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It had been another quite dull day for Roslyn. She had spent most of it out of the house of course, she simply couldn’t stand being cooped up with her father for too long. There was always the worry that if she found herself too much under his feet that he would remember that she was not yet married, and then he would seek to rectify that. So instead, Roslyn had spent the day walking round the markets in Camelot. She had told herself that she was looking for fabrics for her new dress, but really every time she had heard someone moving around her she had looked round, hoping it was one particular person. Iwan had become quite a frequent person in her life, though she still wasn’t quite sure of what she felt for him. He was amusing, yes, but there was something else. She couldn’t get him out of her head and it just unnerved her in a way.

Sighing she turned over in her bed, it was way past midnight, or at least she assumed it was, and yet she couldn’t sleep. It was incredibly frustrating as she always rose with the dawn, so she really did need to get some sleep sooner rather than later. Roslyn sat up and looked around her room, almost trying to think of some way to get herself to sleep. She could always count sheep, or perhaps some wine would lull her into sleep. That was always a possibility of course. There was a feast coming up in Camelot, and she wanted to make sure that the dress she was making was ready for the occasion. She wouldn’t be able to do that without a half decent nights sleep.

Roslyn was toying with the idea of getting the wine from the corner of the room when there was a sudden crash at her window. She jumped and just stared at her balcony, wondering whether she had just imagined the noise or not. Roslyn bit her lip, maybe she should just stay here, after all it could be anything. However, her curiosity was getting the better of her. It might be anything, but she wanted to find out exactly what it was. Wrapping a shawl around her shoulders, Roslyn got out of bed and made her way slowly and tentatively to her balcony. Opening the window, she stepped out into the nights air and was taken aback with how cold it was. She pulled the shawl tightly around her shoulders and looked out into the night as her eyes became accustomed to the darkness. She could hear whispers, but somehow she managed to keep calm. If these were bandits or thieves then she would scream for her father’s guards. Perhaps her presence was enough to frighten them off, “Hello?” She called out, “Who’s there?”

Roslyn could think of so many other people she could have been seated by tonight. Then again, that worked both ways. She would have had to use all her restraint to not say anything to that stupid, arrogant little Mercian. She could feel herself getting angry, and took a few moments to relax herself and took a sip of her wine. She had no idea why so many intended on now settling within Camelot who had not been born here, and the crown just allowed them to. After all, they had crops to spread around and husbands to find. They couldn’t accept every wayward person who wanted a piece of Camelot surely? But what would Roslyn know, she was only a woman after all. She would have preferred to be seated next to a knight, or an eligible bachelor of some description. She needed a husband, before her father became too restless and imposed one upon her. She wanted to at least like the man she was going to have to live with, and bed of course. Flushing such crude thoughts from her mind she turned her attentions back to the princess by her side.

Well, of all those Roslyn had met within Camelot this woman had come the furthest, but whether that was admirable or stupid was yet to be seen. Roslyn couldn’t imagine crossing such a large amount of land on her own, after all, guards and the knights of Camelot protected the citizens in Camelot on a daily basis, so they never had to consider facing such dangers personally. That said, the city always seemed to be in some sort of peril. The southwest of the continent? Jesu that was so far away, “How did you pass such a way by yourself?” She asked, trying to sound impressed but she was also weary. Those from outside Albion were known to use sorcery and other such tricks, so why not this woman as well, princess or no? “I mean, it is just I cannot imagine having the strength to come such a way by myself.” She added, just to emphasise the innocence in her words. She didn’t really want to sound like she was accusing Yassia of anything, because she wasn’t, she was just curious and that was all.

Oh so she had family here too, that was quite unusual. After all, hardly anyone knew those from outside the five kingdoms, nor had any interest to. So it was quite rare to find such a connection here, “I know of Sir Kaye, I have great admiration for the knights of Camelot.” Roslyn said rather sweetly as she took a sip of her wine. The knights of Camelot seemed to be one of the few things that were stable and traditional at the moment. Everything else seemed to be changing in little ways, and Roslyn didn’t much care for it. “How are you finding Camelot, princess? No doubt you have been introduced to many new faces since your arrival.”

