As I came back to the waking world, the sounds I could hear were that of
only the crickets. I opened my eyes and everything around me was black but
the soft beam of silver moonlight. My body was stiff from where I had been
laying and I thought that if I was to move, I would fall to pieces.
"Maybe all that was a dream."
From its spot on my stomach, I lowered my hand down to my side and felt a bed of straw beneath a sheet of material.
"Okay, maybe not."
I suddenly realized that the throbbing pulse that had put me to sleep wasn't there anymore. Instead it was cold. Reaching back, I felt that there was a cold cloth dampening my hair slightly.
"Let's see if I can stand up."
Taking my time, I pushed myself into a sitting position and then waited for the ache to return. Nothing. I moved myself up to stand by pulling up with the help from the wall. Moving to the window, I looked out over the campground. Throughout the gully there were several fires blazing and loud boisterous laughter echoing through the night air. Moonlight illuminated all the straw rooftops making them shimmer like gold.
"I see that you've awaken."
Turning from my place at the window, I could see a figure standing in the doorway. It was until I squinted and looked closer that I could see that it was Specs or Will as he seemingly preferred to be called. In his hand I saw that he held a loaf of fresh bread that's scent filled the air. I looked at it, taking a deep breath in to smell the delicious scent when I realized that I hadn't eaten anything since lunch and it had to be getting close to midnight.
"You must be hungry."
Specs/Will stated, a small grin tugging across his face. Not wanting to give in, I crossed my arms and shook my head. There was still no hurting and in my mind, I smiled so not to give the person satisfaction of seeing the smile.
"Not really, I'm fine."
Though my mind spoke one thing, my stomach spoke or rather grumbled another. This time, the smiled displayed across Specs/Will's face as he laughed.
"Well I think that your stomach betrays you."
With that said, he tossed the bread over to me and stepped away from the doorway. Wanting to find out where I was exactly, I followed out behind to find that the person who had given me food was sitting on the platform with his feet straight out over the planks. I stood for a few minutes, trying to decide if I should sit or if I should go back in and eat the bread.
"You can sit. Everyone else has eaten and are sitting out around the campfires."
Rather than insulting him or saying any comment back I sat down against the post as far as I could with then bringing my legs up against my chest and resting my head on the top. I should have started at the food but answers were what I really wanted at that point, not some food.
"Why aren't you down there with the others?"
Taking a bite from the apple he had pulled from somewhere, Specs/Will looked out over the site.
"I prefer solitude when I eat. Plus I wanted to see if you were awake and feeling any better."
He added the last bit just as I was about to say that eating with me wasn't anywhere near solitude.
"Oh."
Even though I was hungry and had the food in my hands all fresh and smelling nice, I just sat there on the platform and picked at it. Will gazed over at the girl.
"I'm not sure if you are a witch or not, but I doubt that you can eat that bread just by picking at it."
At the sound of being told how to eat made I lost my appetite all together. I set the food down on the platform beside me, wrapped my bare arms around my legs and rested my painless head down on my knees once again.
"I've got to be dreaming." She muttered closing her eyes.
"Well I'm awake and you're awake so I don't think your dreaming. Once food gets into that stomach of yours, you'll be fine."
Looking up from my knees, I saw that Will had moved from his spot at the post to a crouching position in front of me. The chocolate brown eyes that reminded me so much of Specs shone with worry and kindness but there was a hint of authority and that were just enough to turn me off. I straightened my back and looked him dead in the eye.
"Listen bud, I don't need you telling me what to do or telling me what I need. The only thing I need at the moment is that black cloak you took off me this afternoon. Where is it?"
Will was taken back by the quick force that I spoke with.
"I placed it beside your bed when Robin, Bull and Little John brought you up."
It took me a few minutes to remember who each of those people were.
"I've never seen one of those cloaks before. It's got sleeves and pouches."
"Yeah, well. I'm going to go back in and get it."
With the help from the railing, I pulled myself up before Will could take my arm in his hand and help me up. I gave him a small smile before entering the hut again.
"Okay. now where is that coat."
Gazing towards the straw mattress that I had woken up on, I could see that what Will had said was true. At the foot of the bed folded up neatly was my trench coat. Crossing over the floor quickly, I grabbed up the coat and as I sat back down I reached into the inside pocket to pull out the notebook and a pen.
"Now to write."
As I set the pen to paper, I started to write about what had happened so far with coming upon these people. I wrote about the river incident, the confrontation of the preps, everything. I was starting to describe the differences between Will and Specs when I heard creaking up a ladder and voices.
