Disclaimer: Only the plot (when not referencing season 1) and OC's belong to me.
recap: Sorry it has been so long! I am trying to move across the country and things keep piling up. I finally got home after flying back and forth and am getting ready to leave again. I'll try to post one more chapter before I leave! Just a reminder (since it has been awhile), Lilith is waiting while Sarah helps the outlaws rescue a noble the Sheriff has captured in his plans to make more black powder and other nasty stuff. "Please find me as soon as you are back," Lilith said. "Then we can decide what to do if this scientist recognizes me or not." Sarah nodded and quickly got up on the seat. She was looking forward to the adventure (after living with Lilith for so long her adventurous spirit rubbed off on her), and she knew she needed to see if this man posed a threat to her friend.
Lilith watched as they rode off towards Nottingham. "Now all I can do is wait," she said kicking a rock. She hated waiting.
Chapter 8: A Good Day
The others hid themselves in various places as they drove into Nottingham. Sarah and John chatted amicably on the ride to Nottingham (with Sarah doing most of the talking) and parked the wagon next to the west end of the castle. "We'll meet back here in 30 minutes," Robin told Sarah. She nodded. She hoped so; she didn't think she could stage a jail brake for them all by herself.
She wandered around the square and bought a small trinket for herself and another for Lilith. She wandered her way back to the wagon (hoping she was being inconspicuous) after 30 minutes. She started to worry they weren't back yet and hoped everything was well.
After ten minutes she began to worry. She was half tempted to go and see if there was a way to find out if the servants were gossiping about a new capture when she saw them running. Please they are not running from guards, she prayed. She should have guessed something would go awry with their plans. She was disappointed and slightly urked when Much was the one to find her. "Come along," Much demanded.
"Since you asked so kindly," she grumbled. "What is going on?"
"We are trying not to get caught," he explained, sounding like he was talking with a child.
"Do I look like a four year old?" She asked and stopped to make him look at her. "I could guess that part. I meant where are the others?" she demanded.
"Do you always have to be so difficult?" he demanded.
"Is there a problem?" A guard behind them asked making them both jumped. Much looked ready to hide away.
"No," Much said quickly at the same time Sarah said, "actually, yes," making Much glare at her. "My brother is the village idiot. Nothing to bother one of the sheriff's guards for, though. Trying to explain to my slightly daft brother that we need barley grain, not corn," she said with a glare and a look Much interpreted as 'you own me one.'
"Move along then," he ordered and they scampered off. Will caught up with them, drawing the guards attention. Will grabbed her hand and she leaned in to give him a kiss on the cheek and gave a sigh of relief when the guard turned away and left.
"What happened?" Will asked confused.
"Just a friendly spat between siblings," Sarah said. "What went wrong?" she asked worriedly.
"The usual," Will whispered. She rolled her eyes.
"May I remind everyone we need to get out of the city?" Much muttered. Sarah walked in between the two of them but still hadn't let go of Will's hand.
"Ah, you worry to much, Much," Sarah said happily. She wanted to laugh that the day had started out with Will interrupting her bathing and now they were acting like a couple courting. They managed to walk by the guards who didn't spare them more than a second glance. "You got the scientist, though, correct?" she asked after they got out of the city.
"Yes," Will said. He was reluctant to let go of her hand and she made no move to let go of his. Much had noticed but decided not to comment.
They walked towards the forest where they found the others. "Sister Mary Rose, Lord Ashley of Aberforth," Robin said.
"Sister?" the scientist asked raising an eyebrow since she wasn't wearing her robes. Sarah was studying him with a critical eye. He was handsome in a rugged sort of way, and he had a stronger brogue coming from the northern border. She was happy she didn't recognize him but wasn't going to take any chances.
"Lord Ashley," she said nodding her head. "I am happy that Robin could be of assistance. We heard you are from Kent," she said as they walked back to camp.
"Originally from the north, along the border," he said kindly. If he recognized that this was the beginning of an inquisition he didn't show any reaction. "I met and befriended Lord Charles of Kent in court. He gave me a place to remain in Kent while I was working and experimenting. He seemed rather interested in science."
"Indeed," Sarah said remembering Charles talking about progress. "How long did you reside in Kent?"
"For a few years before I was called back home when my mother fell ill. I'm afraid I was gone for quite a few months, and I am sad to say, I missed Charles wedding," he said. "Grant it, he didn't send out advanced invitations," he pointed out. "Why?"
"I was in Kent for a time and I do not recall seeing you during my stay," Sarah said with a shrug.
"I did not return for about 7 months. When I returned, Lady Lilith had left the castle to return to her father's home . . . quite an odd circumstance," he said.
"Indeed, I have heard of it," Sarah said.
"I was hoping you could shed some light on the situation," Robin admitted.
"You know Lady Lilith?" Ashley asked.
"As a child," Robin said. "I was hoping you were there during her short time."
