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Good heavens, what was happening here?! Never before Robyn had felt something along THAT line moving forward so fast! It was probably because they both were by no means subtle beings and that was just made to clash one day… or lead to… whatever. That was just what she head meant with falling head first into something she could not control. But would she want to back out now? Hmm… no… rather not. For backing out this still was far too much fun. If this was nothing but a game, it was a very… pleasing game indeed, and if it turned out to be more than a game… well, who was here to say no? She was a grown up woman, she could do what she wanted. And she wouldn’t be missed until the evening anyway…
“Well you can check for yourself if you like.”
That was not only toeing the line of obvious, that WAS obvious. And somehow Robyn needed to give the impression of still being interested without making it seem like she practically jumped at his slightest suggestion. That was a little beneath her still! But then, she was not new to this either, she could very well find the middle way here if she put in a little effort. It was not only the result that counted in the end after all,it was the elegance of the way TO the repective result as well, and she could lead him into a little dance first.
”What… you think your word will not suffice?”, she teased him, chuckling lowly. “Why shouldn’t I just give you the benefit of doubt?”

But seriously, Tor was bringing out the heavy artillery big time! There was hardly any subtlety in licking your lips like this, and for a moment Robyn was truly mesmerized by the movement of his tongue, until her eyes were captured by his again. These bright blue eyes…
Don’t be a stupid girl! She chided herself mentally and forced herself to break out of it. She needed to keep her wits by herself, or else he could take advantage of her just like that! How pathetic!
”Can you?” her voice had dropped to a low, almost alluring murmur. “I’m all ears, Tor. All ears indeed…”
There, ball was in his court again, so to speak. They were now so close it would take only a small movement to touch, and the small space between them was sizzling with tension. Not unbearable yet… but close to.

Suitable, eh? Oh indeed, it was so ON now! Robyn might not be the biggest flirt there ever was, but she still enjoyed flirtatious banter, even though she lost her heart far too often and too soon. She could feel it happening already, and whyever not? Gwaine was everything a girl like her could ever wish for: He was handsome, smart, witty and by looks of it a wanderer like herself. But Robyn had had her heart broken already too many times to allow herself to entertain such high hopes from the start.They were only talking and flirting for now, and who knew what the rest of the day would bring. The Raven Pack could decide to pack up and make for another village instead of spending the rest of the afternoon and evening here, and then she would have to go with them. They had both decided on a bet, but that was more part of a game than anything, as the chances of them proving each other right or wrong and THEN meeting again were more than slim. That didn’t mean though Robyn couldn’t enjoy the time she was given to her utmost pleasure, and it was the beauty of being such an independeant woman as she was: She made the rules she wanted to follow, she could decide how far she would go in anything, not restrained by a moral codex or something of the sort. Even Tybalt knew better than to defend his sister’s ‘honor’ if she hadn’t specifically asked him for it. And that was the last time Tybalt would find his way even in her thoughts today, Robyn decided. Period, the end.


”Rest assured, when I have found something, you’ll be the first to know”, she retorted, returning his wink with a sassy one of her own. ”And probably the only one as well.” Surely. After all, what she did with her life was of no one else’s concern. She had also made quite clear with this remark that it probably wouldn’t be something for the public eye, and that alone left little choice in any way. It was easy talking about such things after all, when there was only a slim chance of it actually happening, though Robyn had to admit she would not mind either way. Only through that she would be able to find out whether Gwaine was all talk or not.
He took a seat opposite from her which was a very good choice in her eyes. She wasn’t one for physical contact right after the ‘how do you do’ part, though many men thought so, seeing in her the easy lass along with the actress. But Gwaine seemed smarter than that, which was another good sign,

He also seemed quite indignant by her story, and even though she had heard something along that line many times over, Gwaine’s comment made her feel a little warm inside. The man had a very firm opinion about nobles as well, and Robyn felt in no mood to correct him about that.
”I have yet to find an example to prove you wrong”, she replied with a nonchalant shrug. “I am one for fairness, but truth be told, who doesn’t care for fairness usually deserves none. It is not right that the word of a man should count more than that of another, just because he was born in silken sheets.” And yet that was the sad fact of the world they were living in.Those who tried to fight against that injust rule often found themselves caught between a rock and a hard place. “So, dear Gwaine, if you ever should get involved with nobility, don’t put yourself at their mercy. They usually have none, not when it comes to their own personal gain.”
And yet Robyn knew that when she was faced with a similar situation, she probably would make the same mistakes again, as in her eyes they were no mistakes. Alfie still had his two hands to juggle with,and she would not sacrifice his wellbeing for her own happiness.
The bar maid agreed to the instructions with a simple nod of the head, and Robyn leaned back, finally fully relaxing. She inclined her head towards Gwaine in thanks for paying for her own drink, then she smiled at him and said: “Now, enough of my gruesome tales, don’t you think?”

