Happier in Rags.

[Intensityrising]

Princess Elizabeth Alliana had soapy water up to her elbows, the front of her ragged dull green dress soaking wet with dish water. She whistled happily as she washed dishes to the Bucking Star Inn on the outskirts of the ALlianaian kingdom. Now washing dishes was not something a Princess would normally do, but Elizabeth had renounced her royalty almost a year ago.

Her Father King Wyrn has pledged her heart and body to a disgusting fat pig of a prince from the neighboring kingdom of Nefaria. Prince Grey was 300 pounds of dirty, sweaty shit but a marriage between Elizabeth and him would unite their kingdoms into the biggest empire in the world. Frankly she would rather die. So instead Elizabeth disappeared into the night wearing nothing but a dress that looked little more than a bag. She had bought it for almost all the gold she had from a servant women who cried her thanks as Elizabeth fled into the night.

She fled as far from the capital palace as she dared, eventually ending up in a small trading town called Kryan, and got herself a job as serving wench in the Bucking Star Inn. As much as she thought she would hate it, the men that slapped her ass and laughed, being spoken too like a wench rather than respected like a royal figure, it all made her excited to face each day. She loved it, and gladly did all the work she was asked. Each night she fell into bed exhausted but fulfilled in knowing that she earned her own place.

Earl Stoneheaven was the owner and had come to treat her like a daughter. He liked the way she worked and often stepped in to stop men from grabbing on her when they had too much ale. He provided her hot meals, and a nice room for her work plus a few coins here and there so she could buy herself a thing or two every once in a while.

She was in love with this life.

Elizabeth:
http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/59/d3/fb/59d3fb16955d8c5e928cdc8e7fb7a136.jpg

 

[12igloo12md]

...

Before I reply, should I be playing a man or a woman?

 

[KiwiD82]

Tired legs carried William Goldstone up the hill and out of Kryan's mercantile district.

A merchant by trade, and a local since birth, William made this climb up cobbled and often muddy streets on a daily basis.

It was, in a sense, a reward. A good day of buying goods and selling wares earned him an evening in the Bucking Star Inn. Despite his name, he was not particularly wealthy - even compared to his fellow merchants - but William Goldstone earned enough profit to treat himself to a hot meal, good drink, and a few familiar and friendly faces. That, at least, he could spend, knowing that his lodgings and taxes were already covered.

Some days were better than others. Today hadn't been particularly strong. He'd sold some dyed wool, fine linen, and a jar of spices. The rest of what he'd moved were low value items: dates, a bit of wheat, and a couple of trinkets.

But that mattered little by the time he saw the familiar shape of the Bucking Star Inn up ahead. It had decent food and the folk who served there seemed decent enough, too.

William pushed open the door of the inn and moved away from the fading outdoor light and into the warm glow of the familiar building. Tall, and of medium build, he quickly scanned the room.

Good, he decided, spying his regular table off to one side. It's empty.

William approached his favourite seat in a partially secluded corner and took off his dusty hat, placing it on the table to show others that this piece of furniture was taken. Dark blonde hair fell loosely now that his headwear was gone, blue-grey eyes keenly searching for an employee as he approached the bar.

"A tankard of mead, if you please," he smiled politely at the first serving woman he could find - a fine looking brunette who had been working at the Bucking Star Inn for a handful of months.

Secretly, it was her smile more than anything else that always persuaded him to come back.

 

[Intensityrising]

Elizabeth was running around like a crazy woman. Darting inbetween tables as the evening brought in the crowd for supper as workmen ended their night and desired drink and hot food. She liked the hussle, it always ended up leaving her a few coins in her pockets extra and the money earned from a night's work felt a thousand times better than money she had taken for granted at home.

A man called to her for a mug of mead and she spun to get the face of the man. She smiled when she saw William, a merchant of some sort. She had seen him around the Inn as well as down in the market on her nights off. He was a handsome enough man, kind, and seemingly content with working through his day and relaxing with a drink at night.

