OK sorry about that. This week's been totally hectic: Halloween Party, cast off, end of quarter & exams, etc. Forgive me!
If anyone wouldn't mind helping me out, I have a Percy Jackson one I'm doing too that has no reviews yet... thanks!
Light streamed through the window, turning the walls golden and warming Will's face. He woke with a start, wondering why Halt or Gilan hadn't woken him up for his shift watching Robin, and saw Halt fast asleep in Robin's bed, Robin sleeping peacefully with her head on his chest.
Will couldn't help grinning at the sight, and crept to his feet and out the door. He walked into the next room, tapped Gilan on the shoulder, and held up a finger to stop Gilan's mumbled question.
Gilan sat up slowly, thinking there might be a threat, then noticed Will's grin stretching from ear to ear. Will tread silently to the door and glanced back over his shoulder, gesturing for Gilan to get up and follow him. Together, they ghosted down the hallway back to Will's room and through the door.
Robin had moved and was curled into a ball, her head still on Halt's chest, and Halt had his arm flung across the bed and his head back, snoring softly. Mauch was sitting up in the corner of the room, grinning. Gilan snickered, and Halt's snoring broke off and he opened his eyes, frowning. He noticed Robin's head on his chest and lay still, not wanting to disturb her, but glared over her head at Gilan and Will, who broke out laughing. Robin frowned sleepily and readjusted herself, waking up slowly and noticing she was on Halt sat up hastily, wincing and putting her hand to her side.
Mauch, Will, and Halt started laughing so hard they nearly cried.
"Are you- Are you alright?" Will got out between laughs, putting his hand on his apprentice's shoulder and throwing his head back and laughing.
"Fine," she mumbled, her cheeks bright red. Halt was scowling.
"We were comfortable," Halt grumbled, irritated, but it just made the others laugh harder.
"Nice job at keeping watch, Halt," Gilan laughed, doubling over and holding his knees, giggling like a schoolgirl.
"I would have woken up," he grumbled, mildly upset.
"Like you woke me for my watch?" Will said, and even Robin giggled.
"Oh hush up would you?" Halt snapped. "I'm old. I need my rest." He pushed himself to his feet, wriggling his bare toes on the floorboards and glancing around for his boots. Robin stretched and stood as well, and Gilan, Will, and Mauch got their laughter under control and pushed all the mattresses back to where they had been before. Robin grabbed the saddlebag with her stuff in it that Will had brought up for her the day before, and rumaged through it for some clean clothes. Naturally, it was all boy's clothing, but that was fine by her.
She hesitated, glancing at the bloody padding she had used around her midsection a couple days ago, and figured she could go without now that they knew who she was. She ushered the boys out with their stuff to go change in Halt and Gilan's room, changed quickly, and set to buckling on her knife belt (which she had to tighten more now that the padding was gone) when they were bakc, knocking on the door.
"Come on in," she responded, and Will pushed open the door with Mauch trailing behind them. Robin slung her quiver on, and tied her mottled cloak in place, flipping the cowl and arranging it properly so she could get to her quiver. Will and Mauch collected their own saddlebags, slinging them over their shoulders, and waited for Robin as she finished arranging her cloak and quiver. Then they each grabbed their bows and saddle bags, and headed for the stairs.
Will hesitated, reaching out for Robin's bag. "Want a hand?"
"I am perfectly capable of carrying a saddlebag, Ranger," she replied, heading down the stairs. "It's not like I am incompetent." Will scowled, and went down the stairs after her. At the base of the stairs, Halt was snickering at him.
"Looks like she has my sense of humor," Halt said, smirking.
"Oh, but she abides by mine. 'Oh, I think I'm just going to sleep on-" Will said, mimicking a higher pitched voice. He didn't get very far before Halt dealt him a swift jab to the ribs, and Halt walked away from him in a huff. Will grinned and followed him outside, where Gilan already had the six horses out, with Max and Ebony milling around the horse's hoofs. Both the canines had completely recovered over their short rest, and were seeming to get along fine.
Will walked up to Tug, holding out his hand and patting his muzzle. He slung his saddlebags across his rump and tied them into place, then checked Tug's girth to make sure it was tight and in place. He glanced up at the sun, and figured it was getting close to the zenith and Alan and Little John should join them soon. There wasn't really enough time to sit down to a noon-day meal, so they could just as easily get some stew from the innkeeper and eat in the saddle from mugs and wash it down with their waterskins. Just as he had the thought and headed back towards the inn, Little John walked out with his own saddlebags in his arms. He nodded at Will, then continued past him and into the barn.
Will made his way through the door and up to the bar, waiting for the inn-keeper to notice he was there. It didn't take him long.
"What do you have for lunch?" Will asked.
"We have some bread and leftover stew that's heating up over he fire. Want some for the road?" he asked, noticing that Will was already in travelling clothing with the distinctive mottled Ranger's cloak on.
"That would be brilliant," Will said. "I will be right back with some mugs to put them in, if you won't mind." The innkeeper nodded, and turned to set about slicing up bread.
"Hullo, Ranger," Alan's voice said as Will turned and headed for the door. Alan-a-dale had his saddlebags ready and had on high riding-boots, with his instrument case slung over his back and a grin on his face.
"Hullo," Will replied, pushing though the door and holding it open for Alan. Alan nodded his thanks, and headed for the barn. He paused at the door and glanced back at Will.
"What'll we be doing about lunch, then?"
"Mugs of stew for the road," Will replied. "Bring me your mug when you're done." Alan nodded, and vanished into the barn.
Will walked over to Tug and dug through his own saddle bags for his coffee mug, figuring it would hold plenty of stew for a noon-day meal. "Give me your mugs, then," he said, glancing at Little John, Robin, Mauch, Halt and Gilan. They each turned and dug through their bags, digging out coffee-mugs.
"I'll help," Mauch said, gathering half the cups and leaving the other half to Will.
"I will, too," Robin said, holding her own cup and glancing up as Alan led his horse out of the stables with his mug in hand, holding her own hand out for his cup. The three of them walked back into the inn, where the inn-keeper was waiting with seven chunks of bread, and he a big pot of stew with a ladle sticking out. He dealt out a healthy serving into each, and dropped a chunk of bread into each mug ontop. Will slid a gold coin across the table, nodded his thanks, then gathered three of he cups into his hands, leaving Robin and Mauch to each take two back outside.
Little John's, Alan's, and Robin's gelding all sniffed each other curiously, the five Ranger horses ignoring them completely. They handed off the mugs to the men in the saddles, and Halt held Robin's cup while Will helped her up into Nudge's saddle. She took back her mug, and then Will and Mauch mounted, little words being said around the mouthfuls of warm, rich stew.
Together, the six men and the girl rode off down the road through the autumn breeze, focusing on their stew. So focused were they on their stew, it took them 3 minutes to realize they had gone the wrong way down the road.
"Good stew," Will commented as they turned around, laughing, and headed off towards the castle.
