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A/N: Hello again to all the best reviewers in all of fandom! I was going to update on Friday like I usually do, but I have a sleepover tomorrow night, so I won't be here. That could always be a hindrance to the updating process. But anyways, everyone caught up this week, cuz they're the best!!! New character is here!
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A month later---
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Robin spat blood onto the ground. The slice inside his mouth was become exceptionally irritating, especially when he was eating. Will's constant gaze was also infuriating. It made his skin crawl to think that someone had to waste their time pitying him. He forced himself to swallow another mouthful of Sara's stew, but he couldn't keep himself from wincing when it touched his wound. Will caught the grimace from the corner of his eye, and he turned to give Robin's pain his full attention.
"I'm fine, WILLIAM," Robin snapped, determined not to flinch the next time he took a bite. His throat tingled, and he knew he'd be hacking up his insides in a few minutes. THAT promised to bring another galling glance of sympathy. He glowered moodily at his bowl, one he'd carved himself - rather badly, actually. Will sighed. "So you say," he replied, shrugging deliberately, with condescending eyebrows raised. Robin turned his glare against his cousin and then returned to eating. The next bite was just as painful as the first, but he set his face like an irate rock. Don't think about it.
David came into camp, leading another stranger. Robin sighed to himself. David had a nasty habit of pitying fools and romantics. And the boy next to him looked like a true fop.
"Erm, Robin?" David called. Forcing himself not to frown ferociously, Robin turned around and stood. "Aye, David?" he replied, rubbing his wrist against his leg. David gestured towards his guest. He was the very image of Will's alter ego - blonde curls and extravagant clothes complimented by blue eyes and finely chiseled cheek bones. His handsome face had become desperately pale after catching sight of Robin, who still bore traces of his time in the dungeon, the most noticeable of which was a long burn mark running down the left side of his face. The boy could not have been over fifteen, clinging to a lute as if it were the only thing keeping him alive.
"A - Are YOU Robin Hood?" their guest asked, lifting his head to stare at Robin. Will snorted. New outlaws were always a bit surprised with their first glimpse of Robin. "Aye," Robin replied, smiling slightly at the shock evident in their pale visitor's face, "And you would be?"
"Allan-a-Dale, master."
Will burst into outright laughter then, and soon the others joined him. Even Robin snorted. "I - you need not call me master, Allan," he began, grinning in light of the recent title. Allan reddened when he realized he was being laughed at. "Oh," was all he murmured, casting his eyes on his feet. Robin's face flickered with pity for a moment. He knew how it felt to be laughed at. "Hush, Will," he snapped, and his cousin ceased snickering. The other outlaws followed suite.
"Why did you come here?" Robin asked, watching Allan for an answer.
The boy looked up. "I - I came to ask a favor, ma-" Allan stopped himself, ears glowing scarlet. Robin smiled warmly.
"And that would be?"
"My - my love, she is being forced to marry someone against her will." Robin's face twisted with disgust, but he kept a civil tongue, and let Allan continue.
"She has promised to love me for all her life, and never that churl who's hand has been forced into her own!" he cried exuberantly, fully aware of Robin's indifference. Will snorted. Sara snickered. Nan rolled her eyes. David simpered. Robin was going to be mighty angry about this one.
Robin sighed. "And I suppose you wish for us to charge headlong into a house of God and strike down the rogue who has the AUDACITY to propose to your lady love," he replied, voice dripping with pitiless sarcasm. Allan glowered at him, showing fortitude for someone so frightened of the outlaw leader. "Aye! If you are not too craven a man to do so!"
John stood up, glaring at the small Allan. Robin held out a hand to keep him back. "Nay, John, hold your temper. I'll hold mine." He turned back to Allan. "I suppose that you have pledged to love her as well?"
"Of course! She is pale as the dawn and -"
"I am quite sure that your darling is perfect goddess. But how do you plan to support her once we rip her from the brutal clutches of her marital captor?" Again, Robin's voice was thick with the sound of derision.
"I -I - we should live here for the time being."
"And your affectionate lady, who is delicate as a flower, would give up the warm home and secure life offered by her current betrothed to rot in a forest with you?"
"Aye! She loves me! She has said so herself!"
"You? A peasant? Are you not some pitiful trifle she has decided to toy with for the moment? Come winter in Sherwood will her proclamations of everlasting adoration still appear as strong?"
