Robin was out of bed in a few days. Somehow, Kale had managed to keep her gender secret still, even with her being bedridden.
She had a huge nest of problems to contend with. Kale knew she was the lady of Avonsleigh. She knew there was no way he was going to give up his title, and let her inherit what was hers. So, she stood now on the battlements, her bow unstrung at her side and a quiver across her back, even though she couldn't shoot. Not yet, at least.
They had to talk, she knew. While he was happy enough to bed her, thinking she was a commoner, she doubted he wanted anything to do with her now, as a rival.
There were still a few pockets of the mercenaries, scattered around the hill country. It would take years of work to make Avonsleigh the same again, not just the castle, but the farms and woods and people.
"Robin." She didn't turn as Kale lent on the stone next to her, not meeting her eyes.
"How's the resistance?" She asked him, mindful of the eyes watching them. All the men knew something was between Robin and Kale, what, though, they had no idea.
"Easing considerably." He straightened suddenly, loosing his negligent stance. "Let's not dance around the fire, Robin. We need to talk."
Robin turned a little to look at him. "Not here." She said finally. "Let's walk." She told a nearby sentry she was going with Kale, and then led them both into the slightly overgrown gardens. "So?" She asked.
"Robin, since when have you run from a problem?" Kale lent on a tree, folding his arms. "Lets just lay what we have on the table, and try to find a solution."
Robin looked around, stalling. When she forced her eyes back to his, she was composed again. "I'm the lady of Avonsleigh. As the last surviving member of my house, I should inherit. But does the grant the king gave you overrule that?"
He winced. That was being honest, alright. "That's about the root of the problem." He said, finally. "What do you propose we do?"
"Do?" She asked blankly. "We can't do anything. It's up to our betters to decide. We will need to inform the king of our situation."
"There is always an option, Robin." She shrugged with one shoulder, and began to stroll deeper into the garden, where it got decidedly wild.
"There isn't always an option." She told him.
"No. There is always another way…sometimes, that way isn't what you wanted, though." She led them into the privacy of the wilds, though they were in the castle walls. When she led them into a small covered area, he was surprised. For a moment, he had thought they were back in the forest.
"Stop avoiding it and just say it." She stood with her back to him, her quiver and bow resting near the entrance of the private little patio. Her arms were crossed loosely, but she was tense.
"You're name was Marion, wasn't it?" He moved up behind her, silently.
"Yes." She didn't twitch, hearing him so close. If he knew nothing else about her, that would have told him she had been turned hard.
"Lady Marion." His hands ran up her arms to her shoulders.
"Yet you still feel you need to dominate me." She pulled away, uncrossing her arms but still facing away.
"No." He caught her hand. "Robin, that isn't it."
"Then what, by the Black God, is it?" She turned to him now, the sharp lines of her face holding hurt, anger, and confusion. And maybe, if he looked deep enough into her eyes, just maybe, there was yearning.
He started at her for a moment, wondering. "It's me, Robin, and you."
"Don't play with me like this, Kale." She warned, quietly. "Don't you dare." Yanking her hand free, she scooped up her bow and quiver and was gone, blending into the shadows like a whisper.
Robin found herself in the stable loft. She had hidden there before…it was her place. Now, though, it no longer held the safety she was used to. She couldn't relax.
With a disgusted kick at the hay, she left the loft, swinging one handed from the ladder and landing lightly. Instead she climbed to the highest point of the castle, shimmied out a window, then made her way onto the roof.
Here, she had sat many times. Lady Marion was famous for sitting there, just so, and looking over the sentries on the bold stone walls and focusing on a point somewhere under the cover of the treetops. She could sit for hours, just watching the forest lazily.
Now, she felt the peace settle over her. But still, it wasn't the same as it had been, when she was a child. She remembered the lives lost under the cover of those trees, remembered the hearts broken.
Why did she feel this pull towards Kale? Why could she suddenly not deal with life, not stand tall as she had for so long?
What was it that had changed?
"Nothing's changed." She whispered quietly, hearing her words on the wind. "Not really." She smiled a little sadly. There's been something between us for some time. Just now…now I'm seeing it from a different angle. She chafed her legs against the cool breeze. "Whatever it is, it'll have to wait." She said clearly, standing. She must have been sitting for over an hour, judging by the sun. She had things to do, now, starting with telling Lord Raoul who she really was.
She slid lithely down the roof like she used to, landing on the top of the stairs. The few local men who saw her, first sitting, then moving down the roof, wondered, for a moment, if Robin was who he said he was.
Robin, unknowing, turned and headed for Lord Raoul's chambers.
AN: I'm sorry it took me so long to update, again. And I know its short, but its just a fill in chapter. Thanks to all the reviewers, and to those people who read but don't review, do me a favor and tell me what you think.
remisica: The bonds were supposed to show how she had to relive what happened to her in her mind. Her own memories wouldn't let her go. And no, it wasn't supposed to look like Kale was probing her memories. *frowns* I'll fix that when I one day go through and re-write it.
Mandas: hehe, no, it isn't quite over yet. Yes, very happy now!
Anastazia Silverwind: why, thanks. *blushes a violent shade of pink*
Emlet: my characters are that good? (I thought Kale was all over the place personally, but hey!) A folk-lawy kinda feel, eh? Cool.
angelo dell'inferno: It was another review that got me writing again. ^_^ My thanks!
