**Hey! Quick disclaimer: I don't own anyone but Clara and the characters surrounding her story! Review and follow me! Thank you to all my readers! This is a bit of a long chapter, and I think the next one will be too! I might add my own episode at one point or I may just add characters from Clara's past in an episode. Review what you think or any suggestions you have!**
Brothers in Arms
"Now, good people of Locksley, I have bad news." There was a chorus of groans following the man's words. "Ah, but, there is good news as well. Okay, the bad news is the Sheriff's taxmen will be here soon, but the good news, is I, me, Lucky George, am here with you in Locksley!" I felt a hand on my shoulder and quickly drew my knife and pinned the person against the wall of the hut with my knife to his throat. I looked up threateningly before realizing it was just Will.
"Will, don't do that! I could've killed you." I removed my knife and peaked around the wall of the hut to look back at Lucky George and the people villagers around him.
"Sorry, I just finished the west side of the town. We should be heading back soon." Will and I had been partnered together for this morning's rounds. Allan and Robin had gone to Nettlestone while Djaq had accompanied John to Longston. Much had stayed at camp to cook lunch for us when we returned. I didn't mind being paired with Will, in fact I liked it. Will was silent which gave me time to think, but he was also very skilled which would come in handy in case we ran into any trouble. He had been through so much in his life. More than most elderly people have been through in all their years. He held onto so much anger, though. Will was a good man. His heart was in the right place.
"Look at him." I spat in disgust as I felt Will come to stand behind me to watch the leech feed off of the townspeople's naivety.
"I will give you good cash for any, uh, jewelry, trinkets. Anything of value, I will turn to pennies. Those pennies will pay the taxman and that will keep you out of the Sheriff's jail! So help me, to help you. Be lucky, come to Lucky George."
"Come on." Will pulled me lightly away from the scene as some of the townspeople started to notice us. Once we were a safe distance away he spoke again, "We should put him out of business. Get the people's things back." We ducked behind a house and talked in hushed whispers.
"Robin and the others should be done with their rounds by now. They're probably waiting for us back at the camp." Will adjusted his axe before following me into the woods.
Robin had insisted on setting up camp nearer to the villages because he claimed that it would allow us to be able to get there faster if there was an emergency. I didn't have a problem with it, but it would be safer to camp farther away from the village due to the Sheriff's men. Just because the Sheriff ceased scouring the forest with dogs looking for us, doesn't mean he wasn't plotting. The Sheriff was always plotting, make no mistake.
"Finally! Where did you two get off to?" Robin noticed us first as we jogged into camp a bit breathlessly. The others were sitting on rocks and logs with plates and bowls of stew on their laps. I could hold in my hunger for a little while longer. Will managed to explain to Robin the situation, and Robin's face darkened with anger.
"Well, what are we waiting for, then? Let's go. Good work." He clapped Will on the shoulder and nodded to me before running down the hill with the other outlaws following. I had just managed to catch my breath and jogged after them. We reached the North Road just as the coach came bouncing along down the path with only two guards at the front on horseback.
"I knew we should have gone round." I vaguely heard one guard tell the other and held in a laugh at the irony. "I hate the woods." Allan ran in front and descended the hill flawlessly, coming to a stop in front of the two guards. He smiled amusedly at them as the rest of us ran silently towards the carriage.
"This, my friends, is an ambush." He announced, and I couldn't hide my laugh at those words. Will pulled a guard off his horse as Much took care of the other. John slammed into the driver, knocking him off his bench and onto the ground. I grabbed the man's collar and pulled him roughly to his feet, keeping a dagger at his throat even though I had no intention of harming the meek looking man.
"Who-who are y-you?" He stammered out, clearly frightened. He looked to be a simple man from one of the villages in town probably. How he'd ended up working for such a crook was beyond me.
"We are Robin Hood's men." I told him and his eyes widened in even greater terror. "Basically, run." I told him, unceremoniously shoving him down the path. He stumbled along for a moment before regaining his footing and sprinted away. I heard a laugh behind me but didn't turn so he could see my grin.
"Nice touch." Allan's voice sounded behind me as I watched Robin jump through the hole in the roof of the carriage to confront Lucky George. "I thought so." I replied with another grin. "You too," I added after a moment.
"Thanks," At that moment John hauled Robin out of the hole and Robin backflipped off the carriage just as George came barreling out of the door.] "Come here, you!" He yelled, wielding his sword. Robin disappeared behind the carriage as he ducked a swing from George.
"We should go make sure he doesn't do anything stupid." I nudged Allan who nodded and followed me. John joined me to my left just as we rounded the corner to watch the fight. I heard the sound of a sword hitting the wood and froze at the seen before me. Robin was against the side of the carriage breathing hard. A sword jutted out from the wood just beneath his left armpit. There was a slight nagging at the back of my mind. His sleeve would've gone limp if it had been torn, but instead it was still perfectly fitted around his arm. I watched him closely; he was faking.
"Now, woah, lads." George stammered, panting and sweating. His eyes darted from one glaring outlaw to the next. He lunged forward to grab the sword, but Robin pressed it between his arm and chest.
"Ah, only joking." He punched George hard across the face, leaving the disgusting vermin on the leafy ground, holding his cheek and grunting in pain. I laughed lightly at Robin's antics and the other outlaws joined in. "Let's see if he's lucky enough to make his own way home. Take everything." Robin gestured grandly to the open doors. I followed John towards the carriage and laughed when he lightly slapped a shell-shocked Much on the cheek. I gripped his shoulder briefly, shaking him lightly and forcing him out of his daze before turning to more important matters like the carriage full of valuables.