Roslyn was surprised that Iwan wasn’t letting her help out. After all, though he might have been one of the knights who had actually done everything right in terms of rising through the ranks, most of the knights now seemed to have lost a certain sense of chivalry. However, Iwan was applying it to the point of annoyance. It was very nice and well that he wanted to treat her like a delicate flower, and someone who shouldn’t have to lift a finger (and most of the time she would agree with him) but she wanted to get home as quickly as possible, and that involved helping out. Two bodies were better than one, and she was already muddy and her dress and cloak were ruined. If there was a time to treat her like a lady it certainly wasn’t now. She didn’t look like one in the slightest.

She could tell this wasn’t going down well with Iwan at all. He probably thought he was doing a good job of hiding his emotions, but she could tell that this all didn’t sit well with him, and far from put Roslyn off, it just amused her. She hadn’t met anyone quite like him before, and she wasn’t sure whether she liked it or not yet. Perhaps she would like it in a more conventional setting, but there was no point in him being so chivalrous in this situation. “Really?” she said, more out of surprise than anything at his sudden change of opinion. After all, he’d spent most of the conversation telling her that he didn’t need her help, and that she couldn’t help.

Well, she had finally got her own way. Sort of. Roslyn hadn’t meant to wind Iwan up, but it seemed just being her usual self had done the trick in that respect. Well, if he weren’t so picky it wouldn’t be a problem. It wasn’t like she was being completely unreasonable and challenging him to a duel, or anything like that was it? Roslyn looked up at Iwan with a gentle smile, “Are you this nice all the time? Or am I just lucky to catch you in this mood?” Well, she was going to just do as he asked, but she didn’t appreciate being talked down to.

Roslyn was glad at least that it was a mild day. The rain which had made the path so muddy and unworkable had stopped the night before, and now it was actually quite dry. She wasn’t sure she would have been able to stand being in this situation in the cold and rain. It probably would have ended badly for her, the horse and most especially Iwan. Roslyn wasn’t in the best of moods anyway. She knew she was a woman, and it wasn’t like she was asking to have lessons with a sword or something barbaric like that. She was offering a little help. Roslyn knew when she was married she would be under the thumb of her husband, should she ever find one, so she wanted to enjoy her life before that time. Men like Iwan who thought they were being all noble in refusing her help really annoyed her.

He had probably been brought up thinking that all men were better than women, when in actual fact a lot of women were better than men. More than would probably be admitted. Not so long ago they had all been subjected to the rule of Morgana Pendragon, and no one would have aired such views at court then; they would have lost their head before they had time to regret their words. “I am not asking anything unreasonable, it is my horse, I wish to help you get it out of the mud.” She said with a calmness which struck her as odd. By now she should be seething. “We will be finished here a lot sooner if you let me help.” She pointed out reasonably, surely he would want to be gone from here as quickly as she would?

Why did he want to disagree with everything she suggested? Well, apart from collecting the wood, she supposed. Roslyn would have frowned, but she already looked ridiculous enough without making it worse. This wasn’t how she wanted to appear in front of knights or nobles, in the physical sense, so it wouldn’t do to act like a sulky child either would it? “I would like to help, and I probably shouldn’t be out here on my own.” She pointed out reasonably, “So both problems would be solved if I go with you.” Surely Iwan couldn’t justify leaving a young woman on her own in the middle of the forest?

Roslyn was quite taken aback for a few reasons when he refused her help. Just because she hadn’t managed to dig the horse out so far didn’t mean that she was completely incapable of doing so. Did he really think she was that useless? Or was this him trying to say that digging the horse out of the mud was a man’s job, and should be kept as such? Roslyn wasn’t sure but she just stood there for a moment, in all the mud and squalor and found herself folding her arms, “I can help you know.” She pointed out. She didn’t want him to write her off as being useless, because what sort of impression would that leave? Roslyn was already muddy, her hair was out of place and her cloak was ruined, she didn’t want Iwan to think she couldn’t even at least help getting her horse out of the mud as well. She still had her pride after all.

She was quite surprised he was agreeing with her, because it was the first time in this conversation that anything had just been straightforward and simple. She gave a small smile of triumph which quickly evaporated as Iwan then declared that he would go off and find the wood by himself. What was it with this man? Roslyn half rushed forwards to his side, “I’ll come with you.” She wasn’t asking his permission, it was a statement more than anything. No one was going to steal the horse, if they hadn’t been able to get the mare out already then no way would anyone be able to do it before they got back, “I want to help, this is my horse after all.” She hadn’t agreed to let him help just to be swept aside and Roslyn wanted him to know that. Roslyn could probably help find wood, it couldn’t be that hard a task, or she could go and find the wood and Iwan could stay here and try to dig the horse out of the mud. Either way she wasn’t just going to stand around doing nothing.

