The Dark Knight pushes his way through the tavern doors and glances about the room. His gaze quickly takes in the rough interior and the even rougher clientele. This was certainly a few steps down from his normal accommodations but he is exhausted from travel and it will do. Hardly has he settled his dusty frame on to a stool when he is approached by a tavern wench. She looks haggard and drawn and curtly takes his order, answering his questions in a shrill voice. "Well, this is a just all around pleasant place," he mumbles under his breath continuing to survey the room.
He is watching a card game with mild interest when a tankard of ale is slammed on the table in front of him. Looking up he sees another tavern wench and thinks to himself, "Now this is more like it." She is a buxom lass with fresh features and he takes his time looking her over. His eyes travel from her bare feet and legs up to the frayed hem of her skirt. The side has been torn (on purpose he's sure) to reveal a flash of pale thigh. She wears a white peasant blouse with a black corset laced over the top of it. Creamy breasts spill from the neckline and his eyes linger there before continuing up to her face. When he gets there, he nearly spews out the swig of ale he's taken. Her hair is long and blonde and in a loose braid down her back and her bare arms glow in the firelight down to where her hands are placed on rounded hips...but what has him nearly choking are her flashing blue eyes. He's never seen any quite like them and...is she angry with him?
"Seen your fill, have ya?" she asks in a low, sultry voice before turning and flouncing away. He watches the sway of her hips until she is swallowed up in the darkness. The first woman puts a plate of stew in front of him but he is suddenly filled with a hunger of a different sort. He's been to many such places in his travels and seen many a tavern wench but there is something about this one that intrigues him. Shaking his head, he tears off a chunk of bread and begins to eat his stew.
When he's nearly finished, he hears a laugh...and he knows it's hers. Lifting his head, he quickly glances about. Ah, there she is by the fireplace, and if she doesn't look like a Gypsy Queen holding court. Men are gathered around and she is teasing them. She has some kind of betting game going at which they are losing money, but they don't seem to mind. Suddenly she looks up as if sensing his eyes on her. There are those blue eyes again...piercing, assessing, teasing... She raises one eyebrow and mockingly nods her head to him. "My she is a saucy thing," he thinks. His eyes continue to roam over her body as if they have a will of their own. "Get a grip on yourself, Man," he thinks and tears his eyes away. Still they return to her again and again. He can't help but watch her as she serves the customers and flirts her way around the room. But she avoids him and he wonders how he's angered her.
The patrons begin to stumble out the doors and finally there is only he. He's tired but has no desire to leave until he speaks to her again. He hears a woman's shrill voice and then a lower one. And then he sees her...moving towards him a candle in her hand. "Do ye plan on staying with us then, Sir?" she asks in a mocking tone. The Knight has had all he can take. Grabbing her he pulls her in to his lap and slowly takes the candle from her hand, setting it on the table, never taking his eyes away from hers. She is startled he can tell. Her bosom is heaving but she remains outwardly calm. "What might your name be, Lady?" His voice comes out as a growl.
"Aye, Ye must be mistaken. I'm no Lady. My name is Penny." There it is that mocking tone again. He knows of only one thing to do. Lowering his head he claims her ripe, red lips with his own. He feels her sigh as her lips part and his tongue thoroughly plunders the sweetness of her mouth. She presses against him and he feels the soft curves of her body against the hardness of his. One hand winds its way in to her hair while the other roams across her body. The kiss goes on for an eternal moment. It is she who pulls back and he half expects to feel a hand striking his cheek.
She stands and retrieves the candle from the table. Her lips are puffy and red, tendrils of hair have escaped to frame her face but she seems unaffected except for her heaving bosom. "Come. I will show you to your room." Once again he finds himself watching the sway of her hips but this time he rises to follow her. It is torture to follow her up the stairs, remembering the feel of her in his arms. "Penny," he thinks to himself. "An odd name to be sure, but it fits her."
The Dark Knight knows that he could have her if he was willing to take her, no one would deny him...but that has never been his way. Still his body aches as he thinks of what is beneath her clothes, how her body would feel next to his. Finally she stops and pushes a door open. Stepping back, she motions for him to enter. The room is much nicer than he expected and he is immediately struck by the feminine touches. Turning slowly it dawns on him that this is her room. He faces her as she closes the door behind her and advances towards him.