I sat down between Allan and Djaq and started sorting through some of the golden trinkets and the nicer pieces of jewelry. Will was across from us, studying some of the tools while John stood outside with Robin and Much. Will exited the carriage as Robin fingered a golden goblet.
"We're going to take the carriage into town and give the people their belongings back." Robin announced after he, John, Will, and Much finished searching George's pockets.
"Good idea," I agreed, making no move to get up. "We'll stay here and make sure none of the belongings fall out along the way." Allan and Djaq laughed as Robin rolled his eyes but grinned, shutting the door. A moment later, the bumping and bouncing of the carriage told us we were moving. I continued to sift through the items around us, occasionally stopping to admire a necklace or bracelet that was exceptionally pretty.
"Hey, look at this one." I turned to Allan, who held up a gorgeous golden necklace with a diamond encrusted, heart shaped pendent.
"That's beautiful." I agreed, fingering the pendent lightly. He held out the necklace and I took it pressing it to my neck jokingly.
"I'm not being funny, but you should keep it." Allan told me and I smiled softly, holding the necklace away from my neck.
"It belongs to someone, Allan. I already have one." I told him, looking up at him while fingering the wooden bird that hung from a thin, woven rope around my own neck. My sister had given the present to me for Christmas. When I had left my home and turned my back on my mother, I had decided to keep one thing to remember each of my family members by. The bow and quiver concealed in my boots were my father, the swords on my back were my mother, the daggers shoved up my sleeves were my old best friend, Elena. I had a good life when I had lived with my parents. Friends, suitors, three sisters and a father, whom I loved dearly. I had everything a girl could wish for. I shook my head to rid myself of those old memories. "Besides, I think it looks much better on Djaq." I added lightly, holding it in front of Djaq's neck.
"I do not think it goes with my outfit." Djaq joked, and I laughed along with her.
"And it goes with mine?" I asked quizzically, gesturing down at my forest green, baggy shirt with a thin, black, leather corset tied around my midsection and baggy, brown pants that were tucked into my boots.
"Maybe if you tried wearing a dress…" Allan offered in jest, and I laughed, throwing some beads at him that he actually put on, grinning.
"I will if you will." I told him with a grin that he returned while Djaq laughed. I heard a vaguely familiar voice filter through the small window of the cabin, but ignored it as Djaq talked.
"Or are you afraid of looking to pretty?" I laughed, but stopped when I saw the look on Allan's face. He was looking out the window with a shocked and angry expression. I realized the carriage had stopped moving and the vaguely familiar voice from earlier floated back to me.
"Allan?" I asked softly. He looked at me with a mixture of recognition and anger.
"I know that voice." He told me, getting up. If the feeling in my stomach was right, I knew that voice too. He exited the carriage and I sighed before getting up as well. Djaq shot me a questioning look as I stepped out of the carriage and took in the scene before me.
"Help Will and John bring down the box from Locksley." I ordered Djaq and she nodded. I watched Allan walk up to his brother and punch him. "Ouch, that's gonna leave a mark." I muttered to myself as I descended the small hill to where Robin and Much were standing and watching Allan corner Tom against a tree.
"I can explain. My nose. What kind of thing is that to do to your brother?" Tom was stalling as he thought of a lie. "Is it broken?" He asked, turning to one of the townsfolk who just looked at him coldly.
"I say whip him, to within an inch of his life." Allan announced, turning to us. Tom glanced past Allan briefly and then did a double take, his eyes landing on me. Emotions raced across his face so quickly that I didn't bother to try to name them all. Instead, I just met his shocked look with an arched eyebrow and a smirk.
"Close your mouth, Tommy. You'll catch flies." His mouth snapped shut and a look of anger and indignation appeared on his face.
"Clara?"
"The one and only." I answered, spreading my hands out a bit and grinning easily at his angry look.
"You two know each other too?" Much asked surprisedly.
"You stole from me!" Tom accused causing my grin to widen.
"Right after you robbed me dry. Gotta hand it to you, though, it took nearly a full day to track you down." I spoke, mirth dancing in my eyes. I knew he couldn't stay angry at one person for very long; it was just the way Tom was. Currently, his mouth was working but no sound came out as he tried to form a sentence.
"You took my jacket!" He finally exclaimed.
"It was cold." I shrugged, smirking. He started toward me only to be roughly pushed back against the tree by Allan whom he turned on. "If you touch me one more time, Robin Hood will string you up from the tallest oak in Sherwood Forest." He threatened emptily. Allan and I shared a glanced and I bit my lip to keep from sniggering.
"This is Robin Hood, you idiot." Allan cuffed Tom over the head and shoved him in the direction of Robin. He stumbled, but quickly regained his footing and looked up at Robin not at all guiltily before throwing me a sideways look, rubbing his head.
"I beg your forgiveness, Robin of Locksley. We are humble thatchers. Times are hard," I rolled my eyes at him and glanced at Allan grinning. "We had to thieve or else face starvation." Robin nodded, clearly not believing a word Tom spoke. He glanced at me and then at Allan. "My friends here, I have to look after them." I watched as his hand dipped into Robin's purse. Tom glanced at me, and I cocked an eyebrow at him, showing him I knew he'd stole, but I kept my mouth shut for the time being.
"Don't believe a word." Allan advised wisely.
"Please," Tom begged, ignoring Allan. "Have a heart. Help us out here. We'll work for you. We can join your band of worthy outlaws." Robin nodded, still clearly disbelieving.
"What do you two have to say?" Robin asked, turning to the other two.
"They can't speak, M'lord. They've had their tongues cut out." Tom explained.
"Why?" Robin questioned.
"For praising your work." Tom stated and Allan rolled his eyes. "They were overheard." Sure. Robin seemed to be mulling it over, but I knew what the answer would be. Tom struck gold with the last lie. Robin had a weakness: flattery.
