Hello everybody!
This is the sequel of my story "Pay, obey or play?" and a continuous Season 4 of BBC:s Robin Hood. Hope you like it as much as I do!

Chapter 1 - The new old life

"I do not know why you're being so cranky." Much says and throws a light green grape into his mouth. "John and his family are here, Lizzy and Allan lives just around the corner and I am here as well! You should be happy!"

Robin is leaning over the dinner table looking peevish at his old friend.

"Yes and why are you here so often, Much?"

There has been nearly six months since the Merry Men of Sherwood split up to go their separate, legal ways. Friar Tuck went with Father Cornelius back to the village of Langar and found a purpose joining the church there. Little John moved back in with his wife and son in Locksley- a life he is very much pleased with living, even though Fanny forced him to have his hair cut in a way he would not have chosen himself. It is too short in the back with straight bangs, which just becomes fluffy once being made out of John's thick hair.

The actors couple Mary and Robert planned to go on a road-trip through England in search for some new talents. Normally, Lizzy would go with them but after everything that had happened they both knew that their daughter's love for Allan would keep her behind. But even so they would see each other again! Allan and Lizzy has started to run a local pub together in Locksley, close to their friends, and share the top floor as their home. To Allan's disappointment Lizzy insisted that she would sleep in one end and he in the other, since it would be the proper thing to do. He loves her enough not to complain.

Robin himself lives in Locksley Manor, in his full right! The very first minute of his settlement he departed with all his servant plus gave them a little money to make up for the inconvenience. He does not care to admit it, but he does not like the way things turned out- for himself, that is. And since all the others are so wrapped up in themselves there never comes a moment for him having to confess it.

Also quite recently in the beginning of that first month in Locksley, England was struck by sorrow and grief when receiving word from Châlus in France saying that King Richard had died from an arrow wound on the 6th of April. Amongst the people Robin felt the most lost and the more hopeless in the turn of that hour. He is trapped in his past, where Marion can still be with him, and now he has sort of returned to his childhood as well by living in the old house. And it brings back all kinds of memories.

Prince John was crowned King of England about six weeks after Richard's death, but Robin did not tend the occasion even though he was invited. His disgust, or merely his pride, made him not to.

Going back to Much, he moved in to his manor first thing and enjoys it fully! Robin, Allan, John and Lizzy helped him unpack and then they ate and celebrated the beginning of a new life. Bonchurch is not as large as Locksley Manor, but why should Much care? It is a house made of stone and wood painted in dirty yellow which has two floors and room for two servants, one old chap named Granger and a young cook by the name of Emily. Emily is the younger sister of Angel Boxham.

But now, let's return to the present!

"I thought you liked me coming to visit you?" Much wonders, offendedly.

Robin smiles amusingly and shakes his head. Much looks dejected.

"Alright, I miss you!" he exclaims. "That's the honest truth, Robin!"

Much walks up to the open door and looks out. It is a beautiful fall day, the sky is covered my several small clouds and light is streaming down from a mild sun. Down at the market he can see John buying flower and his son, who is also named John, running around playing with two other boys. One of them Much recognises as Angel's and Emily's thirteen year old brother, Timothy.

Robin takes a reassuring hand on Much's shoulder and looks at him with a smile.

"Do not worry, my friend!" he continues. "You'll always be welcome here."

Much sighs.

"Well I do like the sound of that."

Two young women leads a white horse towards the stables close by the manor. It is Angel and Emily. Blue suits Angel- she is wearing a gown in just that colour. Her frizzled hair is put up making a few hairs from her bangs lie comfortably in proportion to her beautiful face. Emily's freckled face are lit up by cold-bitten cheeks while she is wearing a plain pink dress.

"Good morning, Sir Robin." Angel greets, humbly. "Sir Much."

They both gentlemen nod friendly in return and observe the ladies as they pass them by. Robin turns to Much, who he sees has his sight fixed on Emily.

"So!" he cries out, making Much jump up in the air of surprise. "That's what this is about!"

Much looks confused and knowing at the same time.

"I do not know what you are talking about..."

Robin grins.
"Yes, you do! She is a very pretty girl, as we all can see. You might as well admit it!"

