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✣ THE TAX MAN COMETH
KRYSTYNA WAS RIDING OUT OF Nottingham town when she first saw her. The nun. Her beautiful white cloak was dirtied from her time roaming, and how she was struggling to keep herself upright. With Gisborne at her side, the woman jumped from her horse as the woman collapsed to the ground. Her blue dress blossomed around her, getting covered in the dirt - but she didn't care. Krystyna was more concerned about the nun's well-being.
"Madam." Gisborne had joined her on the ground, his hand carefully moving to check if the woman had hurt her head during her fall.
"I am the Abbess... the Abbess of Rufford. I seek protection of your Sheriff."
"What has happened?" Sir Guy questioned, looking down at the stranger.
"Pilgrimage. Outlaws. In the forest."
"Outlaws?" His head rose, gaze flicking between the guards and the blonde opposite him. "Take her to the castle, get a physician. I will return shortly."
"Thank you." The Nun muttered, her voice quiet and weak.
The guards and the lady of the castle helped the nun to her feet before the armed men carefully led her to the castle. At that moment, the lady was torn - between continuing with Gisborne, and staying behind to make sure that the Abbess was taken care of.
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
She chose to continue on with Sir Guy, towards Knighton. The old Sheriff seemed to be shocked at the arrival of the pair, the woman sparing him a bright smile.
"Marian." He called, as he led the two out towards the back of the house; she could see that Marian was training -- perhaps they should do that together more often, instead of alone; but Marian had still been angry with her friend.
The brunette maiden still looked stunning, despite her hair hardly brushing her shoulders now; and by the look on Gisborne's face, he still thought so too. Without another word, the trio made their way back inside the home to speak.
"Forgive me I do not have as much time as I planned, I have a gift for you."
Was he trying to win Marian? Thick brows furrowed together as she watched Sir Guy hand something towards the younger maiden.
"Sir Guy, you bring too many gifts."
So this was not the first? Was she jealous -- Krystyna had no reason to be jealous of whatever feelings Gisborne held towards her friend. Did she?
"My mother used to say if you have wronged somebody - or if they're upset; do not be proud, offer them friendship, if they reject you offer a second time, and a third until they accept. And that is what I intend to do with you."
"Please. I do not need gifts."
"No, you need a husband." Sir Guy continued. Was that his intention? To ask Marian for her hand in marriage... the eldest did not know. "This world is not safe for a woman alone... Outlaws."
"I can protect myself." Marian began to speak again, brow raised as she spoke to the man.
"Even pilgrims -- there's an Abbess in Nottingham, half dead. I must tend to her."
The look on Marian's face as she stood suggested that she was not best pleased with the comments the man was making. Since when had it become such an idea for Marian to be married -- both the pair saw no problem with remaining independent.
"Then I would not delay you."
"Good day." Gisborne excused himself, gesturing for Krystyna to follow suit.
"I will keep giving." He turned before he had even reached the door, forcing the gift back into Marian's hand that she had already returned once.
The blonde offered her friend a hug, an attempt at fixing the relationship between them. It was becoming harder and harder for them both to spend time together. It felt as if they were both growing apart, and Krystyna wanted to help her the best she could -- it seemed as if the old Sheriff was being harsh upon his daughter, after discovering her to be the Nightwatchman. Krystyna wanted to, needed to help.
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
Soon, the pair had returned to Nottingham and informed the Sheriff of the Abbess' arrival and state that she was found in. She allowed the two to walk on to meet the Abbess, while Krystyna moved to redo her hair once more.
Fingers carefully braided blonde strands together, before using a white cloth to keep them out of her face. It was always a relaxing thing for her to do, her hair. Just like her friend, Krystyna took great pride in her appearance and her hair.
She had been called into her father's room, to speak with her father and Gisborne about the Abbess and the situation which had brought her to the castle. Fingers laced together in front of her, she swayed on her feet as the pair of men spoke.
"We do not know for sure it was Hood.."
"The Abbess was very clear. What's it matter? We just blame him anyway. Robin Hood: Pilgrim Robber." Sir Guy was determined to pin as much as he could on the outlaw, to make him look bad, and for the people to lose hope in him.
"...No. I want Hood to be comfortable. Confident. Bold." It appeared that the Sheriff had a plan, an idea that he had yet to tell Gisborne or his daughter about. Although it was certainly not surprising, it was worrying.
And it seemed that Sir Guy was asking himself the same questions as the maiden. "Do you have a scheme?"
Before the Sheriff could reply with anything more than a smirk, the guards opened the two main doors to his room and the Abbess walked in. "Sir -- you may be comfortable with Godlessness; I am not."
"I am comfortable with God...less...ness. In fact, I would hate to be God-less-ness-less." Vaisey just smiled, leaning back in his chair.
"I am denied access to your Chapel, and so I am denied access to my God. Whether you accept it or not, he is your God too." The Nun had a point, and Krystyna smiled at her while her father was determined to keep arguing against this.
"Currently, my God has another use for the Chapel."
"There can be only one use for a Chapel."
"Hm? Well, today there are two." It was apparent that her father really didn't care about the woman's beliefs, nor was he willing to put the effort in for her. Krystyna shuffled uncomfortably, ignoring the gaze that Gisborne held upon her from across the room. "Let me see what I can do."
