Rain


Marie looked over her shoulder, desperately praying that the horseman behind her would have lost her trail by now, but in this curtain of rain and the clouds of her breath, she could see naught but the mud kicked up by her steed's hooves, and the rain falling so heavily behind her. Looking ahead as far as her eyes could possibly focus, and what was this? A very faint, but very real glimmer of light, salvation! Some flurry of hope welled up inside her as she spurred her tired equine mount towards this distant spark of hope.


A huge dark shape suddenly loomed up from out of nowhere before her . The startled horse reared sending Marie sprawling into the thick muck. He heard the breath rush from her lungs as she hit and a grim smile lit his face.


He slowly dismounted and ignored her terrified horse as it thundered away. He drew a long wicked knife and began to close in on her. “So you think your will is your own eh you harlot? Well even your life belong to another… ME! Hahahahah. It was a cold laugh devoid of any mirth and as she tried to scramble away the cloying mud kept he rooted in place as her death approached. She watched the knife as he raised it over his head…


Marie's voice faded from a bloodcurdling scream to a near silent cry of help, the stragest thing was, she didn't feel the knife as her attacker plunged it so deeply into her body, it was the split second the adrenaline coursing through her veins began to settle down, "Oh god. Ca fait mal!"


"MURDER MOST FOUL!" Someone screamed and then repeated it before a fear-wrought face swam into view. "Mon Dieu! Qu'est que-y sa passe. Oh its just a girl." He lifted Maries head out of the wattery muck and cradled her body against his. In an instant he was covered in her blod.

"Can you hear me - you're going to be fine - its just a scratch - comprehendre?"


Marie nodded, "Oui monsier." she managed to say, "Who are you?"


“Parlez pas! I am Francois Le Carre’” He lifted her easily even though her clothes were now sodden and muddy wreckage. As quickly as he could he slipped and slopped his way down the road and Marie buried her face in his neck.


He could feel her warm blood dripping through his fingers as he carried her and it seemed like an eternity getting to town. Soon enough he did arrive and made for Le Plume Verte Taverne and without breaking stride booted the door and dashed in bearing his fading prize.


“M’Aide! M’aide! Elle infiniment est blesse’. Cherche le medcine!” (Help me! Help Me! She's been badly hurt! Get the doctor!) Several patrons swept tankards of ald and plates of Mutton from a filthy table and francois carefully placed the wounded girl down.


Can you hear me? You're safe now the doctor is coming, Try not to move - you understand?" He wiped clods of mud from her face and saw she was barely out if her teens. Who would do such a thing.


Marie nodded weakly, "im sorry father.." she whispered again.


Father?" One of the Inns patrons said half confused and half in jest. "Want to share with us Francois how you have such a lovely daughter?" Francois slugged the man in the chest - clearly they were close "Cochon!" He growled. "Whats going on here? AHH! Que cest sa? (What is this?) a gruff voice from the dor demanded.


"Get her off that filty table - Mon Dieu it would have been better if you left her in the mud outside. Bring her to a proper room. Are you all wolly headded idiots.? A concerned face bearing a handlebar moustache with waxed ends hove into Maries wattery view.

“Alors, mademoiselle. What has happened here." he took a quick look through the rent in her dress and shouted. "Vite vite! Allonez-y!" (Quick quick lets go!)

Marie blinked repeatedly the voices around her were making her head swim, already she felt as if she were drifting off into a wonderful sleep, "Papa....Je suis désolée"

"What is she saying doctor?"saked Francois."She thinks I am her Papa..."

"Shes delerious ignore her. Now get out I have work to do. "Mademoiselle can you tell me your name?"

Even as he asked his hands were removing her soaking clothes.

What he could not easily remove he cut away

Marie looked at the moustached man in front of her face, "My name? Marie Lysette of Lyon.."

"His eyebrows raised slightly but he made no other reaction. He carefully probed the long slice in her side and she moaned. "Ok then Marie, just relax now. I am going to have to stitch this wound to stop the bleeding." He removed a bottle of clear liquid from his leather bag and lifted her head so she could drink. "Je sais! It tastes terrible. But it will help with the pain so thats my girl take another sip."


Marie clenched her teeth tightly, every nip ofthe needle feeling like a knife all over again, "Ah mon dieu!" she shrieked, "Ca Fait mal!"


Marie clenched her teeth tightly, every nip ofthe needle feeling like a knife all over again, "Ah mon dieu!" she shrieked, "Ca Fait mal!"

"Justement finis! One more and that should do it. There! All done. You were very brave Marie. Now you must rest. I will have Francois take you somewhere safe. You understand?


"Reste tranquil mademoiselle. (Be calmed Miss) you will feel a bit week for a few days but you will be good as new in no time. FRANCOIS!" He bellowed


A very agitated Francois flew into the room wide eyed with concern. "Oui?"


"Take her to your farm - tonight. She may still be in danger and until we find out why shes not safe here. Francois moved towards Marie but the doctor placed a firm hand on his chest stopping him.


"Mais, tabernac, Qu est ce que to a pensee? {What the f*** do you think you're doing)" Francois blinked in confusion.