"Let them go." Allan hid a relieved smile as did I. I hadn't really wanted to see Tom horsewhipped. "You have your necklace," Robin told the woman, handing back her necklace. "We are not the Sheriff. We do not horsewhip thieves." He turned back to Tom. "Are you really thatchers?"
"Of course," Tom told him and I rolled my eyes. Even when he was out of trouble he couldn't tell the truth. "The finest in all England."
"Then, you shall have a new roof. Free of charge." Robin announced, grinning. Tom frowned and looked down at the ground and then caught my eye. He gave me a pleading glance. 'Oops' I mouthed to him and he rolled his eyes, trying to hide a grin. "Oh, by the way, I found some lost property in the forest. Anyone lost any valuables recently?" Robin raised his voice to address all the people present. "Take what is yours. Curtesy of Lucky George." The chest was placed in the middle of the townsfolk by Djaq and Will.
"Speaking of lost property." I spoke up, throwing Tom a pointed look. He sighed.
"All in good time, Clara." Tom grinned at me before turning back to Robin. "I think we could be useful to you." I glared at him dirtily and he rolled his eyes before drawing out the stolen knife. "See, did you notice?" Tom winked at me, grinning impishly, and I rolled my eyes at him. Allan came to stand beside me and gave Tom a dirty glare which I understood. I've had my share of sibling treachery and it's not all it's cracked up to be. "If I can steal something under the nose of the great Robin Hood, think of what I can achieve with mere mortals, eh?" He looked hopeful, but Robin remained stoic. "Allan?" He glanced at his brother for help. Allan remained silent for a moment before glancing at me briefly. I raised my eyes and a small grin tugged at my lips. It was his brother, of course he was going to help him. His face slowly softened as he looked at Tom.
"He's an excellent pick pocket. And he's got a big mouth, I know, but his hearts in the right place." Robin nodded thoughtfully.
"And he's your brother." Robin added.
"Look, if you had a brother and he'd done something wrong, you'd give him the chance to make it up, wouldn't you?" I saw a small smile start to form on Tom's face as he glanced between Allan and me hopefully. Robin's gaze turned to me.
"Clara?" He asked for my opinion.
"Allan's right, he is an excellent thief. He can talk his way out of anything." I added, looking at Robin and nodding. Robin fished some tags out of his bag and dangled them in front of Tom's face.
"Thank you, Robin. You will not regret it." Tom promised.
"You will earn these tags." Robin told him. "You, are on probation." Tom looked at Allan and nodded as Robin turned away and then turned back. "Why are you still standing there? This woman's roof! Get to it!"
"Go on." Allan cuffed him over the ear and Tom held his ear while he walked away with the woman. Allan gave a little, genuinely relieved laugh while he watched him go. "I'll keep an eye on him." He promised softly to Robin. Robin turned to both of us.
"You better." I nodded to him in understanding and glanced back at Tom's retreating figure. We walked back to camp in silence and we unloaded all the extra treasure that wasn't claimed by the townspeople.
"That's it." Will spoke finally, dumping the last of the trinkets into the pile. "That's the lot."
"Where's Lucky George's money? Where's the coins?" Robin asked, glancing at each of us. We shook our heads.
"We searched his pockets. Nothing." Djaq informed him.
"Well, how can he trade if he has no money?" Robin asked.
"Maybe he spent it all?" Will suggested, but I shook my head.
"Locksley wasn't the last stop for the Sheriff's taxmen. He wouldn't have spent all the money before he bartered with all the towns." I spoke up.
"It's unlikely." Robin agreed. I sighed and rubbed my temples, deciding to descend the hill towards the others by the fire. I neared them just as Tom started to speak.
"The thing is, we'd both been robbed, and, rather than wake you, I went off to catch the thieves myself. Chased 'em for days." He lied through his teeth. I came to stand beside Allan.
"Clara, no hug?" Tom asked, sounding offended. I gave him a look.
"Hug you so you can rob me? No thanks, I'll just stay over here." I teased.
"The same thing happened to you! I had finally caught the thief and gotten all our stuff back when you found me! I was gonna go back for you." I rolled my eyes at him.
"He couldn't tell the truth if his life depended on it." Allan spoke up, glancing at his brother.
"Runs in the family, then." Much stated, and I hid a grin.
"Don't make us gang up on you." Allan threatened and then I did grin.
"Is he disrespecting our family?" Tom inquired, eager for any reason to get the subject off of his lies.
"You rob each other in your family." Much pointed out with a frown. Well if he thinks that's dysfunctional then I hope he never sees my family.
"It's still a family, Much." I told him, feeling the need to make their family seem not so bad in a vain attempt to make mine seem semi-normal. It didn't really work. I caught Tom's eye and he gave me a mischievous look. I grinned, knowing that look. He winked at me, and my grin turned into an eye roll.
"My flask. Where's my flask?" Much asked and I turned to him before making the connection. Allan and I simultaneously turned to Tom who looked at both of us innocently. "I put it there. Where is it?"
"Sorry," Tom apologized, not sounding all that sorry. "Old habits." He held out the flask to Much, who snatched it back. He glanced at Allan before getting up and stalking over to a rock to sit on a little ways from the fire. "So, what d'ya say?" Tom asked, standing up. "The old gang back together again?"
"How did they loose their tongues?" Allan asked Tom. "No lies."
