Wow, I've gotten a lot of reviews since the last chapter, and all I can say
is thanks. It really made me feel good to know people are enjoying my
story. This chapter is a little shorter than most , but I wanted to let
you know how things turned out after the Scarlett episode.
A lot of people have been asking me who Piper's parents are. There's even
been some speculation. All I can say is that she won't find out who her
paresnts are. I don't even know if they're still alive. They were
outlaws, but they weren't bad people. They did what they thought was best,
and they did it out of love for their baby. I can assure you that her
parents are not any characters that I am currently writing. When they left
her at Mark Manor, they left Nottingham forever. I may consider doing a
short story about them after this one is through. It depends on how life
consuming grad school is going to be.
Enjoy!
CHAPTER 11
Piper had no idea where they were. She stumbled through the forest, leaning on Much for support. She let him guide her. Her head wound was making it difficult to keep her focus or her balance, and she kept stumbling over rocks and tree roots.
"Where are we going," she mumbled. Much held a low hanging tree branch out of the way so that she could pass. "I told you," he said. "I'm taking you to a friend."
The rest of the journey occurred in silence. Neither friend was ready to fully consider what had just happened, or what might have happened. Much distracted himself by concentrating on helping Piper. Piper needed no such distraction. Shock was setting in, and her mind was wandering in a pleasant haze.
Before she knew it, they were coming up to a small dwelling surrounded by trees. It wasn't run down enough to be considered a shack, but it didn't quite have the charm of a cottage either. It was perhaps best described as a small but tidy hut. "I've never seen this place before," Piper mumbled.
"Tuck," Much called out at the hut. "It's me, Much. I need a little help here!"
In response to his calls, the door to the hut opened, and out came an older man with a grizzly gray beard, beneath flushed cheeks and a pair of squinting laugh-lined eyes. What was most noticeable about the man however was his considerable girth, neatly packaged in a brown, tattered friar's robe.
"Much," the old man scolded. "Why all the yelling..." His voice trailed off when he saw Piper. "Oh Lord in Heaven. Bring her inside."
He turned around quickly and went inside to prepare a space. Piper let Much carry her inside as well. Her head was pounding and her stomach was turning and if this man, whoever he was, could help her, then she would willingly accept it.
When they entered the hut, Piper was met with a warm cozy feeling. There was a fire burning in the fireplace. It didn't take much for the tiny space to fill with heat and immediately, Piper could feel the cold leaving her body. There was also the smell of fresh, hearty food. Piper couldn't tell what was cooking, but there a the distinct scent of rosemary that hung in the warm air.
Tuck, as Much called him, was busily clearing a space for Piper to lie down. He didn't appear to have a bed, but he did have a straw pallet which he rolled out onto the floor. The two men helped Piper to lie down on the pallet, and while Much sat with Piper, Tuck scurried off collecting small jars and bottles.
Much took the chance to talk to Piper while they had some privacy. He picked up her hand and asked her how she was feeling. She nodded, letting him know that she would be fine. He seemed a little nervous about what he was going to say next.
"Piper, I took a risk bringing you here. Tuck is a good friend of mine, he's been like a father to me since I lost the mill. When you return to the Sheriff,"
Piper interrupted him by squeezing his hand. "He's safe," she replied.
Just then, Tuck returned. Normally, Piper would have broken any promise she made to keep an outlaw hidden, but there was something about the elderly man. Piper wanted to protect him the same way that he was now protecting her. He was obviously an outlaw of some sort, but he couldn't possibly be dangerous. Still, she knew that when she was better her decision would weigh heavily on her conscious. She did not like keeping secrets from the Sheriff.
Tuck offered Piper some sort of hot liquid and instructed her to drink it. It smelled like rancid meat, but she was too tired to argue. She took a sip and reflexively spit it out again. It tasted worse than rancid meat. Tuck laughed gently at her reaction. "Let me see if I can fix that a bit," he said. He mixed a few more herbs into the cup and offered it to her. Piper drank, cautiously. It was very bitter, but tolerable. She finished and felt a calm weariness pass over her.
