MEMORIES by White Wolf
Chapter Two
Robin opened his eyes and blinked from the shaft of sunlight that was shining in the open window and hitting him across the face. He moved his head to avoid the intense light. When the room around him came into focus, he remembered where he was and everything that had taken place the night before. He reached up and touched the bump on his head. He was relieved to find that it didn't seem to be quite as big this morning. Maybe, that was just wishful thinking, but he preferred to think he was right.
Jeffery was standing near the fireplace, folding a blanket. He glanced toward the bed and smiled. "Good morning, Robert," he said cheerfully. "How do you feel?"
Robin didn't answer at first. He was concentrating on his head, trying to decide if the aching had lessened since last night. "Better," he said, as he concluded the pain was now more of a dull throb than anything else. He knew it would most likely be another day or two before the pain left him completely.
Robin sat up cautiously and pushed the covers back. He swung his feet around and put them gently on the floor. The move didn't seem to cause any additional aches or pains.
"Do you think you should be getting up just yet?" Jeffery asked.
"I'm all right," Robin told the concerned man. "Did you sleep well on that pallet?"
"Just fine. It was nice and warm by the fire."
Just then, Aggie came in the door carrying a bucket of water. "Hello, Robert," she greeted, when she saw him sitting on the side of the bed.
Robin smiled at the little girl. "Good morning, Aggie." When she set the bucket down, Robin asked, "Aggie, would you please hand me the rest of my clothes and my boots?"
When Aggie handed Robin his boots, belt, and tunic, he frowned.
"Is something wrong?" Jeffery had noticed the expression.
"These boots aren't mine. And, this definitely isn't mine," Robin said as he held the leather tunic up in front of him. He then looked down at the shirt and pants he was wearing, really noticing them for the first time. "I can't take your clothes, Jeffery. Mine may be dirty or torn, but I can still wear them until I get home."
"Those aren't mine. You were wearing them when we found you. They must be yours."
"I wouldn't wear something like this," Robin said before he thought. He looked at Jeffery apologetically. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that the way it sounded."
Instead of being offended, Jeffery laughed. "Don't worry. If I was the son of an Earl, I wouldn't wear that, either."
Robin also laughed and then looked closely at the clothes. 'Why would I be wearing this?' he asked himself. He wasn't about to make that comment out loud, even if Jeffery didn't seem to be offended at the implication of his earlier remark.
He pulled on the boots, which fit his feet perfectly. In fact, they felt very comfortable as he stood up. He didn't quite trust his balance yet, so he didn't take the few steps he normally would have to better check out the feel of the boots. He slipped the tunic on, and when he pulled the belt around his waist and fastened it where the indention in the leather indicated the buckle normally rested, it, too, fit perfectly. Robin stared down at the belt as if half expecting it to explain itself.
The frown stayed on Robin's face. At first, he thought maybe one of the bandits had switched clothes with him. But, that made no sense. Why would a bandit in the forest want to wear aristocratic finery? He would likely want to sell them for whatever he could get. Besides, if Robin had been left for dead, the bandits would've simply left him naked by the road, not put clothes back on him.
"It looks good on you, Robert," Jeffery commented. He didn't want to insult this highborn young man, though he didn't seem to be anything like the other Norman lords Jeffery had occasion to observe. "Sort of natural, if you don't mind my saying so."
Robin had to agree, at least to himself. The entire outfit was not only comfortable, it felt---right. That made no sense, either. He had never seen these clothes before. Yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that they belonged on him.
"One more thing," Jeffery said, holding up his forefinger. He left the house, and when he returned, he had a sword in his hand. "This was lying under you, when we found you. I almost forgot that I had put it in the wagon after we got you in it. Do you recognize it?"
Robin took the sword from Jeffery's hand and held it up. He saw the name Albion etched near the hilt and runes along the length of it. "I know the name Albion. It's what England used to be called a long time ago. I don't know why that name's on this sword, though. I also have no idea what these runes could mean." He looked at Jeffery. "You say this was lying under me?"
