And the In-Laws
The roaring of a fire brought Iris back to consciousness. She wrapped the thin blanket more firmly around her shoulder as she began to work on that morning's breakfast. Tuck smiled as he returned to the fire. Over the past week, he and Iris had settled into a kind of routine. He would wake up, get the fire going, and check on all of the members of the camp. While he was gone, Iris would wake up and start working on the meal.
"What are we doing this morning?" Iris asked, stirring the broth in the pot.
"The same thing as every morning-" The friar was cut off as a groggy voice broke out from above them.
"Pinky. Try to take over the world." Jaq dropped to the ground, still rubbing sleep from her eyes.
"Neither of us is named Pinky," Iris mentioned to her friend, grinning as they both settled back into their usual banter.
"Just a quote."
"From Pinky and the Brain."
"I call Pinky!"
"Fine, then I'm Larry."
"Then who's the Brain?"
"Kittie."
"Have you ever wondered where that lab is located?"
"Not really. Have you ever wondered why you're so random?"
"I think I have a brain tumor."
"Really now?"
"Yes. It affects my judgment and my way of thinking. One of these days I'll wake up dead, with my brain exploded all over the floor."
Tuck was about to comment on conversation in mixed company, but Iris only laughed. "If you were dead you wouldn't wake up."
"So say you."
"And everything that everyone has ever proven."
"Yeah? Well… People also said that the sun revolved around the Earth, and that the earth is flat."
"Your government teacher told you that."
"My point exactly. Nothing's certain. I might be able to wake up when my brains are spread all over the floor in a spreading, oozing, dripping mess that if anyone steps in-"
"Really, Jaq. Is that any way to speak to a lady?" Robin asked, frowning slightly.
"I always talk to her like that. You should get her going on doggy arthritis and sex. Now that's fun."
"Fun?"
"Yup. Watch. F- you, Iris."
"What time; what place?" Iris answered promptly, grinning from ear to ear. Tuck and Robin both turned scarlet. The conversation would have continued, but there was a commotion from the edge of camp. Robin's face lit up and he ran to the other side of the camp.
"Marion! What took you so long?"
"Elenna and I decided to get some supplies and see our families."
"Welcome back," Tuck greeted the women calmly.
"Thank you, Friar Tuck. Ah, we have two new members?" Marion asked, looking closely over the two new arrivals.
"Yes. This is Iris Kentbury. She's been helping Tuck with the meals. The man is Jaq Foster. He was working with Scarlet on daggers, but he wanted to learn more, so now he's practicing with John."
Marion continued her scrutiny of the two. Iris waved and smiled shyly before returning her attention to the broth. Jaq grinned at her, yawned, and walked over. Marion eyed her more closely when she saw the distinctly feminine swing of the hips the new 'man' had. He noticed the suspicion in her eyes and smirked.
"Hi; my name's Jaq. Like what you see?" Iris choked at Jaq's outburst, knowing that her friend was simply trying to throw off suspicion, but also knowing that Robin would probably hurt her for what could be seen as an innuendo.
"She's my wife, Jaq," Robin growled. Jaq offered the irate man a small smile.
"Sorry." Jaq turned to Marion and wagged her finger at the English woman, grinning as she lectured. "No touching, got it? You're married, so I'm off limits." The grin on her face made even Robin see that nothing was intended by that remark, or the one beginning the conversation.
By that time, almost everyone else was waking up and heading to the food. Life carried on as usual for most of the meal, until Robin finally spoke up to Marion and Elenna.
"Did you find anything out about the Sheriff?"
"A little. Prince John is coming to Nottingham in the next few months, and he is determined to capture Robin Hood and his Merry band even if he has to waste every soldier in the kingdom to do it. The Sheriff still thinks it is not worth worrying over you; it costs too much money."
"I suppose that, at least, is good news."
"We will have to be on our guard, though. The Prince may be a fool, but he does know how to hunt."
"And how to hire assassins," Kittie spoke up.
"But he won't go to that. He wants the pride of catching us himself. Then he can boast that he is better than Guy of Gibourne."
A/N: Thank yous...
Drangonfly2003 - Wow... I'm going to take that as a compliment... I'm having fun writing this, so yay for all of us, right?
the peace pixie - You can have him... just let me borrow him for this story? grins