"You'll sleep now. In the morning you'll feel well enough to return to your home." Tuck brushed back her hair in a soothing, paternal way. Piper felt sleep coming quickly. The only thought she had time for before she fell asleep was how nice it would be to have a father like Tuck.
**********
She woke up in a blissful state of oblivion. She had no recollection of what had happened. She shifted slightly on her pallet which aggravated her wounds. The sudden shiver of pain that ran through her body flooded her mind with memories of the previous day. She panicked and began to struggle with an enemy that was long gone. A pair of hands grabbed her by the arms, forcing her down and increasing her panic. She was fighting to free herself when Much's voice broke through her terror.
"Piper, what is it? You're safe! You're okay!"
Piper's heart was racing wildly. She took a few deep breaths and let the smell of rosemary fill her mind. Much was standing over her, trying to ease her back onto the pallet. Tuck was behind him with a pained expression.
"Much," Piper relaxed a little. For lack of anything better to finish up with she added "shoot any rapists lately?" She laughed darkly. Much began to stroke her hair the way that Tuck had before she fell asleep. "How long have I been out?"
"A little over a day," Tuck answered her. "Are you feeling any better?"
"A day," Piper asked in alarm. "I have to go. They'll be worried."
Both Much and Tuck tried to stop her from getting up, but Piper would have none of it. She pushed her way past them and started for the door.
"Piper please! You're still hurt. Think for a moment what's happened to you."
Piper spun on the lean outlaw and the fat friar. "You want me to think about it? I can't think about anything else! Now I'm going back to the Manor. You can either help me find my way there since I have no idea where the hell I am, or you get out of my way and let me find my own way!" Before she left the hut she addressed Tuck. "I shall repay your kindness with silence. It isn't enough, but it will have to do." Then, she was gone.
"Is she always like that?" The question fell on empty air, for Much was already out the door and chasing after Piper. Tuck shook his head sadly as he began to put away the pallet. "As long as they don't ask me to perform the wedding ceremony. I would be likely to get killed in the battle that would follow."
Much trailed behind Piper silently. The only time that he made any comment was when she began to wander in the wrong direction. Both took the time to dwell in their own thoughts.
While Much's mind was filled with concern and with violent fantasies of Scarlett being torn to pieces by bands of outlaws, Piper could not shake the images of the previous day. She felt on edge and threatened in a forest where she had always felt confident. She had gone from the predator to the prey in one day, and she did not like it.
Piper's thought slowly moved from her harrowing experience to what was to come. She was returning to the Manor, and as the fog cleared in her head, she was just beginning to understand the implications of that. There was no way that she would be able to hide her injuries from the Sheriff or the guards. She would have to explain to them what happened. She would have to admit her failure. I let a dangerous criminal nearly rape me and then escape. I shouldn't even be allowed to be a guard.
Her thought grew darker as the journey progressed. Finally, they reached the edge of the forest. Both stopped and waited in silence for something to be said. It was Much that broke the uncomfortable silence. "Piper, I can't say that everything will be all right because I just don't know anymore. I can say that once the outlaws hear that Scarlett is back, that bastard son of a whore won't stand a chance of escaping. I only wish that you and I weren't a secret, because then I could save t hat pile of rat's droppings for you to deal with."
Much's comments and colorful language encouraged a smile on Piper's otherwise brooding face. "Well I suppose you'll just have to bring me a souvenir. Perhaps a finger, or better still, his head on a platter. But that's only if you and your friends get to him first."
"You're not thinking of going after him yourself, are you." Much didn't seem happy at the prospect, but Piper didn't care. "He hurt me, and I intend to hurt him back. Remember Much, I'm a guard. I'm not going to wait for someone to fight my battles for me. I fully intend to make Scarlett suffer before I kill him."
"Piper..."
