanizer, did seem to enjoy himself very much, not even noticing her unease. Lethargically Yassia scooped the stew into her mouth, trying hard to occupy her thoughts with something else. She did not even think to start on any conversation, as that would involve actual eye contact, and she didn’t think Linda was in the mood of talking anyway. Why on earth had she accepted this ridiculous offer? She should have known what was to follow! Gwaine’s demeanour should have told her enough.
Yassia was short of exploding, she felt it. Any tiny addition to what she had to endure already would send her over the edge – and she feared the consequences.

[shonz]

Gwaine had not expected to plant his lips onto the soft spot between Linda’s neck and shoulder, but since he was already there, he might as well milk it for what it’s worth. If this was what he needed to pay to get him and Yassia food and bed for the night, he'd do it. It's not like he hadn't done it before. Ahh, the things he’d do to impress another woman. But then again, he doubted that what was going on between him and Linda was impressing Yassia at all. If he were to take a glance her way, he would most probably see the other lady looking anywhere but at the blatant display of affection going on in front of her, and during dinner yet.

“Well, on that I cannot comment, but I will trust your judgement. Besides… I have heard you are not the only woman thinking so.”

Gwaine felt his cheeks heat up at Yassia’s comment, and he had sat up straight in an effort to eat his beef stew with any more dignity that he could salvage. He was torn between replying and not, and he cast furtive glances at Linda who’s attention had been totally caught by that comment.

To his surprise, however, Linda only gave Yassia a good laugh. “Oh hush now. Do you think I don’t know about Gwaine’s other women?” Linda reached a hand out and gave Gwaine’s chin a gentle squeeze and then slowly traveled her hand down to his chest, lingering there for a bit before making a good show of moving it further down his stomach. When Linda’s hand reached his belt, Gwaine instantly sat up and chuckled, as he reached down to stop her hand from wandering further down. Linda only giggled.

“He’s a catch, and I’m just ecstatic to have this gorgeous man under my roof tonight,” Linda continued to say. “Of course, I don’t like sharing him with others, but you really forget all these things once Gwaine pins you down to the bed and pleasures you to the heavens—“ Gwaine coughed out loud and slapped his chest as he felt a chunk of beef choking him. Sure, he had pleasured women, but he had never heard them talk about it in front of him. Linda didn’t need to tell Yassia that. That was too much information really.

At Gwaine’s choking, Linda immediately stood up and grabbed a glass full of water and helped Gwaine drink from it. “There now, love. Eat slowly. I’m in no hurry to finish dinner…” Linda told him as she massaged his back, slowly and seductively.

Once Gwaine had recovered, he thanked Linda and still didn’t brave a glance at Yassia. He couldn’t quite imagine the look on her face now. The only best thing to do was to keep this one with Linda, and still salvage what little kindness she still has left for them.

He looked up at Linda as took the glass from her hand and placed it on the table. He took her hands in his and then brought it to his lips for a slow and lingering kiss. “Oh, but I am…I’ve been hungry myself …” Gwaine whispered as he turned her hand palm up and kissed the center of her palm.

This made Linda shriek, and Yassia was totally forgotten as Linda jumped onto Gwaine’s lap, and wound her arms around his neck before giving him a long and hard kiss on the lips. She even managed to slip a tongue in. “Take me now, Gwaine!” Linda screamed as she took Gwaine’s head and buried his face onto her deep cleavage.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

“He’s a catch, and I’m just ecstatic to have this gorgeous man under my roof tonight,” “Of course, I don’t like sharing him with others, but you really forget all these things once Gwaine pins you down to the bed and pleasures you to the heavens—“

I shouldn’t have said anything… nooo, not anything at all… now I just opened it up for her… Yassia listened with growing dismay. That was really pushing it… far too much information! At leasr Gwaine seemed a little shocked about this blatant display of shameless talk as well, but it was of little consquence for Yassia. How was she supposed to live through that any longer, even another minute?! She already needed all self-control she could muster to keep where she was.
Why on earth couldn’t Linda keep her hands of Gwaine for only just a second??!! That wasn’t so hard, now was it?! It was not the fact that this was Gwaine she was touching as Yassia was by no means jealous, it was just such a chavvy behaviour, brazen even! In moments like this the princess really felt she didn’t belong with this kind of people, however rude that might sound even in her mind. This was not her world and she did not even want it to be.