There was a number one rule for every person walking a tightrope in general and for Robyn in particular, as she still couldn’t say she was the perfect rope dancer: No distractions! That was what had made this spot seemed perfect, as the back of the stables didn’t seem such a joint of activities, and for the same reason she had dismissed a well-nigh perfect spot next to the pigeonry. Suddenly fluttering wings and devil-may-care stunts by this annoying species of the world was nothing Robyn wanted to deal with when up in the air.But it seemed like distractions were to find her even here, and unexpected ones at that!

"Treat everyone like ah dammit? What fine words!"
The shouting sent Robyn wincing, and she felt the impact of this small, unvoluntary motion being magnified by the quivering rope. No hasty movements! But she was already out of balance and could feel her left foot slipping of the rope, making it even harder to regain her needed balance again. Now she had to make decisions in split seconds: fight for balance and increase her impetus even more or doing a controlled jump down?
In the end it was the wind that made any more consideration pointless. Robyn had noticed before that there was a little turmoil in the air today, but until now she had been able to balance it out just well… unless she was out of balance already.

The gust of wind brought her torso into a dangerous angle to the rest of her body and soon enough her right foot slipped as well. Instinctively, Robyn grabbed for the rope as her body curled up and fell to the side, and she was able to grasp it firmly while her legs seemed to coil around it until she had created an angle with the hollows of her knees in which the rope came to rest to break her fall.Only then, when she was safely hanging face down, Robyn released both her pented up breath and her hands and let herself dangle there from her knees, feeling her heart beating heavily against her ribcage. That had been a tight save indeed!

Her long blond hair fell over her face for a second, so she parted it with her now free hands and peeked down at the male voice that had so rudely disturbed her, a faint quivering still left in her voice as she spoke now.
”Well, better than treating everyone like a deaf person, don’t you think?” she called down, her grin slightly lopsided. “And who am I? Speaking these words I am Lady Justice, but most people call me Robyn. Who do I have the pleasure of meeting and nearly breaking my neck for?”
Only now she noted the clothes he was wearing. A jester! Competition! Had he planned to scare her in hopes se would fall down? Well,she would show him what he was fighting against, if that was his true intention!

There was no denying it, Robyn usually tackled things head on, she rarely did things only half-heartedly or partially, be it concerning men or other things alike. And why should she? There might be some women who would have let themselves be a little courted first before they agreed on so much as having a drink with a man, and they probably also would not pay themselves, but Robyn didn’t need such falderal. Why should she play dainty and hard to please? She took up different roles everyday, she didn’t need that in her free time as well. It might come across as breezy, but who couldn’t deal with that kind of woman wasn’t what Robyn liked to spend her time with anyway- It was taking her like she was, challenging her, or leave it altogether. When she had drunk a little, her choice of men could vary and become less guarded, but she was not drunk now, just in high spirits by a succesful performance.This,she had decided, would be her reward. She had no idea where it would lead, or if it would lead anywhere at all, but that was not in the least important. Life was not for planning, life was for living!
So she followed him willingly, already looking forward to a little more banter and finally something cool and refreshing down her throat. She knew she would have to care for the men of the pack as well, but she still had some time before they would come after her in fury. And she would milk that time to the last drop.

She should have guessed it the moment she suggested a bet and left him the choice of the wager. Sometimes men like Gwaine could be too obvious, but it was not like Robyn would really mind. She had even tried for that sort of reaction, and had she not got it, she would have thought she had lost her touch somehow. It would have told her that her counterpart would not even think of kissing her after all, and that would have been a little disturbing. Robyn might not be overly self-conscious – on the contrary maybe – but she, too, had an ego that could be bruised by rejection. Particularly when the rejection came from a man as handsome as Gwaine.
But he hadn’t rejected her,so it was all perfectly fine. Furthermore, this was a wager that was put off for a time that still stood written in the stars. Who knows if Robyn and the Raven Pack would ever perform at Camelot and see the prince, and it was even less likely Robyn and Gwaine would meet again after that so she could tell him whether he had won or not. She was perfectly safe to accept this.
”That sounds… fair”, she agreed with a sassy grin. “I will be sure to think up something nice, in case I win.” There, even polishing his own ego a bit, as she had sounded very doubtful she would win. But that was alright, he had boosted her own ego enough to deserve this.

