N/A: Sorry it's been such a long time (again -.-;), I didn't have the energy to write in July, and I had a job in August, so… Yes I am aware this is a lame excuse. On with the story then!
Lykario: Thanks a lot!
Spacey Stacey: Thanks for your insightful comments, you made me realize I shouldn't forget about Will. He needs some more character depth. I figure out what as I write. Expect it in the very near future, though.
I also like warrior women a lot, so I'll definitely include such a scene!
Shastalily: I'll try to make my updates more regular, and I really appreciate your review.
Lady Gwen: I'm really sorry! I'll try to make this a nice long chapter and bring it out soon. I should make up a writing schedule, especially since school has started again.
Thanks to every single one of you for sticking with me this long… I hope.
Chapter nine: Revelations
Robin and Wulf had allowed themselves a good night's rest, after they had watched the fire die, both entirely occupied by their thoughts. Neither felt like eating after their late night supper, and after they had gathered all their belongings and Robin had checked on Pilgrim, they were ready to leave. While Robin waited outside the small campsite, Wulf quickly erased all traces of their presence. When finally they set out to the main hideout, it was near midmorning.
They unspoken agreed there was no reason to rush, so they walked at a calm pace; Wulf leading the way and Robin following while guiding Pilgrim alongside her. After an initial silence, in which Robin had pondered about her friend walking in front of her, she realized she didn't know a very great deal about him to say the least. She decided to remedy that.
'So Wulf, tell me something about yourself.'
Her question had apparently been out of the blue to Wulf, as he chuckled before answering.
'What do ye want to know? Me life isn't tha' interestin'.' He smiled over his shoulder.
'I don't know, anything. I practically know nothing about you, and that bothers me.'
'It bothers you?' Wulf laughed again.
Robin felt a bit laughed at, and continued fiercely.
'Yes!'
'Why?' Came the fast reply, which was met with silence for a moment until Robin had analyzed her motives and was satisfied with the answer.
'Because friends should completely trust each other. And there can't be such trust if they barely know anything about one another. And because I want to be able to call you my friend and equally trust you, I want to get to know you.'
As Wulf didn't reply for a while, Robin started to feel more and more uncomfortable. She started to fear she'd said too much, that he didn't feel the same sympathies, and searched for a way to take the weight from her words. At that moment, Wulf spoke.
'I was born eighteen summers ago, in a small village northeast of the Forest. My family worked the fields there, most of 'em belongin' to Nottingham. We were poor, but we were able to cope. It was normal for me and me siblings who were old enough to help out and do chores. We did those as fast as possible so we could go and play. It was a good childhood. But that was when King Richard was still around. When he left six summers ago, the Sheriff's been raising the taxes higher and higher, until almost a year ago we couldn't take it anymore. We were literally starvin'. That's when me father and me decided to go out poachin'. I'm the eldest of six, and I've always helped me dad with everythin'. For three months, we managed to go unnoticed, but then, a late night secret patrol surprised us. They caught us red-handed; both me and me dad with a deer over our shoulder. We ran for it into the woods and stayed there for some time. Me dad went back a few times to see me mother and to tell other men who'd started poachin' too, that we were quite safe in the woods. So, since then, our band's been growin'. We try to make a livin' in the Forest, but we're all very worried about our families, who're still starvin' out there. It's hopeless, really.'
Wulf took a pause.
'That enough for ye to call me yer friend?' He asked, grinning over his shoulder to lighten the mood. But he didn't completely succeed, as Robin had clearly heard the worry and sadness in his story. She couldn't help but share the feeling, but deep in her heart a spark of rebelliousness lighted. She didn't quite know what to do with it yet, but her vow to help these people in any way possible stood ever more firmly. But she pushed these ponderings to the back of her mind, and redirected her attention to Wulf.
'Yes, that is quite satisfactory, thank you.' She said, mockingly. 'Would you now be so kind as to grant me the privilege of calling you my friend? And would you also allow me to become yours?' She added, her voice growing softer by the word.
To her relief, Wulf burst out laughing.
'I don't understand much o' yer fancy talk, but that ye're me friend is for sure. And I'd very much like te be yers too.' He looked over his shoulder mischievously. 'You want to shake hands on tha', or an official document in threefold, maybe? So ye can show everyone the evidence of our mutual agreement?'