"Will, how is she? Has she awakened?"
"Yes. She's in my hut at the moment. For some reason she wanted that odd cloak of hers."
"Have you been able to get anything out of the stranger, such as her name, where she's from?"
"No. She was very quiet. She switched back and forth with different attitudes so I haven't been able to figure out how to ask her. She seems like a secretive type, which could mean she's a sorceress. That cloak of hers is something I've never seen before."
From my spot against the wall, I wanted to yell out that I wasn't a witch, but just a girl that liked to keep to herself. As the two men talked, they got closer to the entrance of the hut. I slipped the book and pen back into the pockets and curled up pulling the coat over me like a blanket. I heard the men walk into the hut and stop at my feet.
"That's odd. I thought she wanted her cloak for some witching purposes, not for a blanket. Oh, when you all left for supper I examined her head and saw that along the back was a nasty bump from some fall. Around her side is a small gash as well. I'm assuming that she got into a fight before we happened upon each other. That may be the cause of her attitude towards all of us and thinking we're someone other than ourselves."
"Maybe. Until we find out more about her, she will be staying in your hut. I would put her with another but there isn't any more room. You are the only one here that isn't sharing space. I'll send Marian, Sarah, Jade and Leighanne up to help her change into more suitable clothing."
Footsteps moved away from my feet and out the door of the hut. I could hear both men move down the ladder and their voices fade into the night. When I was sure that no one would be coming any time soon, I got up from where I sat and first checked out my side. I remembered the scrape that I had gotten from the dodge ball game and now there was a piece of cloth over top of it. Unfortunately part of the shirt was cut away to get to the scrape.
"To think, the only pink shirt I actually liked. Wait, crimson shirt. Now, time to get out of here."
Bringing my trench coat up around my shoulders, I made my way to the doorway and peaked out. Wearing black seemed to help me sneak out many times before and was going to now. Peaking out of the hut, I could see that the cost was clear. I made my way to the ladder and like a cat, made my way down quickly. Touching feet to the ground, I started towards the forest's edge as a voice called out.
"Where do you think you're going?"
I froze. Not in all of my years that I had snuck out of the house had I ever been caught. Slowly turning around, I saw that the person who had spoken out was Ice or rather Marian. I straightened up and stared at the other woman.
"I'm going out dancing. What does it look like I'm doing?"
"Well it seems to me that you are running off into a wood that you know nothing about."
I stared and scoffed in disbelief. Hadn't this girl ever heard of sarcasm? Rather than responding, I just turned back around and started more for the trees and brush once again.
"Come on back here. Robin wanted me and the others to help you change."
I stopped and spun on my heel. For my entire life whenever I heard the words 'you change' in the same sentence, I cringed with hatred for them.
"Listen, tell Spot or Robin or whatever his name is that I'm not changing and he can go to hell."
Ice/Marian let out a gasp at hearing me say hell. Satisfied that I had yet again shocked a person, I turned to storm off into the depths of the trees, only to have my arm grabbed and whipping me back around. In the past whenever that happened, I would normally lashed out before the other person could. Out went my fist and connected with Ice/Marian's stomach. The other woman let go of my arm staggered back to gain back her breath. Once she had her breath back, Ice charged at me full force and swung out. I side stepped each swing and returned them with a blowback. Neither of us girls realized that a crowd was forming around us, blocking our movement if we were to back into huts or into the forest. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Will/Specs and Robin/Spot standing together at one point then apart at another.
The two fighters started circling each other, keeping our eyes on the other. Just as we were about to go at one another, Will grabbed me around the waist while Robin did the same thing to Ice/Marian. I'm slowly remembering the names that the people were using than the ones I remembered.
"Let me GO!"
I yelled as I struggled against Will's arms. While Will grunted with holding onto me, Robin spoke out as he maintained Ice/Marian.
"I will not stand having anymore quarrels in this camp. Marian, go to our hut and calm down. Take your cousins, Sarah and Fanny with you."
Once the women had left and everyone but the men I had been introduced to earlier had too, I finally calmed down and stopped struggling. I kept my head looking down, my eyes were a stormy green and that was the only emotion on her face. Robin walked up to where we stood and lifted my down turned head so that I looked him straight in the eye. Staring at him I saw that his eyes were a mix of greys and blues.
"We're going to have a little talk with our visitor here over at the campfire."