"What?"


"Go get clean maudit!" You look like one of your pigs for Christ sake”


He stumbled from the room as confused and rattled as he was coming in and the doctor was shaking his head.


"And get her something she can wear!”


The doctor turned to Marie. "He’s a good boy that Francois - just a bit of an idiot is all." His smile was warm and kindly and for the first time since she escaped she felt safe

Not too far away, a man with short, cropped, brown hair watched the whole thing, then waited until they had gone until he spurred his White stallion into action. "Depeche-toi!" He kept muttering, knowing he might not have much time. He wanted to make sure the girl was ok, as run away harems were too commonly murdered, be it by her master or by hunters hired. He didn't harbor any ill will towards these people, he just wanted to make sure she was taken care of.

He entered the tavern to see the doctor hunched over her, and he blew out a sigh of relief. Although he did not know this woman, he had felt a strong urge to help her. When he heard the name...Marie Lysette of Lyon, he laughed silently. A harem with a name fitting a noble. But how little being a noble meant. He himself was a noble, Jean-Luc Forestier of Marseilles, but he left that life behind.

He helped himself to a pint, and sat down, waiting for them to finish so that he could share a word with Marie.

Marie's eyes drifted between open and closed as the kindly doctor worked on her; she'd been so damned convinced that this was it...this was her time..but here she was, alive and hopefully fit enough to work out a new life for herself.

A clap of thunder at the window caught the corner of her eye, and for a moment, she could have sworn she saw a beautiful white stallion outside.

But as soon as she thought she had seen it, it seemed to disappear again. A figment of her imagination perhaps?

After a protest from herself that was was feeling hungry, and after concerned expressions from the doctor, he gently carried Marie out to the seated area in front of the bar and barked for someone to get her some food.

She let out a slow breath as she felt the pain of the wound radiating throughout her body, but compared to the pain of the initial attack,this was nothing.

Looking around the bar patrons, she caught a few of them watching her with rapt fascination, which unsettled her a little bit.

One genetleman in particular however,seemed more interested than most.

"Pardonnez-moi monsiuer...do i know you?"

-----------------------------------------------

((I apologise for the terrible french...i was an awful languages student at school))

Jean-Luc stood up, and made a bow at his waist.

"Ahh, madamoiselle, I hope you are feeling a bit better? Can I interest you in a drink? Ahh, how rude, here I am offereing drinks, and I haven't offered my name. Je m'appelle Jean-Luc Forestier de Marseilles. From what I heard, you are Marie Lysette de Lyon. I trust your day hasn't been this bad? Seems that it ended on a dreadful note. Here, allow me to take you back to Marseilles. I saw the entire situation, and I could get you far out of this place, grant you a new life, and you could still keep your Lyon heritige. Paris is not far, you would have everything we need. Either way, if you permit me, I would like to accompany you, help keep you out of harm. So, Mme Lysette, what shall our next move be?"

Marie looked over at Jean-Luc somewhat incredulously, here was a man she'd literally just met, and he was offering to take her to marseilles?

"Forgive me monsieur, but I think I should at least rest the night here..after...after all that has happened today...im quite exhausted.."

She swallowed softly, looking very grateful as the bar owner brought her over some food and something to drink, "merci..." she said meekly, tentatively taking some of the bread from the plate and nibbling on it, she'd been on the run for about a week from those men, and she'd barely eaten in that time..

"I don't want to keep my lyon heritage...it's my heritage that has landed me in this mess to begin with.." she cried, "I need to start anew..."

Jean-luc smiled at her.

"Take as long as you wish, madamoiselle. And if you need to start anew, then you can be introduced as a noble of Marsailles. And yes, you're probably wondering why I'm being this kind towards you. Well, it's complicated really. A lot of things are happening in Marsailles, and we need a new lady in the nobility. I'm being very picky about who we wish to have in the family, and well, frankly, I'm the last one. Our plantation workers revolted, killing my father and brother. My mother died of disease a week later, and my two sisters each went crazy, on commited suicide. I was the only one who could keep a cool head. And, I'd like to see you out of this horrid existence, and hopefully get you in a better life. But, of course, I cannot force anything of you."

Marie loked sideways at Jean-Luc as she nibbled thoughtfully on a lump of cheese, this was a rather random and at the same time unique oppurtunity...

"i...I don't know what to say.." she swallowed, sure she enjoyed the luxury ofa noble existence, but at the same time she wanted to be in touch with the simpler folk who had so readily saved her life today.

"I will certainly consider your offer most carefully monsieur...but it would require some careful thought and planning.."

The doctor and Francois conferred for a short time and he nodded his understanding of the doctor’s orders. From his bag he produced two bottles of liquid and first explaining one and then the other.

“Merci infiniment Gaston,” (Infinite thank you’s, Gaston) Francois shook the doctor’s hand. “I don’t know what we would have done with out you.”

“You would have done without probably…” He chuckled. “Don’t worry, she is not badly injured – she was very lucky n’est pas?” Both men looked at the slender girl. Marie had been helped to sit up and she was taking a bite to eat.