Jeffery nodded. "I don't think it belonged to the bandits, at least not if they were Gordon's gang. They try to sell everything they get their hands on. I'm sure they could get a good price for a sword like that. They're bloodthirsty cutthroats," he added. His hatred of those people spilled out unchecked.
"They must have stolen it from someone else and hadn't had the chance to sell it yet," Robin reasoned.
"Where's your sword, then?"
"Good question. Maybe, it was lost during the fight, and you just missed seeing it." Yet, Robin couldn't dispell the feeling the sword felt right in his hand. It was as hard to understand as the clothes, since he had also never seen this blade before. As an accomplished swordsman, he couldn't help but admire its simple beauty and perfect balance.
Jeffery smiled as he held up a black leather scabbard belt and a knife. "This was around your waist."
Robin took a deep breath and stared in recognition. "This knife is mine. My father gave it to me on my fifteenth birthday." This was all getting to be quite a mystery. It was a mystery he not only wanted, but needed, to solve. He just wasn't sure he knew where to start. He sat back down on the bed with a look of bewilderment. He rubbed his head where the knot was. He didn't really believe the blow he had received had anything to do with his current confusion.
Jeffery misunderstood the move and thought that Robin had sat down because he was feeling bad again. "You should probably rest some more. You really took quite a blow on your head."
"I'm sure you're right. Of course, if you ask my father, he'll quickly tell you that my head is the best place to hit me, because it's so hard." Robin laughed but it wasn't a humorous sound. "My father says I'm the most stubborn person he's ever known." There was an underlying sadness in the statement.
Jeffery didn't pursue the details of those remarks. He knew there was something much deeper than what appeared on the surface, but as before, this was none of his business.
Robin looked up and offered a slight smile. He decided to change the subject. "I noticed all that furniture crowded in the corner. Can I help you load it in the wagon?"
"Oh, no. Those just came out of the wagon. Aggie and I were bringing them from my brother's place. He makes furniture. Ours are a bit on the worn side, as you can see. We've been asked to give them to a family whose house burned in a neighboring village."
"Then, let me help you move yours to the wagon."
"You shouldn't be trying to move furniture," Jeffery scolded his guest. "I can manage later with Aggie's help. You really do need to take it easy for a while."
"I want to do something to repay you for what you've done for me. You saved my life."
"You don't owe us anything. We were happy to help," Jeffery said genuinely. "Seeing you recovering is payment enough."
Robin's headache was beginning to get worse, so he didn't try to insist. Truth be told, he felt like crawling back in the bed and going back to sleep. He was sure Jeffery would tell him to do just that, if he knew how Robin really felt. But, Robin had no intention of disrupting these good peoples' lives any further, although Jeffery and Aggie seemed happy enough to have him there.
"I need to start for home," Robin said, changing the subject yet again.
"You certainly can't walk all the way back to Huntingdon." Jeffery said. "The only horse we have is Lancelot out there, but we'll be happy to take you in the wagon."
"Oh no, Jeffery, that's much too much to ask of you, especially after all you've already done."
"You didn't ask. I offered." He saw Robin shaking his head. "If you try to walk home, you'll undo all the progress you've made, and you'll end up lying by the road again." Jeffery saw that Robin had opened his mouth to say something, so he quickly added, "We'd just worry about you. Let us ease our minds and take you home."
"Please?" Aggie asked. "We'd love to go with you."
"How can I argue with a plea like that? All right, you win." Robin laughed. Inwardly, he was rather relieved. He really didn't want to put these kind people out, but he also didn't believe he would make it home on his own any more than Jeffery did.
That decision, though perfectly logical at the time, would end up costing a lot of people a lot of worry and aggravation.
* * * * * * * * *
Earlier that morning, the outlaws woke up, ate a quick, cold breakfast, and were on the road by the time the eastern sky began to glow the golden color of a new day. It would be a while before the sun rose enough to begin warming the air, but the five men who were following the wagon track didn't give that a thought. Their sole focus was on finding their friend and making sure he was all right.