"For spittin' at some guards." Tom admitted, and Allan laughed. "It'll be different this time. I won't let you down, I promise." Tom told him, holding out his hand for a shake. Allan accepted and pulled him into a hug that turned into a wrestling match. I laughed as I watched the two brothers tussle; Allan had Tom in a headlock and was rubbing his knuckles over Tom's hair. I sat down where Much had previously been sitting and took a piece of bread to munch on. Will, Djaq, and Robin had all left camp and not returned yet, and it was getting dark.
"How 'bout now?" I turned to look at Tom, who had his arms outstretched. I smiled at Tom's childishness and hugged him. He wrapped his arms around my waist and I felt a slight prick in my side and my belt shifted slightly. I released him and grabbed his arm, twisting it only far enough to make him wince and release my dagger. I caught him and released my iron grip on his arm. He rubbed it, pouting a bit as Allan laughed at him.
"You got faster." He told me, grinning.
"You got slower." I retorted, holding up his knife as he gaped. Allan laughed harder.
"She got you, mate." He told his brother. I tossed Tom the knife before following Allan down the hill towards where Much was sharpening his blade. I propped my back on the tree beside Allan who lay down on a makeshift mattress. I unsheathed my two swords and rested one against a rock while I fingered the others in my hand. I looked up at Much who tossed me a rock to sharpen my sword with, and I got to work. I focused on the right side of my blade which seemed slightly uneven. I let my hair create a curtain over my face as I worked. I felt eyes watching me and glanced up to see Allan's eyes focused on my movements.
"Didn't your mother ever tell you it's not polite to stare?" I teased. Honestly, I kind of enjoyed Allan watching me like that, but I fought down a smile.
"I wasn't staring." He protested, not looking away.
"Sure, Allan, whatever let's you sleep at night." I smiled at him, and he laughed softly and shifted closer. He reached out and gently grasped my necklace between his thumb and forefinger.
"Why do you always wear this one?" He questioned, looking at the little bird wonderingly.
"My sister gave it to me as a Christmas present." I told him softly.
"Victoria?" He asked, and I was a bit surprised he remembered her name.
"No, there were four of us in total." I told him.
"You were the oldest?" He asked me and I shook my head.
"I was the second oldest. My older sister's name was Nicolette, then came me, then came Daniella, and then Victoria was the youngest." I said, remembering each one of my sisters in turn. "When I was sixteen, my mother went on an extended trip with Nicole and my dad left to go on a business trip in town that was going to take him a few days. He promised if everything went well, he'd be back for Christmas, and to save him a spot at the table. I kept telling Danny and Victoria that Dad was going to make back in time with our Christmas presents. Christmas eve came and I got a little worried that he wouldn't come home. I didn't want them to spend Christmas alone, so I snuck out that night and stole some things from the nearby villages, and in the morning I told them dad had stopped in last night to give me their presents because he couldn't stay. I didn't really expect any presents since Danny was only ten and Victoria was six, so when we exchanged gifts in the morning, and Danny gave me her little bundle wrapped up in one of her small handkerchiefs, I was a bit surprised. She explained to me that she'd spent the last week craving this out of a block of wood and hand wove the rope. I've never taken it off since she gave it to me all those years ago." I heard the sounds of sniffling and looked up to see Much blinking away tears. "Aw, Much, you're crying." I cooed, lightly, surprised at myself. I usually don't divulge any information about my past life. It hurts too much. What happened in the past, stays in the past.
"No, I'm not. There was something in my eye." He denied, looking down at his sword. I looked at Allan, almost afraid at what I'd find. He was looking at me with a mixture of sadness and understanding.
"Tom's rubbing off on you." I told him with a wavering grin, trying to ignore the aching pain that grew in my chest. Before I could do something stupid like start opening up my life story, I refocused on my work. The familiar burst of anger ignited within me as I remembered that day; I would get revenge for her. I felt a grip on my wrist and looked up to see Allan's concerned face. I opened my mouth to tell him to get off of me when Much interrupted.
"Oi," He hissed, sheathing his blade and nodding up the hill. I sheathed mine and stood, brushing off my pants and shaking my head slightly to rid myself of any lingering thoughts of the past. "Where's Tom?" I groaned softly and heard Allan echo the noise and mutter a few swear words as we climbed the small hill, hoping to get a glimpse of him.
"We have to tell Robin." I finally told them dejectedly. Allan looked at me with a slightly panicked gaze.
"No, can't we just… find him on our own? He can't have gone far. Maybe-"
"Allan," I cut him off softly, placing a hand on his arm to stop him from descending the hill in search of his brother. "He's going to find out eventually. The sooner we tell him, the sooner we can stop Tom from doing whatever crazy problem he's got himself into this time." Allan looked at me for a moment and then sighed in defeat, turning and heading towards Robin.
"You like him!" Much whispered suddenly, and I turned to him with a frown.
"I do not. Well, not in the way that your implying." I denied and Much looked indignant.
"You think everyone can't see you…" He stopped, thinking of the word. "Flirting." He finally came up with, and it was my turn to look indignant. "You just can't admit it." He accused.
"I do not." I snapped at him and he smirked. For once, I had nothing more to say, so instead I just tossed my head and stalked away from the smirking Much. I reached Robin and Allan just as Allan was starting to explain the problem.
"I've lost my brother." He announced flatly.
"It's a big forest." Robin said.
"They must've gone east." Much added, joining us, but I refused to look at him.
"He didn't tell me where he was off to, though. I've got a bad feeling about this." Allan reluctantly admitted. Robin let out an exasperated sigh.
"Fetch the horses. East is towards Knighton." Marian. Great. Can this situation get any worse? Never ask that; I should never ask that, I mentally berated myself.
"Come on." I told Allan and jogged over to mount the horse that I was quickly starting to call my own. I pulled my horse up next to Robin's and glanced at him. When he didn't say anything I started, "We should start tracking them."
