Sobering [COMPLETE]

[Lady Aslinn Draconis]

Aslinn stood looking at Joscelin as she held the book against her. Seeming to
tightening it a little as she became a little uncomfortable. Was it that he hit
the mark? He not stood a great deal closer as he saw to aid her with the fallen
book. She did not step back, yet. She was curious as to his motives. He was a
man of proper grooming that was for certain, though here he was in the library
late a night with a woman that he was not courting. Not that it would make it
any better if he were courting her. Her gaze started to glaze over as she
drifted into her thoughts. She had not realized that her cheeks were reddening
as she stood there.

The word marriage though seemed to jolt her back to the world about her, and to
Joscelin. She suddenly became very aware of his presence. A lump forged in her
throat as she tried to clear it away. Her dark eyes blinked in secession as if
some piece of dust had landed within them. She usually had no trouble speaking her mind, not to her mother, not to Calen, nor her brothers. Her father she would purse her lips together, bat her sad eyes at him and he was wrapped about her finger. But she had failed in her endeavors to get her father to change her mother’s mind about coming to Camelot.

She would draw back a step from him and glance to the shelves behind him. Pretending that a book held her interest there. His words seemed to trouble her more then she thought they could. She stared at the binding of a book her hand brushed against. Her dark eyes narrowed upon him before quickly biting her bottom lip to keep her from saying something she might later regret having said. Her head then tilted to the side when he spoke of doing his part for king and country. It was a curious play on words. And Aslinn was sure that Joscelin knew the right way to spin his words so that she didn’t ask unwanted questions. “It would seem we all do as we are told then.”

She told him as she glided pass him to another part of the library. She could feel her heart start to quicken. Was she mad at him? Why? It was maddening to listen to any man speak of his desires for marriage when they enjoy the luxury of a warm bed each night. She would take note of change in Joscelin’s tones as he spoke of his desires to be married. Her gaze turned on him, “You? Wish for marriage?” She asked, he appeared to be telling her what he thought she wished to hear. The look that transpired upon his face seemed to be…. an honest one. He did wish marriage, for some reason he wished to marry for. …what reason? She wondered for a time as she brought her gaze back to the books before her.

She smirked upon hearing his state that hey differed. Her dark gaze lifting from the books before her to one that sat upon a higher shelf. Extending her arm above her head, while she held the other book against her torso, which threw her balance off a little. She would tug at the edge and pull it toward her, all the while continuing the conversation. “You seem to have summed me all up. Just because I do not wish to follow my mother’s command to marry. Does not mean that I wish never to marry. If you must know my view is very different from that of my overbearing matriarch.” She started, wondering why she was telling him anything about herself. “She wants money and power…. she thinks a good breeding with enable a better standing in society. I just hope she did not approach the king. His ordering that I marry, and I cannot refuse him.” She sighed, hoping that wasn’t the case.
She would leave out her reasons for marrying. Why would he care to know? Her fingers curled about the bottom on the book, while balancing her weight careful so not to drop the other book. Perhaps she should have put the book down. She almost had it. When the full weigh of the book left the shelf it slipped from her hand and fell with a loud thud, this time echoing much louder then the other had. She looked to the book, then to Joscelin.

A sound came from the hallway. Sounded like a set of feet making their way in their direction. It was then followed by voices explaining that he sound had come from the library. Her dark eyes turned to Joscelin. What to do now? Surely they would be discovered thanks to her. The ladder half of Joscelin's statement going unanswered.

[Joscelin Trevalion]

Joscelin found the moment rather...well, strange, and for a number of reasons at that. He had never truly spoken to another of his want to settle down and bind with a woman eventually. That, and the fact that he was with Aslinn as he spoke of such a thing. It made the moment that much more stranger than the norm and even more so for the fact that Aslinn was here to be bound, or rather, to at least find someone suitable for herself.

One would consider such a thing fate. Joscelin saw such as a coincidence.

Yet, one could not deny how well they were together. They both had gotten along from the moment they had met eachother. That, though, had been once upon a time ago and Joscelin had been the help Aslinn had needed to reach Camelot safely. They had talked and flirted, and when they had arrived within Camelot, they had parted ways. Until this night Joscelin would have never expected to see Aslinn once again. Although that's not to say he didn't wish to see her.

Joscelin found his hands full with the names of royalty and nobility that lingered within Camelot's walls. That, and the other names he had fit to his mind from the servants to the guards and thensome. He even held the names of many of the well noted within the city proper and had created a web of intrigue unlike any other Camelot has known.

It had kept him effectively busy to say the very least.

Joscelin listened to her then and there, and even inclined his head to her out of respect and understanding both. "I could see that, my lady," he murmured and looked thoughtful. "It's unfortunate, but that's what most women suffer of." He told her and looked sympathetic. "Yet, I'm certain you will meet someone different, Aslinn. Mayhap one day..." He even frowned then at the mention of the king. Would her mother truly do such a thing? It seemed unfortunate.

Yet, Joscelin followed the order of his king. He'd marry if commanded as well.

She did not wish for that though and nor was she that loyal.

...or so he thought.

"I cannot either," Joscelin said more to himself than her until a book fell. The sound filled the library and even Joscelin looked a bit cross with her. How could she have been so careless. He stared at her wide eyed and when footfalls filled the hall outside of the library, Joscelin looked down the aisle and back to her. Yet, Joscelin knew one thing...He could not let her suffer for him.

"Stay here," He told her suddenly. "Just stay." He added more firmly and sauntered away.

He took to the center of the library and stood before doorway a few feet away. Although not without reaching for another book to hold between his hands. As he lifted such, the door came open to admit three men. It seemed that the sound had traveled far to both corners of the corridor and alerted another guard as well. Joscelin, though, looked apologetic.

