A thiefs heart

[Tigerjaw]

Closed for Mistriss Isis


The city of Faradon was layed in darkness, except for the unnatural light coming from the street lights. Just a few city dwellers was moving around after dark. Mostly going in and out of taverns. The city watch did their routine rounds. It was just another quiet night. The cold air of early winter kept most peaple indoors.

Fallon the thief was not as most peaple though. He was just what his given surname told, a thief. If he once had a real surname it was long forgotten. He was out in the cold for a reason. If not he would not been out in the cold. He had preferred to be in one of the taverns with an ale in his hand. Getting drunk. But now he was out and was not very happy about freezing his ass of.

He drew his green hooded cloak tighter around his body as he neared his target. Fallon had not really needed to avoid the attention from the guards as he looked just like a commoner heading home after hard labour. His pale blue eyes stared up at the castle in front of him. "Damn Calen." He muttered to himself. Doing the dirtywork of his old companion was just not right. Just because Calen owed the local crimelord a small fortune. "Damn my sense of honour." He muttered again.

Fallon owed Calen more than this favour really. Calen had protected Fallons hide many times over when Fallon was new to the streets. Now Fallon was 24 years old and had yet to repay Calen for all the times the older man stood up for him.

Calen had told him what he was looking for should be in the right tower of the castle. Fallon sighed deeply in thoughts about the bothersome climb he had to do. He was an expert climber but that did not mean he was looking forward to it.

He reached over his shoulder to the small pack and took out his climbers gloves. He strapped them on and started the long climb. He took it slowly. So very slowly as the bricks was not meant to climb up on.

After a half an hour of constant struggle he reached his destination. He put his right leg over the small ledge and then the other. Fallon landed smoothly on the small balcony. He lowered his green hood with a sigh of relief. Revealing his shoulder long raven black hair.

He opened the wooden door and entered the tower. He looked over the rather big room and his eyes stopped at the bed that was right in the center of the room. Calen never told him that anyone lived in the tower he was out to rob. Silently he moved closer to the bed. A shocking sight greeted him.

He recognised her immediately. Princess Cirana, the youngest daughter of King Ulthar Panarides.

She was asleep with her chin pressed against the pillow. Her blonde, almost golden hair framed her beautiful face. Fallon remembered the big feast last week. The celebration of her birthday. The whole city feasted. It was not everyday the most loved princess turned 20.

Fallon could not take his eyes from her. He felt like he was hyphnotised by her appearance. He was just about to reach out and touch her shining golden hair when she suddenly opened her green eyes eyes.

She stared at him in amazement. Fallon matched the expression as he stared back, not sure what to do.

 

[Mistriss_Isis]

Cirana had laid down some hours ago, it had been a whirl of parties and meetings for the past two weeks. First her birthday, then her father was working to try and marry her off, but she would have none of it. She wanted to marry for love and not for anything else. The maids had fussed over her after her bath and let her alone to brush out her hair and dress. She laid out on her bed for an hour before she was able to sleep.

Her body was shapely, if a little pale. She disliked the sun, but loved the forest, she worked with herbs and potions. She had been dreaming, her sleep interruppted by nightmares of darkness sweeping the land. Her eyes shot open, surveying the room. There was a man in her room...a man?! She shot up, pulling the blanket up around her naked body. "Who...who are you?" she asked softly, her blonde hair falling slightly in her eyes. "Why..why are you in my room?" she wasn't afraid, though she should be, she was sure.

Who was this dark stranger who was so close to her bed?

 

[Tigerjaw]

Fallon was speechless and not a little angry at his friend. Why had not Calen told him he was about to steal from the princess. His eyes was drawn towards the blanket that was covering her body. That he could see her forms under it told him that she was naked underneath. His blood immediately rushed to his face. Not a little embaressed and very afraid. Just being in the same room as the naked princess could get him hanged.

