Disclaimer: I do not own Robin Hood (or BBC) or profit from this writing. OCs and plot (of events after season 2) belong to me…
Chapter 28: A Fiery Beginning
"How are you feeling?" Eleanor asked Gretchen. She had recovered well but after a few days Gretchen was still a little slow. She had eaten more of the infected grain than Eleanor.
"Much better, just a little tired," she said. "You worry too much."
"My maternal instincts are overwhelming," Eleanor grinned. "Why don't you take a nap with Ygrainne?"
Gretchen snorted. "I am not a child."
"What can an hour hurt?" Eleanor argued. They found Ygrainne but she was being difficult and refused to take a nap. "Fine, but let Gretchen sleep," Eleanor told her. "You can help me." YGrainne nodded and Eleanor gave her some things to play with her doll. "See if you can tell a story to Tom and get him to take his nap," she encouraged. She watched over them, a grin on her face. Ygrainne had really taken to Tom which made her happy. It will make leaving for London in the spring that much harder…
She stumbled over that thought. Did she still wish to leave? She could stay here with Gretchen, at least the people in Locksley weren't trying to stone her. You are just saying that because at least here you can catch a glimpse of Allan she scolded herself.
She was musing over her stray thoughts when smoke reached her nose the same time she heard the crackling of flames. She glanced at the stove but it was fine. "Ygrainne!" Eleanor called out. She turned and saw the other room was on fire. "Gretchen!" Eleanor yelled.
Eleanor placed Tom in his basinet and grabbed Ygrainne's hand. She reached the door but it wouldn't open. "Come on," she yelled at the door.
"Gretchen?" Ygrainne asked worriedly.
"I'll get her," Eleanor promised but now flames were engulfing the other side of the cottage, right where Ygrainne had been playing a moment before. They were surrounded and the door was bared against them.
"Come here," she told Ygrainne as her heart beat rapidly in her throat. She hefted Ygrainne and then Tom out of the window before climbing out the window herself. Grasping Ygrainne and Tom, Eleanor carried both of them far from the house.
"Gretchen!" Ygrainne struggled against Eleanor trying to desperately see Gretchen.
Eleanor set them down. "Listen to me. Ygrainne!" she yelled to get the girls attention. "Look at me," she said forcing Ygrainne to look at her. "I am going to get Gretchen. She will be fine. You stay with Tom. Do not leave this place! Stay!" she ordered harshly. She watched Ygrainne grip the handle of Tom's basinet and she turned and nearly stumbled in shock at seeing how quickly the cottage had caught fire.
She could see now from the outside how the door had been barred. Someone purposely didn't want them out. Her blood boiled in anger as she ran back towards the cottage when suddenly arms gripped around her waist holding her back. "No!" Eleanor yelled struggling to get out of them. "Let me go!"
"Are you mad?" Allan asked.
"Gretchen!" Eleanor yelled, tears streaming down her face. She managed to get free and charged forward only to have Allan stop her again, practically tackling her to the ground so she couldn't break loose again. "Let me go!" she cried. "Gretchen!"
She fell to her knees as sobs tore through her body, her lungs seemed to be unable to grasp air in; she couldn't accept that Gretchen was still inside. She turned away, burying her face in Allan's chest.
Suddenly John barreled past them and kicked down the door. As soon as he had stormed in the wall caved in. "John!" Robin yelled.
Ygrainne was crying and running towards Eleanor. Eleanor reached out and engulfed the girl, both still wrapped in Allan's arms. Marion reached down and picked up the screaming Tom.
The roof collapsed.
"John!" the outlaws yelled as they tried to find him.
"Over here!" his voice choked out, behind the cottage.
Eleanor saw he was leaning over Gretchen's body. She jumped out of Allan's arms and raced around. "Greta?" she asked and checked to find she was breathing, tears of relief streaming down her face.
Eleanor saw the burn marks and blood on the side of Gretchen's face, and started to clean it when Djaq arrived. The two of them checked her for other injuries and found a few light burns from where her clothing had caught a spark.
"Greta? Wake up," Eleanor encouraged. She knew if she didn't wake it would be bad.
Gretchen struggled to open her eyes. "Ygrainne!" Eleanor called out and the little girl rushed forward but seemed reluctant to touch Gretchen. "You can hug her, but gently."
Ygrainne gently hugged her. "What happened? What happened to my cottage?" Gretchen asked in shock.
"Someone set it on fire," Eleanor spat out angrily, taking the fussy Tom from Marion.
"If I was in any shape I would gut him," Gretchen declared but she didn't have the energy to lift a feather and her head was killing her.