The red haired soldier raised her hand to silence him. "There's no discussion. I can't convince you to leave Sherwood, despite the danger you put yourself in. You can't convince me to play the lady in distress. We'll just leave it at that."
Before Much had the opportunity to argue further, Piper planted a searing kiss on his lips. She turned and started down the road to her home, leaving a very stunned outlaw in her wake.
CHAPTER 11
Piper had no idea where they were. She stumbled through the forest, leaning on Much for support. She let him guide her. Her head wound was making it difficult to keep her focus or her balance, and she kept stumbling over rocks and tree roots.
"Where are we going," she mumbled. Much held a low hanging tree branch out of the way so that she could pass. "I told you," he said. "I'm taking you to a friend."
The rest of the journey occurred in silence. Neither friend was ready to fully consider what had just happened, or what might have happened. Much distracted himself by concentrating on helping Piper. Piper needed no such distraction. Shock was setting in, and her mind was wandering in a pleasant haze.
Before she knew it, they were coming up to a small dwelling surrounded by trees. It wasn't run down enough to be considered a shack, but it didn't quite have the charm of a cottage either. It was perhaps best described as a small but tidy hut. "I've never seen this place before," Piper mumbled.
"Tuck," Much called out at the hut. "It's me, Much. I need a little help here!"
In response to his calls, the door to the hut opened, and out came an older man with a grizzly gray beard, beneath flushed cheeks and a pair of squinting laugh-lined eyes. What was most noticeable about the man however was his considerable girth, neatly packaged in a brown, tattered friar's robe.
"Much," the old man scolded. "Why all the yelling..." His voice trailed off when he saw Piper. "Oh Lord in Heaven. Bring her inside."
He turned around quickly and went inside to prepare a space. Piper let Much carry her inside as well. Her head was pounding and her stomach was turning and if this man, whoever he was, could help her, then she would willingly accept it.
When they entered the hut, Piper was met with a warm cozy feeling. There was a fire burning in the fireplace. It didn't take much for the tiny space to fill with heat and immediately, Piper could feel the cold leaving her body. There was also the smell of fresh, hearty food. Piper couldn't tell what was cooking, but there a the distinct scent of rosemary that hung in the warm air.
Tuck, as Much called him, was busily clearing a space for Piper to lie down. He didn't appear to have a bed, but he did have a straw pallet which he rolled out onto the floor. The two men helped Piper to lie down on the pallet, and while Much sat with Piper, Tuck scurried off collecting small jars and bottles.
Much took the chance to talk to Piper while they had some privacy. He picked up her hand and asked her how she was feeling. She nodded, letting him know that she would be fine. He seemed a little nervous about what he was going to say next.
"Piper, I took a risk bringing you here. Tuck is a good friend of mine, he's been like a father to me since I lost the mill. When you return to the Sheriff,"
Piper interrupted him by squeezing his hand. "He's safe," she replied.
Just then, Tuck returned. Normally, Piper would have broken any promise she made to keep an outlaw hidden, but there was something about the elderly man. Piper wanted to protect him the same way that he was now protecting her. He was obviously an outlaw of some sort, but he couldn't possibly be dangerous. Still, she knew that when she was better her decision would weigh heavily on her conscious. She did not like keeping secrets from the Sheriff.
Tuck offered Piper some sort of hot liquid and instructed her to drink it. It smelled like rancid meat, but she was too tired to argue. She took a sip and reflexively spit it out again. It tasted worse than rancid meat. Tuck laughed gently at her reaction. "Let me see if I can fix that a bit," he said. He mixed a few more herbs into the cup and offered it to her. Piper drank, cautiously. It was very bitter, but tolerable. She finished and felt a calm weariness pass over her.
"You'll sleep now. In the morning you'll feel well enough to return to your home." Tuck brushed back her hair in a soothing, paternal way. Piper felt sleep coming quickly. The only thought she had time for before she fell asleep was how nice it would be to have a father like Tuck.
