Katherine seemed to fit in well with the other people of Sherwood forest, she got on well with the other women, but was normally seen with John and his family, particularly Fanny and Wulf, or with Will or she had even been seen with Azeem. Turned out, Katherine's mother was a healer and she had taught Katherine some tricks, of which she worked with Azeem and the Friar to broaden all of their knowledge. She was also a skilled bowman. The morning after her first night in the forest, Wulf had knocked on the door to Will's hut early and asked Katherine if she was ready to go and Katherine smiled at the boy's enthusiasm. Since then, she would go out every morning with Wulf and the pair would practice their archery. One morning, about a month and a half after Katherine joined them in Sherwood, their practice was interrupted by Robin joining them.
"Giving lessons Wulf?" He asked, looking to Katherine.
Katherine looked at him. "We are practicing together."
"Aye, I like practicing with her, she's really good." Wulf told him.
Robin raised an eyebrow. "Really good?" He asked, ignoring Wulf's nod as he walked up to Katherine to stand toe to toe with her.
Katherine tilted her head to look up at him, she didn't seem fazed that Robin was essentially squaring up to her. "Would you like to practice with us?" She asked him.
"I would," He took off his own bow and arrows that had been sitting on his back, and he pushed her over a bit with his bow.
By now a crowd had gathered to watch, and Katherine glanced around slightly happy that she didn't see Will amongst them, he probably would not have been happy. Wulf shot first, hitting the target just off the centre of the inner circle that surrounded the bullseye. Then Katherine shot, she hit just off the centre of the bullseye. Then it was Robin's turn, and his arrow hit directly next to Katherine's, and it caused the crowd to fall silent.
"Well, looks like Wulf is right, you are a good shot." Robin told her. "But can you fight with more than a bow?" He asked. "Otherwise, you would be pretty useless."
Those around them could not believe what they were hearing was Robin trying to get himself killed? If Will could hear any of this, he would probably slit his throat for her, but Katherine was the imperial of calm.
"I am learning," She told him. "I am learning to fight with a blade, but I have only been taking instruction for a short while."
Robin nodded and he put his bow and arrow down, pulling his sword from its holster at his waist and he pointed it at Katherine. "Why don't you show me what you've learnt?"
Katherine looked to him and then the blade that was pointed at her chest. "I would, but I don't have a sword."
Wulf looked nervous, he had no idea what was happening, did Robin really want to fight a woman with no weapon? He was concerned for her welfare, and instead he disappeared into the crowd, looking for Will.
Will meanwhile had gone through the camp in search of Tuck and he found the friar talking to some of the children about good Christian things. Will himself had had no time for church sermons or listening to the Friars as they gave sermon in the village. God had never helped him in the past. He vaguely wondered if this is what a childhood should be like, taking sermon, listening to your mother and father, but he shook the thoughts from his head.
"Friar, I need to speak to you when you're free." Will told him.
The Friar looked to him and he nodded. "Right my lambs, time for breakfast, off you go to your homes." He told them and as the children departed, he got to his feet and grabbed his staff, turning with Will to walk away from camp.
"What kind of talk is this?" Friar asked him.
Will could not think of where to start, he knew his goal just not how to get there, the Friar noticed him struggling, after all even he had noticed that Will struggled to open up to people.
"Is it about your girl?" He asked.
Will sighed, he must be very transparent, but he gave no thought to that right now, and he nodded.
"Yes, I proposed to her a few months ago, I was wondering if you would marry us." Will told him.
"I would be honoured to marry you, and the lady, I will let Robin know." Tuck told him.
"No," Will told him. "We wish to do it with only two witnesses."
"This is very unusual Will," Friar Tuck told him.
"I don't care, Katherine and I aren't exactly usual people, but originally it was just to be the pair of us, and two witnesses who would have been her parents." Will explained. "It's personal to us."
Tuck nodded; he knew better than to ask questions that Will would not answer. "I can do it tonight if you want it done sooner."
Will nodded. "Thank you, Friar." He would have said more, however he heard Wulf shouting for them.
"What is it Wulf?" Tuck asked.
"I don't know why, but Robin has asked Katherine for a duel, but she had no sword." Wulf told him. "They're at the tree Katherine and I use for archery."
Will looked to Wulf then Friar Tuck, and they could see it in his face if Robin harmed her, he would do much worse to him. They both followed Will as he made his way through the camp to their training area and what he saw made him stop for a second.
Robin looked to the crowd around them, and he saw that Bull had his sword on him. "Bull, maybe you could lend the lady your sword?"
Bull nodded and he walked to Katherine, offering the sword handle to her. "Good luck lass.""
"Christian, what are you doing?" Azeem asked Robin as he watched Katherine put her bow and arrows in Bull's hands. "Are you sure this is wise?"
"I'm sure, I'm just going to see where her skills are and then we can work on it." Robin told him, before he walked back to Katherine and just as quickly as it had come, he engaged in a sword fight with her. Katherine wasn't as sure with the sword as she was with her bow, but she was still able to hold her own. She was able to deflect his attacks many times, whoever had trained her or was training her had done this job well, he had a vague idea who had decided to train her. Ultimately if she was a man, she would be well matched with him, however Robin was naturally stronger, and this proved to be true as he suddenly disarmed her and pushed her to the floor. His sword was at her throat as she looked up at him from where she lay on the ground.
"Do you yield?" Robin asked him.
Katherine adverted her eyes from him for a second to see where her sword had landed, and her eyes caught Will's. She was surprised as she hadn't realised that he had been watching. She saw his hand reach for the knife at his waist, but she knew he was just being ready. It took all of two seconds before Robin's sword was suddenly pushed away and this time it was with a knife, somehow, she had pulled a knife on him and now he definitely knew who had trained her. She was holding one of Will's knives.
"No, I don't yield," She told him, her voice didn't change she didn't show any fear or fatigue, she actually sounded calm.
With Robin walking backwards it was enough time for Katherine to grab the sword and she engaged him again, this time much surer of herself.
