VII

Rain on a Clear Day

Five days. Five days and no word on the whereabouts of Sir Guy of Gisborne. Locksley seemed to be breathing a sigh of relief. It was a temporary calm before an inevitable storm. The Sheriff wouldn't leave the village without a lord for long. He would find someone to take up residence in the manor. The people could only pray it would be someone with a sense of compassion, but most knew that was only wishful thinking.

Locksley Manor, which had already fallen into a state of disarray since Guy's return nearly four months ago, was sinking further into decay. Most of the younger servants were fleeing the manor. Those that had family outside of Nottingham had plans on leaving the shire. No one tried to stop them. Most considered them the lucky few. Those that stayed did so because they had no other place to go.

The one person that possibly could have rallied the remaining servants together and kept things in order was out of all order herself. Rebecca hadn't slept in four days. She paced about the manor getting more and more disheveled every day. Any soldiers who passed through the village were hounded by questions from the woman. During the evening and into the early part of the night she would stand outside, staring down at the village path as if hoping that by sheer force of will she could summon her master back to her. She had to be led back inside each night or else she would never come in.

Rebecca was brought back to the servant quarters and a blanket was draped about her shoulders. She sat down upon her cot, clutching the corners of the blanket. Half a loaf of bread was thrust into her face. "Eat it." Thornton ordered.

"Not hungry." Rebecca said softly.

"Your lack of appetite is no longer acceptable, Rebecca. I won't allow you to starve yourself." Thornton chided in his usual soft-spoken manner.

"I said I wasn't hungry." Rebecca said firmly, "I'll eat in the morning."

"That was what you said last night." Thornton reminded her. "No more of this. You must have a little something."

Rebecca snatched the bread out of Thornton's hand. She took a bite and chewed with slow and deliberate movements. "Stare at me with those angry eyes all you want, Rebecca, but we can't afford to lose you too."

She lowered her head at that, the anger leaving her eyes. She swallowed the piece of bread and turned the rest of the loaf over and over again in her hands as if contemplating why she was holding it in the first place. "He's...he's not really dead, Thornton, is he?"

"No one knows." Thornton sighed.

"He can't be dead." She muttered to herself, "He can't be." She hiccuped as she tried to stop a sob from bubbling to the surface.

Sympathetically, Thornton handed her a wash rag with which to dry her eyes. Rebecca took it, her hand trembling as she clutched it tightly. The action seemed to break down the dam she had been trying to build. Tears rushed down her face in a torrent. She hadn't cried for Guy yet, now it seemed there would be no end to it. She covered her mouth with the rag as she muffled her whimpering cries. She curled into the blanket in order to hide the shudders which racked her, but there was no hiding the misery which show from out of her dark eyes.

"I know you cared for the master." Thornton said as she sat down beside Rebecca, placing a hand upon her shoulder. He knew more than that, but there was no need to bring such memories up. He remembered when Rebecca and her mother first came to Locksley. Rebecca had been carried in, completely unconscious. She looked as if she had had to have been beaten in order to set foot into the manor. She had had a hard time of it. Locksley Manor had never been her home. Twenty years had passed since that day and in that time many of the household servants had moved on, replaced with younger servants who didn't know Rebecca was from Gisborne. She never spoke of it and neither did her mother. So while the others gossiped and guessed at Rebecca's behavior towards Sir Guy, Thornton knew that it had always been more than it seemed.

"I'm sorry." Rebecca apologized as she stilled her tears, "Don't know where that came from." She dabbed at her eyes with the wash rag.

"No need to apologize." He said as he accepted the wash rag from the bedraggled woman.

"I'm tired." She whispered, "I think I'll sleep."

He nodded. She hadn't wanted her cot in a few days, the fact that she finally desired rest was a good sign. Maybe she would draw herself out of her grieving state eventually. He got up off of her cot and Rebecca promptly laid herself down. She kept the blanket about herself and did not bother with the covers of her bed. Her head touched the pillow and before she knew it the exhaustion of four sleepless nights claimed her.

