The Lady (Lady Rosetta Court)

[Isabella]

Isabella crossed the crowded streets of Nottingham. Small children lifted their dirty faces up to her, their hands stretched out, waiting to recieve something from her. Isabella sighed and gave a penny to each. She remembered being desperate herself, after all, but she was still careful with her money - she had taken some with her when she fled from her husband but now there was precious little left, and her situation at the castle was far from stable.
She hurried on her way. This was the quickest way to the forest, where she hoped to meet Robin or one of the other outlaws. The difficulty was being seen. She was dressed as the noble that she was, and the cloak she wore did not mask that fact. The heat was almost unbearable, and Isabella felt an urge to take it off, but thought better of it.
Suddenly, she caught sight of a lady she had never seen before. She was pretty and young, and had an air of urgency about her that suggested to Isabella all was not well. Was she frightened, she wondered? Memories of her own past came back to her - there had been a time when she was this girl. Her curiosity pricked, she dared to step towards her.

[Lady Rosetta Court]

Rosetta was astride a beautiful black Arab stallion. She made her way through the crowds. "Excuse me. Thank you." she said. "My Lady." came the voice of a desprate woman. "What is it?" she asked. The woman showed Rosetta her son. "Oh my." she said. She dismounted and the womans husband took the reins. Rosetta fumbled in her bag. "Ah. Here we go." she said. She pulled out a small bottle with a purple liquid in it. "It will kill the dead flesh." she said. She poured it on the oung boys open wound. He screamed in pain. "Thank you My Lady." said the boy. "Heal fast." she said. She kissed the boys forehead and gave a bag of money to his parents. She mounted her horse again and smiled one last time at the family and kicked her horse back into a walk.

[Isabella]

Isabella did not know what to think of the girl. She certainly had a knowledge of medicine, but she remained wary. She had grown up to tales of witchcraft, but when she was an adult she had dismissed it as nonsense. Now, looking at the lady, she wondered if she had just witnessed an act of witchery.
She felt her aura of knowing and there was definitely a kindness within her, but Isabella could sense something deeper, something in the way she rode down the streets, as if she could see something nobody else could, that interested and almost scared her. And as to if it was good or bad - she could not tell. Whatever it was, she was sure that she was no ordinary pompous lady - she was willing to help someone in need. Isabella continued to watch her, hoping to catch her eye.

[Lady Rosetta Court]

Rosetta felt someone looking at her. She noticed a woman of nobility and trotted towards her. "May I know of your buisness here in Nottigham? If your here to create trouble I will not hasitate to call Gisbourne." she said. She dismounted and stared the woman out.

[Isabella]

"You know my brother?" Isabella blurted out.
She paused to compose herself before speaking again. She should not be so rude as to ask unnecessary questions like that.
"I apologise," she began, "Let me introduce myself. My name is Lady Thorton. Sir Guy of Gisbourne is my brother. I have not come to cause trouble at all."
She smiled politely, knowing that there was no use in trying to return the girl's electric stare.
"May I ask your name?" she continued.

[Lady Rosetta Court]

"Lady Rosetta Court. I am due to marry Prince John." she said. She looked at Isabella. "Your brother has protected me. For the Prince's sake anyway." said Rosetta. She had her right hand on her sword. "I wouldn't cross me if I were you. I'm a skilled swordswoman." she warned. She looked at the Lady. "Anyway I have a time scheduled with my Coven." she said. She mounted back up and rode off.

[Isabella]

Isabella was surprised at the girl's arrogance. One moment, she was showing sympathy for a sick child, and the next, she was threatening a woman who had merely introduced herself to her with the prospect of a swordfight. She was not intimidated by her - she had met many proud nobles before. She was sure that she was a kind person, but she shielded herself with an almost impenatrable wall of arrogance and threats. Isabella had only tried to speak to her, interested in what she was doing here, and was brushed aside for 'a time scheduled with my Coven'. She was almost sure now that Lady Rosetta was a witch, and intended to ask her brother more about her when she got the chance. Isabella sighed before continuing on her journey, where she hoped to meet someone who would give her a warmer welcome.

