Next Chapter!! I know it's just a bit of mucking about.
But next chapter I promise they go to the castle.
Enjoy!
ALLAN'S POV
Charlie walked away from him out of the kitchen, Allan remained where he was for some time staring at the place she had vanished. Why am I always such an idiot! He heaved a great sigh and started towards Sherwood. He jogged a bit to catch up with Luke and Cathy.
"Come on Luke, it was so obvious." Cathy was saying to Luke.
"I'll believe it when he tells me," replied Luke. Allan stopped dead, listening intently to their conversation.
"Luke, hell will freeze over before he admits how he feels," retorted Cathy.
"Bit of an A Dale trait that is," Allan said jumping on them. The both cried out as they tumbled to the ground.
"Get off," groaned Luke form underneath Allan.
"Both of you, get off," gasped Cathy from the bottom of the pile up. Laughing, Allan got up pulling Luke up with him. Cathy stayed on the ground.
"I think you've broken my ribs," whined Cathy rolling around.
"Suck it up, woman," said Allan, brushing the leaves off him.
"Excuse me," said Cathy indignantly, as she stopped rolling around and stared up at Allan from the ground. "Have you ever broken your ribs?" Allan bit the inside of his cheeks to stop himself answering, there was one secret that he had to keep. From Luke and Cathy and the gang, even from Charlie. Luke bent down and slipped his hands under Cathy's armpits. He lifted her up as if she was as light as a feather.
"We'd really better be getting back. We have to get ready for tonight," said sensible Luke. All three of them started heading back to camp.
"Why didn't you tell us about Charlie before? I could've used some female company," said Cathy.
"What are we not good enough for you, Kath?" asked Luke playfully.
"Well, no offense, but you really stink. But she's lovely Allan, I can actually see why you want to keep her to yourself."
"And she's really pretty, afraid one of us will steal her away from you, ay?" said Luke nudging Allan in the ribs. Allan saw out of the corner of his eye Cathy's smile fall from her face.
"She isn't mine, and if she was I would have noting to worry about, John and Robin are technically married, Much is Much, and you stink." Cathy laughed as Luke flew at Allan. The two men fell to the ground again, rolling around fighting.
"Come on boy, we really need to be getting back to the camp." Allan herd Cathy say, but ignored her and he rolled Luke over so he was on top once again. Allan herd Cathy shout a few more things, he registered his name once or twice but didn't look up. Then suddenly Cathy's voice floated to wards the men loud and clear.
"Right, I'm taking off my top now." Both him and Luke froze and stared at her. "Men, so predictable," Allan heard her murmur to her self as he and Luke clambered to their feet.
They three of them made their way towards camp again. Allan's stomach growled in hunger, and he was glad that much was at the camp to whip something up. Something in his mind clicked.
"What did you two tell Much you were doing?" Allan asked them and they came in to view of the entrance of the camp, Allan saw that Robin and John had returned.
"We told him that we were going to get some honey," said Cathy innocently. Allan stared at them.
"You're joking, right?"
"No, pretty smart though, because we have 2 jars at the back of the cupboard, so we won't get told off for not coming back with any." Allan only herd Luke say 'no' before he dissolved in to laughter.
"What?" said Cathy indignantly.
"Oi, Much," shouted Allan running in to the camp. "Look who I found getting 'honey.'" He said as Luke and Cathy entered the camp. Allan fell about laughing again, Much looked flustered, while Robin and John chuckled.
"What is so funny?" Cathy asked her face reddening. Allan looked at the pair through streaming eyes.
"You... mean… you…" Much stammered. Allan shook his head holding on to his sides.
"They weren't getting honey, nor were they getting 'honey.'" That was all Allan managed to get out before he doubled over laughing again. As Much started laughing as well.
"Could someone please tell me that is so funny," cried Cathy. Allan laughing seemed to be infectious as now Robin, John and Much were all crying they were laughing so much.
--
CATHY'S POV
Cathy thought over the plan, in her mind. It seemed pretty flawless to her. She would arrive at the castle later that night saying that she was lady Catherine of Loughborough and that her carriage had gotten stuck in the mud. She would stay the night and then the next morning she would go to the forest looking for it and find it vandalised by outlaws. She would then have to stay at the castle until she had managed to fix her carriage; by that time she should of gotten enough information.
"Kath, you ready yet?" called Luke from the other side of her curtained off bunk.