Will watched in rapt attention, he hadn't been training her long, but she always seemed to pick it up quickly. She was able to hold her own against Robin Hood and he was proud of her, however Will watched as Robin seemed to realise that he was probably not going to win this, and he watched Robin suddenly tipped Katherine up so that he could disarm her again and force her back onto the ground.
"You fight well," Robin told her. "Could do with some more practice, though."
"And yet you had to cheat in order to best her," Will pointed out from where he was leant against a tree.
Everyone looked with bated breath, Will's hand was still on his knife as he walked forward, offering Katherine his other hand to get up and she gratefully took it, getting to her feet. Once she was on her feet, she slid her fingers between his that held the knife, making him let go of the knife, before she squeezed his hand, and she walked back to Bull after picking up the sword and they swapped weapons once more. When everyone cleared out, she looked to Will.
"Thank you," She told him.
"What are you thanking me for?" Will asked.
"I know that must have been hard for you not to get involved." She told him. "But thank you for trusting me."
Will smiled softly, taking her hand and kissing it. "I am proud of you, you fought well."
Katherine smiled. "Well, I have a good teacher." She told him with a smile, gently kissing his lips when no one was watching.
"Will, Katherine, Robin needs us." John shouted from nearby and they broke the kiss, Will giving a soft groan, before the pair of them walked down to where Robin had congregated many men of the forest together.
Will stood away from the group with Katherine, but they could still hear what was being said. Robin was on about another raid, but this time, he wanted Will to go with them, he needed his skill with a blade and thievery. It was decided that Tuck, Will, John, Bull, Azeem and Robin would go. Katherine looked to Will when he didn't say anything.
"If you're staying for me, don't." She told him quietly. "I'm going to be with Fanny, so I'll be fine, go and let some of your anger out."
"I'm not angry," He told her quietly.
"Will, you're holding me tight enough to bruise right now" She nodded to his hands that were gripping her waist tightly.
Will loosened his grip slightly. "Sorry, even his voice riles me up sometimes."
Katherine pressed her head under his in a show of comfort to him, before he kissed her head and then he was off, heading back to their hut to get his weapons, he was going to need more than his knives for this. When he left, Katherine walked over to join Fanny.
"How are you today?" Katherine asked her.
Fanny smiled to her. "I'm alright dearie, just a few pains, nothing to worry about." She patted her shoulder. "How are you? I heard you gave Robin a run for his money."
"Tried," She told her with a smile. "Anything I can help you with?" She nodded to the basket of clothes that she was mending.
"It's just some clothes, if you want to help it would be appreciated." Fanny told her and she watched as Katherine put her bow and arrows down, sitting next to her and she pulled a needle and thread from the pouch that Fanny offered her, and she started to sew a shirt that she found in the basket. Fanny watched her work beside her, and she smiled slightly.
"Katherine, deary, may we talk?" She asked her.
Katherine looked up to her and she nodded. "Of course, Fanny, what would you like to talk about?"
Fanny looked to her daughters and sons who were sat with them, and at their mother's look, they all walked away to play with the other children of the camp. When they were alone, Fanny looked to her as a mother would look at their daughter.
"Now, I am sure you have worked it out, after what happened, I have been trying to be a mother figure to both you and Will." Fanny told her.
She nodded. "I know and I am grateful, I could not have lived here without someone to talk to."
Fanny smiled. "Now dearie, as your mother figure, I believe there is a conversation that we need to have." Katherine looked to be confused, so Fanny decided to elaborate. "In regard to you and Will darlin'."
Katherine suddenly blushed a deep scarlet. "Oh…Anything specific?"
Fanny laughed softly. "Well as you know, you and Will are sharing a hut together and I assume sharing a bed," She told her.
"Well, um, yes, but my mother already had the talk with me about not engaging in sexual relations until we are married." Katherine told her. "He used to stay in my bed back at my father's house."
Fanny nodded. "And has she had the conversation with you about the act itself?"
"No…They only returned from visiting family about a week before we were attacked."
Fanny nodded. "Well then, I will give you the talk." Fanny told her.
"There is really no need." Katherine told her.
Fanny laughed. "Don't worry dearie, I won't talk to you in detail, except there is one detail that I will give you, there is an herb that you can take, that will prevent pregnancy until you are both ready."
Katherine looked to her. "Really?" She asked.
"Yes, and I do believe I have some back in the village." Fanny told her. "In fact, we could possibly go and get it now and be back before John and Will come back." She continued as she got herself to her feet.
"Fanny, are you mad?" Katherine asked as she got up onto her feet as well, sewing forgotten.
"Come on we can be back before the men if we take the cart."
Katherine had no idea how to stop her, and she could see that she was unable to be stopped, so she ran after her to where Fanny had somehow managed to commandeer a cart and horse, and one of the village men helped her up onto the rider's seat, and Katherine got up with her.
"Mother, where are you going?" They looked up to see Wulf join them, he was carrying his bow and arrows.
"Katherine and I are going to the village for a few minutes to fetch something important." Fanny told him. "If we aren't back before your father gets back, Wulf I need you to stall them, both your father and Will, understood?"
"Yes mother." Wulf nodded.
When he stepped back away from the horse, Fanny took the reins, and they were off. They rode in comfortable silence back to the village. They met no troubles getting there, or when they got there. They were able to find Fanny and John's home with ease and Fanny went inside as Katherine waited outside. She stayed outside, stroking the horse that they had brought, just as there was a cough from someone behind her.
"You're Katherine, aren't you?"
She turned around and she was faced with Richard. "I am, do I know you?"
"No, but I know you, you're the miller's daughter, fraternising with outlaws." Richard growled.
Pieces seemed to slot into place at that point for Katherine. "You're the reason my father and mother are dead?" She asked.
"If you weren't such a cheap whore, who decided to settle down for an outlaw instead of a good man, then your parents would still be alive." Richard sneered.
