Disclaimer: Don't own or profit from Robin Hood. Only OC and plot twists are mine.
Chapter 2: Lying Nuns
The next morning they stopped at another inn right before entering the forest path that would take them through Sherwood and then into Nottingham. While Paul and Stephen saw to the hackney coach, Lilith and Sarah changed into the nun's robes. "I have placed your gown in the satchel, my lady, and your personal jewelry in this pouch. Should I place that in the satchel as well?"
"No," Lilith said. She tied it securely around her thigh next to her garter. "I do not wish to risk losing anything." Sarah knew most of her personal jewelry she always wore had sentimental value because most were gifts from her late brother. "Now, we are all settled, let us continue on our journey, and if we are lucky enough to be robbed, perhaps we can delay our arrival to Nottingham."
"I understand your wish to delay the inevitable, my lady, but I pray, do not ask for such wretched trouble to find us!" Sarah said crossing herself. "I have heard no one who is robbed by these marauders come out alive!"
"If that was the case, how would you know what happened to them in such detail?" Lilith said. "Do not be fooled by superstition and fear, Sarah. You are not common."
"Forgive me," Sarah said as Paul helped her up next to Lilith in the Hackney coach. They traveled quickly and quietly through the forest hoping to reach the other side before nightfall.
Halfway through they rolled right into an ambush. Lilith and Sarah let out a scream as two bandits landed on the driver's seat knocking Paul and Stephen to the ground. They scrambled and quickly drew their weapons but they were greatly outnumbered. "Stop this madness this instant!" Lilith demanded hoping the regal tone would have some effect.
Unfortunately, they either didn't hear her, or ignored her.
"Insufferable heathens!" Sarah said frightened. "Paul!" She yelled as he was stabbed.
"Unhand me!" Lilith said as two grabbed her down from the coach. She tried to struggle out of the grip but they only tightened their hold on her. "Let me go!" she yelled and kicked one in the shins. Suddenly, she saw one was pierced by an arrow and she started to fall over with his body since he never released his grip.
"I got you," a voice said, catching her before she fell completely. She turned and gasped seeing the face in front of her. It certainly was one of the handsomest she had seen. "You're not hurt, are you sister?" he asked worriedly.
She shook her head. "Good," he said with a grin. He was struck by how brilliant her blue eyes were. He turned to someone behind them. "Who would be willing to attack nuns?" he asked.
"People who are completely desperate," another voice that sounded vaguely familiar but she didn't see a face since he was behind the cart. She watched another young man with dark hair help Sarah who looked as shaken up as she after the whole ordeal.
"If you don't mind my asking, who are you? Who do I owe my life and my gratitude?"
"Allan a Dale," Allan said grinning.
"Allan, how is it one group of bandits is fighting another?"
"Hey, I know we are outlaws, but we are not bandits," he clarified.
"Outlaws?" she asked. "For what?"
"Well, I stupidly claimed to be from Locksley and was almost hung. That is, until Robin stuck his neck out and saved ours, making him an outlaw as well."
"Robin?" she asked and Allan thought she might faint so helped her to sit. "Pray tell, is this Robin the same Robin of Locksley?" she asked.
"I am," Robin said coming forward. "I sincerely hope these men have not harmed you or your fellow sister," he said. "I am sorry for the loss of your men."
"Men?" she said and then realization struck her. "Paul! Stephen!" she said and jumped up. She ran to their bodies. "Cowards," she cursed her attackers. Sarah appeared at her side.
"God will surely punish them, my . . ." Lilith waved a hand to cut her off. She didn't want to give herself away. "They did not take anything," Sarah said. "Our satchels remain."
"I thought you were not suppose to have personal belongings?" Little John asked.
"We do not," Lilith said thinking quickly. "It is the reason for our journey."
"We will gladly escort you to the nearest village," Robin said. "There you should find people willing and capable of assisting you."
"No!" Lilith said so quickly it startled everyone except Sarah who was use to her outbursts, schemes, and quick thinking. "I mean, we gratefully appreciated your kind offer, it is more than we could ask of you, but we can not . . . that is . . . we need to remain with you."
"What?" Much said. "What are we suppose to do with two holy women, master?"
"I must beg to trespass on your hospitality for just a few days. We are on a secret mission and I am afraid this attack has complicated matters some. I must wait to see . . . I am afraid I can explain no farther."
"I do not understand why you need to remain here in the forest with a group of outlaws. The idea of two sisters remaining with a group of men unaccompanied or unguarded is outrageous," Robin said.
"Who would report this behavior?" Lilith asked. "It would only be for a few days."
"Why?" Robin asked. "What mission were you traveling on?"
"It is for Lady Lilith of Canterbury," Sarah spoke up. She had also recognized Robin and hoped he remembered Lilith from his childhood.
"Lady Lilith?" Allan asked. "Who is she?" he asked Robin.
"The little girl with her rascal brother that always chased you around?" Much asked.
"As I recall, she was always following after me and her brother, not so much chasing us around. And she was the rascall, not Luke," Robin said, "but yes, that was her. I haven't seen her in seven years, what is she up to?"
"It is a mission I am not allowed to speak to anyone about," Lilith said. "I must make sure all is well before I continue on."
