Hey, thanks to all those who read the first chapter. This chapter should be better it takes me a while to warm up. I apologize for the grammar errors. I am improving as my English teacher is using up all his red biro on my work! Anyhoo here we go.

Chapter 2

"So are you going to tell me your whole story?" Robin asked.

"Well… what do you want to know?"

"Where did you learn to fight like that?"

I looked into his eyes. They were curious. But they had seen what I had seen.

"When I was 13… King Richard knocked on the door of our home while he was visiting the Sheriff…he was looking for girls to take with him to battle to serve as nurses. What choice did I have? I couldn't say no to the King." I sighed. "So I went to the Crusades to nurse the wounded." I swallowed and looked at Robin. He said nothing so I continued. "I learned to fight for self-defense. I did know how to use a sword a bit. My uncle took me aside once when I was 7 and taught me how to use one. But I improved when I was off duty. You never knew whether the Turks would spring an attack… well you did as you were there." I looked at Robin.

"You were at the Crusades." He croaked.

I nodded. "I was involved in a war I didn't want to be in. What were we fighting against? I didn't know. All I saw were the horrors of battle. I held men as they died in my arms, I was unable to save them. My ears were filled all day long with the fears of battle. My dreams were filled with blood and horror and the stench of death. I was one of the very few of nurses who cleaned wounds properly so they weren't infected but I had to nurse so many who had fevers whose wounds were infected. Many were so weak they couldn't recover. After I had been away from England for five years, King Richard came to me. I had been standing at the back of the tent and for the first time in five years I was crying. I was sick of the battle sick of the smell of blood, death, I wanted to go back. King Richard looked at me for the first time as a little girl. He let me come back here." I turned to Robin. My eyes were misty. "But enough of the Crusades. Those images are for my dreams not my waking moments." Robin was speechless. "How could he let you go there? You were only 13!" he managed at last.

I shrugged. "How was he meant to know how long the battles would last?"

We sat in silence for a while.

"But why are you scared of Gisbourne?"

"Because he's after me!"

"No there's something else. What is it? Lucy, you can tell me."

"Robin! We have deer and rabbit!" It was the others. Robin shot me a look which clearly said 'tell me later'

I looked back down. I helped Little John cook the deer and rabbit and he told me stories of the Merry Men's escapades. Some of them were hilarious. Like the time they were creeping about trying to avoid the Sheriff when a rabbit strayed across their path and scared them all senseless!

"Little John, I hope you are not making us look like fools with the one or two times we perhaps haven't been so quite alert. We wouldn't want Lucy thinking she'd fallen in with a band of clowns." Will Scarlett shot me a wink as he sat down next to me.

"Would I do such a thing Will… Watch out a rabbit!" he said dangling it in front of Will's nose.

"Funny Little John. Very funny. Would you mind cooking it so we weren't all starving?" he turned to me.

"So Lucy… Husband… Child…?"

I laughed. "Nope, none of those."

"Why not?"

I shot a look at robin who was clearly eavesdropping. "I've…been away."

"Where?"

"You are too nosy for your own good!" I said laughing and gave him a shove.

He held up his hands in defence. "Point taken, point taken."

Soon everyone was tucking into either rabbit or deer, I was absolutely starving. I'd only snacked on berries throughout the day.

"Alright men…and women" said Robin with an acknowledgeable bow at me. Let's sort out watches and then turn in for the night. We drew lots from pieces of straw. Every straw was cut at a different length, signifying the time of the watch. I got the midnight watch. But Robin volunteered to watch with me as it was my first one.

"And I want to know what's bothering you." He muttered in my ear.

I was surprised at how fast I had been accepted and had settled in. I was officially one of the gang. I had already become a sister figure sort of. Will was on the watch before me.

"Be careful…"muttered Much. "He'll chuck water on you to wake you up."

"I heard that Much and I wouldn't dare. She's a lady. That would be improper of me."

I smiled and went to find somewhere to sleep. I laid my blanket down like the others and was soon in a dreamless sleep.

"Lucy. Lucy. Llluuuccccyyyy." Someone was shaking me on my shoulder. It was Will. "It's time for your watch." I nodded. I pulled a tunic over my leggings and undershirt. I heaved myself up out of my warm bed. The stars were bright and the air was crisp. I wandered over to the log next to the fire to warm my hands. I was soon joined by Robin.