"Go away Richard, before I decide to cut your tongue out" Katherine told him.
"Why, can't deal with the truth?" He demanded, grabbing her arm when she aimed to walk away. "You killed your parents and think that just because you're good looking no one will blame you, well I do." He told her.
"Get your hands off of her." Fanny warned as she walked out of her house. "You got her parents killed, Richard, now leave her alone."
Richard sneered at her, and he shoved Katherine so hard that she nearly fell over, and he stalked away. Fanny looked her over.
"You, okay?" Katherine nodded; she was quiet. "Katherine, he wasn't speaking truth love," She promised her. "Your mother and father died protecting you, because that is a parent's job."
Katherine nodded. "We should get back…Did you find what you wanted?"
Fanny nodded. "I did," She showed her a small trinket box and she opened it to show her a powder. "One spoon of this in your drinks in the morning and you will be fine."
Katherine nodded with a soft smile of thanks.
However, this smile was short lived, as they suddenly heard shouting and suddenly the thundering of hooves could be heard alongside the clanking of metal – Nottingham's soldiers!
"Fanny, climb on the cart, quickly." Katherine told her as she helped Fanny up onto the seat, before she jumped up onto the other side, and she took the reins having the horse move on.
"Oi, you there, stop!" One of the soldiers shouted when they spotted them.
"Katherine, play along." Fanny told her quietly as Katherine pulled the horse to a stop.
"Where do you two think you're going?" A soldier demanded as he walked over, standing on Fanny's side of the cart.
"Oh, we mean no harm dearie, me and my daughter were just going out for branches for the fires." Fanny told him.
"Why are you taking a cart?"
"Well, I couldn't walk to the edge of the forest in my condition." Fanny, told him, lifting her cloak to show him her swollen belly.
At seeing her swollen belly, the soldier nodded. "If that is the case, you shouldn't be riding anywhere madam," He told her, and then he saw the trinket box. "What's in the box?"
"It's some powder for my daughter," She gestured to Katherine. "She's due to marry you see, and she isn't ready for children, it's just some herbs to stop pregnancy."
"Ah, well, carry on then." The soldier had them press on, and Katherine took the reins once more. However, as they got to the edge of the village, they heard Richard's shout.
"That's the girl! The one with the outlaw!"
At hearing him they heard the guards shout for them to stop, but this time, Katherine snapped the reins, and the horse broke into a run. "Hold on Fanny." She snapped the reigns a few more times, and as they lost them, she pulled the horse over.
"We can't let them near the camp, come on." Katherine told her and she jumped down, running round to her side to help her down, and together they got further into the forest, finding a small cave. "Here, once they are gone, we can escape."
They delved as far as they could into the cave, Katherine taking off her cloak to ensure that Fanny was comfortable, as she stayed in a spot where she could see the entrance. She watched the soldiers ride past, before one stopped at the entrance to the cave, looking in it. He came far enough inside that if he moved a step of two ahead, he would have encountered Katherine.
Whilst Katherine and Fanny were holding their breathe to save their lives, Robin and the group had come back to camp with even more spoils than before. Will and John were in deep conversation at the back of the group.
"Are you sure you're ready for this lad?" John asked him.
"To marry her?" Will asked. "Of course, we are technically husband and wife already."
"Aye, but are you able to provide for her in other areas, not just love?" John asked him, he was trying to have a serious talk with the one he thought of as his son, but he could not stop himself from blushing. Even Will had gained a scarlet touch to his cheeks.
"John, I'm fine, don't worry." Will told him. "I'm prepared."
"Well, um, good." He told him.
"Now, would you and Fanny please be witnesses tonight?" Will asked.
"Witnesses for what?" John asked.
"For me to marry Katherine, you know the whole thing that we have been talking about."
John looked at him and he burst into a big smile. "Of course, I would, come on let's go and tell Fanny and then we can help sort things out, no doubt Wulf will want to be there as well."
He slung his arm around Will's shoulders, dragging him to his hut but he was surprised to not find Fanny there, only Wulf who was eating an apple whilst his siblings ate bread.
"Wulf, where is your mother?" John asked him.
"She went for a walk with Katherine, she needed to stretch her legs." Wulf told him immediately, his eyes wide, he did not like lying to his father. Will took one look at the boy, and he knew he was lying, Wulf wasn't as good at it as the rest of them.
John looked at his son and he knew his son was lying, which meant that Fanny could be somewhere dangerous, but when you're nine months pregnant anywhere is dangerous.
"They went back to the village" Wulf told him, the poor lad didn't stand a chance against his father's gaze, he broke like a twig.
"They did what!" He suddenly shouted as panic shot through his body.
However, this only got worse as he looked back to the hut, and he noticed that Katherine's bow and arrows were sat next to his hut. "They've gone out unprotected! What were they going for?"
"I don't know, I'm sorry father." Wulf whimpered.
John's anger had alerted the other men and Robin ran over with Azeem and Bull. "John, what's the matter?"
"Katherine and Fanny, they've gone back to the village," John told them, and he was fuming, his worry making him even more angry.
Will watched him. "John, Katherine's with her, she'll be okay," He told him. "She has weapons in her boots, it's enough to get them back here."
"How are you so calm?" He demanded.
"Because I know what Katherine is capable of." Will told him.
"When did they leave Wulf?" Robin asked him.
"About half an hour after you left." Tuck told them as he came over. "They took a cart and a horse."
"It doesn't take that long to get to the village and back." John told them. "Something has happened, that I do know."
Will started to feel a bit uneasy, John was right, Katherine and Fanny both knew the way back to camp and they had a horse and cart, there was no way it would take this long.
"We should go and look for them," Azeem told him, he could read the tension radiating off the two men and Robin nodded.
"Azeem, you can track a cart, can't you?" Robin asked and Azeem nodded. "Then let's go and find them."
