Doth Protest ;)

[raven]

"Of course I will, I technically live there...though I'm never there for long periods of time." He shrugged.

~

Raven looked down at their locked fingers and then over at him. She was about to say something when one of the serfs called hello to her and waved.

"Good morning!" Raven called back with a smile.

[Moonshine]

They'd wandered into the hedge maze, and Maggie moved them to a bench, sitting. "Where do you go?"

~~

"They like you. They'll miss you when you're gone." Tyler held her hand as they past the fields, nearing the woods.

[raven]

"To tournaments or to fight petty battles here and there. I am pledged to Sir Tyler and his family therefore I must fight their battles," Tristan turned to face her a smile.

~

"Probably, but there is naught I can do. I have to return to your home with you. One day I will come back...this is know," She said to him, looking up into his eyes. "Then you can finally give Tristan your castle to look after instead of sending the poor man all around the country."

[Script]

Maggie looked up at him with big eyes, putting a hand to his cheek. "Your very brave, Tristan."

~~

Tyler laughed. "He'll have to marry first, and we both know the likelyhood of that." He led her down the path in the woods, to the meadow they used to play in when they were young.

[raven]

"Not really," He smiled at her, "I happen to be good at violent things."

~

Raven wandered into the meadow with him and smiled. "Here? Why on earth did you bring me here?"

[Script]

"Well, I think you're brave. You do your duty, and that's admirable." She let her fingers touch along the stubble of his jaw, then dropped her hand to her lap.

~~

"I'm insulted you've forgotten, Raven." He smirked at her, turning to face her and tugging her to him, one hand at her waist. "This is where I first kissed you. Don't you remember? You were seven, and I was nine."

[raven]

"You are too sweet for the likes of me," He said to her very seriously. He took her hand and kissed it. "Someday someone worthy of you will come your way."

~

Raven laughed, "and we were playing a game. I was the damsel in distress and you were the brave knight come to rescue me," She pressed the back of her palm against her forehead. "Oh whatever shall I do! The dragon," She laughed again. "Now you're being too sentimental for my taste."

[Script]

Maggie blushed, but curled her fingers around his as he held her hand. "Suppose I already have..? Though, if you don't fancy me...I understand..."

~~

Tyler laughed, keeping one arm around her waist, his free hand going back to her hair, knuckles brushing across her cheek. "I thought you might appreciate a little sentimentality."

[raven]

"I do, it's just that I am not exactly what I might seem. Trust me...I am not the man you want," He said sadly and then smiled. "Let us just be friends, at least we can have that."

~

Raven looked up into his eyes, "Sometimes it's is nice...I really did torture you when we were children. Remember when I hid in the cave by the lake for three days." She smirked, "My poor father..."

[Script]

His sudden sadness made her curious, and she moved a little closer to him on the bench, holding his hands in hers. "I don't understand, Tristan."

~~

Tyler laughed at the memory, shaking his head. "When we found you, he was furious." He pulled her a little cloer, looking down at her. "Though you did worry me so."

[raven]

"You wouldn't. I am surprised you've not heard the many rumors. I have a pretty nasty reputation." He said with a sigh.

~

"You should have known better than to worry," She smiled at him. "Though you looked relieved when you found me. I will always remember the look on my father's face."

Raven grabbed his hand and pulled him further into the woods. "Nothing has changed much has it?"

[Script]

She squeezed his hands. "I hear so much gossip, it's hard for me to keep it all straight." She sat up a little so she could meet his eyes. "Do I really have cause for concern..?"

~~

"In some ways, I suppose not. Though in others..." He glanced at her, bringing their joined hands to his mouth, kissing her knuckles. "In others, much is different."

[raven]

"Yes," He looked down into her eyes and sighed heavily. "As you probably know I have never been married but have had...many women. I have a son, he's five years old and I have claimed him." Tristan never spoke much of his bastard son, but thought Maggie at least had the right to know. He refused to lie about him. "You'll meet him soon enough."

~

"What do you see that's different? Remember, I have never left these lands so much seems the same," She smiled at him. "Enlighten me."

[Script]

Maggie bit her lip, but forced herself not to look away. "You are a knight. I don't pretend to believe that any knight has not had his share of...attentions. Though, I must be honest and tell you I've had none." She gave him a small smile. "I'm sure you have a sweet boy, as handsome as his father." She put her hand to his cheek again.

~~

"Oh, the lands are unchanged, that's true enough. But the people in it," he leaned his head down to press a kiss to her forehead, "the people in it have changed."

[raven]

"When he wants to be he is, like when trying to get sweets out of his nurse." Tristan smiled at her and then raised a brow, "You've never had any relations whatsoever?" He was a little shocked. It wasn't like these things were talked about constantly, but many of the ladies in castles had had some sort of attentions.

~

"For the better or for the worse my lord?" She asked him, tilting her head to look up at him.