Malton Castle, Malton, North Riding of Yorkshire
Malton Castle was a large stone castle situated on the north side of the River Derwent, on the outskirts of Malton village. Built on the site of an old Norman motte-and-bailey, the castle's substantial round tower stood tall and proud and in full view of all in the vicinity. Although nowhere near as big as Nottingham Castle, it nevertheless struck an imposing sight as the group approached along the main road leading up to the castle gates.
Marian, Robin, Much, Djaq, Eve, and Averey were on horseback, bringing up the rear of their small convoy as the carriage lead the way into the castle's lower bailey, through the open and surprisingly unmanned gates. Inside, there was a bustle of activity with people hurrying back and forth, carrying possessions or tools of their trade, or stood chatting in small groups. There were few guards to be seen, and those on duty were lounging against the inner wall, talking amongst themselves. The whole castle had a very laidback feel to it, a sharp contrast to the ominous feel of a normal day in Nottingham.
Making their way through the crowd, they passed into the upper bailey and came to a halt outside the main castle keep, from where the tower rose in all of it's glory. It was deserted, yet the great double doors stood open, and, at the sound of hooves, a slight man, pale as milk and dressed in red silk which clashed terribly with his ginger hair, appeared in the portal flanked by two large guards, who both seemed to be inebriated.
"Stusi!" Walter declared, loudly, descending from the carriage with his arms outstretched.
"Wally!" The slight man bellowed in response, arms outstretched in greeting.
"Stusi and Wally," Robin murmured to Marian with his eyebrows raised in amusement as the two men approached each other and embraced.
Marian stifled a smile as Robin dismounted, and the rest of the small group followed suit.
"To what do I owe this pleasure?" Stusi exclaimed as he stood back, holding Walter at arm's length.
"I've brought companions." Walter flung an arm out, dramatically, to gesture in the direction of the outlaws. "We need a physician, and a bed, or beds, for the night."
Dropping his arms, Stusi stared at the group, his sharp, sparkling, little eyes lingering a touch longer on Marian than was appropriate, a delighted look on his face. "Why, of course! Any friends of yours are, of course, friends of mine. Do introduce me, Wally."
"Well, naturally, my dear Stusi." Walter clasped his arm, graciously, and turned to the group with a flourish. In the brief journey from meeting Robin, Much, and Djaq, to arriving at Malton Castle, he had quizzed the three outlaws at length and had already formed his own opinion of each member of their small convoy.
He lead Stusi towards the Nottingham contingent, stopping before Much, who eyed both men, suspiciously.
"This is Much Miller. Formerly companion to nobility, Much fought in the Holy Land alongside the king," Walter introduced him, gallantly, and Much's expression softened into a pleased smile. He nodded to Stusi.
"This," Walter continued, drawing him onwards, "is Djaq, real name Saffiya." Djaq smiled, shyly. "She is a Saracen, and somewhat of a medical expert. However, she is lacking in the tools of her trade right now, hence the request for your physician."
Stusi's bright green eyes swept over Djaq in awe and he took her hand warmly between his own. "How fascinating! A Saracen, here in Malton! Very nice to meet you both, I'm sure."
Moving on, both Walter and Stusi looked upwards into Averey's stoic face. "This mountain is Averey, strongest man in Nottingham, and one of very few words," Walter said, succinctly.
Stusi gazed up at Averey in awe, and Averey gazed back at him, unblinking. Giving him a nervous smile, Stusi moved on to Eve, where his gaze softened.
"Eve," Walter said. "Softly spoken and delightful little Eve, who fights with daggers."
Stusi gasped yet his eyes sparkled with excitement. He bowed a head to Eve, who curtsied, lowering her eyes, demurely.
"Next, we have Lady Marian of Knighton," Walter continued, his tone one of pride.
"Ah." Stusi's tone was admiring as he took in Marian. "A beautiful name for a beautiful lady. Tell me - why are you here in Malton, my dear Marian?"
"My lord." Marian inclined her head, her hair a shining, raven wing in the late afternoon sun. "I am passing through with my friends, on our way to visit family in Filey. Walter kindly stopped to assist us."
"Family in Filey?" Stusi was aghast. "Whoever has family in Filey? Are they fishermen? The sea air will not be good for your skin, my dear. You must stay here in Malton for as long as you need."
"Ahem," Robin interrupted, holding up a hand. "That would be my family, and no, they are not fishermen, as far as I know. Is such a trade to be ridiculed now?"
Stusi's head shot around to stare at Robin, who gave an ironic smile. "Robin of Locksley? What on earth are you doing dressed as such? I almost did not recognise you!"
"Eustace de Vescy," Robin replied. "I see your tastes still veer to the, uh," he took in Stusi's attire, "colourful, shall we say?"