He quickly took a step back. Away from the bed keeping his eyes on her. Just waiting for her screams to alarm the castle guards. He realised that he had not answered her questions. What should he say? Sorry, i am just here to steal your jewels. Go back to sleep. She stared at him but did not seem scared of his sudden appearance in her room. Just curious.

"Hmm, sorry to disturb your sleep princess. i am just here to steal your valuables." He realised how it sounded and grinned slightly at her. His confidence came back, a step at a time. If he would be hanged, he could do something to justify being hanged for.

 

[Mistriss_Isis]

Cirana shook her head as she moved back on the bed, her bare feet kicking out from under the plush blankets. "What is there to steal? My jeweled mirror?" she asked standing as she pulled her blanket up around her as she stood away from him. "All of my jewels are in the families vault. You can take the mirror, I never liked it to begin with."

She had backed up and pulled on her robe, not that it was much better then the blanket, it clung to her like a second skin. "So, who are you?"

 

[Tigerjaw]

Damn it. All this trouble and there was no jewels except her mirror. At least he would not leave empty handed. His eyes are on her as she take on her robe. Fallon can´t help admiring her body. She is so beautiful. Probably the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Not that he had that many to compare with. Certainly not the wenches he usually spent his time with.

"Well... I am just a humble thief. No need for you to know my name. We will probably never lay eyes on eachother after this night." A fact that he allready regretted. "If the mirror is the only thing worth stealing i gladly take it of your hands." He smile as charmingly he can at her.

 

[Mistriss_Isis]

She nodded to him, and moving over to her vanity picked up the silver, jewel encrusted mirror. She stepped over to him and held it out. "I liked my old one anyway. If you came to steal it, it must be worth more to you then it is to me." She shrugged, happy he wasn't trying to threaten her.

She lived a sheltered life, she would have known better then to be friendly to a stranger, let alone a theif. "You can go down the south stairs, no one uses them and they arent gaurded around this time." she advised him with a smile.

 

[Tigerjaw]

Fallon did not know what to think of Princess Cirana. None that was robbed should be this friendly to the thief. He shook his head in disbelief. She was so innocent and trusting. At this moment Fallon was glad that it was he and not one of his nastier associates that went here this cold night.

He slowly walked over to her with a smile on his lips. He felt that he had strained his luck to much by hanging around way to long. He took the jeweled mirror from her delicate hands. Examining it closer showed him that it was an excellent work of craftsmanship. It would earn him good payment.

His smile got wider as he looked up and met her eyes with his. "It is worth plenty to most peaple." He says pleased. "And thank you for your advice." He turn to walk out the door. He stops abruptedly and turns his head and looks at her. Acting on instinct he leans the mirror against the wall and walks over to her.

"And something to remember me by." He says before he takes hold of the hem of her robe and pulls her close. He sees the surprise in her lovely eyes before his mouth covers hers in a kiss. Thinking vaguely that he may regret this later.

 

[Mistriss_Isis]

Cirana knew she should have been afraid, but if someone needed something so bad they had to steal it, she rather give it to them and not have any harm come to herself or the person. She had thought this was the end, he would take the mirror, sell to feed his family she was sure, and never see her again.

He had walked to the door, and she had almost turned back to her bed when she felt his hand on the hem of her robe. Before she could react, his lips were on hers. She almost felt herself melt into it before she pulled herself away. "I would rather your name to remember you by sir, then a simple kiss. I would like to know who has had the pleasure of kissing the princess?" she smiled crossing her arms over her chest.

 

[Tigerjaw]

Fallon still felt her taste on his lips when he backed away from her. His mind was in turmoil. All because of a kiss. A quick one at that. He was surprised that she smiled at him. Fallon would have thought she would have been upset after the liberty he took with her. She indeed was a strange creature, this princess. He allready desired to put his lips on her again but managed to restrain himself.

