Several weeks after the break-in with the German Count Friedrich and Edyn was still feeling rejuvenated. She and Marian were continuously finding themselves holding back from laughter whenever they were in the Sheriff's presence and the strongroom was mentioned. Surprisingly Sir Guy still was keeping himself distant from Marian and Edyn was amazed at how long this had gone on for. It seemed he was determined to stay angry with her, which didn't bother Edyn in the least but Marian had mentioned a few times how it was now much more difficult to gather information for Robin. Because of this Marian had only heard about the Sheriff's new armour and the black diamond theft from listening from the outside of doors. She was then told about the boy being held to ransom as she was expected to be present at Locksley the next day for the exchange.
Back in her bedchamber she told Edyn what she had heard.
"So, Sir Guy is holding a young boy to ransom hoping he will get these stones back?" Edyn asked trying to fully understand the situation.
"Yes. From what I heard the boy and his friends were seen watching Guy testing the armour, and I'm assuming Robin went to rescue them and came across the rocks while he was at Locksley Manor," Marian explained.
"But he'll get the boy back, won't he?" Edyn asked unsure of what Robin's priorities would be in this situation.
Marian simply shrugged her shoulders. "I guess we'll know soon enough."
And she was right. Not long after Marian left to see to her father she returned to her bedchamber smiling widely and spinning an arrow through her fingers. Edyn instantly recognised the fletching as one of Robin's arrows and followed Marian out again not needing to be told that Robin was waiting for them in the town. Unfortunately due to the fact Marian was still under house arrest a guard trailed behind them closely. When Marian spotted Robin peering between several pieces of fabric at a stall she calmly handed a coin to the guard and instructed him to buy some bread. Edyn then stood several feet away from the two lovers as they quickly discussed the situation of the boy and she kept a constant lookout for the guard to return. It wasn't long before he came back in to view and glanced around in search of Marian.
"My lady," Edyn warned. Marian simply nodded her head and bid Robin goodbye, meeting the guard casually as if nothing was out of the ordinary. Edyn couldn't help but admire how Marian could put on all these little acts so smoothly.
"I have to think of a way to get the boy from Locksley," she whispered to Edyn as she pretended to inspect some trinkets on display at a nearby stall.
"Any ideas?" Edyn asked leaning forward closer to her.
With a sigh Marian muttered softly, "None. I have to think of something before tonight, hopefully I'll have something in mind then."
But as darkness fell that night Edyn watched worriedly as Marian continued to pace back and forth slowly becoming more and more frustrated with herself. She had then suddenly snapped her fingers. "I think I have an idea. Edyn, quickly help me ready myself."
Edyn did as she was instructed pulling out a flattering dress as she was requested and spent many moments fixing Marian's dark hair so that it sat perfectly and dabbed perfume on her neck and wrists. "Where are you planning on going?" she asked.
"I need to speak to the Sheriff. I'll need to prepare a pass first," she said and Edyn gathered that the second bit she was talking to herself more than to Edyn.
"The Sheriff? Please tell me you're not planning on seducing him so that he'll let the boy go?"
"Of course not!" Marian snapped. "I'll explain everything if I can get the Sheriff to give me permission to leave the castle." Once Edyn was finished Marian sat at her desk preparing two pieces of parchment and Edyn then got back to replacing the few items she had used to prepare Marian for her talk with the Sheriff back to where they usually resided.
"Right, let's go," Marian said standing up. "Can you have the horses ready for us? If everything goes to plan with the Sheriff we're going to need them."
"Where are we going?" Edyn asked but Marian simply brushed it off and left to go to the Sheriff's study. Strange that she only had one piece of parchment in her hands Edyn noticed.
Down at the castle stables the stableboys were long since gone for the day and Edyn had to saddle them herself, not that she minded much. It seemed so rare that she ever rode anymore, only when she found time to go to her brother in Locksley. She was just tightening the girth strap on her horse when Marian entered to collect her own mount, which was all ready and waiting for her. She gave Edyn a smile. "So far so good."
Once they were outside the gates of Nottingham Marian began explaining her plan to Edyn. "We've got to find Robin's camp. I've persuaded the Sheriff that I'm going to visit Guy so we'll have to stop there on the way back to make our story plausible but what the Sheriff doesn't know is that I made up a note saying that the boy is to be released to the castle for questioning and all things going well Guy will believe it as it has the Sheriff's official seal," she said proudly.
"Wha–? You really are more intelligent than any noblewoman I've ever heard of," Edyn said genuinely impressed by Marian's cunning scheme. "But who's going to collect the boy? If we go then the Sheriff will know that you're in league with Robin."