The journey was begun in silence. No one wanted to voice their fears, and trying to pretend there was nothing wrong was out of the question. They knew by now something was very wrong.
Finally, Much had to ask, "What if the people in the wagon didn't find Robin?"
"Then, lad, we'll keep searching," John answered, not wanting to think about the alternative.
Will, to no one's great surprise, wasn't in a very good mood. "We shouldn't have let him go off by himself," he grumbled.
John stared at Will. "Just how do you think we should've stopped him? Tied him up?"
"He's a grown man, Will, and our leader," Tuck pointed out. "We can't tell him what to do."
"No, but..." Will stopped, not sure just what he was intending to say. Then, in exasperation, he blurted out, "He's Robin Hood! He's always in danger, and...well, he just shouldn't be going off by himself!"
"We're outlaws, Will. All of us are always in danger," Much reminded the exasperated Scarlet.
"You know what I mean," Will retorted. "He went off alone, and now, look what's happened."
"We'll find him," Nasir said confidently.
"Yeah, but in what condition?" Will mumbled barely above a whisper, though everyone clearly heard it. No one commented, because no one wanted to think about what the answer might be.
They continued to follow the wagon tracks all the way to the village of Ashton. Nasir brought everyone to a stop in front of a small farm cottage.
John approached the front door cautiously. He knocked, and when he got no answer, he stuck his head inside and looked around. He shook it when he turned to the others. "No one home."
They looked all around but saw no one in the nearby field. There was also no wagon and no horse to be found.
"Well, where are they?" Will asked, exasperation again creeping into his tone.
John looked at Nasir. "Are there wagon tracks leading away from here?"
The Saracen nodded. "Fresh ones, heading southwest."
"Huntingdon's that way," Tuck said.
Much suddenly had a stricken look on his face. "You don't think they took Robin home because...?"
"He's not dead!" Will almost shouted. He gave Much an angry look for even trying to suggest such a thing. The look served to mask his own fear, since the same thought had also occurred to him.
With a sigh from Tuck, an unintelligible mumble from Will and a shrug from John, the group began making its way southwest toward Robin's ancestral home, Huntingdon Castle.
* * * * * * * * * *
When the wagon's passengers finally reached Huntingdon lands, it was late afternoon. There was still a way to travel before they reached the castle itself. Robin found himself getting more anxious as the miles passed under the wagon wheels.
When his home finally came into view, long before they reached it, Robin smiled at the sight. The smile remained all the way to the entrance to the familiar gray stone castle.
Jeffery did his best not to show awe at the sheer size of the place. Aggie couldn't keep from staring. They had seen castles before, but knowing this was the home of a friend made it seem more impressive. This would be the first time either of them had ever been inside a castle.
As the wagon slowly made its way across the bridge, a soldier started to stop them, no doubt to inquire about their business, but seeing Robin, he moved back out of the way. He waved them through, and the wagon and its passengers passed under the portcullis into the courtyard.
Jeffery pulled up in front of a large polished oak door at the top of several stone steps on the right. He noticed the stares of most of the dozen or so people still working in the gathering shadows of the courtyard. They had stopped their activities when the wagon had entered. He thought that strange since they surely saw all manner of people coming and going in a castle like this. Even an old wagon with an old horse shouldn't have attracted more than a brief curious glance, if that.
'Of course,' Jeffery thought. 'How often does the Earl's son come riding in on such a conveyance, dressed like one of them?'
As Robin got down from the wagon, he looked up at the towering battlements that soared high above him, their tops still glowing in the last of the golden sunshine. He smiled, remembering when he was a boy. "Do they reach all the way to the sky, Father?" "Yes, Robert. they reach all the way to the sky." He had believed that for a long time, until his Uncle Edgar had scoffed and told him it wasn't true.
Robin was suddenly hit by the same feeling he always had when returning home after a long absence. He shouldn't be feeling this way. He had only been gone for two days! Robin sighed. It was just one more thing that didn't make sense and was duly added to the growing list in the confusing mystery that had engulfed him since he had first awakened in Jeffery and Aggie's home.
