The warmer weather was beginning to ease, as Allan became an official member of Sir Guy's men. Edyn was horrified to hear from Marian that he was happily informing the Sheriff of all the ways in and out of the castle regularly used by Robin's men as well as Marian when times called for it. "He claims he's got to do it to ensure the Sheriff doesn't turn against him," Marian fumed one morning. "Plus he persuaded the Sheriff to empty his strongroom so now Robin doesn't know where to look for the pact."
"I don't believe it," Edyn muttered.
Going about her usual tasks she happened to come across Allan while running an errand for Marian and pulled him to one side, cautiously checking they were not seen. "Edyn, what are you doing?" he demanded.
"What am I doing? What about you telling the Sheriff all of Robin's escape routes? You said you wouldn't!"
"No," Allan argued. "I said I wouldn't say anything about you or Marian. I have to tell them some things if I want to stay here, right?"
Edyn simply shook her head at him; she didn't have the patients to listen to him weasel out of his mistakes. She had hoped that he might have learned from them, but the truth was he had learnt nothing. "Are you ever going to take responsibility for the things you've done? Or is there always going to be some reason for why you do them?"
He looked away and shook his head and for some odd reason Edyn got a slight thrill out of proving him wrong. "Just stop it. You've said enough to secure your position here. I don't think any more secrets need to be told." She didn't wait for a response before she turned and left to finish her jobs.
Returning to Marian's bedchambers she found them empty and automatically Edyn assumed she was visiting Sir Edward. He was slowly becoming weaker and weaker from his confinement in the castle prison. But Edyn was left waiting for Marian's return for much longer than she had anticipated. When she finally returned she seemed to be flustered and encouraged Edyn to follow her.
Before Edyn even got a chance to question her, Marian was already explaining their situation. "I need you to sneak down to the stables and ready the horses. Be sure you are not seen by anyone. I need to warn Robin so I'm going to try and persuade Guy to let me into the town and I'll need you to have the horses waiting in the town for me."
Edyn nodded her head. "What do we have to warn Robin about?"
"It's Allan," Marian said. "He's agreed to lead Guy to Robin's camp so I need you to be ready the moment Guy leaves."
"I'll get the horses now," Edyn said before turning towards the courtyard.
Sneaking inside the stable was relatively easy, especially as both hers and Marian's mounts were housed in the far stalls away from where Sir Guy's was. She had them just about ready when she noticed Allan walking in her direction. She quickly ducked into a nearby stall and waited for Allan to collect his horse. She held her breath as she heard him enter the stall beside where she hid. It seemed to take him forever to throw a saddle on his mount. Come on!
Finally, he led his horse outside and Edyn peered around to make sure he didn't double back for any reason. Creeping down to the back door of the stable, which lead to the back streets of Nottingham she couldn't believe her luck to find it unlocked. It would be near impossible to leave via the courtyard without being seen, especially while leading two large horses. Hiding in one of the streets she watched as Sir Guy and his men passed, Marian walking alongside Sir Guy. Edyn stared at the two of them as they departed before she quickly moved the horses into the street just as Marian turned towards her.
"Nicely done," she complemented as she took her horse from Edyn.
"As always," Edyn giggled.
The ride through the forest was quick and soon the sound of the wind gushing passed her ears was competing with the sound of the horses' labouring breath. Approaching the camp they slowed as they went down the slope leading to the clearing. There was then a horrible creaking sound and Edyn looked across to Marian and watched in horror as some sort of barricade swung towards her. "Marian!" she gasped, but it was too late. The wooden boulder collided with Marian's shoulder and Edyn watched as she fell from her horse. After that it all became a blur. Her horse terrified by what had just happened instinctively shied away before he reared back onto his hind legs unseating Edyn. She fell to the ground like a sack of potatoes and watched feebly as both hers and Marian's horses fled from their thrown riders.
"Robin!" she heard Marian's voice scream and she rolled over to see that somehow Marian had been hoisted up by a rope and was now dangling helplessly from a tree branch.
Edyn sat her aching body up as Robin and the gang appeared. Will quickly moved off to lower Marian to the ground as Much came over to Edyn to help her to her feet. The moment Marian's feet touched the ground she leapt forward and drove her fist into Robin's gut. He bent over double with the pain and the rest of the men all cringed in sympathy while Djaq simply smirked. Before Robin had regained himself Marian had already begun explaining Allan's betrayal and how he and Sir Guy were on their way there.
