Doth Protest ;)

[tshamien]

"Sir Tyler. She's never told you about him?" He asked her and then shrugged. "Maybe she has left it all behind her."

~

"I was a foolish young girl head over heels for a handsome squire." She rolled her eyes, "I was flirtacious and when you showed an actual interest I was stupid enough to go along with it. Stop playing the innocent."

Raven turned away from him and started walking back to the castle, "it meant something. It meant you had to get married!"

[Script]

Maggie blinked a minute, then laughed. "I think she always refers to him as Sir Putrid. I'm not sure I've ever known his real name." She let herself look up at him, smiling. "This should be an interesting wedding."

~~

Tyler sighed, following alongside her. "Well, I apologize for not being more forthcoming. You distracted me from something I didn't want with something that I did." He frowned. "And anyway, I'm no longer married, and in fact am marrying you."

[tshamien]

"Sir Putrid?" Tristan burst out laughing, "She certainly hasn't lost her color has she? God I missed that girl. I'm sure she's giving our dear Sir Tyler a thorough tongue lashing."

~

Raven tried to storm off ahead of him, she hicked her skirts up to her knees stomping as she went. She was of course barefoot.

"As you can tell I am elated to be joining my life to yours until the day I die! Perfectly ecstatic! I would prefer to wed my father's 85 year old steward than have you in my bed again," She shouted at him. "And the man only has three teeth!"

[Script]

Maggie smiled. "I don't doubt it. They may very well kill each other." She moved to sit on a stone bench. "How long have you known Sir Tyler?"

~~

Tyler snorted. "Raven, you're being ridiculous. You know very well I have every capability of caring for you. You'd want for nothing."

[tshamien]

Tristan sat down beside her, "Since I was six years old, we were basically raised as brothers. I was his father's ward."

~

"I am just supposed to trust that?" She asked him, throwing her arms up in exasperation. "Now that's ridiculous! I know I will want for nothing especially when you recieve my dowery, the amount of gold it contains can sustain three castles for four decades." She glared at him angrily.

"My father did this on purpose." she shook her head and sighed. "Tomorrow we wed, don't expect me to like you any more than I do today."

[Script]

Maggie nodded. "Raven's father took me in after my mother died. My father is one of his accountants in neighboring county."

~~

Tyler took hold of her wrist holding her gently, but firm. "Raven, why must you hate me so? I never treated you poorly, aside from one indiscretion four years ago."

[tshamien]

Tristan nodded, "So somewhat similar stories then," He smiled at her. "No wonder why you've stayed as long as you have." He nudged her shoulder playfully.

~

"One indescretion that traveled round the castle and forever branded me a wanton whore. You men don't have to suffer such things," She pulled her wrist away, "You broke my heart. I am sorry I don't have any love left to spare you."

[Script]

Maggie blushed pink, but smiled back at him. Her consorting with him this way was probably highly inappropriate. "I like it here. The Lord's kind to me, mostly, and Raven trusts me."

~~

Tyler frowned, feeling guilty. His voice softened. "I never meant to hurt you, Raven. I thought of you always."

[tshamien]

"She does? Does she tell you her secrets?" He said in a dangerously low voice. He smiled at her, "This is a nice castle. I've always enjoyed my time here."

~

"Oh I am sure you did, most especially while you were marrying someone else." Raven sighed heavily. "Let's just get the day over with and then we can go about our lives how we would."

[Script]

Maggie blushed again, biting her lip. "Perhaps many of them...and yes it is. It's lovely here. Especially in the Spring. The gardens are beautiful this time of year."

~~

"Which will be how, Raven? I won't have a marriage where I'm ignored by my wife." He frowned at her. He'd already had that kind of marriage. He didn't like it.

[raven]

"Oh really?" Tristan raised a brow at her, "I remember that, and that they were full of all sorts of flowers." He smiled at the memory.

~

"You can't exactly force me to be interested in you, now can you?" Raven asked him, quite seriously as she opened a side door and entered into the castle's front yard.

[Script]

"Would you like to walk with me...to see them...?" Maggie tilted her face up at him, smiling behind a bitten lip.

~~

"And is that what you want? A loveless marriage? Spend the rest of your years barren and bitter?" Tyler frowned, following her close behind.

[raven]

"That sounds lovely," Tristan said with a smile. He stood and offered her his arm.

~

"I've done pretty well so far," She countered rather quickly, storming into the yard. She made her way round some haybails and a broken wagon before turning toward a door.

[Script]

Maggie smiled at him, taking his arm, putting her hand on him gently as they walked towards the garden. She kept looking up at him, admiring his strong jaw and slight stubble on his chin.

~~

Tyler nearly growled, striding in front of her to cut her off. "Raven. We were young then. We can at least try to start over." He put his hands on her arms, keeping her in place.

[raven]

Tristan glanced down at her and smiled, "So tell me, what do you like to do when Raven isn't terrorizing you?"

~

Raven stared at him with surprise and then narrowed her eyes, "Why on earth would I want to start over? There is really nothing to start over for. Love is a simple illusion sir, I have no need of it whatsoever. What I do want is my father's castle when that time comes. So, I will be civil toward you because this marriage helps me toward that goal. Now, unhand me."