Unlike most of the rabble around here, he never even tried to grab for her ass. Ironically he was probably the one guy in town she wouldn't mind letting have a few pinches if he wanted. She blushed at those thoughts and nodded at him, "Give me but a moment William. I've got to clean a couple of mugs first, lest you want a dirty glass." She told him and hussled herself back into the kitchen.

Earl's wife and daughter were hard at work roasting potatoes from a farm they had behind the inn as well as making a beef stew hardy enough to fill even the biggest man with a single bowl. Fill 'em up fast and they wont eat much, that what Carla and Becky said. Becky was Earl's daughter who had been in a horse accident when she was a little girl, now she was 18 but horribly broken in the head. A shame really as she was pretty enough, but forming two words together proved an impossible task for her.

Elizabeth rushed to the sink and scrubbed out a couple of mugs. She filled one with ale and called back to Jessa, Earl's wife, "I need a bowl of stew please Jessa."

"BOOOOOWWWWWWLLL!!!!" Carla replied eagerly.

Elizabeth smiled, "Thanks."

She stepped back out and rushed to William's table. "Here William, fresh for you big guy." She smirked.

 

[KiwiD82]

William smiled back at Elizabeth. He found he was often doing that in the evenings. The other servers in other inns were nice enough to look at, but Liz - as she liked to be called - stood apart somehow. There was something different about her, but he couldn't quite work out what it was. Perhaps the riddle of Liz would never be solved, but while she remained in town, he was content to try.

"Thank you, milady," he teased goodheartedly in response, handing over the cost of the servings and offering a single silver coin in thanks.

The serving woman wouldn't have known he hadn't had a particularly profitable day, William knew, but that didn't change the amount of effort she was putting into her own work, and a tip was still warranted.

"Busy day today, Liz?" he continued. "I haven't seen you at the markets for a while - I hope Earl isn't underpaying you!"

William knew she was probably too rushed off her feet to reply, but he didn't ask out of mere curiosity. He enjoyed their interactions and worried that failing to talk now might mean he wouldn't see her until the same time on the morrow.

He often engaged in small talk with his servers, regardless of who they were, but Elizabeth's responses were the ones he most wanted to hear.

 

[Intensityrising]

Liz set the mug before William and smirked at the silver coin he slipped into her hand. "Busy as any other day I suppose. We got backed up this afternoon because our beef came late. Tonight's stew is good though, can I get ya a bowl?" She offered, with a smile. "Earl pays me well enough. I eat and I have a warm bed to sleep in. Can't complain."

She cried out as something smacked her hard in the ass. A big lump of a man cackled and held his empty mug out to her. "Why don't you stop yer flirtin' and fill me fucking cup up wench?" His breath nearly made her gag.

Liz gave the man a weak smiled and grabbed the cup. "Of course." She walked up, wincing as her buttcheeks still stung from the whack.

While she was in the kitchen she grabbed a bowl of stew for William, returning to the dining room with both.

She set William's bowl before him and spun to give the mug to the fat man. She shrieked as he grabbed her arm and pulled her forcibly into his lap. She could feel the lumps of his flesh jiggling under her. He smelt of ale and rotted meat. "Heeeeeyy, let's have us some fun."

"Ewww, no let me up you big turd." She spat in his face.

 

[KiwiD82]

The Bucking Star Inn had a lot going for it: good food; a warm fireplace; Liz.

But because it sold alcohol - as did every other inn - it occasionally had to tolerate oafs and ingrates who allowed a bit of ale to rob them of their manners.

And so it was now as Liz got pulled onto the lap of one such filthy citizen.

William had never understood the appeal in trying to take what wasn't freely given. It amounted to a form of theft, in his mind, and as a merchant he abhorred thieves.

The merchant stood up from his seat. He wasn't a trained soldier, and he didn't tend to carry much weaponry with him, but he knew a thing or two about fighting courtesy of a rough childhood. William would normally prefer to use his words to defuse a situation such as this, but he doubted the man's mind, addled with ale, would be able to keep up.

