At the Cross Roads (open)

[Lady Rosetta Court]

Rosetta smiled. "Yes. They fight against the Sheriff and I am in love with one of them." she said. She kicked Daredevil on. "Damn. The contract." she said. She kicked her horse into a canter.

[Allan A'Dale]

That was that then, Allan thought to himself as she rode away. Little chance he'd get any more gossip out of this conversation. Interesting what she'd said though. The contract? Was she working for someone? It sounded ominous, but he decided to keep it to himself until he could find out more. No point in raising suspicion unnecessarily.

[Morgan]

A frown creased Morgan's face as he held Pilgrim back whilst Lady Rosetta rode on. He was confused and it was all because of the mixed signals that minx was sending out. "Hold one moment," He called after her, finally touching his heels to his horse's flanks. "Are you saying that the Sheriff of Nottingham is corrupt? And you haven't really explained about the outlaws. Doesn't a nobleman lead them? Who is he? You haven't really told me anything, just left me with some half answered questions which pose more of a riddle than an answer."

Then, feeling he might have been too harsh on her, Morgan smiled kindly at Rosetta. "It seems, my Lady, that you are an enigma." His voice honeyed. "Ride slower and talk to me. Tell me what you know about these outlaws. Tell me properly. And what is this contract you talk of? Is it important?" Morgan wasn't sure if Rosetta would clarify anything she'd already said. But it was true what he'd said, he found her to be a mystery. And right now, he was very curious.

[Lady Rosetta Court]

Rosetta slowed. "Yes the outlaws are lead by Robin Of Locksley but he now calls himself Robin Hood. The contract I am bound by is from King Richard. Like I said before he knew my father well. I am to stop his brother from getting the throne and to do that I have to marry the Prince." she said. She stopped Daredevil. Tears formed in her beautiful eyes. "I wonder where Allan is." she whispered into her horse's ebony ear. "The sheriff is corrupt and I wish to kill him by my own hand for what he did to my mother." she said.

[Morgan]

Morgan nodded slowly as Rosetta talked. "I had heard Robin of Locksley had run into trouble when he returned from the Holy Land, but I didn't realise he was the one leading these outlaws." Morgan pondered that deeply. Although he hadn't know Robin during the Crusade, King Richard had always spoken fondly of the nobleman. It must have been serious if Robin had relinquished his title and lands for his beliefs, and Morgan couldn't help but admire him for that.

His eyes narrowed as Rosetta confessed to being bound by a contract with the King, and having to marry John to stop him getting the throne. Surely she couldn't be serious? What hope did she have? He remembered she claimed to be a good swordsperson but the odds would be stacked against here. From the moment he could toddle as a small child, Prince John would have been tutored in swordsmanship and combat. If he wanted to, John would probably be able to swat her like a fly.

"And yet, it sounds as though your heart isn't in this task, my Lady," Morgan replied softly although he could see that she harboured enough hate against the Lord Sheriff, but that was a different matter altogether. "And how would marrying the Prince prevent him from ascending the throne?"