Chapter 5

Will, Djaq and I were high in a tree watching Nottingham. Little John slumped against the base of our perch.

"They should have been back by now." Djaq frowned.

Much and Allan had accompanied Robin into the town to see what exactly had been done to Marian and Sir Edward. It was long past noon now. There was no movement outside the gates except for the occasional change of guard. I stretched my stiff legs and continued sewing the torn hem on my skirt. Djaq was also fixing her clothes and Will was whittling pieces for the new trap. Robin wanted them set up on either ends of the camp.

Little John called us down. "We're going in." He acted as leader while Robin wasn't around. "We can't all walk in together. I'll lead the old cart we found and Djaq can hide under the husks inside. Will, you go in with Colleen. Hold hands, walk arm in arm. Act… together."

"No pun intended." Djaq grinned.

I'm not entirely sure how comfortable Will was with the situation. I'd had to pretend to be in love for a few performances so I played along. So we strolled through the gates. I leaned on his arm and giggled and spoke loudly and was downright annoying. A gate guard winked at me and I tossed my head so my long, loose hair fell over my shoulder onto my back. He let us pass.

Once inside, we met with John. "Get near the castle." He ordered. "He came here looking for Marian and that's where she'd be. One of us will send the other to fetch whoever's not there currently."

Will offered his arm, though I thought it unnecessary and we set off.

"Why did you offer your arm?" I asked as I took it.

"You have to act like you have a purpose. If we walk aimlessly around, they'll suspect something."

I liked his voice. It was sure and quiet. We walked in silence for a bit.

"Do you miss home?" I asked quietly. "Are your brother and father still there?"

"Yes." He squeezed my hand on his arm with his free one. "You do more though."

"I never thought I was the type to get homesick. I loved travelling." I said bitterly. "And now it's too late to miss what mattered. He's dead."

He remained silent. I laughed a little. "This is when you're supposed to say something soppy like, "The gang is your home now."

He smiled and rubbed his forehead. "You surprise me with how you randomly open up your soul to me and tell me what's going on."

"That's because you're the only one I can do that to." I said, unabashed. "I might regret it one day though. I might feel like a fool. But I'm used to looking back on things I've said and kicking myself. If I had to be stranded somewhere for the rest of my life with only one person, I'd have to pick you. You'd let me talk the whole time." I teased.

He stared at me. "Why would you even think of that? Are you planning on going to sea?"

I rarely blushed but I felt my face become the temperature of a boiling tea kettle. "Never mind." I muttered. How on earth had those words spilled out of my mouth? Yes… no, no, no, no, no. Oooooh no you don't. You don't like him. Look, darling – you barely know him. Alright, you knew each other as small children but now you're only sixteen and you've both changed a lot and you've only gotten reacquainted with him – I cut off these stupid thoughts and looked ahead. I was satisfied. I didn't like him.

We stood in the square outside the entrance to the keep. The ugly place had guards at every arch and most of the windows. A flash of panic hit me. I said to Will nonchalantly, "I daresay, my mother won't recognize you."

He understood my meaning and flashed me a reassuring grin. "No, I'm sure she won't."

Three guards in yellow marched past us into the tavern.

"Those are Gisbourne's men." Will said.

Will let go of my arm and I looked at some fabric on display. The thing is, I can't resist pretty colors. I didn't mean to really look at the fabric, but I soon felt a burning jealousy in my stomach as I thought of my shabby dress. The rich blues, greens and yellows lay swathed out in front of me. There was no silk, not that I could have afforded it. I'd never even seen silk but I'd heard it was the water of silver. But dyed cotton and fine linen (which was soft as kitten fur) were in the booth. I jingled my four farthings and twelve pence in my pocket.

The woman held up a sky blue piece. "This would go lovely with you gold-red hair and blue eyes."

It would also make me bright as a beacon in a green forest.

I picked up a bolt of green fabric, the color of the forest. It was lovely but not too fine for me and green was my favorite color. "How much?"

She named the price and I dropped the linen as though it burned my fingers. "Absolutely not!" I began walking away.

She called me back and lowered the price. I shook my head. Linen should cost about a shilling and she was asking for five! "Three?" She asked.

"Eight pence."

"Eight pence!"

