Chapter 2: All talk
Marian was staring out the window of the couch as it jostled down the dirt path. The guard was tight around her carriage and the maid that had been given to her at the inn, Mary, was sound asleep.
'Far easier for her', though Marian, 'she is not chained in like some wild beast.'
At the Inn they had removed all her chains but those that clasped her ankles together. The irons were heavy and closely chained so she had no hopes of escape. At dawn she was forced awake, dressed, feed and chained back in the blasted carriage. As the landscape slowly changed from dense forest to more open fields her mind wandered back to her last encounter with her outlaw.
Robin sat perched on her window sill as she washed her face. Her hair, which had gotten quite long considering, was pulled back in a plait like she had worn it when they were children. When she turned she merely smiled at him.
"What, not shocked to see a man sitting, ready to pounce into your bed chamber my Lady? Robin joked as he swung his legs inside.
"Man!" Marian exclaimed, "Where?"
Robin started to laugh then stopped and glared at Marian. She just kept smiling back at him.
"You doubt my manhood my lady?" he asked as he stoked forward like a giant cat, large grin spreading over his handsome face. Marian put her bed between them "I could never doubt what you never had." She laughed as he scurried over the bed and wrapped his arms around her.
"You have quite a way with words Marian." He whispered into her ear.
"Yes, I must be more careful or you head might return to a normal size."
"Are you calling me vain!?" he asked with mocked outrage.
She pulled back and gentle stroked his scruffy face, "Always" she answered. Robin lowered his lips to hers cradling her close to his body.
"You are in danger." He whispered as he pulled back
"I know Robin, but I have duties that must be fulfilled before I can worry about my own happiness."
"You won't come with me."
"No."
"You will be careful."
"I will try."
He kissed her one last time before disappearing back through the window.
The heave of the carriage stopping brought Marian back to reality with a new determination to get out of this situation.
Robin was stuck between a rock and a hard place. He could not leave the people to suffer while he ran off to Whitby; and even if he did, what was he supposed to do, steal Marian out of a convent! At least there she could be away from Gisborne and have the sanctuary of the convent walls. There was also the issue of the loss of his eyes and ears within Nottingham. Marian and Sir Edward had been their informants of the Sheriff and Guy, but now… Robin had to think and think fast. Perhaps Alan could come up with some clever idea, if he ever took his eyes off of Emma.
Emma woke to find the sky dotted with stars beyond the tree tops. She had slept for almost an entire day.
"Djaq she is awake!" She knew that voice belonged to Alan. He was a good man. She could remember brief moments of him giving her water or placing a blanket on her. His bright green eyes came into view as he looked down at her from his perch on a rock near the fire. Slowly she was being turned and the Saracen woman was examining her face closely.
"The swelling in your face has gone down, how is your headache?"
"Better thank you."
"I set you arm so you can not move it, it will have to stay in place for about a month." Emma nodded "I am going to check the stitches, be as still a possible." Emma felt a warm hand wrapped around her own. The calloused hand belonged to Alan who held her gaze as Djaq examined her side and then changed the dressing on her burn. She noticed he was staring quite hard at her.
"What are you looking at?" she asked. Emma knew she must look a fright.
"Sorry, it is just your eyes, not being funny, but I feel like I have seen them before."
"Really?"
"Yes, they are the color of storm clouds. The girl I new with eyes like yours was from around Dorchester actually, you might know her, Fiona Hughes was her name."
Emma stopped, her eyes glazed over, "No," she finally answered "but the name sounds familiar."
"Yeah big place Dorchester, come to think of it I think her mother was called Emma."
"You don't say?" answered Emma as she winced as the dressing was fastened.
"That should be good for now," Djaq interrupted "but try to stay still as to not aggravate the wounds anymore."
"Thank you Djaq, for everything," Emma's broken lips smiled slightly at her.
"It is nothing. Try to sleep, your body needs to rest." Djaq smiled back.
Emma gratefully closed her eyes, the last memory before sleep took her were the green eyes of Alan.
Will returned from watch to find Alan on the same rock he left him on.
"Alan, your watch," Will told him
"Okay," he glanced down at Emma.
"Nothing will happen to her, Djaq and I are here."
"Yeah, course, well, best be off." Alan gathered his sword and made to stand.
"Robin wants to have a word with you first." Will said
"Right," with one last glance at Emma Alan left to find Robin.
