A/N: Sorry it's been so long. I've been very busy and am writing this while completely exhausted so sorry for any mistakes, let me know and I'll fix it.
I don't own Robin Hood.
Enjoy….
HERE'S THE THING: DOMESTIC BLISS…
Chapter Four: In Which Ava Is Severely Misled
Ava and Daniel traveled at an easy speed, allowing for conversation, though it was mostly Daniel who talked. Ava was too preoccupied with her thoughts to utter much more than monosyllabic replies. It was midday by the time they reached Daniel's home and Ava was glad to accept food and drink from his mother. In this home Ava felt younger than she had in some time, her responsibilities seemed far away and she was glad to forget some of her worries for a time. Added to this was that, though Claire was only a few years older than Ava, she treated her as someone much younger, being unmarried and childless.
After the meal and some general, womanly chat, which Ava had missed living with the outlaws; Daniel took her to explore the village. He led her from place to place, showing off his favorite spots, proud of his new friend. Though she dutifully admired everything she was shown, Ava was more intent on listening to snippets of conversation to try to glean any news concerning Anne of Hardinge.
It was as they stood on the edge of the forest, with some other of Daniel's friends, and Daniel was explaining how they planned to build a hide out in the trees that they heard a commotion in the village. Ava began to stride towards it, her hand flying to the hilt of her sword, the four boys at her heels.
A weasely looking man stood in the centre of a crowd, towards the middle of the village, declaiming the news.
"It is all true, I had it from a man who was at the Castle and saw it for himself. Robin Hood is dead!"
At these words there was uproar – many disclaiming the tale and some women screaming. Ava had reached the edge of the crowd and was standing frozen to the spot with shock. She did not notice Daniel or the other boys clamoring for her attention, asking her to tell them it wasn't true.
Her eyes narrowed at the man, obviously enjoying being the centre of attention. She unsheathed her sword, metal ringing and strode towards him, easily parting the crowd. Reaching that pitiful excuse for a man, she held the naked blade to his throat and he instinctively knelt before, pleading for his life, cowering from the fury in her face.
"You're lying," she spoke quietly at first but when he made no answer her voice rang out in anger. "Confess! You are lying!"
"No, no, I promise. It is true! Robin Hood is dead!"
Hearing those fateful words again she looked ready to cut his throat, but she controlled herself with an effort, closing her eyes for a moment before sheathing her sword. Taking a deep breath she turned away from him without sparing him another look and rejoined Daniel. She went down on one knee, so their eyes were on a level, and gripped his shoulder.
"Daniel, you must stay here, look after your mother. Promise?"
"I promise," he replied, seriously. Hugging him briefly, she stood and hurried to her horse, untying it and swiftly mounting. With a last look back, she gave the horse the office to start and was gone in a flurry of dust.
Galloping hell for leather through the forest was not a safe thing to do. There was no room in Ava's mind to consider this, nor notice the wind tangling her hair or a branch whipping across her cheek and leaving a thin cut. She was focused entirely on the mantra that repeated itself over and over in her head, "he's not dead, everything's going to be fine, he's not dead, he's not dead."
She reached the camp more quickly than she had expected though she felt like it had taken years. Swerving expertly round Will's trap, she forced her horse down the slope, barely checking it's speed before bringing it to an abrupt halt at the bottom. Casting around for any clues that Robin really was dead and the camp discovered she feared, Ava was shocked when Will came strolling out, as if nothing was wrong and no more than mildly curious as to why she had arrived so precipitously.
Ava threw herself from the back of the horse and ran to him, fighting to regain her breath. Before she could he was talking,
"What happened to you?" he'd only caught sight of her tousled her and he was smiling with amusement in his voice but became concerned when he saw the cut on her cheek and raised a hand to check it. Impatient, she grabbed his hand and bore it down.
"Will! What's going on? I was in the village and someone said Robin was dead! I rode all – " she didn't pause for breath and sounded near hysterics as tears began to sparkle in her eyes. Will brought up his other hand to clasp the top of her arm, silencing her, and looked her in the eye.
"Ava. It's fine, it was just a plot to get the Sheriff. Robin's fine." There was disbelief in her tear soaked eyes so he smiled encouragingly. "Really,"
"Thank god," she whispered and sank against his chest, into the safety of his arms.
A/N: hope you liked it, I will try to update soon. Please review.
