Far Longer Then Forever

[Alistair]

Alistair stood near the large stone column on the edge of the room with his hands clasped behind his back. He hated crowds and nobles and large displays of wealth. He knew better then to let his hate show however, so he stood there with out much emotion while keeping an eye on the crowd. On her in the crowd.

Alistair did not look like the druid who once was so greatly known in this kingdom. While the king; former and current; knew his face neither would expose him. The boy king would keep his secret and the former king did not even know the man who once kidnapped him and beat him was in the room. Alistair had let his hair grow out; and even let a subtle bread form over his jaw to help hide who he was. Nobles only saw what you told them too see.

His Princess seemed to fit into this world. She greeted people she knew and spoke with everyone that came to her. Even the little servant girl who was no longer a servant. They had once even kidnapped her by mistake.

He would have folded his arms over his thick chest but he knew that was a sign that he was brooding. He was trying to at least look as if he fit in.

[Princess]

[isadora]

Isadora had spent the evening speaking with other nobles, enjoying the conversation and the food and the general atmosphere of the celebrations. And yet, she hadn't yet had a chance to join in the revelry and dance. It took her a moment of scanning the walls to find her druid, her escort for the evening, off by himself as she knew he would be. Alistair was not gifted with words, nor with people, and she didn't expect him to be anywhere near the spotlight; but she didn't mind. He wasn't preventing her from socializing, so she could be happy that he was simply there to support her.

She crossed the hall to stand in front of him, smiling playfully up at him. She wasn't sure Alistair would want to dance with her, but she was very sure he'd have a problem with it if she danced with anyone else, and therefore, he was her only option. He was also the only man in the crowd that she actually wanted to dance with. "Sir Alistair," she greeted him warmly, using his title because she couldn't know who would be listening in such a crowd, before she held out her hand to him expectantly. "I would honor you with a dance."

It was clear from her tone that it wasn't a request; were he a real knight, he wouldn't think of turning down such a command from his princess. But Alistair would never be as easy to handle as any of the other knights. He was far more challenging, but she had always liked a challenge. Perhaps that was why she liked him.

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[Alistair]

Alistair had seen her look around the room and then find him with her eyes. He did not move as she made her way to him and greeted him with the title he'd stolen. It was her next demand that made his impassive face turn into a slight frown. He did not dance. He'd spent most his life alone in the woods and didn't even know how to hold a conversation with out feeling the awkward little boy again. The hell he was dancing and looking like an idiot while here.

When he'd visited with some druid camps, there had been some nights when there had been dancing. He'd never joined in with them but he had watched. There it was random, with nothing to memorize and order to follow. Here they all moved at the same time in the same ways. Alistair was not about to embarrass them both by trying to be like them. Not looking away from her face; he ignored her held out hand. "No." There would be no dancing. "Are you having fun, Princess?" It was a question he had heard many people ask everyone; so he assumed it was safe to ask her that too.

[isadora]

Isadora returned his frown when he turned her down, looking genuinely disappointed by his rejection. But then she rolled her eyes and shrugged, withdrawing her offered hand. "Your loss," she told him matter-of-factly, she didn't know why exactly he didn't want to dance; she'd offered to teach him before, but he'd always staunchly refused. So if he looked like a fool on the dance floor now, he had only himself to blame. Not that anyone would notice; everyone was caught up in their own business, she didn't think anyone would pay attention to the princess of Gwent and her escort.

"I am, thank you for asking." She replied pleasantly, choosing to ignore the way he said her title. She didn't bother to elaborate as she started to turn away from him. "Now if you'll excuse me...I'm sure one of the knights of Camelot would be willing to spare a dance for a lonely princess." She said teasingly, of all the men she could dance with, she figured a knight from the kingdom he hated would make him the most jealous...or at the very least, protective. He still didn't trust the honor of the nobility, after all.

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[Alistair]

Out of her bloody mind; she was. As she turned away from him, Alistair stepped forward to grab her upper arm in a soft but firm grip so she could not prance off to dance with some knight that he had spent his own life fighting. He knew what dancing was! It was an excuse for some knight to put his hands on a proper noble woman with her getting scandalized. If he wanted his hands on her; he'd to it. He didn't need dancing as an excuse.

Knowing that she hated gossips and standing here holding her arm would cause it he let go of her after a making sure she wasn't still walking away. He wanted to demand she not; and force her to promise that she wouldn't. He wanted to drag her out of here and 'escort her to her room'. "Stay." Alistair would play by her rules for now. "Please." In case anyone over heard. Dancing wasn't something he wanted to try; he much rather stand here and let her talk to him. Or steal a few glasses of wine and escape to their own party. Too many people were here, and not enough cool air.

