-Weapon of Choice-

"You're going to need a weapon," Luke said, deciding suddenly.

Elsie and Luke had been walking in silence for a while. Both were a little on edge about what they were going to do in Locksley. Elsie's thoughts were so preoccupied with concocting a plan that she had not even considered the fact that she was unarmed. Casting a sideways glance at Luke, she pondered his proposition.

"What do you have in mind?" she asked, taking notice for the first time the arms that he bore.

"How about this?" he replied, offering up his sword.

Elsie eyed the large hunk of metal cautiously, folding her fingers around the hilt. When Luke released it in her grasp, she felt the wieght pulling uncomfortable at her shoulder.

"And what exactly am I meant to do with this?" she asked, giving the sword a feeble swing. She felt completely pathetic.

"Swing it about and hope it makes contact with something?" Luke suggested with a shrug.

"A lot of good that will do us," Elsie declared, handing the bit of steel back to him.

She had had a little training with a sword before leaving Locksley, but once she was under the watchful eye of her host, fighting was permanently ousted from her repertoire. 'A lady never fights' were the scolding words that lashed out at her when she had been in a tussle with a local in the village near Wycombe. In her mind's eye, Elsie could picture the stern, disapproving look that would be on Lady Clara's face if she saw her now.

"Give me the bow," Elsie commanded.

Looking skeptical, Luke shrugged his bow from his shoulder and handed it to her. "Are you certain you'll be able to handle it?"

Nimbly, Elsie plucked an arrow from the quiver and nocked it in the bowstring.

"You be the judge," she said, drawing back the string smoothly and releasing.

The arrow rocketed through the air and landed, nearly centered, in the knot of a tree that stood about a hundred from where they stood. She turned with a grin to find a gaping expression slapped across Luke's face.

He quickly recompsed himself and handed her the quiver. "Well, I suppose you are the sister of Robin Hood. It makes sense that you'd be good with a bow as well."

Elsie ignored his conclusions as she strapped her ammunition to her back. It wasn't because she was the sister of Robin Hood which made her handy with a bow and arrow. The longbow had been their father's weapon of choice and it was because of his passion for the art that he passed down his knowledge and refined skills to both of his children. Naturally, Robin was a more seasoned archer than she was, being older, but he also had a habit of displaying his talent more publicly than Elsie ever did.

When Luke and Elsie reached the edge of the forest near Locksley, they crouched behind some of the larger brush to observe their surroundings. Being that it was the middle of the day, the villagers were bustling about their duties, tending to the needs of the village. A few men had gathered to repair the church, which had been a victim of the last storm. There were women out in front of the manor, washing and hanging articles of clothing and bedsheets that belonged to their lord. Those who weren't assisting in that chore were chasing and tending to the children who were scattered about, joyfully playing together.

An idea blossomed in Elsie's mind while she watched the laundering women. Consulting Luke, he agreed to her plan and the pair of them ran silently behind one of the small houses. Then they ducked behind a wagon that was filled with hay; each move brought them closer to the manor.

Elsie eyed their target as she and Luke slid between two large bedsheets billowing in the afternoon breeze.

"Thornton," she hissed, knowing that the faithful family servant was standing on the otherside. The old man poked his head around the sheet.

"Lady Elsie," Thornton said, sighing with relief. He gave her a quick hug. "I am glad to see that Robin has collected you from Nottingham. Is he here with you now?"

"No," Elsie admitted guiltily. "I came to collect my belongings left with my horse after Gisborne took me to the castle. Do you know where I can find them?"

Thornton furrowed his eyebrows as he tried to remember. "I believe your things were taken into the stables with the horse."

"Is Gisborne home?"

"He is not. He has been at the castle since your escape. I imagine the sheriff is not pleased with the turn of events," the old man said with a twinkle in his eye.

"Thank you, Thornton."

"Be careful, my dear," he replied and then skirted back around the bedsheet.

"Well, getting into the stables should be a lot easier than getting into the house. Come on," Elsie whispered to Luke and they both sprinted to the back of the house where the horses were kept.

Crouching behind a water trough, bow at the ready, Elsie watched for an opportunity to steal into the stables. She was just about to make her move when a long, dark shadow fell over her. Her insides immediately froze and goose pimples rose on her skin as her mind raced with images of the shadow's owner.

Slowly, Elsie pivoted on her heel and looked up. Luke was standing off to one side, his head hung with the shame of being caught. Elsie shifted her gaze to meet the pair of stern, yet slightly amused eyes of the person standing over her. Rising to hesitantly to her feet, Elsie prepared for the worst.