A few days had gone by and James and Rowan had more or less adjusted to life in Sherwood. That is, James had adjusted quickly, sticking by Wulf's side through everything. The two of them ran all kinds of errands for the camp: hunting, fishing, scouting. James loved his new life here. And while Rowan couldn't exactly complain, she finally had to face up to the fact that she was not happy. While James got to partake in active things, Rowan was relegated to "women's work": cleaning, cooking, mending and minding children. It was on one of these such days, when Fanny had left Roawn to look after six of her eight children that Rowan nearly lost it.
The twins, who were five, had fevers and had to be looked after, and the baby kept crying and she didn't know why. She had changed his diaper, held him, burped him- everything! But he just kept howling. To top it off, it was pouring, so all the kids were crammed into the hut and bored. She was trying to fix them some kind of supper- but they hadn't gotten any new bread or vegetables in a few days so there wasn't much to work with. And all the kids kept following her around. It wasn't that she didn't like them- she just couldn't stand them right now.
"Rowan, when will mommy be back?" one of the kids asked.
"I don't know, sweetie," she replied.
"I'm hungry."
"I know. Supper will be ready soon."
"I'm thirsty."
"My head hurts."
"I'm bored."
God give me patience. Rowan thought, tears springing to her eyes. She didn't come here for this. She was smart, she could fight, she was not a babysitter. When Fanny came in the door, soaked and clearly exhausted and just wanting to sit down, Rowan thrust the baby at her and took off. The rain poured down in sheets, soaking her almost instantly, but the feel of the water on her skin calmed her.
"I cannot do this anymore," she murmured. "Something has to change. I was meant for more than this."
"So tell Robin."
Rowan screamed when she heard the deep voice. She hadn't noticed anyone nearby. She realized it was the man who took her necklace that first day- who they told her was called Will Scarlet. Initially, her anger flared up and she wanted to tell him to bug off. But, she was so tired and worn out from the day inside with the children that she only sighed heavily.
"Would he listen?"
"Depends what it is you want to do," Will said. "If you want to sew tapestries- then I would say he probably won't let you. But if you want to fight and work- well then I think he would say yes."
Rowan felt the clenching in her heart lessen a little. "I want to fight."
"You're good at it," Will observed, a hint of a smile on his lips. "I'll vouch for you."
She glanced at him to see if he was teasing or being serious.
"You know, you're getting soaked out there. You could come under this tree and dry off," Will observed nonchalantly.
It was tempting. Rowan thought she would like nothing more than to sit under that tree and watch the storm unfold. But then she thought of Fanny saying to her that first night, "We take care of each other here in Sherwood."
"No," she sighed, "I better not. Thanks for the offer though."
"Anytime," Will said, waving as she walked away. When Rowan glanced back over her shoulder, he was lost in thought, staring into the slowly darkening forest.
"And I also think that James and I should live somewhere else," Rowan said, linking her hands behind her back as she made her request. Robin had yet to respond to any of her desires, so she kept babbling.
"It's just that the Littles have so many to look after as is and we make them so much more crowded and-"
"Enough, Rowan," Robin said, smiling. "You have a very good point. As soon as a new hut is built, you and James can move your things there."
"Thank you, sir."
"Don't call me, sir."
"Sorry, thanks Robin." Rowan counted to ten, then twenty, then thirty before she spoke again. "And what about the fighting?"
Robin looked at her carefully, "You say you can fight, and Will Scarlet has told me so. But I would like to see you in action."
Rowan gulped, "Sir, who am I to fight?"
"I'm not sure yet. No one too difficult, don't worry. I wouldn't set you against Little John or myself or Azeem. Perhaps Much- he is an average fighter. A good man to have on your side, but not one that is irreplaceable."
"Irreplaceable?" Rowan stuttered, "Sir, am I t-to kill him?"
Robin laughed then, loud and heartily. "Oh no, Rowan! It's just, I was in a war you know and I just consider all men by how valuable they are in battle. You'll use wooden staffs or practice swords."
"And when shall this happen?"
Robin frowned, thinking. "Well, what about now, if Much isn't doing anything?"
Rowan nodded, "Sure," trying to smile calmly when really she was thinking about what was at stake here. She could not live in Sherwood if she had to keep to what she had been doing the past few weeks. It was, essentially, a fight to stay here.
