Fred slung the last box of clothes into her closet, holding the door still open she looked over the box filled space -she won't hang everything up on the first day- at that point her room mate walked in. Fred had met her room mate when she had come to visit the University, Annie was much like Fred, but was more out going and in with the crowds, where as Fred liked to keep herself to herself. Annie was a nice girl, with long golden hair and she always had stray plaits, her eyes bright blue, and they reminded Fred of Allan A Dale, the man she had met a year ago nearly to the day. How Fred missed him and the others, she would often dream of adventures which had not happened, of her friends and even of Gisborne, who hid inside a dark shell.
'I hope you unpack them soon, you don't want wrinkles.' Annie smiled as she placed a box of her own clothes near her closet. She stood up straight and looked to the last remaining box on Fred's bed, 'What about that one, you gonna unpack it?'
Fred turned and followed Annie's gaze to the box. The box wasn't too small and it wasn't too big, but just big enough to hold every drawing she had drawn after her adventure with Robin Hood and his Merry Men.
'Can I see some?' Annie asked walking round her bed and to Fred's.
Fred shook the memories off and moved to the bed. 'You won't like them, there just doodles.' Fred lied; she knew like everyone else Annie would love the drawings and make a few comments on all of the men she had drawn, but two. Those two happened to be the Sherif and Ronan.
Ronan still haunted her thoughts and memories, she still hadn't found him through any of the Gateways she had ventured through that summer before Uni'; all summer Fred had tried to get back to Robin and the others, but was unsuccessful. She had found many new places, but she had not stayed in them long enough to meet people, each time she saw a new Gateway, she had wished it to be one to take her back to her friends, but none did. Fred had thought about giving up, but she remembered the promise she had made to her friends, and so she kept looking for a Gateway to take her back.
Annie opened the box and dipped her hands in pulling out one of the drawings of Gisborne. 'Who's he?' Annie raised her eyebrows.
'Someone.' Fred shrugged, knowing it would be nice to have someone to talk to, other than the twins - who thought she had just made up a new story- but knowing she couldn't talk about it.
'Come on, you can tell me, who are all these people? They're so detailed, if they were actors, I would know. So come on.' Annie's face lit up.
Fred smiled, she loved who Annie was, how pushy she could be and how sweet, kind and strong Annie could be, even though they hardly knew one another, it was as if they had been friends for years. 'They're just characters, Annie.' Fred laughed as she wandered over to the half empty box, she crouched down and began to place the framed photo's of her family on her bedside table.
'Oh, the characters from stories.' She stressed the words and laughed.
'Okay, laugh it up, but the Twins love those stories.' Fred smirked.
A knock came at their open dorm-room door and in walked a guy with blondish brown hair and green eyes. He was quite tall and Annie seemed to take an interest in him, unlike Fred.
'Hey, I'm down two doors from here, we're having a party tonight for the whole floor, can we count you two in?' He smiled toothily.
Annie nodded, 'Of cause. Right Fred?' Annie shot her head round to see Fred picking up her box of drawings and shrugging. 'We'll be there.' Annie answered and closed the door as he left. Annie stomped over and placed her hands on her hips. 'What is wrong with you?'
'I thought there was nothing wrong with me.' Fred sarcastically answered.
'Didn't you see him, how hot he was. For crying out loud Fred, there are over a hundred guys walking with a radius of fifty meters and you're not even bothering to try or even look.' Annie huffed.
'I don't need a boyfriend getting in the way, right now. I'm fine on my own Annie.' Fred half smiled, and rose to her feet. 'Annie, you don't need a guy like that. No offense but I think he could easily squish you. Look Annie, you could have Prince Charming, literally, but instead you prefer to fine me a match, which won't happen for along time.' Fred walked up beside Annie. 'Don't worry about me, you go to that party tonight, I'm going to stay here and read.'
'Fine, but next party you're attending whether you like it or not.' Annie held out her hand in agreement, Fred smirked and shook it.
Like Fred, Annie drew, but neither of them wanted it as a career, Annie was more of a still-life drawer, flowers and such, where as Fred preferred to draw fictional characters, people from her own mind, she had always been a portrait person.
All day Fred moved around the dorm-room while Annie unpacked her clothes and tried on every dress. Annie wasn't like Fred, while Fred had come to Uni' for Literature, Annie had come for Preforming Arts and Drama. Annie had always wanted to be an actresses, she had even brought her own costumes, for the plays and productions she'd be performing this year.
'Do you really have to wear those things?' Fred asked, remembering the clothes Marian wore; Fred preferred Marian's wardrobe to the costumes that lay across Annie's bed.