"No, but it's not her looks that I care about! She has the kindest spirit and loveliest manner I've ever seen a girl possess!" Much declares. "We have spent a lot of time talking, about everything. But she cooks for me, Robin! And it's awful!"

Robin finds it strange that Much's behaviour is cheerful at the same time as he looks to be nauseous!

"The food or her being your servant?" Robin wonders, teasingly.

"I can't be in love with a woman working for me!" he cries out.

Robin is astonished.

"In love?!"

Much does not take notice to his outburst and continues his own charade.

"Just look at what happened between me and Eve! It didn't work!" he exclaims. "A nobleman should not consort with his own servants."

Robin would do best not to giggle, but looking at the hilarious Sir Much declaring his romantic problems as if they were made to die for is one of those situations that will make his full discretion nearly impossible to achieve.

"How noble of you, Much."

"I wasn't thinking of her, I'm thinking of me! And how horrible it is having her under my roof every day. Just think about it for a moment and you will understand!"

"But you see I don't understand, Much!" Robin contradicts, crossing his arms. "If you like this girl you should be happy that she at this early point in your acquaintance willingly is staying in your house!"

"Do not joke about this, Robin." Much says.

"I'm not! I'm just saying that you should go with the opportunity, my friend."

After she has parted with her sister, Angel enters the stables. She walks in front of the horse, named Bud, and leads him into his chambers. She takes up a brush with her right hand and starts to clean his back, smoothly sweeping the other over his hair. She small talks with him, mentioning how wonderful their ride had been and how she felt lucky bringing her warmer coat. Then Lizzy comes into the stables, making Angel smile widely.

"Lizzy!" she observes.

"Hello, Angel! Been for a ride, have you?"

Lizzy reaches out a hand, holding a red-yellowish apple. Bud instantly catches his eyes on it and in less than a second it is gone. The two ladies laugh.

"Yes." Angel answers. "You do know that you are beginning to sound more and more like Allan by every day?"

Lizzy giggles, guiltily.

"I guess that's the prize I have to pay." she says.

Allan's familiar and big nosed face appears in one of the open windows of the horse cell and startles them.

"Pay for what?"

Lizzy looks knowingly at him.

"Nothing, dearest."

At this point Allan and Lizzy have not gotten accustomed to their growing relationship. They obviously see themselves as a couple, but it is still a bit awkward acknowledging it and that is why Lizzy uses her sarcasm to make it a little less so. But it is okay with Allan.

"Oh! Using those nicknames now, are we?" he says, teasingly, in reply.

Lizzy can clearly see what it is that she is taking after. They are interrupted by Bud , who whinnies as he sees Robin walking, as always with his heels first, into the stables.

"Here the great landlord comes himself!" Lizzy exclaims, throwing out her arms in a welcoming gesture.

Robin smiles as he stops in front of them.

"Good morning to you too, Lizzy." Robin greets.

"Has Much told you about his problem?" Allan asks, leaning inside through the window.

Now Robin giggles.

"You know about it?"

Allan gives away an amused laugh.

"Sure we do! Whenever she's around he gets either numb or over talkative..."

Lizzy catches up after him.

"...thoughtful and keen on whatever she does or say."

Robin looks at Angel, sister of the girl in question, who smiles gently.

"It's not too hard to notice, Sir." she finishes. "Would any of you like to go for a walk? I feel a terrible need of stretching my legs."

"Gladly!" Lizzy answers, though Allan does not look too pleased.

"No! Lizzy I was hoping to borrow you for a while... I need your help down at the pub. If you don't mind?"

Lizzy and Angel share a knowing look and she nods.

"Fine! Sorry then, Angel."

Angel walks away from Bud and closes the wooden wicket behind her.

"I could use a walk." Robin says. "If you'll have me?"

She smiles against him and his eyes are for a moment captured in her honest, brown ones.

"Of course, Sir."

The two go through the back door and starts walking up into the forest. The air is chilly and the ground is filled with leaves in sun kissed colours. They walk silently next to each other for a few moments.

"Soon these trees will be frosty..." Angel points out.