"Well, that's where I'm hoping one of Robin's men will step up. If he's disguised as one of the Sheriff's guards Guy probably won't even noticed who's standing in front of him, especially as he'll have the Sheriff's seal in his hand," Marian replied.
Edyn wasn't sure how long they rode for when they came to the same clearing they stopped at when the Count had accompanied them. Again, Marian whistled and they had to wait a short while before they saw Little John appear from the darkness. He then led them to the infamous camp Edyn had heard about and both her and Marian actually had to stop and admire it. It was truly amazing, even without being able to see all of it due to the lack of light, but what they could see was an absolutely perfect set-up for what they needed.
Edyn was still staring above her at the craftwork as she and Marian entered and she hadn't even noticed Will sitting to the side of the entrance working on what looked like some sort of box. "Do you like it?"
She looked across at him and smiled. "Very much. You must be incredibly proud of yourself."
He simply shrugged his shoulders. "It's not much, but it does the job."
Edyn sighed and shook her head at him. Why did he find it so hard to accept praise for his hard work? "Well, I still think it's absolutely ingenious."
She was overjoyed when she received one of his rare smiles, not enough so that she could see his teeth but it still reached his eyes making them appear as if they were twinkling, especially in the low light they had. How amazing he looked!
By now Marian had begun explaining her plan to Robin and his men and as Edyn already knew what was to happen she allowed her eyes to wander once more over all the little details in the camp. Her eyes then rested on the three figures all squeezed together on one of the many bunks. The boys the outlaws had rescued earlier that day she assumed. She was stunned by how young they were. When she had first heard about the situation she had automatically assumed they would be much older boys, adolescences at the least. But these boys were still quite young. One of them looked as if he was no older than eight or nine. Edyn then had the most uncomfortable feeling in her stomach when she thought how close they had been to being killed. She closed her eyes and tried to focus on what was being said. It appeared Allan had just volunteered to dress as the castle guard.
"You're a brave man," Marian was complimenting. She then turned to Edyn. "Well, we should go to Locksley before it gets too late. Good luck," she then called to Allan and Edyn gave him a warm smile for reassurance.
Arriving at Locksley Edyn was reluctant to enter wishing to be anywhere rather then in Sir Guy's presence, but when Marian and herself were escorted into the main room of Locksley Manor Edyn could not believe what sight was waiting for them and her intake of breath suddenly caught in her throat. Standing in the far end of the room Sir Guy stood shirtless altering some sort of armour he had around his arm while one of his servants was working on the armour on his legs. His focus was on his task and he had not yet noticed the two women enter the room and Edyn was glad as her mouth was now gaping slightly at the sight. Sir Guy was fit to say the least, more than she had ever imagined. His muscles were taut and noticeable and Edyn was amazed by the excitement she felt all of a sudden. When she glanced over in Marian's direction she could see in her expression she was feeling the same way, her eyes focused on his exposed abdomen.
Sir Guy then looked up at them and gestured for his servant to leave. The young man nodded his head and as he passed Marian and stopped to usher Edyn out of the room. "Miss, this way please."
"Y-yes, of course," Edyn stuttered as she followed him ashamed of her ridiculous expression she knew was painted across her face. She hoped Sir Guy had not noticed it; surely nothing would be worse for a noble like him than to have a servant staring at him as she had done.
She was then forced to wait in a side room where some of Sir Guy's men were lounging and talking quietly amongst themselves. This would have to be one of the few factors she loathed about her job. She liked to be busy, to be a part of things, not being shunned aside to wait by some pompous lord, no matter how good looking he suddenly seemed. Wake up to yourself, her mind told her angrily, he's a horrid person! He was and she knew it, tomorrow he would be back to arrogant self and she would once again despise him above everyone, with the exception of the Sheriff.
Once Marian had finished speaking with Sir Guy the two of them left and waited in the forest for Allan and Robin to see if Marian's plan had worked or not. Edyn groaned loudly after they had been waiting for some time and Robin and Allan approached both looking extremely disappointed. As they got closer it was clear Allan had been knocked around a bit, his hair messed, his brow moist with sweat not to mention the reddish tinge to the left side of his face as if he had received a mighty blow. "Looks like we're going to have to try Mark's pitch plan," Robin whispered to them.
Marian only nodded and it was clear to Edyn she was more disappointed by their failure than what Robin and Allan had been. No one could be blamed but it still didn't make the situation seem any better. "I honestly thought this would work," Marian said as they rode back to Nottingham.
