Before the Kingdom and the Glory...

[LadySindënís]

Time Line: England, time of King Richard the Lion Heart.

Info: The men who have fallen from favour in their families have gone off with the king to take on the crusades with the king of France. Rumors are abound that the young wife that Richard had married not so long ago have been captured and soul by the Arabs. John is position to take the thrown upon his brother's death (which does happen), his sherif of Nottingham is easily the second most powerful man within the kingdom. He is also eger to take a bride of his own soon, willing or not. The intended target is a willful noble woman with a rather large dowry. With her marriage would give the youthful sherif a generous portion of Sherwood forest and the farm land nearest.

Needed:
The Sherif of Nottingham (William); aged 20-25, lengthy black hair, blue eyes.

Requirements: In reality the guy whom will play the Sherif must be 18-25. Personal pref. sorry.

----

For once the fuffy rain clouds had departed leaving a fantasicly bright spring day. The estate was in the process of being cleaned from top to bottom by the many servents that livedwith in the property lines. The grey walls were being scrubbed to shine like brand new under the unusualy brught sun. Elizabeth had over seen most of the difficult chores during the early clean. As head of the house hold the twenty year old woman had little choice. The sherif would be coming with the tax men to assess the property any day now. That meant the man and his servents would be staying for several days while the entire property was looked at with a keen eye. William had said this inspection was for tax but in reality she knew the Sherif wanted another chance to sway her mind into marriage. Not that Elizabeth had many options left but the time was coming for her to choose the marriage bed or the church and she was not Chirstian as many in the country were. She still followed the old ways of the Goddess.

 

[LadySindënís]

(hello?)

 

[SlickQuiver]

I stood outside the door of Elizabeth's house with my attendants. I had been trying to sway her into marrying me for months now, but she had refused each time. I could not understand why, I was quite a handsome man. My thick blond hair and deep blue eyes accentuated my strong muscles and tall physique. Even were I an ugly man, my position as the most powerful unmarried man in the land had women clamoring over me, but I had refused all of them, with eyes only for Elizabeth. Her valuable dowry was only a side interest to me.

I approached her door with my tax men and knocked powerfully on her door. After a moment with no answer, I knocked again. "This is Sheriff Stephen Williams, here by order of the king. Please open your door at once."

 

[LadySindënís]

Elizabeth rolled her beautiful eyes in annoyence when a servant had come to fetch the young mistress. She placed the embrodiery away in a neat little box by her bed and straightened the abnormally restrictive dark blue dress before rushing to meet the sherif at the front room. The house was of conciderable size and rather difficult to navigate on one's own but Elizabeth had time in the past to mentaly map out the entire estate. Finding her way to the young sherif did not take more then a few moments. She gave him a stiff but formal bow to the man, her chest heaving at the slight running.

"Helda show the men to their respective rooms in the South Wing as me and the Lord Sherif must have a polite chat in the gardens. Have someone boil some water for tea and then bring the things we need there." Elizabeth ordered her lady in waiting.

When the man's servants had been shown to their rooms the two left for the gardens at the back of the massive house. These were the things that Elizabeth had taken time over the last while to bring life to the ancient house. These private gardens had become the rang of royality, those who could afford the important plants did so. But unlike them, she had gotten flowers from the country-side. This brought the beauty of nature to her own estate.

"So my lord, why do you bother with this? Tax audit really....it is nothing but shame and all know of it's false hood." she stated as they started to walk through the garden.

 

[SlickQuiver]

I raised my eyebrows questionably. I turned my back to her as I approached her garden and smelled a flower. "A falsehood? Why, whatever do you mean?" I said, as I plucked a rose from the hedge, bowed gallantly, and gave it to her. I removed an official-looking document from my side-pouch and showed it to her. "By official order of King Richard the Lion Heart, I, the Sheriff of Nottingham, am here to inspect the premises for taxation purposes." I allowed her to peruse the document for a moment longer, before deftly snatching it from her smooth, delicate hands and replacing it in my pouch. "And quite frankly, Miss Elizabeth, I'm offended by the accusation," I said with a sly smile, admiring the garden and its expensive flowers before pulling out some parchment and making a note on it.

