Kidnapping The Princess

[Alistair]

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When she only bit into the bunny and did not answer his he lips tilled into a slight smile and he gave a short deep chuckle. Yes, bloodthirsty indeed. The grin faded fast however, as this wasn't a joking atmospheric they had build and he knew better then to let his guard down around her. He'd learned that once and wasn't the type to repeat his mistakes.

"I don't care if you believe me, Princess, as long as you obey me." He told her not bothering to explain why the woods were dangerous. Wild animals were not the most dangerous thing in the woods. Between the rebel druids out there, and nomad men who might decide a night spent in a tent with her was worth more then her random; man was quickly becoming the more dangerous woodland creature.

"There are some rules that you will follow while my guest here, break them and you will be left tired to the pole with no freedom, and spend the next few days in boredom hell." He warned her, and wondered if she would think it was an idal threat. He had been promising her hut her and so far had not. However he could do this, leaving her bound to a pole would not hurt her. "The rules are simple, these people are not your servants. They are not here to serve you, do not expect nor ask them to." That was rule one, "If you leave this tent, for any reason I will be by your side." Now for rule three . . . . which he had not made up yet. "So far that is all."

[isadora]

Isadora just looked at him, wondering what in the world made him believe that she would listen to him, or that she wouldn't take advantage of any chance he gave her to get away? She wasn't some meek little lamb who did as she was told; she knew most princesses were, but she wasn't like most princesses. They would probably also be terrified of him; she was afraid, but she wouldn't let her fear consume her. She had even managed to get past the irrational rage she'd felt towards him earlier, even if she had no intention of forgiving him.

"If everything out there is so much more dangerous than you are, why should I trust that you can protect me at all?" He wasn't giving her a particularly compelling argument for listening to him. Yes, she was trying to be difficult, she was trying to aggravate him. Why not? She had nothing better to do, he had effectively seen to that.

She rolled her eyes at his use of the term 'guest', then pursed her lips and glared at him as he laid out his 'rules'. Yes, she was going to ask her captors to serve her, that made excellent sense. It didn't matter that they weren't participating actively in his scheme, they knowingly complied with it, and that made them just as guilty as he was. She didn't think she'd have trouble with that rule. And then his second rule...well she didn't think he had any intention of letting her out of his sight anytime soon, so she wasn't going to argue with him on that. She didn't say anything, wondering if he expected her to actually agree with any of this.

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[Alistair]

]

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"Who says I can." He looked over at her. Some men might have boated how powerful they were but Alistair didn't like to brag. He rather people under estimate him, so he had the advantage when he needed it. "Your just safer with me, rather then alone."

He was good, and he knew he was but nor was he going to sit here and talk endlessly about his skills. They were what they were. He had built them up over years of being alone and living in woods like these. You got good, or you died young.

He didn't say anything else. It was an odd feeling having a woman in his tent. One he wasn't sure how to feel about. Good thing she would not be here long. Things were easier when he only had to keep up with him self. "dawn will be here soon. You should rest some more."

[isadora]

Isadora raised her eyebrows at him, and smiled wryly, a disapproving look in her eyes. That was reassuring, that apparently she was little safer in here than she was out in the wilds...but at least it was warmer in here, right? She sighed, at least when she usually traveled, she didn't worry that something would happen to her while she slept. Well, nothing about this situation was really ideal, so she supposed that she ought to just get some rest, and hope that bandits or beasts didn't slaughter them in their sleep.

Despite his threats to harm her, so far he hadn't followed through with any of them, despite when she blatantly disregarded what he told her to do, or more more accurately, what not to do. It wasn't what she would've expected, for being held prisoner and all. She felt certain that for all his threats and throwing her around carelessly, he didn't want to hurt her. If he did, he'd had plenty of time to do so before now. But it didn't make sense. He was a magic practitioner, didn't that mean that he had chosen evil? She couldn't explain it. She wondered, if Uther didn't pay the ransom for her release, would he truly kill her?

Yawning, she wasn't inclined to disagree when he suggested that she should rest, although it certainly felt awkward with him watching her the entire time. Slowly, she lowered herself back down onto the hard straw mat that counted as a bed, laying down on her side facing him. "So, are you just going to stay awake for the duration of my stay here?" She didn't know if he'd gotten any sleep while she was out earlier, but she had noticed that there appeared to be just one bedroll.