Well, how was Roslyn supposed to know what sort of knight he was? Anyone could fake an accent, and act like they were high and mighty. Very few nowadays seemed to have the title to back any of this up, and that irritated Roslyn an incredible amount, because they could at least have the decency to act how they were supposed to. Surely the citizens of Camelot should have been asked before being forced to put their faith into these peasants? No, of course not, everyone just blindly followed whatever they were told, and though Roslyn did nod where it was needed, and go along with whatever everyone else did, she could see past it. It was not so long ago that peasants were barred from being knights, so why had it changed so much now? “I’m sorry, were you offended?” She asked, as he brought his family name into it. She knew that family, they were quite influential within Camelot, and she knew that much, “And why would that be, my Lord?” Surely all the knights were just fine with the current arrangements as well? After all, most of them were the same, from Roslyn’s experience anyway.

Half of Roslyn, though she knew how noble knights had to be, expected him to just turn around and refuse to help her because of how she’d acted. Well, if he’d chosen that route she would have had a few choice words for him, and she was almost expecting it, but then he started towards her and began to look over the situation. Oh, right then. Well this was fine then wasn’t it? It was only then that Roslyn became incredibly conscious about how she looked, and she just looked down at her muddy skirts, and her hands, and panicked. What on earth would this man think of her? She’d been wallowing here down in the mud like some bloody peasant for the best part of her afternoon. She was glad she had introduced herself as a lady, well, not that anyone of a lower standing could have afforded these garments. There was always a chill when Roslyn thought of the peasantry. She knew how close she had been to being cast out, penniless and alone. But she was still here because she was a survivor. She could play this game.

Roslyn was sure that he was bluffing, why on earth would he think that meeting her was a pleasure? She hadn’t done anything to make this experience pleasurable so far, unless Iwan found pleasure in being insulted, which she doubted. “I’m sure the pleasure is all mine my Lord.” She flashed him a grin and brushed her hands together, trying to get rid of some of the mud there, but nothing was really helping at all. “Well, I’ve been trying to dig her out, but she keeps getting stuck again, nothing seems to help her shift. I daren’t pull her for fear of breaking her leg.” Jesu if she broke the hoses leg and brought her back to her father like that she might as well pack her bags now, “What would you suggest my Lord?” She asked, looking up at him with a grin and a glint in her eyes.

Well how predictable was this really? A knight who had to be oh so noble and stay and help the fair maiden in distress. Well, Roslyn was anything but a fair maiden in distress, and she didn’t appreciate the way the man was looking at her as if she was just a helpless woman. All she had was a little problem that she was sure she would be able to deal with if she didn’t just have herself and her hands to get her out of this predicament. She would be able to get out of this, she was sure of that, all she needed to do was to think, and that would be so much easier without this silly knight watching her. Couldn’t he take no for an answer? Clearly not.

This really wasn’t how Roslyn had planned to spend her afternoon, she spent plenty of time fending men off at court, but then she was always in company. At the moment she was in close proximity with a man she didn’t really want to be here at all. Well, he was well spoken, so perhaps she could cling onto the hope that he wasn’t one of these silly peasant knights that they were all just supposed to put their trust in. That was something, but it didn’t make the situation that much more bearable. Instead she turned her attentions back to her horse, and began to try and shift some of the mud with a stick and her hands. Her horse was shifting, so that was something, but she just kept sinking, Jesu, she was going to be here all day at this rate!

Roslyn just looked up at the man with raised eye brows as he spoke again. Clearly he had no intentions of just leaving her alone. She sighed out softly, and pressed her lips into a grin, “Is that what they made you a knight for? Your observational skills?” She gave a soft chuckle before looking back to her horse again and trying to shift it’s hooves. The mare wasn’t helping at all, which wasn’t really that surprising. Nothing seemed to be going Roslyn’s way today, and that was embodied in this whole situation. “Tell me my Lord, how many horses have you dug out of mud before? To give you such confidence in this situation?” She had an eye brow raised at him. Of course Roslyn had done this before, but she had always had help in the past, but he didn’t need to know that of course. Because she had help in the past didn’t mean that she couldn’t do it herself this time.