I replaced the parchment as we walked towards the table adorned by hedges, vines, and beautiful flowers in the center of her garden. I pulled out her chair gentlemanly as I allowed her to sit down, and moved to the other side of the table and sat down across from her. I admired her beautiful features, facial and otherwise, as I pulled out the parchment again and began to write quickly on it. "So, milady, how much did this garden cost you exactly?" I asked, still looking around at the flowers making notes.

 

[LadySindënís]

"The task of collecting them cost my reserves about four small bags of silver plus the two years of designing and planting doubled that amount to eight small bags. There is also the decorations like the table and statues you see here which brought the total to three large bags of silver. There are small outcropings along either side of the house to match this garden...those were a small bag of silver each. I did not feel that such a estate as this deserved to be barran when I live within it." Elizabeth replied courtly.

She watched him write down the details to check later on, the sherif seemed to very avid about recording all the recent changes to the estate and there were many of them. The stables had been redone four times, the courtyard twice, the road cleared of logs once a month and the wood used for the heating of the house so that they did not need to cut down the forest. She wondered how much it'd require her to pay this year, if the price was to high then the sherif would have the young woman right where he wanted her.

"I do not know why you ask such things Lord Sherif for I know personal gardens are not taxable if the are on the back of the house rather then the front."

 

[SlickQuiver]

I glanced up at her with a wry smile. "Well, well. It would appear you know your taxation laws better than I thought," I said, as I placed the parchment back in my pouch. "I merely thought it would be nice to sit out in this lovely garden with such a lovely woman and enjoy a nice cup of tea," I said, as her lady in waiting came out with a fresh pot of tea. I thanked her, and poured myself and Elizabeth two cups of tea. I handed her her cup, and took a sip from mine. "I did not want you to think I had come to you for any reason other than business. Pardon me," I said, once again looking back and admiring the garden.

 

[LadySindënís]

"Lord Sherif I know you have reason other then tax to come and take some time away from the life that you lead. Have I not repeatively turned down options of marriage between our two houses over the past few years? But I'll admit that it is very nice to have others about the property for a while. With outlaws about it has become very very very dangerous to live on such a prime location." she said in return.

 

[SlickQuiver]

I laughed heartily. "Then perhaps it would be worth your while for me to spend every day in your manor. Many outlaws would be hard pressed to attack the house they knew contained the Sheriff of Nottingham, especially if I had such a beautiful maiden as yourself to protect," I said, reaching my hand out to touch hers. I held it tightly for a moment before pulling away. "But, if it is such that you wish, it would be very ungentlemanly of me to refuse your invitation to stay here with you. So I accept your invitation," I said with a smile.

 

[LadySindënís]

Elizabeth flashed the handsome young lord a flirtatous smilie though she was unaware of it. During the winter months a number of her servants had reported seeing strange men in the forests during the hunts required to feed the household. She sighed in fustration at having to put up with the dangers of having such a isolated home like hers. Finding such a husband was a good idea but with the sherif it was another story. Elizabeth had heard things about him that made her nervous but now he'd likely be here for the better part of the week.

"Yes you may stay and perhaps give me some ideas on how to pretect my property My Lord."

 

[SlickQuiver]

I responded to her smile with one of my own. "Certainly, milady. I can assure you that as long as I am here, a bandit would sooner lose his head than lay a finger upon you." I finished my tea, and when I saw she was finished hers, I stood up, walked over to her, and held her by the hand to help her out of the chair. "Well, if we are finished out here, then perhaps we should head inside to continue our business." We walked back through the magnificent garden to her manor.

We entered the building, and began into her dining room, which was adorned by hundreds of pieces of fine china, silverware, and goldware. The table was adorned with a fine linen tablecloth, and the walls were painted with a violet floral pattern. I sat us down at the table, and pulled out the familiar parchment. "So tell me, what is the value of this room?" I asked, with a roaming eye travelling the chamber's fancy adornments.

 

[LadySindënís]

"Most of what you see have been past down through the family but the price is several bags of gold and two of silver. There are some finely made tapestries imported from the holy land that were hand crafted by monks and nuns. Things you'll never find in any part of the country Lord Sherif." she replied sweetly.

