~x~
The Simple Things
Smoke rose up from the explosion caused by the trail of blasting powder, and she could still hear her mare whinnying indignantly from the back.
Blowing smoke out of her vision, the archer coughed slightly as both women followed the Sheriff who seemed enthralled at the newest invention. She looked at her friend as he patted the scientist's shoulder in gratitude and relief. "Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" Ella muttered as she watched the Sheriff walk straight into the crater the blast had created, and proceed to jump in place in excitement.
"Well done, Gisborne!" Vaisey said, sounding truly ecstatic. "Get me ten –no, twenty!—crates of this!"
Lambert folded his arms as he caught the expectant look from Guy, "If I'm to make more black powder, then there're conditions."
Ella looked at him, "Like not using this for evil. Right?" She asked, seeing him nod.
"Don't mind her, now what are your conditions?" Vaisey declared, earning a glare from the archer, too ecstatic to care.
"Firstly, I am to sell this to whichever man it concerns…"
"Naturally!"
"Secondly, I get a bonus for the work put into this…"
"Done!"
"…Thirdly, this powder mustn't ever be used as a weapon." Pretending the nobleman's glare wasn't digging into his skull, Lambert added, "'Using it for evil', as the lady put."
The excitement fell from Vaisey's face right then and there. He strode out of the crater and up to the scientist, and said, "You and I, my dear friend, could go far with this business… Trust me."
"No…" Lambert shook his head, lowering his gaze.
"Lambert…" Guy began.
"I won't do it." Lambert stated.
Ella caught the ominous glare on Vaisey's face that was only strengthening by the second, and she agreed, "Not to play devil's advocate, but try and think this over…" She muttered.
Lambert looked at Guy and shook his head again, "I can't trust you lot."
"My boy…" Vaisey began lowly, and the scientist glanced behind him to see some of the guards advancing on him.
"Let me go, or there'll be trouble…" Lambert threatened, and he pulled a small container with more powder in it, before tossing some in the direction of the Sheriff.
"Get down!" Guy barked as he yanked Ella out of the way before another smaller explosion went off, causing smoke to rise again, and another one went off as more smoke danced into the air.
Ella held his stare for a second that might as well have lasted an hour, before she heard Vaisey yelling for them to catch him. Shaking her head, she scrambled away and pulled him to his feet, turning to whistle sharply for her steed as several of the officers dashed off after Lambert's fleeing form.
Gem gave a whinny as her master hoisted herself onto her back and the nobleman joined her; with a snap of the reins, they galloped after his disappearance into the forest.
"Take the reins!" She barked as she nocked an arrow in her bow on habit and he did as told, waiting until she spotted a blue tunic darting around the trees, before she let her arrow fly.
A cry of pain sounded as Lambert stumbled into the small clearing and gripped his throbbing shoulder; turning about he fell back as the chestnut mare reared with a neigh as the duo came upon him, leaving four of the officers to apprehend him where he stood as the mare dropped back onto four legs.
Guy dismounted the horse as his archer kept her bow and an arrow on hand, stepping closer to the injured scientist. "There's nowhere to run, Lambert; you're not to go back on our deal." He stated.
"There'll be no deal between us; you lied, Guy!" Lambert shot back despite wincing at the pain flooding his back.
Guy shook his head and said, "You leave me no choice, then; search him!"
Ella lowered her bow and returned the arrow to her quiver, noting the mild disappointment showing in the scientist's eyes, and she patted her mare's neck.
"You promised you wouldn't use it for a weapon… Please!" Lambert pleaded.
"Where'd you put it; the ledger that has your formula? The information is for both of us, because I was the one who commissioned you!" Guy demanded.
"That's where your input on this comes short. Black powder is lethal, and I won't let you abuse its power!" Lambert returned.
"Where is it?" Guy ordered.
Lambert huffed slightly, "Somewhere you'll never find it."
"Your friend seems to take pride in the power he's got on us, how clever." Vaisey commented as he came forward and brought his white horse to a halt next to Ella. He added as he looked on the scientist, "Congratulations, Lambert, for you've just made yourself the most important person in Nottingham… When we do hurt you, it will be done carefully." He urged his steed turn about to retreat to the mines as the officers hoisted the man up and led him after their leader.
