***** ****** ******
A/N: Woo-hoo! I have VERY clever reviewers. You all caught onto the fact that Marian and her father think the other is innocent. (and the fact that such an impression is a load of crap!)
And to answer a question: Lord Wilfred knows that Marian was friends with Robin since she was, like, five. But he thinks that she kind of let that friendship slide when Robin was outlawed. Sucker.
But anyways, EVERYONE would get a signed copy if this thing was published (even if I had to stalk you), in case I did not make that clear. (just kidding about the stalker thing, guys)
Now a note about me: I just signed up for indoor track (that actually practices OUTdoors in the snow), and so now my fat (affectionately named "author's chunk") might be going away! *claps* SO if I forget to update on Fridays once a month, please forgive me! Hehe. Physical exercise, foreign as it is, upsets me. (just kidding!)
Anyways, enjoy!
********** ***********
The peasant children were running everywhere. Allan had taught them how to play "plague", a game in which one person pretends to be the leper and chases everyone else around. If he touches you, you're the leper. And the whole lot of them was engaged in a furious chase. Currently, seven people claimed to be "infected". So, the outlaws had to calm them down.
Will grabbed one of them by the collar and forced the child to sit. Sara was doing likewise. She flung another one down and muttered to Will, "If I had my way, they'd all get a good sound beating about the backside." She sighed. "SIT DOWN, WILL YOU?" Sara had very little patience with children, almost as little as Will did. No one listened.
Robin, who had been instructing David in the art of fletching, looked up. "I see they've proved themselves incompetent again," he mumbled, smirking. David shrugged, still staring at his arrow and trying to find each of the seventeen flaws Robin had explained. Of course, he hadn't really been listening, so that could be a problem. But agreeing silently bought him thinking time.
After a few more minutes of absolute havoc, Robin stood up. "I'll be back in a minute." David smiled. Good. Time to figure out what he'd done wrong.
Robin stalked over to Will. "They're just getting up again," he mumbled, watching Will's last three victims spring into a run. Will frowned. "What else can I do, pray tell?" Robin smirked. He flung his arms wide and cried, "WOULD ALL THE NORMANS PLEASE STAND UP?" Instantly, every child in the area sat down neatly. Even the disobedient ones stopped running for fear of being ridiculed by their peers. Robin grinned. "Don't you love children?" he said, beaming with pleasure. He placed a hand on his cousin's shoulder and smirked boastingly. Will rolled his eyes, and was about to reply.
But the children, as is typical of young people, had sat down for one reason - to pick on whoever wasn't. Seeing as all the people their own age were seated, they went to the first elder they could find.
"ROBIN'S A NORMAN! ROBIN'S A NORMAN!" A score of tiny fingers pointed accusingly at the outlaw leader. Sara, in a fit of childish glee, joined them, soon to be followed by David.
Will laughed loudly. "Aye, children are great," he replied, still sniggering. Robin sighed, and bit the side of his lip. This was going to be an amusing game to get out of. "Go see Tuck," he ordered, "have him tell you a story."
They shook their heads. "We don't take orders from a Norman!" someone giggled. Robin sighed and sat down. "Two choices - go see Tuck or help Sara and David on privy duty." The children squealed and ran for Friar Tuck, who had been silently praying and was quite surprised by this sudden zeal for storytelling.
Robin stood up, smiling with satisfaction. Another successful endeavor.
"Erm - Robin?" Allan was standing innocently by him, hands clasped behind his back as he smiled openly. For once, the torturous lute was not clasped in his pale, soft hands. It was actually a comical sight to see Robin next to Allan. He looked uglier, ganglier, dirtier, and much more haggard. It could have been that just the sight of Allan brought the premature worry lines into his forehead, and a black shadow of displeasure passed over his brow, but it was probably the unfair comparison.
"Aye, Allan?" he asked, trying his hardest to sound pleasant. Allan smiled, obviously falling for the farce. "Have you decided whether or not your men are going to help me in the rescue of my Lucy?" he asked amiably, blinking a few times in outward incorruptibility. Robin nodded slowly. His head always ached when he thought of Allan's romantic request. It could have been that the mention of a noble love reminded him of the dungeon, and his burn mark flamed anew at the memories.
"Allan, such a venture would be too dangerous for everyone," he replied with a sigh. Allan was going to comment on his cowardice and honor now, shamelessly debasing him. The pale minstrel's face twisted with rage, and he opened his pink lips to speak. Robin awaited the soft singer's voice, squeaking in indignation, but what came out was a bellow.
"Simply because that Marian wretch sent you to the dungeon doesn't mean Lucy's like that!" Allan screamed, stamping an indignant foot. Robin stared at him. "Who told you that?" he hissed, flinching inwardly at the memories.
"What does it matter? You're just a pessimistic bandit now, with no courage left, simply because some wench sent you to the sheriff. Oh, do recover, man!"
