The King's Table

[Jarren]

Jarren sat down at the table, the chair which he was sitting on was placed so that he was able to see what was going on around him in the Dove. It was early enough that most of the rogues that worked the larger jobs were out working. So, while the room should have been quiet due to that, the amount of people getting drunk, due to the hour, made up for them.

The Rogue took a sip from the tankard that was in front of him. He could remember a time when he'd thought Ale was vile... but apparently the taste grows on you, since he likes it now. He shook his head slightly as he listened to some minstrel trying to sing... trying was the key word.

He sighed.... there wasn't much to do on a night like this one. He would much rather be out thieving, but he was tied to the Dove for a while, after getting a nasty cut in his side. It was mostly healed, thanks to healers, but he was still supposed to take it easy, and side wounds were the worst.

[Grace Robbinson]

A grin spread across the twenty year olds face as she reached the inn called the Dancing Dove. Grace was finally in Corus, after all those years her dream had come true. Her whole body was filled with pain as she thought of Ivory and the fact that she couldn't be here to help Grace out. Ivory was gone, and she wasn't coming back, which meant Grace needed to be more independant and stop acting like a little kid. She sighed before entering through the old door.

Grace was greeted by the smell of smoke and alcohol. Pain went through her again. She hadn't been anywhere near alcohol since her mothers death. Stop it Grace, it's time to start over she silently told herself. Suddenly she realised many men were looking at her, which made her scared. The last thing she wanted was someone to try and grab her. She tried to keep her eyes even and not show she was scared, but she knew that these people were rogues and would be able to tell anyway.

She walked in further before she was greeted by a man's rough voice, "C'mon poppet, I promise I won't hurt you." Grace turned around, only to see a man in his early twenties coming towards her, and he was obviously drunk. Her hand went straight to the hilt of her knife, but nothing happened. Why was she so frozen. This was what she had trained for.

Tears nearly came out, but she forced them away. Suddenly the man was right in front of her, and he had a tight grip on her arm. "Let go please," she said, pleading. "And if I don't?" he replied. Her eyes showed how scared she was and she looked around the room for help, but everyone else seemed amused by the fact she was so stubborn. "Please, please! Your drunk and I-I," she said, her voice going uneven. "Just for tonight," he said forcefully, planting a kiss on her cheek.

[Jarren]

Jarren watched as a young blond entered the Dove. She was obviously new in the city, the way her eyes were looking around constantly. But there was something else in them... fear... but of what? He turned his attention back to watching the door as people entered, taking a drink from his tankard of ale.

His attention was brought back to the blond when a drunk was harrassing the new blond. He frowned, watching the interaction for a few moments. Most women in the Dove knew what to do when one of the drunks decided to make a move, but this girl seemed to have frozen after her hand had touched the knife at her side.

He stood up with a frown. He could see the girl pleading to be let go of, but Leonard, the drunk, ignored her. Only to give her a kiss on the cheek. Jarren scowled, some people had no decency what-so-ever.

He walked over and punched Leonard in the face. "Get outta here now Leonard." Leonard nodded, and turned, knowing better than to fight with the Rogue if he liked his life.

Jarren turned to the girl that had been the recipient of Leonard's drunkenness. "Y' all right miss?" His eyebrow was raised, and he allowed some compassion and sympathy to show in his eyes. "Let's grab a table an' get y' a drink."

[Grace Robbinson]

Grace watched in awe as a man, that appeared to be the same age as herself, came up and punched her harraser straight in the face. She watched, her eyes showing her gratitude, when he told him to leave. Grace wondered who this man was, ussually someone would fight back instead, and Grace could feel a sense of royalty, but guessed that was just because he had just saved her.

"I'm fine," she whispered. In her mind she just kept replaying what had just happened over and over again. Why had she froze? Why didn't she stop him? Images of her father just kept creeping into her mind and she just wanted to curl up and cry. Ah yes, crying. Grace hadn't cried for so long and it was what she felt like doing at that very moment, but knew better than to show she was weak in any way, shape or form.

"I don't drink alcohol. My father...." she stopped and swallowed. She had nearly told a complete stranger about her childhood. She had promised herself never to tell anyone that. How could she? Ivory was the only person she had really ever properly confided in about it, and now Ivory was gone too. Stop feeling sorry for yourself Grace and get a grip, she sternly told herself.

Who was this man anyway? Grace quickly glanced over him, taking in his appearence. Black hair and muscles. Quite attractive, Grace thought, not that she'd ever say it out loud. Grace smiled slightly at the man. He had saved her from a drunk and she didn't know how she could ever repay him.