[isadora]

Isadora let him pull her to a stop, looking back over her shoulder at him before she turned back to face him, clasping her hands behind her back. Please? Maybe he was learning some manners after all. She decided to listen to him, since she didn't really want to dance with anyone else, and since he was trying to behave. "It's easy." She promised, in case he was worried about looking silly or something; it was just a few steps in time to the music. She'd learned to dance when she was still a child, and she didn't see why he was so opposed to trying it. It was for fun...and it was a way she could be close to him in public.

"You do realize I'm going to want to dance at my wedding." She pointed out, somewhat teasingly, putting her hands on her hips and raising her eyebrows at him. Even if he got away with refusing to dance tonight, it didn't mean that she was going to just give up. And did he really want to have this argument every time they had a ball or formal event to attend to? Probably. Well, she was willing to stand here and talk with him for a while even if she couldn't get him to dance with her.

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[Alistair]

Alistair cared not how easy it was. Looking up over her head; he noticed one of the men who was dancing twirl in a circle before moving back up to take the noble woman into his arms. The hell he was twrilling. Alistair looked back down at her and said nothing to her easy comment. It was her other that make him wonder of that was something she expected of him. He hoped not; but was not going to discus it with her where anyone could hear.

He wanted to say something witty; or pointing about a wedding or a wedding date but said nothing. He wasn't sure the words that wouldn't make him look the fool; and he did not want her to feel as if he was pressuring. He wanted it sooner rather then later but either way he spent his nights with her; and his days protecting her. A wedding would only make her feel better about it; and give him a public claim before her men. "Would it please you on that day?" If so then he might attempt one. Only for as a gift for her on that day however. Not tonight.

[isadora]

Isadora followed his gaze over her shoulder, catching sight of the twirling pair he seemed to be observing with such disdain. Picturing Alistair in the same position, she found herself giggling slightly. Not that it would be so ridiculous, just that she couldn't imagine anyone managing to scowl and brood while dancing, and yet she didn't think that dancing would bring a smile to his face, either. Very few things actually amused or pleased him to the point that he felt the need to show it outwardly, and she hardly thought that dancing would count. But, you never knew. Maybe he'd have a secret talent for twirling and fancy footwork.

She smiled brightly at his question, but if that weren't enough of an answer to his question, she nodded too. "It would please me very much, Sir Alistair." Isadora answered, wondering if the fact that he was asking meant he was considering it. If she only managed to convince Alistair to dance with her once in their whole lives...that would be the day she wanted it most. "Are you enjoying yourself?" She wondered, not sure how he felt about balls and the like. He was off the the side all by himself, but the food and wine were good, and he typically preferred to be left alone than pestered by nobles.

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[Alistair]

He was not enjoying his self in the manner she was asking. He hated crowds; nobles; and this openly annoying way of displaying wealth and power. He'd over heard one such fat noble man talking about savage druids easier, and it had been all he could do to not kill the bloody man. "I am enjoying his moment." He told her, not wanting to bring down her smile. She looked happy; and he knew this was her world. He did not want to ruin her evening by telling her he rather be in the stables with the muddy pigs. The pigs were nicer.

He had even talked with the king; the new one; tonight. It had not lasted long; but there was a sense of understanding there. Alistair knew the man would never forgive the crimes against his family; even if the young king could forgive the crimes against his kingdom. He would tell her later of his speakings with the new king. For now he had to watch his words; few that they were. "You look happy." It was a complement in his own way.

[isadora]

She had to force herself not to frown when he said that he was enjoying this moment...that meant he wasn't enjoying the rest of it. She had hoped he'd be able to have some fun tonight; it was a party, after all! But she couldn't blame him. He was out of his element, far, far outside his comfort zone, and while she might wish that he could just fit into her world, she knew that it would take time, and that he might never even remotely like any of this. She hoped that wouldn't be the case; she wanted him to have something else to live for besides just her.

She smiled brightly, then reached out and took his hand. "Let's go for a walk, shall we?" She suggested, it would be nice to get some air from the party, and she was sure he wanted to get out, too. Away from all the nobles and the dancing and the party, where they could talk a little more freely without having to worry about who might overhear them. Maybe she could finally tell him; she'd been planning on waiting until they returned to Gwent, but she was getting impatient, and it wasn't like he could just insist they leave Camelot right this minute. She toyed with the idea as they made their way out of the great hall, where the air was fresher.

