A/N: This story is so easy to write...I'm glad Solo and Constantlearner are enjoying it! I hope this update fulfills y'alls expectations!

Chapter Three: "Oh What a Tangled Web We Weave!"

John Walker could handle many things. Angry relations, a shipwreck, fussy younger siblings, an impromptu trek in the snow, sailing across the North Sea with his siblings, in a gale, and Nancy Blackett were all on that list. But talking to a group of soldiers from the eleven hundredth century was not on that list.

Until now.

"No, sir. Have you? I'm looking for my siblings and cousin—three girls and a boy. We were traveling to Nottingham, but somehow we got separated. We are newcomers here," he added, desperately hoping this fit with whatever Titty had told the others and that he didn't sound too weird. Besides, maybe we can figure out where the others are...are they even IN this time?!

"Are you?" a second man asked with a twitch in his eye. "Where are you from?"

Oh, no. This could be a problem...

"Originally from York, sir," John said, hoping that this wasn't too fantastic. "We're looking for work, but we've been on the road a long time."

"I should think so, lad. York is quite far off. Did you travel all the way by foot?" the first man asked kindly.

"Not all the way, sir. We caught a few rides, with obliging persons. Sometimes, they would take us a far way. The girls had need of it." In for a penny, in for a pound. What sort of money do they use here?I wish my history was better.

"Aye, it's a far way, and none too easy on the lassies," another man added in a thick Scotch accent. "They'll have need of ye and yer other brother, laddie!"

John nodded, not sure of what to say.

The (apparent) leader scratched his beard. "Well, lad, methinks you have courage enough for one your age! We'll look out for your folk, as we also dwell in Nottingham. Three girls and a lad, is that right?"

He smiled at John's nod and turned away. "Forward!" he rapped out.

The group started off again. John estimated, with the part of his brain that wasn't worried about the plausibility of his story, that there were about thirty men. It seemed to take forever (though in actuality it was only a few minutes) before the last man passed him with a wink and a muttered, "Look out for your sisters, lad; the outlaws abouts are thick as leaves and they aren't picky either."

Jolly, John thought, acutely aware of Robin, Tom and Little John's presence. What is that supposed to mean?

SA&D-SA&D-SA&D

As soon as the men rounded the bend in the road some way off, Robin leaped from a low branch overhead, followed by Tom. Little John poked his head out from the brush.

"Well done, young man!" Robin said. "'Twas a good act you put on."

Tom grinned as Nancy pushed past Little John and bounded into the path. "Lucky beast," she said to John. "You get all the fun."

"Comes with being the oldest," John said calmly, doing his best to hide his frazzled emotions. Nancy does NOT understand the problems this is going to create...I can't believe they swallowed that whole...I bet this is Titty's wish coming true. Or Dot's. So much for my wish...

Little John emerged with a smiling Bridget on his shoulders and Titty (who was saying something John couldn't understand) behind him. She looked mad, which was never a good thing with Titty.

"Where's Dick?" said Nancy.

"He is observing a bird, and won't come out," she answered.

John sighed. That was just like Dick. "Dick! Come out of there NOW!"

Dick emerged from the brush, fumbling for a shorts' pocket that wasn't there. He was visibly agitated. "I'm sure that was a..."

"Never mind about the bird," Nancy cut him off before he could blurt out anything scientific. "Come on!"

Dick plodded onto the road, murmuring to himself. Nancy rolled her eyes, John set his teeth, and Titty looked like she wanted to cry.

A queer expression flew over Little John's face as he surveyed the dusty little group. What's he thinking, oh no, does he know what people from York sound like? John's mind was all awhirl. He felt like he was back with Captain Flint, and about to break the news of Swallow's sinking to Mother again.

"So, you are from York?" Tom asked as Little John put Bridget down.

"Yes, good sir, but that was some time ago," Titty answered, as Bridget walked over to her, looking nervous.

"No time for that. Let's put these good folk on the road for Nottingham and be on our way," Robin said, a little pompously.

"Yes, Robin," Little John growled, looking suspiciously at Dick and Nancy.

Oh, great.

SA&D-SA&D-SA&D

Some time later, they were all trudging down the dusty road in silence.

There had been some attempts at conversation in the beginning, (mostly started by Tom) but none of the others had said much. Dick and Bridget knew better now than to open their mouths, Titty was exhausted (who thought it would be a good idea to take a hike in strange shoes right after a long day of sailing on the Lake?) Nancy was tired, and John was puzzling over their cover story. It didn't help that everyone was getting hungry.

However, it should work with our current story to be quiet right now, he thought, catching Titty as she stumbled against him. "Steady on, Titty," he muttered.

Nancy plucked Bridget off of a staggering Dick and settled her on her hip in a clumsy imitation of Susan's carrying hold. Wouldn't do to have the Professor running himself into the ground, would it? Bridget scowled and whimpered as the quiver bumped into her side, but snuggled down and closed her eyes. Titty looked at Nancy, then decided it wasn't worth the effort of trying to get Bridget back, and readjusted her grip on a bag. John shifted his knife and swung the other bag over his back.

I do hope Titty knows what she's doing, he thought as Robin began to lead them off the path down into a gorge.

Titty looked at him. "Talk to you when I—can," she panted out.

They slipped and slid down through the prickly bushes. As they moved along, several accidents happened. First, Dick tripped and rolled into Little John, who picked him up and brushed him off without comment. Then, Titty twisted her foot and had to lean on John for support, thereby hindering his and her way down the rocky slope. Finally, (and this was the last straw) Nancy's bow snagged on a low branch, jerking her and Bridget backwards into a thistle. She let go of the sleepy Bridget and began to untangle her hair and bow from the thistle. Bridget began to cry loudly as she stumbled into a gorse bush.

"Keep the babe quiet!" Robin hissed at them from below. He looked very worried, and (John noticed) had an arrow on the string. Little John casually slipped his bow off his back and followed his leader's example. John picked up Bridget and shushed her, leaving Dick to catch Titty awkwardly.

Then everything blew up around their ears.

A/N: If this bumps to the top, again, please ignore it. I just had to do a little updating!

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