Another Chapter! Sorry it has taken me too long :(
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ALLAN'S POV
Yesterday had been a good day. Luke and Cathy had come back from the castle, they had saved Nottingham from yet more taxes, Cathy had saved a little girl, and the gang had gotten a chance to relax. The only thing that would of made it a great day was if he had managed to go see Charlie. He sat up and was surprised to see Cathy already up and about.
"Morning," he grumbled rubbing his hands over his face.
"Morning," replied Cathy, she handed him a plate of food.
"Why you up so early?" Allan grunted through a mouthful of food.
"I have things I need to do," said Cathy not looking at Allan. Allan knew that she was lying; he guessed that she hadn't slept well that night due to the fact the Luke was leaving this morning. Allan noticed Luke's neck scarf lying in the early morning sun, drying. He remembered to yesterday when Luke had put it on her, they way he held her hand so delicately and worked with so much concentration that he usually worked with on a carpentry job. Allan was brought out of his thoughts by the other members of the gang stirring from the sleep. All of them showed surprise that the A Dales were awake before anyone else, but no one said anything as they started about with their morning jobs.
An hour later the whole gang was gathered outside the entrance to the camp to bid goodbye to Luke and Much. Much was the first off, being very eager to start his searching had just called for and enforced a group hug before leaping on his 'noble steed' and galloping off.
"I'll only be a few days," Luke as he embraced Robin in a manly hug.
"Make sure you stay safe," said Robin as Luke moved on to embrace John.
"Good luck, mate," said Allan moving to embrace him as well. "Don't you dare skip off on us like your brother did, right?" he whispered in to his ear.
"Wouldn't dream of it mate," replied Luke clapping him on the back. As Luke moved on to Cathy Allan noticed that the rest of the gang had busied themselves in something or other. Robin was inspecting his quiver; John was examining what looked like a splinter in his big hand. Allan looked around, he noticed a stick on the ground, which he picked it up and started to play with.
"Kath, I'll be back in a few," Allan over herd Luke say to Cathy.
"I'm going to go to Cotgrove today," Cathy said in a small voice, "for Daniel. Once I've seen Sarah." Out of the corner of his eye Allan saw Cathy and Luke make eye contact, Cathy then threw her arms around Luke's neck. Luke snaked his hands around her waist holding her close. Allan realised that if any one other the Luke had held Cathy that why he would have walked up and clouted them. Slowly the young outlaws broke apart.
"See you all in a few day's," Luke said swinging himself on to the horse. There was a general mummer of goodbyes as Luke kicked the horse forward, the further he got away the faster he pushed the horse, the last thing they saw of Luke was him pushing the horse forwards in to a canter before the trees swallowed him up completely. They all stood there in silence, waiting for Cathy to move. Finally she did, putting on a pretence they all could see through.
"Allan, you want to come with me to check on Sarah, then to Cotgrove?" Allan opened his mouth to answer when Robin cut him off.
"Why do you need to go to Cotgrove?"
"The stable hand at the castle, He's been trying to get a new job for a long time, and I thought I would go and put in a good word for him," said Cathy, unblushing.
"I'll come," said Allan, "Unless you need me for anything else?" he asked turning to Robin. Robin shook his head a small smile on his face.
"We'll do rounds tomorrow," he said walking back in to camp.
Tow hours later a perfectly cheerful Cathy bounded out to Allan who was playing with Mark and Stephen in the garden.
"She's alright! She can talk!" Cathy said a huge smile on her face.
"I knew she was going to be alright," said Allan, saying goodbye to the two young boys.
"But Allan, she's going to be alright," she said her pride, and excitement bubbling over as she jumped on Allan as she had done when she was first let in to the gang.
"You have to stop doubting your abilities, Cathy. All of us knew that she was going to be alright," said Allan, clasping his hands underneath her. Cathy didn't reply but hopped down and together they made their way towards Cotgrove.
"Allan, you know yesterday, when I told you not to not to wait to tell Charlie. Why did you say that you could say the same thing back to me?" Allan grinned to himself; Cathy truly was an A Dale.
"You love Luke, you shouldn't wait to tell him," said Allan, as Cathy spluttered indignantly next to him.
"I do not love Luke, he's my best friend," said Cathy.
"If you say so," said Allan shrugging, it triggered the perfect response from Cathy.
"What does that mean?"
"It means if you say so then I'll take it," Allan said calmly, which was infuriating Cathy. "Let's just forget this, shall we?"
"Yes, I regret ever asking you," she snapped, Allan chuckled under his breath not wanting to completely set Cathy off. By that time they were in Cotgrove and making their way towards the manor house.
"What were you planning to do?" Allan asked as they walked up the path. Cathy shrugged.
"Knock on the door, ask if I can talk to him."
"Good plan," said Allan sarcastically as she knocked on the front door.