"No more arguments," Allan said. "You have no where else to go," he pointed out.
Eleanor looked at him confused. "What are you talking about?" Go? They had no where to go. Her mind struggled with anything beyond the fact that someone had tried to kill them, but that they were alright. She hugged Tom closely, reassured with the tiny bundle's heartbeat against her own.
"You are coming with us," Robin insisted as Djaq looked over John and treated his injuries.
"No, we can't," Eleanor began as Allan gently picked up Gretchen.
"Just once, Nora, listen to me," Allan asked.
She frowned at him. "Just temporarily," she countered. She grabbed Ygrainne's hand. "Come on, little one."
Allan and John led the women and children to the camp with Marion. The other outlaws looked at the remains of the cottage. "Who would try to kill them?" Will asked shocked.
"That mercenary," Robin said. He noticed the other neighbors had looked on in horror but hadn't tried to help. "Come on, lads. We have a visit to pay."
"I don't think so, Hood," Guy's voice said startling the outlaws. "You just can't seem to accept Locksley is mine now."
"Some Lord of Locksley you make, Gisborne," Robin spat out, "if you let this happen to innocent women and children."
"Guards!" Guy yelled and the normal chase ensued. Guy didn't entertain any hopes of the outlaws actually being captured but at least they would be out of Locksley and out of his hair.
He motioned for the two guards who had stayed behind to follow him. Not bothering with any knocking he simply kicked down the door to the shack the mercenary called home. "Take him," he told the guards, not listening to the man's protests. "The sheriff is always looking for someone to hang."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Eleanor looked around the camp, studying it as Ygrainne hovered over Gretchen. "Will extended it out the back here a few more feet so we had some more room," Allan explained as he walked in carrying Gretchen.
"It is just as you described," Gretchen commented.
"There's Much's kitchen," Allan began and gave them the brief tour. Ygrainne was the only one who was comfortable at the moment.
She couldn't deal with it, not right now. "Place Gretchen down here," Eleanor told Allan. She went through the doorway again, back outside to gather her thoughts as she scoured the pathway. She found the herbs back along the path she was looking for. She had spotted them on the walk to camp and grasped hands full of the leaves now. She returned to the camp through the back entrance that they had come in through the first time.
Ygrainne was happily telling Gretchen about her last stay as she sat by Gretchen's side. Eleanor listened to the girl's chatter, especially as the other outlaws began to arrive. She was still adjusting to all of them, and suddenly she found herself sharing the same small living quarters.
Eleanor made the paste and pulled back Gretchen's hair gently, pinning the golden locks up on top of her head. "This will sooth the pain," Eleanor said as she placed the paste on the burn along Gretchen's face. It ran from her hair line down the front of her ear to her jaw. It wouldn't be noticeable with her hair down, but Gretchen liked her hair pulled back away from her face. "The scar will be small," Eleanor promised as she worked.
"You got Ygrainne out, that's all that matters right now," Gretchen said.
Eleanor moved on to the other small burns on Gretchen. "Ygrainne, hon, why don't you get Gretchen a glass of water since you know where everything is. Ask … ask Allan to help you," Eleanor decided. Allan was the only other person she trusted implicitly besides Gretchen.
She finished with Gretchen, was moving to help her to sip the water when Much came and insisted on helping. His unannounced presence startled Eleanor at first but she nodded, moving out of the way. Eleanor stood and looked around. Her heart was still beating furiously and she wondered briefly if it would ever calm down. So much had happened in such a short time.
She saw Djaq looking at John. The Saracen was skilled, far beyond what Eleanor knew. But Eleanor couldn't bear to stand around and do nothing when someone was hurt.
She knew to well what it was like to have to tend to yourself.
She approached Djaq and John, who was sitting on a barrel. She was embarrassed of herself for feeling so bloody timid. Yes, John is a large man, yes it was crowded so that one could reach out and touch another person. Yes, she didn't know any of these outlaws well except Allan and Marion.
She hated what her father had made her into.
Eleanor handed the bowl with the paste to Djaq. "I'm sure you have something to use, I just thought I'd offer it," Eleanor said quickly. "It sooths the burn and helps to heal so the scarring isn't so bad," Eleanor explained quickly as Djaq took the bowl, thanking Eleanor.
Eleanor quickly scooted back over to Gretchen, Ygrainne, and Tom. "How about a walk, little one?" Eleanor asked Ygrainne as she scooped up Tom. "You can show me where you picked those flowers for Greta before," she bribed the girl. She needed a moment to clear her head and Gretchen was dozing off. Ygrainne nodded, happy to give Gretchen another present to make her feel better.