Will stood up, fists clenched. This soft fop was not going to speak of his cousin that way. Robin didn't notice him; he was too absorbed in the malicious contortion powering Allan's face. "I - I - Allan, you need to -- "
"You are the one who needs to improve yourself! Coward! Are you afraid of the nobility, then? Do you dread the toad betrothed to my Lucy? Afraid he's going to thrash you? Is that it?"
"Allan, you need to think of -"
"Do you know what I think, Master Robin Hood? I think you deserved to be put in that bloody dungeon. I think you deserved all that torture and -"
Will punched Allan in the eye, and would have set about the rest of his face, but Robin grabbed his shoulder. "You wicked little bastard," Will hissed, "I'll make you regret those words." Allan glowered rebelliously at his assailant from the ground where he'd fallen, as if seriously considering taking on someone twice his size. "What? Does your craven leader need another man fighting his battles for him, too? A bully to do his dirty work? Is that all you are, William of Norwell? An outlaw's muscle?" Will ripped from Robin's clutches and lunged at Allan.
Robin grabbed his cousin's arm and twisted it behind his back. Will cried out and froze. That really hurt. "Will, calm down," Robin ordered. Will struggled against the hold, but found that Robin was much stronger than he looked. "Do you think I want to hurt you, cousin?"
"Fine! I'll leave the little lady alone."
Robin released him, and he staggered forward a few steps. "You always let them say those lies to you," he mumbled, rubbing the sore part of his arm. Robin sighed, running both hands through his hair. He knew he was going to regret this decision. Seriously regret it. "Allan, I have changed my mind. We will rescue your bride." With that, he turned on his heel and stormed out for his turn on watch, head down.
Will turned on Allan. "Well done, you sniveling little weakling," he spat. Sara was making motions with her dagger, as if she were aiming for the minstrel. Everyone glowered at the pale musician. Allan sniffed indignantly. "It was his own doing," he replied coolly, striding aloofly past his tormentor. But as he reached for his lute, he began to doubt his own words.
*** *** *** *** *** *** ***
A.N: dun dun dun. Yea, the wedding seems totally out of the plot, but that's OK. Because it has to do with the pending happy ending. (yea, guys, I can occasionally be nice to my characters. Hehe) I hope you enjoyed this!!! And again, I have to emphasize how awesome you guys are!!!!!!
And just one last question for lulu bell - what story do you know Geoffrey from? I've never read a story that he's in; I just liked the name. hehe.
And a note to all: YOU ROOOOOOOOCK!
A/N: Woo-hoo! I have VERY clever reviewers. You all caught onto the fact that Marian and her father think the other is innocent. (and the fact that such an impression is a load of crap!)
And to answer a question: Lord Wilfred knows that Marian was friends with Robin since she was, like, five. But he thinks that she kind of let that friendship slide when Robin was outlawed. Sucker.
But anyways, EVERYONE would get a signed copy if this thing was published (even if I had to stalk you), in case I did not make that clear. (just kidding about the stalker thing, guys)
Now a note about me: I just signed up for indoor track (that actually practices OUTdoors in the snow), and so now my fat (affectionately named "author's chunk") might be going away! *claps* SO if I forget to update on Fridays once a month, please forgive me! Hehe. Physical exercise, foreign as it is, upsets me. (just kidding!)
Anyways, enjoy!
********** ***********
The peasant children were running everywhere. Allan had taught them how to play "plague", a game in which one person pretends to be the leper and chases everyone else around. If he touches you, you're the leper. And the whole lot of them was engaged in a furious chase. Currently, seven people claimed to be "infected". So, the outlaws had to calm them down.
Will grabbed one of them by the collar and forced the child to sit. Sara was doing likewise. She flung another one down and muttered to Will, "If I had my way, they'd all get a good sound beating about the backside." She sighed. "SIT DOWN, WILL YOU?" Sara had very little patience with children, almost as little as Will did. No one listened.
Robin, who had been instructing David in the art of fletching, looked up. "I see they've proved themselves incompetent again," he mumbled, smirking. David shrugged, still staring at his arrow and trying to find each of the seventeen flaws Robin had explained. Of course, he hadn't really been listening, so that could be a problem. But agreeing silently bought him thinking time.
After a few more minutes of absolute havoc, Robin stood up. "I'll be back in a minute." David smiled. Good. Time to figure out what he'd done wrong.
Robin stalked over to Will. "They're just getting up again," he mumbled, watching Will's last three victims spring into a run. Will frowned. "What else can I do, pray tell?" Robin smirked. He flung his arms wide and cried, "WOULD ALL THE NORMANS PLEASE STAND UP?" Instantly, every child in the area sat down neatly. Even the disobedient ones stopped running for fear of being ridiculed by their peers. Robin grinned. "Don't you love children?" he said, beaming with pleasure. He placed a hand on his cousin's shoulder and smirked boastingly. Will rolled his eyes, and was about to reply.