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[Alistair]

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He thought over her words for a moment. "Might." Was all he said for the moment. He wondered if he should warn her not to panic if he 'spoke' in his sleep. Sometimes his visions were so clear that he would cry out. Very unmanly his uncle had called it. He decided not to, he could tell the event in his dreams of her were growing closer. He knew he might only get a hour here, or an hour there of sleep. The closer it got, the more detailed the death dreams got.

And for this, he was hunted and called evil. He got up on his knees and pulled out a few shirts, balled them up into a pillow like shape and then pulled out a blanket. He tossed it at her, making sure not to aim at her head before laying back on the ground.

She'd have to climb over him to escape out the door, and he was sure he'd notice THAT. He stared up at the tent for a few moments before turning his head to look at her. "Princess," he called to her, using the word princess as her name, "What's your given name?" He had not bothered to learn it. Only that the 'Princess of Gwent' was closest to the young Prince of Camelot, and that she would be the better target then the others.

[isadora]

She caught the blanket, and shaking it out, she spread it over herself, grateful for the warmth. She noticed that he laid down in front of the only opening, probably to keep her from sneaking out in the night. That would be quite the feat, sneaking out while she was tied up, but she didn't point that out. She forced herself to close her eyes, trying to pretend that she wasn't outside, sleeping on a hard surface in a room with a man who was willing to murder her.

Her eyes fluttered open when he called to her again, and she blinked a few times as his question set in. Her name? He didn't even know her name. "...did you just wake up this morning and decide that today was a swell day for a kidnapping?" He didn't seem to know a single thing about her, if this was any indication. How could he not have learned her name? Then again, she didn't know his, either. "It's Isadora." She answered finally.

"And what should I call you?" She didn't think there was any reason not to give her his name, it wasn't like knowing who he was would help someone catch him later on. Besides, she was curious; it hadn't even occurred to her that she should know the name of the man who had been holding her hostage all day. Then again, sometimes she even forgot to learn the names of her servants, so she shouldn't be surprised by her own ignorance.

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[Alistair]

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At her words, he gave a slight chuckle. No, he had not just decided today would be a swell day for kidnapping her but there had not been more then a day's planning into this. He had happened to meet the young prince in the woods and not known who he was. Over the course of the next few days he made a plan. One simple enough to only need him to pull it off, but looked bigger then it was.

She was a smart one one, his princess. Even after the hell he was putting her though she fought back, yelled at him and gave as good as she got. If he did not watch him self, he might start having fun around her. Isadora. It fit her. Sounded overly rich and noble. You did not meet farmer waives named Isadora. It rolled off the lips.

When she asked his name, he paused. Looking back up at the tent above him he remained silent. The prince already knew his name, so it did not matter if she knew it but for some reason he hesitated. "Alistair." Alistair the druid nomad. He wondered what she would tell them of him when he returned her to her father.

[isadora]

When he told her his name, she frowned, rolling onto her back and staring up at the ceiling. Was he joking? Some sort of funny, funny joke that was more cruel than truly funny? She hadn't thought he was like that, but how could it be just a coincidence? It wasn't a common name, not among commoners, anyways, not like William or Thomas or something else that both nobles and commoners called their children.

Hearing the name made her think of her father, and she wondered what he was going through. Had he already received the ransom note? What would it do to him? He wasn't supposed to be stressed out, and after exerting himself on the hunt today, if he became too worried over her, it could trigger a relapse. He could get sick again, and if it was bad, he might not get better. Even if she lived through this, even if all she suffered were bruises and minor cuts and scrapes, he could die because of it. She bit her lip, she knew worrying wouldn't do her any good, but her father was her weakness. He was really all she had left.

Thinking about her father, she wondered if he was just messing with her. But then, he hadn't even known her name, and he'd gone to the trouble of kidnapping her. Why would he learn her father's name, then claim it, only to make her miserable? "...why did you pick me?" There were other princesses at Camelot for the event, or even the Lady Morgana, who meant more to Uther Pendragon. He wouldn't care about Isadora at all, just that he had been insulted and that it would mean war if he didn't pay the ransom or rescue her. In the end, Gwent would wind up paying Camelot back, one way or another, even if it wasn't with gold. So it was only Uther's reputation he could hurt.

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((Going to bed now, good night!))

[Alistair]

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Why had he picked her? He thought over it a moment in his head before picking his words. "Your close to the young prince. I wanted his attention. Taking you from inside the castle, someone close to him. It would make sure I had it. Had I only took the king's ward they would hide it from the other kings. I wanted this something they could not hide. Embarrass them." Besides, this was only the beginning of his plans. He would not kill them or harm them, but he wasn't going to sit by while more innocent druids were killed.

