Disclaimer: All characters and places belong to Squaresoft Enix

A/N: Hello and I am so sorry for the very, very late update. My old computer decided to pop it's clogs and go to computer heaven and so after putting the funds together...I purchased a new one. Needless to say it has driven me nuts for a short while. But enough of my drivel. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed and please keep it up!....Anyway on with the story.... J.D.

THE HOOD

Chapter Eight - Digression

Milady stood there and held her breath. For she was afraid that the very sound of her rapidly beating heart, would be heard by those around her and in turn give away the excitement she was feeling at this moment. Her hands were clasped tightly together, almost prayer like, as she held them against her chest. Watching him pull back on the bowstring. Only Edea had caught the one single word whispered from her lips, before she like the others had turned to watch the target.

"Please"

When his arrow struck the target, no one had believed it possible, but they had now seen it with their very own eyes. Irvine's arrow had been split cleanly in two.

Irvine stood there completely amazed as he stared at the target and his now broken arrow. He had for the first time been beaten and was now bound by honour of the wager made to join 'The Hood' in his quest. Much as it would pain him to leave his beloved Galbadia Wood, he knew that 'The Hood' had spoken the truth. They would need to deal with the Sheriff and his Captain. Escort Milady and her lady in waiting to a safe destination. Find as many allies still loyal to the King and then deal with Prince Norg. He had made it sound so easy and Irvine had certainly longed for a normal life once more. A life where he could enter any town or village, without the threat of a hangman waiting to stretch his neck. As he walked the short distance to 'The Hood', who was now leaning against his longbow, he thought 'Who is this man?'

Irvine held his bow close to his chest and said

"I yield to your success and join you willingly. My bow is now at your command."

Squall turned to look at Irvine, as he placed a hand on Irvine's shoulder replied

"I accept both your bow and your comradeship. But I must now speak to Milady and Zell, for we need to be organised before the morning."

"Yes I agree. I will speak to my men and explain to them what must be done," said Irvine as he then turned back towards his men.

Squall picked up his bow and walked over to Zell.

"Faith Zell…It let's you achieve the impossible!"

"Yes I see that now," replied Zell.

"I need to explain to you what must be done, but first let us escort Milady back to her belongings and prepare ourselves so that we are ready to leave in the morning", said Squall.

Squall looked in her direction. 'Did he see a hint of a smile?'

As he approached her, he could indeed see that she was smiling and how it amplified her beauty.

Shaking the thoughts that were forming in his head he said

"Milady, may we escort you back to your belongings, for we need to discuss some things with you out of earshot of the Sheriff?"

"Yes of course", she replied.

They walked the short distance past the embers of the campfire and Squall stopped in front of Milady's trunk. Turning once again to face her he asked

"May I be so bold and ask you where the Sheriff and his men were taking you?"

Taking a breath she replied

"He was escorting us to Dollet, so that I could see my Father. As his health has been a great concern to me."

Squall thought for a moment. 'They could quite easily escort her to Dollet and then make for Deling'

"Then Milady, would you allow us to escort you to your destination?"

She wanted to reply yes straight away, but that would surely give the wrong impression. Instead she looked first at Edea, who just gave her a nod of approval, before she turned once again back to look at 'The Hood'.

"That would be most welcome, for I am most anxious to see my Father once more."

Squall stated, "then it is Dollet we will escort you to. I'm afraid that it will mean spending one night in the woods before we can depart."

"I do not see a problem spending a night in the open air," she replied.

"We will arrange some blankets for you, however, there is still one problem. You will not be able to take your trunk with you. Can I ask you to take only a selection of clothes that can be carried on the back of a horse."

She thought about this for a moment. When the clothes were actually put into the trunk, she wasn't really selecting them, as anyone would have done to take them on a short journey. It was hardly a pleasurable trip that she would be making, so picking clothes to wear was not the first thing on her mind. It was the simple fact that she did not want to go to Balamb and she certainly did not want to be anywhere near the Sheriff. Especially after what he had put her family through. But she did not have a choice in the matter and Seifer Almasy had made that quite clear. It was only through Edea's kindness and fear of what would happen to Milady, that a few choice items were put into the trunk at all.

