Can anyone think of a title for this chapter? If you can please tell.
skrblr - About the switching between third/first person. as you know I started the ficcy of in first but when I started to get into the flow of the writing I changed into first without realizing it and went back trying to change them but I must have missed out a few. Gisbourne, I am very proud of him...I think he's very 'searches for word' well. I can't describe him...villainous (sp?) and I hope the cliffhanger left you trembling for more (though I'm sure it didn't)
Daydrae - Thank you very much, this cookie will keep me going for this next chapter.
But in case you've forgotten what the story was about in my prolonged absence here's a quick cover to tell you what's happened.
Princess Marian loves Robin Hood the outlaw (big surprise there) But her evil uncle prince John (acting regent) has caught him and is going to hang him. Marian's nurse and good friend went to find their outlaw friends and told them Marian's plan. As Robin was about to be hung a guard came up and asked permission to tighten the noose. Grudgingly the executioner let him by order of Prince John. He did so and then kicked the stool from beneath Robin so he's now dangling and being strangled. Determined for him to die the guard jumps in front of several arrows but luckily the executioner cut the rope with an arrow. Then an outlaw in disguise as a royal guard takes Marian "hostage" though it's all plans. They are now at the White Caves which is the outlaw H.Q. All the details are at the end of the last chapter. Is Robin dead? We don't know, John (who was the executioner in disguise) is about to tell Marian.
I do not own most of the characters but in a way I do because I have made them my own and in a way I invented everything about them. So let's instead say they are based on the original ballads in some way.
If you do not review I shall hunt thee down and my chopsticks and my sporks shall find thee.
Now one more thing, I'm still not sure whether this story should be in third or first person so I think this chapter will be in first till I find a comfortable viewing point. But please tell me which one you think it should be.
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Will placed a hand on her shoulder lending strength as John spoke, "Marian, I'm sorry but," he looked up at Will then back to her. "We don't think he'll last the night." I looked down and noticed with relief that he was still breathing, but he seemed to be struggling. "Are we taking him to the White Caves?" I asked. The question seemed innocent enough but John knew what I was talking about. I had said we, I wasn't sure if Robin's father would let me in their home even though I had been a hundred times before. When I was young they didn't seem to mind but as I grew up and Robin and I grew closer he started to detest me. "Yes. We need to take him inside." I nodded and followed them up the hidden path threw the trees and up the steep hill.
On the way several others joined us, I recognized John's cousin Allan, he was a minstrel. Allan slowed his pace till we walked next to each other, me and Allan were born on the same day and were obviously the exact same age. We got on well and were very close friends. "You going to stay with us tonight Mari?" I nodded grimly. "Longer then that Allan, my uncle has no proof but he knows that I am involved with all this." I waved my arms motioning around us. "But I would stay even if I could go back, I couldn't stay in the castle not knowing what was going on." Allan looked behind us, all I could see were trees but I knew what he was looking at Nottingham and the town. Allan had family there but when he had gone with his cousin John he had been named outlaw and could rarely go back even in disguise.
By this time we had reached the entrance to the White Caves, the guard waved us through and John hurried ahead with Robin in his arms and Will following towards the Healers Hall. I hesitated, I was not sure if I should follow or not but in the end I did. The Healers Hall was a long hall with beds at each side and each could be hidden behind curtains. Leading of where several doors, one leading to a Medical Library and another to a medicine store cupboard. The Deputy-head Nurse, Rosalin, saw us coming first and raised the call. Soon Robin was lying on a soft white bed in far right corner, a thin curtain was dropped so that he had his own corner away from prying eyes. I was not allowed to go inside while Rosalin looked at him, the rest waited with me as well. John paced the hall impatiently, Christopher who was Allan's cousin and Robin's good friend sat with a blank face staring at the wall and Allan sat next to me lending comfort. I leant against him whilst holding back tears, this couldn't be happening. Robin couldn't die.
Finally after what seemed like days Rosalin came back out, "He's in a bad shape but he'll live. He's awake now actually. John, don't go worrying yourself like that again, next time ask me before you decide he won't live to see tomorrow. You can go in and see him. I've cleaned up his major wounds." We all smiled with relief, soon we where all crowded into the small closed of section. I saw on Robin's right hand side while John was on his left. I was shocked to see how pale he looked, there where cruel red welts around his neck where the rope had clung. There where several cuts on his arms and I knew there would be more all over him, there was a particularly nasty bruise on his forehead but even through all of that he had his smile on. We told him all the details of that battle, he laughed as we described my uncle's face when he had an arrow pointed at his face but when we got to the part when I looked down from the platform and saw his limp body Robin's face turned grim. He took my hand in his larger and now clean one and spoke softly, "Never doubt me like that again Marian, I'll always come through for you. Your Robin will always be there for you." I smiled shyly but the others around us shifted uncomfortable. All too soon Rosalin came to shoo us out, telling us that he needed to rest.
John showed me to the room I was to stay in, it was a small but cozy. There was a small fireplace and a cheery fire was already blazing there. I realized how tired I was and settled right into the warm bed. It was no where near as grand as my room back in the Nottingham but I felt much more at home there then I ever had at all my years in the castle.
Over the next few days I spent nearly all my time at Robin's bed-side, the others had duties to do so it was normally just us two. And whilst Robin was sleeping which he often was I would help Rosalin, we soon became fast friends. I found out that she was engaged to Allan's cousin Christopher. And so I spent many hours listening to wedding plans and how they'd met every day. But I did not mind, I soon learned the story and knew when to nod and when to shake my head without actually listening. The few weeks after that were peaceful ones, I managed to relax. But of course as soon as I relaxed something came to spoil it, a letter. A letter from Robin's father.
It came in at the start of autumn, the harvest would soon come and every hand would be needed. Robin's father had been away on some excursion or other and was expected to come back for the harvest. Robin's mother, Eleanor, wrote to him regularly and had obviously told him what had happened. How Robin was caught, that he was recovering and that I was staying with them. It was the last fact that infuriated his father, he had always detested me but to have me stay in his own territory was too much for him. He ignored what Eleanor had written about it being my plan to rescue Robin. Jack Locksley (for that was Robin's father's name) refused to return to Sherwood till I was out of there. There was mass confusion, no one knew what to do. In the end they decided to let me stay as they couldn't send me back and let Jack's fury wind down. They'd write to him in spring asking him to come back. If only we had known how much trouble that would cause.
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