Will looked carefully at the broken girl next to the fire. Alan seemed quite taken with her. His eyes drifted to Djaq who was curled up upon the leaves. She had not slept much in the past two days with all that was happening. What rest she got should not be on the cold earth with no blankets. Will gathered his bedding and made it up next to her sleeping form. When he went to roll her over to the bedding he realized she was as cold as ice. Once she was settled in the blankets he placed his axe and other weapons at easy reach and climbed in behind Djaq in the blankets. She turned into him, taking what warmth he offered.
Gisborne stood in the counsel chambers with the Sheriff. The fire was the only source of light as he watched the Sheriff pace back and forth.
"So Gisborne your "would be" bride is tucked away behind the walls of St. Hilda's, her father is stuck in London under surveillance and here we are with yet another problem," the Sheriff listed off.
"We will find her sir, if she still lives," answered Gisborne.
"You best hope she is still alive, I am still trying to figure out how she escaped!" The Sheriff was starting to turn a bit purple from rage. "It is not only our necks that we are talking about Gisborne; it is literally the fate of all of England!"
"I know sir, the search leaves at dawn."
"Truth be told, it is a rather good idea," agreed Much.
"I do not like this plan," complained Little John
"Margaret likes you," explained Robin
"So…"
"She will give you information without putting herself, or you, in harms way," explained Alan.
"All we want John, is for you and go and speak to here every once in a while and gather gossip that might be of use to us," pleaded Robin.
"Well why can't one of you younger lads do it?" he asked.
"Because for some strange reason, she fancies you," joked Much.
"Oh alright, but not another word from you lot," John threatened with his staff.
"Not a word," promised Robin
"Next goal is to find out what in the world the Sheriff wants to know about the Earl of Dorchester."
"I think I may have plan for that one master," spoke up Much.
"Do share Much," Robin gestures as if to open up the floor for him.
"Eve," was all he said.
Albert Beechcroft Earl of Dorchester sat with Francis Gravelle Duke of Ipswich and Alastair Saunders Earl of Norwich in the Dukes home.
"My friends, things are going well with our…foreign companions," announced Alastair.
"I am afraid that with the old Sheriff's death Prince John has found it prudent to put his beloved Sheriff of Nottingham in charge. He senses something and even attempted to get me to expel our secret through torture."
"You were torture!?" exclaimed Francis
"Of course not, they tortured one of the maids of my house."
"Was it…" started Alastair
"Yes."
"I am sorry Albert."
"There will be other woman who can provide the same thing."
"I thank God everyday for my Winnie and the three boys she gave me," Francis smiled
"And a daughter who will make my son very happy," laughed Alastair whose eldest son was arranged to Francis's daughter.
"One day Albert, you will share our joy."
Much saddled his horse and made ready to venture out to find Eve. He had a pretty good idea of where she had fled with her mother after helping them trick the Sheriff. She mentioned her mother had always wanted to go back to her village called Radcliff on Trent while they sat in their baths discussing life. That was due east of Nottingham, about a day and half ride. Much would ask Eve to once again use her talents to figure out what was happening at the Earl's home to have the Sheriff so very worried about his new territory.
Much mounted and galloped off into the raising sun.
Djaq woke to the sound of groaning and instantly recognizing it as Emma's. She tired to get up but was stopped by a heavy arm draped over her waist, locking her against a warm body. Another attempt had her being clutch tighter to a mumbling Will.
"Will Scarlet would you please let me tend to my patient," she whispered harshly which affectively woke Will enough for her to scramble free and toward Emma.
"Why are you trying to stand?" asked Djaq grapping for Emma's good arm.
"I feel like I am going to be sick," she groaned as she tried to steady her feet.
Djaq half carried Emma to a shrub near by where she emptied what little she had in stomach.
"I thought this was all over," moaned Emma in-between heaves.
"What do you mean?" Djaq looked confused; this was the first time anything like this had happened. Emma looked into Djaq dark caring eyes trying to explain when Alan arrived.
"Is everything alright? What's wrong?" he asked concerned.
"Nothing just after affects of her wounds," Djaq said quickly. She turned and gave Emma a meaningful look.
Robin sat on the edge of the stream watching the leaves and twigs sail down the current. He had never felt so alone. Even with most of the gang present, he had lost his beloved to a convent at the hands of his enemy and now Much, who was more a brother to him then any one of blood could be, was riding east. He had no plan to save Marian or Sir Edward. It was all talk and scheming and Robin wanted action. All the joy of his victory over Gisborne and the Sheriff was gone and replaced with the largest trial he had ever had to bide through.
A/N Sorry I know a lot of talk and not a lot of action but soon I promise. Hope you enjoyed it
love Moonfey