Meanwhile, in their hiding hole, Katherine picked up her knife from inside her boot and she took one last look at Fanny. Fanny shook her head to her to try and quietly tell her not to go, but Katherine knew that time was of the essence, the soldier only had to walk one more step and then she would be made anyway. She allowed the soldier to turn around to face the entrance of the cave, before she struck, putting her hand over his mouth as her knife went into a weak spot in his armour. She gently moved to lay the soldier on the floor, and she searched him for weapons, pulling his sword off his belt with the holster and she tied that to her waist, before she went back to Fanny's hiding place.
"Well done," Fanny whispered.
"Will's been teaching me a lot." She told her in a whisper. "We will have to wait a bit longer."
They both fell silent as they heard guards shouting and talking just outside of the cave.
"They aren't here." One of them spoke.
"They must be, I doubt a pair of peasant women would leave a good cart and horse." Another sneered.
"Let's just take it back with us, they have no weapons, so they are as good as dead out here anyway." The first soldier spoke up.
"Good point, shame though that daughter of hers was mighty pretty, would have loved to have seen her face begging for mercy." Another soldier called out and it caused them all to laugh but Katherine to shudder as she remembered the last time, she was on her own handling soldiers.
At seeing her shaken, Fanny wrapped her hand around her arm in comfort and Katherine weakly smiled at her, before they waited out the soldiers.
"We are going to be in so much trouble" Katherine whispered to her.
Fanny laughed softly. "Nothing ever works the way it needs to, does it?" She told her.
Katherine smiled softly, and she tensed as she heard more people coming towards the cave, she unsheathed the sword and got to her feet, standing behind pillars of stone.
The group of men all followed him, walking towards the village after Azeem who was following the imprints of the wheels of the cart in the mud. The group walked in silence, and before long they broke through the trees to the village, looking around for signs of Fanny or Katherine. They soon found Otto who walked over to John and greeted him with a pat on the back.
"Otto, have you seen Fanny?" John asked him.
"She was here a while ago, with young Katherine," Otto told him. "Then the soldiers came, it was Richard, he sold out young Katherine, Fanny wouldn't leave her side, called Katherine her daughter said that they were going for firewood."
Will looked up from where he was leaning against a house, sporting his knife. "Did they get away?" He demanded.
"Yes, I believe so, they chased them into the forest but came back with only the cart and horse." Otto told him and he realised who Will was. "You're the Scarlett boy, Katherine's lover, the one she turned down Richard's sons for."
Will nodded. "Which way did they go?" He asked.
"That way," Otto nodded in the direction and Will and John walked straight in it, Azeem following, before Robin thanked Otto before he too followed them. They went straight back into the forest, this time Will was tracking them, and he followed the wheel prints in the mud of the forest floor, they led in the opposite direction to camp.
"The wheels stop here." Will told them, before he looked around for signs of footprints, but with the soldiers having come here, it was a mess.
Everyone set about looking for tracks, and it was Tuck who found the cave, and putting his staff in front of him, he started to search it. When he got near it, he was suddenly ambushed by a sword coming down on his staff.
However, he reacted just in time to hit his staff into the person, but he was shocked at the feminine cry that came from the person and then he realised who it was.
"Katherine!" Fanny shouted, running to the lass who was on the floor in obvious pain, and she knelt in front of her.
"Oh my god, Katherine, I'm so sorry lass," Friar started to apologise before he looked to the cave entrance. "In here!" He shouted. "I've found them."
Everyone ran back to the cave where they found Tuck stood outside of the cave with Fanny walking out and she was helping Katherine to walk, who was clutching her stomach where the Friar had hit her with his staff.
"Kat!" Will shouted as he ran over, he was happy to find her alive but now he was concerned, she was in pain. "What happened?"
"The Friar had pretty good aim." Katherine coughed out through a wince. "Hit me a bit too hard though." She told him as she almost fell on him, but she was able to stand with his arm around her waist.
"I couldn't see, I only saw the sword, it was on instinct." The Friar told him quickly, trying to curb Will's protectiveness that could quickly give way to his anger.
"It's fine, I forgive you, I did the same." She told him, she could feel Will tense in his grip on her waist. "I couldn't even see your staff, I just aimed blind."
"Fanny, are you alright, lass?" John asked, relieved that his wife and unborn child were okay.
"I'm fine…What are you all doing out here?" Fanny asked him.
"You've been gone hours lass," John told her. "We were worried."
"Wulf told you, didn't he?" Katherine asked.
"Yes, and thank god he did, what were you two thinking." Robin told him. "What you two did was foolish, what was so important that you needed to go back into the village? And without protection?" He suddenly rounded on Katherine. "Was this your idea? Putting a pregnant woman at risk?"
"I didn't ask for this." Katherine told him through another wince.
"Then what was so important?" He demanded.
"Robin, it wasn't her idea, it was mine, I had to retrieve something from my home." Fanny told him. "Leave her alone."
Robin looked to Katherine, she was just stopping tears spilling, she always refused to cry in front of him, and he watched as she pushed Will from her, and she limped on ahead. She moved slow, the blow to her stomach and abdomen causing her pain that made her want to vomit. Robin's words made her want to cry, and the words of Richard whilst they were in the village were still in her head making her want to scream. She didn't know which one she wanted more.
This time, it was Azeem who followed her, though Will kept a distance just to make sure that she was safe. Azeem watched how Katherine held her stomach as she walked, that blow must be painful for someone as thin as her and he worried that she might have some internal bleeding. She continued to push herself through the forest, using the trees to make her way, eventually her body decided which ones she wanted to do, and she suddenly threw up as she used a tree to support herself from falling. Azeem walked over to catch her in case she fell since Will was still a distance away.
"It's alright Katherine," Azeem told her softly, brushing her hair from her face, ripping some of his shirt to allow her to wipe her mouth and he noticed that she was crying. "What makes you cry child?"
"Just everything," She whispered, she managed to move another few feet away before this time her legs gave way and she fell against a tree as she cried.
