So I am ridiculously proud of myself. Life has been crazy, and I haven't had as much time to write as I would like. I know that is no excuse which is why I have the next three chapters completed and ready to post. It would be really nice to get some reviews (hint hint), but I'll post them no matter what.

Also a big THANK YOU to everyone who reviewed. You guys really are awesome.


It was a long trip to Sherwood by himself. The last time he made the journey he had others to accompany him. It wasn't conversation that he missed, he was used to the quiet, just the knowledge that someone else was there with him. The trees had changed quite a bit since winter. Green, full leaves took the place of empty, cold, brittle limbs. More than once he noticed a plump rabbit, and notched an arrow to his bow. Each time the arrow burrowed into the ground while the long eared animal hopped away. He cursed his lack of skill. He was still making beginners mistakes. Every time he picked up his bow, he carefully took aim and adjusted for the wind. The one thing he always forgot to do was breathe. Such a simple act, but important nonetheless. It looked like he would reach his destination empty handed. This thought frustrated him. He knew that he would need to prove himself; he would just have to rely on his other skills to do so.

The moment he felt the rope tighten around his ankle he knew what he had done. "Bloody hell," he yelled out as he felt himself fly through the sky. The jarring jerk up and down left him felling nauseous. He knew he probably looked like one of the many toys his father and brother used to make as he bobbed from the end of the rope.

"This is an ambush," a gruff, gravely voice said from behind a tree.

Another voice, feminine with a slight accent, joined his, "we only ask for ten percent of what you carry."

He rolled his eyes. Just bloody brilliant, he thought. Here he was hanging from a tree wanting to join the gang. Great way to show off his skills to the group.

"Oy, I'm not being funny, but ten percent of what this lad has wouldn't even amount to his boots," Allan's voice was full of laughter.

He saw someone move to the tree to cut him loose, he cursed loudly as his body crashed back down to earth, stars forming behind his eyes.

"Luke, what are you doing here," a deep voice full of concern called out.

The young disheveled man brushed leaves and dirt from his hair, "hello. I was… well I was hoping to join the gang." He looked at the others sheepishly.

Allan began laughing instantly, but was shut up quickly by a look from Djaq. "I apologize for their behavior, brother," she said as she enveloped him in a hug. "They do not know how to properly great someone."

He blushed slightly at her open display of affection. The only women that had ever embraced him where his mother and his aunt, "ah, hello, Djaq."

Will quickly followed his wife's lead, bending over and ruffling the young Scarlett's hair, "let's get a meal in you. Then we'll decide if you'll be staying or not."

Will helped his brother off the ground, as he had so many times in the past, and led the group back to camp. Luke glanced at Allan and Djaq in confusion, "what does he mean, 'if'? I want to stay."

John looked at the boy and smiled softly. It had been a life time ago since he had looked so innocent and young, "if means that Will wants you to stay safe."

Djaq smiled up at her large friend. He always saw far more than anyone gave him credit for.

"That and the Sherwood Inn is booked," Allan said as he clapped Luke on the back. "Not much elbow room around there anymore."

"Things have changed a bit since your last visit," Djaq explained to her brother-in-law. "The Sheriff is evicting people faster than we can relocate them. Will came up with a plan that allows some of them to stay in Sherwood," she gave her husband a look of admiration and love. "We have constructed refugee camps for them to stay at."

As the small group made their way back to camp they noticed Robin and Marian talking to a young girl. Luke's eyes immediately focused on her, noting her wavy red hair, sharp green eyes, and slender frame. She was beautiful. He leaned towards Allan, "if you guys are out of room I could stay at one of the refugee camps. With her maybe?"

Allan followed Luke's gaze and patted him on the back, "not a bad eye," he smiled at Will's brother giving him a wink. "She's off limits though."

"A noble," Luke asked.

Allan laughed, "not quite. She is under Marian's 'protection'," he said sarcastically. "By the time that woman is done there won't be a single lass in all of England that we can talk to."

"I heard that," Marian's voice called out to them. Robin did too, and couldn't help but chuckle. She smacked her laughing husband playfully on the back of the head and turned back to her charge, "Lucky, what are you doing here?"

