The morning had passed without incident, neither of them eluded to the nights conversation as the gang prepared for various drop offs of food to the villages. Mid day they all set off for Nettlestone, loaded with sacks of food to provide the surrounding villages of Nottingham. Once there, having handed out provisions and making sure all was well within the village, Robin turned to John, Djaq and Will.
"You three head to Clun. Will, remember to pay a visit to the blacksmiths, he mentioned the trouble he was having making repairs to the house." Robin said, remembering seeing the smith in Nottingham town a few days earlier and promising they would look in on him the next time they were in the vicinity. "We'll head to Locksley, see you back at the camp in a few hours."
Everyone nodded their head in agreement and bid their farewells.
"Stay safe." Robin shouted after them as they split off from them, both entering the forest and heading opposite directions. He grinned as John lifted his hand nonchalantly as they headed off, not bothering to turn round, as if mocking the fact that Robin even had to say it. Then he turned to look at Much and Carter, before lifting up a food sack and shucking it over his shoulder. "Right then, to Locksley."
Ordinarily Much would have made a comment about their having to make the longer of the two routes, Clun was nearer to Nettlestone, and even nearer the camp. But he kept quiet and slung the food sack he was carrying over his shoulder without a word, Robin was obviously going to use the time wisely. Well he hoped he would be wise, hoped he didn't make too much of a fool of himself in the process, because really, when it came to making his point, especially emotional personal points, Robin could be rather lacking in style and grace. Perhaps it was a good idea Much would be there when it happened, if only to make vitally certain Robin made his intentions clear.
"Much, remind me to pay a call to old Henry." Robin said as they walked, making small talk if only to help himself ignore the feeling in the pit of the stomach. He felt nervous and that made him irritable, because he felt it reduced him to some adolescent boy instead of a grown man.
"Old Henry." Much replied after a pause.
"Yes," Robin replied. Old Henry had been part of Locksley village ever since they were children, he'd been old Henry then, a small stooping man with a slight limp, a face full of old cracks which seemed to hold a hundred stories. He knew everything that went on in Locksley and the surrounding villages, as well as Nottingham. People always marveled at that fact because Henry never seemed to leave his small ramshackle hut, located on the edge of the village and kept himself to himself.
"Who's Old Henry?" Carter asked curious, having never previously heard of the man.
"An old woodsmith, lives in Locksley. People say he's been in Locksley forever." Much replied as they traversed down a steep part of the forest, following hidden but familiar paths, away from the main roads running throughout the heart of the forest, often a hub of activity for traveling villagers from one village to another.
"Forever?" Carter repeated a little unbelief lining his voice.
"My father told me Henry was around when he was a boy, and when his father was a boy. He hasn't any family, keeps himself to himself." Robin replied this time, moving the food sack from one shoulder to the other. "People used to say he's was there when Locksley was built. Henry knows, everything, about, everything."
"And you believe that?" Carter asked, a small smile on his lips, as if he found it amusing for such tales to even exist.
"Yes." Much and Robin both replied, both giving him admonishing looks for even remotely questioning the belief.
"And why are we paying this, old woodsmith a visit?" Carter said, trying to lose the smile, because of their reactions, from his face but not quite succeeding.
"Just a social call." Robin said with a shrug, "I may not be 'master' of my own village anymore, but I still like to check up on my patrons every now and then. Henry's an important man in Locksley, even to the Lord of the manor."
"I doubt Gisbourne thinks that way." Much added with a slight grumble.
"All the more reason for us to pay Henry a call. Its not like we can rely on the other villagers to keep an eye on him, they have their own problems to deal with."
"You miss being Lord of the manor don't you." Carter said matter of factly rather than questioningly.
"Yes, I do." Robin replied humbly. "It, irks me, to see a man bringing ruin upon that which I rightfully own, and bringing pain and suffering on people who I am responsible for."
"And he still is Lord of Locksley." Much,a little irked himself at the suggestion that Robin wasn't, "Everything will be put right as soon as the King returns."
Robin gave him a soft punch in the arm and a broad smile as they headed down an embankment toward the small dirt road that led into Locksley.