"I bet you're pleased with yourself?" Edyn asked stepping closer to Will. He sent her a questioning look so she continued. "I'm assuming it was you who designed and built that thing."
She watched amused as he looked down at his feet. "Maybe…"
"Well, usually I would complement you, but not today," she added rubbing her backside where she had landed. She noticed he mashed his lips together and she knew he was desperately holding back from laughter. She tried to glare at him but gave up and laughed instead. She then went to catch her horse with the help of a man named John who quickly explained that Robin was helping him save his bride. "How romantic," she commented as they approached where Marian and Robin stood.
"It may sound like it, but all I want is her. There's no need for any romantic story to go along with it," he told her.
This stunned Edyn a little. "It seems silly but that actually sounds so much nicer." He simply nodded his head. "Oops!" she suddenly exclaimed as they had both clearly interrupted Robin and Marian talking about something other than Allan and Sir Guy.
Marian simply brushed it off and soon they were heading back to the castle. Marian kept the same smirk on her face the entire way and Edyn couldn't help but giggle. "What?" Marian demanded.
"Nothing, just– Today I'm really getting an insight of what love does to a person. You could not be any happier, could you?"
"Well, let's just say I doubt anything else will ruin my day," Marian concluded.
Returning to Nottingham Edyn snuck through the back entrance of the stables while Marian entered the courtyard as if she had just returned from the physician she had informed Sir Guy she was intending on visiting. Edyn was just leaving the stable when Sir Guy and Allan rode through the gate no longer accompanied by the many guards they had left with. Luckily their anger made them oblivious to Edyn as she quickly ran to the castle and disappeared into a nearby corridor.
Marian's bedchamber was empty when she pushed open the door and she automatically assumed she was with her father once again. "He's ignoring me!" Edyn jumped and turned to find Marian enter looking far more agitated than what she had been before. "I know he's mad with me but I didn't realise how much he was."
"I'm sure tomorrow he will have forgotten all about your argument," Edyn comforted. Marian simply nodded her head and let the subject drop.
The afternoon was slowly dragging on when they both heard a knock on Marian's door. "Yes?" Edyn asked as she pulled the heavy door open. Facing her was an elderly guard with a somewhat depressed expression. "What's happened?" Edyn asked in a small voice.
"I need to speak with the Lady Marian," he said slowly.
"Yes of course. My–" Edyn stopped herself as Marian was suddenly beside her looking at the guard puzzled.
"Lady Marian," he said formally bowing his head. "Sir Guy has sent me." He paused there as if he were struggling to get his words out. "It's about your father." Edyn couldn't ignore Marian's sudden intake of breath.
"W-what about him?" Marian asked nervously.
"It appears he escaped the dungeon, and was seen aiding Robin Hood in stealing a very valuable document from the Sheriff. Unfortunately–"
"Stop!" Marian said loudly holding up her hand to silence him while breathing deeply.
"Forgive me, but I am required to instruct you to follow me," the guard continued after a few moments.
"What? Why?" Marian babbled and Edyn could see tears welling in her blue eyes.
"If you would please follow me," he repeated and turned towards the corridor.
Marian still stood frozen and Edyn took a step closer bringing her hands to Marian's arm. "My lady?" Marian turned and stared at her with wide eyes. "We should go," Edyn said trying to make her voice sound firm.
Numbly Marian followed the guard. The fresh air seemed to clear her head and she soon roughly pulled herself from Edyn's helping hands. "Wait," she called to the guard. "Where exactly are you taking me? Why are you doing this?" The guard simply ignored her and she turned to Edyn. Sadly, Edyn had her suspicions but dared not voice them.
The guard led the two of them out of the castle gates and into one of the side streets. Many of Sir Guy's men were all gathered around. Edyn stopped in her tracks and brought a hand to her mouth as she watched in horror as Canon Birkly's body was carried away from the scene on a stretcher held by two beefy soldiers. It was then she spotted the feet belonging to another body. Her suspicions were made true by Marian's sudden outburst. "Father!"
Pathetically Marian shook him and squeezed his hand desperate for a response from him. Nothing. Edyn soon found herself closing her eyes so as not to watch the sadness unfolding before her. Whoever said that death was a beautiful thing was clearly wrong. It was frightening and disturbing, and far from anything beautiful. She could see Sir Guy bending down beside Marian as she continued to shriek and cry. Edyn didn't know what was worse, the sight of her former master lying dead on the ground or the sounds of Marian's grief. Whenever Marian had been upset Edyn had always stepped forward to be there and comfort her but for some reason her mind was screaming at her to stay where she stood. Death was such a complex issue, and people's reactions were always different. How do you know what to say or do? Edyn wondered.