John waited till Eleanor was out of ear shot and Gretchen was asleep. "She's afraid of me?" he asked in shock.
Allan sighed, watching as Eleanor took a walk with the kids. It wasn't going to be easy, especially since he didn't want to be the one to explain Eleanor's past. "It's not just you," Allan said simply. "She just doesn't… trust men, easily," Allan said.
"She still offered her help," John said. That, to him, was brave enough.
The first night passed with Eleanor tending to Gretchen. To her surprise, the outlaws had made up a bed for Gretchen and Ygrainne to share, and another for Eleanor. Tom's bassinet fit comfortably within arms reach.
When Eleanor woke in the middle of the night, she checked on Gretchen. After ensuring everyone was still asleep, she crept over to glace at John's wounds. Djaq had liberally applied the paste, and so far the wounds still looked clean.
Tom woke early the following morning and Eleanor scooped him up before he could wake everyone up. As Eleanor fed Tom outside, she took a good look around. She knew the camp had to be hidden well since no one had found it in all these years. Not even while the outlaws were in the Holy Lands. Eleanor made a list of things to do for the day which included washing all of Tom's diapers and tending to Gretchen. She also thought about how to keep Ygrainne occupied and to teach her not to wander off.
Eleanor wasn't sure what to expect during the day. She realized she was acting like she did in the castle—staying out of range and out of the scrutiny of others. Only instead of blending into the stone walls she was blending into the wood and leaves of Sherwood.
Thankfully, the outlaws heard the alarm on the north road and went off to rob some figuratively poor person. All except John whom Robin ordered to stay behind till he was better. "You alright?" Gretchen whispered. John seemed to understand and gave Eleanor a wide berth.
Eleanor nodded. "You were the one hurt. Did you hit your head too?" Eleanor teased.
Gretchen rolled her eyes. "You are … I'm just worried for you."
"Yes, well, tending to two children in the middle of the forest was not exactly on my plans."
"I'll be around in no time with your tending to me," Gretchen smiled. Soon the outlaws returned with more loot that was stored under Eleanor's bed. She hoped that was a sign they trusted her if they made her bed over the treasure chest.
The evening hours still proved daunting to Eleanor. Gretchen was beginning to insinuate herself with the gang, and Ygrainne easily felt like the outlaws were her aunts and uncles.
Eleanor watched everything with her keen eye. Robin and Marion were laughing as they sat together across the circle from her. Robin's hand lay behind Marion's back, his fingers playing in her dark locks. She had never seen Robin so relaxed and easy going. The firelight danced in Marion's happy countenance.
Allan watched Eleanor study his friends. He was still in denial she was finally here, a part of the gang. It was the perfect solution to what he had wanted in the castle—Robin's friendship and Eleanor. This was nothing like he planned, though, with Tom and someone nearly killing Eleanor and Gretchen.
He studied her as she studied the others. He was always fascinated as she studied people. She saw much with her beautiful, strong eyes. Even if she kept herself separate from what was occurring. That was something he was going to have to fix.
The night suddenly got colder. Eleanor reached over to feel Tom in the basinet and worried he wasn't warm enough. It was surreal how drastically colder tonight was compared to the night before. Winter was setting in with a vengeance. She used her blanket to create a barrier for the basinet, ensuring Tom was as comfortable as a bear in hibernation. Unfortunately it left her freezing.
Allan lowered himself from the netting and silently slipped over and climbed over Eleanor. "What are you doing?" she whispered.
"Don't even start," he said as he lay behind her, wrapping the blanket around both of them.
"If I wanted a bedmate I would join Gretchen," she whispered.
"Look, I'm not trying anything funny. Just go to sleep, Nora," he insisted. As if to prove his point he rolled over so they were back to back.
She certainly wouldn't be able to fall asleep now, that was for certain. She would wait for Tom's next feeding, and then move. The only problem with that plan was Tom was sleeping through the night now and didn't feed. So she would wait until Allan fell asleep then move to Gretchen. Only then Ygrainne was out of a place to sleep. And she was warm where she was. And comfortable. It's just what he wants, Nora she told herself. She didn't realize she used Allan's nickname for her so easily.
She finally doze off, waking as her nightly ritual dictated. She heard Tom stir but a quick glance assured her he was sleeping comfortably. She gently sat up so as not to disturb Allan and picked her way silently to the back of the camp to look out. What she had told Allan hadn't changed: she and Tom would be a burden to the outlaws.
Allan was right: you could see the stars beautifully out here.