To make it all worse, now Gwaine seemed to throw over board every ounce of bashfulness he might have left and responded to Linda’s advances, totally forgetting Yassia was still there and probably didn’t want to see any of this. How rude! What a lust-driven lech he was! He probably had had this in mind the minute he had set eyes on her! Just fortunate she had turned him down when she still had the chance! As if she ever would stoop to show lust so openly, like she was a harlot… unthinkable! This was supposed to be something private, not something all the world should know! Yassia actually balled her fists under the table, the only half-eaten stew forgotten, as those two really had spoilt her appetite.

“Take me now, Gwaine!”—
CLONK! The stool crashed down on the floor with might as Yassia got up in a huff, both hands balled into fists at her side. Only her royal upbringing which had included sermos over sermons about self-discipline and composure, kept her from lashing out at them both. It was all she could do to mutter a nearly unintelligible “forgive me, I need some air!” and rush out of the door into the cold, not minding to take her cloak or her bag with her, rounding the house. She reached a little backyard where a few trees grew wild, and two little vegetable patches were situated. Laundry was hanging from ropes wound around the trees, giving off a ghostly glow in the moonlight.
Yassia leaned against one of the tree trunks, breathing heavily and recoling, her whole body trembling. A maelstrom of different and very contrarious sentiments was trying to pull her under, tossing her back and forth like a lifeless puppet. There was contempt… revulsion even… anger above all… and then there was shame.

Shame… because whenever Yassia had been forced to look Gwaine’s and Linda’s way she had not only felt disgust… there had been a hot sting of some very unsettling emotion reaching all the way down into her lower abdomen. She had been fascinated in a sick kind of way, actually had WANTED to see it… and that was unbelievably direful and obscene! What was happening with her?!
She hit her the back of her head repeatedly against the trunk, looking up at the sparse stars she could make out and taking a few shaky deep breaths, trying unsuccesfully to get rid of the pictures that would now probably be forever branded into her mind.

[shonz]

Gwaine emerged gasping from Linda’s bosom at the sound of the stool crashing down and hitting the floor with a loud thud. The look on Yassia’s face made him see red, and he knew right there and then that Yassia have had enough of the shameless display of affection between him and Linda in front of her. Well, more Linda than him. It clearly looked like she was throwing daggers his way with that blazing fire in her eyes.

“forgive me, I need some air!”

He barely heard what came out of her mouth, but her next actions didn’t need any more explanation. Yassia had rushed out of the cottage in quite a huff, and the burning anger on her face seemed to have left scorched marks on her spot. Gwaine heaved a heavy sigh as his eyes followed her until the door slammed shut behind her.

“It seems your cousin is not used to seeing you like this, huh?” Linda mumbled, her lips starting to trail kisses along Gwaine’s jaw. Gwaine’s attention, however, was still riveted on the closed door, that he barely registered what Linda was saying. He didn’t even notice that she was now leaving red love bites at the crook of his neck. He couldn’t quite understand what Yassia was so angry about. He'd had already made it clear before they came into the cottage what Linda was to him, didn’t he?

When a small prickly pain coursed through his neck, Gwaine snapped out of his trance and gently pushed Linda away from his exposed neck. “I have to go see where she went,” Gwaine told her as he tried to stand up. Linda, however, only pouted. “But this is our chance, my love. We have the cottage all to ourselves now. I’m sure she’ll come back later,” she said as she moved her hand under his shirt and caressed his bare chest underneath.

“Linda, I have to go find my cousin,” Gwaine’s voice have turned firm as he looked pleadingly at her. He didn’t want Linda to throw them out now. He just needed to make sure Yassia was fine, or at least see what exactly got her into a tizzy. “I promise I’ll give you the time of your life tonight,” he added, reverting easily into his seductive self as he leaned in and gave Linda a soft kiss on the lips. Linda grinned and then nodded before standing up from Gwaine’s lap. “Hurry back.”

Gwaine gave her a smile as he, too, finally stood up and rushed out of the door after Yassia. “Yassia!?” he called out once he was out in the dark night. He ran out to the passageway to see if she was anywhere hiding in the shadows, but saw no sign of anybody there. “Yassia!” Aarggh! Where is that girl off to?

Feeling concerned now about where Yassia might have gone or if any of the drunken thugs had caught up with her, Gwaine hastened his steps as he ran up and down the alley. Even the vendors had already called it a night. There wasn’t a soul anywhere. Then he decided to round the corner to the back of the Linda’s cottage, and sure enough, he finally found her leaning against a tree, banging her head against it.

“Yassia, is everything all right?” he asked as he ran up to her, reaching a hand out to grasped her arm. “You didn’t even finish your dinner.” There was genuine concern and worry on his face, and he hoped Yassia wouldn't give him a hard time now.