"No I'm not. Now stop asking me," she shouted back. That had been the third time Luke asked her in five minutes. She took another breath, and then reached back to try to get at the ribbon she was trying to tie. "That's it," she cried throwing back the curtain. Luke was the only one in the camp. "Where is everyone?" she asked her eyes sweeping the camp. She looked back at Luke who was staring at her. "What?" she asked. Luke closed his mouth and shook his head.
"Everyone is still trying to do as much damage to the carriage as they can," said Luke a blush creeping over his face. Cathy took this opportunity to check out what Luke was wearing. He was wearing a guards uniform, not one form the castle but a leather one. Well it was a leather tunic over a dark blue cotton shirt. Cathy could tell that it was made for someone smaller because his muscles bulged out of it. She felt her heart flutter as Luke looked back at her.
"Luke could you?" she said indicating the back of her dress. Luke looked at her as if she had just asked him to jump in to boiling hot lead.
"But I don't know how."
"I'll talk you through it, I can't reach." She saw Luke swallow and nod. She turned around. "Right, you just need to make lots of crosses, take the right piece of ribbon, thread it through the hole on top of it, on the left side. Got it?"
"Yes," said Luke his voice barley above a whisper.
"Then you do the same with the left piece of ribbon. One you've done that then you move on to the first piece of ribbon and up to the next hole. Don't forget to pull. Tight."
As Luke worked behind her she closed her eyes, and savoured the feel of his touch on her. She erupted in goose bumps and she hoped that Luke wouldn't notice. As Luke reached the top she stopped him from tying it off.
"It needs to be much tighter."
"What? You're already struggling to breath in it," said Luke resting his hands on the top of her back.
"It's going to fall of if you don't tighten it," Luke sighed then started pulling. Cathy sucked her belly and flattened her chest. "Right, now you can tie it off, but don't let it get any looser."
"Done," said Luke. Cathy turned to face him. She sucked in her breath quickly as she realised how close she was to him. She hurriedly backed away. She turned away from him, untying the piece of string which she used to keep her hair up while she was with the gang. She shook it out and let it tumble over her shoulders.
Just at that moment the rest of the gang walked in to the camp. Robin and John were laughing, Much was glaring at Allan who looked pretty smug. One by one as they glanced around the camp stopped and stared, Much's mouth actually dropped open.
"What's wrong?" she said glancing at Luke who was also staring at her.
"You… Look…" started Robin, but trailed off.
"Horrible yes I know, but it's the only nice dress I could find that fit me."
"No, You look incredible," said Little John. The gang seemed to be regaining composure. Allan wolf whistled.
"Really beautiful," said Much.
"You'll blow them over," said Robin grinning at her and he walked towards her. He kissed her on the cheek.
"You don't think it's a bit… you know," said Much gesturing to his chest. Cathy looked down and noticed for the first time that it was very revealing.
"Well..." said Cathy considering this. "It sounds like the only good side of Gisbourne when it comes to women is if wants to bed you, so… looks like it stays as it is." Cathy Looked at Allan who looked extremely uncomfortable, Cathy noticed so did the rest of the gang.
"Cathy, take your pick of jewellery. Luke a word," said Robin brusquely. Cathy turned towards the where they kept the loot. She searched through piles of Jewellery and precious item that they had acquired but could not pass on to the poor because they could not use it. She found an elegant gold chain with a single ruby on the end. She put it on. If Cathy was honest she thought she looked quiet the part of a noble. She was wearing a blue dress with a hugging bodice, which, with lightweight material, flowed to the ground. She turned around to find the camp completely empty. Panic flooded her. Where was every one? She had just opened her mouth to call out when she heard Luke shout.
"Of course, do you think I would just let her get felt up by Gisbourne?" There was a pause as who ever he was talking to answered him in a quieter voice.
"Look, I'm not going to let anything happen to her, Give me more credit then that. Besides even if I wasn't there she'd be able to look after herself." Cathy smiled to herself; out of all the gang it was only Luke who didn't underestimate her. If anything he gave her a bit too much credit.
Luke stormed in to the camp. "You ready?" he almost spat at her. She smiled at him, thankfully. His face softened and he smiled back. But his face turned stony again as the rest of the gang entered the camp. "Let's go." He said shortly. Grabbing Cathy's small chest, which contained a number of dresses for the next few days. He marched out the camp. "Don't forget," he called back in to the camp as Cathy trotted to keep up. "11 o'clock at the ale house, I won't be able to wait around."