"Aye! My lady is honorable and fair! She should never tell deceitful falsehoods - not those that affect the heart!"
"How can you be so sure? How long have you known her - a fortnight?"
"Nay! She has been mine since childhood!"
Indignation abandoned Robin's face, to be replaced swiftly by pity. He stared at Allan's trusting eyes, so sure that they could hold a member of the nobility in their clutches by stupid declarations of worship. Simpleton. "Then she shall grow tired of you," he replied quietly. For she would. They all did.
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David smiled at Allan, who was remaining with them in Sherwood for the night. "Eh, don't mind Robin. He's just a bit cynical. I'm sure he'll turn round," he comforted, handing his guest a bowl. Allan, completely disregarding David's attempts at comfort, brooded in the corner, though he took the bowl of stew. "Never did such a black-hearted fiend exist who was so idolized!" David smirked. "As you'll have it, minstrel," he replied, amused by the romantic language, "But he really isn't half so bad as he seems. Just depressed."
Allan's ears, always prepared for a tale, perked at the mention. "Depressed?" he asked, blinking in amazement. "Aye," David continued, wiping stew form his chin, "It was HIS lady love sent him to the dungeon."
"A LADY sent him there?"
"Lady Marian, the pretty copper-headed girl from Whitby. You know her?" His mouth was full as he spoke, and Allan's eyebrow twitched in revulsion.
"Aye. I played in her hall once, and she seemed so --- so kind."
"Deceptive, isn't she? Robin was barmy over her; everybody knew it."
Allan faded back into his corner. Well, maybe that Marian dame was such a wretch, but his Lucy wasn't at all like that. She was kind and forgiving and benevolent. She would never harm anyone; not in her life had she ever touched a servant - or even barked at them. He sighed, and curled into a ball, wrapping both arms round his knees as he stared at the trees. Now all he had to do was prove that to Robin.
David glanced over at him, and noticed his full bowl. "You going to finish that?"
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A/N: Well, now that we have introduced Allan---you all know what's coming. But anyways, next chapter we figure out what Marian's father is up to--- hehe. Hope you enjoyed!
A/N: Hello again to all the best reviewers in all of fandom! I was going to update on Friday like I usually do, but I have a sleepover tomorrow night, so I won't be here. That could always be a hindrance to the updating process. But anyways, everyone caught up this week, cuz they're the best!!! New character is here!
**** **** *** **** ****
A month later---
****** ***** ******
Robin spat blood onto the ground. The slice inside his mouth was become exceptionally irritating, especially when he was eating. Will's constant gaze was also infuriating. It made his skin crawl to think that someone had to waste their time pitying him. He forced himself to swallow another mouthful of Sara's stew, but he couldn't keep himself from wincing when it touched his wound. Will caught the grimace from the corner of his eye, and he turned to give Robin's pain his full attention.
"I'm fine, WILLIAM," Robin snapped, determined not to flinch the next time he took a bite. His throat tingled, and he knew he'd be hacking up his insides in a few minutes. THAT promised to bring another galling glance of sympathy. He glowered moodily at his bowl, one he'd carved himself - rather badly, actually. Will sighed. "So you say," he replied, shrugging deliberately, with condescending eyebrows raised. Robin turned his glare against his cousin and then returned to eating. The next bite was just as painful as the first, but he set his face like an irate rock. Don't think about it.
David came into camp, leading another stranger. Robin sighed to himself. David had a nasty habit of pitying fools and romantics. And the boy next to him looked like a true fop.
"Erm, Robin?" David called. Forcing himself not to frown ferociously, Robin turned around and stood. "Aye, David?" he replied, rubbing his wrist against his leg. David gestured towards his guest. He was the very image of Will's alter ego - blonde curls and extravagant clothes complimented by blue eyes and finely chiseled cheek bones. His handsome face had become desperately pale after catching sight of Robin, who still bore traces of his time in the dungeon, the most noticeable of which was a long burn mark running down the left side of his face. The boy could not have been over fifteen, clinging to a lute as if it were the only thing keeping him alive.
"A - Are YOU Robin Hood?" their guest asked, lifting his head to stare at Robin. Will snorted. New outlaws were always a bit surprised with their first glimpse of Robin. "Aye," Robin replied, smiling slightly at the shock evident in their pale visitor's face, "And you would be?"
