Medieval Fantasy AU

It was a beautiful starry night with no moon to outshine the smaller heavenly bodies of light. They sprinkled the sky like a shower of diamonds on a velvet gown of deep blue as the guests began to trickle into the castle. Carriage after carriage unloaded their wealthy passengers, each one more dazzling and grand than the last. So it was with mixed feelings of some trepidation, intimidation, agitation, and hesitation that a young man in a large, plumed hat and a gold-lined purple cloak approached the entrance among the other nobles. He swallowed a nervous lump in his throat, took a deep breath, and steeled himself as he took his first steps into the main hall.

A girl of small stature crept about, ducking behind large, neatly trimmed brushes and trees, keeping herself out of view of the lavishly dressed, and invited, guests. Furthering herself from the crowd, the girl stayed hidden and dashed across the shadowy garden until she'd managed to find her way to the rear of the castle. It only took a few minutes of waiting to find a small door that led into the launderer's wash room. The room was quiet and empty when she helped herself through and once the door had been closed again, the girl was dashing off on silent feet.

The girl, dressed in her worn, patched clothing, hardly looking in place even among servants. So, she snuck quietly, hid when she heard voices or footsteps, and eventually had herself tucked under a rolling cart, hidden by the table cloth spread over it. All she had to do was reach up when the coast was clear and stuff her rucksack with fresh rolls and meats... but the cart was being pushed before she got the chance.

Uttering cusses under her breath, she waited until the cart had stopped and could hear the music and ruckus of the ball. Being part of it hadn't been in her plan... maybe, she thought, if she snuck the rolls before they were all eaten, she'd be able to wait until after the ball and escape. When the coast was as clear as it would be, the girl snuck her hand out from the side of the cart facing the wall and reached up, pawng around for the rolls. Managing to get one, she quickly pulled it under the cart, then tried her luck once more.

The young man headed toward the tables of food concealed his face as best he could under the shadow of his wide-brimmed hat. It would have been so much easier if this was one of those masquerade balls and he could have simply worn his usual mask to hide his features. As it was so far, though, things seemed to be getting along well enough and no one yet seemed suspicious of him or had inquired about his credentials as a noble nor his claims of false lordship.

Licking his lips, the hungry gypsy reached for a roll on the table to satisfy his growling belly before starting violently in surprise. There was already a hand feeling for the same roll! Eyes wide, the imposter of a noble glanced around to see if anyone else had noticed, but it seemed most everyone was busy greeting one another in the center of the ballroom.

With deft, quick fingers, the young man reached for the slender wrist of visible hand and pulled the arm attached to it toward him. He tried to be firm but gentle so as not to hurt the person as he attempted to sweep them into the curtain of his cloak where they would be concealed from the view of other guests. He only hoped whoever it was wasn't armed with the weapons or will to stab him as he pulled them in so close to his own body.