"We go to Marian's first to make sure she's alright. If they're not there, we track them." He announced with an air of finality. I nodded obediently, refusing to voice my doubts. It was a good plan anyway. They almost definitely went east and Knighton Hall is the nearest wealthy house. We arrived at Marian's to see Marian, dressed as the Night Watchman, battling Tom and his two men.
"Stop! Stop!" Robin called, dismounting from his horse almost before it had fully stopped. "What is going on?"
"Thank goodness you are here." Tom spoke, pulling down the cloth covering his mouth. I dismounted along with the rest of the outlaws, and went to stand by Robin with Allan alongside me. "This is Robin Hood and you're in big trouble, mate."
"What are you doing?" Allan asked angrily storming up to his brother and cuffing him over the ear harshly before continuing towards Sir Edward. "I am so sorry." He apologized for Tom as Robin came to stand next to him. Tom looked up at me with a look of childlike confusion.
"What do you think you're doing, Tom? Do you even know the meaning of the word probation?" I hissed at him, trying desperately to remain calm.
"Of course I do." He snapped back, "Trying to prove my worth to Robin."
"Did you even bother to check who your robbing from?" I had calmed down enough to unclench my jaw and speak normally. He sheathed his sword and looked a bit guilty. "Of course not." I let out a sound of annoyance and flicked him on the bridge of his nose. "Try using your head, Tom." His glare darkened.
"These people were robbing my house." Sir Edward was saying.
"Yes, we're robbing his house; that's what we do. We're trying to show the top man what we can do." Tom defended angrily.
"These people are our friends." Allan raised his voice in frustration and anger, coming to stand right in front of Tom, who just glared at him.
"I-I thought-" He broke off as he realized what had happened. He looked from unforgiving face to unforgiving face in despair. I took deep, calming breaths, and forced myself to relax. He only did it because he wanted to fit in; he didn't understand the process of earning trust. He was too impatient.
"You don't think." Allan cut him off. "You can't think." He growled as he hit Tom over the head again.
"Are you hurt?" I asked Sir Edward, trying to direct the conversation away from Tom, who threw me a grateful glance, which I ignored.
"Only my pride." Edward replied, and I was relieved. "These are your men?" I tensed as he asked Robin a question that almost ensured more fighting. How can a group of outlaws fight for peace and justice in England if there isn't even peace and justice within their band?
"Not for much longer, I promise." Robin threw a backwards glare at Tom, who looked a bit crestfallen but covered it up. "Apologize." Robin ordered, coming towards Tom. "Apologize for the disturbance. Now!" He yelled angrily when Tom did nothing. Tom jumped and looked to Allan who had also approached him.
"Do as your told." Allan practically growled. Tom started walking, and Allan cuffed him again.
"Sorry," Tom muttered.
"Louder," Robin ordered.
"Sorry." Tom repeated louder this time.
"I knew nothing about this." Robin told Edward when it became apparent Tom wasn't saying anything else. "They will be punished; you have my word." Allan looked over at him.
"Robin, I'm so sorry."
"Just, take them away!" He snapped angrily, and Allan roughly led Tom towards the horses as Robin followed Marian into the barn. I grabbed the collar of one of Tom's men and shoved him towards my horse, but pulled him back as he tried to mount.
"I'm going to get on first. You follow. Try to run or try any tricks, an I will shoot you. Do you understand?" I asked in a deadly calm voice causing him to nod vigorously. "Good." I swung myself up onto the horse and held my hand down for the man to grab. He accepted the help and swung up next to me, wrapping his arms around my waist, making me glad I didn't get Tom.
"Much! North Road!" Robin called as he ran out of the barn and swung himself up onto his black horse. "Clara take Tom and the others back to camp. I'll meet you there!" I turned my horse around and galloped off with Allan and Will following close behind. We slowed as we reached camp and came to a stop before a great oak in the middle of camp.
"Get off." I ordered and the man behind me instantly complied; I think he was a bit scared of me. I swung off the saddle and tied my horse to a low branch, fishing a small apple out of my bag and feeding it too him. Turning to the their, I looked him up and down. He was a scrawny fellow, not bad looking, but had cunning eyes that I didn't like. "Sit." I ordered, pointing to the ground by the Oak next to where Tom had just sat. The man obeyed me without hesitation again, and I threw him a smirk before turning to see Robin and Much gallop into camp. "The silver?" I asked, though I felt I already knew the answer.
"Decoy." Robin's anger was still fresh as he ground out the word. I nodded solemnly; I wasn't having such a great day either. "Allan," He beckoned, walking a little ways off as Much went to put the horses away.
"We should send him on his way. He's nothing but trouble." I jumped a bit as Will startled me.
"Don't do that." I snapped at him angrily before softening. "Sorry, just been a rather stressful day." Will nodded understandingly, glancing at Tom. "What would you do if it was Luke?" I asked him, watching as his shoulders tensed. I knew it was a sore spot for him, but he needed to understand what Allan was going through.
"I would want Robin to give him another chance." He admitted slowly, and I nodded at him.
"Because he's your family, and family always sticks together. No matter what." I told him, thinking about my sisters and how hypocritical I was being. "When it really matters, you've got each others backs." I glanced towards where Allan and Robin were talking to find them both glance at me before going back to talking. I frowned.
"Do you think he's doing alright?" I looked at Will confusedly before realizing he was talking about Luke. My gaze softened considerably.
"I'm sure he's fine. He's got a lot of you in him." I joked, smiling at him as Will looked a bit nervous. "That's a good thing." I told him, and he laughed a bit. "Besides, your dad's looking out for him, I'm sure. They'll make a great living wherever they go."
