The week had gone by dreadfully dull and everyday Robin grew antsy in her home. She loved her parents; honest she did but the future they had planned for her was not one in which she would be happy. Robin craved the ways of man because so many opportunities lay in wait if only she would follow that path. That path however carried along with it going back to Huntingdon something in which she would do in a moments notice if only it didn't hurt her parents so.
She sighed as she struggled with her decision, completely ignoring the man who walked up toward her wearing a green hood. "Excuse me lad." She lost her train of thought as his voice cut through them. She scowled up at him with narrowed eyes.
"Wot'd ye want? I ain't got all day, so spit it out alrea'y" The man's face was visible barely but her sharp eyes saw his smile.
"I am looking for a nobleman's castle. Huntingdon, would you perhaps know where it might be?" Robin stopped her sweeping and eyed him suspiciously. He did carry himself like a noble and wore the garments of one as well, but her instincts told him he was an odd one, after all what noble willingly comes to talk to a peasant. Though of course he could be a Paige; it would make sense for the noble to send their Paige. However the man had said he specifically was looking for Huntingdon Castle.
"Aye, wot do ye need from the good Lord Huntingdon?" The man's eyebrows rose.
"Do you know the lord personally?" Robin's eyes scrutinized the man of noble birth.
"So what if I do?" She asked threateningly. She saw his hand move under his cloak, a sword probably. All lords wore they're gear of favor when traveling in case they were to need it to cut down some bandits. Robin scowled at the man who began to smile with smug satisfaction and a boosting confidence.
"Then I would ask if you would be so kind as to lead me the way toward his castle. None in my party know which way we are going and much to my dismay I am forced to ask you, a peasant child who probably has more important things to do than help me. In fact where are your parents child; surely if you know where the castle is then your parents must also-?"
Robin's eyes widened in horror, her reflexes took over and she inadvertently grasped the man's cloak tightly, not allowing him to leave without receiving damage.
"Shhh, if me parents even suspect I went back the next time I see them me mother'll chase me with the cutting board again" She hissed to him and he winced when she mentioned the hard slab of wood, as if he had felt its sting before and remembered it well. She let him go and he was quick to un-wrinkle the garment. She sighed as she thought about it. There was no one besides her in the village who really knew the way to Huntingdon. Everyone knew Nottingham but no one seems to notice Huntingdon isn't in Nottinghamshire. Its one of the huge castles that skirts around Sherwood Forest deliberately put a little ways away from Nottingham. Robin ran her hands through her short cut hair thoroughly but rough. "Dammit!" She stamped on the ground and the man frowned a bit.
"Lad if it is really so much a bother I wil-"
"Fine!" She cut him off quick as she stormed off toward black woods. He soon understood what she had meant and caught up to her side.
"Lad, where might ye' be off to?" She looked at him with growing agitation.
"Huntingdon of course, this is the fastest way I know, besides it is only you, I and your mare." He smiled sheepishly.
"Actually," She made a grunt and stormed off to her house. When she disappeared inside, the man got antsy.
"Lad are you still willing to escort us to Huntingdon?" Robin pushed out of her home geared up in her weapons. As the man looked over her his eyes grew wide. What are you so armored for. Dear boy we are going no where but Huntingdon castle, are we not?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Boy?" She shook her short hair and marched past him. "Where is your party, sir?" He followed closely by her side and pointed in the direction of the village. She pinched the bridge of her nose and sped her pace up to a light jog.
The sight she saw upon entering the village was of the Paige's party being ambushed by young outlaws disguised as village boys. A quick surveying of their dirty sunken faces told her she recognized them all. She marched up to the oldest boy, Marc Jacobi and pushed him into the nearby pig pen. Before his womanly screech had ended and all his boys knew what had happened Robin had her arrow notched and aimed at him. "Didn't I tell you to move along out of BaynesDale and specifically out of Stewarten? Marc I told you last time that I wouldn't be giving you anymore chances didn't I?" Marc's eyes stayed glued onto the finger that would release her arrow, that finger's twitch would decide if he dies or is only wounded. She was currently aimed at his chest. If she released now he was dead. Robin smirked mirthlessly. "Marc You shouldn't have come back. You threaten the lives of many here and I do not tolerate that." She swiftly changed her aim and let the arrow go. Marc fell farther into the pen when he grabbed his shoulder. It was pierced clean through by her arrow. He roared in pain as she walked over to the Paige's party.
She bowed before them all.
"Welcome to Stewarten. I deeply and humbly apologize for these idiots;, they seem to have a hearing problem." She glared at Marc as his boys helped him away. "Wait!" She called to them as she ended her gracious bow. The boys stopped in their tracks. "Bring him hither." She pointed to the spot directly next to her and in front of the nobles. The boys, too afraid to disobey did as told and set their leader exactly where she pointed. Marc had tear tracks down his face. She looked at the party. "Well what do you propose I do with him?" The men looked at each other.