Will ran over as he saw her collapse and he took Azeem's place when he tried to comfort her. Both men stayed with her to let her cry it out. Since the day she came to camp no one had seen Katherine cry so both men assumed that this was also her grief making itself know for she had lost everything her home her family and almost her life.
"It's alright Kat, just let it all out." Will encouraged.
"I agree, keeping all of this inside is not good for you." Azeem told her.
They both stayed until she had stopped crying and when she was ready, Will helped her to her feet and they walked back towards camp.
When they reached camp, much later than everyone else, Will looked to Azeem as he kept an arm around Katherine.
"Do you need to check her over?"
"No, she's walking fine, but if the pain continues or gets worse than she should come and see me for some medicine."
Both Will and Katherine nodded before Will guided her away from camp. "Where are we going?" She asked him.
"Just somewhere with a bit of privacy." He told her.
Katherine looked to him confused before she seemed to just accept it. As they walked, she could soon hear the waterfall and she grew eager. She loved going for a swim with Will, but again he walked past the entrance that led down to the pool.
"Will?" She looked at him curiously.
"Patience, Kat." He smiled and suddenly they came to the clearing on top of the waterfall where Tuck, Fanny, Wulf and John were stood on either side of an aisle cleared by rocks.
"What is this?" Katherine asked, looking to them.
"It's your wedding lass," Fanny told her.
Katherine looked at everyone wide eyed, and then she looked to Will who had remained stood next to her.
"Seriously?" She asked him, Will couldn't tell if she was happy or going to strangle him.
"Yes, I know we talked about it being small, and I know your parents aren't here, and we aren't dressed in our finery, but John and Fanny are like parents to both of us in a way, so I hope this will be enough." He explained as he rubbed the back of his neck – something he only did when he was nervous.
Katherine took in his nervous look, and she could not help but smile. "Will Scarlett, you are truly amazing and full of surprises."
Will smiled and he kissed her lips gently and quickly before Tuck coughed.
"Save it for after the vows." He told them and Will led her down the aisle of small stones.
As they stood in front of Tuck, John and Wulf on his right and Fanny on Katherine's left, the friar began the sermon. As the vows were read, Will could not stop looking to Katherine, she looked beautiful her skin practically glowing. He couldn't hear anything that was being said to him, all he could hear was the thump of his heart as it started to race. He was excited to start this new chapter in his life and he couldn't wait for anything else. He vaguely remembered that he was supposed to say something, and he looked to the Friar who was waiting for him expectantly.
"Will don't make me say the vows again," The Friary groaned. "Just say I do."
"I do." Will responded quickly and he could tell that John and Fanny were trying not to laugh, but Wulf gave a titter before John smacked him on the head for it. This whole scene caused a giggle, and Will looked to Katherine who had covered her mouth as she started to laugh. He felt himself smiling he had missed her laugh these past few months. When her laughter had died down, Friar looked to her and recited her vows.
"I do." She told him.
"Then if any one here today has any reason why these two should not be wed, let them speak now or forever hold their peace."
The small family with them looked at each other and shook their heads, allowing the Friar to continue.
"Then I now pronounce you, man and wife," The Friar told them with a smile. "You may now kiss the bride."
Will wasted no time, he rested a hand on Katherine's cheek, and he closed the distance between them kissing her deeply. As they kissed the Littles all cheered before John picked Wulf up and had him follow him, Fanny and Tuck back towards camp.
"Come back when you're ready Will." John told them as they broke the kiss and he left with the others. When they were alone, Katherine looked to him.
"Another plan?"
Will looked to her and he smiled softly, running a hand through her hair. "Sort of, I thought you would like some time together."
Katherine nodded. "I would." She told him.
Will held her to him, he could not believe that she was now his wife, the past few months had been turbulent and trialling for both of them, with her world being turned upside down and he having to deal with Locksley. Overall, until now, he had been nothing but worried about her. When they eventually decided to head back to camp, they bypassed everyone, Will taking her straight to their hut where he shut the door and turned to look to her.
It had gotten dark in the time it took them to share a few moments together, and he watched as Katherine lit some candles and he found her lightly touching a trinket box that had appeared on their table.
"What is in the box?"
Katherine looked to him. "It's a powdered herb from Fanny, she says that it is used to stop pregnancy." She adverted her eyes back to the trinket box as she spoke, and Will noticed her cheeks had become tinged with pink.
"Kat, if you're not ready, then we don't have to." Will told her and he watched her close the distance between them.
"Will Scarlett, I have waited months for this night, I may not be ready to be a mother, but I am ready to be your wife." She promised, sliding a hand through his hair as she spoke. "In every way." Sliding her hand through his hair, she meant it as a loving gesture, but Will could not ignore the jolt of electricity that he felt shooting through his body at her touch. This woman was now his wife. Some days he forgot that they were both outlaws, or at least he was, Katherine was still free to return to the village, and Will felt his chest constrict at the thought of her leaving.
"Are you okay, Will?" She asked him as she looked to him and saw the distant look on his face.
Will looked to her and he gave her his best smile. "I'm alright." He watched her raise an eyebrow at him – she did not believe him in the slightest. "Just wondering how we should celebrate our marriage."
Katherine smiled slightly. "So, how would you like to celebrate our marriage?" She asked him, her tone was innocent, as she slid a hand down from his hair to rest on his chest.
Will just gave her a dashing smile before his lips found hers and he pulled her with him to the bed. That night, no one saw Will or Katherine for the rest of the night, and John and Fanny discouraged anyone from going down there, as no one should interrupt a husband and wife's first night together.
Will woke up in the early hours and he smiled to himself as he found Katherine asleep next to him, she was just as naked as he was, and he could not help but press soft kisses to her neck and the top of her chest that wasn't covered by the blanket.
"Mm, Will," She sighed, Will just smirked, she was still asleep.
" Time to wake up Kat," he whispered to her ear before he kissed her neck again. "We have jobs to do."