"I just can't believe Sir Guy actually noticed it was Allan and not a guard. He barely even looks at anyone else who he thinks is beneath him," Edyn said.
"It must have been something to do with the late hour. I guess it was quite suspicious to have a guard being sent to him so late," Marian mused.
Edyn nodded. "I think you may be right, my lady."
Standing outside in Locksley the next day Edyn and Marian waited patiently for the Sheriff's arrival and Edyn noticed her brother joining the crowd gathered. "May I, my lady?" she asked gesturing towards Henry.
"Of course," Marian replied and quickly she joined Henry where he stood.
"Shouldn't you be standing with Lady Marian?" he questioned as she approached.
"She'll be fine for a few minutes," Edyn smirked. "How have you been?"
"I've been fine. Busy, but fine," he responded.
"Busy? Have the people of Locksley had a visit from Robin Hood so they can afford to buy from you more often?" Edyn asked forcing herself not to laugh.
Henry chuckled. "You're not going to believe me, but I saw him yesterday. I actually saw Robin Hood in person!"
"What?" Edyn tried her best to mock her admiration.
"I know it's unbelievable! I'm assuming it was him anyway. I was walking through the town and a whole bunch of people came rushing passed me. It had to be him and his men as they were all armed and not a moment later the Sheriff and Sir Guy were demanding that he return a box to them or something," Henry explained beaming with excitement.
"I know many women in Nottingham who would love nothing more than to have a glimpse of Robin," Edyn said giggling slightly.
Henry's face slowly became serious. "Robin?" he asked her. "You speak of him as if you were old friends, on first name terms."
"Oh," Edyn tried to think of a response but Henry suddenly grabbed her arm tightly.
"Edyn, what have you been doing?"
"N-nothing! It was a slip of the tongue, that's all. Lady Marian often speaks of him before he became an outlaw, back when he was a boy. I must have picked up on her habits."
Henry surveyed her through narrowed eyes before he reluctantly released his hold on her. "Are you sure that's all it was, because if you were helping him in any way the Sheriff will kill you. You do know that right?"
"Henry, please don't stress over this nonsense!" Edyn snapped at him. She could see the Sheriff's carriage approaching from over Henry's shoulder. "I must return to Lady Marian," she said leaving him without muttering another word. She hated fighting with him, but she sometimes felt he still saw her as a young girl, instead of a woman she had now become. She had now survived without him for over a year, lived at three different places away from him and found herself two jobs in that time and yet still he treated her like a child unable to make her own decisions.
When she returned to where she had stood before Marian turned to her and asked under her breath, "Everything alright?"
"Yes, my lady," Edyn replied. "Everything's fine."
Sir Guy then approached from Locksley Manor to meet the Sheriff leading the poor boy roughly beside him. Edyn guessed the boy to be around the age of ten or so and her heart dropped at the sight of his terrified expression, not to mention the gashes on his hands from the shackles placed tightly around his wrists. Did they not show compassion to anyone? The Sheriff happily took the rope holding the boy as he climbed from his carriage and began to parade the boy around as if he were some useless old mutt calling out gleefully for Robin to show himself.
There was a moment or two of uncomfortable silence before Robin stepped forward and announced himself. Edyn could see her brother fidgeting excitedly at the sight of the most sought out man in all of Nottingham, and she had to force herself not to laugh at his idiocy.
Marian then suddenly made a scene about not allowing the boy to be released to an outlaw. Edyn desperately wanted to question her motives but she knew Marian would have a good reason, even if it weren't obvious to her. The three of them stood and watched the exchange and Edyn once again felt the disappointment roll over her as the Sheriff had obviously guessed the outlaws plan, quickly removing the stones from the flammable box Will had made to an old sack which he then handed to his smith. He had out witted them and Edyn wanted nothing more than to just scream out loud with frustration.
Her annoyance then quickly changed to fear at the sight of Sir Guy re-entering the scene dressed from head to toe in the new impenetrable armour. His target was Robin and a fight quickly erupted and it was obvious – even to Edyn who knew nothing of war or fighting skills – that Robin was clearly failing. She noticed Marian was clutching the boy tightly with fear. Edyn then kept her eyes low, not wishing to see any more of this spectacle. She refused to lift her eyes until she heard the definite sound of cheering. Utterly confused at what she had ignored Sir Guy was now covered in burning pitch and leapt into a nearby water trough. Instantly Robin was standing over him demanding a new deal: the black diamonds in exchange for Sir Guy's life.