"They went to Scarburrow." Will told me, and I raised my eyebrows in surprise. "A woman in Locksley, one of my dad's old friends, said she'd received a letter for me. It told me where they went, and it-it said for me to follow them. When I had enough money." He swallowed and looked at me nervously.
"But you didn't go?" I questioned. He shook his head.
"I-I still think about it sometimes. Going."
"You made the right decision." I reassured him. "Staying, I mean. We'd be lost without you here." I admitted, and he grinned as I realized how much we'd come to depend on Will.
"Thanks, Clara." He said softly. Allan walked over to us, diverting my attention for the moment, and looked down on his brother.
"Last chance. Do you understand?" Allan's brother nodded and smiled slightly. The outlaws spread out to sleep, and I propped myself up against a tree, unstrapped my swords, and closed my eyes.
"Clara." I heard a voice hiss and I groaned before opening my eyes, blinking at the early morning sunlight. "Get up! There gone." My eyes snapped open and I stood up and stretched.
"Have you woken Allan?" I asked, strapping on my double swords.
"Much is doing it now." Will told me. I followed him to where Much was kicking Allan awake.
"They've gone." Much snapped, annoyed.
"And they've taken everything." Will added from beside me.
"Everything." Allan muttered groggily.
"Clothes, money, horses. Everything" Robin clarified.
"Everything. I will kill him. I'm gonna kill him. Bury him, dig him up and kill him again." Allan groaned out, blinking the sleep out of his eyes.
"You may not have to." I told him. "We need to find him before he does something stupid and get's himself killed."
"I'll go into Nottingham. Maybe they went there." Will spoke up.
"I'll go with you." I added, brushing my fingers through my hair in a last ditch effort to clean up before going. Robin nodded to us, and we left camp without another word.
The city was abuzz with the news; it wasn't hard to figure out what had happened. They had tried to ambush a coach in the woods and instead, got ambushed themselves by a group of the Sheriff's guards. The Sheriff, thinking he got Robin Hood's men, sentenced them to hang in an attempt to draw Robin out of hiding in the woods. We headed back towards camp with heavy hearts. Well, I had a heavy heart; I don't know about Will. He seemed to be mulling the whole situation over in his mind.
"They are to hang." Will announced as we arrived in camp. The outlaws were gathered in a rough circle with John leaning against a tree to my right and Will and Robin to my left. I walked over to my bag and rummaged through it, pausing when I saw the jacket I had stolen from Tom two years ago. I had been planning on returning it to him actually.
"He lied to us. Stolen from us. They're nothing but trouble." Much was saying as I brushed the jacket aside and continued searching through my bag. Finally, I found the bundle that I always kept at the very bottom of my bag.
"Let them hang." Little John spoke the words everyone had been thinking. I unwound the cloth, revealing the silver and diamond studded hilt.
"Oh! Look at that one, papa!" A fifteen year old me exclaimed, walking up to a stand that was selling weapons. I could tell he was smiling behind me as I fingered the bejeweled blade laying on the table.
"What type of blade is that?" He asked me, sounding like my school teacher that would come by every day to teach me reading and writing. It was quite pointless really, I could already read and write excellently, and there was no point wasting time with it.
"Twelve inch, double edged blade. On estimate probably made around two months ago. Entirely steel. Real diamonds on the scabbard and the hilt is made of silver while the actual blade is made entirely of steel. Double hollow grind with fuller dead center. Weight distribution is perfect." I looked up at my dad to see his approving gaze.
"You know your blades, Little Lady." I frowned at the shop owner and opened my mouth to reply, but a firm hand on my shoulder stopped me.
"My daughter is, indeed, skilled with a blade." My father replied with tight cordiality. "What do you think?" He questioned, turning to me.
"It's a beautiful blade." I spoke up with a slight smile, but when I looked back to my father he was frowning.
"A blade cannot be beautiful, Clarissa." He told me, and I frowned at him. "Blades are used to harm and kill. Something that creates so much pain and anguish can never be beautiful."
"But people can create pain and anguish, yet they're still called beautiful." I pointed out, looking up at him.
"Beauty does not only come from the outside. To be beautiful, you have to do good deeds and be kind to people." He explained, and I mulled over this new information.
"But if you do a horrible thing for noble reasons, are you still beautiful?" I asked curiously as he payed the man and took the dagger.
"That is for you to judge." He told me, smiling. "Others can say what they want, but only you know if your truly beautiful or not."
"Can I become beautiful, then?" I asked as he handed me the blade.
"Maybe one day, if you find something to be beautiful for." He told me, handing me the sheathed blade. I wrapped my dainty hand around the hilt and strapped it to my waist.
I was not beautiful. Too many good people had died at my hand for me to ever be beautiful. Too many good soles. Innocent people. Children even. They had all died while I lived. I brushed my fingers over the bird crest that was designed in the center. The bird was stretched out and looked vicious, with it's talons bared and it's beak open in a silent battle cry.
"I agree." I looked up at Allan's devastated face and cringed internally.
"You do?" Much asked, and Allan glanced at him and then to me. I met his gaze and then dropped it and looked down at the dagger in my bag.
"My brother had more chances than he deserved." Allan shrugged, looking down.
"Does he deserve to die?" Robin asked, though he was looking at me. I refused to meet his gaze and instead just kept gazing at the dagger in my bag.
"Do we?" Allan countered. "If we go to Nottingham we end up joining him on the scaffold."
"He took some of our tax." Will spoke up evenly. "The Sheriff's crowing. Thinks he's got Robin Hood's men. Now it's like he's daring us to rescue him."