Katherine stirred and she moved to sit up with a yawn, before she came to her senses and with a squeak, she covered herself with the blanket, causing Will to laugh, before he kissed her quickly and got out of bed. Katherine watched him as he pranced around their home naked, last night hadn't been much time to ogle and explore, just a physical need to consummate their marriage but now she could see him in the light she could make out the muscles of his abdomen, his arms and legs muscled from regular training with his blade and running for his life. Will Scarlett was a god amongst men, and she knew many women in the camp thought the same, she was just grateful that he was hers and his cockiness and intolerance for people, kept people at a distance.
"Getting a good view?" Will asked her as he got himself a drink, before he handed her one. "I've already put a spoon of your herbs in."
"Thank you," She told him as she sipped her drink and nearly spat it back out with a cough. "God that tastes awful."
Will could not help but laugh at her reaction. "Needs must, love."
Katherine nodded and holding her breathe she drank the rest of the drink in threw gulps. When it was empty, she felt it be pulled from her grasp and she came face to face with Will and without thinking she kissed him. This has obviously been his plan as Will kissed her back with vigour. He was fully intent on taking his wife again and again, but a knock on the door stopped him.
"Will, open the door, Katherine needs to come and practice with me."
Katherine suppressed a giggle as Will groaned softly against her lips when they heard Wulf from the other side of the door.
"Give us a minute Wulf, I'll get her to meet you there." Will shouted back.
"Okay," With that, they heard him run off and Fanny shout for him to leave them alone.
"We should probably show ourselves, or I fear the next person to come and find us will be Robin." Katherine told him.
Will almost growled at the mention of Locksley, but a hand on his chest stopped him and he looked to Katherine.
"Be at peace," She told him softly. "I would love to spend some time with you later though,"
"That I can do." He kissed her hand as he pulled it off his chest and together, they both got off the bed and dressed for the day.
They left their hut that morning with Katherine tying her hair back, Will kissed her gently before he left to go and help the men and she went to find Wulf.
Whilst Katherine met up with the young boy, Will had met up with John, Bull, Robin and Azeem and they were discussing about how to increase the canopy in the trees.
"Will would be best, he's our best climber." John told them.
"Can you do it Will?" Robin asked as Will looked up at the trees above them.
"It's only tying a few branches together, nothing too difficult." He told him with a shrug, he might have hated the man but even he could not deny that Katherine had put him in a good mood. In such a good mood in fact, that he grabbed some rope and scarpered up the tree as quick as a squirrel.
"He's in a good mood today," Robin told them as they watched Will climb.
"Aye, he's got a spring in his step." Bull told the. "Maybe he's finally getting some."
"Seriously Bull, pipe down, he can still hear you," John told him. "His hearing is better than most."
Robin laughed. "Maybe he is though." He told him. "Anyway Bull, you and Much go and keep watch on the west road."
Bull nodded. "Right sir," He headed off before Robin could tell him not to call him Sir.
Robin, Azeem and John stayed to watch Will work, he was quick as he tiptoed along the branches, tying off branches as he went. Soon there was a new section of tree branches creating a cover over their camp and Robin nodded as Will climbed down, landing in front of them.
"Good job, Will." Robin told him but it just made Will roll his eyes and he watched Robin and Azeem walk away before John joined his side.
"How's Katherine lad?"
"She's fine, got woken up by Wulf earlier."
"Yeh, I can imagine Wulf woke her up." John gave him a knowing look, but this time Will did not blush.
"Okay not just Wulf," Will told him with a slight shrug. "But seriously, she's fine."
John nodded. "And yerself?"
"I'm alright John, really, I feel… elated."
John smiled. "Aye, your first time together will make you feel that way." He told him. "And as long as the love remains, it will always feel like that."
Will nodded. "It will,"
"Right, I'm going to go and find that son of mine, what are you up to?" John asked him.
"I might as well join you and find my wife." He told him.
Together, the two men were laughing as they walked through camp, and they found Katherine and Wulf practicing their archery. Katherine was giving Wulf some pointers and John smiled as he noticed the look of adoration on his son's face as he hung on Katherine's every word.
"You might have some competition for your wife's affections, Will." John told him, they were the only four in the clearing, so John spoke of their marriage freely.
Will laughed. "He can have her attention during the day, but I have it all at night."
"You do know that we can hear you both, right?" Katherine asked as she looked over at the two men as Wulf let go of the arrow and it hit just off centre. "Well done, Wulf, see you've already improved."
Wulf smiled as he looked at her. "Thank you, Katherine, I wouldn't get better without a good teacher."
Katherine smiled and she ruffled his hair before she went to grab their arrows, just as Will spoke.
"You know, I've taught you how to use a blade, but you have never once offered to teach me how to shoot an arrow." Will told her, feigning hurt, and he noticed that some of the men of the village had decided to join them.
Katherine looked at him as she put the used arrows to the side to sharpen later, she still had plenty to use in the meantime. "Well, I do apologise, I did not think that you wanted to." She told him. "But I'll happily show you." She held out a hand for his.
Will could not keep the smirk off his face as he walked to her. There was something about how Katherine interacted with him and everyone else, that just made him want to smile all of the time. When he reached her, he put his hand into hers and she quickly spun him around so that his back was against her chest, and he became very aware of no space between them, and she put the bow into his hands. She showed him how to set his fingers to hold the arrow, how to rest it against his arm to shoot straight. She used her other hand to guide his arm to pull the arrow back.
"Take the shot as you breathe out," She advised, her voice quiet in his ear. "Keep both eyes open."
He suppressed a shiver as she whispered in his ear, and he did not have the heart to tell her that he could already shoot a bow. When Will let go of the arrow, it hit the bullseye of the target. The men around them cheered and Wulf looked to him, slightly confused.
"Thought you already knew how to shoot, Will."
"Sshh, she didn't know that." Will told him as he ruffled his hair.
"Actually, I did," Katherine admitted as she walked over and retrieved the arrow. "I saw you practicing the other day."
