It was a silent walk to the residential part of the castle as Marian continued to betray her irritation with Elisa's presence. The lack of conversation was a welcome reprieve for it gave the newcomers time to mentally map the castle and analyze their surroundings. Peter and David met them at the entrance where they had parted and fell into step as they continued.

A few minutes passed before Marian stopped at a plain wooden door and turned to face Elisa and her guards, "Here is where you will stay, Lady Elisa. Your guards can stay in the barracks with the others if they wish, but we have no place to keep them here."

Elisa did not want this to be the basis of her relationship with Marian, especially after what she had heard from Robin of her, so her next question was asked earnestly, "Would you take some tea with me? I'm new here and would appreciate a friend." The flash of impatience was expected, though it stung no less. What had she done to deserve this sort of treatment?

The promised conversation seemed to make her reconsider though, "I must admit that I am curious to hear how you come to be here. Will you send one of your men to the kitchen or shall I call for a servant?" Marian seemed familiar with the organization of the room, perhaps it was similar to her own, Elisa mused. She gestured to a small table with a pair of chairs set next to a window.

"David?" Elisa turned to the youngest, and most domestic of her guards. He was the most likely of them to take care of the tea. She smiled as he nodded and ducked out the door to search out the kitchen. She glanced at the remaining three who had completed a quick search of the room and were now wishing they were released to find the kitchen. "Go," she said, amused, "Mind the horses and your stomachs. Don't make too many of the maids fall in love with you." There was no need to ask them to take a look around the castle, they knew what was expected of them.

The easy way Elisa spoke to her guards must have made Marian relax somewhat because when they left she had a small smile of her own. "Are they really such heart-breakers? I would not expect such of them with my impression."

"Oh they tell the tale of their time in the Holy Land to any maiden who will listen and they have enough of their own charm to win over any girl who hadn't been by then." She did not miss the way Marian stiffened as she noticed the clue Elisa had intentionally revealed.

She seemed to file it away for later thought and was reminded of other questions. Marian faked nonchalance well, though something must have gotten under her skin to obviously bother her so much. At least it seemed to Elisa that she was going to get to the point now that it was just the two women. "Please excuse my forwardness, but how do you know Robin of Locksley?"

Ah, jealousy. That would explain why Marian was so upset. It should have occurred to Elisa earlier, knowing how Robin spoke of her. Earlier she guessed it was just the presence of another titled female in the castle instead of something far more intriguing. There was no way to know that Marian might feel the same way about him, though, so that possibility had gone unrecognized. "I'm afraid I can't tell you that, though I know it must be a difficult answer to accept." Elisa had no way to know that Marian would respect her confidence and it was more Elisa's secret than it was Robin's. No, that information would only be given when she knew she could trust those who were listening. "And I know helping me is the last thing you want to do after hearing that, but unfortunately that is what I'm going to ask of you. I want you to take me to Robin."

"How do you know that I know where he is?" The shock was plain on Marian's face as it seemed this stranger had guessed what no one in Vaisey's castle knew with any certainty.

A rueful smile crossed Elisa's face. "You just told me. Don't feel embarrassed," she said, noting the look on Marian's face, "it's a clever trick to use if you're ever unsure of your information." She let herself be distracted by the people on the parade ground she could see from the window. Standing, she could probably survey the whole courtyard and the surrounding battlements. "Please," Elisa asked, not looking away from the window, "It's important that I see him."

"No." Elisa was impressed that Marian had actually waited to decline, the tension that request caused was clear. "Just as you refuse to tell me how you know him, I cannot reveal where he is." Marian would not back down from this decision easily, but it hardly deterred Elisa- she enjoyed a challenge.

"If you're worried about my guards attacking him we can leave them behind," Elisa offered, expecting Marian to find a lone woman to be much less intimidating.

It did not seem to matter much, as Marian remained firm. "No. I won't lead you to him so you can-"

A knock on the door cut her off and Elisa called a welcome. David shouldered the door open with a tray in his hands. "The cook requests you send me for food whenever you are hungry, my lady," he said with a cunning grin. He set the tray on the table between the two women and picked up the teapot to fill the cups.

"Leave it to you to charm the cook. Has Phillip gathered his usual crowd of adoring chits?" Elisa was used to each man's priorities. Robert would have sought food, Peter would look after the horses, and Phillip would have smiled at every pretty girl he saw. David would leave this room to find every nook and cranny he could without being noticed.

"He was starting one of his tales as I left," he said with a knowing look to Elisa, "If you'll excuse me." He nodded to them both and left, understanding that he had interrupted and that he was less-than-welcome in this conversation.

"I'm no spy, Lady Marian," Elisa wanted to speak first and attempt to reassure the woman sitting across from her. "You may not believe me, but I'm telling you true when I say I mean no harm to him." She took a sip from the cup David had poured for her, but paid little attention to it.

Something between how she talked with her guards and her continued reassurances seemed to weaken Marian's resolve for her next protest was not as resolute. "I do not want to be the one to bring a danger to him."

Elisa looked into her cup so she would seem more harmless, she was close to getting an escort into Sherwood Forest. There was one more thing she could say to persuade the Lady Marian and she said it in a small voice, "It would be much easier to find them if you came, but I will go alone if you continue to refuse." She hazarded a glance up and was pleased to see the decision being changed. The prospect of not being there when Elisa was found by Robin and his men was enough to motivate Marian to deliver Elisa there herself.

"If I agree to this, and I haven't said I will, you leave your guards here and wear a cloth over your eyes into the forest." Setting the terms seemed to be helpful for her conviction that she was doing the right thing.

"Absurd," Elisa bargained, only allowing herself a small part of the indignation she felt. "None of my men will come along, but I must protest the blindfold. Morisco is not a horse to follow meekly, nor will he be led by anyone he does not know to be trustworthy." The effects of attempting something like that would not be pleasant and would draw a lot of attention.

"Fine." Marian was still not happy about the situation, jealousy was written all over her features, but she had agreed. "Tonight. Meet me in the stables an hour after sunset and I'll take you into the forest. Don't attract attention as you go. If Robin chooses not to show himself, you'll leave him alone." She stood quickly and left, taking her unhappy energy with her. The tea poured for her was untouched, but that was the least of Elisa's thoughts.

'I wonder why she wants to do it tonight. I know there's to be a full moon which will give us light, but it would make more sense to put it off if she wants to deny me this.' Elisa would continue to mull over the details after she planned the rest. There was plenty to prepare for. She would not go unarmed, though she doubted Robin would attack, and she would need to tell her men she would be gone for a time tonight.

Sorry again for the weirdness of my posting habits. Haha. Can't seem to get these out in a timely fashion, can I? But it is the solid truth that the next chapter (or two as it's starting to seem) will be out in more rapid succession! Huzzah!