She checked on him in his basinet again as she returned to her assigned bed and looked between Allan and Gretchen. One night she told herself as she slipped under the blanket next to Allan.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"How did one night turn into one week?" Gretchen asked her a week later. She had noticed, as had all the outlaws, the new sleeping arrangements.
"I don't know, I am trying not to think about it," Eleanor insisted.
"How is that working for you?"
"Fine, until you start asking me questions," she pointed out.
"I don't think Tuck approves," Gretchen pointed out.
"I'm not sure I approve," Eleanor grinned. "It is just sleeping, Greta. A part of me… well, it is easier to convince myself that Allan's feelings haven't changed this way."
"Are you still going to go to London?" Gretchen wasn't sure anymore what she wanted Eleanor's answer to be
Eleanor shrugged. "I don't know anything anymore."
"Where is everyone?" Ygrainne asked. She had taken to the camp as if she had been Robin Hood herself.
"Doing outlaw things," Gretchen said. "They will be back soon. What are you doing?" she asked watching her niece. She bent down to see what Ygrainne was playing, laughing over the girl's antics. The other outlaws arrived in time for the evening meal.
Much was still territorial over his kitchen, refusing to let Eleanor or Gretchen cook, much to the girls' frustration. "He treats us like guests," Eleanor commented.
"You sound upset by that," Allan noticed. He had taken a seat next to her as they waited to eat.
"Tuck said he could help us find another cottage, perhaps in the village closer to Ripley convent," Eleanor added.
"What? You can't leave," Allan insisted.
"We can't stay, Allan," she argued.
"Now you are being absurd."
"No, I am being practical," Eleanor countered as she and Allan stormed outside to have their argument in private. "Allan, look at us! We are nothing but burdening to you and your friends. We can't pull our weight because we can't fight and you won't let us serve you."
"No one serves us, Nora." She snorted at that. "No, this time Robin is even putting out a lot of effort to make sure Much isn't treated like a servant. I mean, yeah Much is still obsessive with his kitchen, but Much is territorial," Allan shrugged.
"We shouldn't have stayed this long," Eleanor argued. "It was meant to be temporary, a night or two and then we find some other lodgings."
"What are you going to find? It is winter. There are no vacant cottages and no one is going to build until spring."
"I can hardly stay here in the forest with Tom," she countered. "You know I am right," she pointed out.
"I am not going to admit it," he said stubbornly. "Why can't you just relax and let someone else do the heavy lifting?"
"Because we do nothing but sit and twiddle our thumbs, Allan. And with Ygrainne and Tom we are a burden. I never wanted to be that, not to you," she admitted as she stormed back inside to eat and think. She took her plate and joined Ygrainne and Gretchen. Soon after dinner it was Ygrainne's bedtime so they tucked her into the bed she shared with Gretchen. After feeding Tom and putting him to sleep she and Gretchen slipped out the back.
"Am I wrong?" she asked Gretchen.
"No, I feel the same," Gretchen confessed. "I mean, I would love to go out and rob the rich; it sounds vastly entertaining. But how can I?" they both sighed. "Should we take Tuck up on that offer?"
Eleanor shrugged. "Probably. It will keep the children safe and dry this winter, and we won't be in anyone's hair," she said.
"Are you still planning on leaving in the spring?" Gretchen asked. "Because if you are, I am going with you," she admitted. "I have nothing in Locksley, and unlike you I have no reason to be here in the camp."
"Then we will go to London in the spring," Eleanor nodded, much less enthusiastic than she had been months ago when she came up with that plan.
Allan had slipped in behind her again. Everyone was asleep so he had to whisper quietly. "You are not a burden, Nora," he whispered in her ear. "None of you are."
She rolled her eyes.
"You could hardly be a burden to me, and the gang wants you here, too."
She rolled over so they were face to face. "I am of no use, Allan. What do you want me to do here?" she whispered.
He stroked back a strand of hair. "I didn't bring you here to make you feel worthless, Nora. I wanted to show you off to the gang," he admitted, seeing the startled look in her eyes. "I can protect you, and maybe pamper you a little."
"I don't need to be pampered, Allan," she whispered. "I want to help if I am here, otherwise we are going to take Tuck up on his offer."
"Don't leave me," he insisted. "Give this a chance." She sighed. "One chance, Nora. It's all I'm asking."
"One," she agreed. He would take it. Just as before, he knew her trust was a precious gift and he wouldn't mess up again.
"I'm not ready for anything more intimate than this, just sleeping Allan. If you are expecting anything more, go back to your hammock," Eleanor added. She didn't want Allan to get the wrong idea. She wasn't ready to give herself so completely again.
