A/N: I still don't own Robin Hood. Enjoy…
HERE'S THE THING: DOMESTIC BLISS…
Chapter Eleven: All Plans Go Awry
When Ava reached Anne's rooms she divulged all that she'd discovered and though her noble mistress was glad to hear what was planned for her, Ava noticed that she did seem a little disappointed that her role was nothing more exciting than bait.
"Basically, all we've got to do is get you away from the castle and to these relations of yours up north. We'll make a run for it as soon as possible, tomorrow, shouldn't be too difficult."
With these admirable intentions, the two repaired to bed and peaceful rest for the remainder of the night.
Due to the late hour and exciting events of the night before both women slept late. It was only a little before midday when Ava wandered across the courtyard to the kitchens to request hot water for Anne to bathe in. Spotting Allan talking to two guards she sent him a saucy look, as she had seen girls in her village do many times before. He grinned in reply and seemed about to come towards her when Gisborne came bursting from the castle, shouting for him.
Unable to remain inconspicuous in the open courtyard Ava continued on to the kitchens, her curiosity demanding that she linger chatting to Lucy (a maid Much had a soft spot for) and glean all the gossip to try and discover what was going on.
Half an hour later, Lucy having taken her own sweet time to get to the point, Ava returned to Anne's room, pale faced and weak kneed. Sinking down to sit on her bed she met Anne's anxious eyes and answered her demands for an explanation.
"The Sheriff's gone missing. No one knows where he is and there is an envoy from Prince John demanding to see him. He says if he doesn't by sun down all of Nottingham will be razed to the ground."
Anne sank down beside her, stunned, and silence fell as each though what that would mean. The destruction of everything they were working for. Suddenly Anne jumped to her feet and began pacing feverishly.
"Do you know which of the Prince's envoys it is?"
"Sir Jasper or something I think," Ava hadn't thought this detail particularly important.
"Sir Jasper! I know him! A complete fool with ideas above his station," she paused in her perambulations, thinking, then came to a decision. "Ava, bring me that water. I must dress and then we shall visit this Sir Jasper."
It took quite some time for her to be ready. Ava was used to deciding to do something and then striding off to do it but apparently noble women did not have this freedom. After bathing, Anne fastened herself into quite the most complicated and richest dress Ava had ever seen, and then her hair had to be brushed, plaited, twisted and pinned. Finally, jewels and suitably haughty expression in place, she declared herself ready.
They left and quickly discovered where Sir Jasper was awaiting events. Ava was surprised to see both Gisborne and Allan with him, but made sure her head was lowered and that she stayed behind Anne so no attention was attracted to her.
She needn't have worried. No one's eyes seemed able to leave Anne's person.
"Sir Jasper," she said, in a bored tone, barely inclining her head in greeting. This recalled him to the fact that even in exile this was an important and influential woman and it would be well for him to greet her properly. He executed a courtly, if over exaggerated, bow, muttering 'milady'.
"How do all my friends go on at court?" she asked, arranging herself in a chair, for all the world as if she was the queen of England and her banishment from court a nonexistent event.
"I do not know how many friends you now have at court, milady," it was a low blow and malicious but Anne passed it off easily, heaving an artificial melancholy sigh over the events of court and saying, with a deceptively soulful expression on her face,
"Alas, yes, whatever anyone says about Prince John, it cannot be that he has a good sense of humor."
Guy smirked, having no liking for the slimy man, and Allan and Ava had to fight full blown grins. Anne twinkled at the two men wickedly, delighted by their reactions, before resuming her role as cold and haughty noble woman and turning back to the envoy.
"Now, Sir Jasper, you will explain to me, if you please, what it is I hear about – " she proceeded to relate dull piece of court news after dull piece of court news, demanding explanations without waiting to receive them, thereby infuriating and monopolizing the man whilst at the same time putting him firmly in his place.
With a jerk of his head, Gisborne sent Allan about his business and soon after excused himself, sending a grateful look in Anne's direction. It was rather later that Sir Jasper managed to follow suit, though not through dint of trying. The sun was growing lower in the sky and there was still no sign of the Sheriff.
As soon as the door shut behind the Prince's man Ava moved to the window. In the distance, she could see the suspicion of dust rising from the road as the army came closer.
"Wait here, I'll go and see what I can find out."
She was gone in a moment, striding from the castle and into the town. Chaos had already erupted. The people running hither and thither carrying all sorts of possessions, from blankets to food, crockery to furniture, none of them having any sort of destination.
Standing in the midst of this Ava searched for someone who might actually know something. It was a moment before she noticed the back of a head, covered in dark hair, that was dearly familiar. She ran a couple of steps towards him before checking herself, remembering who they were and where they were. Feeling incredibly thankful that he had his back to her and so hadn't noticed her sudden movements before she quashed the instinctive desired to rush headlong into his arms, she hurried towards him as stood at the gates looking out.
Will turned as she reached him, happy to see her but she cut him off before he could say anything.
"What are you doing here?"
The shadow came back across his face as he recalled his purpose in being there, and also in her reaction to his presence.
"Robin's looking for the Sheriff. He told me to stay here, see if I can find anything out but to make sure Marian gets out alive."
"Marian? Why's she here?"
"She came back to the castle late last night. Gisborne was getting too suspicious."
Ava sighed and turned back to the road. The cloud of dust had grown closer.
"It looks like we're going to have to fight out way out." She observed grimly.
With set faces they stared out towards their future, the qualms they felt only betrayed as they reached for each other's hand. Their fingertips had barely brushed and begun to cling to each other when they heard footsteps and turned to see Allan coming towards them. Ava abruptly dropped Will's hand as if it was red hot and melted quickly into the crowd, utterly incapable of witnessing them fight at such a time.
A/N: hope you liked it, I'll be sure to update soon, especially if lots of people review!
BTW I imagine that Lucy is the maid that Much gets chatting too when they're in the castle described as minstrels - just had to have a mention of Much, I've been missing him!