As they walked around Elizabeth told him of the places the object came from and the price at which they were bought. The servants wisely made themselves scarce with the sherif near-by for many of them owed monies that their mistress had taken upon the debt that she would pay out this year to the royality. She kept close to the man making sure that he got the true prices and didn't try to change them so that the debt would be higher then usual. The finely crafted china and gold finery were not the best of the land but they were unique without a doubt and as she showed him them Elizabeth could not do so without a great amount of pride.

"Which room would you like to sample next My Lord?"

 

[SlickQuiver]

I held the parchment, writing down all the figures feverishly as we walked about the room. I noticed my eyes drifting away from the attention of the room, as I started to focus on her beautiful delicate body, along the contours of her blue dress. As we came to the end of the tour, I snapped myself back to attention. "Well, I think we should examine the living room next," I said, as we marched into the adjoining room. I was surprised to find this room even more brilliantly decorated than the last, with fancy chairs and tables as far as the eye could see. I looked around at the regally designed scarlet carpet, and shook my head in amazement. "Goodness, this could take a while, milady," I answered, slightly shocked.

 

[LadySindënís]

Elizabeth could not help but smile brightly at the Sherif as he looked around in the well decorated room. She held a great amount of respect for the man even though there wasn't much in the way of liking him. As they walked around the large room the young mistress describted the objects held with in it with skill and knowledge. The entire house was full of history and passion that screamed out at the right person who dared to listen to it. Elizabeth enjoyed telling others about the finer things that no one ever truely saw. When they had finished the room it was nearly time to eat dinner. She was escorted by the young man back to the dinning room to where the proper dishes were set about full of food and glasses of fine wine. The sherif sat her down first before taking the chair next to her own and started to eat.

"Many people do not know how well my house is furnished so they think of it purely as a nice looking building when in fact it is far more then that. My family comes from a rich line and with my care we shall not end there. I know that it does not equal your own estate but some day it just may do that My Lord."

 

[SlickQuiver]

I laughed. "That does not threaten me, milady, because I can assure you that one day your estate and mine shall be one and the same," I said coyly. Before she could respond, I deftly picked up my glass of wine. I held it up in the air between us. "Allow me to propose a toast, then, to you, Miss Elizabeth. On your fine home, that I am delighted, nay, honored to spend the next few days in. I hope sincerely that this will not be my last visit," I proclaimed, as we clinked our wine glasses together, and began to eat the fine meal.

 

[LadySindënís]

She drank the glass of wine as they ate their dinner but Elizabeth did not overly drink herself into a stupor as the night progress and desert arrived fresh the kitchen. They chatted briefly about the estate and some fantasic new additions to the property. The dangers of the property were many and they spoke of the wild men who lived in the forests. They worried the young woman worse of all the dangers for her family had fought hard for these things.

"You spoke of the dangers My Lord...how can I prevent them?"

 

[SlickQuiver]

"You mean other than marrying a big strong man like myself?" I said with a laugh. "Well, one form of protection I've always found effective," I said, as I leaned in close to her and she did the same, "is well paid servants," I whispered. "You'd be surprised how protective some of your manservants would get just from a mere 20 pence a day more," I said with a quick wink, as I pulled myself away. "But I still think a marriage is your best bet..."

 

[LadySindënís]

The word marriage meant a thousand things in the end of which would have her in the hands of a man. Not that Elizabeth was against finally getting married it was like giving up her wild freedom for the bed of some random man or if the Sherif had it then she'd be his. Rumor had it that he did not admire the willful for bed partners but rather the low and meek. As he leaned in and spoke to her those thoughts had floated around the young woman's mind a million times.

"You My Lord offer marriage to me at every step I take without letting me breathe, had you offered for me to keep my life as free as it is I would have accepted at the very first moment for I do not wish to die an old maid. I fear my family's line will die out without my aid for there are no other family members that I have. Can you say if I accept your former offer that I marry you...can I keep my spirit as it is and not submit to the iron will that you are so famous for?"

 

[SlickQuiver]

I looked deep into her eyes long and hard. She knew what she wanted, and she wasn't afraid to say it. I admired that in her. I paused for a moment, looking into her defiant eyes, before responding. "Milady, I would not force you to submit to my 'iron will', which you so fear. Although I expect you would not be able to resist it for long," I added with a smile. "However, if it is a free spirit you desire, then it is a free spirit you shall have. I never expected I would be able to contain a prominent lady such as yourself."