"My brother was never part of this gang, was he? We trusted him, and he let us down, that's it. We'd be forced to walk into a trap for them." Allan sounded like he was trying to convince himself as well as trying to defend his choice. "Does anyone disagree with me?" My hands closed around the scabbard. A small part of my brain begged me to speak up. Say anything. Don't just sit there like nothing was happening.
"If we don't go to Nottingham to rescue them the people will think Robin can't protect his own men." I tried the logical approach as I released the dagger and stood up.
"They're not my men."
"The Sheriff doesn't know that. The people of Nottingham don't know that." I countered Robin's denial with a raised eyebrow. He shifted.
"It's not worth dying over," Allan spoke quietly, not looking at me.
"He's right, Clara, we'd be walking right into a trap. It's not worth loosing a man over."
"But if it were Djaq? If it were Will, or John, or me? Would you go then?" I challenged him.
"Of course, but-"
"Why?" I interrupted. "Because we're worth saving? Who're you to tell a man's worth?" Robin opened and closed his mouth a few times and finally shut it and crossed his arms over his chest.
"I'll make my decision by tonight." He told us before stalking past me and down the trail.
"Where's he going?" Will asked, looking at his retreating form.
"To Marian's. Where else?" I told him, glowering in the direction Robin had gone off too.
"We should let him hang." John spoke gruffly.
"If we let good people hang than we are no better than the Sheriff." I told John, who regarded me thoughtfully but remained silent.
"Thank you." Allan whispered quietly as the group broke apart. I looked up at Allan angrily.
"How could you do that? He's your brother." Allan winced at my harsh words, and I took a calming breath before continuing in a softer voice. "Allan, he's your little brother."
"I know, but I already asked Robin for two favors. Tom betrayed us. He doesn't deserve another chance." His voice held so much pain that it was impossible to stay angry at him. I put a hand on his cheek and forced him to look at me.
"Like I said, he's your baby brother, Allan. He deserves an infinite amount of chances from you." I told him gently, and just then Robin burst back into camp. I dropped my hand from his cheek and turned to face the others.
"We're going. Open it up." He ordered, and Allan and I followed him.
"Did Marian say it was a trap?" Much asked as he stood next to Robin. Djaq and Will opened the secret compartment. And John hauled things out.
"She didn't know." Robin was a bit exasperated and so was I. Robin made his decision.
"Well then, we cannot go! We cannot risk our own lives for three worthless rascals." Both Allan and I shot him dirty looks, which he ignored.
"We're going to Nottingham." Robin spoke with an air of finality that ended all conversations. "I'll see you there."
"Master, surely." Much started, trying to find the words. "Why are we-"
"For family! For Allan's brother. We do not let the Sheriff hang our family." Robin cut Much off loudly. "No matter how unreliable they may be." Robin added with a backward glance at Allan, who looked grateful.
"Robin," Allan tried to find the words. "God bless you, my friend."
"Don't mention it, my friend." Robin dismissed quietly before walking out of camp hurriedly with his bow in hand. The rest of us followed at a distance.
I walked behind Allan with Djaq behind me and Much bringing up the rear. Much was nervous, and made it obvious by the way his eyes were darting around the square as we passed it. We ducked behind a house and I drew my cloak around me tightly, fingering the silver hilt of the dagger I had decided to bring along. Suddenly, someone grabbed Much from behind and I drew the blade a bit.
"What are you doing?" Much hissed, and I sheathed the dagger.
"I have to speak to Robin." A girl's voice whispered back.
"Why?"
"Look, the necklace. Gisborne took it back." Some guards passed by, and I turned my head towards Allan so I wouldn't be seen. "Quick, kiss me." There was a couple of weird noises and then, "sorry." Isn't she getting engaged?
"Much." I snapped at him, barely remembering to keep my voice at a whisper.
"Uh," He glanced at us and then back at the woman. "Tell me what happened." I gave an exasperated sigh. A few minutes later Much rounded the corner and looked at us in panic. "We have a problem."
"Go tell Robin. We'll join the crowd." I told him, having heard enough of the problem to realize the importance of Robin knowing. Much gave a curt nod and rushed off to find Robin while Djaq, Allan and I joined the people heading towards the hanging platform. We joined John at the edge of the crowd just as the Sheriff came out flanked by two guards. The trumpets announced his arrival with an unfittingly upbeat tune. I started to move closer toward the platform, but a hand stopped me.
"What are you doing?" Allan hissed worriedly.
"When Robin shoots Tom down, someone needs to be there to untie him, and I'll attract the least attention." I told him, and he reluctantly released me. I disappeared into the crowd and made my way towards the platform, dancing around men, woman, and children.
"All those eager faces." The Sheriff started with a line that made me shift uneasily. Something was wrong. I began to back up a bit into the crowd back towards Allan, Djaq, and John as the Sheriff stepped onto the platform. "You're all expecting Robin Hood to turn up, hm, aren't you? Do a few tricks with his bow and arrow? Well, this is no time for schoolboy tricks; this is justice. We have laws. Robin Hood has no respect for the law. Robin Hood flouts the law. He would have us all be criminals, murdering and stealing! Yet still, you wait there expecting him to come and save one of his own. Yes, of course you do," He continued as I continued to back up. I neared Allan and the others, but didn't speak for fear of being overheard by the guard that surrounded the courtyard. "Which is why, I have brought the hanging forward by one hour. Look up there!" He yelled the last part, and my gaze snapped to where three figures hung by their necks from the wall. Tom, oh God. I blinked quickly to try to hold back the tears that were starting to form in my eyes. I looked instead to where John and Djaq were struggling to hold back Allan, and I ran over to them.
"Allan," I commanded softly placing a hand on his chest, and he stopped struggling and just stood there, looking up at his dead brother. I nodded to Djaq and John who released him, but I still couldn't bring myself to look back at Tom.
