Just Outside the Camp

[Will Scarlett]

Will wandered slowly back towards the camp, Shafiq gurgling quietly in his arms. His search for his brother had been unsuccessful and he was exhausted after his first day back in England since returning from Acre. Although he had not managed to find Luke, his walk through the forest had not gone to waste as it had given him some time to think.

The forest was no place to raise a child, and as much as Robin and the gang meant a lot to him, Will knew that his son's safety would always be more important than helping the gang. Maybe, he thought to himself, he and Saffiya should find a someplace else to live nearby that was a bit safer - just until Shafiq was old enough to be able to fend for himself a bit more, plus, the camp was getting pretty crowded now, and Will didn't want to see the looks on the gangs faces when Shaf had woken them all up with his crying for the tenth time in a night!

As he approached the camp, he decided not to enter, and so sat down on the dusty ground beside the entrance. He didn't feel like facing questions from the rest of the gang about why Luke ran off or about anything for that matter. He just needed some more time to think...

[Djaq]

Djaq made her way towards camp. She kicked the leaves beneith her feet. Marian was tended to and was making good progress towards being completely healed. It was only a matter of time until she would be up and about. She looked up and saw Will, her husband, and her baby Shafiq sitting just outside the camp. She sped up to a fast walk, and then to a slow jog as she made her way towards them. When she was a few metres away she started to walk again. "What are you doing?" she said sternly. She gestured to Will to hand Shafiq over to her. As she held Shafiq in her arms she smiled softly. She looked back up at Will and noticed that he was not keeping eye contact. She raised an eyebrow. "Whats wroong." she said, stressing tho O in 'wrong', making her words sound slightly less serious.

[Will Scarlett]

Will looked up at Djaq smiling slightly at her before answering her "Nothing... don't worry... I'm fine..." he said, trailing off as he looked up and saw the look on his wife's face that told him that she knew he wasn't telling the truth. He sighed and stared back at the ground again, "Hmm... I dunno... it's just that, well, d'you think it's safe us living in the camp with Shaf... cos I was thinking... and I thought that maybe we should find somewhere else.... you know - just until he's a bit older and stuff..." He looked up at her with uncertainty in his eyes awaiting her reaction. Would she understand hat he was saying? Or would she just think he was being overprotective?

[Djaq]

Djaq was silent for a moment as she moulded things over. What he was saying made sense. The camp was not an ideal place to raise a child. It would make sense to move somewhere more safe. But still, where could they stay? They could buy a house in Locksley or Nottingham, but they had no money, and they would need to arrange to steal from the Sheriff in order to get some. And still, them looking how they did would most certainly rouse suspicion wherever they lived. It was a dilema. Djaq scratched her head. "It's a good idea...but where would we go?"

[Will Scarlett]

"Umm..." Will thought out loud, relieved that Djaq was angry or upset by his suggestion. "Err... well we could live anywhere... maybe Locksley... not Nottingham - to dangerous to live their permanently... Bonchurch is pretty close to the camp... Clun's nice...." he paused, "And whilst we tried to find somewhere we could stay with Gary or Peter or someone... Peter would never say no to us staying there for a bit... What d'you think?" he asked, looking at her still deep in thought.

[Djaq]

Djaq nodded. "Yes," she said slowly, moulding things over, "I think we should ask Peter about staying with him, I'm sure he won't mind." She looked down at Shafiq who had fallen asleep. "And we can still help the gang if they need us," she said, "I'm sure Peter wouldn't mind looking after Shafiq if we went away for a few hours." Djaq was optimistic that her and Will would never get killed in a Raid, after all, she had Shafiq to live for now.