Seeing as I had stopped struggling in Will's grasp, Robin told his brother to release me. The moment my arms were freed, I took the opportunity and elbowed Will in the centre of his stomach. As he clutched his stomach, Little John seized hold over my arms this time. While the others walked ahead of Little John, he led me to the fire standing off to one side and while Bull was on the other. Will took a spot beside Robin, which for him was enough space from me the new visitor. They all took a seat while Little John stood behind me, forcing me down to the ground
"M'lady, those were some interesting moves you did back there."
Dodger looked at Robin with a blank look.
"Thanks." Robin gave a small growl like sound. Apparently he wasn't done speaking.
"Anyways, where did you learn to do those moves? Surely someone trained you?"
"No one trained me. I just learned that."
"Well, I've never seen moves like that since the Crusades. What is your name?"
I debated in my mind whether or not I should say anything to these men and in the long run I decided that it couldn't hurt.
"Name's Dodger McClure."
"A Scot!"
All the men jumped and were ready to draw swords when I spoke up again in haste to keep my safety.
"I'm part Scottish and part English but I wasn't born in either land."
That stopped the men from drawing their swords or staffs. They breathed a sigh of relief and sat back down in their places on the ground or on logs.
"So, your name is Dodger?"
"My friends gave me the name when I was younger and I've had the nickname ever since."
Hearing that the name Dodger was nothing but a nickname, the men around me gave confused looks. Will and Robin leaned towards one another and whispered a few words between them before looking back. Will cleared his throat before speaking.
"Well, we have a lot of questions for you, but you keep running off. In order to ask them, we need you to be tied up. Azeem?"
From his place beside Will, Azeem stood bringing with him a lengthy piece of rope. He first wound it around my wrists but then pulled my feet out in front of me and tied the wrists to the feet. I let out a few grumbles as Azeem made his way back to his seat.
"First, we want to know where you are from?"
"No where you know."
"How old are you?"
"Younger than you."
"Why do you wear black and crimson? Are they your family's colours?" I let out a scoff.
"No they aren't my family's colours. My family would kill me if I chose these as our colours."
"Then why do you wear them?" Robin asked. "I wear the blue of Locksley and Will wears blue and red from his Mother and our Father."
The looks on their faces were priceless. Before me were men with red frustrated faces that they hadn't gotten the proper answers they were looking for. The only real evidence of who I happened to be was what my name was. Will and Robin leaned in once again to talk before Robin looked back at me with a smile.
"Are you a witch?"
"No."
"Why do you wear black then if you are not a witch?"
He had caught me. There wasn't an answer but the truth that I could think of to get me out of the question.
"I wear black because it is convenient and to get rid of annoying people such as yourselves. The only magic I know of is how to jump start my bike when it dies."
Once again I received a weird look from the people around me.
'I really need to watch what I say.'
As I gazed around at the men, I could see by thanks to the firelight that the men were giving up. Robin stood up from his log stool and the others followed right after him.
"Since Dodger is not giving us any useful information tonight we shall retire for bed. The ladies are returning to the city tomorrow so breakfast will be early."
Everyone said their goodnights and wandered to their huts while Robin and Will were the only ones left. I was still sitting on the ground, feeling as though I was a hog ready for roasting. I waited patiently for someone to come and cut or untie the bonds, but neither of the men standing came and helped.
"Uh, guys?" Both looked down at the voice.
"Oh sorry."
Will got down on one knee and untied the knots at my feet. Unfortunately for me, Will left the knots at my hands still tied.
"Will," the man looked up "take care of her. We will talk more tomorrow."
With that, Robin was off to his own hut that he shared with Marian. Around the two figures kneeling and sitting on the ground, campfire was the only source of light that illuminated us. Our faces shone partially, shadows being cast along the hard ground of our two merging selves.
"Uh Will? Could you take the wrist cords off too? I would appreciate it."
Will took my hands in his and slowly undid the knot and unwound the cords.
"So, Dodger. Interesting name."
"Thanks. I've always liked it."
Once the cords were removed, I rubbed my wrists softly. Will watched as my hands moved against one another.
'Wow.for such a fighter, she has really delicate hands.'
He took a deep breath before speaking again.
"Listen, Dodger. We just want to find out where you are from and why you are here. Is that so hard?"
He looked at me with big chocolate brown eyes, the puppy eye move. Whenever my cousins or friends have given me that look, I have always gave in. It was so adorable.
"All right. I guess it can't hurt. I'll tell you some stuff, but my way: a question for a question."