But the children, as is typical of young people, had sat down for one reason - to pick on whoever wasn't. Seeing as all the people their own age were seated, they went to the first elder they could find.
"ROBIN'S A NORMAN! ROBIN'S A NORMAN!" A score of tiny fingers pointed accusingly at the outlaw leader. Sara, in a fit of childish glee, joined them, soon to be followed by David.
Will laughed loudly. "Aye, children are great," he replied, still sniggering. Robin sighed, and bit the side of his lip. This was going to be an amusing game to get out of. "Go see Tuck," he ordered, "have him tell you a story."
They shook their heads. "We don't take orders from a Norman!" someone giggled. Robin sighed and sat down. "Two choices - go see Tuck or help Sara and David on privy duty." The children squealed and ran for Friar Tuck, who had been silently praying and was quite surprised by this sudden zeal for storytelling.
Robin stood up, smiling with satisfaction. Another successful endeavor.
"Erm - Robin?" Allan was standing innocently by him, hands clasped behind his back as he smiled openly. For once, the torturous lute was not clasped in his pale, soft hands. It was actually a comical sight to see Robin next to Allan. He looked uglier, ganglier, dirtier, and much more haggard. It could have been that just the sight of Allan brought the premature worry lines into his forehead, and a black shadow of displeasure passed over his brow, but it was probably the unfair comparison.
"Aye, Allan?" he asked, trying his hardest to sound pleasant. Allan smiled, obviously falling for the farce. "Have you decided whether or not your men are going to help me in the rescue of my Lucy?" he asked amiably, blinking a few times in outward incorruptibility. Robin nodded slowly. His head always ached when he thought of Allan's romantic request. It could have been that the mention of a noble love reminded him of the dungeon, and his burn mark flamed anew at the memories.
"Allan, such a venture would be too dangerous for everyone," he replied with a sigh. Allan was going to comment on his cowardice and honor now, shamelessly debasing him. The pale minstrel's face twisted with rage, and he opened his pink lips to speak. Robin awaited the soft singer's voice, squeaking in indignation, but what came out was a bellow.
"Simply because that Marian wretch sent you to the dungeon doesn't mean Lucy's like that!" Allan screamed, stamping an indignant foot. Robin stared at him. "Who told you that?" he hissed, flinching inwardly at the memories.
"What does it matter? You're just a pessimistic bandit now, with no courage left, simply because some wench sent you to the sheriff. Oh, do recover, man!"
Will stood up, fists clenched. This soft fop was not going to speak of his cousin that way. Robin didn't notice him; he was too absorbed in the malicious contortion powering Allan's face. "I - I - Allan, you need to -- "
"You are the one who needs to improve yourself! Coward! Are you afraid of the nobility, then? Do you dread the toad betrothed to my Lucy? Afraid he's going to thrash you? Is that it?"
"Allan, you need to think of -"
"Do you know what I think, Master Robin Hood? I think you deserved to be put in that bloody dungeon. I think you deserved all that torture and -"
Will punched Allan in the eye, and would have set about the rest of his face, but Robin grabbed his shoulder. "You wicked little bastard," Will hissed, "I'll make you regret those words." Allan glowered rebelliously at his assailant from the ground where he'd fallen, as if seriously considering taking on someone twice his size. "What? Does your craven leader need another man fighting his battles for him, too? A bully to do his dirty work? Is that all you are, William of Norwell? An outlaw's muscle?" Will ripped from Robin's clutches and lunged at Allan.
Robin grabbed his cousin's arm and twisted it behind his back. Will cried out and froze. That really hurt. "Will, calm down," Robin ordered. Will struggled against the hold, but found that Robin was much stronger than he looked. "Do you think I want to hurt you, cousin?"
"Fine! I'll leave the little lady alone."
Robin released him, and he staggered forward a few steps. "You always let them say those lies to you," he mumbled, rubbing the sore part of his arm. Robin sighed, running both hands through his hair. He knew he was going to regret this decision. Seriously regret it. "Allan, I have changed my mind. We will rescue your bride." With that, he turned on his heel and stormed out for his turn on watch, head down.
Will turned on Allan. "Well done, you sniveling little weakling," he spat. Sara was making motions with her dagger, as if she were aiming for the minstrel. Everyone glowered at the pale musician. Allan sniffed indignantly. "It was his own doing," he replied coolly, striding aloofly past his tormentor. But as he reached for his lute, he began to doubt his own words.
*** *** *** *** *** *** ***
A.N: dun dun dun. Yea, the wedding seems totally out of the plot, but that's OK. Because it has to do with the pending happy ending. (yea, guys, I can occasionally be nice to my characters. Hehe) I hope you enjoyed this!!! And again, I have to emphasize how awesome you guys are!!!!!!
And just one last question for lulu bell - what story do you know Geoffrey from? I've never read a story that he's in; I just liked the name. hehe.
And a note to all: YOU ROOOOOOOOCK!