So it was back to a physical confrontation. The merchant had a hunting knife on his belt which he tended to use more for assessing the condition of materials or meats than actual hunting.

Approaching the man, William mustered up some courage, then interrupted: "Leave her alone, you fat fool, or I'll call for Earl, and you'll be in the street before you know what hit you!"

 

[Intensityrising]

Liz pushed at the big man's shoulders trying to free herself from his lap. Her mouth opened to scream for Earl who would make short work of this heap of shit, when William's voice broke through and she froze. Her eyes glanced over at William in fear as she didn't want him hurt either, William was a merchant and didn't look like he could take the blob gripping at her.

The man grunted up at William almost dismissing him, "Go away shit slinger. I got's to spend some time with the lady alone." He cooed and leaned forward to kiss her. His breath nearly made her gag and she shook her head rapidly.

The big guy laughed. "Earl aint doing shit."

"Oh is that right?" Earl roared from right behind the lug. A massive hand grabbed the fat fuck by the hair and lifted him to his feet, Liz squealed as she fell from his lap and stagger into William's arms.

Earl looked at William, "Thank you for stalling this long enough for me to come in. The stew's on the house tonight." Then he turned to Liz. "You okay darling?"

Liz nodded, "Just another evening right Earl?"

She turned to William and looked up into his eyes. "Thanks William." She patted his chest and pushed away gently, though she found herself rather comfortable against him. "I better get back to work." She said softly.

 

[KiwiD82]

Truth be told, William was relieved Earl had arrived when he did. The fat brute had called his bluff and the merchant was just on the verge of trying something stupid when the owner took control.

In fact, the whole situation was resolved so quickly that William found himself catching Liz in his arms before he knew what was happening. Her slender form seemed to for perfectly in his impromptu embrace, although he may have just been trying to convince himself of that.

"Th-thank you sir," he half stammered, still feeling an unexpected surge of adrenaline despite his limited involvement in the altercation.

He turned to Elizabeth, smiling bak at her, then awkwardly letting her go as she patted his chest.

"Happy to do what little I could," he admitted, before dropping his voice to a whisper. "That oaf wouldn't have known what to do with you, Liz. His tiny plaything is probably buried under layers of fat!"

He forced a light chuckle, trying to settle the woman's nerves and those of his own, before walking slowly back to his table to enjoy his meal.

 

[Intensityrising]

The whole situation left them feeling a bit awkward. Liz was beat red when she darted back into the kitchen. Carla pointed at her and shouted, "APPLE!" Which only made her turn redder. Liz was not just feeling embarassed by what happened, she was feeling something else. She couldn't explain it, but it was like a longing. She had spent her life the focus of attention and had more than her share of male suiters. Though she was never able to act upon them as she had to remain pure for the arranged marriage, which she promply bailed on ironically.

Since running away from her kingdom she found herself suddenly feeling those yearnings. The tingle between her legs that suggested the touch of a man might be something she could finally enjoy. Her mind when to William. He was a sweet man, seemingly nice and caring. Not bad to look at either, any more than she was easy on his eyes.

Her royal looks had certainly gone downhill without someone to care for her make-up and hair. Now her long brown hair had a dullness to it that somehow made it more natural looking yet no more attractive than when it had simmered.

She let herself calm down and took a deep breath. Shutting out what had happened tonight, as it was nothing new. She put a smile on and returned to the front from to serve more drinks.

 

[KiwiD82]

William had watched his favourite serving girl disappear into the kitchen as he sat back at his favourite table in his favourite inn.

The overweight and uncivilised brute who had grabbed Liz was being shown the door by Earl as William took his first sip of ale from his tankard. As always, it went down well, sweetening his tongue's taste buds and warming his belly.

As William took his first mouthfuls of his stew, he reflected on the first time he had met Elizabeth. It was her first day working at an inn and it showed. She had got orders mixed up and was fairly slow to serve even when she got it right, but she had smiled and laughed it off, and William and the other patrons had happily forgiven her for it.