And he was a gentleman as well,she noted with an inward grin as she passed him by and entered the tavern before him. That would certainly go down into her good books. Not that it really mattered in times such as these, but chivalry was a clear bonus. What went down next into her good books was the simple fact that he did not gawk at her missing finger. He registered it and then looked away, but without this bashful ‘I’m avoiding the sight of it, because I would rather gawk’ kind of way. It was rather refreshing… and reassuring as well.
But that left her with a tough decision. Did she want to talk about this? He had earned the right to know, no question of that, but… maybe the truth would change the image he had of her.
Regarding her hand idly for a few seconds, she then sighed relentingly and looked up again, facing Gwaine. “It happened on a feast in the castle of Sugales. A little boy, one of us, his name is Alfie, was accused of stealing drunken knight’s purse which he clearly had not done. I saw it, so I spoke up for him as they wanted to cut off his hand. I argued the case as best as I could… and offered my hand instead. In the end, they took only a finger. So I guess I must count my blessings.”

The arrival of the lady of the house interrupted Robyn’s walk down memory lane, and she gladly took the opportunity to bring herself back to reality.
”I take an ale as well”, she said, and then reached inside her purse, taking out a few precious coins. “And if you could pour three more tankards and let them find their way outside to the jugglers that pack up their things, then I would be most grateful.” There. She would be killing two birds with one stone, not bad for a day’s work.

Goodness gracious, that woman was a harpy! Alright, the dress was ruined and a few people who hadn’t been totally mesmerized by the performance in front of them, had witnessed it, but with screeching around like the did, the lady surely didn’t make it any better! Where was that grace, that nonchalance ladies of the court were said to have? Weren’t they brought up to hide any true feeling behind a mask of courtesy? That at least was what the commoners joked about, that the ladies were nothing than lifeless marionettes.
Not that woman here apparently. She had the air of a jangling market-woman, and the thought alone would have made Robyn grin, hadn’t the situation in whole been so unnerving and well-night dangerous. Well, not mortally dangerous of course, but she still should watch her thoughts as well as her mouth. Who knew what ideas this lady could develop, should she get any more aggravated.

Grinding her teeth so hard the sound almost drowned out the sound of music in her head, Robyn forced a semi-polite reply out of herself, even though she really had no clue what more to say. What did this nagging shrew want to hear for hell’s sake? ]”No, Mylady, I don’t know how much this dress costs, and yes I daresay as well it’s more than I could possibly ever possess. But what else do you want me to say? I AM sorry, and I said so, what more can I do?”
It might be dangerous to open it up for her like that, but clearly Robyn was at her wits end. She would have liked to return the unpleasanties tit for tat, hurled something at her about how she could imagine a more pleasant evening than having to listen to a spoilt woman whining about her ruined dress. She probably had a dozen more of them somewhere! She would have forgotten about it the following morning.

But of course she didn’t say any of this. Robyn Lester might be bold, but she didn’t have a death wish.

There was a difference Robyn felt while conversing with this woman, a difference that was almost tangible, even though there was no animosity between them while they talked. They both came from two completely different worlds, and even though there might be an interest in getting to know the way of life of the other, there were some things, maybe a certain way of thinking, that separated them from each other. They would never be able to understand each other completely, and maybe that was how it should be. So it was no great surprise for Robyn to see that Lady Caitrin did not reply to her further explanations about what it was like to be an actor. How would she be able to understand, after all? Would she even want to lead a different life, or just imagine it? Coming from Robyn’s point of view, this lady probably had everything anyone would want. She was not poor, perhaps had never had to want for anything in her life, and she seemed lucky enough to marry for love. What more would a girl want? But Robyn felt no jealousy. She loved the life she led, and wouldn’t want to have anything more.