**********
She woke up in a blissful state of oblivion. She had no recollection of what had happened. She shifted slightly on her pallet which aggravated her wounds. The sudden shiver of pain that ran through her body flooded her mind with memories of the previous day. She panicked and began to struggle with an enemy that was long gone. A pair of hands grabbed her by the arms, forcing her down and increasing her panic. She was fighting to free herself when Much's voice broke through her terror.
"Piper, what is it? You're safe! You're okay!"
Piper's heart was racing wildly. She took a few deep breaths and let the smell of rosemary fill her mind. Much was standing over her, trying to ease her back onto the pallet. Tuck was behind him with a pained expression.
"Much," Piper relaxed a little. For lack of anything better to finish up with she added "shoot any rapists lately?" She laughed darkly. Much began to stroke her hair the way that Tuck had before she fell asleep. "How long have I been out?"
"A little over a day," Tuck answered her. "Are you feeling any better?"
"A day," Piper asked in alarm. "I have to go. They'll be worried."
Both Much and Tuck tried to stop her from getting up, but Piper would have none of it. She pushed her way past them and started for the door.
"Piper please! You're still hurt. Think for a moment what's happened to you."
Piper spun on the lean outlaw and the fat friar. "You want me to think about it? I can't think about anything else! Now I'm going back to the Manor. You can either help me find my way there since I have no idea where the hell I am, or you get out of my way and let me find my own way!" Before she left the hut she addressed Tuck. "I shall repay your kindness with silence. It isn't enough, but it will have to do." Then, she was gone.
"Is she always like that?" The question fell on empty air, for Much was already out the door and chasing after Piper. Tuck shook his head sadly as he began to put away the pallet. "As long as they don't ask me to perform the wedding ceremony. I would be likely to get killed in the battle that would follow."
Much trailed behind Piper silently. The only time that he made any comment was when she began to wander in the wrong direction. Both took the time to dwell in their own thoughts.
While Much's mind was filled with concern and with violent fantasies of Scarlett being torn to pieces by bands of outlaws, Piper could not shake the images of the previous day. She felt on edge and threatened in a forest where she had always felt confident. She had gone from the predator to the prey in one day, and she did not like it.
Piper's thought slowly moved from her harrowing experience to what was to come. She was returning to the Manor, and as the fog cleared in her head, she was just beginning to understand the implications of that. There was no way that she would be able to hide her injuries from the Sheriff or the guards. She would have to explain to them what happened. She would have to admit her failure. I let a dangerous criminal nearly rape me and then escape. I shouldn't even be allowed to be a guard.
Her thought grew darker as the journey progressed. Finally, they reached the edge of the forest. Both stopped and waited in silence for something to be said. It was Much that broke the uncomfortable silence. "Piper, I can't say that everything will be all right because I just don't know anymore. I can say that once the outlaws hear that Scarlett is back, that bastard son of a whore won't stand a chance of escaping. I only wish that you and I weren't a secret, because then I could save t hat pile of rat's droppings for you to deal with."
Much's comments and colorful language encouraged a smile on Piper's otherwise brooding face. "Well I suppose you'll just have to bring me a souvenir. Perhaps a finger, or better still, his head on a platter. But that's only if you and your friends get to him first."
"You're not thinking of going after him yourself, are you." Much didn't seem happy at the prospect, but Piper didn't care. "He hurt me, and I intend to hurt him back. Remember Much, I'm a guard. I'm not going to wait for someone to fight my battles for me. I fully intend to make Scarlett suffer before I kill him."
"Piper..."
The red haired soldier raised her hand to silence him. "There's no discussion. I can't convince you to leave Sherwood, despite the danger you put yourself in. You can't convince me to play the lady in distress. We'll just leave it at that."
Before Much had the opportunity to argue further, Piper planted a searing kiss on his lips. She turned and started down the road to her home, leaving a very stunned outlaw in her wake.