Another Chapter, becuase of the holiday i'm getting a lot of writing done.
Thank you for the reviews! they are really helping.
enjoy!
ALLAN'S POV
He had been waiting in the Ale house for well over an hour. He had arrived there early remembering Luke's parting comment about not being able to wait around. Allan was starting to get slightly worried when a guard wearing a leather uniform walked in. Allan sighed in relief as he beckoned Luke over.
"What took you?" Allan asked as Luke took the seat on the other side of the table.
"Cathy had a nice cosy meal with Gisbourne, the sheriff and Mr. Wentworth."
"Wentworth? William Wentworth?"
"Yes, Do you know him?"
"He used to be in control of taxes in Rochdale," said Allan.
"Kath didn't say anything," said Luke thinking this over.
"Because Cathy is too young to remember. He was the one who used to dream up taxes."
"So do you think that's what he's here for, coming up with more taxes?" Luke asked.
"It's a possibility," said Allan absently rubbing the back of his hand over his forehead.
"Anything else happen?"
"Gisbourne offered to help retrieve the carriage, tomorrow."
"That's good, she has him hooked now," said Allan looking pleased.
"That's exactly what Charlie said."
"Charlie? You've seen her in the castle?" asked Allan trying to keep his cool.
"Yes, she's Cathy's maid. What did you do, mate?" Luke asked.
"What?" said Allan peering at Luke through the smoky darkness.
"She was nearly in tears when you were mentioned." Allan swore.
"Why do I screw up everything?"
"Because as you said, you're an A Dale," said Luke recalling the conversation they had when Cathy had joined the gang.
"But Cathy doesn't, why do I have to?"
"Mate, what ever you didn't can't be that bad, just apologise."
"Will that work?" asked Allan hopefully.
"It works for me," said Luke shrugging.
"Not being funny, but you've never had anyone angry at you, apart from Cathy, and she only gets angry because…" Allan caught himself just in time.
"Because… what?" asked Luke, But Allan bit his cheeks and shook his head.
"You'd better get back otherwise they won't let you back in," said Allan. They both stood. "Same time tomorrow?" Luke nodded. They exited the Ale House, "Good luck, look after her," said Allan as they parted ways.
--
CATHY'S POV
The next morning dawned bright, and cold. When Cathy looked out the window it looked as if winter had returned. The door opened and Charlie walked in.
"Good morning Cathy," said Charlie.
"Morning," Cathy mumbled rubbing her eyes with the heel of her hand. "When is summer coming?"
"Not soon enough," replied Charlie. "Gisbourne wants to go looking for your 'carriage' soon."
"What? It's still night basically," said Cathy falling back in to bed.
"Well he has a long day a head of him robbing from the poor, and giving to the rich." Cathy laughed in to her pillow. "Come on, you lazy bugger, Luke and I have been up since dawn," said Charlie trying to roll her out of bed.
"Well that's you fault not mine."
"No it's our jobs, or the jobs that we are pretending to do," said Charlie, still tugging and pushing Cathy. "Fine, LUKE!" she bellowed. Cathy laughed as she herd the door open. "Do it," Cathy herd Charlie say. She braced her self against her bed expecting Luke to try to pull her of. Instead she gasped and spluttered as freezing cold water was thrown over her.
"Time for your bath," shouted Luke as Charlie roared with laughter. Cathy rolled out of bed throwing punched at Luke. Luke backed away and raised his arms in defence. Charlie grabbed her from behind and pulled her away. Cathy struggled against Charlie and was surprised at how string she was.
"Look Gisbourne is already don't stairs waiting for you," said Charlie as Cathy continued to struggle.
"Now?" said Cathy as she stopped struggling.
"Yes, now," said Charlie letting go of Cathy.
"Quick, he scares me, I have to get out there now. Luke, go away."
"Oh, thank you, Nice to know I'm wanted."
"Come on I have to change," whined Cathy undoing the knot on the back of her night gown.
"Fine, if you really don't want me…" Luke mumbled. Cathy smile at his retreating form.
20 minutes later Cathy and Charlie arrived downstairs to see Gisbourne already mounted.
"Sir Guy," said Cathy bringing attention to herself. "I hope you have not been waiting long."
"Not at all," he said a small smile creeping over his face.
"Actually he's been waiting for the past half hour," whispered Luke to Cathy giving her a leg up on to her mare. Cathy tried her best to keep her face straight. Once Luke had mounted his mare they set of.
"Luke, you lead the way," called Cathy over her shoulder,
"Yes, my lady," said Luke as he passed her.
Cathy turned to Gisbourne and explained her self, "Luke is the only one who know where we left the carriage, I have a terrible sense of direction." They rode on in silence for a bit, Cathy had to bite her tong to stop her self calling out to Luke and making a joke.
"Why are you heading for Scotland, Lady Catherine," asked Gisbourne.
"Please, just Catherine. I am visiting a childhood friend, who moved there with her husband not long ago. I haven't seen her for a long time, and I thought that it would be nice."
"Yes, not long a go I visited a friend in London, a visit is always made more pleasant when a old friend is involved."
"Yes," said Cathy casting around for something to say. "You mentioned something about outlaws in this forest, is that why there are so many guards?"
"Yes, you can never be too careful, especially with Robin Hood." From where she was riding behind him Cathy saw Luke's back tense up.
"Robin Hood, I heard of him, isn't he some sort of hero with the peasants."
"Some sort of," replied Guy with a smirk, "But he needs to choose who he lets in to his inner gang more carefully."
"Why is that?" Cathy asked forcing her hands to stop shaking.
"A member of his gang betrayed him, gave me information for a few coins."