'Yes and it might be good for you to wear a dress for once. You know its strange, in the short time I've known you, I've not once seen you in a dress.' Annie smirked.
Fred laughed, 'And you're not going to. Year one and prom were the two times I've worn dresses, then in school from year seven to eleven I wore a skirt. No more.'
Annie frowned and carried on with trying on dresses, while Fred got back to her book. Fred nodded off a few times, her book next to her and Annie woke her up each time by throwing dresses on her.
Around eight Annie left for the party, which began two doors down and then moved out into the hall. Fred sat on her bed reading her book, after two hours she leant back against the bed, tired and wondering if she should have gone with Annie to get know everyone, but parties weren't Fred's scene. Fred nodded off for a while, her eyelids became heavy, and her mind drifted off back to the memories of Robin Hood and her adventure with him, an hour passed the book slowly slipped from her hand and as it hit the floor Fred awoke, jolting in her bed. Fred rubbed her eyes and looked around the room, seeing that Annie had returned, Fred then slowly turned her head to the closet door, hearing the familiar ringing which always signaled to one thing.
Fred swung her legs off the side of the bed and moved towards the closet, under the door came the white glow of the Gateway. Fred hovered her hand over the handle, took a deep breath and opened the door revealing the Gateway, she lifted her hand to it, feeling the cool air run though her fingers. She looked back to the dorm-room and smiled. She lifted her foot and stepped towards it, the light grew and her eyes closed instantly.
Fred shook her head and opened her eyes, finding herself on a dirt road and horses galloping towards her. She jumped to her feet and out of the way, she sat up against a tree and watched as the four riders rode back toward her, as one pulled a sword out, Fred knew it was time to run as the Gateway had closed.
'Here we go again.' She whispered to herself and began to run.
She was running through the trees with the four riders racing after her, when she bumped into two people, a Lord and Lady by appearance.
'Child are you alright?' The Lady asked, while the Lord stared at Fred with confusion as she wore clothes that weren't around yet.
'Yes, thank you.' Fred answered and looked back, the riders still after her. 'Do you have any more of those?' Fred pointed to the woman's cloak. The woman nodded and took a dark blue cloak out from the bag upon her horse and handed it to Fred. 'Thank you. I'm sorry I may not be able to return it.' Fred began to run again wrapping the cloak around her and lifting the hood over her head.
Now running once more through the trees she took one more look behind her, the riders racing harder then ever. Fred kept running, she knew from the clothes that the Lord and Lady were wearing that she wasn't in the era of Robin Hood, but further back. Fred came to a dirt road, where she looked both ways to see more horses coming one way, Fred saw a large oak tree and hid behind it.
As the second group of horses came down the dirt road, Fred saw that it was a noble woman and guards with red cloaks. Fred watched as the four riders darted out of the trees and attacked the horsemen, the noble woman's horse bucked and threw her off and too the ground. Fred knew it was her fault and so took a risk.
Fred ran down as one of the horsemen was stabbed, his sword fell at Fred's feet, she grabbed it as one of the riders galloped towards the noble woman. Fred ran as fast as she could, remembering the training that Djaq, Will Scarlet and Little John had taught her. She got there just in time as the rider lifted his sword above his head and forced it down, Fred threw her sword under his, stopping it mid swing, she felt the collision rattle through the sword and then through her.
She used all her strength to knock his sword back, he moved back and then swung for her again, as metal clashed, the noble woman got to her feet and ran to her horse, taking hold of the reins and holding it still, watching the final out come. The rider swung his sword sideways almost cutting Fred's stomach, she jumped back, he then swung his free clenched hand and struck her in the left ribs, Fred felt the impact of the metal glove he wore and flew back tripping over. The rider rose his sword above his head, Fred's eyes widened - she had two options, die in the wrong time or be a child, she chose option two - Fred kicked him in the shin and jumped to her feet, raising her sword to his throat.
Fred looked him in the eye, 'Do you give up?'
The man glared at her and gripped his sword tighter. Suddenly they were surrounded by swords in the hands of men wearing red cloaks, the rider dropped his sword, while Fred just sighed. This isn't right, she thought to herself.
'Drop your weapon.' The men shouted.
Fred hesitated, but before she could let go of the blade, another voice, a female voice cried out.
'No, No. Don't.' The noble woman ran into the circle of men and swords, 'Put your sword down.' The noble woman had long jet-black hair and pale green eyes. The men lowered their swords. 'What is your name?' She softly smiled.
Fred lifted her hood off her head, 'Fred. Winifred Walker.'
'Well thank you, Fred. Come, you shall stay in Camelot to night.' The noble woman thanked her.
Fred couldn't believe her ears, Camelot, as in Camelot the home of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Fred blushed at the mention of the welcome.