When she thinks Will isn't watching, Djaq will happily watch him go about his business – wittling away at a piece of wood he's picked up on a jaunt through the forest, calming the latest fight between Allan and Much, coming up with a new ingenious plan to smuggle the entire gang into Nottingham castle. Whatever Will is doing, Djaq is almost always there to watch. She observes his every movement with two sets of eyes. The eyes of a physician – a physician who knows all the Latin names of his muscles and bones, who appreciates Will's body as a perfect example of the healthy (if slightly underfed) man. But more importantly she watches as the woman who for nearly a year now has had an enormous crush on the young carpenter – the woman who has memorized each muscle and sinew that stretch pleasingly and aesthetically across his chest and back, down through his torso and down each leg. Knowingly or unknowingly Will is the subject of Djaq's intimate thoughts for more than most of the day.
On one level, Djaq mused once as she sat by the camp fire mashing some herbs into a fine paste, she was ashamed of herself for having such blatant lewd thoughts about her close friend and colleague. Saffiya would never have had such thoughts about any man in Acre. But she was a different person now, thankfully. Prolonged exposure to these English and their different rules of courtship and proper behaviour had made her want to forget her old ways of home and embrace those of here.
She would often fantasize, on the cold winter's evenings around the campfire, about one day marrying Will Scarlett. She did not know where – in what country or on what continent. But these trifles did not matter in the world of fantasy. In the mind, one can be wherever one wants. And she was always with him.
One such evening, the gang had just finished the last morsels of Much's latest dinner offering.
"Much, that was delicious. Another triumph." Robin complimented his best friend, whose ears turned pink with pride.
"Thank you, Master" he said, with a grin, as he placed his bowl on the floor and leant back, pillowing his head with his hands.
"What's the plan then?" asked Allan, who was reaching behind John to fetch the last pitcher of ale.
"For what?" replied Robin.
"Tomorrow. We've got the stash now – what are we going to do with it?"
Earlier that day the gang had raided a wagon belonging to a merchant doing dealings with the Sheriff. It had been an easy job – only three guards who hadn't even put up much of a fight. They had recovered silver, some jewellery, a sizeable amount of food (a small amount of which they had just consumed) and a small chest full of coins. The merchant had been sent on his way with a warning never to consort with the Sheriff again.
"Deliver the food in rations to the villages. Take a few of the coins with you to buy more blankets from Dunn the Cloth-Maker in Locksley. It's getting colder every day and we've only got the bare minimum here."
Djaq nodded in agreement with Robin – the winter was settling in fast and she was not accustomed to it. She had all her clothes on as it was, trying to keep warm. She looked up as she heard Will's voice.
"I've made a few dolls that the children can share too." He reached under his bench and pulled out two carved wooden dolls and showed them to the others. "Last time I was there they asked me if they could have Robin dolls." Robin laughed at this. "So I carved our symbol under the feet – see?" He turned one doll upside down and revealed a very small but visible symbol of a simple bow and arrow.
"Excellent. That will cheer them up. Good work, Will." Robin smiled at him.
Djaq felt a surge of affection for Will then, as he re-stashed his handiwork and swigged from the ale pitcher. She admired so much his ability to carve wood into anything – watching him do so was a particular pleasure for her. She didn't remember him making the dolls – he must have done it while she was out bathing or collecting medicinal herbs.
She was shocked back into the real world then as she caught him staring back at her. He smiled quickly, blushed, and turned his eyes back to the fire. She didn't even have time to smile back. She found herself grinning at the side of his head, and quickly shifted her attention back to Robin.
"The rest of the loot," he continued "we can stash in the cave on the other side of the North Road until we need it."
"Whatever you say, boss." murmured Allan quietly, assuming the same relaxed position as Much, trying to let his dinner go down.
"I am running out of some medicinal roots Robin – would it be alright if I search for some more tomorrow?" Djaq asked, grasping the front of her blanket and pulling it tighter around herself.
"Why not." Robin mused. "We don't need you for the ration run."
Djaq nodded in thanks.
"But I don't want you going alone. Take Allan with you."
For a split second Djaq's gut reaction was disappointment that he had not said Will. But she knew better than to make a fuss. Allan on the other hand seemed a bit peeved. He liked Djaq and everything, but on the ration run there was always the possibility of a very thankful Maiden coming your way.
"Can't Will go with Djaq? I thought I could help with the ration run…" he whined.
"Will has the toys for the children. I'm sure he'd like to see their reactions when he gives them to them." Robin pointed out.
"Actually," said Djaq, spotting an opportunity, "one of the roots I'm looking for can be found just outside Nettlestone. Will and I could take the toys to the children there and find my root on our way back."
She turned her head to look at Will as she said this, but couldn't quite bare to make eye contact. If she had she would have seen his cheeks flush with colour for the second time.
Robin raised an eyebrow and grinned, knowing full well Djaq's feelings for Will. She was not that hard to read.
"There you go Allan. Another chance for you to impress some girl on the ration run."
Allan smirked as he patted John happily on the shoulder. John just grunted and shrugged.
"Is that okay with you, Will?" Djaq ventured quietly as Much started a conversation about Bonchurch over the other side of the fire.
"Of course." Will replied quickly, flashing her a gorgeous smile that made butterflies erupt in her stomach.
"The… umm…" she floundered as she tried to think of something interesting to say to keep him talking. For such an intelligent, articulate girl she somehow seemed to lose all brain function around him. "The toys are wonderful."
"Thank you." He said, with pride. "It's Christmas in a few months. I thought I could make some more for then."
"Good idea." She said, turning around to face him directly. She didn't appreciate Christmas like the rest of the gang did, for obvious reasons, but she saw how important it was to them and she had enjoyed the celebrations the previous year.
"Do you think they'll like them?" he asked – knowing the answer already but needing to hear it from her just for his own pride.
"Of course they will. You are very talented, Will Scarlett."
He didn't reply, but grinned and passed her the ale pitcher. As she took it from him gratefully she was pleased to feel his fingers brush against hers and a little bolt of shock run up her arm. Moving her arm had also made her blanket fall away and she shivered as a draft of cold air hit her torso.
Will noticed her shiver. "Are you cold?"
"Just a little. I've been here over a year and still don't have the immunity of you English to the cold!" she joked.
"Here," Will said quietly, shuffling across the bench towards her, holding his arms out. The rest of the gang over the other side had noticed, and Allan coughed not-so-subtly but they kept talking none-the-less.
Djaq's heart started to quicken as she knew she was about to have a rare moment of intimacy with the man she most desired. She found herself moving up the bench towards him without even thinking about it until she was happily nestled in the crook of his arm, head bent down and leaning on his shoulder. Will used his free hand to manoeuvre the blanket from her around the both of them.
She loved the feel of his warm body next to hers. She inhaled the distinct scent of Will, mingled with the smoke of the fire and the lingering spicy scent of Much's cooking – and she wondered if she had ever been this happy before. Just for a moment. She slowly let her eyes drift close, being lulled into sleep by the flickering fire and the arms of a handsome man.