She expected some smart aleck retort, or fast-talking response. She got neither. "Just get some sleep, Nora," Allan's voice whispered in the darkness.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"What are you hoping for, Elle?" Gretchen asked the next morning. "What do you want?"
"I hardly know." It was the truth. And she was even more confused over what Allan wanted.
"I think you need to figure it out."
Eleanor wanted to change the focus of the conversation. "What about you?"
"Well, if we are staying, I have set my mind on John," she decided. Eleanor nearly fell over.
"This you are going to have to explain to me," Eleanor insisted. Eleanor's heart broke for her friend as she listened to Gretchen's complicated and conflicting emotions. "Don't you think you should give Much a chance?"
"John talks with Ygrainne, she likes him. Much shies away from her."
"In time…"
"What time?" Gretchen asked. "We are possibly leaving in the spring. This is my only chance."
"And you would spend it pursuing John, not Much," Eleanor repeated as if she needed to hear it again. "It is, of course, your decision." If Much didn't fight for Gretchen he didn't deserve her or Ygrainne. "What do I know? I have my own problems," she grinned making Gretchen laugh.
What Gretchen didn't tell Eleanor was that she was certain that although Eleanor didn't know what she wanted, she was pretty sure she and Allan would stay together. She didn't doubt it in the castle before Allan had to leave, and the simple fact he was trying proved to Gretchen that there was still something there. He simply had to work through Eleanor's emotional problems that his departure had unknowingly caused.
If Gretchen could have a man look at her the way Allan looked at Eleanor, and also love Ygrainne, she would die a happy and content woman. But she didn't expect both.
Another week passed and it mirrored the castle life, Marion thought. They robbed the rich, helped the poor, and every day had the entertainment of Allan and Eleanor's daily squabbles. It always brought a smile to her face because no matter what they argued over they still clearly enjoyed each other's company. Marion also knew the other outlaws enjoyed watching the interaction between Allan and Eleanor. Only Marion had seen this side of Allan that Eleanor was able to bring out.
Marion secretly enjoyed having the other two girls in the camp with her. Djaq was a wonderful companion, but Gretchen and Eleanor kept Marion company when the outlaws raided inside the castle and Marion was barred from going with Robin.
She also secretly loved having Tom and Ygrainne around. When Vaysey was finally defeated this was what she wanted, a family with Robin. Children that looked like both of them like Tom looked like both Eleanor and Allan.
What she couldn't figure out was why Gretchen seemed to be flirting with John. She knew Gretchen didn't have feelings for him, or at least she hadn't before. Could his rescuing her really alter her feelings for Much so drastically?
She looked over at Much with that thought. She knew he was attracted to Gretchen—he had confessed it in the desert and several times since then. So why didn't he act on it any longer? The thought made her frown. Men.
They heard the alarm and the outlaws raced out. Eleanor and Gretchen frowned as getting left behind was proving more and more annoying with every passing day. Marion decided to stay with them since she was waiting for Robin to return from Clun.
She certainly would have gone herself if she had any inkling who was traveling through Sherwood, looking for Robin, at that very moment.
Constructive criticism is welcome!
I am debating writing a story for season 3. I was upset with everyone they killed, but since they are ending the series, I am wondering if I should let it lie. What does everyone else think? Do you want something different for the Series finale? Who should die and live? I am toying with an idea, but I am curious if anyone is interested.
Thanks to:
Padme I haven't seen all of it, I've watched the first episode, and the last 2. Nothing from season 3 will happen here, but I am debating on writing another story... I have an idea from what little I've seen, the story will form more once I watch the entire series. If anyone's interested, otherwise it will just be one of the hundreds of plot bunnies in my mind ^_^
111 You will learn about Marguerite eventually. I want it to be organic, Marguerite's past coming to focus. You'll learn it as Guy learns it ^_^ I may be evil in this, but I hope it makes sense. Much and Gretchen are going to have a little bit longer of a road, Gretchen is stubborn.
Katieeee I hope your Holiday was fun! I seem to write stubborn women, LOL. I have granted half your wish, though! Allan does need to show her, but first he has to realize that's what's holding Eleanor back (stubborn women and dense men). Hopefully, some cute Allan/Nora moments. And more Marguerite! We are transitioning now to Guy's story.
Queen Puppy Lover Thanks for the PM! I was actually in the middle of editing this chapter when I saw it. I will hopefully get two chapters up this week, so I think I will definitely have 3 (maybe 4) up before you go to school.