A drink.

[Allan A'Dale]

"Guy's sister?!" Allan hissed frantically, when Carter had taken his seat again. That was all he needed, another Gisborne. He still hadn't come properly face-to-face with Guy since he'd deserted him in Portsmouth to save the outlaws, and he really wasn't looking forward to when that little drama played itself out.

"I didn't even know Giz had any family. He never mentioned it. And this Isabella's on our side? I find that hard to believe."

[Isabella]

Isabella knew that Djaq was angry, but she had no idea what she would do next. Cry for a while? Run home? Or go to the castle, seeking revenge? Isabella felt laden with guilt. It was stupid to burst into the inn and tell Djaq the bad news. She had insensitively torn someone's world apart. She had never loved anyone herself - both her parents had died long ago, and she could not remember either of them. She had not realised how hurt her words would make Djaq. There were so many things others had experienced that she was only just learning. Suddenly, Isabella felt hopelessly lost.
I know nothing of the world, she thought, Nothing.
She had to try and make things right. Taking a deep breath, she crossed the inn to Will.
"Will, it's Djaq.. she'll be alright, won't she?" she began, "I had to tell her what I saw... Basaam was killed by the Sheriff. But... what if she has done something rash?"

[Carter]

Carter took another swig at his ale. He hummed in responce. He didn't know too much about the woman, but from what he had heard her and her brother did not get on too well. He had also heard certain rumours about who her heart belonged to. He frowned in thought. "Hmm. Well. I'm only saying what I've heard. Never talked to the woman before. Or even acknoledged her really. Just heard about her." he said. It was quite abserd that he was talking about never talking to the woman, with her just being a few feet away. But the reality of the situation was he couldn't really be bothered to talk to her. If she was on the Outlaw's side, then fair enough. But it was all just an act, then he didn't really want anything to do with it. It was hard to tell.

"Well if you want to ask her about it, she's right there." he said with a grin. He slammed the jug of ale back on the bar roughly. And then stared into the distance.

[Isabella]

Isabella had heard the conversations going on around her, but had been too distracted to listen to them until she heard her name being mentioned. She was not annoyed at the two men for talking about her. After all, wasn't she the one who told Djaq she trusted no-one - she expected no less of other people than to do the same. An open heart could get you into all kinds of trouble. She turned to the men.
"Don't worry, I'm with you," she assured them, "When I have enough time I will explain, but right now, I can't."
Isabella was about to speak to Will when she realised something - these men were with the outlaws, so they must know Djaq.
"You two know Djaq, don't you?" she checked, "Do you know of a man named Basaam, too? He's a friend of hers - he lived in the Holy Lands."

[Allan A'Dale]

Allan cocked his head. He was generally leery of giving up information to strangers freely but she already knew of his connection to Djaq, so there was little point in being too guarded.

"Yeah, I know of him. Met him once. What's going on?"

[Isabella]

Isabella looked conspiratorially around at Will and the two men.
"You're outlaws, aren't you?" she reminded them, "You fight against the Sheriff. I have to trust you enough to say this much. The Sheriff has killed Basaam. I saw it. I'm not sure why exactly, but I guess it had something to do with money. I am sure you will agree with me that we cannot let him get away with it. We need to do something about this. I know this is dangerous, but the cruel hand of the Sheriff is felt by all. Murder is something even he cannot escape justice for - and this is a friend of Djaq's."

[Carter]

As Carter heard a voice behind him, he whipped around to face Isabella. She had obviously heard his and Allan's conversation about her. It had been somewhat loud. He raised his eyebrow at her thinking he was an outlaw. He felt a little twinge of pride when she did. Obviously his contributions towards helping the outlaws had been recognised. He looked her up and down and then turned back around. He had lost interest.

But at her mention of Basaam he suddenly spun around again. He was dead? His eyebrows fell forewards into a frown. "Dead?" he said, open-mouthed. He shook his head and stared at the floor. "And Djaq knows? Oh god." At least it would explain why Djaq had exited the pub so hastily. Carter clutched his head with his hand. He was at a loss. He looked back up at Isabella, with a look of dispair. "That's not good. Knowing Djaq she'd want to do something about it. he said solemnly. "She's not one to make stupid decisions, but who knows. Someone she loves has just died. Her mind could be playing tricks on her."