"This," Walter said with relish, his expression one of indulgence, "is Robin Hood."
Excited to host a famed outlaw in his castle, and one he had known formerly at the Earl of Huntingdon, Eustace de Vescy immediately summoned the physician to see to Robin's wounds as well as Walter's attendant's mild concussion. He then ushered them all into the Great Hall, while firing out orders for food and rooms to be prepared. His staff, having been somewhat relaxed, leapt to attention straight away. Stusi was clearly well-liked and respected, and, before long, a fire was burning merrily in the large hearth, and a selection of meats, cheeses, fruits, and bread adorned the long table in the hall, along with huge flagons of French wine. The horses had been taken to the stables to be fed, watered, and bedded down, and the outlaws were able to be at ease, if only for a short while.
Wally and Stusi, close friends of old, were a riotous double-act with a thirst for gossip, and a shared hatred of Sir William of Bridlington and his father, Devereux, the Sheriff of Yorkshire. Both seemed extremely enamoured with Marian, and Stusi bombarded her with questions which quickly turned to her marriage status once Robin had been ushered out of the hall by the physician, followed closely by Djaq.
"But, my dear, I just do not understand," he proclaimed, flamboyantly, waving a goblet of wine at her and splashing most of it on his scarlet tunic. "Why is such a beautiful lady still alone? 'Tis a travesty, I tell you."
"Well, I'm not entirely..." Marian began, but Stusi was already carried away with his impromptu speech, spurred on by the wine.
"Take my friend, here; Walter. He seeks a wife, and he would treat you very well. He is experienced in romantic pursuits." Stusi grinned at Walter, who attempted to interrupt. "No, no, Wally. Leave it with me. I've got your best interests at heart."
"Marian is with Robin," Much interjected, firmly, munching on a huge chunk of cheese. "Everybody knows that."
Stusi looked at him in surprise, then back at Marian. "You and Locksley, my lady? Then, why do I see no ring? Outlaws do not believe in betrothal, is that it? I thought he stole from the rich."
"We don't keep it!" Much exclaimed, his expression suddenly mutinous. "We give it back to the poor."
Marian and Walter exchanged glances, and Walter said, "Whether she wears his ring or not, Marian's heart belongs to Locksley. And he is a very lucky man."
Marian smiled at him, gratefully, and Stusi shrugged. "Very well. But it is your loss, my dear Wally. Will we ever get you married off?"
"Maybe I don't want to be married off just yet," Walter replied, mildly. "There is still so much fun to be had as a single man."
Stusi waved a hand at him, helping himself to more wine. "I suppose there is, and dare I say, you already have more than enough illegitimate offspring wandering around the shire to carry on the family name. Who needs a wife?"
Walter choked on his wine and Marian burst into gales of laughter. Much and Eve exchanged wry glances as Robin and Djaq re-entered the room, catching the tail end of the conversation.
"Illegitimate offspring? Nothing to do with me," Robin declared, winking at Marian as he took a seat beside her.
"Ah. Locksley," Stusi said, now quite inebriated. "We were just discussing the impending nuptials between yourself and Lady Marian. When are you going to set a date?"
Robin and Marian both looked shocked, and Marian turned to Robin, shaking her head, intently. "I said nothing of the sort," she told him, quickly. "Ignore him for he is quite drunk."
Robin smiled at her, bemused, and raised his eyebrows. "I mean, we aren't even betrothed yet, are we?"
"Well, maybe you should ask," Stusi cried, even as Walter attempted to quieten him. "Before somebody else snaps her up."
"Maybe I should," Robin mused, smirking as he looked deep into Marian's eyes.
With a dimpled smile, she dropped her eyes first, a blush infusing her cheeks as she turned back to the group. Beneath the table, her hand found Robin's and squeezed, her fingers entwining with his. He laughed, delightedly.
"I fear you are embarrassing the lady, Stusi. Enough." He plucked a grape from the fruit platter with his free hand, rolling it between his fingers. "You will hear of our nuptials when the time is right. We may even send you an invite." He popped the grape into his mouth and chewed, enthusiastically.
Stusi grinned, broadly, pleased with his attempts at matchmaking, and placed his goblet precisely on the table before him, sobering quite magnificently. "Well, now that is sorted, we must discuss Bridlington and his evil machinations, and decide exactly how we are going to stop him."
Filey Manor, Filey, East Riding of Yorkshire
"If it is William, he will have come with reinforcements. We shall be wildly outnumbered." Robert looked at the hastily assembled group gathered around him, lines of worry etched into his forehead. Little John stood tall and resolute, staff in hand. Beside him, Will had his bow, along with the axe on his back, and the hatchet tucked in his belt. Allan completed the outlaw contingent with his longbow and sword at his hip. Alongside them stood the four Nottingham men; Roger, Auden, Booker, and Darren. They were all armed with longbows and daggers, and had brought with them four of the strongest and most able-bodied farm workers, whose weapons of choice were typical farming implements; a fork, a spade, and two mallets.