Though the Sheriff got up from his seat and gestured for his smith to approach Robin with him he was not yet convinced. Robin then began to immerse Guy into the water only letting him up to catch a breath and call out to the Sheriff for help before he was pushed under again. Marian it seemed had had enough and handed the boy to Edyn. "Make sure he's safe." She then snuck up behind the smith and used his own knife to hold him now to ransom requesting that Guy's life be spared.
"No!" Edyn whispered wanting desperately to go to Marian's side and pull her away. Though she was helping Robin she was risking her own life to do it. Her plan worked it seemed but Edyn couldn't help but notice the Sheriff sneer something angrily to Marian.
Everyone then seemed to take their leave as Robin and his men the quickly disappeared back to the forest and Sir Guy, the smith and the Sheriff all headed towards Locksley Manor. Marian went to follow Sir Guy but stopped as she passed Edyn and the boy.
"Can you get him back to Robin?" Her voice was shaky from nerves.
"Of course, my lady. Are you going to be all right?" Edyn asked worriedly.
Marian gave her a small smile. "We'll soon find out." She then left Edyn and the boy and headed for where they could see Sir Guy angrily removing his remaining armour.
Reluctant to leave Marian Edyn then turned to where her horse stood at the side of the village. "This way," she said to the boy. Nervously he followed her. "What's your name?"
"Daniel," he replied looking up at her.
"I'm Edyn." She tried to give him a friendly smile. She was so nervous around children, what were you supposed to say to them? As they got to her horse she leant closer to him and whispered, "I'm taking you back to Robin, but you must not mention this to anyone, alright?" He nodded eagerly. He was suddenly much more enthusiastic at the thought of returning to Robin and his men. "Have you ridden before?"
"No, never," he answered.
"That's all right." Edyn heaved the boy unto her saddle and was amazed by how much she struggled. He was either much heavier than he looked or she was much weaker than what she thought; she hoped it was the first option. She then climbed behind him amazed that her saddle was large enough for the two of them to sit in, she hated sitting on a horse's rump, it always encouraged them to play-up and jump around unnecessarily. Finally, it seemed she had a reason for her tiny body shape. It may not be appealing to attract a man but it was practical to say the least. She doubted Djaq would have fit in the saddle with the boy.
Though she had her arms around Daniel to hold the reins she made sure she was not touching him so he didn't feel too uncomfortable. But when she clicked her tongue to urge her horse forward he let out a small yelp and grabbed her arm with one hand and the front of the saddle with the other. "You all right?" Edyn asked worriedly.
"I'm fine. I just didn't expect its movements to be so big," he replied. Edyn reframed from laughing. She remembered she had felt the same way when she had first sat astride a horse. It didn't take long for him to relax and by the time they entered the forest he was bravely leaning over to see how high they were, trusting the arm Edyn had clutched tightly around him wouldn't let him fall. Were all children so carefree and trusting? "Can we go faster?" he begged.
Edyn was reluctant. "You must promise you'll hold on, and tightly." He looked over his shoulder at her and nodded his head eagerly. "Alright," she agreed and tightened her grip around his midriff and shortening the reins she now held with one hand. Deciding it was best to bypass a trot where he would bounce uncomfortably she gave Duke a firm tap with her heels and he leapt into a steady canter that was easier to sit to.
Again Daniel let out a small cry, but soon he was cheering with excitement. "This is great!" Edyn did not share his excitement as she mustered all the strength she had to hold him tightly against her so he would slip off the side. She dreaded the thought of taking the boy to Robin with a broken arm.
Still unsure of where the camp was exactly Edyn decided her safest bet was to go to the clearing and figure it out from there. Once they arrived she still found herself unsure, she honestly had the worst sense of direction. "Do you know where Robin's camp is from here?" she asked Daniel as she pulled Duke to halt.
"We came from a different direction last time," Daniel said.
"Right," Edyn mumbled feeling a little foolish. "Hello?" she called out loudly. "Robin?" They then had no choice but to wait. "Anyone there?" Finally they saw a figure walking along the crest of the slope above them and gestured behind him before he began to approach them. It took a moment for Edyn to realise it was Will moving towards them and Little John had now appeared behind him.
"Hello," Will greeted them shifting the firewood in his arms.
"I was beginning to think no one was had heard us," Edyn joked.
"You obviously don't yell loud enough," John said smiling, as he got closer. Edyn then dismounted and John helped Daniel down from the horse. It seemed much easier for him than it had been for Edyn. "The others are waiting for you," he told Daniel and led him back up the slope to where the camp was hidden leaving Will and Edyn standing awkwardly.