1170

Rebecca was sweeping near the front of the main hallway leading out of the manor. She hummed a light, off-key tune to herself as she led the dustbunnies on a merry trail out of the manor. She was very nearly done with her chores for the afternoon and she was looking forward to having a few moments of peace before she had to help her mother prepare the table in the dining hall for supper.

From just outside of the open door she could hear the muted conversation being held between Guy and one of the villagers. She casually eavesdropped, there was nothing being said that was of any secrecy. The young master of Gisborne liked to know the state of affairs of the village, even if he didn't always understand most of the intricacies. His pet project for the week had been to gather a list of crops which were being grown; yarn which was being spun; and pottery and other goods which were being made in the village. He carried a roll of parchment with him to take down notes to find out what was being sold at market and what money was coming back into the village. He often got frustrated if he didn't understand how most of the money was spread about, or what exactly became of it after taxes were collected, but his temper tantrums never seemed to stop him from trying again and again.

Rebecca had always known Guy did such things, but she had never really payed the boy any real attention. That had changed since they had crashed into one another only two weeks ago. She found herself noticing him more. He was a good boy; perhaps not so very smart, but he had a kindness about him. He had tried to assert himself as the master of the manor since Sir Roger had left for the Holy Land just a year ago. He did his best. Rebecca thought he would make a fine lord of Gisborne when he grew up.

She made her way to the porch as she swept the dust out the manor. She blinked into the bright spring sunlight. The villager that Guy had been conversing with was now making his way back to his home. Guy stood reading over the roll of parchment a frown of concentration marking his face.

Feeling in rather high spirits and a bit mischievous in her heart she let out a long sigh which she blended into a low whistle. She placed her hands upon the top of the broom handle and rested her head upon them. "My, my..." she tsked, staring upwards at the blue sky and then straight at Guy as he turned to see who had intruded upon him. "Looks like rain today, no doubt o' that."

"Rain?" Guy scoffed, "Are you mad? You couldn't ask for a brighter day than this one."

"Tell that t' your face then. Your scowling fit to bring a storm down on all o' us, master." Rebecca said cheekily with a matching grin.

"Very funny." Guy mumbled, "Don't you have chores to do?"

"Finished with 'em." Rebecca shrugged, "What are you up to, master, if ya don't mind my asking?"

"Have to go over this." He shook the parchment in his hand, "I think I figured it out."

"Figured what out, master?"

"Look at this." He unrolled the parchment and leaned over a bit so that Rebecca could look over his shoulder at his work, which looked like scribblings to the girl's eyes. "See, this over here," he pointed to one column of writing, "Is a list of what the people take to market every week. And this," he gestured to a second row, "is how much money each person gets for each good or ware they sell. Get it?"

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. Sell this get that. What's the last row stand for, hm?" Rebecca pointed to the third and final column on the parchment.

"That's how much each person is taxed." Guy said.

"Right....what's the point, master?"

"Well, I was thinking if I found out how much each person makes by selling this many goods then I could find out a reasonable price to tax them for. So it's not too little or too much." Guy explained in a rush.

"Ya lost me, master." Rebecca shook her head, "But I think it's all rather clever."

Guy stared at her, his eyes narrowing slowly, "Are you mocking me?"

"No." She shook her head, "Oh, all right, maybe a little, but I didn't mean anything by it, master. What are ya gonna do with all this anyway?"

"I was going to show Mother, she'd know what to do about this." Guy shrugged.

"Think it'll matter? I thought taxes was always the same. Always too much, collected always too soon. That's what my mum says." She grinned.

"You don't think that's fair do you?" He asked.

"'Course I don't. I just never figured ye nobles cared." Rebecca shrugged, "Think it's rather nice, but don't ya get tired o' carrying all those notes around?"

Guy clutched the parchment tighter, "What do you mean?"