"No. I have only seen her twice, from a distance, at court. I found her quite charming from what I have heard of her, especially from Charles," Ashley said. Sarah grinned at the compliment. When they got close to camp she, reluctantly, released Will's hand and turned to go to Locksley. "Where are you going?" Will asked.
"Locksley. Lily is waiting for me there," Sarah explained. She felt relieved that Lilith was protected from being recognized for however much longer they were there. She found Lilith with a widow named Ester. Lilith said goodbye and walked out with Sarah. "It is good news," Sarah said happily as they walked back to the camp. "He was gone the entire time you were in Kent, and has only seen you from a distance," she said. "I highly doubt he would recognize you in general, let alone as a nun," Sarah said.
"Thank heavens," Lilith said. "If only I didn't have to continue wearing this outfit. I swear, it is rather tight," she said. "What has you so . . .giddy? You almost seem to float."
Sarah blushed. "It was a great time," she confessed.
"Because of the adventure?" Lilith asked, upset she had missed it.
"I didn't do much," she said. "But . . ." she confessed to the holding of hands, making Lilith clap with glee.
"I am so happy you have chosen him, Sarah! You will be wonderful together," Lilith said. "He is quite and reserved, but intelligent and a hard worker. I adore him! And you adore him, that is rather more important than my adoration," she teased.
"Please, Lily! You do not have to tease me so," she said. "When this is over, I daresay I shall never be able to show my face to him after deceiving him."
"You are deceiving him for me," Lilith said. "If he cares for you, he will understand. Besides, . . . I mean, Alan and I are not even of the same station. I am fooling myself," she said. They couldn't speak any more as they got closer to camp.
"Ah, Sister Mary Lily," Alan said grinning. "Lord Ashley."
"I am happy to see their plans were successful," Lilith said. "I was worried they would need a rescue party for them."
"I was rather surprised myself, Sister," Ashley said giving a bow, and Lilith noticed he seemed to flinch and she wondered if his ribs were hurt. "I understand you are from Kent."
"Yes, I spent some time there," Lilith hedged.
"She doesn't speak of Lilith," Robin warned. Lilith was happy he headed off the conversation. She appraised Lord Ashley. She had heard Charles speak of him, the Lord Aberforth, a few times now that she had a name. He was a handsome man, and obviously intelligent if the Sheriff was willing to abduct a noble.
Alan didn't like the way she sized him up.
"Why would the Sheriff risk abducting a noble?" Lilith asked as she found a place to sit and indicated for Ashley to sit as well. "Surely someone would notice your absence, either family or those overlooking your estates."
"After Charles died, I didn't get the chance to clean out my studies. He had kindly given me room to experiment but when Lady Bracknell took over she banned me from the castle," he said with a sneer. It was clear from his tone he didn't approve of Lady Bracknell which made Sarah and Lilith grin. "I finally was able to come and take what she hadn't destroyed or tossed out, and on my way I received a missive to come to Nottingham to speak with Sir Guy," he explained.
"You were traveling from your lands in the north?" Sarah asked.
"Yes, my father passed on two years ago and I attained the lands and titles."
"I'm sorry," Lilith said. She felt sad that after all that, he still didn't make it to Kent to gather his things. Ashley just nodded. "I am happy you are safe, now. Do you plan on returning to your lands, then?"
Alan hoped the answer was yes. "No," Ashley said making Alan frown. "I was thinking of staying here."
"You are more than welcome to," Robin said not noticing the glare on Alan's face or the perplexed look on Djaq's. "We are always looking for more people to help the cause."
"Well, I figured if Robin of Locksley is fighting against the law, something has to be wrong."
"And the Earl of Bonchurch," Much added making Ashley, Lilith, and Sarah raise an eyebrow.
"Who?" Sarah asked confused, looking around as if some mysterious Earl was hidden in a bush.
"Me," Much said exasperated. "I know it is a fairly new appointment so you might not have heard yet," he told Ashley.
Ashley looked at Lilith/Mary Lily with a questioning look; Lilith just waved her hand to silence him. No need to dash his hopes. "So we are three lords now. That makes it an even more important cause," Ashley said trying to hide his grin. He had no clue why Much was declaring himself the Earl of Bonchurch but he would go along with it if the nuns and everyone else in the forest was.
During dinner Robin caught Ashley up on everything the sheriff had attempted to do, and Alan made sure to sit next to Mary Lily. When it was dark, Lilith and Sarah found sleeping places, and Sarah noticed how Alan placed his sleeping palet between Lilith and Ashley; she couldn't help the grin that covered her face.
Yes, today had been a very good day, Sarah decided.
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Author's Notes: Special thanks to Elric24 & JustQuinn for the reviews! It was great coming back to find them in my inbox!! And I named the new Character, Lord Ashley, after Ashley from Gone with the Wind for my Beta, a huge GWTW fan.
Elrich-- thank you! I will try to add more. I know we definitely see Marion a lot more coming up.
JustQuinn-- thank you! Sorry for the delay!
