A/N: Just a warning to all: I'll be working on a LiveJournal Narnia fic exchange (1000 words or more) these next few months. It's supposed to be Cor/Aravis, and I've never written one of those before, so we'll see how it goes, I guess. :)
And one more thing—am I the only one disappointed and rather disgusted that the only Jeeves & Wooster fanfics on this site are slashes? Grr.
Just kidding, one more thing. I apologize for the brevity but, like the chapter title says, fillers happen. I need a neat transition. Don't worry, no writer's block or dead muse. ;)
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The four rode through the night, their eyelids drooping and heads buzzing with lack of sleep. Tamlyn began to cry at one point for want of rest, but Aramir and Endrit had gotten it in their heads together to ride by night and rest by day. "We'll have to do this in the desert, you know, we may as well get used to it now," Endrit had reasoned, much to Tam's horror.
As for Enna, the prospect of long nights and hot, sunny days during which to try and sleep did not appeal much, but at least she and Aramir were more used to such toilsome travel than poor Tam, all her life used to living, eating, sleeping, and breathing in comfort, and never before even ridden a horse astride the saddle like she was now obliged to do.
But there were instances in which each rider forgot their own grievances and minor aches. As they went further and further southward each night, the waxing moon shed bluish light on the charred, blackened remains of what had once been Archenlandian towns. Apparently, the Galmanians hadn't stopped with Ilvernarran, but were burning their way to Calormen, or burned a many-mile swath of Archenland around Anvard.
This only hastened the companions' pace. "We ought to reach the desert in a fortnight, if we get through Aberwood in good time," announced Endrit one night as they rode along.
"Aberwood?" Enna asked.
"Aye—Aberwood Forest."
"And why would we not make good time through it?"
Endrit wrinkled his nose. "Well…it's been said it's a haven for robbers and thieves."
"And is it?"
"Well…"
"Out with it, Endrit."
"Aye, then. Aye. It's supposedly the nest of the nefarious thief lord, Robehod."
"Robbihod?" Enna laughed in surprise. "Hardly scary."
"Not 'Robbihod', dear sister," Endrit replied with a long-suffering sigh. "You're pronouncing it quite quaintly. Robehod. Ro-be-hod. The first 'o' is much rounder, and the second syllable more of an 'e' sound."
"Robehod. Are you quite sure he's a nefarious criminal? He still doesn't sound quite vicious enough." Enna sent a laughing look Aramir's way.
"It means 'champion' in the old tongue. But that isn't his only name, you know."
"Well, then, what are the others? Frighten me."
"He is known as Robin Goodfellow. Robert the Hoodlum. Robert Hoad, I believe is his given name. Robyn at the Lee, Robert Hood…I've even once heard him called Robyn Hood. Many names. As a thief, you know, you must have several aliases at your disposal."
"Will we encounter him for certain, then?" Tamlyn asked, her voice trembling.
"I hope not, Lady Tam," Endrit replied. "If we hurry through Aberwood and look as poor as possible, we will be left alone."
Tamlyn shuddered. "He sounds perfectly dreadful. Preying on travelers!"
"He claims to rob only the rich," Endrit said. "Aramir, you might have heard of him before."
"Indeed, I have. It seems as though he wages some sort of holy war against King Lune and his lords."
Enna frowned. "Well, that's certainly not right. Lune has done nothing but good for Archenland, as far as I know."
"Aye, well," sighed Endrit with a stretch, "some don't share your opinion, I fear."
"Perhaps this war will help."
"I'm afraid it will only hurt," Aramir replied.
Enna put her chin out. "Well, I don't intend to let him rob us."
Endrit laughed and shook his head. "Intentions are all for the best, dear sister, but rarely do they play out the way they're wanted to."