"I mean it's a beautiful day out an' ya want to spend your time scribbling away on some dusty piece o' parchment. Don't ya ever want t' have a little fun, master?" Rebecca asked.

"What would I do outside?" He was beginning to frown again.

"I dunno." Rebecca shrugged, "Go walk in the woods, go riding, if ya like I could always run into ya again with the laundry and ya could help me with the folding?"

Guy's stubborn scowl actually half cracked at the reminder of their first true informal meeting outside of their daily routines. Rebecca giggled, "See? Got a smile outta you--well, all right, not exactly a smile, more like a smirk, but least that's somewhere."

"You really are very strange, Rebecca." Guy sighed, eyeing the girl with amusement.

"Tell ya what, master, why don't you come down with me t' the river?"

"I..."

"Your scribblings will still be here when we come back. C'mon, master, you're allowed t' have some fun, same as any. I promise I won't be boring company."

"I shouldn't--"

"Ya should. It ain't right that ya go around with a storm cloud over your head all the time. Ya worry about things ya shouldn't now, master. Wouldn't ya like t' take a few moments an' just be?" Rebecca asked. "Bet I can get a smile outta you yet."

It took a moment for a glimmer of interest to spark in his eyes, he regarded her with a mock challenging stare. "Bet that you can't." He said threateningly. Maybe she was right, maybe it would be nice to get out of the manor and go for a walk. He had never had a companion before, save for his little sister and she was far too young to take out in the forest for a walk. Rebecca was his age, and she was certainly far from dull. He had been thinking about her since they had crashed into eachother when they first met. She had seemed rather interesting. What would be the harm?

"C'mon, master, let me just put away this broom an' then I can show you just how wrong you are!"

***

The horse managed to clear the hedge without so much as a hitch in stride. The two teenagers sitting astride the horse roared with laughter as they galloped off down the village path. Guy urged the horse onward and faster while Rebecca clung to him for dear life. The kerchief which she always kept tied about her head had long since been torn away from her in the excitement of the ride. Her dark hair was rapidly unbraiding itself and getting wilder by the second.

The simple walk by the river had turned into a ride as Guy had bragged he was the fastest rider in the shire and Rebecca had had the nerve to challenge such a claim. It no longer mattered if Guy had exaggerated or not, as there was no stopping the galloping horse. They raced headlong into the village. Startling the people and causing a ruckus among some of the stable animals as the horse sped by dangerously close to their pens.

The villagers stared in shock at the sight of their young master racing up the path with seemingly slant regard to his or anyone else's safety. They had never seen the shy and serious boy smiling or roaring in laughter like any other mischievous boy his own age. Rebecca tried to shout warnings to any who nearly got in their way, but most of her words were lost in her own laughter.

They rode clear out of the village and into the forest. For a time they seemed to navigate through the trees rather expertly, but upon coming to a fallen log the horse no longer had the wind for another sporadic leap. The animal came to a stop as they approached and his riders, not prepared for such a motion, were flung from the saddle into the bushes beyond the log.

Rebecca was the first to sit up. She was laughing so hard she could barely sit up straight. Her face was blushing red and she was holding her stomach as she tried to contain herself. She pointed at Guy, "Look at you! You...aheh, you look like you're wearing a tree!" She fell over laughing.

Guy brushed a few twigs and leaves out of his hair as he tried to stop laughing himself, "Well you're one to talk! You've got so much dirt on you it's a wonder I can still see your face!" He gasped for air.

Rebecca dusted herself off, still grinning like a fool. She remained lying on her back, giggling. She heard Guy fall over himself. They both looked over at each other. "That was..." Guy sighed, "Incredible."

Rebecca smiled. Guy had never had much of an opportunity to act his age. He had taken on an overwhelming amount of responsibility which had forced him to grow up faster than he should have. It changed how others viewed him. Even the most sensible of adults often forgot their young master was still just a child when all was said and done. Rebecca had often viewed her master as a taciturn boy, but seeing him like this changed everything. He could be wild, he could invent games which would surely get him into trouble, he could smile, he could laugh. Rebecca realized she was privy to a rare display of open emotion from the boy, it's effect was not lost on her.