Will looked and milled the idea over in his mind before giving a small smile and nodding his agreement.
"Okay but me first. How old are you?"
"I'm 18 turning 19 in a few days. How old are you?"
"I'm 19. I turn 20 in a few days as well. Now that wasn't so hard was it?"
He gave a laugh as I rolled my eyes and groaned a little.
"All right. What's your family like?"
I knew that I couldn't tell the entire truth or else Will wouldn't believed me.
"Well," she said as she threw a nearby stick into the campfire "I'm an only child and my parents are extremely overprotective of me. My Father always disliked the idea of me hanging out with boys than girls. My Mother tried to get me to dress like her and the other ladies she knew but as you can see, I'm not like most girls."
Will shook his head in agreement. His gaze turned to the campfire, mesmerized by the flickering colours.
"What about your family?"
Will took his time to answer that question. He had always avoided it with others. Silence was removed by the sound of crackling wood, crickets chirping and bullfrogs calling out to the wild night.
"You've met my family. Robin is my half brother. He is older than me by 12 years but sometimes acts younger, especially with the children. For the past two years, Marian and he have been married and she has been like a sister. All of the men and women of the camp who follow Robin are like family. Before he arrived I just had the men for brothers, but now I have sisters too."
I didn't need to hear that answer since I've seen the movie time and time again, but it had been nice to hear it from his lips and not through metal speakers. Letting the words set, Will snapped from his hypnotic daze in the fire to look at me. He scanned my face, trying to find some type of reaction to what he said but all he found was soft green eyes staring back at the fire. He caught several flickers of gold dance through them when I looked back at him.
"So what is your real name? Dodger is only a nickname as you have said. What is your real one?"
Will caught a small movement at the sound of the question. I have never liked to answer this question and rarely did. Normally I would veer off onto another subject or just answer with silence.
"I can't really tell you." A confused look clouded Will's face.
"What do you mean you can't tell me? Surely you can."
"Well, its not that I CAN'T tell you, it's just that I really choose not to tell. Most people don't know my true name unless I let them know and that is only if I absolutely trust them. My parents, my family of course and two friends who have known me for most of my life are the only ones."
I took a twig and tossed it into the fire.
"We you can tell me and trust me that it won't go any farther in this camp."
I stood from my place on the ground and stretched before looking down at him.
"Pay attention to what I'm saying Will. I seriously don't know if I can trust you so I can't tell you. Trust needs to be earned when it comes to me."
Just as I finished the sentence a yawn came.
"Will, I'm getting tired and my head is still a bit sore. Do you think you could show me where I'll be staying?"
Will clamoured up off the ground and dusted the bark and leaves from his butt.
"Oh yeah, Robin figured that since I was the one to find you and bring you in, you should stay with me in my hut. Also, there isn't any other room at the moment. All the other huts are full."
I stood there and watched as a small smile crept to Will's face. I groaned, not liking the sleeping option one bit though I knew that it was coming.
"Do you think that maybe I could sleep out here for the night? It's not like I'll be going anywhere. Heck, I don't even know where here is?"
I looked around at the trees and darkened huts before looking back at Will.
"First M'lady, you are in Sherwood Forest."
'Great. Besides everyone looking like people I know, I have to land in a place where the name is exactly the same.'
I thought, keeping a groan muffled so on I heard it.
"Second, no you can't sleep out here. I know you can take care of yourself but until you are fully settled, you are staying with me."
The look on Will's face told me that he wasn't going to give in on this decision.
"Oh fine. Lead the way."
I waited as Will took a bucket of water and doused the fire until it was fully out before leading her to his hut again. Once we were up the ladder and inside, Will lay out another piece of cloth on the wooden floor. I started to move that way, but my companion put out his hand on my shoulder and stopped me. He then turned me back towards the straw mattress.
"You sleep on the mattress. I'll sleep on the blanket tonight."
I wanted to argue, saying that the wooden floor would have been fine, but Will had turned his back to me and was about to lay down. Giving a sigh, I went to the straw mattress and pulled my trench coat off. Folding it into a pillow, I set it at the top of the makeshift bed and laid down on the cloth once again. I could feel the smooth side of the writing book and small bump of the pen nestled down deep in the coat. At least if I tossed and turned, nothing would break by the movement. I curled up with my back to where Will lay and laid my head on my hand. Slowly, my eyes started to close and sleep over took my consciousness for dreamland.