The young girl glanced at the group approaching. She had met them all already, except for one; he appeared much younger, and shorter than the other men. If she had to guess she'd say he was a little older than her. She realized that Marian was still waiting on her answer, "I found out that the Countess talked to some of the nobles. The Sheriff is upset because the villages aren't meeting their quotas. Adrianna told them to allow some of their villagers to return. So I came to tell you. I thought it would help with the refugee camp problem."

"That is great news," Robin nodded to their young spy. "Good job, Lucky."

"Oh, and one more thing," the red head exclaimed, "the Sheriff will be sending the taxes off early this year. He is hoping to sneak it past you. I think he has noticed that you have slowed down a bit, but he doesn't know why." She paused, looking at the small baby in Marian's arms, "he doesn't know about Chloe."

Both mother and father sighed with relief. They had managed to keep their child hidden thus far. Her discovery was a nightmare that they both shared. Chloe seemed to sense the attention and began making soft cooing noises as she reached for her father's finger. It was hard to remember the state of the country when he stood next to his wife and daughter. Robin laughed softly as the infant began chewing on his knuckle.

Marian smiled at Robin and then at Lucky, "that is very good Lucky, but you need to be careful. You can't draw too much attention to yourself."

She nodded, feeling very much like she had just gotten a lecture from her mother, "I guess I'll be heading back now."

"Someone go with her to the forest's edge to keep her safe," Marian ordered.

"I'll take her," Luke volunteered, earning him looks from the others. He blushed deeply, "I mean if you guys are too busy, I could take her back. And no one would recognize me, so she'd be safe if she was seen with me."

Marian gave him a skeptical look, "alright, but you take her there and come right back. Do you understand me?"

He nodded, "yes ma'am."

As the two teenagers walked off Will burst into laughter, shocking the group. "I think little Lukey has a crush."

Lucky smiled at the quiet young man accompanying her. He hadn't said a single word since they left the others, "I didn't catch your name."

"I'm Luke," he said softly, his eyes meeting hers for the briefest of moments.

"Well Luke, are you normally this quiet, or are you just really deep in thought," she teased him.

He smiled shyly at her, "I don't suppose that saying I'm Will Scarlett's brother would be enough of an explanation?" The confused look on her face made him laugh, "the lanky, quiet one with the axes."

"Oh," she said in realization, "so you and your brother don't talk much. That's alright. I talk enough for a whole village. That's what my mum says at least. You'll probably be seeing me around. I am a spy in the castle, so I have to come and report to Marian quite a bit."

"Not a very secretive spy, are you," Luke asked immediately kicking himself.

Lucky laughed at his remark, "I suppose you're right. In my defense I don't go around telling everyone that. You just seem trustworthy, and you are one of Robin's men, aren't you? That's how I know that I'm safe with you. Marian told me that none of Robin's men would ever harm me."

The rest of the journey was filled with Lucky's voice. She told Luke about her family, about the Countess, and even for a short moment, about her dreams. "Well," Lucky paused looking at their surroundings, "this is where we go our separate ways I suppose."

Luke nervously kicked at the ground, "it was nice talking to you. Well listening while you talked," he smiled up at her.

"Will I see you around," she nervously played with the ribbon in her hair.

Luke felt a small surge of confidence. She wanted to see him again. "Well I am one of Robin Hood's men," he shrugged before disappearing into the woods again.

She smiled and blushed slightly. One of Robin Hood's men, for some reason that thought excited her. She knew better than to trust men, the Countess had told her over and over that men were only out for one thing. Luke seemed different though. She was almost positive that he liked her, but he didn't try anything with her. She couldn't help but notice how cute he was too. Not as tall as his brother, but his shoulders were broader. His eyes captivated her. They reminded her of the forest, green with specks of brown, like bark peaking out in between leaves. She tried to let thoughts of Luke slip from her mind. She had a job to do and a mission to complete. That didn't leave much time for a crush.


I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter. The upcoming chapters will include: Rosemary cheering up Much (for those who don't remember she is one of the refugees), Allan searching for Miranda, and Much confronting Eve.