"I do enjoy a hunt." Ella commented blandly as Guy hoisted himself onto the horse's back with her, and she urged Gem follow the officers through the trees.
Guy huffed at her sarcasm, reflexively grabbing her hips when her mare had turned swiftly, "I doubt it will be anywhere in the castle." He mused, allowing a smirk to slowly form as his grab for the archer's hips made her back arch just a little.
"It's too obvious a hiding place… You're doing it again." Ella grumbled, stopping to give him a glare.
"Can't help it if I find it amusing to make you nervous." Guy returned calmly, unperturbed by her annoyed glare.
Ella pursed her lips and looked away with a snort. "Honestly…" Fine, he deserved a taste of his own medicine. Clicking her tongue, she urged Gem to pick up her pace to a canter as they were approaching the treeline, "I'm sure Marian can fend for herself on the way home." She mused aloud, causing him to stiffen.
"And that's relevant to you, how?" Guy had a feeling he wouldn't like what was to come.
Ella looked at him with an impish grin beginning to show on her lovely face. "I believe a taste of your own medicine is in order." Looking forward, she added to her horse, "Come on, Gem!"
With a whinny, Gem picked up the pace into a full-on gallop, seeming to spirit past the mines and on in the direction of Nottingham.
Guy had momentarily started at the horse's jerk, and his gloved fingers clawed at the archer's hips as they were practically flying through the green. "E-Ella!" He barked, only earning a laugh from the woman. He swore under his breath as she chose to weave the horse through the thin trees. Not only was she insufferable most of the time, but he was starting to believe she enjoyed thrills too much.
Also that she might be the death of him, one day.
"I beg your pardon?"
"I did not stutter, did I now?"
Exhaling, she shook her head. "No, you were understood perfectly, milord."
"Good girl. Now be a dear, and escort our new Earl of Bonchurch to his home. Return at sunset." He instructed.
She nodded her head with a neutral expression on her lovely face, "Yes, milord." Turning to follow the officers as they escorted the newly-christened lord, she caught the glance from her friend that was equally confused as hers; she shrugged a little before looking forward and shouldering her bow and quiver as she followed the men.
Why did the Sheriff just promote Much to an earl? He didn't look much, so she doubted he was able to get a read on the Sheriff's face when in his presence.
Ella took the reins for her mare from the guard and hoisted herself up as Much was loaded into the carriage, and she kept to the carriage's right side at a trot, glancing back at the castle they were leaving behind.
As her curiosity wouldn't let her mind be at ease for once, the archer exhaled; I must be going mad, she thought, ducking as if she were speaking into her mare's ear to look into the carriage's cabin. "Oi, Much wasn't it?" She hissed, shooting a look at the driver of the coach to find she was unnoticed.
Having heard his name, the blonde man poked his head out of the window to meet the archer's blue stare; the archer that had squabbled with his master, who had accepted Gisborne for his evil he had done months ago… His blue eyes tightened in suspicion. Why was she speaking to him? "I am…" He began unsurely, keeping his voice quiet.
"I am not sure what the Sheriff has in store for you, but given he didn't toss you to the scaffold, it can't be good… Just figured I would let you know that." Ella whispered, blue meeting blue, and she was met with a confused glint in his stare that held hers.
Much looked forward to see they were not far from their destination, and he exhaled slightly. "I had a feeling that was the case… Why are you talking to me, anyway? Thought you were loyal to the Sheriff." He asked, the tightened manner returning to his scruffy face.
Ella refrained from scoffing aloud at his assumption, internally cursing Robin Hood, before she replied softly, "The Sheriff is as much of a monster as you think him to be… Gisborne is my employer, actually. You can tell that to him, when you meet again." She gave him a look that stated he knew who she was referring to.
"That doesn't entirely answer the question…" Much began quietly.
"You and I are not so different, you know. Your friend is obviously hell-bent to accomplish his goal of flushing his enemy into the open, as my friend is also of like mind… I'm right, aren't I?" Ella wondered in the same tone, glancing to see they were slowly approaching Bonchurch.