"Just for a few coins?" Cathy asked, she and Allan had never really talked about what made him betray the gang, but she was sure it wasn't just for a few coins.
"Well, he needed a bit of persuading at first."
"My father was a big supporter of torture, he was convinced the only way to get people to do what you wanted them to do was by force."
"That I agree with. Although, I must draw a line at little children." Cathy nodded in agreement, keeping her eyes fixed on Luke's back which was if possible even more tense.
"My Lady, Sir," called Luke after a few more minutes of silence. "The carriage is just around the corner."
As the party rounded a corner, Cathy and Luke let out audible gasps.
"What on earth happened?" shrieked Cathy, dismounting and hurrying forward. "It was just stuck when we left it, not broken. All my stuff has gone. What happened?"
"Outlaws," said Gisbourne.
"My lady, it is not so bad, if we could get it back to Nottingham, I am sure I will be able to fix it," said Luke pretending to examine the carriage.
"Really Luke, you could fix it?"
"Yes, my lady."
"How long do you think it will take?" Cathy asked.
"A matter of days, three, maybe four."
"I am glad you're a carpenter. I suppose that we will have to stay in the Blue oak," said Cathy referring to a pub in Nottingham Town.
"You shall stay in the castle, Catherine. I insist," Gisbourne added as Cathy looked at him doubtfully.
"Thank you, Sir Guy," said Cathy giving him yet another dazzling smile.
As Gisbourne, his men and Luke heaved and pulled the carriage out the mud Cathy looked around her. What she wouldn't give to just walk away from here with Luke back to camp. She was so lost in thought that she nearly missed Little John step out from behind a tree. He grinned at her and gave her the thumbs up. She smiled slightly back, and then turned her attention back to the men who by now had finished pulling the carriage out of the mud. Luke came over to her to give her a leg up on to her mare again.
"Did you hear what he did?" Cathy whispered fussing around with the stirrup to extend the time they could talk.
"Yes, I hate him," said Luke.
"Poor Allan," Cathy whispered lifting her foot up and slipping it in to Luke's awaiting hands,
"Don't say anything to him though," she hissed as she pushed off in to Luke's hand and swing herself on to her horse.
As they rode back to wards Nottingham she and Gisbourne talked mainly about Locksley.
"Yes, I acquired it a few years back, I was just looking after it because the then lord of Locksley was away fighting in the Holy Land, but I got it permanently after he returned and was deemed unfit to Lord it by the sheriff."
"On what ground was he deemed unfit, if you don't mind me asking?" Cathy asked being careful not to arouse suspicion.
"The former Lord of Locksley is Robin Hood,"
"Robin Hood? You mean the outlaw?" asked Cathy faking surprise.
"He wasn't fit to run Locksley any way in my opinion," said Gisbourne pursing his lips. Cathy didn't ask she really didn't want to hear it but Gisbourne hadn't finished yet. "He's too weak, he lets his heart get in the way of business."
"Yes, you have to take a strong hand with your workers," Cathy forced herself to say.
"Yes," said Gisbourne, they lapsed in to silence as Nottingham castle loomed in the distance.
10 minutes of silence later the entire group were dismounting and leading the broken carriage in to the stables.
"Catherine," said Gisbourne, Cathy looked over as Gisbourne jerked his head to the deserted courtyard. Cathy glanced at Luke who was deep in conversation with one of the castle guards didn't notice her as she left.
"Catherine I would like to ask you to accompany me to Locksley tomorrow, If you have nothing planned."
"I would love that, Sir Guy, I would love to see your lands," replied Cathy secretly cursing the fact that she couldn't remain in the castle to find out more about Mr Wentworth.
"Good," said Gisbourne a smile of relief falling over his face, "That's…. Good.' Cathy smiled to herself at Gisbourne's obvious infatuation. Gisbourne stood there smiling at her for a moment.
"Was there anything else, Sir Guy?" asked Cathy wanting nothing more then anything to get to her room.
"No," Gisbourne stammered, walking away quickly.
Slowly Cathy walked back in to the stables. Just as she entered the rest of the guards were exiting.
"Good day, My Lady," some of the mumbled as they passed her.
"Good day," she said back. As soon as the words were uttered she regretted it, most of the guards turned to look at her, surprise on their weary faces. Cathy pushed past them in to the stables not meeting any of their eyes. Inside the stables there was only Luke there who was already working on the carriage, and a young stable boy who was chatting to Luke.
"My dad worked here, most of his life. He always liked it here under the old Sheriff. I started working here last year. If father had known that the new sheriff was going to be this bad then I don't think that he would have got them to promise me a job here." The young boy stopped short, he seemed to run out of things to say.
"Could you not get a job with one of the other nobles, Daniel?"
"No, I tried. But now that people have their jobs they don't want to let it go. The stable boy in Cotgrove is leaving to Cornwall, so I'm trying there." Cathy walked in to the center of the room. The boy stopped talking instantly, his face turned white. He scrambled to his feet muttering an apology under his breath. Luke looked up at Cathy.
"Luke, come find me once…" Luke nodded stopping Cathy from finishing her sentence. She nodded glanced one more time at the boy who was still cowering in the corner and walked out. She walked quickly and quietly to her room, once inside she closed the door. She lent against it and closed her eyes and felt a single tear run down her face. The picture of the boy cowering at the sight of her in the corner filled her vision.
She dashed away from the door as it was opened. Luke appeared in the door way, he was looking at her in concern. He didn't say anything just walked in and closed behind him. Cathy took a deep breath and tried a smile. Luke continued to look at her with concern.
"He's not the only one, is he?" Cathy said tears finally spilling out of her eyes. Luke remained silent, he just opened her arm and Cathy leant in to him.