"You're too late, Robin Hood! You're men are already dead!" The Sheriff yelled, and I slowly turned to stand next to Allan. "Oh, I wish you could have seen the looks on their faces just before they realized that you weren't coming to rescue them. Oh it's very moving. First, there was disappointment tinged with confusion. Soon to be replaced by anger, and then tears, just before the realized it was the final fatal drop. It was very moving; it was very touching." Every word the Sheriff spoke was like a knife to the heart. "Yes! I wish you could've seen that, Hood!" Allan looked at me desperately and started forward again, but I put a hand on his arm to stop him. "Oh! Will one of you tell Robin Hood, if you do see him. Thank you. No eager, smiling faces. Good." He whistled a tune as he ascended the steps, smiling. "Ah, all in a day's work! Sheriff coming through!" The wooden doors slammed shut behind him, and the noise seemed to echo around the courtyard. Allan stood frozen beside me as I slowly pulled him away. Djaq followed us as I pulled him into a deserted alleyway, and he sat down on some stacked bags of flour.
"Djaq, you're Tom's distant cousin who has come for his belongings." Djaq nodded quickly and left.
"Are you okay?" I asked Allan softly, rubbing his arm reassuringly. He nodded, looking up at me with tear filled eyes, and then shook his head, starting to breath unevenly. I gently wrapped my arms around him and let him bury his head into my shoulder. He let out small, muffled sobs while I rubbed his back soothingly and sat next to him. After a minute, I pulled back and he took shaky breaths as I sat back across from him. I wiped the tears off his face with my thumb but couldn't bring myself to smile reassuringly. Djaq came back and handed me the small sack with Tom's things in it and went to stand watch just outside the alley.
"The Sheriff lies." I told him. "Tom had faith in you; he looked up to you. I wasn't lying, in that cell when we first met. Tom told me stories about you when we were partners. He said you taught him everything he knew; you were his idol."
"And look where that got him." Allan spoke shakily with anger lacing his words.
"He was a good man, Allan. Just like you're a good man. He was just a little lost." I told him quietly as a figure came up to us. I looked up to see Will with a cloak covering most of his face.
"Robin is looking for you." he told me, and I looked back at Allan, who looked at the ground. Will crouched by him and gazed at him sympathetically. "I'm sorry." Allan just nodded.
"Give us a minute," I told him, and he hesitated. "Will, please." I looked him in the eyes, and he nodded, going to stand by Djaq. I took a deep breath as I readied myself for the wave of pain that was going to come with this story. "Before I left for England, my sister, Danny, and I got into a fight. I-" I took a shuddering breath, "I told her she was a burden on the family and she could go and get killed for all I cared. I wasn't thinking and I was angry and hurt. I fought for King Richard for nearly a year before returning home. When I came back, I found out she had died of a rare disease that was deadly to the English. That's why I wear this necklace, to remind me of her. Dead but not forgotten. She still lives in me, in my memories, like your brother lives in you." Allan looked at me and attempted a small smile.
"That's why I worry about him." He told me, and I grabbed placed the bag on the ground between us.
"We should take a look." I started picking through his items.
"Look at what? A sack of rags?" Allan mumbled as he rummaged through the items with one hand. "It's a lot to show for a life of…" He trailed off as he pulled out the celtic necklace and showed it to me then glanced at Will. I closed my eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. Tom. Helping us from beyond the grave.
"Come on." I stood up quickly taking the necklace from Allan and quickly rushing out of the alley. I followed Will and Djaq with Allan next to me as we made our way out of Nottingham and towards the stopped carriage.
"I found Allan and Clara, and they found-"
"Something that might be of value." I finished Will's sentence as I handed the necklace to Robin.
"How?" Lucky George asked, miffed.
"I have to get the necklace to Marian." Robin told us before looking back at George. "You are lucky. Take everything, and this time, I mean everything."
"Wait, wha-?" John pushed George into the carriage before he could finish the sentence. I walked up to the man and placed the silver hilted dagger at his throat.
"I love your necklace." I told him, grinning. "Mind if I?" I grabbed the necklace and yanked it off his neck, holding it up to my neck jokingly and turning to Djaq who gave a laugh, but I couldn't even manage a smile. Djaq gently took the necklace from me, and I gave her a grateful look. My hand reached up and fingered the small Nightingale around my neck.
"I'm so sorry, Danny." I whispered quietly, closing my eyes, but refusing to let the pain out. When I opened my eyes again, they were cold and unforgiving again. I walked around to the other side of the carriage and slid into the drivers seat. We left Lucky George in the dust and road back to camp with a heavy silence.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Robin announced and the happy newly weds bent over the table full of treats to kiss. I clapped and forced myself to smile as rice was thrown everywhere. Allan stood next to me while Robin, Will, John, and Djaq stood a few paces away. The ceremony broke up and everyone started dancing while some people played instruments and other people ate food.
"I love a good wedding." Much announced as he held a chicken leg with one hand and a cake in the other. "And this is one of the best cakes I've ever tasted." He added for good measure. I opened my mouth to say something when I felt a frail hand on my arm making me turn around.
"Are you Clara?" She asked, and I knit my eyebrows together in confusion but nodded anyway.
"Yes, is someone looking for me?" I asked, but she shook her head, pulling an envelope from her bag.
"No, a young woman dropped this off this morning. Said it was for a Clarissa Nightingale. She told me it was important." I frowned as I took the envelope. It was heavier than it looked.
"What did she look like?" The woman shook her head.
"She wore a black cloak that covered everything, and it was raining. I couldn't see her, only hear." I nodded and slowly opened the envelope to look inside. My heart froze and my face went ashen.