A/N: Hey! Thanks to those two people who reviewed chapter 6. It means a lot. I'm still working on putting this for a manuscript so that will take time. Well got to go to bed. Night y'all!
"Maybe all that was a dream."
From its spot on my stomach, I lowered my hand down to my side and felt a bed of straw beneath a sheet of material.
"Okay, maybe not."
I suddenly realized that the throbbing pulse that had put me to sleep wasn't there anymore. Instead it was cold. Reaching back, I felt that there was a cold cloth dampening my hair slightly.
"Let's see if I can stand up."
Taking my time, I pushed myself into a sitting position and then waited for the ache to return. Nothing. I moved myself up to stand by pulling up with the help from the wall. Moving to the window, I looked out over the campground. Throughout the gully there were several fires blazing and loud boisterous laughter echoing through the night air. Moonlight illuminated all the straw rooftops making them shimmer like gold.
"I see that you've awaken."
Turning from my place at the window, I could see a figure standing in the doorway. It was until I squinted and looked closer that I could see that it was Specs or Will as he seemingly preferred to be called. In his hand I saw that he held a loaf of fresh bread that's scent filled the air. I looked at it, taking a deep breath in to smell the delicious scent when I realized that I hadn't eaten anything since lunch and it had to be getting close to midnight.
"You must be hungry."
Specs/Will stated, a small grin tugging across his face. Not wanting to give in, I crossed my arms and shook my head. There was still no hurting and in my mind, I smiled so not to give the person satisfaction of seeing the smile.
"Not really, I'm fine."
Though my mind spoke one thing, my stomach spoke or rather grumbled another. This time, the smiled displayed across Specs/Will's face as he laughed.
"Well I think that your stomach betrays you."
With that said, he tossed the bread over to me and stepped away from the doorway. Wanting to find out where I was exactly, I followed out behind to find that the person who had given me food was sitting on the platform with his feet straight out over the planks. I stood for a few minutes, trying to decide if I should sit or if I should go back in and eat the bread.
"You can sit. Everyone else has eaten and are sitting out around the campfires."
Rather than insulting him or saying any comment back I sat down against the post as far as I could with then bringing my legs up against my chest and resting my head on the top. I should have started at the food but answers were what I really wanted at that point, not some food.
"Why aren't you down there with the others?"
Taking a bite from the apple he had pulled from somewhere, Specs/Will looked out over the site.
"I prefer solitude when I eat. Plus I wanted to see if you were awake and feeling any better."
He added the last bit just as I was about to say that eating with me wasn't anywhere near solitude.
"Oh."
Even though I was hungry and had the food in my hands all fresh and smelling nice, I just sat there on the platform and picked at it. Will gazed over at the girl.
"I'm not sure if you are a witch or not, but I doubt that you can eat that bread just by picking at it."
At the sound of being told how to eat made I lost my appetite all together. I set the food down on the platform beside me, wrapped my bare arms around my legs and rested my painless head down on my knees once again.
"I've got to be dreaming." She muttered closing her eyes.
"Well I'm awake and you're awake so I don't think your dreaming. Once food gets into that stomach of yours, you'll be fine."
Looking up from my knees, I saw that Will had moved from his spot at the post to a crouching position in front of me. The chocolate brown eyes that reminded me so much of Specs shone with worry and kindness but there was a hint of authority and that were just enough to turn me off. I straightened my back and looked him dead in the eye.
"Listen bud, I don't need you telling me what to do or telling me what I need. The only thing I need at the moment is that black cloak you took off me this afternoon. Where is it?"
Will was taken back by the quick force that I spoke with.
"I placed it beside your bed when Robin, Bull and Little John brought you up."
It took me a few minutes to remember who each of those people were.
"I've never seen one of those cloaks before. It's got sleeves and pouches."
"Yeah, well. I'm going to go back in and get it."
With the help from the railing, I pulled myself up before Will could take my arm in his hand and help me up. I gave him a small smile before entering the hut again.
"Okay. now where is that coat."
Gazing towards the straw mattress that I had woken up on, I could see that what Will had said was true. At the foot of the bed folded up neatly was my trench coat. Crossing over the floor quickly, I grabbed up the coat and as I sat back down I reached into the inside pocket to pull out the notebook and a pen.
"Now to write."
As I set the pen to paper, I started to write about what had happened so far with coming upon these people. I wrote about the river incident, the confrontation of the preps, everything. I was starting to describe the differences between Will and Specs when I heard creaking up a ladder and voices.
"Will, how is she? Has she awakened?"