Normally it was Raven or one of the other male members of the group striking a deal like that, and for a moment Robyn wondered if she should call it off for now and speak with them first, but something held her back, maybe a weird sense of pride. This was the first time she was asked, and it was HER service before anyone else’s that was asked for. So this could very well be her own affair entirely. She had shown her good will by bringing them in once, but she would not ruin the deal for herself by insisting on their involvement much longer. She was not stupid after all!
“Lively music, alright!” Robyn agreed with a wide grin and an appreciative nod. “I think I can manage that. We often play dance music on the market places, luring them in to have a good time. But I don’t know if these kinds of dances would be… appropriate for your celebrants? I …WE have a more… noble repertoire too, however.”

Which brought her to the next question. Yes, of course the Raven Pack could do such a thing! It was a very good idea actually, a way to make this evening even more perfect without anyone feeling left out. A group event of the Raven Pack. Oh, she couldn’t wait for their faces when she told them the good news!
“Like I said, that won’t be any problem, Mylady. We play a variety of instruments, I’m sure your guests will feel more than willing to move their feet once we have started. Do you have any wishes… for special tunes or dances?”
It was always best to be precise in the pre-arrangements, so they could not be accused later of not following their employer’s wishes. Not that she suspected Lady Caitrin of such base motives to keep her money together, but better safe than sorry.

Robyn was well aware that her strong personality and her habit of not mincing matters, sometimes even being far too bold, could work repellent towards some men, but there was not much she could change in her eyes. She never would be coy and timid, it was simply not in her blood. Someone who felt challenged by an independent woman was no one she wanted to waste her time on anyway. She could put on a different act to get a man’s attention, if she felt this was a better way to get him, but she didn’t want to deny her own self just because of a man. She liked them, and the liked the thrill of a flirt, but she hated the feeling that came when she had gone out on a limb and it had not been reciprocated at all. Any man who wanted anything of her would have to deal with her sharp tongue and strong will, that was hopefully balanced out by her sunny nature – and at least this trait had already been appreciated by Gwaine. He also seemed one to like a joke or two, which was definitely a plus. Men without humor were just so… straining and dull.

“Oh, I don’t know”, she laughed. “Sometimes what people do doesn’t follow any logic. But I’m glad I’m not to be your feast… that would be another thing ending this encounter far too soon, despite my brother.” Well, with that she had all but said she was enjoying herself, and just why shouldn’t she? It was true after all, but only said in so many words, so it would not come across like she was openly praising him. Robyn knew some women liked to adulate men to get in their good graces, but it had never been a path for her. She thought it rather pathetic.

But apparently going too far was not a good option either. Robyn saw her mocking comment irked him more than he let on. Well, men didn’t like to be compared to others as little as women did, but because they didn’t make such a fuss about it, it was easy to forget sometimes. Maybe she shouldn’t have brought Prince Arthur up… but then she couldn’t have very well agreed to his bold and high self-estimation, right? That was not her style either. Now… how to get out of this without losing her touch? She needed to think of something that would let them be able to both save their faces, without yielding too much. Dear goodness, this man proved to be a challenge indeed! Why was this so difficult? But then, Robyn liked a challenge, she just hoped he did too. Tybalt and the other members of the Raven Pack were used to her biting jibes; she needn’t forget others might be not.

“Well, all I’m trusting is hearsay anyway, and they more often than not don't keep what they promise”, she gave in with a smirk. “I haven’t seen him in person yet, and we’ll see if that will ever happen. So at the moment… you have the advantage.”There, hopefully that would appease him enough to keep going. She wouldn’t yield further, she was not ready to eat out of his palm.

The mentioning of Sugales made a slightly wistful smile appear on her face. She had many good memories from there and only one bad, but this one bad memory had been formative… and leaving not only visible scars.
“Well, it’s a beautiful country, if a little remote”, she explained. “You should certainly stop by, but… no we’re not going there anymore, after an incident…” She left it at that. If he wanted to know more, maybe she would tell him. But if he was not interested, then it was alright as well.

Was it a contradiction to fall quickly in love and yet not be easily charmed? Robyn hadn't given much thought about that yet, it was just something she did or did not. Maybe it was connected with her eyes, as most of her crushes happened through seeing someone and seeing something IN him that usually was desillusioned once she worked up the courage to talk to the man. It had also left her with some nasty repercussions and hurtful moments, when she had found all they had wanted from her was a little fun. But as quickly as Robyn fell in love, she also fell out of it, and didn't sulk too long, always ready for what life threw at her next.
Apparently this encounter was something to be called 'next', though Robyn was still not too sure what to think of Gwaine. He was obviously trying to charm her, and even if it didn't show on the outside – she had seen and heard too much on the road to still be able to blush at a mere compliment – she knew it already started to have an effect on the inside.