A forced smile appeared on his lips. "My name is Fallon and it was a pleasure to kiss you Princess." He turns towards the door and takes up the mirror. Opens the door and looks at her over his shoulder. "I bid you goodnight your highness." He walks out the door without any more looks at her.

 

[Mistriss_Isis]

Cirana couldn't believe it. Her first real kiss...was with a stranger. A theif none the less. She shook her head, her fingertips touching her lips lightly as she moved back to her bed. Laying down, she slipped off her robe once more and curled up under the covers, her hair framing her face as she closed her eyes.

Dreams of her encounter haunted her, making her see Fallon's face in her dreams. Soon, morning came and she was awoken, not knowing whether it had all been a dream.

 

[Tigerjaw]

The night slowly turned to morning and found Fallon between the sheets in his room at Broken Dreams tavern. The night had been busy after his royal encounter. The jeweled mirror was no longer in his possession. Instead he had a pouch filled with silver coins. Almost enough to pay Calens debt in full, almost.

Fallon ate a light breakfast while listening to all the rumours travelers gladly spread around. Mostly it was worth nothing but sometimes a rumour could mean profit to someone. Fallon would not mind if that someone would be him.

To often he saw Princess Ciranas image in his mind. The kiss and the feeling he felt after their meeting. He could not shake the feeling it meant something.

 

[Mistriss_Isis]

Cirana went about her day, doing all she needed and soon retreating to her lab. She worked with her herbs, mixing and making things for the village. Taking her basket she made her way to the village, walking through the streets and giving the people the things she knew they needed.

Smiling at her subjects, she waved and ducked into a tavern, ordering a mug of mead as she spoke to the tavern keeper, giving him a potion for his cough. "Thanks," she smiled as she sipped the sweet mead slowly.

 

[Tigerjaw]

Fallon had just given most of the previous nights earnings to Calen when Princess Cirana entered the tavern.

"What is it?" Calen asked with concern in his voice as he watched his friend pale. He followed Fallons gaze and looked straight at Cirana. "It´s the princess."

Fallon just nods as he keep his eyes on her. He watches her giving some herbs to Albert and then sipping her mead. "You never told me i was to steal from the princess last night." His voice is low as he still look at the young woman. Luckily she had not seen him yet.

"It must have slipped my mind." Calens voice is soft with amusement. "She is beautiful." He watches Fallon with a questioning look. "Are you afraid of her?" His expression change to a worried one. The amusement all but gone. "She did not see you i hope?"

Fallon turns his eyes to Calen. "She saw me alright, and what is worse. I kissed her."

Calen almost choke as he hear the confession. "You did what?" Fallon smiles slightly. Almost glad he shocked his friend. Before he have time to respond he sees that Cirana stares straight at him. Fallon straightens up in his chair and meet her eyes. Now what? He thinks to himself. Expecting her to call for the guards to throw him in the dungeon.

 

[Mistriss_Isis]

As Cirana surveyed the bar room with her green eyes. They settled on someone familiar, she bit her lip thoughtfully, trying to think of where she had seen him. That's when it hit her, he had been the brazen theif who had kissed her and taken her mirror. She picked up her mug and made her way over to him.

"Good evening good sir, is this seat taken?" she asked biting her lip as she looked at him, "OR would you rather I wait so you can follow me home?" she asked with a smirk.

 

[Tigerjaw]

Fallon looked up at her with surprise. She was an princess afterall and it was within her right to demand him executed for what he did. He turned to Calen and nodded. Calen understood and stood up and left without a word.

Fallon gestured to a chair, trying to hide the curiousity her presence brought. "If you wan´t your mirror back. It is to late." He smiled towards her. "If it is not why you are here. Is there something else i can help you with?"

 

[Mistriss_Isis]

"Perhaps there is something you could help me with. As for the mirror, I told you, I liked my old one better." she sipped her mead and smiled. "I would like someone whom I trust to be my guide around the city. The fact that you did nothing more then kiss me last night shows me that you are a good person at heart." She said looking up at him.

