Home Before Dark (Lancelot)

[elyseosanne]

She couldn't remember the last time that she had time to herself. Tesslin almost didn't know what to do with it. That morning she had stepped in for one of the other servants. They had a family problem that they urgently needed to see to, but Tess would be the last to realize that "family problems" meant "sleeping in and drinking up". She had accepted their story easily, and they were off almost before she could. Tessa had seriously under-estimated the amount of windows there were in Camelot castle. Her sore arms were proof enough for that, but the view had been worth it. On the upper levels it was like she was looking straight over the hills and into the sky. If she weren't already out of breath from scrubbing, it would have taken her breath away. When she finally finished, she rushed into the kitchen to finish her regular duties. Despite the set-back of her absence from the kitchen, meals at Camelot went off without a hitch. She had gotten dish duty for the next week, but, somehow, the windows would always be worth it.

The afternoon sun was just hanging its head below the treeline. It would be light for at least another hour, and curfew not until two after that. Apparently it was easier for the head cook to do it himself than to teach her how to do it, and thus she was granted the freedom to the rest of the afternoon. Obviously, the man had never tried her tarts. Maybe then he wouldn't have banned fer from the kitchen so hastily. She had never been banned from a kitchen before- not even for a minute. When she had been at home with her parents she had always been welcomed. It was a safe place. The other kids couldn't bully her there. She could spend time with her parents, and eat stale sticky buns until her heart stopped. And then her father started drinking more and more, and the kitchen became more hers than his. It was the only safe place for her in the house. He would not go into the kitchen, and to this day Tess didn't have a clue as to why.

She wondered what every other person did with this extra time. A walk through the market seemed like a good idea to her. She had walked to her quarters in the castle and picked up a worn basket. Getting flowers had been the first thing on her list, and they now hung on her arm, the fresh smell of plant life mixing with the aroma of warm bread. She had but two small loaves at the bottom of her basket, wrapped in a napkin before purchasing the bright blooms. There was no consistency to them. Bright red roses mixed with purple bells and yellow daisies. She was grateful for any little thing that would brighten her small, simple quarters in the castle and flowers were just the right thing.

It wasn't until Tesslin noticed the lack of people that she realized how much time had slipped away from her. Blissfully lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice the shadows stretching across the city as darkness fell. She stopped in her tracks, eyes wide. There were only a few minutes left of curfew, and breaking the law was the last thing on her list. She turned on her heel, and walked back to the castle. Every crack of movement made her pick up her pace.

Suddenly, an arm snaked out of the shadows and a strong hand gripped her upper arm, making her stop in her tracks. She sucked in a breath sharply in surprise, struggling to control her lungs when the rest of the figure melted out of the shadows. It was a man, large, and scarred. Her heart skipped a beat within her ribs as his voice washed over her, "What's a pretty thing like you doing out here all alone?" She parted her lips to say something in return, but no words got past the roaring in her ears. She clutched at her basket to hide how she was shaking.

"I was just leaving, sir," she stammered, pulling out of his slackened grip and turning to bump right into another man who blocked her path. This one was taller and more wiry than his partner. Her heart jumped to the base of her throat. They talked amongst themselves, about her. She could hear their smooth words wrapping around her. Those spoke of how she called the man "sir" and how a women shouldn't be out all alone, lest she run into thugs, and what a shame if such a pretty face ran into a pair of thugs. She had never been so intimidated in her life. Tesslin tried to suck up every scant drop of bravery that she had in her. Making her voice firm, she prayed it wouldn't shake. "Let me pass."

This just amused them. The first strike came at her then, sudden as a snake and Tess felt a scream leave her lips even though she couldn't hear herself above the fear rushing in her ears. She dropped her basket, the bread and flowers spilling out over the ground. She struggled, but she was no match for one man, let alone two. She called for help, but was silenced as one of the men clamped a hand over her mouth hard. "It'd be a shame to bruise up your pretty face, but you give me no choice." She found it difficult to breath, and was looking desperately down the empty road for anybody- anything that would help her.

She may look like a lamb, but she certainly wasn't going to down like one. Sealed with an uncharacteristic burst of bravery, she kicked out and kneed the larger man in the balls. Hard. He dropped like a rock. But that still left her with the other one, and now unwilling to face the same fate as his partner. He tied her wrists together tightly with rough rope. It dug into her skin, and she was sure to have hand-shaped bruises on her arms. Once she was taken from the kingdom walls, who knows what would happen to her. She prayed they wouldn't make it that far, but her chances were shrinking with ever step.


_{Tagged: Lancelot
Note: Whoa, this is super long. Others will be shorter.}

[Deleted]

Lancelot made his rounds out side the walls of Camelot where many dangers hid in the shadows just waiting for the right time to strike out against the kingdom and it's people. If Lancelot had it his way there would be no bandits or thugs, no harm would come to the people but sadly that was way easier said than done. No amount of man would stop the evils that roamed the earth for there were far too many but they all could hope that it would just slim up a little bit leaving less to deal with. Pulling himself out of his own thoughts he looked around and noticed he had been gone much longer than it normally would have taken him to do his route. The other Knights would probably be looking for him and he would be questioned when he arrived back to the castle. Rubbing his face a little letting the scruffiness of his skin run along his finger tips and with a sigh he rushed off back to the castle.