"Rules," Robin started to explain. "Do not kill each other. This is just practice. If one says yield, the other must obey. The fight ends when one yields or is disarmed."
Rowan gulped. Much, it turns out, had not been busy. So here they stood, facing each other with broad wooden practice swords, Rowan's weapon of choice. A crowd had gathered to watch, and it kept growing as people realized that a girl was about to fight. Much was at least a head and shoulders taller than her, and much broader. He had removed his shirt and she could see that just about every inch of him was covered with muscles. I can't go hilt to hilt, she made a mental note. If it comes to brute strength, he will win.
"Ready?" Robin asked. Rowan nodded nervously. Much smiled easily.
"Ready if you are, sweetheart." He said.
Rowan narrowed her eyes at him, summoning the hate in her heart that she had reserved for one man. Much looked around uneasily- as if he was not expecting this.
Let him come to you.
The instructions filled her brain as clearly and calmly as they had been given so many years ago. She side stepped around the clearing, keeping her eyes on Much's chest, knowing his muscles would betray his next move. Sure enough, he lunged forward in a few moments. Rowan brought up her sword to meet his, blocking his thrust. Then she stepped back, making him stumble forward. While he was off balance, she attacked. He blocked it, but barely. Much backed up, catching his breath.
"You're better than I thought you would be, honey."
Rowan launched at him again, but this time he was more prepared. He blocked quickly and struck out again. Rowan was forced to back up. Much stepped on the hem of her dress, completely unaware of what he was doing, and as Rowan tried to back up, she fell over backwards. The men in the circle roared with laughter.
"But not good enough. Go back to your kitchen, sweet pea." Much gloated, circling the perimeter of the clearing.
Shame burned in Rowan's face. She was better than this. What would the boy who trained her think of her if he saw this? She scrambled to her feet, and started after Much's retreating back.
"I could beat you if I was wearing breeches."
The laughter stopped. Much turned slowly on his heel.
"What?"
"You heard me. I lost because of my dress. I can fight in breeches."
"First of all, you can't beat me. Secondly, how would you know?"
"I trained in breeches," she said simply.
"You trained?" Much gaped, "With who?"
"With my brother," Rowan said, her heart swelling as she said it. She paused, fighting back that feeling that always arose in her when she spoke of them. "He was my twin. We learned together. In breeches. I'd like a rematch."
"Rematch?" some of the men yelled. Much scoffed at her, shaking his head.
"Don't be a sore loser, honey!" One of the men, perhaps Little John yelled.
Everyone looked to Robin, who thought carefully, then said. "It is up to you, Much."
Rowan glanced around the crowd who were all focused on her and Much.
"Unless," she said loudly, deliberately, "You are afraid."
Much's back clenched and he turned. "I'm not afraid. If you think pants will make you win- fine. But I don't know where you're going to get them."
Shit! Rowan thought, she hadn't thought this far ahead. The only one who would give them to her would be James, and his would be much too small. Much must have guessed her train of thought for he started smiling.
"See, fellas, nothing to worry about."
"Come on."
Rowan flinched as a hand clenched around her elbow. Will Scarlet dragged her towards the side of the clearing.
"What are you doing? Let go of me!"
"I'm getting you breeches, come on." Will said simply quickening his pace.
Rowan stopped walking in surprise. "What?" she asked, but he was already far ahead. She jogged to keep up with him.
"But, why? You don't even like me."
"Never said I didn't like you," Will said, giving her a little smile, "It's you that don't like me. Besides, I want to see what you've really got."
By now they had reached a hut and Will stepped inside. He rifled through a small pile in the corner and threw three items at her.
"Here," he said brusquely, "They might be a little long but they should fit. And put that tunic on- it should be long enough so that you- you know, aren't showing anything-" Will's face reddened.
Rowan grinned in spite of herself. "Are you concerned about my modesty?'
Will stepped outside of the hut and she pulled the dress overhead. She pulled on the breeches, tucking in the shirt and then pulled the tunic on over, which Will was right, was long enough to cover her backside and legs to almost the knee so she wouldn't be too scandalous.
"Well, if you can only fight in breeches, you better start wearing 'em and you better wear a long tunic so you don't give the other women a heart attack."
She laughed and stepped out of the hut. "Well, I just might give them one anyway."
Will surveyed her outfit, and then he grinned too, "Yeah. You just might."