The horse gave a tired whinny which caused the pair to sit up. "We should go back now, master." Rebecca suggested sheepishly.

Guy nodded, his good mood far from abating even at the prospect of the trouble they would be in for their reckless ride. The two gathered themselves together as best they could and walked the horse back to the manor. The sight that greeted them wiped the smiles from their faces entirely. Gemma and Ghislaine stood at the door, neither looked pleased with their children in the least.

"What is this, hm?" Gemma said as the sorry pair came forward.

The horse was quietly led away by one of the stable lads as the parents laid into their children.

"Out riding through the village? Guy, I've never heard of such a thing! You could have hurt someone!" Ghislaine shouted.

"Don't you give me such a look, my girl. I'd place my life's earnings that all of this was your idea, you troublemaker." Gemma giving her daughter's ear a quick pinch.

"Were you both out of your senses?!" Ghislaine admonished, "I expected better from you...both of you."

"It was just a bit 'o fun." Rebecca mumbled.

"Fun, she says?" Gemma roared, "Getting yourselves killed more the like. And jus' look at you two, did ya go about sliding around on the forest floor? Ya have more leaves on ya than the ground does in autumn." She pulled a twig from out of her daughter's tangled mess of hair. "Disgraceful, the both o' ya."

"What shall we do with them, Gemma?" Ghislaine said.

"String 'em up by their ankles, m'lady, let 'em dangle there till whatever sense they have left in their skulls drips slowly down into their useless brains." Gemma grunted, crossing her arms.

"I'll ready the chains, then." Ghislaine said, turning to go back inside.

"You aren't really gonna string us up are ya?!" Rebecca squeaked in panic.

Ghislaine gave a small chuckle at the look of fright plastered on both of their faces. "Of course not."

"Then...what are you going to do?" Guy asked.

"I think bed with no supper is most fitting, wouldn't you agree?" Ghislaine said.

"Aye, an' be lucky ya have such a kind mistress, Becca, or I'd be hanging ye from the rafters for the rest o' the night." Gemma said, but there was a sly smile on her face now. "What do ya say?"

"Thank you, my lady." Rebecca bowed to Ghislaine.

"Your very welcome, now go and get yourselves cleaned up." That was promptly the end of the matter. Guy turned to follow his mother back into the manor. Rebecca turned to leave to go around to the servants quarters at the back of the manor house.

As soon as their parents were out of earshot they both looked back at one another. "You were right, Rebecca" Guy said, "This was fun."

"Told ya so, master."

Guy shook his head, "You can call me Guy."

"Wha--?" She spluttered. "Ain't that out o' line?"

"Not if I say it's all right, and it is."

Rebecca mused this over for a bit before drawing up a deal, "I'll call ya by your name only if ya call me Becca. All my friend's call me Becca."

"You have a lot of friends?" Guy sounded a bit envious.

"Actually, I was kinda hoping you'd be my friend, master. Ya don't have t' though...I mean..." Rebecca fidgeted nervously.

"I'd like that." Guy said a soft smile on his face.

Rebecca smiled giddily herself, "Best get off t' the servant's quarters lest my mum get it into her head t' yell at me again." She said with a giggle. "Think I could maybe see ya tomorow, mast--Guy?"

"I'll look forward to it, Becca."

A/N: I am in no way a genius with numbers and economics. What Guy was doing with his notes was merely something I drew upon from the point of view of a child attempting to figure out what his parents do. It's not a matter of if Guy was right or wrong. I was mostly doing it to show the difference between the caring and good intentioned child and the callous, oftentimes brutish adult. XD That's my disclaimer and I'm sticking to it.

There are a lot more issues surrounding Becca's and Guy's previous and current relationship. I hope you are enjoying the story! Expect the next chapter to up within the next few days. :)