Will looked to her with wide eyes. "You never said,"
"I didn't have to," She told him as she readied her own arrow without even looking, she shot it at the target hitting direct centre. Everyone was in surprise; Katherine had been holding back. But the woman in question kept her eyes on Will.
"Lucky shot." He told her with a smirk, though this one was not funny, this one was daring.
Katherine raised an eyebrow before she done it again, this time hitting next to the original arrow.
Everyone watched them and Will looked at Katherine, turned out both husband and wife had a skill that no one else knew about.
"Coming to get some meat for dinner?"
"Sounds good." Katherine told him. "John, are you and yours joining us for dinner? Fanny made yesterdays."
"Aye, can do, let me know when you're back and I'll grab Fanny and the little uns." John told her with a nod and a smile.
Will and Katherine nodded before they headed out away from the camp and deeper into the forest. When they were far enough away and alone, Will grabbed her hand and pulled her into him, backing her against a tree trunk.
"Will Scarlett, what has gotten into you?"
He looked to her and she could see a different side to Will, this one was much more, wanting, Katherine knew that Will had desired her for a long time, there was only so much his pants kept hidden from her when they slept next to each other and now they had no worries about being looked down upon, he wanted her and part of her wanted him too.
"Maybe I wanted some time away with my wife?"
Katherine laughed softly, before she stood up on her tiptoes and kissed his lips. Will matched her kiss with what he could only describe as a sense of giddiness. Never in his life, did Will Scarlett believe that he could be this happy. He was the son of a peasant woman, he didn't expect to have a life of riches but seeing Katherine bare her love for him with a simple kiss, made him feel like the richest man alive.
"I can't be without you, Kat." He whispered against her lips.
"And I can't be without you either, Will." She told him and Will could hear the truth in her voice. "You will never be alone again." She whispered.
"You're mine Kat, always." Will told her.
"Always," She agreed. "Now for the love of god, kiss me like you mean it Will."
Will did just that, his lips finding hers again in a passionate kiss. They didn't know how long they were pressed against the tree, but all they knew is that by the time things were over, he was helping her to redress before carrying on with the original task at hand. They walked in comfortable silence, soon finding a clearing that was full of deer.
"Perfect," She whispered to him, and Will nodded.
He watched her ready an arrow, before she shot it at the deer, hitting the closest one in the chest and when it fell, Will ran over and finished it off with his knife.
Once dinner was secured, Will and Katherine, both carried it back towards the camp, and they came back to a bit of a stir. The Lady Marian had joined them, and it made Will roll his eyes.
"How many damned nobles are going to be living in this forest?" He muttered as he sat around a firepit, his back against a rock, with Katherine, John and a few other men.
"I don't think the Lady Marian would like to live in the forest," Katherine told him from where she sat next to him. "Don't worry so much." She told him as she rested her head on his shoulder.
Eventually, Will had gone back to leaning against the trunk of his tree, preferring to stay on the outskirts, and Robin and Marian joined them at the fire pit and as they started to eat, Robin introduced Marian to everyone, and Marian was as gracious as anyone of them would expect.
"And this is Will Scarlett," He gestured to Will who simply nodded. "And Katherine, she's one of our healers and a good archer."
Marian bowed her head to them. "It's good to meet you both."
"And you my lady," Katherine told her with a nod of her head before she handed her a bowl of food.
Marian happily sat next to Katheine, her handmaiden Sarah sitting with them. Will watched as Katherine was able to hold a conversation with both of them and he could not keep the slight smile from his lips. He knew Katherine could talk to anyone, she was the more social out of the pair of them, and that was what he marvelled at.
"So, you're a healer?" Marian asked. "That is interesting."
Katherine looked to her. "I suppose I am I mean that's what Robin calls me, my mother was the village healer for a time, she taught me the practice of healing and looking after wounds to prevent fever." She told her as they ate.
"Do you heal many wounds?" Sarah asked her.
"Here no, but I have watched my mother do amazing things," Katherine told her, it made her sad to think of her mother as it caused her to think of how much she missed her. Her emotion must have shown on her face, because she felt Marian's hand rest on hers.
"Robin told me about our mother, and your father, I am truly sorry." She told her and for the record, Marian did look very apologetic.
Katherine nodded and she noticed that she had tears falling down her cheeks and she quickly wiped hem away.
"I can't imagine what it's like being without your mother," Marian told her. "I am truly sorry Katherine."
Katherine nodded with a soft smile of thanks, just as Robin reached them. "My lady, would you like to walk with me?"
Marian nodded and she bid goodbye to Sarah and Katherine, taking Robin's hand and walking away. When she was gone, Sarah looked to her.
"Will you be truthful?" Sarah asked her and Katherine simply nodded in return.
"I will." She told her, before she took a drink of mead when it was passed to her, before she offered it to Sarah who drank from it also before passing it on.
"Do you like living with an outlaw?" She asked, nodding to Will who was deep in conversation with Bull and some of the other villagers.
Katherine looked to Will, then back. "I do." She told her, glancing back at Will. "I couldn't imagine being away from him, or any of them."
"Do you love him that much?" Sarah asked as she noticed that Katherine's eyes stayed on Will longer than most.
"I love him more than anyone could fathom." Katherine told her with a soft smile. "After all, he is my husband."
Sarah looked surprised as she looked at Katherine again and she saw the ring on her finger, before she looked to Will, and she looked him over, he was definitely an impressive looking man.
"You did well," She smiled.
Katherine laughed. "Yes, I guess I did." She smiled, before music started playing. "Do you dance?"
"I do," Sarah told her, and she laughed as Katherine pulled her to her feet and over to a group of other young women and they all danced together.
Will watched her with a smile as Bull was the only one to remain with him. "You watch her an awful lot you know," Bull told him. "No one here is going to hurt her,"
"That's exactly why I watch her." Will told him. "She's all I have Bull, when we found her being attacked, it brought back things that I would rather forget."
"Why don't you talk to us about it, lad?" Bull asked him.