Carter had to admit, the surrounding villages and the people loved Robin, and his gang. But in Locksley, the love of him ran a little deeper. Smiles were brighter, eyes sparkled a little more, especially in the older villagers. Ones who obviously remembered Robin from when he was younger, perhaps knew his father. He still had a lot to learn of Robin and Much's life in Locksley, neither of them spoke in detail of their childhood and life before they went to the war. Robin seemed to take that little more interest in what went on in the village, almost like the nobleman and his duties were lingering just beneath the surface, just waiting to be released.
After handing out food and inquiring after a few of the families, safe in the knowledge Gisbourne was at Nottingham (after checking with a few of the village children who were eager to be part of any 'adventure' involving the outlaw), they made their way through the village. Robin cast a sly glance at his home, before taking a dirt track which led away from village center, which seemed to fritter away into the forest.
It wasn't until you neared the edge of the track, the sounds of the village becoming duller, that you would find the track curving round, into a small copse beyond a cluttering of trees. Carter, having fallen into step next to Robin raised a brow upon spying a small ramshackle cottage set within the copse, a trickle of smoke arising from its crooked chimney. A man sat on a chair in front of the cottage by the door, whittling at a piece of wood. He lifted his head as the approached and gave a nod of his head, setting the piece of wood and large knife aside, pushing himself slowly out of his seat.
"Henry." Robin said with a grin as he drew nearer and Henry replied with a smile.
"Master Robin, you paid a visit only a few weeks ago, I didn't expect to see you back here so soon." Henry replied, grasping Robin's hand carefully as it stretched out towards him. He nodded his head at Much in greeting before taking a good look at Carter.
Carter stared back and took in the old mans appearance. He was short, and stooped over which made him appear even smaller. His face was wrinkled, wrinkles so deep they seemed to resemble cracks, and gave him a frail look. But the eyes of the man sparkled and gleamed like he was still young and spry and made it impossible to guess his real age. Before Robin could introduce them, Henry was beckoning them into the cottage.
"Come now, a drink young master before you're on your way." Henry told them and disappeared through the doorway. Robin led the way behind him, Much and Carter following.
The cottage was small inside, barely enough room for them to stand straight, although it made no difference to Henry and his stature. It consisted of two rooms, the main one they stood in, with a table set in the middle, a open fire, a small chair set by it and a rag rug on the floor. Shelves littered the walls, filled with small trinkets obviously collected over the years. A few wooden statues also stood on the shelves, made by the old man. A small section by the fire was set aside as the kitchen, all the cooking done by means of the fire, which was rather large, a rod set across it for hanging pots or setting up a spit. The next room, cut off by a thin wall and a curtain for a door contained the small cot bed the man slept in.
He shooed them to sit about the small table centered in the room, and busied himself at the open fire, picking up a pot of water and pouring it into a few cups he set down on the 'bench' of his kitchen. Picking up the tray with hands which were as wrinkled and cracked as his face, he set it down on the table and bid them to take one each.
"So then, young master, what brings you back to an old mans house so soon after your last visit?" Henry asked again as he prepared the drinks, a concoction of his own making. A root tea of sorts, and rather sweet but satisfying to taste.
"I was in the vicinity Henry, and I did promise to return soon. We've brought you some bread and fruit." Robin replied, motioning to the small sack he'd set by the door, having kept provisions from the handouts in the village earlier.
"Very kind, very kind." Henry said with a nod of his head, his eyes kept flitting to Carter and Robin piped up with explanation.
"I also thought it would be a good time to introduce to a new member of my gang, this is Carter." Robin started, although the old man cut him off.
"Ah yes yes, I know who he is. The assassin turned outlaw." Henry piped up, leaning on the table, hand wrapped around his cup, looking at Carter with an intense stare. "Quite a turn of events you've been putting up with Master Robin. First one of your own turns against you, and then you're taking in those who threaten your life."
Carter was a little taken aback the old man knew so Much, and stared in surprise. "How do you.." he started to ask, but Henry sat back with a twinkle in his eye.
"Told you, Henry knows everything." Much said matter of factly before taking a drink from his cup.
"Aye, that I do, that I do." Henry added with a nod. "I take particular interest in keeping updated on what goes on with Young Master here, gives an old man something to do, keeps his mind occupied."