Roana, incongruous in the peacock-blue gown, carried her own bow, and her aunt, Eleanor, had arrived with a poker and an ornate dagger, her plain dress hiked up. Eleanor had changed in the months Roana had been away. She had hardened, but in a beneficial way. She had less time for embroidery and fashion and more time for pitching in, getting her hands dirty, and being a pillar of strength for her husband and for her land.
Although Roana had always loved soft and affectionate Eleanor, with her grace and generosity, and her beautiful sheet of deep brown hair, she couldn't help but admire this new and improved version, but not without a degree of guilt. If it had not been for her failed betrothal to William, then none of the ensuing problems would have arisen. The four Nottingham men would not have been sent to Filey, the manor house and farm would not have been placed under threat, and Eleanor and Robert would have continued their cosseted lifestyle with no reason to change their outlook. In a way, it was Roana's fault, and this did shame her. But she would not be forced into an unhappy marriage to please a spoilt man. Her own happiness mattered too, and she would fight William if she had to. If it got to the point where she had no other choice, and she was forced to sacrifice her happiness for her family's, then she would concede; but not until she was completely out of options.
She hoped it would not come to that.
"It might be Robin," Will pointed out. "And nobody is getting through that gate straight away. That'll hold them up for a short while."
"I'm not being funny but we're wasting time," Allan said. "Why don't we just go down there and see who it is for ourselves before we start worrying."
The bells in the tree, part of the trap that Will had set up outside the main gates, began to ring continually, and the group stared at each other in both growing alarm and amusement.
"It's an army!" Darren hissed in horror.
"It's Robin," Will said, as he, John, and Allan began to laugh. They took off along the track, talking excitedly amongst themselves. Roana looked at her aunt and uncle, who eyed her in shock.
Roana gave a one-shoulder shrug. "Only Robin would know of Will's trap. That's his way of letting them know it's him. Come on - come and meet him."
It was indeed Robin, along with a motley crew of weary followers, who had set off from Malton Castle at the crack of dawn and rode hard to arrive at Filey in good time. Back together, the outlaws were in an exuberant mood, cracking jokes and chatting non-stop. Much was a touch quieter than usual, which was quickly noticed by Allan, who bore him off towards the farm with the rest of the gang and the Nottingham men.
Robin and Marian, shadowed by Eve, fell back to walk with Roana, Robert, and Eleanor. Roana made the introductions, although smiled apologetically at Eve, who she was unfamiliar with.
"Robin, it is so good to see you again after all these years," Robert greeted him, clasping his nephew's shoulder, warmly, as they walked. "I can't thank you enough for the help you have put my way."
"That's what family is for," Robin replied with honesty. "I wasn't going to let Roana down when she needed me the most, and Bridlington is a common enemy. His vile revenge tactics aren't going to work on this occasion, and he will have a fight on his hands if he thinks he can destroy your home. You have nothing to fear now."
Robert looked crestfallen. "It is my fault for forcing Roana into the betrothal."
"At the time, we had no choice, Uncle Robert," Roana placated, touching his elbow, briefly.
Robert sighed. "But still, I feel guilty. After what you told me about the things William did in Nottingham, it makes me sick to the stomach to think that you were almost trapped into marrying him."
Roana and Eleanor exchanged glances, and Eleanor spoke up. "So, Marian. Roana has spoken very highly of you, and your childhood friendship. Tell me all about your life in Nottingham. Are you betrothed?"
Linking arms with both Marian and Eve, Eleanor spirited them away towards the house, ever the hostess. Robin watched them go with a thoughtful look on his face. They passed Allan, who had doubled back on his own, and was dawdling up the track. His face lit up when he saw Roana and he gave her a slow smile.
"Allan," Robin greeted him with a grin. He turned to Robert. "You've met Allan, I take it?"
"I've met Allan," Robert confirmed. "Your men are a credit to you, Robin. They are highly skilled and very organised. The outlaw life clearly agrees with them."
Robin laughed. "Sometimes, the only choice we have is to make the best of what we've got. None of us would, in reality, have chosen the life of an outlaw, but unfortunately, it has been forced upon us through circumstances beyond our control. So, we live the life as best we can."
Robert looked at Roana, noticing how Allan had moved closer to her, and that their hands were almost touching. "I do wish my niece had not been dragged into that life though. After all, she is a lady, first and foremost." He turned away and began to walk along the track. "But, never fear. Now that she is home, we can think about finding her a decent husband. One more suited to her standing. No more nights in the forest for you, my dear. Back to being a lady."