Sword Fighting
"So you two were accidentally caught for poaching," Robin said softly looking at Will with round eyes.
"We wanted to get caught…" Will smiled.
Robin sputtered and looked up, "You wanted to get caught?"
"Yep…"
"Even if it meant certain death?"
"Yep…"
"So, Will, why did you want to get caught by the Sheriff?" Robin asked looking at the young carpenter.
"You didn't hear? Any strong man or boy who could at least swing a sword was to be sent to fight for the King in the Holy Land"
"Is that why you and Luke stole that flour? You knew the Sheriff would hang you for it…"
Will nodded, "We didn't want to go to war, Robin! We were kids!" Robin smiled sadly and looked down. He, a noble, had been taught to fight but villagers, villagers were not but it was time they learned.
"Can you fight with weapons now?" He asked slyly.
"No exactly…"
"Why?"
At this point, Will had learned of Robin's mind games and hissed as the older man pulled a sword on him. He hung his head, he was defenseless.
"Now let me see you dodge!"
"Oh, great…" Will muttered under his breath and moved backwards as Robin began to swing that heavy Saracen sword of his.
Robin smiled and, to give his target a break, stopped for a fraction of a second. But before he could relift his sword he felt his being ripped out of his grasp and he looked up, his sword discarded on the ground and Will with one in his hands. He was smiling smugly.
"I thought you said you couldn't fight with a sword…"
"No, you said 'can you fight with weapons?' I said 'not exactly' If you had asked 'can you fight with a sword' I would have said 'yes' see where you messed up?"
"Smart ass!" Robin growled and made a grab for his sword, Will swinging that death blade of his again and barely missing his arm. "Really," another swing, another close call, "Really," A backhand swing, Robin had to duck to miss "Really," Forward thrust, just jump back! "Smart, Will!" He grabbed his sword and brought it up to meet Will's. "Now. Are you ready for a real lesson?" There was a soft twinkle in his eyes and Scarlett swallowed in fear and tightened his grip on the sword.
"Not really…" He said under his breath. "Buy you are going to teach me anyway, right?"
"Right."
"Damn it…"
After a few hours of repeated blows and grunts, Will and Robin dragged themselves back to camp, almost too tired to drag their own swords but they struggled through it.
"What did you two do, try to beat up Gisborne?" Allan asked slightly, smiling at their appearance.
"I think he means you look horrible…" Much sighed, handing both a bowl of hot soup. They had smiled and nodded their thanks before, on Robin's part, scarfing it down and licking his lips. He held out his bowl for more but all he got was a stern look from Much and a smile from the others.
"Roy has yet to eat…" John commented and Hood nodded, understanding but still hungry.
"Here…" Will suggested, "Have mine…"
"You're not hungry?" Much asked, insulted.
"No. I have quite a headache, actually." He growled and laid back onto the leaves, hands behind his head.
"You tried to win in a sword fight didn't you?" Allan asked and, to Will's amusement, Robin nodded and bowed his head.
"He is better than people give him credit for."
"Who's what now?" Roy, making himself known, usual bandana wrapped tightly around his head, questions. "Is he really? Let's have a go then!" He bandished his own weapon and smiled.
"Yeah!" Robin punched the air and Will hissed. He sat bolt up-right and brought his bony fist to Robin's jaw, sending the outlaw sprawling onto the forest floor, unconscious.
"No…" He whispered before climbing to his feet, "Goodnight…"
"Wow…"