They looked at him oddly though as they stepped forth with lanterns held aloft.

"Good evenin', lads. My apologies for the ruckus," Joscelin stated and bowed deeply.

"My lord...What are you doing here...? You should be within your chambers!" One hissed and looked threateningly. Joscelin kept his composure though. "Most certainly, but I couldn't sleep and my chambers were stifling at best. I did not mean to wake anyone, though, so...I do apologize for that," Joscelin stated and eyed the guard who flushed with heat. If he had thought that Joscelin had pegged him for resting on his watch...well, Joscelin may have been right.

One of the guards though had begun to peer about with his lantern and shined down one aisle after another. Joscelin felt his blood heat and heart quicken. "If I must leave then I should." Joscelin stated. The one who had been questioning him though swung the lantern uncomfortably closer. The flame alighted Joscelin's features. He didn't whince though or back away. He did pinch an eye shut and loll his head away somewhat though.

"Mind where you're swinging that, friend." Joscelin stated. As he caught wind of the second guard stepping about the center and looking back. The third, though, seemed to have found nothing. In fact, he said as much. "Nothing here." He stated and turned away without checking the last few aisles. "My lord, you should truly head back to your chambers. You shouldn't be awake and much less waltzing about the grounds as you are at this time."

Joscelin, though, felt a semblance of relief and prayed Aslinn could stay quiet and out of sight.

"Yes, lads, I understand. I will do that right away. Just, please, allow me to put this book away," he stated and showed the leatherbound tome to the three men with a toothy smile before turning away toward the shelf. Yet, Joscelin knew anything could happen then.

[Lady Aslinn Draconis]

Her dark blue eyes lifted and searched his face. He looked positively miffed at her lack of cautious when it came to moving about in utter silence. They surely would be found out. A flicker of thought came to her. Should they be found out then scandal would prevent as marriage proposal being offered forth to her. It would be most inappropriate for anyone to connect themselves with her afterward. The thought itself seemed to raise thoughts within her head. But how could she embarrass her family in such a manner. She could not bring herself to do such a thing to her father.

Her dark eyes darted from Joscelin to the door. The thuds being it called her utmost attention. She felt her heart pound within her chest. His order for her to remain, tugged at her stubbornness as always. How was it he was to order her to remain? She could have very easily gone to the night guards and explained herself, while he remained tucked behind the shelves. It might have been easier for her to distract them even.

She watched him turned from her and starts down the isle toward the centre of the room. Quickly plucking the book off the ground she would take a few steps toward the far corner. She would press her form up against the edge of the shelf. Watching Joscelin as he started toward the doors. It was mere seconds before the guards came in. She felt herself shudder at the thought that they were almost caught here, together. But she had to remind herself to be silent, for she was not out of the woods yet. They might still find her. She watched from the safety of her hiding place, as Joscelin was face with several guards, all-demanding to know why he was here. She had not thought that this might place Joscelin in a bad light due to being out at the wee hours of the morning.

She listened as the guards stepped into the library. She would shrink back when one came along the isles with his lantern. She would stay hidden between the wall and one of the shelves. Waiting. Holding her breath as they questioned Joscelin, and scanned the library searching for something, for her possibly. Had Calen sent them to look for her? He knew her habits. It was then that she feared they might search more thoroughly. She would do her best to remain out of any light. Lingering for a moment, then pushing off the wall to find another place to hide should a guard come along the outer isle of the library.

Softly she stepped to ensure that no sound came from her direction. Her left hand held a handful of fabric from her gown so that it didn’t draw attention. She would slip close to the bookshelves and inch her way along. Once at the base she slowly peered out. A soft gasp escaped her lips as she pushed herself back so that she could slip to the next isle. Slipping once more into the shadows, as she would be safe to wait there for the guard’s departure.

She froze where she was when she heard footsteps coming along the isle toward her. They were not heavily armored footsteps, so it could only be Joscelin. What was he playing at? She figured that he would be trying to get the guards to leave the library. She watched as he placed a book back upon the shelf. Her would watch him from the safety of her shadows. Hoping he would leave with the company of the guards.

[Joscelin Trevalion]

Joscelin lolled his head to look toward her. Aslinn, unlike Joscelin himself, was safe there within the shadows and wouldn't be held accountable for anything that night. That was fine with him to say the very least. Idly Joscelin had begun to wonder whether or not she'd thank him for taking the fall or whether or not they would even talk once again. Joscelin certainly wouldn't have minded either way. Nonetheless, Joscelin looked away from her and stepped free of the aisle.

"Well, lads..." Joscelin had begun. "I'm ready now." He added and the men nodded to him. There was nothing to say, truly; after all, Joscelin was leaving willingly. If he had given a fight, though, they would have taken him by force and even looked to him suspiciously. That was something he certainly could not afford even for Aslinn. Either way, Joscelin stepped forth without even a word of Aslinn or even leaving a note or message behind. He didn't have time for that, and with so many eyes upon Joscelin, he could only truly take one path and that was to leave.

The men watched him as he sauntered between them and to the doorway. They followed after him without much of a word beyond what one would expect from the protective. It was a warning and a telling that he should not do such a thing once again. That one should respect the curfew that was set over the castle proper and that Joscelin was not an exception to that.

Joscelin, though, didn't argue.

He disappeared within the hall and with the doors swinging shut behind the last man who passed his lantern over the library proper once more before leaving. Then Aslinn was finally left alone, and Joscelin himself, was left with the company of several men assuring that he was returned to his chambers. It was a rather short night for Joscelin, or so he thougght, yet he had no complaint.

Mayhap he'd speak to Aslinn another day and pick up where they left off.