"Can I please talk to the man of the house?" Cathy asked pulling a face at Allan as the maid nodded and stepped back to let them in.
"He'll be with you momentarily," the maid said reappearing in the room for a fraction of a second before descending the stairs in to the kitchen.
"Do you think he'll let Daniel work for him?" Cathy asked suddenly feeling a bit apprehensions.
"If he has any morals, he will," said Allan wishing he could help out further.
"How may I help you?" said a voice from the top of the stairs a young man emerging form the shadows.
"Good afternoon sir, I am here to speck on behalf of a friend of mine," said Cathy boldly. The young man surveyed them through his grey eyes.
"Continue," he said coolly.
"My friend, Daniel Stuart is the stable boy at the castle, and I believe that it is in his best interests if her were to take up the position of stable boy here, once yours has moved to Cornwall," she said, preying that it didn't sound as stupid as it did in her head.
"He's got the job," said the young man turning away from them, "He is to start work on Monday." He said starting to climb the stairs.
"He's… he's got the job," asked Cathy looking as stunned as Allan felt.
"Yes, that is what I said," the noble looked over his shoulder at them, "It stops from having to find a new ne doesn't it?" he asked rhetorically before disappearing upstairs. Cathy turned towards Allan. They stared at each other, then at the same time grins broke over their faces.
"To Nottingham?" Allan asked offering her his arm.
"To Nottingham," she said taking his arm.
Together they walked in high sprits towards Nottingham. As they got close their spirits ebbed away. Neither of them had a single clue how to get out in to the stables to talk to Daniel. After both being in the castle they both knew how it worked but between them neither of them could think of a way to get in. By now they were walking though Nottingham market, Allan looked around from underneath his hood racking his brains. Suddenly Cathy nudged him in the ribs.
"Never mind," she whispered, "there he is," she nodded over to a stall where a thin little boy stood, his muddy boots cam up above his knees and his trousers looked in danger of falling down. Cathy hurried away from Allan towards Daniel.
Allan made his way towards them. Cathy tapped Daniel on the shoulder he turned and instantly dropped the leather strap he was holding. Allan who was now close enough to them the hear what was being said herd Daniel apologising to 'Lady Catherine.'
"Daniel. Stop." Ordered Cathy. "I'm not Lady Catherine, I'm Cathy, and I'm with Robin Hood." She said producing her tag. Allan who was now at Cathy's shoulder did the same with his. He took a good look at the boy, He looked like he needed a good meal, and he looked oddly familiar. Allan was sure that he didn't know him from his stint in the castle; the stable boy at the time had been called Stewart and was promoted to manservant just before Allan rejoined the group.
"Me too," said Daniel, producing his own tag, Suddenly Allan remembered where he knew him from. He was one of the little by who had witnessed Gisbourne trying out his new armour.
"Blimey," said Allan, the boy looked at him.
"Remember me now, do you?" he asked jokily.
"You've grown," said Allan as a statement and a defence. The boy nodded. "How are the others?" Allan asked.
"Their alright," he said shrugging his thin shoulders. "Mark moved to Liverpool with his new father. The rest are around and about."
"Liverpool?" said Allan, "why Liverpool?" Daniel shrugged again.
"Lower taxes I suppose. What were you doing in the castle then? Were you ding some work for Robin?"
"Yes," said Cathy still utterly bewildered, "I was getting information about the visitor in the castle." Daniel nodded but didn't ask what they had found out.
"How's Djaq?" the boy asked, and Allan remembered how fond the little boy were of the Saracen.
"She's in the Holy Land, with Will."
"Why? Did she not like it here?" asked Daniel.
"I think she did, but the Holy Land is her home, I guess she wanted to be there."
"But what about Will, this is his home," stated Daniel, Allan couldn't help how smart he had grown.
"He just wanted to be with her," said Allan.
"You still eating squirrel?" he asked laughing, both he and Cathy laughed as well.
"Yes, and Much is still insisting that it's Chicken," said Allan. Daniel stopped laughing as the church bell sounded.
"I have to get back to work, it was nice to see you again," he said moving away.
"Hang on, that's what we came to talk to you about. We've got you a new job. The one at Cotgrove," she said, Daniel's face lit up.
"really?" he asked not believing his ears.
"You start on Monday," said Cathy smiling back at him.
"Thank you, Cathy," he said flinging his arms around Cathy's mid drift. Allan smiled at the shocked, but pleased looks on both their faces.
"I've really got to get back to work now," Daniel said pulling away from Cathy, "thank you, you're an angle." Cathy blushed deeply. She and Allan stood there until Daniel had disappeared in to the wall of the castle.
"How do you know him?" Cathy asked as they set of towards camp, the sun sinking quick. On their way back to camp Allan explained what happened that day.