enchantedwriter72: Thank you for the lovely review! I will try to keep updating, but I have been neglecting my other fan fic, and I need to finish that one before really laying into this one, I hope you will be patient.

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The faire grounds were a bustle of activity. In every direction there was another sight to capture your attention; hawkers were setting up their shops and others were already calling out their wares to passerbys, knights in their heraldic colors paying court to ladies from atop their handsome, battle ready steeds. Jesters, fools and performers of every kind plied their trade, a multitude of colors sounds and smells mixed for an amassing effect and the renaissance faire board of directors wouldn't have it any other way. The beginning of summer faire was the biggest one all year, and they always went all out. Ariana smiled. She could almost imagine herself transported 800 years back in time. She pushed her forest green cloak behind her shoulders, the material swinging to her step.

"Will!" she cried over the noise, spotting the sandy blond head reaching above the average height of the crowd. She weaved her way towards him "Will!" she said when she reached his side. "Come on, the woman's quarterstaff competition is starting soon and Scarlette is in the first round!" But he didn't seem to hear her, he was gazing at a pretty red head selling apples at one of the market stalls. "Ah, that's right, Chloe's back from her studies abroad. Planing on making your move this year?"

At the girl's name, Will had regained his hearing and flushed almost as red as the girl's hair and mumbled something.

Ariana eyed him for a moment. "Right, anywho, Scarlette, quarterstaff, ring a bell?"

Will shot her a slightly startled look and they raced each other tot the sword fighting ring which was currently being used for the quarterstaff matches. They arrived just in time to see Scarlette duck what would have been a devastating blow as she knocked her opponent's feet out from under them. Scarlette then forcefully twirled her staff against the other girl's, causing it to go flying and she pointed the staff under the girl's chin, a small smile at her victory.

Will and Ariana cheered as Scarlette was announced winner of the first round and the next set was called. Scarlette joined them on the sidelines and they discussed and studied the techniques and style of the other opponents, Scarlette making mental notes for future matches.

After participating in four more matches, Scarlette was in the semifinals when her opponent knocked her knees from under her and placed her staff on her neck, defeating Scarlette.

"You've been training." Ariana said approvingly as Scarlette rejoined them.

"Apparently not hard enough." Scarlette replied with a short shrug.

"Still that's the farthest I have ever seen you get. I bet you'll make finals next year, probably even win that too."

"Perhaps."

They all watched the final match before braking for lunch on a grassy stretch of ground between the fringes of the faire grounds and the edge of the forest.

"It's haunted you know." Will said nonchalantly around a mouthful of sandwich.

Ariana rolled her eyes as Scarlette squeaked. "H-haunted? Wh-what's haunted?"

"The forest." Will replied gesturing vaguely behind them, causing Scarlette to whirl around and fearfully scan the trees.

"There is no such thing as ghosts, spirits or specters. Stop scaring Scarlette." Ariana shot Will a glare.

"But a mate of mine from school saw them. Pale and near transparent, carrying all sorts of menacing weapons, dripping with-"

"Will!" Ariana cut in, Scarlette was shaking.

He turned innocent eyes towards her, but she saw the carefully veiled humor and mischievous glint in them. "Alright," Ariana accepted his unspoken challenge and stood up, shaking her shirt to free it of any clinging grass and lunch crumbs. "Stand up." she commanded her cousins.

"What are we doing?" Scarlette asked, also shaking out her skirts.

"We are going into those woods so that I can prove to you that they are not haunted, and that there is no such thing as ghosts or evil spirits."

"No, no no no no." Scarlette had already started backing away, shaking her head.

"Why, you're not afraid, are you?" Will slyly asked his twin.

"Of course not!" Scarlette snapped a tad too quickly.

"Then, after you, sister, dear." Will performed a courtly bow gesturing grandly to the forest. Scarlette marched towards the trees her back stiff.

"That was beyond cruel, Will." Ariana growled

He winced and grabbed at his chest. "Dear cousin, you wound me, surely as if you had shot me with one of your arrows."