“Let her eat what she can, she is very thin. But get her home quickly tonight. I have something to check but I will be in to see you at the farm tomorrow. No exertion; remember.” Francois nodded at the older man and watched him scurry away.

He watched the rogue begin to talk to Marie and he suddenly had a terrible thought occur to him. What if this man was in league with the assassin? He approached the bartender Gaston

“C’est qui ca?” (Who’s that?) He whispered to Gaston. He shrugged in reply and continued to polish the already spotless bar top. Francois’ suspicious mind was working over time now. This could be just coincidence that this concerned man arrived moments after the attack on Marie – but in his own colourful past he had long come to realize that there was no such thing as coincidence. He walked over to the tables and slipped into an adjacent chair.

“Alors, we must be going now, Marie.” He wrapped a heavy woolen cloak over her shoulders and helped her to stand. He turned to this Jean-Luc who was clearly a nobleman by his finery.

“I thank you for your concern for my sister here, but you need not trouble yourself further M’Lord. I am sure we are both very grateful to you Monsieur…?” His aforementioned colourful past included knowing just how to coax information from the unwary. He would now see how uninvolved this newcomer actually was.

Jean-Luc smiled, and bowed to the man.
"Est-elle ta soeur? Ahh, bon, bon! Now, I must offer my apologies. I shall leave you and your family as it's firm and independent family that it is now. Unless, of course, you wouldn't mind having an extra person help keep those ruffians away for a bit. But yes, I am your vassal in this duty. It is time for power to go back to the people. What do you order, Messegnieurs?"

He layed his blade down at the feet of the family in front of him.

François’ mind was working overtime. This Jean-Luc was a bit of a mystery. Why was he so concerned about such a minor incident? He seemed a nobleman of some rank, which made this even more baffling for the simple farmer. He would let this man assume Marie was his sister for now – at least until he could discover this mans true intentions.

His eyes widened in surprise and he watched in horror as this young man laid his sword at his feet – so did everyone else in the taverne.

“Mais pas ici!” (Not here!) François hissed at Jean-Luc. He unconsciously used his toe and foot to launch the sword upward where he caught it deftly by the hilt. He quickly pressed the blade back into the hands of its owner. “J’acceptez ton offer.” I accept your offer. I have a wagon in the stables and a brown mare – bobbed tail. Can you make it ready? I would like to invite you to my home – to repay you your kindness to my… sister.” Marie still nibbled her cheese while watching the exchange between these two men.

His initial shock and worry for her life had now faded, thanks to the doctor, and for the first time he looked AT her; really looked. Even with the smears of mud on her face and bits of grass and dirt in her hair she was rather pretty. Her bright brown eyes twinkled as she looked up from her cheese. Still he could see in them a pain that went beyond her physical injuries.

“We have to get the wagon ready, can you wait here, Marie?” A curious look came over Francois as he looked at Marie. He glanced up at the curious patrons staring at the three of them. He looked back at Marie. “Reste ici.”(Stay here.)

Francois strode to the bar and leaned in to speak with the Gaston. “Mon ami, Je te laisser quelque chose ici. Je le besoin encore. (My friend, I left something here. I am going to need it again.) Gaston nodded and disappeared into the back. He returned with a long bundle wrapped in brown homespun. François took the package and turned to discover everyone was still watching him. One old man seated at a table began to clap very slowly. A broken toothed smile lit his wrinkled countenance. He was joined by another and another. They stood to applaud and as he returned to where Marie sat some clapped him on the shoulder with a heartfelt Bravo or Vivre le France.

He helped Marie to stand before lifting her into his arms.

“Wish us luck mes chere amis, wish us luck.”

OOC:
Everyone, I'm sorry, I understand that I might ahve f***ed up the story, so i'm just gonna stop now before I do more damage.

IC
Jean-Luc looked between the two, and bowed yet again. "Everyone, I must revoke my offer. It seems that my presence here is not desired, so I shall not force it upon anyone. So now, escusez-moi, mes amis, I must be on my way."

With that, he walked out the door, mounted his stallion, and set off, back to Marseilles.

Karn, your spot on. We will absolutely work with whatever you write. You will direct events just like we will, so soldier on. You will be called back.

email me [email protected]

Mike

ooc: After being asked to come back, I did give it some thought. I decided that maybe we could all work with every preceding event, so, I am back.

IC
Once Jean-luc had left, he and his horse hadn't made it far. Bad vibes had tortured him ever since his departure, almost to the point of him not being able to stand himself. He looked back at the road, not too far, maybe a couple hours or so, one hour if he rode hard, and he thought. Pleasant thoughts, such as those of him foraking marsailles and all it's noise and bustle, and finally putting his skills to use other than entertainment, maybe real use to help people. He looked hard at his rapier. This wasn't his ceremonial one. This was a real, tempered steel blade. And workmanship this deadly didn't deserve a spot on some noble's hip. He threw his cloak over his shoulder, turned the horse around, and spurred it into a hard sprint back towards the tavern.

"These chivalrous thoughts are gonna get me killed one day" is all he told himself.