Newcomer [outlaws]

[Kate]

Kate sat on a leaf covered slop just a short was from the camp and stared out blankly through the trees in front. So this was her new home the cold damp smelly and dirty Sherwood Forest, well this was certainly going to be interesting. Already she was missing her family despite the fact she had only been parted from them a few short hours.

How was her mother and little sister supposed to be able to keep the pottery business going with out her? Who was going to get up at the crack of don to start the fire and heat the water? Not only was her life going to have to change dramatically but her family was going to have to try and adjust to living with out her help.

Kate sighed deeply and begin to absentmindedly fiddle with a loose thread on her dress. This was going to take a lot of getting used to. For one thing the camp was subject to the elements and would no doubt be freezing at night but she was going to have to live with a group of me who looked like they had never seen a drop of bath water.

[Much]

Much was going about his business in camp. He was currently holding two dead chickens by their legs, and wondering how best to cook them. As he spun around he spotted Kate sitting on a hill nearby. He stopped in his tracks, and stared in her direction for a few moments. He was contemplating whether to go up to her, and see if she was alright. His shyness had already kicked in, as he frantically thought of what he could say to her. But then he remembered he was holding two dead chickens in his hands. Maybe he'd put them down first.

Much shuffled over to the kitchen area of the camp. It was not the most sufficient of kitchens, but it was well made for something that resided in a forest. He placed the chickens on a makeshift worktop area. and looked up at Kate again. He would talk to her later. He looked back down at the chickens with despair. Why was he such a coward? He was sure someone like Robin would be up there in an instant, working his magic and smiling his smile. Women seemed to fall at Robins feet. Much grumbled as he prepared the chickens.

[Kate]

Reluctantly Kate got to her feet and half slipping half walking she made her way down the steep slope and towards the camp. If she was going to live here then she may as well make the effort to get along with everybody even if she wasn’t in the mood. Much was in the makeshift kitchen working away looking very at home, a good thing seeing as Kate was not the best cook. Anytime Kate tried to cook it would usually end up as a pile of host ash not the particularly appetizing.

“What are you cooking” Kate said quietly as she lent against a thick wooden pillar which held up the large leaf coved canopy.

As she spoke she gazed round at the camp which was primarily made out of wood. Well I guess im going to have to get used to splinters, Kate thought complainingly to her self, great. Kate also noticed that there where only a certain number of beds dotted around and no spare for her did that mean that not only was she sleeping in the forest but she was also sleeping on the ground?

[Much]

Much jumped as he heard a voice behind him. He turned around whilst in the midst of stirring and saw Kate. He gave her a meek smile. "I'm...thinking it will be some kind of chicken soup." he said, continuing to stir. "With potatoes...and carrots. So I guess its more of a stew than a soup...but then again you could see it as a soup, it depends really, I supposed it could be either...or both." he said with a small laugh.

"Chickens the easiest thing. There are plenty of them, and...they're smaller than pigs or sheep so they're easy to carry back to camp...I normally get them from Nottingham...but I always wear a disguise, because, well, otherwise the Sheriff would catch me...and then...I'd be hanged! Or something. Executed." Much had always been a talker. Filling up awkward silences with useless waffle was his speciality.

[Kate]

Kate laughed wearily, maybe she shouldn’t have asked. Kate had always known of Much having grown up in the small village of Locksley. ON her morning trips to the well she would see Much lopping after Robin as he went about his business. She hadn’t known his name at the time but she did have the delight of giggling as he tripped or stumbled.

“Sounds lovely Much” she said reassuringly. Kate began to slowly walk the length in of the camp examining all the little quirks and finding that really it was pretty well made. She guessed that this would have been the handy work of a Scarlett. When Kate was a girl a nasty storm destroyed 90% of there thatch roof but living in Locksley had its perks and the charming Dan Scarlet had worked endlessly to restore it.

“I'd be hanged! Or something. Executed”

The words caused a pang of guilt and homesickness flutter around her stomach. That was what awaited her now if she was caught. Suddenly loosing interest in examining her new home Kate sat down dejectedly on the nearest bed. She felt terrible but she wouldn’t let them know it.

“So where does every one sleep? I hope you know I'm not sleeping on the ground"

[Much]

Much turned his back to her as he continued stirring the soup/stew. He started humming to himself happily as he stirred. He was happiest when he was cooking. He didn't enjoy stealing and raiding, or being an outlaw, but it was his loyalty to Robin that kept him going. He'd always stay by Robin's side, no matter what. And that's why he was here.

