Chapter Ten
Early the next morning, Gisborne found himself standing outside Charlotte's door with the Sheriff beside him. For some reason, the Sheriff insisted on Sir Guy speaking to her first. When Guy had asked why, he merely replied, "She likes you more."
Reluctantly, Gisborne tapped on the door. He could hear Charlotte plucking the strings of a lute and singing quietly to herself. She was actually quite good; she had a lovely singling voice and her fingers deftly found the right notes. Suddenly, the music stopped.
"Come in!" Charlotte called. Sir Guy turned the door handle and pushed the door, it giving a defiant creak as it swung open.
For an instant, Gisborne was speechless. There in front of him, with the light streaming in from the open window behind her, was an angel. Or at least, that was how Charlotte appeared.
Wrapped around her like a toga was what looked like a large linen scarf, so dazzlingly white that is appeared to be giving off a light of its own. Charlotte was sitting with the lute in her lap, her chocolate brown eyes expectant as she watched Sir Guy. Her long, honey blonde hair was draped over her shoulders like a scarf, as if it was replacing the one that was wrapped around her. He discovered a sprinkle of freckles on her pixie-like nose, which he had never noticed before. The brilliant light from the window shone off her golden-brown skin, like an aura radiating around her.
Something was different, though. It took a moment for Gisborne to realise what it was. Without one of her heavy medieval dresses, Charlotte was tiny. She still had curves, but was quite slim. She was also very short; her bare feet dangled a good few inches off the ground as she sat on her chair.
The last thing that Sir Guy noticed was the weathered string of shells that hung around her small ankle. Some of the shells were white, while others were yellowed. Somehow the shells made the image complete, reminding everyone who Charlotte was; eccentric, a lady, an angel, a fighter and a warm, loving light that shone out to others. An indescribable mix of differences that somehow fit together perfectly.
"Finished perving yet?" Charlotte asked, bringing Gisborne back down to earth.
"Uh," he said, forgetting what he was there for.
"Did you have a message for me?" she asked. He nodded.
"That's right," he said. "The Sheriff would like to speak to you."
"Then why didn't the Sheriff come himself?"
"He did, actually."
"Well, tell him to wait a moment so that I can get dressed properly," Charlotte said, beginning to rise out of her seat.
"Too late," the Sheriff said, walking through the door. Like Gisborne, he was momentarily astounded. Unlike Gisborne, he picked himself up without making a fool of himself. "I know that Lord Arthur would love that, but it might ruin my reputation if one of my associates went around naked."
"Half-naked," Charlotte replied. "I do have something on. Anyway, I was thinking a blue dress for today. What do you think?"
"Whatever- Arthur will still be drooling all over you."
"Is today an entertainment day?" Charlotte asked.
"Mmmm," the Sheriff replied, nodding his head. "I trust you've got something enjoyable in mind?"
"Horse riding, a walk in the forest and a picnic; exactly what we discussed last night. Does that sound pleasurable to you?"
"I suppose, but it doesn't matter what I think. I'm not going," he reminded her. "Thank goodness- I don't think my ears could stand much more of his jabbering on."
"Me either," Guy muttered.
"Alright, then. Now get out of my room so that I can get dressed!" Charlotte ordered. Gisborne raced out but the Sheriff stayed a moment longer.
"Don't stay too long in the forest," he warned. "Outlaws infest the woodland around here. I wouldn't want a helpless woman getting hurt."
"I can take care of myself," she told him, motioning with her hands for him to go. "Besides, I thought we agreed that I'm a man."
***
"Robin!" Will called, tearing into the camp. "There's something you have to see!"
"What is it?" Robin asked, lowering his bow. He had been doing target practice. "Is it urgent?"
"No, but just come anyway," Will insisted. Robin exchanged glances with Allan and Much, who shrugged their shoulders.
"What are we waiting for?" Allan asked. "Let's go!"
The whole gang found themselves weaving through the dark forest, each finding pleasure in the scarce but welcoming patches of sunshine. Eventually they reached a clearing, and Will put a finger to his lips.
The real Lord Arthur lay fast asleep on green blanket beside a woven reed basket, which was filled to the brim with food. A guard was slumped in front of a large tree, also asleep or knocked out- you couldn't be too sure with Charlotte. Charlotte herself was nowhere to be seen.
"That's the real Lord Arthur," Will announced triumphantly. "He's here on a picnic with Lady Charlotte."
"You can just call me Charlotte," she said from behind them. Everyone whirled around to face her. "Hello!" she said, grinning. Allan gave Will a look that said 'I told you so!'
"It's not Lady Charlotte," he muttered just loud enough for Will to hear.
"What are you doing here?" Robin asked, waving his hands in the direction of the two unconscious men.