Robin looked around and frowned. One of the stable boys should have been waiting to take care of the horse and wagon.
He spotted one of the boys he knew worked in the stables. "James," he called to the boy, who was about 12 years of age. "Come here."
James, though puzzled at seeing Robin here, didn't hesitate. He ran over and stopped in front of the blond man. "Yes..." there was just the tiniest pause before he said, "m'lord?"
Robin was not one to scold a servant over what he considered a minor infraction, especially in front of others. Yet, he still had to let the boy know he had fallen down in one of his duties. "You saw us coming?" he asked sternly, though not harshly.
James lowered his head, knowing he had been caught lacking. "Yes, m' lord."
Robin had to fight to keep from smiling. He truly felt for the boy. "And, what should you have done?"
"Come here straight away and taken the horse's bridle, m' lord."
"Very good. Now, you won't fail to do that next time, will you?"
"No, m' lord," James said in a promising tone as he looked up at Robin. He added, "Never again, m' lord."
This time Robin did smile. He put his hand on the boy's head and tousled his already unruly brown hair. He nodded toward the horse, and James was at Lancelot's head in an instant, holding the bridle firmly. The boy was rewarded with a soft nicker and a lick on his hand from the horse's large, wet tongue.
A smile still on his face, Robin turned and offered his hands up to Aggie to help her down. Her eyes briefly met James' before Aggie turned away with a slight blush as her father climbed down beside her.
Robin smiled again. "Come. I want you to meet my father."
"He's not here, Robert," an elderly, though vigorous-looking, man said as he came down the steps. "He's in Lincolnshire, visiting the Duke. He won't be returning until next week."
"I didn't know he was planning a trip there, or anywhere really. He didn't mention it." Robin noticed the puzzled look on the man's face. "What is it, Martin? Is something wrong?" Robin asked with concern.
Martin recovered quickly. "I'm just surprised to see you here."
"I know I should have been back two days ago, but.." he paused. "We can talk about that inside. First, I'd like you to meet Jeffery and his daughter, Aggie. They saved my life day before yesterday." He turned to his new friends. "This is Martin, my father's steward and the man who truly runs Huntingdon."
Martin did not offer his hand, but he did smile and nod to the man and the little girl. "I think it's best if you come inside, Robert. You never know who might be watching." He knew, though, that word was already spreading throughout the castle; the Earl's son, the outlaw Robin Hood, was here.
The four people, led by Martin, walked up the steps and entered the castle. Robin had picked up on the curious statement about people watching. He would definitely have to ask Martin what that was all about.
Jeffery and Aggie took notice the huge tapestries that hung on some of the walls and the various silver goblets, and gold candle holders that adorned the rich, wooden tables. All the pieces of furniture were solid and heavy. Candles burned everywhere in the rooms they passed, while small torches burned in sconces along the halls.
At last, Martin entered a room and stood aside as Robin, Jeffery and Aggie walked in. This room contained a long table with chairs all around it. Judging by the relatively small size of the room, Jeffery decided it must be a family dining room. There were paintings on these walls, as well. Only here they were of animals rather than people. The sun had just set, so all the candles on the two large sideboards sitting on either side of the table were lit.
"Please sit," Robin said to Jeffery and Aggie. "Martin..."
"I'll have dinner sent right away," the steward said, anticipating Robin's request. He had been working for the Earl since before Robin was born, so he knew the young man as well as anyone and was good at anticipating his wishes. Robin used to laugh and say that Martin knew what he wanted before he, himself, did.
"You have a fine home, Robert." Jeffery said, though he suddenly felt embarrassed after he said it. This was a huge, beautifully furnished castle. Of course, it was a fine home. Even the King himself would be comfortable living here.
"Thank you, Jeffery," Robin said with pride but with no hint of conceit.
Martin had disappeared into the hall to summon a servant and give him the order for dinner. When he returned, he was frowning.
"What is it, Martin? Are we out of food?" It was obviously meant to be a joke, but Martin didn't laugh or even smile. That made Robin look intently at him. Martin usually had a good sense of humor.