When Marian had finally had enough with Sir Guy's attempt to comfort her she hastily leapt to her feet and fled the street, Sir Guy was close behind her. Ordinarily Edyn would have followed but she decided to stay where she was. She remained there for a while, watching as Sir Edward's stretcher was lifted and carried off. She did not cry, yet the skin around her eyes felt tight as if she had been. Reluctantly one of Sir Guy's men approached her. "You may want to inform your mistress that Sir Edward will be buried immediately and a service will be held for him and the Canon in the morning." Edyn said nothing, her eyes still locked on the ground where Sir Edward had been only a few moments earlier. "Miss?" the guard asked. "Are you all right? Miss!"
"I'm fine," Edyn mumbled. When she looked at him he jerked his head in the direction of the castle. "Yes, of course. Lady Marian," she rambled ignoring the strange look she received.
Upstairs she approached Marian's door just as Sir Guy left. Her hand reached for the handle when she heard Marian inside gasping for air through her tears. She then heard Robin's voice follow and she let her hand drop. She slowly turned and rested her back against the cool wood of the door. This wasn't fair. Marian was a good person; she didn't deserve grief like this. Deciding to leave the two of them she returned to her quarters. As she walked she then felt a tear fall from her cheek. Bringing her hand to her face she felt the moisture and then realised she was crying. How had she not noticed that? Her entire body felt completely numb and she struggled just to keep herself balanced.
When she returned to Marian's chamber later she was not at all surprised to find it empty with a smashed window and a makeshift rope hanging from it. She slowly approached the window and looked outside. Even from the great height she knew it was one of Robin's arrows. Hastily she ran from the castle to retrieve it before it was spotted and went to find Sir Guy to inform him of Marian's escape.
This was the moment she had been dreading. "What?" he bellowed at her before her grabbed her by the arm and dragged her roughly to Marian's bedchamber to inspect it for himself.
"How could you let her leave?" Sir Guy roared, causing Edyn to back herself away.
"Forgive me, Sir Guy, but I am a servant. If I am ordered to leave a room then I must, as I was instructed to do so earlier this afternoon," Edyn lied trying to defend herself.
Sir Guy moved closer to her and for a moment she was expecting him to strike her. But instead he slammed his fist against the wall over her shoulder. "You stupid girl!" he growled at her before he disappeared leaving Edyn trembling against the cold stonewall.
In the days that followed Edyn was struggling to find a reason to get out of bed. Gleefully the Sheriff had forbidden her to leave the castle for any reasons, including attending Sir Edward's memorial. He seemed to take his hatred against Marian out on her now that she was alone and vulnerable. Again she found herself working in the kitchen whenever she wasn't cleaning or serving wine to the Sheriff and his guests. Though she would never voice it, she was rather offended that she had no word from Marian, as if she had simply been forgotten. She regularly reminded herself about how people reacted when they were grieving. She's not doing it on purpose, she told herself. Just give her time.
Will crept as silently as possible down the dark deserted corridor. Each time he came across a guard he would slink back into the shadows hiding himself until it was clear for him to emerge. He had quite a knack for it he had found since joining Robin's gang, a skill that he had been forced to quickly master lest he be caught. He continued down passed the kitchens towards the servants quarters, a part of the castle he had never been before, relying on the directions Marian had given him earlier.
As silently as he could he pushed the door open and moved inside. It felt odd to be in there, disrespectful. Men were never permitted inside the women's quarters, outlaw or not. Though it was almost pitch black inside the room his eyes quickly adjusted and he was beyond relieved to find Edyn lying on the bed closest to the door. All he would have to do would be to stay hidden beside her bed and hopefully wouldn't be spotted by the others. Moving closer he squatted down to the ground and hid himself at the end of her bed. A smirk crossed his face as he took in her position. All the other women accommodating the room either slept on their backs or curled up on their sides, much like everyone else he had seen sleeping. Edyn however slept half on her side and half on her stomach with one leg straight and the other bent right up beside her, her arms curling around the flat pillow she had.
"Edyn," he whispered as loud as he dared. Nothing. "Edyn," he tried again. Still nothing. Getting frustrated he gave her mattress a small shove.
"Mmm," Edyn moaned loudly stirring slightly while Will ducked his head praying none of the other women had woken.