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[Alistair]

It was as if she offered a man in hell water. He was almost moving before she finished asking him if he would like to walk. After they had arrived; he'd left a man at her door to guard it while walking around and looking at exits and how the best way out of the castle was in case things turned south. Being she had been kidnapped from this very castle before; it was easy to pretend the king had ordered this type of close watch on her. While on his 'walk' he'd found the garden that was full of random flowers and vines that covered the stone so it all looked green. As if he was back int he woods rather then in sa stone fortress.

He would lead them toward there. She might like the pretty plants and he doubted anyone else would be lurking there since no one wanted to miss the twrilling that was going on. Taking her hand as a knight would do he played the chivalrous escort as they made their way out of the main room. "I would show you something." He did not know if she had seen it before; but he hoped not. If she had them she might be unimpressed or worse have stolen there for a kiss from some man he'd be forced to hunt down.

Once out of the main room, he turned them to lead her down the maze of pale stones that would lead them toward where he wanted them go to. How anyone learned to tell which way they were going was beyond him. He only knew the way to the garden because it was near the outside. He simply had to follow the windows; even it it was the long way to get to the garden.

[isadora]

She smiled as he all but bolted from the room, taking her with him; at least he seemed glad of this idea. She looked at him curiously as he promised to show her something, wondering what he could be talking about. "Since when are you an expert on the Castle of Camelot?" She asked, wondering where this newfound expertise had come from as he led her surely down the unmarked halls and stone corridors to some unknown destination. She didn't know her way around this castle at all; unfortunately, knowing one castle did not equate to knowing them all.

"Where are we going?" She asked excitedly, with a little bit of impatience for not knowing where he was taking her. She walked along at his side, wondering what he would want to show her. "You're not trying to kidnap me again, are you?" She teased; the last time she'd blindly followed him in this castle, it was because he was kidnapping her. She didn't think he would try it again...she didn't think he needed to again. He had gotten what he needed from that kidnapping, even though he hadn't known what it was at the time.

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[Alistair]

"I had once attempted to map out an exit in case a Princess did not let her self be taken from the castle." He teased her in his own way; a reminder of how easy it had been to take her from the castle. "And I had an occasion to look around after you went to your rooms here." He left out his exit plan; not wanting her to know that he always had one. He knew she knew that he would protect her; but he didn't want her to know how far the plan went until things came to the never turn part part of their lives.

He could tell she was pleased with the idea, for she keep asking about it and her face looked happy. He liked knowing he could make her happy. That he didn't have to know the flowery words of other knights; or be of pure noble blood.

He wasn't really kidnapping her, but he was stealing her away for an hour or two. "Just for as long as you let me." He did not answer her other question however until they arrived. The hall just sort of came to an end, and turned to soft grass under your feet. The stone walls were covered in ivy; and their were flower bushes everywhere with random colors of buds on different ones. "It's a garden." He had found it odd that a castle ran by men would have such a place still in it; yet here it was. A peaceful little hidden garden with trees and flowers; perfect for a few moments of escape.

[isadora]

Isadora screwed her face up when he mentioned how he had made plans to kidnap her, and smacked him on the arm lightly. "You're awful," she scolded, but under her disapproval she was pressing down a good natured smiled. "I hope you were being careful. If Uther catches you wandering around his castle..." She trailed off, not willing to complete the thought. She wouldn't be able to protect him here, where her orders meant nothing to anyone but her own knights, who were far outnumbered by the soldiers of Camelot. Arthur wouldn't give them away, but if Alistair ran into Uther...the old king still held power, no matter how diminished.

But she didn't want to dwell on that. She had decided that the risk of Uther recognizing Sir Alistair as Alistair the druid kidnapper were low enough to warrant coming here tonight, and after seeing the state Uther was in...well, she felt she'd made the right decision. Even though she couldn't stop herself from worrying, right now, she wanted to enjoy whatever surprise Alistair had in store for her.

As they entered the enclosed castle gardens and the stone walls were hidden by walls of green, her smile stretched her face, and she squeezed his hand affectionately. "It's beautiful here." She told him, leaning in closer and putting her hand on his chest. She'd been here before, when she was a child, she and Arthur used to play in the castle gardens, but she wasn't going to tell Alistair that. It had been so long ago, she hardly recognized the place now. It seemed like a good place to get lost for a while.

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[Alistair]

Alistair wasn't an fool. He knew that he had to avoid being caught by the former king. Still; the king was said to be mad now. Alistair wondered if he walked up to the man if he would know him. Part of him enjoyed the idea of being in the man's home as a welcomed guest, and walking his halls. Knowing that if the king ever found it it would give him another thing to chip away at his mind. Had Alistair been holding that amount of guilt in him for that amount of evil; he might go mad too.