Edyn cleared her throat wishing for something to say to pop into mind. "Err… I should probably leave. You all seem to be busy," she finally said unable to think of anything else better.
"No, stay. For a bit anyway," he told her. "We're hardly busy. Allan was cracking into the ale when I left to get some kindling. Come have a drink." Edyn was unsure. She desperately wanted to stay, she genuinely enjoyed the company of not only Will but the other outlaws as well, but she didn't want to force herself upon them. This was their life, their celebration of a long day, not hers. "I promise we will not expect you to serve the drinks," he added eyeing her cheekily.
Edyn laughed. "You've changed so much," she said shaking her head in astonishment. In all the years she had known him she had never seen him so playful, and she quite liked it.
"Oh," his face suddenly became serious again. "Is that a bad thing?"
"No! Of course not," Edyn reassured him. She hadn't meant it to sound so blunt. "It's a good thing. You just seem more… I don't really know how to say it," she confessed. "More confident… more happy," she finally concluded.
He seemed to relax a little. "I am happy."
She grinned at him. "I'm glad."
"So… are you going to come and celebrate with everyone?" he asked.
She looked over her shoulder back at the road knowing full well Marian would be expecting her, but it was still early in the day and for once she decided she wanted to enjoy herself and nodded her head as she turned back to Will. "Only for a short while though, Lady Marian will need me back later."
Back at the camp Edyn sat to the side with her drink and laughed happily amongst Robin's men. It all seemed so perfect. Though they were made up of the strangest people she had ever met, they were like the family she had always wanted and she was quite envious of them. Little John then approached her and sat beside her content to watch the younger members of the gang laugh and joke with the four young boys. "How do you like living in the castle?" he asked her after a few moments of silence.
Edyn shrugged her shoulders. "It has its advantages. But I do miss Knighton Hall."
"Terrible thing to have happened," he sighed.
Edyn simply nodded her head. "Robin must hate it now it's much harder to see Lady Marian. I know how much she does."
John smirked. "He's much more restless. But he's determined she will one day join him here, with us."
"Well, I say good luck to him. She won't leave her father, not for anything." Edyn look out to the sky and could see the sun was now beginning to sink towards the horizon. "But it looks like I do have to leave unfortunately."
She said her goodbyes to everyone and John offered to walk her back to where she had left Duke tied up. "Edyn, I do not mean to pry, but I don't want to see you get hurt…" he said as they both trudged down the slope.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"I may not have been educated in any way, but I'm not stupid," he said and Edyn continued to stare at him utterly baffled by what he was saying. "You can't keep holding onto the hope that one day Will is going to return the feelings you have towards him." Edyn had now stopped walking and simply stared at him wide eyed. "Our lives are unstable, and no matter how much you may dream, even if he does feel the same way towards you, you are never going to have your happy ending with him."
"I- I don't understand. How did you–? What brought this on?" Edyn babbled trying desperately to decipher what had just been said to her and why.
"Like I said, I'm not stupid, and I'm certainly not blind. I see the way you look at him. You are a lovely, kind young woman. I'm sure one day someone will come along and I don't want you to push them aside because you're clinging onto hope that what you want will come to you."
Edyn began walking back towards her horse as she spoke. "Well, thank you for the advice, but I think you may have the wrong idea. I am fond of Will, but only as a friend. I've known him longer than the rest of you, that's all. I think you're mistaken."
"Am I?" he pushed.
"Yes!" Edyn said firmly determined to prove it, not only to him but herself as well. She reached for Duke's reins and led him down to the road. "Goodbye, John."
As she rode away she forced herself to take several deep breaths to calm herself. As much as she hated to admit it, he was right. What was she hoping to achieve by fawning over Will? She could see no happily ever after that she had often read about when she was younger; real life didn't seem to be that fair.
A:N/ Okay, so that scene between Edyn and John was so not planned, it honestly just happened as I typed. Is it too weird? I mean, if anyone was going to tell her how unrealistic it is it couldn't be anyone but John right? When I was re-reading it just seemed to fit so I left it. For some reason I'm actually really nervous about posting this chapter and I don't know why… Please, please, PLEASE review! They make me so happy and giddy. And please don't feel you can't say something, if there are parts that don't seem right, or others that you love I really appreciate hearing about it, I really want to improve =)
Oh, and I have a D and M between Djaq and Edyn planned for much later, so I promise you will get a glimpse of what Djaq thinks of her, and I've been tossing up weather to have a chapter from Will's p.o.v. I'm still debating. What do you think?