"Milady?" Asked Squall.

"Oh!…I'm sorry…yes I will do as you suggested. Can I ask what you are planning to do with Sheriff Almasy and Captain Nida?" She asked.

"They will both be dealt with in the morning."

Seeing the look of shock on her face and the gasp she emitted. Much as she hated the man, she did not want to be associated with murder.

"Your not going to kill him are you?" She asked tentatively.

He replied, "perhaps I should explain…for I do not plan to commit murder in these woods, even though that scoundrel fully deserves such a punishment. No a little humiliation will serve him quite well. So do not fear Milady….when the time is right he will be dealt with accordingly in a just and fair manner."

She felt relieved at his words and smiled.

"Come Edea, let's sort out our belongings before morning."

Squall nodded his head and made his way towards Zell, who was arranging some blankets for the ladies to sleep on. He looked up at Squall when he started to speak

"Zell, were going to send our Sheriff and his captain back to Balamb, while we depart from these woods, for it is no longer a place of safety. It is with out doubt that word has now reached Balamb and the soldiers that are still there of the Sheriffs situation and I dare say Norg is wondering where his Sheriff is with his treasure. For that reason we need to be gone from here as soon as possible."

Zell asked

"Why don't we just do away with him..the man is nothing more than a tyrant after all?"

"Because Zell that would be murder and I think that if he is humiliated in front of the very town people he controls. Then that indeed would be a greater punishment for a man like him. It will be a shame that we are not there to witness his arrival into town. Come Zell ..I will explain what we will do with him while we sort our things, for we will need to be well rested before morning."

The morning's light broke through the trees and with it came the realisation that they were truly leaving Galbadia Wood and would not be returning. Only the essentials could be taken on the journey ahead, but the direction would not be the same for all of them. It had been agreed by Irvine's men that as much as they wanted to accompany him on his travels with 'The Hood'. Too large a band of men would attract too much attention and that was something they could do without. So it had been decided that six of the twelve would head for the great 'Forest of Timber', where they would try to locate Flo and Dobe of the 'Forest Foxes'. They would need to rally as many allies as possible in the struggle ahead against Prince Norg's reign of terror.

Two men would head back to Balamb and contact 'Beth the Badger', for they would need to keep a close eye on the Sheriff and his men. She could do this quite easily for she had her eyes and ears working both in 'Balamb House' and in the town itself.

Another two men would go on ahead to Deling, for they would need to know how the land lies there.

As it was so close to Dollet, there was always the possibility that it's allegiance remained still with the King, but that could not be certain in these times.

The final two men would indeed accompany Irvine and 'The Hood', as they escorted Milady to Dollet.

However, the first task at hand would be to deal with the sheriff and his captain. As the sack was pulled from his head Siefer Almasy blinked several times as his eyes adjusted to the light. When he focused he saw 'The Hood' standing in front of him. Yet he felt no fear for he remained unfazed by the whole ordeal. Sneering at his captives because they had now made the mistake of not killing him when they had the chance and that would be their downfall. For he would go after every single one of them and enact his revenge.

"Have you finished playing this pathetic game of yours?" Asked Siefer.

"This is no game!" Said Squall as he edged closer.

"Your life may be spared this time for I am not a murderer. But make no mistake that if it wasn't for the presence of Milady, you would have already drawn your last breath! Know this! You may be able to impose you smite on the town and village folk now. But from this day forward I will ensure that the weak are defended. One day you will pay for all your crimes and when that day comes you will know my true name. But for now you need to face the treatment that you freely give to others," said Squall.

Stepping back as Irvine's men lowered the sheriff and his captain to the ground. They proceeded to remove their finery and replace it with clothes that were best described as rags. Putting the sheriff's chain of office in full view for all to see. Despite the protests being made by both men, they were hoisted unceremoniously across the back of one of the carthorses that Squall and Zell had first arrived on. Once they were securely tied, the horse was lead out of the camp to the jeers and laughter of the outlaws.