My dress would start falling off me soon if I didn't replace it. The woman furrowed her brow and stared at the fabric in front of us.

"A shilling." She wouldn't budge from that.

"Thank you. May I pick it up later? I'll give you seven pence out of the twelve as trust and the rest when I come for it."

She agreed. "Silver thread to with it?"

It flashed in the sunlight…green and silver – the colors of birch trees.

"No thank you."

"Colleen!"

I glanced around but saw no one. I heard an annoyed sigh.

Then I saw him, hidden behind a pile of carts.

"What are you doing?" Will asked when I came over.

"Oh…" I traced patterns in the dirt with my toe. "I didn't mean to. I just really need new clothes. This dress won't last much longer."

"Look Locksdaughter, we're supposed to be on a mission. We haven't got time!"

"I'm sorry." I growled. "Like I said, I got a little carried away. What's the matter? Pine needles in your shoes?"

"Gisbourne's men are surrounding that tavern." He glanced over. "I think I'd better go scout it out."

"Don't. I'll go in. They don't know me."

Before he could protest, I slipped into the building.

The place stank of sweat and men who hadn't bathed in a week. I thought I might get woozy just from the smell of their breath which filled the low ceilinged, dark room.

Gold glinted in the corner of my eye. Alan! He was up to the trick of hiding the peas under three gold cups. I stifled a sigh. Did he want to get caught?

A man bumped into me. He didn't bother to apologize but instead cursed for me to be out of his way. There were several others surrounding – Gisbourne! I shrank back, afraid of him recognizing me.

Thinking fast, I sidled up to Alan and laid my hand on his and smiled.

"Ah Stephen! Mum has been hollering for you for dinner. Come on or you'll be served up for breakfast."

He pulled away and looked at me confused. "Mum knows I don't come for dinner on market day."

"But you promised!" I pouted. I felt the tears well up in my eyes and I let them dribble down my face. "You never keep your promises."

His audience was losing interest and began to move away. He glared at me and shoved the cups into his pocket. "Fine."

I pulled him outside and behind some buildings where Will was waiting.

"You fool!" I whispered fiercely. "Gisbourne was in there!"

He got up in my face. "I don't need a little girl telling me what to do who's ain't been around for even a month yet!"

"So you would rather have been caught?" My voice rose.

"You need to stop acting like you're in charge!"

"Alright." I said coldly, though my face was burning. "Go ahead. Go play your little game inside and see what happens." I turned around and began to walk away. I heard him spit on the ground.

Alan wasn't the sort to grow so angry. Rather, he was more happy and eager for fun. He did have a temper though. Not as hot or hard headed as yours though. I sighed. I supposed I could apologize later but right now I just wanted to cool off.

The square where I had performed the day I met Will was before me. Soldiers hung about here and there but I strolled about. The urge to perform a fire dance hit me suddenly. I didn't want the attention though. I just wanted to curl up in a corner and cry. My word, being a girl with wild, swinging emotions can get to you.

A soldier suddenly turned and looked at me. I resisted the urge to stare at him challengingly and looked at the ground shyly. "Avoid eye contact." As Robin had told me.

"Hello there." His voice was deep. No, please don't talk to me!

But then, out of the corner of my eye I saw Robin and Much! They were trying to sneak past the soldiers in the square. So I looked up at the one talking to me. "Hello sir."

He didn't have a helmet on and, oh my, he was handsome. His eyes and hair were dark and his features chiseled. I sort of blinked at him and he grinned. I almost shuddered. That grin was disquieting.

He tried, however, to make pleasant talk. "Do you run one of the stalls here?"

"No." I squeaked.

"Then what do you do here?"

I decided to tell the truth. "I sing in the square sometimes."

"Ah." I tried to pull away but he took my hand and kissed it. "Will you give my poor soldiers a song now?"

So, he seemed to be their officer. Suddenly I decided to turn on the charm. If Robin heard me singing, maybe he would know his chances of leaving Nottingham town were better.

I curtseyed. "A comical song or something sweet and sad?"

"Something funny."

I slid my hand out his awkwardly and cleared my throat.

"I dreamed I saw Joe Hill last night,
Alive as you and me.
Says I, but Joe
You're ten years dead –"

Something hit me in the head and I fell.