"I walk the city twice a week at least, and I'm sure there's tons of things I haven't seen. Would you be intrested? I could pay you handsomely if you would like."

 

[Tigerjaw]

He smiles with pure amusement. This was not what he had expected. But she was right in one thing. He had never hurt a woman and would probably never do that. If that made him a good guy, be it so. "If you pay me i will gladly show you around." He looks around the room. "If the king hears that you are with a rogue like myself, he won´t be pleased." He grins slightly, but his eyes are serious. "It is my head that will be at stake." He takes a sip of his ale before adding. "And i am very fond of my head."

 

[Mistriss_Isis]

"I'm sure you are, but I informed my ailing father that I would be enlisting the help of a guide, and so he has no say in it. So how does 20 silver peices per trip sound?" she asked drinking deeply from her mug with a smile.

"And of course, I would be in disguise..." she added as she pushed her golden curls from her eyes. "And I would keep you from my father's wrath..." she assured him.

 

[Tigerjaw]

"20 silver pieces?" Fallons smile grow wider. That was a very good profit for work that could be very entertaining. It would even be worth the risk of execution. "Looks like we have an agreement Princess." He offers her his hand.

He just know he must fight the temptation she brings. Not wise to get involved with royal blood. The only problem with that was that the kiss was still sharp in his memory.

 

[Mistriss_Isis]

The princess took his hand with a smile close to his. "We have an accord then. Our first meeting can be tomarrow morning, you can meet me here an hour after sunrise. Keep yourself safe good sir,no more sneaking into princess' bedrooms alright? I shall see you in the morning." She picked up her mug, with a smile and with a nod, moved away from the table.

Finishing her mead she set her mug on the bar, and with one last look back at him, she made her way back out and back to the castle.

 

[Tigerjaw]

Fallon watches her leave with divided feelings. Suddenly he looks forward to the next morning but at the same time he know that he should not meet her. It was to dangerous. Both to his sould and to his wellfare. He allready knew that he would be there an hour after sunrise. He no longer had a choice. He returns to his ale with his thoughts in turmoil.

 

[Mistriss_Isis]

Cirana moved through the castle, she was tired and knew tomarrow would bring tons of trials to her. She bathed and soon was sitting eating her dinner. Retiring to her bed, she could only remember the kiss. Touching her finger to her lips as she laid there. With a smile she fell asleep, dreaming of the adventure to come.

The morning broke, bright. She dressed, pulling on a brown cloak and her hunting boots. Making sure to have his payment and more, she made her way down the stairs. Soon she was outisde the Tavern, her hood up as she waited for him.

 

[Tigerjaw]

After a good nights sleep that was only slightly disturbed by erotic dreams of one special Princess, Fallon awoke. He dressed quickly. choosing black shirt and black trousers with his black hunting boots. He also wear the dark green hooded cloak he wore the first time he met her. A quick bath and a quick breakfast and he was out the door.

He immediately saw and recognised her, even with her hood up. He had fantasised enough of her body to recognise the forms no matter what she choose to wear. He stepped up to her with a smile. "Very discreet indeed." His smile got wider. "So, where do you wan´t to go?"

 

[Mistriss_Isis]

She only smiled as she saw him approach. He looked handsome, dressed in such a dark outfit with the cloak she had met him in. She nodded her head and looked up at him from under her cloak. " I have only visited the shops and homes around the castle. Take me to the heart of the city, take me anywhere that is special to you." she smiled.

 

[Tigerjaw]

Fallon smiled. "Anywhere special." He nods. "Very well. Follow me your highness."

He starts to walk down the street. Sure of that she is following him. Soon she walks by his side. Both covered by their hoods. "I will show you where i was conceived and born." He turns in to a backvalley. It is dirty and garbage line both sides of the street. He can see that she wrincle her nose against the foul smell. Fallon hides a smile and leads her into yet another backstreet.