[Lady Rosetta Court]

Suddenly gaurds surrounded her. "Prince John wants you to come home." said one. rosetta wasn't going she drew her sword and severed them all right there. She cantered up to Isabella's side. "Sorry I was so rude." she whispered. She dismounted. "I don't want Prince John to know I'm in league with Robin Hood." she said.

[Isabella]

Isabella took a breath before giving Lady Rosetta a small smile.
"Don't worry about it," she assured her, "I have no loyalties towards my brother or Prince John, either."
She was pleased to know that the girl was on her side, and that she was indeed a good swordswoman. Lady Rosetta had no reason to believe that she, as Guy of Gisbourne's sister, was loyal to the outlaws. She understood her a little better now that she had explained a little about her motives. A marriage to Prince John would certainly be tortuous for anyone - and Isabella remembered her own unhappy marriage with regret. It, like Lady Rosetta's marriage, had been arranged for a 'fair' price. It had not been fair on her, she thought bitterly.
"So your marriage to Prince John was arranged?" she assumed.

[Lady Rosetta Court]

Rosetta nodded. "Yes. By my father." she said. She broke down in tears. She didnt want this but it was the only way she could forfill her fathers dying wish.

[Isabella]

Isabella turned to her kindly.
"I am very sorry," she told her, "I know how you must feel. Trapped. My own marriage was arranged, like yours. It was never happy. It's only recently that I found the courage to leave. I know now that it only takes a little bravery to set yourself free. And we all have it, Lady Rosetta, all of us, especially you. What you do now is your own decision, but do not leave regrets - they will haunt you forever. If there is anything I can do to help, please tell me."

[Lady Rosetta Court]

"I know you have links to the outlaws. Well could you please tell Allan A'Dale that..Well that he has my heart?" she asked, She looked at Guy's sister. "Guy has told me that if I try to leave John I will be burnt at the stake." she said.

[Isabella]

Isabella smiled at Lady Rosetta. So there was more than one reason for her reluctance to marry Prince John, then. Another man. Isabella wondered about how close they were. Was their love like a friendship set on fire – two people who knew each other so well that loving them became second nature? Or was it something fleeting that had suddenly come upon them?
“Of course – I’ll tell him,” she assured her.
She wanted to ask Lady Rosetta so many more questions about her and the outlaws, but knew that the girl was far too upset for her to start bombarding her with questions. She thought of her brother. She knew of his cruelty, but threatening to burn a woman at the stake for refusing to marry someone was extreme. That was the punishment for witchcraft. But perhaps Guy knew about that.
“My brother is cruel, I know,” she told Lady Rosetta, “But I have heard rumours that he loved a woman whose heart belonged to another, and nearly killed her when he discovered this. He believes in punishment – but his mind is warped and twisted. I do not doubt that he would carry out his threat, so tread very carefully. You face a very difficult choice, Lady, but between a lifetime of unhappiness and a chance of escaping with the one you love, I know what I would choose.”

[Lady Rosetta Court]

Rosetta smiled. "I'd escape. Become an outlaw if I must." said she. "But Allan...He...He is the one I want." she said. "Come have a drink with me." she offered.

[Isabella]

"Thankyou," Isabella replied, happy to accept her offer.
She smiled at her, proud, in a way, of Lady Rosetta's strength and courage. She didn't know what it took to tell someone that you loved them, but she realised then that it was a lot. She herself was only starting to learn about love - from the outlaws, from Lady Rosetta, even from her brother.
Everyone loves something, she thought to herself, I just need to work out what I do.
But she knew, in the creeping uncertain way of a prisoner, that somehow she was already in love - with someone who was impossible to be with.
But Lady Rosetta and Allan, she decided, They can be together, and I will help them. I must be strong for myself and for them.
So she smiled at Lady Rosetta, who she knew needed some kindness in her time of turmoil, and said:
"Tell me about Allan. He must be something special."