"Allan-a-Dale, master."
Will burst into outright laughter then, and soon the others joined him. Even Robin snorted. "I - you need not call me master, Allan," he began, grinning in light of the recent title. Allan reddened when he realized he was being laughed at. "Oh," was all he murmured, casting his eyes on his feet. Robin's face flickered with pity for a moment. He knew how it felt to be laughed at. "Hush, Will," he snapped, and his cousin ceased snickering. The other outlaws followed suite.
"Why did you come here?" Robin asked, watching Allan for an answer.
The boy looked up. "I - I came to ask a favor, ma-" Allan stopped himself, ears glowing scarlet. Robin smiled warmly.
"And that would be?"
"My - my love, she is being forced to marry someone against her will." Robin's face twisted with disgust, but he kept a civil tongue, and let Allan continue.
"She has promised to love me for all her life, and never that churl who's hand has been forced into her own!" he cried exuberantly, fully aware of Robin's indifference. Will snorted. Sara snickered. Nan rolled her eyes. David simpered. Robin was going to be mighty angry about this one.
Robin sighed. "And I suppose you wish for us to charge headlong into a house of God and strike down the rogue who has the AUDACITY to propose to your lady love," he replied, voice dripping with pitiless sarcasm. Allan glowered at him, showing fortitude for someone so frightened of the outlaw leader. "Aye! If you are not too craven a man to do so!"
John stood up, glaring at the small Allan. Robin held out a hand to keep him back. "Nay, John, hold your temper. I'll hold mine." He turned back to Allan. "I suppose that you have pledged to love her as well?"
"Of course! She is pale as the dawn and -"
"I am quite sure that your darling is perfect goddess. But how do you plan to support her once we rip her from the brutal clutches of her marital captor?" Again, Robin's voice was thick with the sound of derision.
"I -I - we should live here for the time being."
"And your affectionate lady, who is delicate as a flower, would give up the warm home and secure life offered by her current betrothed to rot in a forest with you?"
"Aye! She loves me! She has said so herself!"
"You? A peasant? Are you not some pitiful trifle she has decided to toy with for the moment? Come winter in Sherwood will her proclamations of everlasting adoration still appear as strong?"
"Aye! My lady is honorable and fair! She should never tell deceitful falsehoods - not those that affect the heart!"
"How can you be so sure? How long have you known her - a fortnight?"
"Nay! She has been mine since childhood!"
Indignation abandoned Robin's face, to be replaced swiftly by pity. He stared at Allan's trusting eyes, so sure that they could hold a member of the nobility in their clutches by stupid declarations of worship. Simpleton. "Then she shall grow tired of you," he replied quietly. For she would. They all did.
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David smiled at Allan, who was remaining with them in Sherwood for the night. "Eh, don't mind Robin. He's just a bit cynical. I'm sure he'll turn round," he comforted, handing his guest a bowl. Allan, completely disregarding David's attempts at comfort, brooded in the corner, though he took the bowl of stew. "Never did such a black-hearted fiend exist who was so idolized!" David smirked. "As you'll have it, minstrel," he replied, amused by the romantic language, "But he really isn't half so bad as he seems. Just depressed."
Allan's ears, always prepared for a tale, perked at the mention. "Depressed?" he asked, blinking in amazement. "Aye," David continued, wiping stew form his chin, "It was HIS lady love sent him to the dungeon."
"A LADY sent him there?"
"Lady Marian, the pretty copper-headed girl from Whitby. You know her?" His mouth was full as he spoke, and Allan's eyebrow twitched in revulsion.
"Aye. I played in her hall once, and she seemed so --- so kind."
"Deceptive, isn't she? Robin was barmy over her; everybody knew it."
Allan faded back into his corner. Well, maybe that Marian dame was such a wretch, but his Lucy wasn't at all like that. She was kind and forgiving and benevolent. She would never harm anyone; not in her life had she ever touched a servant - or even barked at them. He sighed, and curled into a ball, wrapping both arms round his knees as he stared at the trees. Now all he had to do was prove that to Robin.
David glanced over at him, and noticed his full bowl. "You going to finish that?"
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A/N: Well, now that we have introduced Allan---you all know what's coming. But anyways, next chapter we figure out what Marian's father is up to--- hehe. Hope you enjoyed!