He did not care if she told them why he picked her, let them know his plan so they were more aware of the embarrassment. He would not share anything with her that he did not want the royal family knowing. Besides, once the prince learned it was him he was sure that the prince would make the connections anyway.

He wished she would go to sleep. This setting felt to personal. He was used to being alone, and suddenly here he was having a conversation with a beautiful princess in a tent under the stars. He debated on telling her to shut up again or not.

[Sweet Dreams]

[isadora]

So it was just because she was friends with Arthur? Then she doubted he would've known about her father, whether it was his name or his condition. He just wanted to embarrass Uther; but that wasn't a good way to get what he wanted. Leave it to men to come up with a solution to war that only resulted in provoking their enemy even further; at this rate, neither of them would back down until they were both dead.

Uther was as guilty of it as Alistair was, the fact that the rebellion had escalated like this was evidence enough of that. Magic might well be evil, but dealing with it with such brutality didn't further their cause or help eradicate magic; it led desperate men, like Alistair, to react out of their desperation and do foolish, reckless things like this kidnapping plan of his.

She rolled over onto her side with her back towards him, squeezing her eyes shut and trying not to worry about things she couldn't control; like what could happen to her father without her, or what would happen to Gwent if something happened to her father. She wasn't really succeeding. She knew there was no point worrying, she couldn't do anything as long as she was a prisoner here, so instead she just tried to go to sleep. Maybe tomorrow would be better; it couldn't possibly be worse.

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[Alistair]

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He was relived when she said nothing. It gave him a reason to say nothing as well. He wondered what she was thinking but he was smart enough (and not brave enough) to keep hips lips sealed and not voice the question. He just laid back and let the comfortable silence fill the tent and his mind wonder over the plans for the next few days.

He had not meant to fall sleep but as the moments turned to hours he drifted. The dream came then. He could see her face, the emotions playing over it. He could hear the men and their laughter. "No." He muttered, as one grabbed her and then the details blurred and twisted. It was sounds that he heard more then saw in imagines. Grabs, laughs . . . . . Screams . . . . water

Jerking awake he saw up breathing harder then he had even when he had carried her. Bringing her here might be what got her killed. Her death would be on his head if he failed her. What haunted him was how his vision ended in the same place every time. Did she die then? Or did he save her?

Getting up he went out side and sat alone by the dieing fire. Dawn was here so he had enough light to see by. The nomads must be in bed or hunting. He was glad. He thought better when he was alone.

[isadora]

Eventually, her efforts paid off and Isadora managed to get to sleep, fitful though it was. She tossed and turned, feeling quite unsafe in this strange place, uncomfortable on the hard bedroll and unable to feel at ease here. If she weren't so exhausted from the day's exertions, she was sure she wouldn't have been able to drift off at all.

Waking early despite her best efforts, she laid still, remembering where she was much more quickly this time. She wondered if she'd get used to this, sleeping in a tent rather than a castle, and then she hoped that she wouldn't be here long enough to get used to anything. She squeezed her eyes shut tight, hoping that eventually, this would all just feel like a bad dream and nothing more. Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard a noise from Alistair, propping herself up to look at him. His eyes were still closed, but it sounded like he was having a nightmare.

When he spoke suddenly, Isadora dropped back down onto the mat, closing her eyes again. She wasn't sure why she was pretending to be asleep, but it seemed like a good idea. She heard him stir and leave the tent, opening her eyes again only once she was sure he was gone. She couldn't help but wonder what he was having nightmares about; she was the one with something to be afraid of. Slowly sitting up, she contemplated going out to see what was going on, but was abruptly reminded by the dull pain in her wrist that it wasn't exactly an option.

Looking down at the leather cord, she turned her wrist over, and seeing no reason not to, she started picking at the knot. It wasn't like he had forbade her from untying herself, after all. It took some effort, but using her teeth and her fingers, she managed to undo the knot, unwinding the hard material from her wrist, revealing the angry red marks circling her wrist, still burning numbly. Satisfied with her efforts for now, she laid back down and closed her eyes again, trying to go back to sleep.

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[Alistair]

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Alistair sat there by the dying fire until the was nothing but ash and daylight was filling the small clearing. With the dawn light shining down one would be able to see that the clearing held a small house build out of wood and mud as well as a few tents all around it. Druids lived in the house but the openly welcomed other druids to camp there. No one spoke of this place or the other ones like it so the king would not find them.