After what felt like an age he finally looked up to find the room still and silent. Creeping closer he couldn't think of anything else to do but to gently place his hand over her mouth. She woke with a start, her eyes wide and he hastily brought a finger to his lips to hush her. Realising whom it was she relaxed and she brought a hand up to his to remove it. His mind then wondered. Her hands were so soft and clean compared to his, and he suddenly became a little self-conscious about his hygiene.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded in a hushed voice.
Glancing over her shoulder to make sure the others were still in their slumber he answered, "I came to make sure you were alright."
"What?" Her dark eyes narrowed.
"Marian sent me," he explained. "She wanted to make sure you were all right after she ran off. She was hoping that you would come to forest, but when you didn't she got worried. She couldn't come here herself, she'd be too easily recognised if she were seen, as would Robin, Djaq and John. So it was down to Much and myself."
He noticed the corner of her mouth twitch. "I bet Much was more than happy to come."
Will couldn't help but return the smile. "You know Much."
Her smile spread further and she looked down, her auburn hair was braided and fell from her shoulder when she moved her head. A few wisps around her face had come loose from its restraints and brushed passed her cheeks. Strange, he had never noticed how soft it looked. Usually she had it bound tightly behind her, only occasionally had he seen it loose. Idly he wished she let in out more often, it suited her, all free and out of control. He was being very careful of where he was letting his eyes wander as all she was wearing was a small white shift, and being a cold night it didn't leave much to the imagination.
"So was that it?" she asked him awakening him from his thoughts.
"Err, yes. Sorry," he babbled trying to remember what else he had been asked here for. "Marian wanted to know what you have to do here now. We were all a little worried that you might have been forced out of the castle."
She shook her head. "Still here, luckily. I was a little worried at first, Sir Guy was furious with me."
"He didn't hurt you?" he asked nervous that she may have been harmed, more than once he had seen her with injuries from his men whenever he had been mad with Marian.
"No. I wasn't sure at first, but no," she reassured him. "You were worried about me?" she asked and even in the darkness Will could see her cheeks flush pink.
"Yes. Well, everyone. The gang and Marian."
"Oh." Oddly, she looked slightly down by this knowledge. Will thought that she would have loved to hear that everyone was concerned about her welfare. "Well, you can let them know I'm working hard as a kitchen maid now."
"That's a bit of a downgrade," he muttered.
Edyn nodded her head with agreement. "Although, the Sheriff seems to call on me a lot," she said. Will frowned and she seemed to notice, quickly silencing him before he said anything. "No, not like that! Just… whenever he asks for food or wine to be brought up to him, he insists that I be the one to do it. I think he feels I've spent too much time with Lady Marian and wants to make sure I'm not going to rebel like she used to."
He relaxed a little. "Good. Let us know if he does anything to hurt you though. You know Robin will help you in a heartbeat."
"I know," she whispered smiling again. Strange how in the darkness she looked different, her hair looked almost black with no light to catch it and her pale skin seemed to glow in comparison to that and her dark eyes. Slowly, those eyes looked up and met his. "How is she?"
Instantly Will knew she was asking about Marian. "She's dealing with it. Robin's been there for her the whole time. To be honest I think she's struggling having to listen to him."
"She's used to being her own leader, she's never had to listen to anyone before, and I mean that in a good way," Edyn added to defend herself. "I can't imagine how she must be feeling right now. Her father was her whole world."
Will nodded his head. "I'll let her know that you're thinking of her." She smiled her gratitude. "I should go before we're caught," he reluctantly said.
Again, she looked slightly upset by that and he wondered why. He was about to turn when he felt her delicate hand catch his. "Thank you," she said softly. "Sometimes I fear that I'm not really needed," she confessed.
"I hope I've proved you wrong," he replied squeezing her soft hand in his own rough, callused grasp.
A:N/ I am so sorry it took me AGES to get this chapter posted. My life is so hectic. I'm about to start a new job and I'm moving away from home, so scary! But so exciting too =) Just for the heads up the next few chapters may take a while before they're posted. But do not stress! I will be writing again once I'm settled and will find some way to access the internet to post them, even if I have to sit at McDonald's like an idiot to use their free internet, trust me I will do it lol. Anyways, I hope you like this chapter. A little insight into what Will's thinking. I know I didn't give much away but I figure he's the kind of guy that gets embarrassed just by thinking of certain situations. Plus, I've been watching way too much Game of Thrones so now I see him as an arsehole as he is as Viserys. Still yummy though! Harry Lloyd was the only reason why I wanted to watch it and now I'm obsessed.
Please, please review! And thank you for the last ones =) They make me feel so special.