Much pondered on her words for a moment, before he looked at her with a wary light in his eyes. "How do I know you aren't playing at some scheme?" He hissed.
Ella shrugged, seeming at a loss for a proper answer, before she replied, "I cannot judge for you; that's where you come in." She offered a half smile to him and added, "best of luck." Clicking her tongue as she straightened up in the saddle, she urged her mare trot to the front to speak with the driver.
Much watched the archer turn about to return to Nottingham at a gallop, leaving him to ponder on whether she was telling the truth or just tricking him.
The smithy looked on the woman as she finished counting out the silver. "You want me to melt these into a band… For a woman, I suppose?" He asked.
"A bracelet, like this one," she rolled up her sleeve to show the lone silver bangle she wore on her forearm, before fixing her sleeve. "Just a bit thicker… It's for an earl, a gift." She explained.
"Must like jewelry…" He muttered as he counted out the coins she'd given, and nodded at finding it was correct. "Come back in a week or so; it'll be done by then." He said.
Her face brightened with a smile, and she nodded back. "I will, thank you." She then turned to leave the shop and locate her horse she had left outside.
She hoped he would like it, and that it would fit his wrist. While some part of her still remained bitter about his upcoming marriage to another woman, she had more than enough willpower to shove the bitterness away long enough to regain her bearings and keep moving on.
She had to be strong, right?
Gem nickered in relief as she was being given a brushing and allowed to relax in the stall when her master brought her to the stable.
Smiling up at her mare, she patted her withers. "Sorry for neglecting you lately, girl. Been through worse, haven't we?" She shrugged, earning another nicker.
A set of boots walking on cobblestone stopped short of the entrance of the stable, and it didn't take her very long to recognize the light-mannered footing.
"Did you find out anything interesting?" His low-timbre voice asked.
She wrinkled her nose to evade a sneeze from the horse hair flying about and cleared her throat. "Not really. The poor bloke seemed excited just to be bestowed with a roof over his head and food in his belly… Doesn't suspect a thing." Fine she lied; she had done that so frequently in the past that it was what began her reputed silver tongue.
He stepped into the stable only to lean his back against the stall frame. "Nothing to report to the Sheriff, then." He mused.
"Sorry, no…" She shook her head, ducking under her mare only to brush her right side; hearing the glum tone in his low voice, she poked her head above her mare's shoulders and looked at him with a raised brow. "What's got you so blue? Didn't have a spat with your blushing bride, did you?" It wouldn't have surprised her; Marian looked to be as strong-willed as she was.
Guy gave a rueful half-chuckle, having had a feeling she would see through his usually snide demeanor; when he had actually let his guard down enough for her to see this in him, he hadn't a clue. "The Greek Fire project, the Sheriff took it from me… Doesn't think me capable of handling it, I suppose." He replied, his voice quieted a little.
Ella bit her lip to avoid scoffing aloud, deeming he would find it offensive, and she instead tossed locks of hair from her face. "'Course he thinks that; he's so bloody vain it's irritating. You were doing well with it before Lambert did that demonstration days ago." She admitted.
He looked at her with an arched brow. "Thought you disliked the thought of that blasting powder 'being used for evil'." His quotation earned a dry scowl from her, to which it lightened his spirits a little at seeing he had annoyed her.
"No, I still loathe the idea… But England will need it for their soldiers, if this Holy War is to continue for the foreseeable future. Not that I doubt the enemy is also willing to resort to the same method, because God knows they are," she ducked under her mare again to reappear on the left side and brushed her tunic of hair and hay.
"I do not understand something." Guy mused, perking her ears.
Ella quirked a brow as she put the brush away and gave an apple to her mare, petting her muzzle as she gobbled the fruit. "How so?"
"It feels easier, to discuss things with you than it is with Marian. Doesn't really make sense, I mean, she is my bride to be." He shook his head, looking at her as she stepped forward to lean onto the frame from her side.
She pondered for a moment before tilting her head and looking up at him, resting her elbows on the wood, "We do work together, efficiently as quoted by Vaisey, and as far as I know, you and Marian could come to terms with each other in the future. The near future, for your sake." She blew strands of hair from her brow and shrugged.