[Yassia Dyfrène de Ailantha]

Yassia dreaded the coming night. The thought hit her with such force she actually cringed with a gasp. This was just the beginning! She would have to stand this through an entire night, maybe able to close her eyes but not her ears… by the sweet stars, how on earth could she do that?! When she was already feeling sick before they had even thoroughly started? Maybe it would be better to wait a little while outside, until she guessed the two would be done for the moment, then sneak inside, snatching her belongings as inobtrusively as possibly and searching for a tree to rest her head under. It would not be her first choice, but now she had eaten at least a little bit, and anything was better than bearing witness to… this!

So deep was she in her confusing thoughts, still battling in her mind, she didn’t hear anyone approach and even missed the first calling of her name. But then a voice got through to her – the last voice she had expected to hear right now and even if so, not speaking her name…and also not in such a concerned voice. Concerned?! Heavens, that boy had some nerve!
“Yassia, is everything all right?”
Alright,… alright?! Sweet stars, this man’s either plain stupid, very insensitive or just a tad blind to his own actions! I’d vote for all three options though! How can he be so stupid as not to see what he’s done? How can ANYONE be so stupid? Or was this his way of repaying her for rejecting him? Like a sick way of showing her what she was missing?
No, she decided after a brief look in his face… it bore no signs of falsehood or malice. He WAS completely clueless… men!!!

The anger won over her confusion then, and for the second time this evening her feared temper was washed to the surface, venting itself on the only possible target at hand: Gwaine. She would feel sorry about it again, later, but right now she couldn’t care less. She had every right to lose it!
“Shouldn’t you be busy right now?” she hurled at him, her voice cold and acid. “I didn’t want to interrupt anything there, that’s why I left after all!” Now her voice was dripping with sarcasm. She didn’t scream… yet! Right now she was in the dangerous phase of boiling up, but already she was past reason and the almost caring tone of Gwaine’s voice was completely lost to her. It even seemed to fuel her fury.

“You didn’t even finish your dinner.”
Now that did it for her! The urge to throw something at him got overwhelming and as she thankfully wasn’t ready yet to throw one of her daggers, she snatched a piece of laundry from the line next to her, scrunged it up and cast it smack into his face, growling: “Well forgive me if my appetite was slightly spoilt with what I had to look at. In case you didn’t know, I am no peeper!”

[shonz]

Her words blew him, and Gwaine literally staggered back at the harsh tone of her voice. He looked at her, wounded, as if she had literally struck a dagger into him and twisted it to the fullest. He couldn’t find the words to say as he was honestly dumbfounded. While he had expected her to rush out because of the blatant display of affection between him and Linda, he had not expected her to be angry like this. It just wasn’t making any sense to him at all. The least the display could do to her was make her ashamed or something, not angry.

"What the--!" Gwaine exclaimed when a piece of still damp laundry hit him square in the face. He couldn’t believe Yassia was throwing stuff at him. He still didn’t get it. What did he do to her exactly. Did he not help her get a warm dinner for her stomach? Did he not find her a comfortable place to stay for the night? Sure, Linda’s cottage wasn’t exactly as lavish as some of the inns, but it was so much better than sleeping under a tree.

“What is wrong with you?!” Gwaine finally blurted out as he snatched the laundry from his face. “Me and Linda, we have a history. I can’t change that! That was my only way of paying her for your food and bed! In case you haven’t noticed, I don’t have enough money. If I do, I would have taken you to an inn and pay you maids to serve you day and night!” There that was out, in case Yassia still didn’t see that he was doing what he was doing for her.

With an exasperated sigh, he threw the damp laundry quite forcefully onto an empty pail nearby. He turned and walked a few distance away from her as if trying to control his temper. He ran a hand through his hair, and then rested them on his hips. Did she think he was doing it on purpose to rile her up? Did she think he was making her jealous---

The last thought made Gwaine stop. He turned abruptly to look at Yassia where she was still standing. His mouth opened as the thought started to sink into his brain. No. Really? She couldn’t be. Then slowly a chuckle started to bubble up from his chest. A few heartbeats later, the chuckle had turned into an outright laughter as realization finally came.

“You’re jealous,” Gwaine said as he walked back towards her, amusement written all over his face. There was no other explanation. That was it. Yassia was jealous. Oh, how blind had he been! “You’re angry because you’re jealous at seeing Linda’s hands all over me. You wished it was you sitting on my lap and giving me kisses!”