A/N: Sorry it's been a while!
I don't own Robin Hood.
HERE'S THE THING: DOMESTIC BLISS…
Chapter Five: In Which Robin Receives A Well Deserved Beating
They could have stood there for hours, and probably would have if Ava had not caught sight of Robin over Will's shoulder, in perfect health and cheerfully oblivious. Giving a little growl of anger she broke away and dropped the hand she was still clasping. Robin didn't even know she was behind him, until she gave him a smack round the head.
"Ow!" he exclaimed indignantly, getting up and turning to stare at her. "What was that for?"
"What do you think? Why did you pretend to be dead you idiot?" her profound relief had managed to manifest itself in anger and she gave him a good whack in the chest.
"Because I was going to be assassinated! And to get the Sheriff's money," Seeing she looked puzzled he explained further, ending "See? I had to do it!"
She was still looking a little mutinous but she was staring at the ground now and wasn't anywhere near as terrifying. He reached out a hand and held the back of her neck so she looked up.
"I'm glad you're not dead too," he said quietly and she smiled ruefully before stepping forward to hug him.
As they broke apart, Ava caught sight of a very blonde man she hadn't noticed before. Not only was he a stranger in their camp but he was staring at her with a good deal of curiosity. She gave him a quick look up and down before turning back to Robin and asking "Who's this?" indicating the man with a jerk of her head.
"This," Robin walked over and clapped him on the shoulder. "is Carter. The assassin."
"What?" she stared at him like he was mad.
"It's fine. He helped us out, helped us get the reward."
Ava nodded slightly, brain saturated by too much recent information and emotion to try and understand it properly. Getting a little glint of mischief in her eye she looked at Robin speculatively.
"How much was the reward?"
"Five hundred pounds!" he exclaimed, remembering his earlier irritation and returning to his seat to brood. Ava was outright grinning by now and turning away from him she caught Carter staring at her again. Her smile fading, she raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Sorry," he said quickly, before adding, "Have we met before?"
"I don't think so," Ava frowned, trying to see if she could place him anywhere. Will glanced up, sending a quick look between the pair, gauging the situation.
"You just seem very familiar – " Carter trailed off as he looked at her again. Slightly uncomfortable under his close gaze Ava smiled awkwardly and shrugged a shoulder before going to divest herself of her sword and see what Much was trying to cook.
Observing that he had it under control – and that he was cooking something that vaguely resembled real food – she accepted the lesser task of peeling carrots that left her free to talk. Robin's brooding hadn't lasted long after a teasing remark from Marian and he was keen to hear what Ava had discovered about Anne of Hardinge. She had to think a moment to recall the information to her mind, so much had happened since then.
"Apparently she's on her way, they're expecting her next week. If we keep an eye on the road it should be easy to stop her,"
Robin nodded. This was the plan they had agreed, stop her in the forest and warn her of her fate, simple but effective. Robin was fairly certain that she'd be willing to go against the Sheriff given what he knew of her father and even if she wasn't they could at least nick some of her jewels.
It wasn't long before the food of served. Ava handed a bowl to the still mysterious Carter and one to John, who accepted but eyed the contents with caution.
"What is it?" he asked suspiciously.
"Pig swill and noble's brains," Ava snapped, reverting to the childhood answer and rolling her eyes in irritation.
The outlaws were shocked out of their grins when Carter jumped to his feet and grabbed Ava's arm. Will and John also sprang forward to assist her and the cold fear gripped them all that they had been wrong to trust the would be assassin.
"That's it, that's where I know you!" Carter was animated, more so than he had been before. "Do you have a brother? A cousin?" Ava nodded at him dumbly, eyeing him with apprehension but feeling a tiny spark of hope growing inside her. "Alistair, Alistair Wainwright! That's right, isn't it?"
It was now Ava's turn to grab his arms.
"Yes! Yes, he's my brother. Did you know him? Is he alive?"
"Yes, we are good friends, he is alive!"
She gave a little shriek of joy and jumped into his arms, laughing and crying. She couldn't stay there for long though, and she moved away to pace up and down, spending her sudden energy.
"He's alive! I can't believe it. How is he? Well? Happy? Tell me everything!" she suddenly sat down and pulled Carter down beside her, eyes fixed eagerly on his face, determined not to miss a word. The others turned to their own conversation, leaving the two to what was almost a reunion.
Carter left later that day, to return to the Holy Land. As she said goodbye, Ava made a sudden decision and undid the green cross that still hung at her throat. Closing his hand around it she asked him to give it to her brother, explain what had happened to the woman he loved and how she had died with his name on her lips. Carter gave her a whispered promise and she left him with a kiss on the cheek and went to stand with the others.
Squinting into the sunset, raising her hand in farewell, Ava watched Carter ride away and, not sure if she imagined it, thought she saw a flash of green as he disappeared into the distance. She knew then that she would see him and the necklace again, hopefully with her brother in tow.
A/N: There you go, Carter! It wasn't much but I'm sure he'll be back soon….wink wink
Please review there's a dear