He laughed at Robin's dropped jaw, both in insult and in astonishment. She'd never thought him to know the meaning (or even the existence) of words like 'official' and 'mutual'! As she looked at Wulf's back, still shaking with laughter, Robin told herself to never again judge a person on their appearance.
Wulf had obviously known that below her friendly feelings towards him, there was always a hidden pity for him. For his simple upbringing and his commonness of thoughts and manners. It had stung a bit at first, but he had realized it wasn't her fault before he could start to dislike her. But that didn't stop him from feeling satisfied now he had finally proven her he wasn't stupid. Not by a long shot.
After another while of silence, it occurred to Robin that it was rather rude to expect people to trust her with their story, when she didn't supply them with the same trust. She hurried forward to walk closer to Wulf, and continued their forgotten conversation.
'Now that you've told me all about your past, it's only the right thing for me to do the same.'
Keeping his eyes on the path before him Wulf gestured for her to continue, inwardly feeling very happy about her suggestion, as he had been hesitant to ask her himself.
Robin took a deep breath and started.
'You are not much older than I am, for I was born seventeen years ago. My mother died shortly after giving birth to me, so my father raised me by himself. I have an older brother, named Peter. He should now be nineteen years old. My childhood was very careless and happy, and I was treated exactly the same as my brother. But then my father left with King Richard's crusade. The changes for me were small and barely noticeable, mostly because my brother allowed me to keep playing around while he coped with our rapidly decreasing funds. It wasn't until he left for Jerusalem to find my father that I found out we weren't as comfortable as I had always thought we were. When I finally saw the accounts, it finally occurred to me why all the servants except for Sarah and Duncan had disappeared.
I had to grow up quickly, partly because of my family's money problems, but also because for some reason, the Sheriff started to shower me with attentions. He had tried this before when my brother had still shielded me, but now he came at me with full force.'
Here Robin hesitated for a bit, then decided that she would tell her friend the entire story, as he had been honest with her as well.
'Four days ago, he came to me with an ultimatum. I hadn't been able to stop our debts with both the Crown and the Church from increasing (though I doubt they are as high as he told me), and he said that, in order to solve my problems, I had to marry him. I had no intention to do that, so early the next morning I ran for it. They chased me until the Forest's borders, where they stayed back out of superstition. And this leaves me with you.'
Robin finished, glad she had finally managed to admit to someone the mess she was in.
Wulf contemplated her story for a while before answering. He'd have never guessed such would be the extent of her problems. He had thought she had exaggerated when she'd said she was an outlaw too. Then something came to him.
'Tha's why ye went to Nottingham yesterday, isn't it? Ye went to talk to the Bishop… and I think ye wanted to tell yer friends ye were all right too, right?' Wulf looked really pleased with himself, that he had worked it out. So was Robin. She now felt like he completely understood her situation.
'Yes, I did!' She replied enthusiastically. 'But it didn't work, he supports the Sheriff, and I could only barely escape the guards. They even fired arrows at me from the city walls!'
Wulf shook his head. 'That must've been a real jaw dropper, the Bishop not caring shite about ye. I always knew the man was heartless deep down.'
Robin was surprised at how bitter he sounded, but decided not to press the matter, as they had come almost within view of the main camp. She recognized her surroundings. She left Wulf alone for a while, but when they almost came into the clearing, Robin quickly grabbed his arm and forced him to look at her.
'Do you mind keeping our conversations a bit… private? I mean, I don't want anyone to think I'm some weak "damsel in distress" or anything.' She looked at him hopefully, willing him to understand.
'He smiled, not bitter anymore now he was back with his friends, and nodded.
'Sure. Just tell 'em enough to make 'em all trust ye.'
Robin smiled back, and decided to take his advice to heart.
Quite a few faces looked relieved at their appearance. Several men shouted out questions and greetings, but only John walked over to them, and by the looks of him, he wasn't happy. He positioned himself squarely in front of Robin and barked out:
'I thought I told ye to come back before sundown! What were ye thinkin', comin' in late an' makin' me send Wulf out to find ye. Ye could've been k-'
'Calm down, Da', she's fine.' Wulf replied, effectively silencing his father. Startled by John's outburst, Robin had shrunk behind Wulf. She wasn't sure yet if John had been worried for her, or just angry because she had endangered his son.