"You can't hide under that hood forever, one day I will know your identity and when I do I will have your head for this 'Hood'."

These were the last words uttered by the sheriff as he disappeared through the trees.

With everyone now gone, it was time for 'The Hood's' party to depart, but they could not take the road that led to the town of Galbadia for that was sure to lead them directly into the awaiting soldiers already camped there. Going back towards Balamb was now also out of the question and would be nothing but suicidal. No the only available option to them now, was to follow the path of the stream that was only a short walk away from the camp. According to Irvine, this would eventually lead to the great river itself that flowed from the hills of Dollet down through the country to Winhill. It would prove to be a challenging route, but none the less it would be the quickest and safest for all concerned.

They had set off with one of Irvine's men leading the way as they set a path through the overhanging trees. The route made it impossible to travel any other way but in single file and so Squall anxious to keep his word and offer protection to Milady had ensured that he rode in front of her, While Zell and Irvine rode behind Edea. Lastly Irvine's other man covered the rear. Despite the assurances made by Irvine that no one apart from his men knew this route. He was taking no chances and he certainly hadn't survived the battles in Esthar without being prepared for the impossible.

Now they had been riding just short of two hours and making their way through the trees that covered the gentle flowing stream. Only the sound of the woodland birds and the horse's hooves splashing occasionally in the water itself could be heard and they hoped this would help to hide any possible tracks. But Squall knew differently, a good tracker didn't always need tracks to know that someone had passed through and that a simple broken twig could be all that they needed to find. No he would be happier if they were far from the wood by midday. Only distance was their ally.

Just through the trees you could now hear the flowing torrent of the river itself, where they planned to stop and let the horses drink, while they filled the water skins that they had brought with them. As they turned the last bend of the stream and exited Galbadia Wood, the sight that greeted them was that of great beauty. Milady looked around in complete awe of the light pink of the ragged robin flowers that lightly brushed against the legs of the horses. While the yellow meadow buttercups stood tall and proud, as they ticked at her ankles. This reminded her so much of her childhood it made her think 'Had she been here before?' She was brought back to the present when she realised that 'The Hood' was looking back at her.

Squall had glanced around at his surroundings and could tell that when he looked back at her that a short rest from riding would do them all some good. When he turned once again in her direction he said

"Let us stop for a short while and stretch our legs, for the ride on from here will indeed be long and the horses need refreshment, as well as ourselves."

As he stepped out of his saddle, Irvine's man 'Alan of Dollet' who had been leading them on their journey said

"Here let me take your horse."

Squall accepted the offer gratefully and handed him the reigns. He then went to assist Milady, only to find that Irvine had already assisted her from her horse and Zell had done the same for Edea. So walking up to Zell he said

"I will be back in a short while."

"Do you need me to come with you?" Asked Zell.

"No I will be fine, just stay alert." Replied Squall as he walked back towards the edge of the woodland.

Selecting one of the trees that seemed to offer the highest viewpoint, he started to climb. On reaching a branch that would take his weight, he looked around from his vantage point in the direction that they had just travelled from. When he was sure that no one had indeed followed them, he turned his gaze towards their next intended route. Following the path of the river until they came to the 'Bridge of Souls', where they could take the horses across and then rest a short while near the farmland.

With a quick glance once again behind him, he then looked at Milady as she was gracefully walking through the flowers and talking to Edea. He wondered now if he should have persuaded her not to go to Dollet, as surely he would be leading her straight into the clutches of Prince Norg. Not to mention the fact that Sheriff Siefer Almasy was sure to head to Dollet at the first opportunity and wouldn't that put her back in the same fate? Where she would be nothing more than a prize for that monster of a man! He did not relish this idea at all. He thought 'perhaps I can persuade her or at the very least offer some form of protection. I wonder where she plans to stay once we reach Dollet?' With these thoughts in his head, Squall climbed down from the tree and headed towards her.