The steward sat down across from Robin and regarded him. "It's as I thought. Word of your being here is all over the castle. The servant that was just here asked if it was really true."
Robin was clearly confused. "I live here, Martin. These people see me every day. Why on earth would that be worthy of talk? I don't understand. Nor do I understand your earlier comment about being watched." He looked to Martin to explain.
It was now Martin's turn to be confused. He stared at Robin. "Well, when the famous outlaw, Robin Hood, shows up after two years, it causes talk."
If Robin was confused before, he was fairly flabbergasted now. His jaw dropped open. Finally, he roused himself. "Robin Hood is here? At Huntingdon? How? Why?"
Martin stared even harder at the golden-haired young man he had helped to raise. He loved Robin like a son, never having had any himself. Had they been alone, he would have greeted him with a hug. With Jeffery and Aggie present, even though they were clearly of the lower class, he kept his decorum.
"Martin?" Robin asked, when the steward did not immediately answer. His brow furrowed. "There's something more going on here than the unlikely presence of an outlaw, even a famous one, here at Huntingdon, isn't there?"
Martin had long since ceased to be amazed at how mentally nimble Robin was. He had been very precocious as a child, and his sharpness had only grown over time. Martin glanced at Jeffery, who, at that second, was looking at Aggie. Robin knew exactly what Martin's glance meant. "We can discuss this after dinner," he said. More cheerfully, he added, "Right now, I think we're all hungry."
Martin stood up and went to the door in answer to a knock. When he opened the door, several servant boys stood with large trays leaden with food. They began placing the trays on the table.
Robin looked at Jeffery and then at Aggie. "I can't promise either of you anything better than your wonderful stew, Aggie. But, I hope you'll enjoy what we have to offer."
Jeffery tried not to stare. He hadn't seen this much food short of a village feast. There was roast pork, fowl of some kind, various vegetables, both cooked and raw, two kinds of bread, fruits, some that Jeffery didn't recognize, cheeses, a large bowl of fresh churned butter, and two tankards, one of ale and one of water.
Aggie was about to ask how many other people were going to be eating with them, when she decided it wasn't polite to ask such a question. She was a guest in Robin's home. Her father had taught her it was best to keep quiet when not in familiar surroundings and only speak when spoken to. It was hard to do, since she felt comfortable with Robin. There was so much she wanted to ask him. Maybe, they would have the chance later to talk.
Martin left Robin and his two guests to enjoy their dinner. He took his leave, saying he had castle business to attend to before he could stop to eat. He promised to return.
Robin laughed when he saw Jeffery looking at all the food in front of the two men and the girl.
"I think the cooks thought we were having a feast." He was almost embarrassed. He didn't want Jeffery or Aggie to think he was trying to show off by demonstrating how much food the castle could summon up to feed just three people. "We don't eat like this every day."
Jeffery thought to himself, 'We don't eat like this any day.' He could see that Robin felt awkward, so he said in a deliberately humorous tone, "Maybe, we should save your life more often."
The laughter got things back on a more familiar footing. They all tried hard, but barely put a dent in the amount of food there was. The various dishes looked almost as full as when they were first brought in.
As if answering a summons, Martin returned exactly as they finished the very last bite they each could get down without exploding. To Jeffery he said, "Your horse has been fed and bedded down in the stable and the wagon put away. There's a servant outside who will show you to your rooms, when you're ready."
Robin would talk to Jeffery later about him and Aggie possibly staying several days, though he doubted they would. "I'll see you in a couple of hours, Jeffery, after you and Aggie have had time to rest a while."
Jeffery nodded and shook Robin's hand. "Until later, then."
After his friends left the room, Robin turned to his father's steward. "Well, Martin, you can explain everything while you eat your dinner." He sat down and waited for Martin to do likewise.
Martin recognized the all too familiar look of stubborn determination on Robin's handsome young face. He knew eating dinner and offering an explanation was all that Robin was going to settle for. With a sigh, the older man sat down to do both.
Continued --