Night had already began to set in and the warm air was now turning to a slight chill. Holding his head high as he wore the Knights suit with pride he continued on his way quicker than before. Lancelot strives to be the best knight there is. It was his dream to become a Knight and when he finally achieved it, it had been the best day of his life and what made it better what he achieved it twice! The first time was a lie though and it felt wrong for Lancelot so he denied himself his dream in order to find honor within himself to make him worthy or Knightly hood and than the second time he was well deserving of it. He had risked himself and this was his reward, one he would not trade in ever. Lancelot began to fall into his out thoughts once again and again he pulled himself from them seeing as they were distracting and slowing him down.

Lancelot entered the walls of Camelot and upon doing so he saw two shadowy figures rushing off. Lancelot narrowed his brow and began to get closer. Once close enough he noticed they were shady looking men and upon one of their broad shoulders was a woman. With this site all of Lancelot's senses went on alert! He did not hesitate to jump out there letting his courage lay on his sleeve as he now stood between the men, and their escape. "Is that any way to treat a lady?" He asked almost casual but he was serious and his stance was dangerous. His hand gripped the handle of his sword ready to run them in if they did not let her go. Lancelot learned the hard way not to trust men like these and he has had a lot of experience like this where he trusted they would leave peacefully and than stabbed him in the back... Literally stabbed him in the back. He had plenty of scars upon his body from fighting trying to make a living and now he was a Knight and the things he learned on his own he would use to his benefit.

Watching the men carefully not wanting to make any too sudden moves that could end up hurting the woman over their shoulder. Preparing himself for battle he spoke once more "Let her go." It was three simple words that were strong and his voice let them know he was not joking and that if they failed to do so than their would be dire consequences they would have to face and not just by himself but the king and other Knights. Crime in Camelot did not go unlooked, every crime depending on how severe it was would and could be looked upon as treason and only the worse came from that. Hopefully they would be cooperative but he highly doubted it seeing as there were two of them and only one of Lancelot so they could have a big head and than everything would go south.

Tag: Tesslin Osanne
Note:Haha long posts are always fun!

[elyseosanne]

"Is that any way to treat a lady?"

Tesslin's attention snapped to the shadow standing before then. Was there hope after all? With a renewed energy, she worked at the ropes around her wrists. It was harder than she thought, being thrown over the larger man's shoulder. She could feel the jarring of his limp because it dug his shoulder into her gut. She must have kicked him wel enough. Fighting for enough oxygen, Tesslin felt relief sweep through her when he stopped. Biting her lip to keep from panicking, Tesslin closed her eyes tightly as the man dropped her and couldn't help the yelp that left her lips as she hit the ground. Scrambling away from the two, she was caught by the smaller man. If only she could get these ropes off, she could make a run for it.

Damn Tesslin's heart, though. She couldn't leave while that perfect stranger saved her? She had to repay him somehow. As he stepped into the moonlight, Tesslin's eyes widened. He wasn't just any perfect stranger, he was a knight of Camelot. The crimson crest shone in the moonlight. "Thank God," she murmured, getting a smack for her words. Breathing unevenly with panic, Tesslin twisted her torso so as to hide the loosening rope around her wrists. She had achieved some wiggle room, and it felt like hope was pushing up her lungs.

Meanwhile, the larger man approached the knight. A cruel smirk cut across his face, but he approached warily. He was no match for the knight and it showed. The thinner man was watching, eyes narrowed. His fingers bit into her shoulder blades, keeping her in place. She stared at the ground, shaking. Only a little farther... choking back a cry, Tesslin manage to get her hands free. There was no need to alert the thinner man. Luckily, the knight had defeated the first thug. Tears stung her eyes, blurring her vision. She had come so close, so close to being kidnapped.

Deciding to cut his loses, the thin man let go of her shoulders and bolted into the shadows. He left her, and his partner. He was faster alone, and he knew. Her throat stung and she rubbed gently at her battered wrists. Sobs built up in her system, and she turned, as if waiting for the thin man to change his mind and come back for her.

Tesslin was afraid. Her momentary bravery falling away with the adrenaline. She was shaking, and it took her a minute to scramble back to her feet. She was unsteady, and jumpy. She scrubbed at her eyes with the back of her hand, and almost fell. The knight approached her, and she almost flinched. The crimson logo reassured her, however. Camelot was her home now, and nothing from it could mean her harm. Not that Tesslin had a very good track record with homes thus far. She'd just have to put her shaky trust in the man. She looked at him, really looked at him for the first time. He had kind features, she noticed, even handsome ones. Despite the moonlight causing sharp shadows to cross his cheeks, she could still tell. He was brave, too- fighting to save a woman he didn't even know.

"Thank you," she manage to choke out. No matter how much she tried to stop it, her sobs came out anyways. "I d- don't know wh- at would ha- have happened--.. T-thank you fo-r saving me." Her words didn't seem coherent, and her brows furrowed. She hung her head lightly, unsure of what to do with herself. Her shoulders shook as she silently cried, her ribs ached with them. "I'm so-rry. A braver girl wouldn-n't be so sha-ken." And shaken she was. Poor girl could hardly stand.


_{Tag: Sir Lancelot
Note: I tried not to dictate actions too much. I'm not really good at that. x-x I'll make it pretty later.}