"'Could' isn't an assuring term." Guy remarked.
Ella pursed her lips, ignoring his mild smirk at her expression, and she exhaled. "How on earth should I know what it feels like to be betrothed to someone? I was never betrothed to a man back home… And anyway, there's no freedom in being promised to some bloke." She looked past him and smiled a little, wryly. "Doubt any man would find me suitable, either; the way I dress and my… career." She added quietly.
Guy's smirk fell away as he listened to her, and he looked at his friend. "A man shouldn't make you change who you are. Granted any normal man would be intimidated and possibly dislike you for it… Frankly I am surprised no man ever did ask for your hand." An indiscernible expression she had only seen once or twice before he had taken up a bride formed on his handsome face, and he added quietly, "He would be envied by all."
Ella watched the odd expression form on his face and she listened to him, before feeling her cheeks color; she lowered her head to rub her nose gingerly and sniff. "Don't go trying to woo me before you woo your bride, my dear sir. I'd have to let her know just how much of a letch you are." She chuckled, lifting her head to smirk at him, any sort of sign that said she was touched by his words now gone to be put behind her solid walls.
Guy's brow twitched and he scoffed. "Can't say anything nice without your sarcasm, can I?" He wondered.
Ella laughed quietly and lifted her hand to pat his cheek lightly. "'Fraid not, love." She smirked cheekily as she distinctly saw his ears redden at the petname, to which she beamed.
She could sense that Gem was beginning to feel skittish again… Not that she could blame her, for she wasn't too keen on this either.
Her eyes lifted to scan the green on one side of their party traveling to the intended destination, from the brush that led into the forest just a bit far from her reach to the high-rising rock on the other side, and then to the brush again.
No doubt this wouldn't end well. Was she going to inform the men of this? Nope.
"If you know what is good for you, I would suggest you move your horse." Vaisey's voice pulled her from her thoughts, and the archer looked at him as he sent a glance at the cave Guy and a couple of his officers went into, before he turned his stallion in the direction they had come.
Ella blew strands of hair from her brow and nodded. "Good point…"
"GISBORNE!" Robin's voice yelled from the brush, causing her to flinch as his cry echoed and bounced off the rock, causing all eyes to look at the break in the brush and spot the outlaw.
Gem pawed the ground with a hoof and whinnied; Ella felt her brow twitch as Robin fired four arrows to stop the two officers at Guy's side from attacking, her eyes looking over at the outlaw as he nocked another arrow. Her face paled as she could clearly see the flames licking at the arrowhead… "Damn." Urging her mare to back away, to which she obeyed without pause, she looked at her friend, "GUY, RUN!" She yelled, watching him also look at the flaming arrow in likewise horror, before he urged his men to run as well; the arrow streaked forward just as Guy scrambled at top speed to where the archer was.
A resounding 'boom' erupted into the air as dust and debris exploded, causing the horses to neigh and some to scramble away.
The smoke slowly began to clear minutes later, leaving those who had lingered to slowly emerge.
Coughing and waving the smoke from trying to sting her eyes, the archer looked about only to find her friend had face-planted into the ground as a last resort yards away. She hurried to his side and touched his shoulder before gently shaking him. "Guy!" She declared, feeling relief when he moved under her and coughed.
He shook his head and coughed again, blearily looking up at the pair of pale blue eyes of the archer whose face was dirty yet showing relief in her stare. At seeing she remained intact despite the slip-up, his head drooped down a smidge in likewise relief.
"Life is a cruel mistress, Gisborne." Both archer and nobleman looked up at their employer as he brought his horse to a brief halt infront of them; glancing about at the ruins, the Sheriff looked down at the two dirty-faced employees and added, "Though I suppose she has shown you some sort of favor… However small. Clean up your mess." He urged his stallion leave the two to their business.
Guy exhaled as soon as he left. At noting the woman shook her head next to him, he looked at her with a slight twitch of his brow. "What's that for?"
"That was handled nicely." Ella admitted, looking at him with a wry smile, and she lifted a hand to wipe some dirt off her nose.
an: is it odd that i half-expected there to be more of a good reception for this story? or maybe that's just me.. ah well. more to come in the future, gents. ^^