The two of them hastened back to the clearing where everyone was still gathered.
"What'd you give her them breeches for, Will?" Hal asked.
"Shut up," Will said quickly, his usually scowl returning, "I wanted to see Much get his ass beat."
"You think she'll do it?"
"I don't know, but it's worth a shot if she can," Will said. Hal chuckled.
"Are you ready now, Princess?" Much asked, mock bowing, his good nature fully restored.
"Yes," Rowan nodded, bouncing on her toes. The breeches felt great. They brought back the memories of her training with Ryder. She was calmer now. She had no disadvantages. Well, besides height and size. But those she had always overcome.
"You know, your clothes don't change how good a fighter you are," Much said as the crowd got quiet.
"Which is why you, Much the Miller's son, should be scared." She leapt forward at him, her blade flying straight to his chest. Much blocked, dropping back and circling. The instructions started again - Ryder's voice ringing clear in her head.
Move your feet. Let him wear himself out.
Rowan danced around the clearing, so that Much had to spend half the time chasing her and half the time actually fighting her. He was good, Much. His blows were strong, some of them making her arm ache as their swords collided. But he was sweating, much more than she was. God, it was good to be fighting again. Just as her thoughts strayed, she nearly missed a block. In that instant, Much slid his sword down, bringing them hilt to hilt.
Damn it! Rowan thought, gritting her teeth, but knowing it was hopeless. He was forcing her blade down easily. She spun, breaking away and putting a few feet in between them.
"Ha-ha!" Much called triumphantly, a fire in his eyes. "You're scared now."
Let him think you are scared.
Rowan let Much attack for a while, blocking, but all the while giving him ground. She let herself near the middle of the clearing. Much's confidence was growing now, he was practically grinning- his blows were getting sloppy. Once her back was nearing the end of the clearing, she stopped blocking and ran, which Much took to be her fear. But she whirled around so that his back was now to the trees and started her assault. Much blocked each blow, but he was uneasy now. His chest was wet with sweat, his breathing labored. With each thrust, she gained a few inches. There, behind him, she spotted it. The tree root she needed him to trip over. She sped up her attacks, so that even if he wanted to, Much could not take the time to look behind him. Sure enough, as she delivered one last strong strike, he stumbled backwards over the tree root, dropping his sword in the process. Rowan stepped forward, one foot on his chest, and her sword pointed at his throat.
"Do you yield?" she asked.
Much laughed. "Good God, yes!"
Rowan was unsure what to make of his laughter. She reached down and pulled him to his feet.
"It seems I have underestimated you," Much said quietly, so only she could hear. "And you look pretty good in them breeches."
Despite herself, Rowan could feel herself blushing. It was then that she noticed the crowd cheering. As she walked toward Robin, she could see a mixture of surprise and respect in the eyes of the men she passed. Except for Will Scarlet. His face said something more like- I told you so.
"Well fought Rowan," Robin said loudly, then added more quietly, "It seems we may have all underestimated you." Rowan blushed again, realizing Robin must have heard what Much had said.
"You can start work as one of the men tomorrow. You have the dawn watch. Do not be late."
"All right, sir- er, Robin. Thank you," Rowan stuttered, her face alight with joy.
"Sleep by the window, I'll rap on the shade to wake you," Will Scarlet said as he sidled up beside her.
"What?" Rowan asked, still awed from the fact that she had won and that she was now free to do as she liked.
"For the mornin' watch," Will explained. "I'm on with ya. I'll knock on the door of the hut so you wake up in time- the first one is the hardest to get up for."
"Thank you," Rowan stuttered, "And, well, what about your clothes?"
Will looked at her blankly, then down at himself, as if to say, What about them?
"The ones I'm wearing," Rowan explained, blushing yet again.
Will chuckled, "Oh those, you keep them. I'll find others."
"I pity the next man that comes into Sherwood then," Rowan called after him as he walked away.
"Aye," Will said, laughing again, "He'll be leavin' naked, won't he?"
Rowan sighed, exhausted and took a step towards the Littles' hut.
"You got him to laugh."
She turned and saw Robin leaning against a tree.
"Beg pardon?"
"I have been here for months now and I have yet to see that boy doing anything but brood."
Rowan wasn't sure how to answer so she just looked at her hands, waiting for Robin to go on. Instead, he said simply:
"It's good to see him doing something else." And went on his way.