Ariana scowled at him before rushing to catch up with Scarlette, who had turned pale upon her first footfall beyond the first tree. She jumped when Ariana touched her arm, but to her credit, didn't scream.

"Hey, you ok?" Ariana asked in a soft voice.

"Sure, no such thing. Right?" Scarlette's voice wavered.

"No such thing." Ariana confirmed with a nod.

"Then what's there to be afraid of?" Scarlette's smile shook and her eyes were filled with uncertainty, but she squared her shoulders and moved further into the forest, Ariana beside her.

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Ariana was quite enjoying herself. The forest floor was lined with old fallen leaves, wild flowers bloomed in sunny patches, adding a delicate scent to accompany the slight smell of damp and decaying leaves their steps stirred. Songs of birds, both familiar and not, occasionally filled the air.

"Isn't this nice?" she asked Scarlette after about five minutes.

"I suppose it is rather pleasant." Scarlette conceded, her stiffness leaving her by small measures.

The girls were crouched down, studying an unfamiliar flower when it happened; he came out of nowhere, making them scream and nearly jump out of their skin.

"Ah ha ha ha ha!" Will doubled over in laughter. "Oh, you should have seen your faces, priceless." He managed after a few moments of snorts and gasps for breath. He stood up, mirth replaced with apprehension from the murderous looks on the girls' faces. "Um, sorry?" he tried before taking off, Ariana and Scarlette chasing him.

"You're in for it now, Rhett William Carlyle!" Scarlette yelled, pulling ahead of Ariana.

A small embankment crumbled under Ariana, causing her to tumble down a small ravine, branches and twigs whipping at her skin and grabbing at her hair before coming to a pain filled stop at a tree, she was sure her shoulder would be one massive bruise. Sitting up, she grabbed at her shoulder, cradling it against the pain, a wince made her hand fly to a sting on her cheek, her fingers came away bloody. Painfully she pushed herself to her feet, groaning at all her numerous bumps, bruises and cuts. She retied the deep blue strip of cloth that had come loose, it matched her gypsy skirt and served as a headband and made her way the seven or so feet up the steep side of the ravine. Thankfully she hadn't twisted an ankle, though one did have a nice little bruise starting to show.

Some how the forest seemed less inviting. Birds weren't singing and a cloud had passed over the sun.

"Scarlette? Will?" she asked into the silence. "Scarlette! Will!" still no answer.

An eerie, windy noise made her turn. Hollow reeds hung from a tree, brilliant. "Very funny, you guys. Guys?"

Silence.

"Fine, be that way. I will find you eventually." She headed in the direction she had last seen her cousin's running, occasionally calling out their names. "Scarlette! Will! Scarlette!" each attempt went unanswered.

She paused on the bank of a river. "Wow." She breathed, then frowned. She searched for a long straightish stick, finding one she slipped off her designer sandals that went remarkably well with her costume, she didn't want to ruin them by getting them wet. Her sandals dangling from her left hand while holding the stick in both hands, she gingerly stepped onto the first of the rocks spanning the breadth of the river. Carefully, she hopped onto the next one and two more after that, using the stick to maintain her balance. But at that rock, she realized she would have to wade a bit, for there was a gap between the exposed rocks. She used the stick to test the depth. She smiled when it wasn't too deep. Bending, she picked up her skirt and looped it over her harm so it wouldn't get wet, then she slid into the knee high water.

Suddenly, Ariana's feet were swept from under her and with a short cry of surprise she splashed into the river. She came up sputtering and heard a throaty chuckle.

"Will!" she yelled. "You just wait till I get my hands on you!"

"I can hardly wait, milady." Answered an amused male voice that most definitely wasn't her cousin's.

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yes, I am aware that I used you at the beginning of this chapter. Yes, I know it is bad grammar for writing. But I always thought that using "one" instead of "you" sounded real impersonal. Mebbe I'm weird, mebbe it's the movie the bicentennial man. But I write like I like.

READER POLL:

Should Will and Scarlette still be in the story? What do you think? Should Robin already be part of the Merry men?