Will looked to him and he shook his head. "I'd rather not," He told him.
Bull nodded; he could see that Will was not going to talk to him about it anymore. "No one in their right mind would hurt her, everyone knows you'd kill them without a second thought." He assured him. "Just as John, Fanny and I would." He promised.
Will smirked. "That's good to know," He nodded, and he pushed himself away from the tree.
"Where are you off to?" Bull asked him.
"I'm going to get something to drink, joining me?" Will asked him and the pair walked off to John's stash of mead, stealing a barrel.
Suddenly there was shouting amongst the group, it was Wulf, and he was shouting for John, the poor boy sounded desperate, and whatever he told John had both of them running back towards their hut with Friar Tuck, Azeem, Robin and Marian following.
It took a while, before Fanny's cries of pain came from the hut and Will realised what was happening. Fanny was in labour and judging from the distraught look on John's face as Marian dragged him out, it was not going well.
"Will, where is Katherine?" Marian asked him as he walked towards John, and she sat him down outside of the hut.
"Um, dancing I think, why?"
"We need her help quickly." Marian told him and she gave him nothing else, as she went to grab Katherine and together, they ran back to the hut, Marian pushing her inside.
When they were gone, Will walked over to John, handing him a cup of mead, the man looked like he needed it, and John told him what was happening – the baby had not turned so Fanny was not able to birth them naturally – Azeem and Katherine were going to try and save Fanny and the child. Will felt his blood go cold, past memories haunting him as he sat beside John, quickly downing his own cup to block out the memories. Meanwhile, Katherine was washing her hands in the basin, ready to help Azeem save the only remaining mother figure she had. She looked up as she felt a hand touch her shoulder, and she turned to see Wulf stood next to her, he was pale, and she could feel him shaking.
"Don't let my mother die, Kat." Wulf whispered.
Besides Will, Wulf was the only one who called her Kat, to her face anyway, and she saw this fifteen-year-old boy, one that she thought of as a little brother, look to her with frightened eyes. Despite his age and what he had endured, losing a loved one still scared him.
"I'm going to help your mother, but her life is in god's hands Wulf, we cannot argue with him." She reminded him. "But I'll tell you what, why don't you go outside and stand guard?" She asked. "Let no one else in, or it's going to get very crowded." She told him. "Not even your father."
Wulf nodded, and Katherine rested her forehead against his before she sent him off, she would not fail Wulf. When he was gone, she washed and dried her hands, before she pulled her knife from her holder, and she put the blade into the fire.
"Have you done this before?" Robin asked.
"I haven't, but I assisted my mother with one." She told him as she took the knife out of the flames and shook it to cool it down and she soon joined Azeem from where he had placed himself at Fanny's lower end.
"Ready?" Azeem asked and Katherine nodded, before she took a deep breath to steady her hand and she looked to Marian who remained by Fanny's head.
"Keep hold of her arms, and make sure she bites that stick, this is not going to be pleasant."
Marian nodded, and she held Fanny's arms, and Fanny screamed around the wood in her mouth as the knife made an incision in her stomach.
Will remained outside with John and Tuck, and he shut his eyes tight as he heard Fanny's cry of pain, more memories of the last time he heard someone scream like that, flooding his mind. He looked up just in time to watch Wulf come out and join them, and John try to get past his son to get to his wife, but young Wulf put up a good resistance for a young boy.
"No Father, Kat said you have to stay out here." Wulf told him.
John continued to put up a fight and it caused Robin to come out and wrestle him away from the door, forcing him to sit down.
"John, Katherine and Azeem need to work in peace." Robin reasoned. "You burst in there and that could cause a problem."
John nodded, but it soon got ruined by the Friar who looked like he had seen his arse as he sat on the ground, hooded and his arms folded across his stomach, almost like he was in a tantrum.
"Tell him what you wish, but that barbarian is killing her." He sneered and Robin's response got Will's curiosity.
"Actually, Azeem isn't the one doing what is needed, it's Katherine." Robin told him and this seemed to help John to settle slightly. However, the screams of pain carried on for what felt like hours, before suddenly it all went quiet, and Marian came out of the hut. She was looking for someone and all three men stood as she walked over.
"John, come with me," She took his hand and led him back into the hut, leaving Robin and Will fearing the worst.
However, they need not have worried as John suddenly burst out of the hut with a babe in his arms, proudly showing off his son. He was ecstatic and Will was sure that he would not be that way if Fanny had perished. As he took the baby around the camp, Wulf at his heels, music started up again to celebrate. Azeem soon came out of the hut first, he was cleaning his hands on a rag, and the Friar came to him apologising for the way that he had acted, before they went off together, the Friar to drink and Azeem to talk. Next to leave the hut was Marian, she was soon waylaid by Robin, who took her hand, and they joined a line of dancing people. Soon Will was left on his own and he waited for Katherine to come out, however when she didn't, he made his way into the hut. He stopped at the door, and he pushed his previous emotion down, creating his emotionless mask that he liked to wear so well, and he knocked on the door before entering. Inside, the fire was burning bright as Fanny lay in a bed, a blanket covering her body, bloodied rags were on the floor, but in a chair next to her sat Katherine, she was dutifully wiping Fanny's brow with a damp rag.
"How is she?" Will asked quietly after a few minutes.
"I feel okay Will," Fanny whispered.
"She's tired, but she will live." Katherine explained. "I'm just making sure she does not get a fever,"
Will nodded, and Katherine turned to look at him and she frowned slightly at seeing the uncomfortable look on his face.
"Will?" Katherine asked, and Will did not know what to do, suddenly the world seemed to collapse around him, and he turned and ran from the hut.
"Go after him…there is something on his mind…that is obvious…he needs his wife." Fanny whispered. "I will be fine…I can feel the medicine working."
Katherine nodded and she rested the cloth on her forehead, before she ran off after Will, leaving the hut just in time to see him leave the camp, he was walking now, but he could still walk fast if he chose. She had to know what was troubling her husband so badly.