"Yes. She's in my hut at the moment. For some reason she wanted that odd cloak of hers."
"Have you been able to get anything out of the stranger, such as her name, where she's from?"
"No. She was very quiet. She switched back and forth with different attitudes so I haven't been able to figure out how to ask her. She seems like a secretive type, which could mean she's a sorceress. That cloak of hers is something I've never seen before."
From my spot against the wall, I wanted to yell out that I wasn't a witch, but just a girl that liked to keep to herself. As the two men talked, they got closer to the entrance of the hut. I slipped the book and pen back into the pockets and curled up pulling the coat over me like a blanket. I heard the men walk into the hut and stop at my feet.
"That's odd. I thought she wanted her cloak for some witching purposes, not for a blanket. Oh, when you all left for supper I examined her head and saw that along the back was a nasty bump from some fall. Around her side is a small gash as well. I'm assuming that she got into a fight before we happened upon each other. That may be the cause of her attitude towards all of us and thinking we're someone other than ourselves."
"Maybe. Until we find out more about her, she will be staying in your hut. I would put her with another but there isn't any more room. You are the only one here that isn't sharing space. I'll send Marian, Sarah, Jade and Leighanne up to help her change into more suitable clothing."
Footsteps moved away from my feet and out the door of the hut. I could hear both men move down the ladder and their voices fade into the night. When I was sure that no one would be coming any time soon, I got up from where I sat and first checked out my side. I remembered the scrape that I had gotten from the dodge ball game and now there was a piece of cloth over top of it. Unfortunately part of the shirt was cut away to get to the scrape.
"To think, the only pink shirt I actually liked. Wait, crimson shirt. Now, time to get out of here."
Bringing my trench coat up around my shoulders, I made my way to the doorway and peaked out. Wearing black seemed to help me sneak out many times before and was going to now. Peaking out of the hut, I could see that the cost was clear. I made my way to the ladder and like a cat, made my way down quickly. Touching feet to the ground, I started towards the forest's edge as a voice called out.
"Where do you think you're going?"
I froze. Not in all of my years that I had snuck out of the house had I ever been caught. Slowly turning around, I saw that the person who had spoken out was Ice or rather Marian. I straightened up and stared at the other woman.
"I'm going out dancing. What does it look like I'm doing?"
"Well it seems to me that you are running off into a wood that you know nothing about."
I stared and scoffed in disbelief. Hadn't this girl ever heard of sarcasm? Rather than responding, I just turned back around and started more for the trees and brush once again.
"Come on back here. Robin wanted me and the others to help you change."
I stopped and spun on my heel. For my entire life whenever I heard the words 'you change' in the same sentence, I cringed with hatred for them.
"Listen, tell Spot or Robin or whatever his name is that I'm not changing and he can go to hell."
Ice/Marian let out a gasp at hearing me say hell. Satisfied that I had yet again shocked a person, I turned to storm off into the depths of the trees, only to have my arm grabbed and whipping me back around. In the past whenever that happened, I would normally lashed out before the other person could. Out went my fist and connected with Ice/Marian's stomach. The other woman let go of my arm staggered back to gain back her breath. Once she had her breath back, Ice charged at me full force and swung out. I side stepped each swing and returned them with a blowback. Neither of us girls realized that a crowd was forming around us, blocking our movement if we were to back into huts or into the forest. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Will/Specs and Robin/Spot standing together at one point then apart at another.
The two fighters started circling each other, keeping our eyes on the other. Just as we were about to go at one another, Will grabbed me around the waist while Robin did the same thing to Ice/Marian. I'm slowly remembering the names that the people were using than the ones I remembered.
"Let me GO!"
I yelled as I struggled against Will's arms. While Will grunted with holding onto me, Robin spoke out as he maintained Ice/Marian.
"I will not stand having anymore quarrels in this camp. Marian, go to our hut and calm down. Take your cousins, Sarah and Fanny with you."
Once the women had left and everyone but the men I had been introduced to earlier had too, I finally calmed down and stopped struggling. I kept my head looking down, my eyes were a stormy green and that was the only emotion on her face. Robin walked up to where we stood and lifted my down turned head so that I looked him straight in the eye. Staring at him I saw that his eyes were a mix of greys and blues.
"We're going to have a little talk with our visitor here over at the campfire."