"Taking a relaxing walk through the forest," Charlotte replied, putting her hands on her hips. "Robin, the polite thing to do would be to introduce me to Djaq and John," she hinted. Robin nodded.
"Charlotte, this is my friend, Little John," he said, clapping John on the shoulder. John gave a friendly smile and nodded at her.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Little John," Charlotte said cordially, "although might I add that there is nothing little about you?"
"It's a nickname," he explained, then chuckled to himself.
"And this is my friend Djaq," Robin cut in, touching Djaq on the arm. Djaq studied Charlotte carefully before giving a small smile.
"Hello," she said, her dark brown eyes observant as she extended a hand. Charlotte shook it and returned the smile.
"I hear that you are the scientist of the gang," Charlotte said.
"Oh, not really," Djaq replied, blushing.
"If you do not mind, I would like to learn from you," Charlotte asked, crossing her fingers behind her back for luck. It was one of Charlotte's dearest wishes to learn more about science, especially on the medical side and alchemy.
"Of course!" Djaq said, pleased that Charlotte appreciated her work. The two beamed at each other and Robin could tell that they were going to be firm friends.
"Not meaning to interrupt, but what about those two?" Much whispered, jerking his thumb behind him.
"Oh, they'll be out cold for a while," Charlotte said. "Especially the guard."
"What did you do?" Robin asked, his tone similar to that of a wary parent.
"I only put a sleeping potion in their drinks," she cried, then added more softly, "and I might have hit the guard over the head a bit."
"I have a plan," Robin announced, leaning against the closest tree. All eyes turned to him, eager and cautious at the same time. "One of you gets into the guards clothes and goes back with Charlotte. We'll question the real one."
"Why don't we question Lord Arthur?" Will asked, shrugging his shoulders.
"Because he'll go back to the Sheriff and tell him."
"What if we threaten him?" Allan suggested. John flexed his arms.
"No, we're not thugs," Robin reminded them. "We have to let the Sheriff think that we don't know anything about him."
"Where did Charlotte go?" Much asked, suddenly turning around. Everyone except Robin turned their heads, searching for her. When they all gave up and faced Robin again, he motioned for them to look up.
Sure enough, high up in the tree, perched on a branch like a squirrel, was Charlotte. She looked down at them contentedly, like she was pleased with them finally discovering her.
"Took you a while," she teased, then leapt down to the next branch. She continued to do this until she finally reached the ground, not even slightly out of breath or shaken by the experience. In fact, she looked as if she had enjoyed it.
"That girl has no fear," Much murmured, the others nodding in agreement.
"Anyway," Charlotte said, taking a spot in between Robin and a very pleased Allan. "Continue with the conversation."
"Actually we were finished," Robin said, and then tousled her hair. "Or at least, we were nearly finished before we were interrupted by a large squirrel."
"I'll volunteer for being the guard," Allan said, perhaps a little bit too eagerly.
"All right, we have one volunteer," Robin said. "Who's going to help me interview the guard?" Little John raised his hand. "The rest of you- I'll meet you back at camp." With that, the others scattered. John walked into the clearing and dragged the unconscious guard to where the others were standing and the men began to proceed with stripping off his armour. Charlotte disappeared again, returning holding a real squirrel in her arms. With her around, the animal was quite tame, but as soon as she put it down, it sped away. Robin watched in fascination- Charlotte appeared to have a natural talent for working with animals. When Allan was finally in the guard's uniform, the men made an effort to wake the real guard up.
"Pour water over his face," Allan suggested, kicking the guard in the side. Suddenly, he groaned. Instinctively, Charlotte moved away. Unconscious man + strangers = trouble.
***
"Charlotte, my lovely, where are you?" Arthur called, sitting up and rubbing his woozy head. "Where have you gone?"
"Over here," she said, emerging out of the forest. "I just went for a quick walk."
"All by yourself? Don't you know that there are unsavoury characters in this forest?"
"I didn't go far," she assured him. "Why don't we have lunch now?"
"Oh, in a moment. First there is something I would like to try." He smirked at her and stood up. Suddenly he advanced on Charlotte, taking her by surprise. Before she knew what was happening, he was kissing her.
"Oh! Arthur," Charlotte cried in shock. Arthur misunderstood and took it for pleasure.
"I thought I should take my chance while the chaperone guard was gone. Incidentally, where is that numbskull?" Arthur asked, his arm snaking around Charlotte's waist.
"He went off to relieve himself… in fact, there he is," Charlotte said, pointing at an approaching Allan. Arthur let go of her immediately.
"Oi!" Allan called. Charlotte frowned at him, so instead of telling Arthur off, he said, "When's lunch being served?"