He knew he was risking allot bringing her here but he had not planned it out that much. Besides, she did not know where they were and he doubted she'd be able to find it again. It was hard to find when you knew what you were looking for, much less when you did not.

The father and eldest son of one of the families entered the clearing and waved at him, holding up about six large fish they had caught in the river. Alistair returned the wave and told them he would make the fire for them to cook the fish over. After a short conversation they offered to let him and his guest join them. They did not want to tell the younger children that the girl was a hostage however. Alistair gave them a grin and agreed to request that she not tell the kids who she was.

With that said he entered the tent and noticed rather quickly that her arm was free. The cord was still tired to the pole but not to her. His lips thinned in disapproval but he said nothing on it since she had not tried to run away this time. "Princess." He called in greeting using that as she name and not her real name, "Time to face the day."

[isadora]

Having managed to doze restlessly since he'd left, she blinked slowly when she heard Alistair calling her, lifting herself into a sitting position and rubbing her eyes with her fingertips as she yawned. She looked up at him, running her hands back through her unruly hair. "Morning, Alistair," smiling despite herself, she noticed that he didn't use her name, but she didn't see any reason why she should do the same.

Combing her fingers back through her hair, she pulled out the worst of the tangles to the best of her abilities, then tied it into an untidy knot at the base of her neck, thinking that it was too unruly to let hang loose. "And is there something in particular I'll be facing today?" She still didn't quite know what to expect from him, she didn't know if he was going to leave her tied up in this cramped tent all day, or drag her around the countryside all day to reach yet another, even more isolated hiding place.

Isadora looked up at him expectantly, although she was half-expecting him to refuse to give her an answer at all. It would fit with everything else he had done so far, but she still had to ask. She wanted to know what was going on, what she could expect to come of this. She hated not knowing what was going on, even if she couldn't control the situation, she wanted to know what she could expect to happen.

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[Alistair]

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What was he doing to do with her all day for days on end? He watched her for a moment, as she brushed her hair with her finger and somehow managed to look overly regal in his over used tent. Who was this princess? He wondered. She was nothing like every princess he had known before (not that he knew any, but he was sure if he did they would not be like her).

Being he did not know what he planned to do with her yet, he could not answer her. He also wasn't going to admit to know knowing what to do. It would give her to much freedom to do nothing and he had learned that if you gave her a inch, she'd run a mile and a half while you try to get you shirt off you head. . . . No. Not giving her freedoms.

Next time he kidnapped royalty, he was making a better plan. One the included tieing them up faster, and dealing with them less. He nodded his head toward the opening of the tent, "Your breakfast awaits, Princess." He again used princess as her name, "After that we will see what non-trouble inducing fun we can find for you." Because that was what she was. Princess of Trouble.

[isadora]

Isadora knew she wasn't like other princesses; she knew she was different in the same way that one castle maid is different from another maid. Their function, their purpose might be the same, but their appearance, their manner, their personality, all of it was different. But as nobles didn't appreciate that one maid was distinct and unique from others, commoners didn't appreciate that a princess was more than just a princess, that beyond her title and gowns and fancy hair pins, she was still just a person.

Isadora moved with an easy grace that a woman who worked every day of their lives could never carry off. Even while kneeling on the ground, she kept her back straight and her chin high effortlessly, appearing more like she was sitting on a silk cushion rather than a roughly woven straw mat, regardless of what the reality might be. When he refused to give her any inkling of what her time here would be like, she sighed, but made her way out of the tent nonetheless. She wondered if he was keeping her in the dark on purpose, or if he just had no idea what to do with her. Clearly he didn't have a lot of experience with the whole kidnapping the princess routine.

"How exciting." She murmured, wondering what she might've been doing at the castle by now as she made her way out of the tent. She knew she'd probably be awake, in the clutches of a maid, having her hair combed and teased before breakfast with the other royals. Straightening up outside the tent, she looked around at the humble camp she'd spent the night in for the first time, pausing as she took in the unfamiliar people around her. So these were the people who wouldn't help with her capture, but were more than willing to allow it to happen. She looked at Alistair, wondering what she was supposed to do.

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[Alistair]

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Alistair came out of the tent and paused before running into her. He inched up so he was right behind her and leaned down to speak in her hear; and as he thought she might get all noble and pull away, he put his hands on her arms to insure she did not go far until he was ready to let her.