Seeing as I had stopped struggling in Will's grasp, Robin told his brother to release me. The moment my arms were freed, I took the opportunity and elbowed Will in the centre of his stomach. As he clutched his stomach, Little John seized hold over my arms this time. While the others walked ahead of Little John, he led me to the fire standing off to one side and while Bull was on the other. Will took a spot beside Robin, which for him was enough space from me the new visitor. They all took a seat while Little John stood behind me, forcing me down to the ground
"M'lady, those were some interesting moves you did back there."
Dodger looked at Robin with a blank look.
"Thanks." Robin gave a small growl like sound. Apparently he wasn't done speaking.
"Anyways, where did you learn to do those moves? Surely someone trained you?"
"No one trained me. I just learned that."
"Well, I've never seen moves like that since the Crusades. What is your name?"
I debated in my mind whether or not I should say anything to these men and in the long run I decided that it couldn't hurt.
"Name's Dodger McClure."
"A Scot!"
All the men jumped and were ready to draw swords when I spoke up again in haste to keep my safety.
"I'm part Scottish and part English but I wasn't born in either land."
That stopped the men from drawing their swords or staffs. They breathed a sigh of relief and sat back down in their places on the ground or on logs.
"So, your name is Dodger?"
"My friends gave me the name when I was younger and I've had the nickname ever since."
Hearing that the name Dodger was nothing but a nickname, the men around me gave confused looks. Will and Robin leaned towards one another and whispered a few words between them before looking back. Will cleared his throat before speaking.
"Well, we have a lot of questions for you, but you keep running off. In order to ask them, we need you to be tied up. Azeem?"
From his place beside Will, Azeem stood bringing with him a lengthy piece of rope. He first wound it around my wrists but then pulled my feet out in front of me and tied the wrists to the feet. I let out a few grumbles as Azeem made his way back to his seat.
"First, we want to know where you are from?"
"No where you know."
"How old are you?"
"Younger than you."
"Why do you wear black and crimson? Are they your family's colours?" I let out a scoff.
"No they aren't my family's colours. My family would kill me if I chose these as our colours."
"Then why do you wear them?" Robin asked. "I wear the blue of Locksley and Will wears blue and red from his Mother and our Father."
The looks on their faces were priceless. Before me were men with red frustrated faces that they hadn't gotten the proper answers they were looking for. The only real evidence of who I happened to be was what my name was. Will and Robin leaned in once again to talk before Robin looked back at me with a smile.
"Are you a witch?"
"No."
"Why do you wear black then if you are not a witch?"
He had caught me. There wasn't an answer but the truth that I could think of to get me out of the question.
"I wear black because it is convenient and to get rid of annoying people such as yourselves. The only magic I know of is how to jump start my bike when it dies."
Once again I received a weird look from the people around me.
'I really need to watch what I say.'
As I gazed around at the men, I could see by thanks to the firelight that the men were giving up. Robin stood up from his log stool and the others followed right after him.
"Since Dodger is not giving us any useful information tonight we shall retire for bed. The ladies are returning to the city tomorrow so breakfast will be early."
Everyone said their goodnights and wandered to their huts while Robin and Will were the only ones left. I was still sitting on the ground, feeling as though I was a hog ready for roasting. I waited patiently for someone to come and cut or untie the bonds, but neither of the men standing came and helped.
"Uh, guys?" Both looked down at the voice.
"Oh sorry."
Will got down on one knee and untied the knots at my feet. Unfortunately for me, Will left the knots at my hands still tied.
"Will," the man looked up "take care of her. We will talk more tomorrow."
With that, Robin was off to his own hut that he shared with Marian. Around the two figures kneeling and sitting on the ground, campfire was the only source of light that illuminated us. Our faces shone partially, shadows being cast along the hard ground of our two merging selves.
"Uh Will? Could you take the wrist cords off too? I would appreciate it."
Will took my hands in his and slowly undid the knot and unwound the cords.
"So, Dodger. Interesting name."
"Thanks. I've always liked it."
Once the cords were removed, I rubbed my wrists softly. Will watched as my hands moved against one another.
'Wow.for such a fighter, she has really delicate hands.'
He took a deep breath before speaking again.
"Listen, Dodger. We just want to find out where you are from and why you are here. Is that so hard?"
He looked at me with big chocolate brown eyes, the puppy eye move. Whenever my cousins or friends have given me that look, I have always gave in. It was so adorable.
"All right. I guess it can't hurt. I'll tell you some stuff, but my way: a question for a question."
Will looked and milled the idea over in his mind before giving a small smile and nodding his agreement.
"Okay but me first. How old are you?"