How far it would lead was yet undecided, and Robyn loved this moment of in-between, where you still could flirt and try out, and see where it went, without giving or taking too much. If anything, Gwaine WAS rather charming and handsome to boot, so she really wouldn't mind spending more time with him. She just needed to be careful she wouldn't forget about her important mission of saving the Ravenpack from dying of thirst. Well, not really, but Robyn was sure she would hear no end of it if she wasted too much time. Men and their drinks, that must be some special union women could never quite get into – and maybe shouldn't even try. Who knew after all who a man would choose if the need for choice did arise? Probably the drink...

This time though, when he so openly examined her, Robyn couldn't help her cheeks feeling a little warmer. She didn't know if it was visible, as she was already flushed from the fight and the heat, but even if so, there was nothing she could do about it. Did he like what he saw? What DID he see? She usually wasn't that self-conscious, but Gwaine just had this aura about him that made you want to please him. He probably knew he had that effect on women and exploited it, and that was one of the reasons Robyn still fought succumbing to it. He should very well see she was not anyone. The stage had made her used to putting up an act, and if it only was acting nonchalant where you were anything but!
He called her sunshine?! Robyn threw her head back and laughed, but not because she thought it silly, she rather appreciated the nickname and so that was what she told him. „I like it! Thank you! Though I knew a few people who would firmly disagree with you, that's why I laughed. My brother Tybalt for one“, she loosely pointed over her shoulder with her thumb.

Sunshine... that was truly a novelty. Did he only say that to please her, or did he really mean it?! Well, in the end, what did it matter? It certainly should not matter.
Now that the introduction was through, Robyn wondered what to say next. She didn't want this conversation to end so soon after all. „You don't look like you're from around here“, she hazarded, cocking her head in interest.

Robyn could feel the crowd responding. It was like a sixth sense she had developed over the years, an instinct that could tell her very well what the general mood of the audience was, so she could react to it accordingly. The plays the Raven Pack performed were by no means set in stone, there was a whole lot of improvisation involved, often enough corresponding with what they felt the audience wanted. Now this sixth sense told Robyn that their ploy had been successful. The king sat there smiling, swaying his head to the rhythm of the song and received the toasts of his nobles and knights who felt like being addressed especially by the text of the song.

“Honour the crown and fight for their duty,
The champions of right and of all we should be.
The greatest of burdens, the highest renown,
The first ones to rise and the last to lie down.”

Yes that was flattering, wasn’t it? But people like the Raven Pack partly earned their money with excessive flattery. Especially on a day such as this, a king and his nobles didn’t want to hear what they did wrong, but they wanted to be lauded for their honorable deeds. Robyn had learned the hard way that right and honor was more worth than truth, and had paid the price for protesting against it. She didn’t want to renew this experience anytime soon, and so the Raven Pack would only speak their minds when they were amongst their own kind: the common people.

After the song was through, Robyn rose to her feet and bowed her head low under the applause of the audience. Then she stepped back as inconspicuously as she could to make way for Tybalt and Alfie who were to entertain the crowd a little further with their skills, while the rest of the group provided the jolly music to it. Robyn’s part was more or less over, as there would be no play and also no space to raise a tightrope, so she now could retreat and watch the rest of the performance herself. She was feeling a little dizzy, maybe it was the warmth of the hundreds of candles lighting up the vast room, or it was the delicious scent of the rich food. Afterwards, they might be given something in the kitchen, but that would only happen if the performance had thoroughly pleased the king.

So Robyn tried to make her way to the door they had entered through, but she was distracted by Tybalt’s tricks, even though she had seen them countless times, so that she didn’t mind her way as well as she should have. She couldn’t even tell what it was her foot tripped over, but suddenly she felt herself falling, and she wildly thrust her hand out to grasp for anything at all that could break her fall. Her searching fingers scraped over wood and then closed around what she found out was the back of a chair. Her momentum caused said chair to even waver a bit, even though it was occupied, before Robyn could regain her balance again; and her eyes settled on the poor woman she had nearly caused to fall with her with a thoroughly shocked and apologetic expression.
“I’m sorry, Mylady!” she whispered and cast her eyes down. Submission was the best policy in such a situation.