Chapter 26
Just Like Home – Sort of
The stars shown brightly on the small encampment in Sherwood Forest; James of Essex had sent four of his men to stand guard and everyone else relaxed comfortably around the fire. If one were to sneak past these guards and into the trees around the camp they would see a warm, crackling fire, a group of men sitting in a half circle around it and a group of exotically dressed women sitting slightly distanced from them all looking attentively at another exotic young woman who was lost in the telling of a story, making characters appear in the smoke. The group seems cozy and relaxed if one manages not to notice the bristling pile of lethal weapons sitting near each of the men.
Much thought, I wonder if somewhere else in the world other people are doing this exact same thing right now. Somehow he hoped so. Somehow, the world would be right that way.
Originally the gang had been wary of allowing the women to join them. Time away from their families had caused the men to be cautious of allowing themselves the pleasures of family, and harem girls were something they were not quite comfortable with yet. Over dinner the men had warmed slowly to the quiet young women and began to regard them almost as oddly dressed younger sisters.
They had taken much easier to James of Essex, when he arrived. James was of a same age as Robin, taller, but with the same self assured stride. He and Robin had embraced immediately and had taken up again as if they had never left the Holy Lands.
After a late dinner, Much had offered to sing. As the men began to protest, Noor had risen from her place around the fire. "Much, as dearly as I love your singing, perhaps I could tell you one of the stories you have been so enthusiastically asking me for. That may be a new novelty for your friends. What do you think?"
"Definitely, Noor. I would much prefer to hear one of your stories than to sing."
"Do you remember what story I was telling you Much?" Noor smiled, it really was easy to distract Much, and anything that prevented him from singing without hurting his feelings was a good thing.
"You were telling Master and I about the Prince of the Mountains and how he had been turned into stone by his wife and her evil djinn."
Djaq looked at Much in shock. Noor had been telling them the stories of Scheherazade! Had Salahadin known about this? Djaq took a deep breathe and settled herself. Perhaps she had been telling them to King Richard and Salahadin in the palace while Robin and Much had been guarding their king. Yet, those were stories of the harem and not fitting for the ears of a foreign king! Could Robin and Much have heard the stories there?
"Here, Noor, hand Abdullah to Master and then tell us about the Prince of the Mountains." Much reached down and took Abdullah from her. Walking over to Robin and James of Essex he handed Prince Abdullah to Robin. "I think it may be best if our two heroes watched the most important person in this gathering while he sleeps. Master, if you would be so kind."
As Much settled himself, Noor took her place in front of the fire. Everyone always discounts Much, she thought. When Robin's around no one realizes just how much Much actually saw. His name really was fitting. "Well, Much, the story of the Prince of the Mountains isn't nearly as interesting once he's been freed from the stones and sets out to commit revenge. What's interesting is the fate of one of the small lamps he has taken out of his treasury to pay his rescuers. For that, Much, is a story of much greater excitement. For what adventures could an ordinary lamp with a not so ordinary secret hold in store?"
With these words, Noor had hooked her audience into the story of Aladdin and his magical lamp. In the smoke of the fire she made the Djinns of Solomon appear and brought the lands of the eastern Silk Road to life. Robin smiled to himself. Noor's stories always entranced her audience. Before long she too would be lost in the telling and would begin random acts of sleight of hand and magic, completely unconscious of her actions. In his arms the solid weight of Abdullah squirmed and kicked. Adjusting slightly Robin looked down at the young child. He was a strong, good looking lad, Robin thought. His eyes would turn green before long and Salahadin would make amends to Noor. How long did it take for a child's eyes to turn? He was a pretty hefty little lad, shouldn't they have turned already?
As Noor finished with the story of Aladdin, Much looked at Robin with a look of satisfaction. "See Master, Noor has finished a story!"
"Oh, but Much the story isn't over. For where do you think the African magician could have gotten a ring such as the ring of the jinn? That is the real story, Much, the story of the ring and its cowardly jinn is so much better than the story of Aladdin." Noor smiled. Somehow men were always entranced with the stories of Scheherazade. They were preconditioned to expect an ending and it took very little to hook them that an ending might be coming. Englishmen were by far the worst though. Silly men, somehow they thought things ended at definite, rationale places, as if the world ended just because one closed a book. Perhaps that's why when King Richard had told her the fairytales of his land they had always ended with 'Happily ever after'. Did they not realize that the ever after was always the best part, happy or not?
"Oh, well, Noor you will come back and tell us won't you?" Much asked breaking her from her thoughts. The other men made noises of agreement. They were all hooked on the story and were desperate to know what came next.
"Well, Princess Noor, perhaps you could come back and tell the men the next part of the story later. The moon will set soon and you and the other ladies should be returning to your quarters. Prince Abdullah may catch a cold." James of Essex intervened. He understood Much's desire to hear the next part of the story; he was always entranced by the Princess when she told stories, but if they were caught in the forest with Robin now that he was an outlaw things could go badly. James wasn't sure he wanted to pick a battle yet with this Sheriff, according to Robin the man was a piece of work all on his own.
"James, you and your men will stay with us while you're in the forest, of course." Robin interrupted James's thoughts.
"Of course, Robin, we would love the comfort of an already established camp. We'll return as soon as the ladies are safely in the castle." Leave it to Robin, James was sure he had some scheme and before long he and Much would have James in the thick of it.
As the women left each bowed before the men and murmured "Allah be upon you, thank you for your hospitality to us."
As the men smoldered the fire they were silent but happy. All of them lost in their own thoughts. Allan and Will lost in speculation about what could happen next in the Princess's story. Little John lost in the warm glow of having the illusion of family around him; Djaq lost in reminisces about home and the mother she had left behind. Much wondered about Robin and what he meant to do; Robin meanwhile was deep in thought about the last time he had seen Noor, the night before he was wounded.
Looking up at the gang John smiled. "Them I like."