Now John had let go of his frustration and worry, he scrutinized Robin and concluded that his son was right. She only looked a little tired. He nodded, and let out a smile before turning.
'Notch! Com'ere and take care o' this horse, she's very tired.'
As Notch moved forward to take over Pilgrim, John turned back to the two travelers.
'Come, sit down and have a rest while ye tell me everythin' tha's happened.'
Gratefully, Robin and Wulf accepted his offer. A man Robin remembered as Wat the cook, passed them both a hot brew of something. She found it had a taste to get used to, but it revived her in an instant. When they were settled, Robin began her story. It was a sobered-up version of what she had told Wulf, leaving out all emotional details, but the crowd of listeners grew nonetheless.
'…so I was lucky to just squeeze through the gate. I imagine it took them a lot of time to open it again so they could send a patrol after me.'
'What?!' apparently, Will had been listening as well. 'They sent a patrol after you?!'
He turned to look at the rest.
'I told you, didn't I? I told you she'd endanger us! The stupid twit went straight back to the Forest, leading them exactly to us! Now they know the Forest isn't haunted. I'm telling you, Nottingham will have an army at our doorstep in no time flat!'
During his small tirade, Will had started pacing around, occasionally casting an accusing glare at Robin, who looked startled at first, but grew angry soon after.
Having said what he wanted to, Will started to walk away. But Robin couldn't let these insults slide. She stood up as well and yelled:
'Ever since I came here you've been on my case, insulting me and judging me from the start. What on earth is your problem, Will?!'
Will turned with a condescending smirk on his face.
'My problem? My problem is you, Locksley. We were perfectly safe here before you decided to play hide and seek with the Sheriff. Now his attention is drawn to this place, and sooner or later he'll discover us. It's the same as ever with you rich people; you only think about yourselves. I bet it never even occurred to you that you were putting all our lives on the line during your little escapade to Nottingham. That, in a nutshell, is my problem.'
He turned to walk away again, but Robin wasn't finished and said calmly to his retreating back:
'I've said this before. You can always fight back.'
Will turned again, laughing.
'And how do suppose we do that? Yell 'boo' and throw sticks at them? We don't have the skill, weapons or manpower to stand up to even one armed patrol. I would be a massacre!'
'I never said you had to fight them in a direct battle.' Robin looked around, and noticed that everyone looked doubtful. She decided it was time to address everyone present, and climbed a tree stump to be able to overlook the crowd.
'I know you can't match them in a direct fight, and I have no intention to send you to your deaths. I suggest we play smart. That we use the Forest to our advantage. We can ambush them, lure them away from the road and make sure they get lost. It's not traditional warfare, and therefore the Sheriff will not know what to do. He doesn't play nice, and neither should we.'
Robin was really getting into it, when Notch raised his hand to say something.
'Yeah, tha's all nice and all, but if we do tha', the Sheriff's gonna take it out on our families. And how're ye plannin' to survive much longer here? Winter's comin' and there's no food here, and more important, a place to live!'
Several calls of 'yeah' and 'Aye' were heard, and Robin knew he had a point. She contemplated his words for a bit, then answered.
'Wulf's told me you know how to poach. Why don't we do that? And we can raid more food transports, and start right away with gathering nuts and berries for the winter. About your families, tell them to come here as well. They shouldn't wait for trouble, and we need them to help us building houses in the trees. We will use the Forest to our utmost advantage.
As for fighting, quite a few of you have some skill either with the staff, knife or bow and arrow. Let them come to me, and together we will teach everyone how to defend themselves.'
She was on fire now, and noticed that the looks of disbelief were gradually changing in determination and hope. Both John and Wulf had huge grins on their faces. Only Will was still sneering at her.
'What's all this 'we' stuff you're saying, are you planning to join us?' He said sarcastically.
Robin pinned him with an icy glare.
'Yes. And if necessary, to lead you.' She then turned from his speechless face to the rest.
'Now who is with me?'
The answer was a deafening roar of approval, and Robin's heart made a leap of joy at the sound of it. She would finally be able to really do something.
N/A: Phew! This second part was hell to write. I didn't want to make Robin to much of a know-it-all, but not weak and indecisive either. In the film, Kevin Costner is too bossy in this scene, and he expects everyone to just accept his authority. Because my Robin's a girl and I wanted to keep it realistic, I couldn't do that. I hope I toned it down enough to keep her likeable.