Honestly; when he learned the king's ward was his daughter who had magic and had taken over the kingdom; his first thought had been impressed if not even a bit pleased. However the girl's actions had caused him to change his mind. The ward turned queen had murdered, and hurt the people under her. He'd seen the dreams from it. She might be fighting for magic, but she became the monster that gave them cause to hate magic more.

He agreed that it was beautiful. Reminded him of being outdoors rather then in a stone prison. "It is." The flowers he could do without but the green and the trees he liked. "We can stay here to give you some air." He reached up to tuck the stands of hair behind her ear before kissing her forehead.

[isadora]

Isadora still had trouble believing all the atrocities Morgana had committed during her brief reign; she had never thought the girl capable of all that. Especially after learning that she was truly Arthur's sister and Uther's daughter. They had always treated her as family, even while Uther was pretending she wasn't, so she didn't understand how she could change so completely, to become so much worse a tyrant than her father had been. She didn't know what had happened to warp her mind so entirely, but she pitied the woman. She was glad Arthur had been able to retake the throne.

After he kissed her forehead, she glanced back the way they had come, then pulled away from him somewhat. They might be alone here...but with an event this large going on, she couldn't be sure that no one would be wandering around out here, or even that someone might have followed them. And she did so hate rumors. "Come on, let's look around," she suggested, tugging his hand as she led the way deeper into the gardens of Camelot. He might not care for the flowers, but she thought they were lovely; someone was working very hard to keep this garden in order for the royal family.

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[Alistair]

She pulled him deeper in to the green hidden world and he could not help but a small grin at her mood. She seemed so happy. He wondered if it was her friend being crowned king or if it had something to do with him. He hoped the later because the former making her happy annoyed the hell out of him.

"Now who is kidnapping whom, Princess?" He teased her since she was pulling him more away from any signs of people or visuals of the castle. Not that he would make her pull hard. He would follow her anywhere. She was his whole reason for being here. He's lost his family at the age of twelve, but now he had one back. That was the reason he was here. The reason he had given up his need to fight. While he wanted to do more for his people; he knew that with all the changes that they could be safe now. If they were not then he would make the decisions he had too, but for now everything seemed to be working for them. It was an odd feeling. Made him more weary or afraid to drop his guard.

[isadora]

Isadora smiled devilishly when he suggested she was kidnapping him, and she turned to face him, sliding her hand up to encircle his wrist, and reaching out to take his other hand in the same manner. She continued backing up, pulling him along with her. "That's right, you're my captive now. Completely at my mercy." She teased, they both knew that Alistair could overpower her in a matter of seconds; he'd proven it before. He was stronger and faster, and she wasn't much of a fighter.

The stone corridors of the castle were completely obscured by the foliage now, and Isadora was grateful to be away from it. She loved her life, loved her world, but sometimes, she needed a break from it all. It was stressful, having to be nice to everyone all the time in case you might accidentally insult someone and cause a war. And she liked being able to spend time with Alistair, somewhere that he didn't feel completely stifled and broody. She knew he wouldn't be able to relax as long as they were in Camelot, but it was nice to see him unwind a little bit. "But what should I do with you, now that I have you?"

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[Alistair]

He could give her a few ideas of what to do; but he had the feeling that tempting her into trouble might get them into trouble. This was the last place he needed people looking too closely at him. If he got caught she would be at risk as well. Since both were things he wanted to avoid at all cost; he could not give her the ideas he wanted to give her.

"I am sure you will think of something, Princess." His deep voice held a bit of a lighter tone then that of moments before. His guard wasn't dropped, but he did not feel as trapped and expectant of attack out here. He was almost in his element. "You usually do." She seemed to always have a plan. Plan of escape, plan to make him a knight, plan to rule her kingdom, plan to see him at night. Alistair did not plan quite as much as she did. When he wanted to kidnap a princess; he only make the basic plan. He did not bother to learn more then needed; since asking questions to the wrong people was the best way to get caught.

[isadora]

Isadora liked to make plans. She liked to know what she was doing and how she was going it and when it was going to happen. She liked to have a plan for when things went right, and she liked to have contingencies in case things didn't work out. Although she liked it when things went according to her plans, sometimes, it was nice to be surprised. Not when it came to important things of course...but sneaking out of the ball to go for a stroll through the gardens with the love of her life was one of the nice surprises.

"I could try holding you for ransom." She mused lightly, before she reconsidered. "But I don't think anyone but me would be able to afford it. So that hardly works." She added teasingly, still trying to come up with an appropriate way to deal with her 'captive'. "I could make you work for your release." She suggested, people often enslaved their captives right? "I want to know more about your life before you met me." It was more of an order than a question; Isadora knew the generalities of his life, but she didn't know many details. She wanted to know more.

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