[Isabella]

Isabella gritted her teeth. This was typical. She had tried to be sympathetic to Djaq, but telling her the truth could have been the worst thing to do.
"I had to tell her first," she decided, "But I had no idea anything like this would happen. I have never loved any - what I mean is, I have never been in this situation before. What do you suggest we do? You know her much better than I do."
She felt sorry for the distressed man. Evidently he had known Basaam too. She wished she knew something to say to him that could help, but nothing came to her. Instead, she kept an awkward eye on him. There was a wall of understanding between her and the others. They knew what Djaq must be feeling. She did not have a clue.

[Allan A'Dale]

Allan looked over at Carter.

"D'you suppose we should go after her?" he asked. "If she does do something rash then we'll only have to pull her out later on."

Although he knew Djaq would be furious if she knew how he felt, now she had a husband and child Allan felt a much greater responsibility to protect her. She was married to Will, for God's sake. She had a son!. She couldn't just go running off headlong into danger every five minutes.

[Carter]

Carter raised his eyebrows when Isabella started to speak. He had assumed he meant she had never loved anyone. He wondered what she had meant by that. How could anyone have never loved? If not for a partner, surely she must have some family? His thought were cut short when he remembered she was related to Sir Guy.

Carter nodded and abruptly jumped out of his stool. It made a horrible scraping sound as it dragged across the floor. He flicked a coin towards the bar, and it landed neatly in his empty tankard. He grinned and then made his way towards the door, expecting Isabella and Allan to follow. "Do you have any idea which was she went?" he asked Isabella. For all they knew she could have just gone off somewhere to sulk. But then again, Djaq didn't sulk.

[Isabella]

Isabella follwed the man towards the door, wondering for a second what the look on his face was when she had almost told him she had never loved - confusion, contempt, or just surprise? But there was no time for that now - Djaq was in trouble and it was her fault. Isabella thought back to where Djaq was running when she left the inn.
"Yes," she replied, "She was heading towards - Nottingham Castle."
She realised then that Djaq had left to do something rash, remembering the hallowing scream she had let out after she told her about Basaam. Isabella frowned slightly, a though occuring to her.
"But... she took the child with her," she reasoned, "She can't have gone to seek revenge with him in her arms. What if he gets hurt?"
Isabella knew that Djaq was not thinking straight, but bringing a child into a situation as dangerous as this could not end well. Djaq loved her son, but she loved Basaam too. Was this what happened when you loved people? Did you have to choose between them like this? A new fire burned within Isabella now.
"We have to get to the castle before Djaq does!" she decided.

[Allan A'Dale]

Allan balked at what Isabella had said. Had Djaq actually taken Shafiq with her on her revenge spree? That was beyond foolish, it was practically suicidal. Surely she wouldn't enter the castle with a babe in arms?

No point in pondering it now, he resolved. Finding her was the number one priority, whether she was with Shafiq or not.

"Look, would it be better to split up?" he asked, "We can cover a lot more ground that way, after all."

[Isabella]

Isabella nodded.
"That sounds like a good idea," she agreed, "But the Sheriff and my brother are on the lookout for me. You two stand a better chance than myself of finding Djaq in the castle. If you need a diversion, I could provide that. I could go in and tell them that I will keep quiet about what I saw. It should give you some extra time to find Djaq, and I'll be with the Sheriff if she comes to take her revenge on him."
Isabella hoped that her idea would work, though silently questioned how wise it was. What if the Sheriff threw her in the dungeons anyway? Then what would happen to Djaq and her child? However stupid it was, Isabella felt determined to help.
"What do you think?" she asked, her eyes flicking to and from each man.

[Allan A'Dale]

What she saw? What had she seen? Just Bassam, or something else besides? He was burning to ask but there were two lives at stake and he knew hesitation could cost them dearly. "Makes sense to me," he said, "but I reckon you'd better stick with me if we're going in the castle, Carter. Unless you're confident you know your way around."

He turned to Isabella. He really hoped she got out of this alive. Sounded like she had some interesting stories to tell, given the chance. "How long do you think you can keep them distracted?" he asked.

[Annabella Scarlett]

Annabella lingered in the door of the tavern, watching the drinkers inside. Would it be wise to go in? She didn't know anyone inside, no one she would feel comfortable talking to.

A soft sigh escaped her lips as she leant against the door frame, pondering on what to do...