"There is one thing, Princess, that I needed to make clear." His voice was low and gravelly rough as she spoke softly in her ear, "You see the kids there. They do not know your here against your will. You'd be wise to make sure they don't find out. The adults know better then to speak of this. If they tell the wrong person, it could get them killed."

"Asked me who's life I am more willing to gamble with."

The answer was of course, neither if their lives. He needed to make sure she believed it however. If the kids meet some passer by and got excited about knowing a 'real princess' and words got back to the castle . . . . They'd not last long.

He let her go after the warning and then walked around her to go the the fire. He only made it a few steps before turning around and looking at her. Waiting for her to join him of course, as he did not trust her to stay here while he went to eat.

[isadora]

Isadora managed not to flinch when he grabbed her, holding still despite the strong desire to pull away. Her gaze flickered to the children when he mentioned them, briefly moving from child to child amongst the group. So they wanted to protect their children from knowing the truth? She was sure it was partially because of what he said, that they didn't want the children to tell others about their unexpected clash with royalty, but she doubted they'd want their children to know that they had kidnapped and were holding a defenseless woman against her will, either.

No, she wouldn't tell the children who she was, if only because that meant he wouldn't be able to tie her up or toss her around as long as the children were around. As long as she was supposed to be a guest, he'd have to be respectful and treat her as though she actually were a guest. At least that was something. She let him walk the few steps ahead of him, before he turned to look at her expectantly. With a sigh and a roll of her eyes, she followed him. It seemed he wasn't even willing to let her out of his sight anymore; he learned quickly.

She could feel their eyes on her as she approached, though it wasn't merely being watched that made her uncomfortable. Isadora was used to being stared at, she was a princess, it was practically in the job description, but she felt so out of place here. She didn't belong here, she knew it and she could sense that they did too; but as long as Alistair planned on holding her prisoner, here was where she would stay, so she figured she ought to get used to it. Putting on the sweet smile she usually saved for when she had to smile at her father through tears, she sat down next to Alistair around the fire.

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[Alistair]

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Oh hell. She was up to something. Alistair did not trust that smile on her face, what sort of hostage smiled at their captors? The kind plotting something! Alistair looked slightly uncomfortable with her sitting next to him but only because he thought she was about to try to get him naked and run again.

One of the girls, who were no older then 14 came up to them with a plate, 'Hello,' the girl greeted. Alistair spoke up before the princess could. "Go to your Papa, Mae." He jerked his head in the direction he wanted her to go. Mae shot him a look before looking back at the princess and then walking away. Mae sat on the other side of the fire, staring at the princess. Alistair did not blame her for staring. The princess stood out, her skin was pure white and clean even with the dirt on it. She was also beautiful and held a grace about her that enhanced it.

Alistair leaned forward to get two plates with a fish on it, and then leaned back, holding one of them out to her. "What skills do you have?" He asked the princess, trying to find out that she was able to do around here.

[isadora]

Isadora smiled at the young girl who brought their food over, about to thank her when Alistair cut her off sharply. Isadora rolled her eyes, so there was really no point in telling her not to tell anyone who she was, since he was going to prevent her from speaking in the first place. She shot the girl an apologetic look when she caught her staring at her across the fire, then looked at Alistair out of the corner of her eyes and rolled them again for the girl's benefit, shaking her head slightly. The girl burst out laughing, making Isadora smile. At least she wasn't the only one unimpressed by Alistair's stoic behavior.

She took the plate of fish from him and started picking at it, when he spoke again and she looked up at him like he was insane. Skills? He was going to kidnap her and put her to work? "Nothing that you would find useful, I'm sure." She answered, eating some of her fish before she decided to elaborate. She wasn't some common woman, she had never learned how to sew or tend fields or even to cook, all of those things were done for her. "Mostly I spend my time managing the staff at Caerleon, negotiating with irate nobles, passing laws and then deciding guilt concerning those laws, and many other boring tasks that I doubt you care to hear about. I can also read and write in Welsh and Latin, if that interests you."

Most people Isadora had met believed a princesses' days were filled with ball gowns and cream puff pastries, and she supposed that was probably true of some princesses, but she was not one of them. She was active in the governing of her country, and she was kept quite busy with commoners and nobles alike, leaving her with little time to worry about learning to cook or make her own clothes. She doubted her work would impress Alistair, he probably thought the world would be a better place if everyone lived in small bands like this one and relied entirely on their own abilities for survival.

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