"Sleep alright?" he asked

"Not bad thanks. I'll get use to it." I said smiling.

We sat in silence for a while.

"So…Why does Gisbourne scare you so much?" he asked. It was the question I had been dreading. I didn't want to talk about it.

"I don't want to talk about it." I mumbled. "Why are you so bothered anyway?" I asked.

"I just want to help you." He said.

"Well, I don't need help alright!" I nearly shouted. But stopped myself. "I'm sorry, Robin but…I don't know, it's just… Can I tell you later?"

He looked into my eyes. "Alright… Just remember I hate Gisbourne's guts as well." I laughed.

There was a sudden cracking sound to the left of us. Robin jumped up, bow and arrow already notched into place. I followed suit. We said nothing for a few seconds.

"Who's there?" Robin called. No reply. There was another snapping of a twig. To the right of us, this time. I swung my arrow round.

"Who's there?" I asked, this time. There was the sound of someone retreating. Robin shot an arrow in the vague direction. There was no sound except the person who was retreating. We sat down slowly.

"Be on your alert." Robin whispered in my ear. I shivered.

"Who do you reckon it is?" I whispered. Robin shrugged.

"No idea. But be careful, Lucy." We sat inn silence for the rest of the watch, ears pricked for any other sound of movement. After a while, Robin said: "Come on, our watch is over. I'll wake up Little John and tell him." I nodded.

"G'nite."

"Hmm? Oh G'nite Lucy." I turned and went to my bed. I took off my tunic and fell into sleep. My dreams were filled with shadows, marked footprints and men in black on horses.

I was awoken to the smell of cooking. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. Little John was bent over to the fire cooking something. The rest of the camp was still asleep. I pulled my tunic over my head.

"Morning Little John."

"Oh, good morning Lucy. Sleep well?"

I grimaced. "I'll get use to it." Little John chuckled. "Is there anywhere I could wash?"

"Urr… I think there's a river through those bushes." I thanked him and headed off. Little John was right. Making sure there was nobody around, I stripped off and dived in. The water was cool and refreshing against my skin I swam to the edge and grabbed the coarse soap I had brought with me. I scrubbed myself clean and then dried myself on the strip of material which substituted as a towel. I dressed and headed back to camp. Most of the men were still asleep. Robin, Much and Little John were the only ones up. Little John threw some food to me. I took it and ate hungrily. After I'd finished, Robin handed me a pail of water.

"Throw this over Scarlett will you?" I took it and looked at him

"Are you sure?"

"Scarlett's the heaviest sleeper. His fright will awaken the others and give him a bath at the same time." Replied Much.

I took the pail of water and threw half of it over Will. He sat bolt upright.

"Robin! That's cold!" he yelled.

"That's the point." He said taking the pail from me. I couldn't help smiling. The others were now awake.

"Come on then Lucy; let's see what your archery skills are like." Was what Robin said after everyone was dressed. I was led over to a tree with a target hastily scratched into it. I picked up my bow and arrow, and feeling nervous that everyone was watching me. I took aim. The first one just missed the bullseye.

"You have 3 turns." Said Robin.

I aimed again and this time, the shot was true. I picked up the third one. I kept my hand steady, aimed to just above the second arrow… and fired. The arrow spliced my second arrow right down the middle. This was met with cheers.

"You're good!" cried Roy.

"Don't sound so surprised." I said. I was clapped on the back.

'Watch out, you'll give Robin a run for his money." I grinned. Suddenly an arrow whistled through the air, narrowly avoiding Much.