[Jarren]

The Rogue nodded as Leonard left. They, the court, would have to keep a better eye on Leonard, and the other drunks that seemed to inhabit the Dove. They shouldn't just be pushing themselves on the others. Most of them weren't stupid enough to, but apparently they were forgetting that.

He looked back at the blond, nodding once again, "Good. 'Twouldn't do well for a young lass to be hurt on 'er first time in th' Dove." He nodded again, his brow slightly furrowing as he considered what was going on with the Dove. They'd have to do some cleaning in the next little while.

"I see. There're other drinks that contain no alcohol at th' bar. Lemonade's a common favour'te." He couldn't help the frown that passed over his features when she'd started off with a 'my father' Jarren hated to see children, or in this case, young women, who were haunted with things that their parents had done. Though when she gave him a smile, he returned it with one of his own.

Jarren motioned over to a table, before walking over and sitting in an empty seat, seeing as she seemed to have ignored that part of his statement, focusing more on the 'drink' part. But then again, judging from her reaction, to both the comment and Leonard, she had good reason to.

"So what bring's y' to this humble place?" He was extremely curious. While most people seemed to visit the Dove on their way through town, he never got to ask them why. Most of them never knew what went on in the late nights and early morning.

[Grace Robbinson]

Grace realised that she was actually smiling,something she hadn't done in a long time. The long time part meaning she hadn't smiled since Ivory's death. Really, Grace hadn't been social and actually had a conversation with anyone but Ivory for the last two years and when Ivory had gone Grace was all by herself and hadn't talked to anyone but herself,so she was glad to finally have company. Suddenly she realised that this man just wanted to help, so she relaxed a little, but didn't want to let her guard down.

"I'm not that young, I'll be twenty in two months, believe it or not," Grace said, knowing full well she only looked about sixteen. She guessed this man was in his early twenties. "And I've been on the road for two years, and for a quater of that time I was travelling by myself," she said. "I haven't had lemonade for so long, atleast not for four years," she said, remembering when they were back in her home country and her and Ivory would love to drink cool lemoade on hot days.

Grace took in a deep breath, and decided she might as well tell the whole story, after all he had saved herlife and all. "My father had been sexually abusing my mother for about nine years, and when I was fourteen I went in to try and stop him, but he just kept doing what he was doing like I wasn't even there and afterwards he killed my mother, right in front of me, then he hit me and told me to get out," she paused, taking in a deep breath. "He kicked me out, and I went straight to Ivory, who looked after me. For four years I trained, because I knew that if I had been trained I could have saved my mother. Two years ago Ivory told me of the wonderful place Corus where she had spent her childhood years," she said and sighed again, holding back some tears. "So we both set off and we'd stop at towns along the way. About six months ago we were attacked by rogues that wanted our purses, and we fought them but she died," she whispered. "So, after mourning I came here to do what I had set off to do," she said honestly.

[Ariana Hrothgar]

Ariana had been watching the Dove from a solitary spot near the fire. She had just been on one heck of an adventure, and her bones were aching a bit from the cold. She watched her spot at the King's Table, at the right hand of the King, who was there now, to see if anyone dared take her spot.

None had, but Jarren had got up at some point and had gotten up, punched Leonard in the face, and had pulled the girl who was on Leonards lap to the King's Table. Fascinated by this, she had moved herself closer to listen to their conversation. Jarren would know she was there, but probably wouldn't be bothered by it.

Their conversation went on, and at one point Ariana thought the conversation turned a little odd. the girl told him of her childhood, and probably named everything that would get her killed if she was talking to any other Rogue. Thank Goodness for Jarren's calm.

She thought it was time for her to take her rightful spot at the King's table. She was dry enough.

She got up, and sat at Jarren's right, across from the girl. She had her face of perfect calm on, and she lazed herself into a comfortable position in her chair. With a wave of her hand, an ale was brought to her. She took a sip, and asked "Who's your friend?" at Jarren.

[Jarren]

Jarren raised an eyebrow, "Y'know. Lot's of folk lie 'bout there age arounf 'ere. An' I don' doubt that y' would if y' thought it would help yer goal." He studied her for briefly for a second, "A lpt o' the folk y' see around y' here travelled on their own when they were young. We tend t' get a lot of orphans." He shook his head, "Then what better time t' have it again." The youth that inhabited the Dove all loved it, he, himself, had drank gallons of it when he was younger. He watched out of the corner of his eye as Ariana moved closer to the table he was at, probably eavesdropping.