Henry turned his attention to Robin who was smiling and enjoying his drink. Henry eyed him with a serious look, as if studying him, noting any chances in him and his demeanor. Robin was used to the look and didn't say anything, it was just Henry and how he worked. He'd being doing it ever since he was a boy and introduced to Henry by his father. Setting his cup down he leaned on the table closer to Henry and allowed him the look, a soft smile still gracing his mouth.
"Well Master Robin," said Henry after a moment. "How is this new one working out?" He jerked his head towards Carter, who cocked his head at Robin with a half smile of his own as curious himself as to what he had to say about him.
"Well, he seems trustworthy." Robin replied, watching the old mans eyes twinkle, the lips twitching into a smile. He cast a look over at Carter, "I think maybe we'll keep him around for a while longer, see how he goes."
"And you, Carter," Henry said the name, as if trying it out to see if he actually liked it rolling off his tongue, slow and deliberate. "All of this assassin business out of your veins? You don't feel the need to run young Master here through with a sword at any time."
Carter grinned, first at Robin then at Henry. "Only when he's being a pain and putting himself into danger for no reason."
"That often." Henry grinned, and chuckled, deciding he liked Carter. "It'll be good for him to have someone like you around if thats the case. Much here will be thankful of the help no doubt. He's had his hands full over the years keeping Master Robin out of trouble." he leaned over the table toward Carter as if sharing a secret. "Although for the most part they always got each other into trouble, I still wonder how they made it through childhood alive."
"Hey." Robin said, trying to sound offended, but failing, used to Henry's teasing over the years.
"We're right here." Much added, waving his hand between himself and Robin.
Carter merely laughed and took a drink from his cup as Henry gave him a sly wink and grinned from Robin to Much. Robin turned his attention back to Henry, lying a hand on the old mans shoulder a moment, a concerned look on his face.
"Is everything all well with you Henry?" he asked gently.
"Oh, no need to worry yourself with me young Master. Old Henry here, he's always alright." Henry replied waving his hand as if to brush aside Robin's concerns. It was the usual reply, but Robin always liked to ask anyway. Henry cast him a sly grin, "If your ever in need of a new member of your gang, you know where to find me. Perhaps I can show that young carpenter Scarlett a few new tricks."
"I'm sure Will would be happy with any advice you'd care to pass on, but you know your valuable to me here Henry. Who else can I turn to for information nobody else seems to be capable of garnering?" Robin replied lightly. "Anyway, Much has his hands full just dealing with me and my flights of fancy, I doubt he'd cope with two of us acting in such ways."
"Yes, I'm liable to die of fright if I had to deal with both of you running off with half concocted plans." Much interjected. "And now I have to deal with Carter as well, who seems to encourage him more than anything."
Robin placed his cup down and smiled, at the three before cocking his head to the side, enjoying the familiarity of the moment. Henry had never changed over the years, a wise man with a broad sense of humor and wit. He was glad that he'd brought Carter too meet him, he was also glad that Henry seemed to like Carter. Still, as much as he'd like to stay and talk, they had to be moving on.
"We should be going, the others will be wondering where we all are." he said, looking firmly at Henry as Much and Carter rose. "I'll be back again soon Henry. Then we'll talk some more."
"Aye, you do that young Master. Bring the rest of that gang of yours along, I can have some fun telling them stories of their leader when he was a young lad, getting up to no good." replied Henry pushing himself to his feet and shuffling outside after Much and Carter. Robin followed him, furrowing his brow at the thought of what kind of stories Henry would wish to tell. Most of them most probably embarrassing stories of childhood escapades.
"Take care of yourself Henry." Much said, bidding the old man farewell.
Carter held out his hand and the old man took it, Henry may have appeared frail but his handshake was firm, and the glint never let up in his eye as he looked up at Carter. "Take care young man, I think maybe, you'll be an asset to young Masters cause."
Carter smiled in reply and bid him goodbye, going to stand by Much as Robin lay a hand on Henry's shoulder.
"Take care Henry." Robin said, giving the small stooping shoulder under his hand a soft squeeze. "We'll see you later."
"Goodbye Master Robin, take care. Don't go getting yourself into too much trouble now." Henry said with a grin, lifting his hand to wave goodbye as the three walked off towards the forest. He settled back in his chair, picking up his wood and knife again, hands instantly starting to whittle at the wood as he watched them depart until they disappeared amidst the trees.