 

[LadySindënís]

"Then perhaps maybe we should announce our promident wedding plans to the prince for without the approval of the chruch and our prince then there can not be any marriage at all. The moment you try to force my will in any direction but the one I wish for then may the gods help me for I shall remove your....your.... man bits." Elizabeth threatened.

There was one thing that had kept the young woman from being wooed to the marriage bed was the loss of her freedom to a man. Very few women had that option in the kingdom and Elizabeth had held out a great deal of time before the dangers of the property over came her options. The sherif looked absolutely thrilled at having the most sought after woman in all of England now to be his wife in the distant future. Their lands would be unified under him after the wedding though one half would belong to Elizabeth. The girl looked very frightened about having to submit to the sherif but this meant her lands would be safe.

 

[SlickQuiver]

I winced slightly at the thought of my precious man bits. "Very well, then," I replied, now slightly threatened by the woman. "We shall announce our plans to the Prince and the church tonight!" I said, heartily. It took me a moment for the effect of the situation to finally sink in. "We're getting married!" I announced, happily. I turned to her lady in waiting, standing by the table. "Bring us some champagne! We have much to celebrate tonight!"

 

[LadySindënís]

The woman set about the order at once since now in all effect that this man was to be the husband of Lady Elizabeth. Passing through the many halls to the cellar she selected a very fine bottle that was actauly made almost a hundred years ago. Through this was an arrangment to secure the lands from desperate hands it deserved a good celebration.

Elizabeth breathed a bit deeply as her nerves were shot to the nine levels of hell from finally accepting the proposal and the fact that the young lord whom sat to herside was now to be her husband by the end of the year. The entire household would know within that night. Before then they would need to send word to the crown to ask for their permission and then to the church.

When her lady in waiting returned she held the bottle respectably as she opened it and poured two glasses for the newly to-be-married-couple. Elizabeth drank without the moderation that was in order ealier in the evening.

"How can we make the journey? The hour is late and the roads dangerous."

 

[SlickQuiver]

I took a sip from the fancy champagne, which was easily the most delicious elixir I had ever tasted. I glanced out the window, only to see that the sun had set. "You're right, milady. It is nighttime, and the bandits of Sherwood Forest are particularly vicious after dark. Perhaps it would be better to wait until morning to head to the church." I said, drinking a bit more of my champagne. "No matter. I've already waited two years to marry you, another day can't hurt," I joked with a smile.

 

[LadySindënís]

"To be honest I did not think I would ever marry for my fear of losing my freedom frightened me greatly. My wealth and my land kept me a good distance from ever having to decide that until now My Lord. I did not look forward to being the meek little wife of some haughty noble whom would not respect my will on any matter despite my education and inteliigance. Your attempts have been frequent like the powerful storms of our country. You thankfully just had to wait out the bandits...." Elizabeth replied in a worried tone.

The wild men would not dare to go near the estate once they found out that it's owner was to be the wife of the most feared and respected sherif of Nottingham. Soon enough the two properties will be joined as one and command a heathy section of the kingdom. Both parties would be a mighty force not to tick off under any reason for the power would reign down upon the aggressers. Looking at the sherif she was pleased at the sight of him but was still frightened of what he could do. Rumors were abound about this man that were scary and Elizabeth was scared of him because of those reasons.

 

[SlickQuiver]

I finished off my glass of champagne and ate the last of my dessert. I realised it must have been late, so I let out an exhausted yawn. "It would appear it must be time to retire to sleep, Elizabeth." I realized if we were to be wed, it was time to start calling each other by name, as opposed to stuffy titles such as Milady or My Lord. "After all, we have a very busy day ahead of us tomorrow." I marched around the table to her side, and aided her out of her chair. We began up the stairs to the bedrooms, and as we reached the master bedroom, I reached a dilemna.

I peered into her room and saw the bed, with ample room for two, but I was unsure how strict she was about waiting until the day of her wedding. Surely she had not saved herself until marriage... had she? I made a decision, and followed her into the bedroom with a smile.