The Rogue listened in silence to the girl's story, raising an eyebrow here and there, mentally shaking his head in other parts. What the girl's father had done to her mother was horrible, as was what he'd done to her at the very end. However, when it came to the part about how rogues had tried to rob them, he couldn't help but actually shake his head, if they'd kept most of their money hidden on themselves with a bit in a visible 'purse' that they wouldn't have had that trouble. Rogues need to survive as well.

Though the name Ivory was familiar. He'd had a friend who'd lived in Corus for a time who had gone by that name, but it was unlikely to be her. Even if it was, with Ariana there, and coming to join them at the table, it would be an inopportune time.

He nodded at the Queen as she sat down on his rightside. He shrugged at her question, "I don' know, she hasn't introduced herself yet." She'd given all that information, but no name.

[Grace Robbinson]

"Erm... my name is..." Grace knew he definatley wouldn't take her seriously with a name like 'Grace.' She sounded like some noble lady. "It's erm... Robbinson. Yeah, my name's Robbinson," she said. He's a rogue Grace, he'll know your lying, she told herself. Geez, she was a horrible liar and it was obvious too. "And I'm here to look for some improtant people," she said. "I need to find The Rogue and I want to find anyone that knew Ivory," she said to him. The lady that had joined them intimidated Grace slightly. "But I'm so sorry for having bothered you," Grace said and began to get up.

[Ariana Hrothgar]

Ariana nodded when the girl mentioned her name. It was obvious it was not her true name, but it wasn't like they were going to try and track down her crimes using her name. This girl looked like she had fallen out of a nobles carriage when she was young, and that could be reason enough to hide a name.

Plus, they were rogues. Who cares if someone changes their name?

"Robbinson," Ariana said hurridly as the girl got up. She recognized the name Ivory, but she wasn't sure from where. "Please, sit. You aren't bothering anyone. Ivory, did you say?"

((Sorry! i had to get my computer redone completly and everything when the internet went!))

[Grace Robbinson]

Grace raised an eyebrow before sitting back down. "Yes... Ivory Vein was her name. Not much older than me actually. She had brown hair and was skilled in the fighting arts," Grace said quietly. She wondered if this lady might actually know Ivory and if she could find out more from her.

[Jarren]

Jarren raised an eyebrow, Robinson, eh. That was a surname, not a first name. And she was a horrible liar. The way that she had stumblesd over her words and repeated it, gave her asay easier than if she'd had a sign pointing at her saying 'liar'. Not that it truly mattered. Unless of course, she had changed her name due to the fact that she was an enemy of the Rogue.

There it was again, the name Ivory. Ariana obviously had the same idea as Jarren. He raised an eyebrtow. She was foolish to think that she would just be able to 'find' the Rogue. As he didn't appear for just anyone. There had to be a reason, and, at least, a little trust. It wasn't like the old days when the King feared little and had no worries about the Provost's Guards, and could be openly called the Rogue.

The Rogue, ironically enough, listened to the girl's reply about Ivory, though it was more of a mumble. He nodded slowly, Ivory Vein was indeeed known to him. "I knew 'er. We grew up together as kids."

[Annie of Conté]

Grace just gaped at him. "You knew her?" Grace repeated, more to herself than to anyone else. "But..." she trailed off quietly. "How?" she asked him. Grace was having a flash back of Ivory, and she quickly pushed the memories to the back of her head, ivory was the last person she wnated to think of at a time like this.

(grrr, short... sorry!!!)

[Ariana Hrothgar]

((BAM it's short))

Ariana looked to Jarren, who looked to be reminiscing with himself. Ariana's eyebrow raised, and she thought of the few times they had talked about their pasts. It was probably where she had heard this name before, if Jarren wasn't lying through his teeth that is.

"Yes, please, do tell." She said quietly, but with a slight curiosity, so slight no one would notice.

[Jarren]

Jarren smiled slightly, "That Ah did." He chuckled, thinking back on the many times that he and Ivory had gotten in trouble for hanging about the Dove, or even just plain old mischief. Those days seemed like a completely different life, nothing like the one that he was living now. Before he'd get in trouble from his parents if he hung around the Dove, now he basically lived there.

He smirked slightly at how both of the ladies asked him for explanations on how he knew Ivory. He took a sip of the ale that he'd left at the table when he'd gone off to rescue Robinson. He shrugged, "S'not that hard 'ova tale. Ivory an' I grew up t'gether 'ere."