Of all the surroundings Robin can set his eyes on- the nearing pond, the bleak tree crowns covering the light of the sun or his companion herself- he looks down at his feet!

"I've never cared much for winter." he says. "It makes people spend their time indoors and then they become restless."

"True." Angel continues. "Though I believe there is much to gain during this season. Some indoor-sitters just need a kick in the back and then, at the end of the day, they might have discovered something."

The pond now lies right in front of them and Angel sits down on a boulder as she crosses her arms so that the grey fleece shawl is wrapped closer to her body.

"But that thought cannot help me from loving summer!" she adds with an easy laugh. "With all it's warmth."

Robin bends down and picks up a small stone.

"Speaking of backs!" he starts. "You're quite the horse lady, aren't you?"

"Indeed I am. They are my favourite amongst animals! I sometimes even like them more than people."

Robin throws the stone with a long arm movement and it splashes in the water by the other side.

"They are easier to talk to anyway."

The latter Angel only pronounced as a mumble to herself but Robin could not help over-hearing it. He turns against her with a peculiar expression on his face.

"You talk to them?" he wonders, unconvinced. "To the horses?"

Angel looks up, shrewdly smiling at him.

"If you define talk as two beings exchanging words or sentences that is not the case." she answers, sincerely. "It's more like communicating. I understand their ways and sense what they feel."

Robin looks thoughtfully at the woman next to him. He is still not at all convinced.

"Well, I certainly haven't heard anything like that before!" he says with an amused smile.

"Many things exist without our knowledge, Sir Robin." she says while watching the sparkling water, which is, just like the ground mentioned before, filled with leaves plus pink waterlilies.

"One should live in belief instead of denial, especially when it comes to things that hardly seem likely to be true." she continues. "If you think like that you will be a little less surprised when those things actually happen."

Robin cannot help but to smile.

"I agree." he adds but the smile disappears shortly after. "There is no way of telling what the future might bring."

After a moment, Angel suddenly starts laughing.

"What?" Robin wonders, trying not to laugh himself.

"Sorry!.. I was just thinking that some people might say that perhaps your relationship with your bow can be placed under the category of 'things out of the ordinary'!"

Now they both laugh.

"That's just skill!" he explains.

She shakes her head.

"No, don't be so sure about that, Sir! Others can say it's because of a special bond or something like it!"

"And all these beliefs and wise advise has been given you in that special way too? Or is that merely your parents good work?"

Angel smiles still, but her gaze seems a little more distant. Robin can see that she is remembering something.

"They did a pretty good job, in fact."

The smile on her lips fades and the all so cheerful disposition is replaced by a sad one. She looks down at her fingers.

"My father died thirteen years ago." she confesses. "When Sheriff Vaisey was stepping in for Sir Edward while he was away in London. Our family was caught hiding a couple of farmers who had not been paying their taxes, so to save his family he gave himself up and was made an example of..."

Robin feels mean to have raised the question about her parents. He did not wish to bring up any old wounds in her heart. Or in anyone's.

"Angel... You did not need to explain." he insists. "Of all people I know how painful it can be to dwell in the past. I know, 'cause I'm there constantly."

She gives away a friendly smile.

"It's alright, Sir. Only I myself merge love with the intention to live and dwell in the present."

Robin's eyes are widened and he looks at her with a long face.

"In other words, the past has no power over you?"

"Not if I let it."

There is jet another pause with silence. Then Robin stands up straight.

"I must go back." Robin finally says.

Angel arises from the boulder to say goodbye.

"Have a nice day then, Sir."

He sighs impatiently.

"Please, Angel, stop calling me that!"

She smiles gently.

"As you wish, my lord."

Robin lays down on the bed and takes hold of the necklace on his nightstand. He looks at the wooden amulet with the burnt marks of a bow and arrow inside a circle.

Will it ever be the same? he wonders. What was his life to become if he did not live in the forest? He feels imprisoned here, even more than he has ever felt actually sitting behind bars. To keep it short, it did not feel as he thought it should. But, like Angel said, things might just change direction and nobody can imagine what lies ahead. Whether it is to be good or bad.