"This sounds preposterous," Little John said. You have no idea, Lilith thought and refrained from rolling her eyes. She was making it up as she went along, but she was so shocked to see Robin alive after hearing he had died in the crusades that she just had to find a way of staying close to him. He was the only person in all of England who could tell her about her brother and how he died. Plus, it gave her the added bonus of delaying her arrival a few days and seeing what this Sir Guy was really like.
"What is your name?" Robin asked.
"Sister Mary Lily," she said and cringed at how horrid that sounded. "And sister Mary Rose," she said nodding towards Sarah.
"Odd names,"
"It is not for you to criticize the workings of the holy women," Sarah said sounding like Lilith when she reprimanded someone. She smiled at Sarah and wanted to laugh that after all these years she was rubbing off on her companion.
"I meant no offense . . ."
"Now we are all going to all have to fast for offending the workings of a holy order," Much said sadly.
"No, that won't be necessary," Lilith said. "We take no offense. The workings of women can sometimes be strange to men."
"That's the truth," Robin said.
"To make up for any insult, you can allow us to remain with you, under your protection," Lilith quickly added. She was just warming up to the argument and wondered if Robin would give in or if they would have a spat.
"This is completely inappropriate," Much said.
"They would not be the first woman to join our party," Allan said. Lilith smiled her gratitude. "And they are nuns, what harm could they do?" She frowned and wanted to show how wrong that assumption could be. She was known for causing trouble. Sarah seemed to know what she was thinking and put a hand on her arm.
"It is the lord's will," Lilith said. "There can be no other explanation for you rescuing us at this precise moment after our untimely disaster. It was divine inspiration– more than you could possibly know."
"Master, if what she says is true, then we best not go against divine mandate," Much said.
"Do you have any valuables?" he asked.
"You mean to rob us? Now?" Sarah asked outraged.
"Simply you seem to be carrying a lot of baggage for two holy women, and I am sure it could go towards helping those who are less fortunate. Surely two women such as yourselves would know that," Robin said.
"What is in my possession is not mine to give away," Sarah said honestly. "It is for our mission as Sister Mary Lily has already claimed."
"What about your jeweled pendent?" Robin asked noticing Lilith's necklace. It was an ornate cross her brother had given her before leaving for the crusade. She instinctively clutched it. "Surely you have no treasures?" Robin said, as if looking for a reason to say no to them.
Of course I have treasures, she thought snidely. She was remembering what an uppity child Robin was years ago. "You intend to give this to people who need it, correct?" she asked. She heard Sarah gasp behind her, surprised she would even think of giving it away.
"Yes," Robin said nodding.
"I ask a boon of you," Lilith said.
"Another one?" Much asked wearily.
"My last," Lilith said. "This has more sentimental value to me than anything else in all England. I only ask I may chose who you bestow it upon." Surely they wouldn't meet anyone else in 2 days and she would be able to keep it.
"Agreed," Robin said. "We must hurry or else we will be walking in the dark," Robin added. Robin sent Much back to the inn sending word about the attack and the deaths so that they may be claimed by their families. The rest of them led Sarah and Lilith to the camp. "I don't suppose you will tell me more about this mission you claim?"
"If I was at liberty to speak of it, I would surely tell you, Master Outlaw," she said.
"It is Robin," he said.
"You do not prefer Lord of Locksley?" she said. "I am surprised to find you have forfeit your claim."
"And what could you tell of me in the short time we have known each other?"
She grinned and he thought it looked slightly mischievous. "I have been able to understand you fairly well, Robin. You appear to be one who likes the attention bestowed upon him by others, you crave the adoration and love of the people around you. You have leadership skills and those around you naturally look to you to lead them. You are sly, mischievous, and cunning. Charming when the occasions calls for it."
"She certainly read you like a book," Allan said.
"So why did you give up your lands, money, prestige . . . if you wish to help others, as you claim, why give up the means?"
"You do not understand as well as you think, then," Robin said.
"There is no reason . . ." Sarah started but Lilith cut her off. She didn't want Sarah's protectiveness to blow their cover the first night.
"When did you return from the holy war?" she asked.
"A few months ago," he said. "How did you know I was there?"
"Rumors, plus your sword is unique to these parts."
Will, who was walking behind the sisters, saw the second nun, Mary Rose, hovering around the talkative one. He reached out to touch her arm. "It's alright, we aren't going to harm you."
"What?" she asked confused.
"You seem frightened. You are hovering," he said.
"What . . . oh," she realized. "I . . . I have always remained close to her," she explained. "I suppose it is habit."
"Do not worry, you are safe here," he said.
"Thank you," she said with a soft smile. "I did not expect to find kindness in these woods."
"There is a stream beyond those trees if you wish to refreshen yourselves," Robin announced as they reached their camp. "Ah, Djaq, we have more visitors." He saw Djaq coming from the woods.
"Holy mother!" Lilith cried. "You have one here?" she demanded.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Author's Notes: Thanks for all the people who have read! And special thanks to Fishertowers for such a kind review! I look forward to receiving more reviews from my readers (hint, hint) : ) Even if it is just to say Hi.