Since then, she had become faster, more accurate, and a lot more confident in her position, all while retaining the very attitude and good humour that had won over Earl's regulars in the first place.

William was taking a second sip of his drink when she emerged from the kitchen, and although the merchant wasn't worth backing in a fight, he watched her with a view to protect her if needbe - even if that essentially meant putting himself in harm's way just so she wouldn't have to.

 

[Intensityrising]

(OOC: Heads up. Liz brought William a bowl of stew just before the thug grabbed her. So William has his food and I will continue my post as if he already is eating. )

Liz hustled her way around the room. It was a rather cold night and cold nights were always a bit busier for her than others. Nevertheless Earl's bouncing of the thug ensured that the rest of her night was smooth as can be. The crowd thinned out after they ran out of stew and got low on ape for the evening.

So Liz took free moments to make sure William was happy. "How's everything William?" She would ask with a smile. Perhaps more of a smile than she gave anyone else. The more she thought about it the more alone she felt.

Leaving the palace was more than fleeing from a bad marriage. It made fleeing from anyone and everyone she called a friend. While she had made new friends in Earl and his family, they weren't the kind of companionship she could gain from her own family. So why not look for a man to share her heart and body with?

 

[KiwiD82]

William had finished his stew a short while earlier but he hadn't made any effort to leave. He knew the night was a busier one than usual, but he was deliberately slowing his ale drinking because he wanted to enjoy the warmth of the main room as much as he could - and the warmth of Elizabeth's smile.

"I'm much better now that you're back to your usual cheery self," he grinned, raising his tankard in a casual toast.

He cocked his head slightly as he studied the beautiful woman, her long brown hair resting against her back as her hands rested upon her hips.

"I've had a new shipment of jewellery arrive from Nefaria," he added, unaware of his listener's history with the neighbouring kingdom. "I'm sure there would be something there that would appeal to you if you were to visit the market on your next day off."

William was being more forward than he would usually dare. He was sure that a woman as popular as Liz got all manner of approaches, but seeing the oaf of a patron getting escorted out by Earl had given the merchant an unexpected boost in confidence.

And unlike that other patron, William preferred to respect Liz enough to use words rather than his hands.

 

[Intensityrising]

Liz smiled as William spoke of his shipment of jewels trying to entice her over to visit him. "Nefarian doesn't make anything beautiful except weaponry if you ask me." She said, not wanting anything to do with that land. Not after what she was nearly forced to do with them. "But I've made a few extra coins tonight. Maybe I will come by and browse your wares. You are bound to have something to my liking." She smirked, almost blushing as she hinted at such indecency.

The night had ended far better than she had hoped. The coins she gathered extra tonight would add up to almost a full gold piece and that didnt count her pay from Earl. Long ago she would have thought that was chump change, but now she realized just how far she could make money last if she had need too. She also knew that people had overcharged her outrageously when she was royalty because people knew she could afford any asking price.

Liz looked around and leaned toward William to speak quieter to him. "I am going to walk to the lake after work. Maybe someone would like to join me for a late night walk?" She teased and headed off quickly before she blushed in front of him.

 

[KiwiD82]

William was surprised to receive such a strong initial response and braced himself for the rejection that he worried might follow. But when she turned her apparent dislike for Nefaria into an invitation, he visibly relaxed, unable to hide his surprised smile.

"A walk to the lake would be a privilege and an honour, milady," he grinned cheekily. "I shall stay here until Earl kicks me out at closing."

William was still smiling when she turned to leave, and he leaned back in his chair, quite proud of himself for having caught the attention of the prettiest serving girl in town.

He took even longer to drink his ale after that, savouring every sweet sip, occasionally smiling to nobody in particular and even uncharacteristically allowing himself to enjoy the conversations of others as he patiently watched the night pass by.

When Earl bellowed the final call, William was slow to get to his feet, finally setting down the empty tankard and wandering casually into the street. It was only then that he felt nervous and time began to drag by painfully slowly.

But he didn't really mind the discomfort. Soon he'd be sharing more time with Liz, and that was something well worth waiting for.