"I'm 18 turning 19 in a few days. How old are you?"
"I'm 19. I turn 20 in a few days as well. Now that wasn't so hard was it?"
He gave a laugh as I rolled my eyes and groaned a little.
"All right. What's your family like?"
I knew that I couldn't tell the entire truth or else Will wouldn't believed me.
"Well," she said as she threw a nearby stick into the campfire "I'm an only child and my parents are extremely overprotective of me. My Father always disliked the idea of me hanging out with boys than girls. My Mother tried to get me to dress like her and the other ladies she knew but as you can see, I'm not like most girls."
Will shook his head in agreement. His gaze turned to the campfire, mesmerized by the flickering colours.
"What about your family?"
Will took his time to answer that question. He had always avoided it with others. Silence was removed by the sound of crackling wood, crickets chirping and bullfrogs calling out to the wild night.
"You've met my family. Robin is my half brother. He is older than me by 12 years but sometimes acts younger, especially with the children. For the past two years, Marian and he have been married and she has been like a sister. All of the men and women of the camp who follow Robin are like family. Before he arrived I just had the men for brothers, but now I have sisters too."
I didn't need to hear that answer since I've seen the movie time and time again, but it had been nice to hear it from his lips and not through metal speakers. Letting the words set, Will snapped from his hypnotic daze in the fire to look at me. He scanned my face, trying to find some type of reaction to what he said but all he found was soft green eyes staring back at the fire. He caught several flickers of gold dance through them when I looked back at him.
"So what is your real name? Dodger is only a nickname as you have said. What is your real one?"
Will caught a small movement at the sound of the question. I have never liked to answer this question and rarely did. Normally I would veer off onto another subject or just answer with silence.
"I can't really tell you." A confused look clouded Will's face.
"What do you mean you can't tell me? Surely you can."
"Well, its not that I CAN'T tell you, it's just that I really choose not to tell. Most people don't know my true name unless I let them know and that is only if I absolutely trust them. My parents, my family of course and two friends who have known me for most of my life are the only ones."
I took a twig and tossed it into the fire.
"We you can tell me and trust me that it won't go any farther in this camp."
I stood from my place on the ground and stretched before looking down at him.
"Pay attention to what I'm saying Will. I seriously don't know if I can trust you so I can't tell you. Trust needs to be earned when it comes to me."
Just as I finished the sentence a yawn came.
"Will, I'm getting tired and my head is still a bit sore. Do you think you could show me where I'll be staying?"
Will clamoured up off the ground and dusted the bark and leaves from his butt.
"Oh yeah, Robin figured that since I was the one to find you and bring you in, you should stay with me in my hut. Also, there isn't any other room at the moment. All the other huts are full."
I stood there and watched as a small smile crept to Will's face. I groaned, not liking the sleeping option one bit though I knew that it was coming.
"Do you think that maybe I could sleep out here for the night? It's not like I'll be going anywhere. Heck, I don't even know where here is?"
I looked around at the trees and darkened huts before looking back at Will.
"First M'lady, you are in Sherwood Forest."
'Great. Besides everyone looking like people I know, I have to land in a place where the name is exactly the same.'
I thought, keeping a groan muffled so on I heard it.
"Second, no you can't sleep out here. I know you can take care of yourself but until you are fully settled, you are staying with me."
The look on Will's face told me that he wasn't going to give in on this decision.
"Oh fine. Lead the way."
I waited as Will took a bucket of water and doused the fire until it was fully out before leading her to his hut again. Once we were up the ladder and inside, Will lay out another piece of cloth on the wooden floor. I started to move that way, but my companion put out his hand on my shoulder and stopped me. He then turned me back towards the straw mattress.
"You sleep on the mattress. I'll sleep on the blanket tonight."
I wanted to argue, saying that the wooden floor would have been fine, but Will had turned his back to me and was about to lay down. Giving a sigh, I went to the straw mattress and pulled my trench coat off. Folding it into a pillow, I set it at the top of the makeshift bed and laid down on the cloth once again. I could feel the smooth side of the writing book and small bump of the pen nestled down deep in the coat. At least if I tossed and turned, nothing would break by the movement. I curled up with my back to where Will lay and laid my head on my hand. Slowly, my eyes started to close and sleep over took my consciousness for dreamland.
A/N: Hey! Thanks to those two people who reviewed chapter 6. It means a lot. I'm still working on putting this for a manuscript so that will take time. Well got to go to bed. Night y'all!