"Who did that?" he cried. We wheeled around. Soldiers of the guard were advancing towards us. I took two arrows and knocked the first two down, but now I had run out and the ones in the tree were firmly stuck. We all got out our swords and daggers and advanced. I kept to the back of the group. One-on-one combat was not my forte.
I came to a clash with a guard a couple of inches taller than me and strong. Our swords met. I parried his first two blows but had to dodge the third as it went to slice my stomach. I knocked his sword out the way, and dodged an arrow at the same time. He was advancing towards me and I was coming up against a tree. I swung at him with my sword and he jumped back I slashed at him and drew blood from his arm. He was infuriated and knocked my sword out the way. He made for a punch at my ribs, but I skirted to the side and aimed a kick in his abdomen he was winded but grabbed my foot down and brought me down as well, I kicked his hand out the way and jumped up. I grabbed my sword and meant to bring it down, to kill him. But I hesititated. I had nursed those on battlefield seen men killed by other men, but I couldn't kill in cold blood. An arrow whistled past me and pierced the man in the heart. I turned it was Allen. I nodded to him and turned back.
I jumped over the man's body and was struck by sudden pain in my right arm. I let out a cry and wrenched the arrow out. Another guard was coming toward me. I slashed at him with my sword. He fell. My sword was red with blood. I clamped my arm with my hand and drew it away. It was bloody. My arm was throbbing.
But I grabbed my sword and ran in to help Much who was being attacked by two men. Our swords clashed with the enemy. I blocked their first three moves but saw an opportunity and slashed one across the stomach. He ran back crying with pain. Much took this opportunity to get the other guard. They were retreating. But it had been hard. I turned away so they couldn't see my arm. Robin suddenly let out a cry. An arrow had pierced him in the side. I rushed to him. He had his hand clamped to his side. I batted it away.

"Get off, or I can't stitch it."

"It's fine. Honestly."

"You are the worst liar I know. Sit down and be quiet."

He obeyed. The other men were bandaging up scratches and salvaging arrows.

"Take your shirt off." I ordered. He did, but with grimacing. "Lie down on your good side." He did and I made sure not to look at his chest which was very muscular and toned. I dabbed gently at his wound with warm water.

"Ow! That hurts! Do you have to do this?!" I raised a cynical eyebrow at him.

"Do you want it to get infected?" He said nothing. I very carefully washed the blood away and the remnants of arrow away. It hadn't been a sharp arrow and the cut was too shallow for any arrow to still be there. I reached in my pack and brought out needle and thread.

"Now this needle is blunt and is going to hurt. So I'll try and be quick." I carefully inserted the needle into his skin he grabbed my arm (my good one thankfully) I looked up at him. "It'll be over soon I promise." I said quietly. I sewed a few more stitches. I dried the wound and stood up. "There you go. Be careful don't stretch it for a few days." I helped him up.

"Thank you." He said.

I shrugged. "I don't fancy nursing you through a fever." He grinned. I turned to go and bathe my wound, though how I was going to stitch it, I had no idea.

"What's wrong with your arm?" Robin pulled me back. I cursed silently.

"Nothing."

"Nothing?! Your tunic is turning red!"

"I'm fine honestly."

"And you said I was an awful liar. Sit down." He pushed me down. "Take your tunic off." I obeyed reluctantly. Taking my tunic off was easier said than done. I cursed quietly as I did it.

"Where did you learn such language?" Robin said smiling at me. I glared at him as I rolled the sleeves of my undershirt up. The wound was quite deep and would be painful to stitch it up. Robin took my arm gently and daubed at the wound with a wet cloth. I grit my teeth. He carefully wiped the needle and put in a lot more string.

"Actually we might have to sear it." I went white.

"Really? Stitching will be fine. Here let me do it." I said hastily. Robin pulled the needle out of my reach.

"Is the First Aid tent? I have a scratch on my head which- Lucy! How did you get that?" It was Will.

"Stray arrow hit her."

"Will let me see your head." I replied trying to switch the subject from me.

"No way. Robin, are you sure we shouldn't sear that? It looks pretty big to stitch."

"That's what I thought." I said nothing. I was not going to appear weak and helpless in front of them. Robin gave me a bit of leather to bite into and cast some iron into the fire. He waited a moment drew it out and looked at me.

"This is going to hurt." Will sat down next to me. I gripped his hand. Robin placed the iron on my skin. Not one sound escaped my lips as I bit down so hard into the leather I thought my teeth would break. I let go of Will's hand as I realised I had practically broken it. Robin took the iron off and clamped a cold cloth down onto the new wound. He removed the leather and I let the worst language out under my breath.

"Are you alright Luce?" Will and Robin asked.

"I'll live." I grimaced. 'Don't tell anyone else about this please." They nodded.

"Now Will let's have a look at that cut." Robin turned to go. "Robin!" I called. He turned. "Thanks." I said. He smiled.

"You helped me, I helped you. Even?" he asked.

I smiled. "Even."

Hey, thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please keep reviewing. I will try and get the next chapter up as soon as possible, but school starts tomorrow and I have GCSE Mock exams in 3 weeks! Argh!!!!!!!

Thanks again for reading!