As he heard Kate sit down he paused in his stirring and turned around to see what she was doing. She was sitting on his bed. "Well, umm..." he started, trying to remember who's bed was whose. "Right now, you're on my bed. That's Robin's, John's, Allan's...and that one's Will's and that one's Djaq's." he scratched his head with one hand, whilst still holding the make-shift wooden spoon with the other. "I don't know if Will and Djaq are staying over here tonight. I'm presuming they are...and if that's so then...then you can always sleep in my bed. I don't mind. I'll just...sleep on the...ground." Much smiled meekly and then tasted a bit of the substance before him. He nodded in approval.

[Kate]

Kate stiffened uneasily. This was the first time she had sat on a mans bed and and the situation was quit uncomfortable. Perhaps she should have just stayed standing and she would have a voided this unnecessary discomfort.

"I'm completely capable of making my own bed thank you,"Kate lied defensively.

The smell of Muchs cooking began to fill the camp and Kate couldn't lie, it smelled delicious. It wasn't until know she realized just how hungry she was. The long run from her home pursued by the relentless guards had taken a lot out of her and she suddenly felt faint. Kate gazed around the beds trying to remember where every one slept when a question popped in to her head.

"Now that Will and Djaq are married do they not share a bed..."she asked.

It must have been awkward for a married couple in the forest especially living in a camp with so many others. Now that they had a baby surely they would have to settle in to a more secure home. The forest was cold damp and the trees didn't create complete cover from the rain do so any camp was was completely subjected to natures will.

[Much]

"Erm..." started Much. It did make sense that Will and Djaq should find a place of their own, but then again it would be quite dangerous living in Nottingham, or even Locksley, when they were both wanted outlaws. But even if they were going to stay the night in camp, they could not sleep in the same bed. The beds were too small and narrow to fit two people. "The beds are too small and narrow to fit two people," he said, mirroring his thoughts, "But I'm pretty certain that they won't be staying with us tonight."

He still found Will and Djaq being married a difficult concept to grasp. He knew them as his friends, and thinking that they were now eternally entwined, and even had a son, was disconcerting. The only times he had known of their love for each other was in the barn, just before they set off for the Holy land. And then going all gooey eyed whist in the Holy land. The thought of it made Much grimace.

It had been a long time since Much had been in love. It was difficult to maintain a steady relationship whist being an Outlaw. Robin had Marian, Will had Djaq, and Allan had, well, just about everyone else. He didn't really know how they managed. Despite all of that, and even if Much hadn't have been an outlaw, he still would have found it difficult to get women to like him. He didn't know what it was about him, but he just seemed to be a woman repellent. Much sighed. His last love had been Eva. He did miss her. But he did feel something for Kate, it was not quite love, but it was definitely something close.

[Kate]

Kate chuckled, Much really cheered her up whether he meant it or not. Kate raised her hand to her mouth and yawned widely. It had been a long day and had only just begun to set. at this very moment her mother would be tucking her younger sister Lilly in to her bed in Kate's place. Her mother would be singing Lilly her lullaby instead of Kate. The thought made Kate's insides shift awkwardly and a glaze of tears stung her eyes. Don't cry you pansy, Kate scolded her self letting her head drop down to hid her face from Much. She would not let Much see her cry again.

"I should make my bed" Kate said in a dull tone. It was thoughtfully of Much to offer his own bed but she needed something to take her mind off her family and what she was leaving behind. Kate got to her feet, her posture bad and her face blank.

"Do you have any tools or do you give them to the poor as well," Kate said trying to inject some humor in to there conversation but failing miserably.

[Much]

Much laughed nervously, trying to co-operate with Kates comment, whilst trying to be polite and laugh. At first he was unsure how to respond, but he did none-the-less, "Well, you'd really need to see Will about that." Much would find it interesting watching Kate attempt to make her own bed. It was highly likely that she wouldn't be able to. It was a hard job, even for a man. But Kate was a woman, and not just any woman. Much sighed whilst in thought, and then realised he was stirring too fast and the mixture in the pot was overflowing. Much yelped and made a pathetic attempt of mopping up the soup.

After he had tidied up best he could, he started spooning the soup into seperate make-shift bowls. "Er... he said, trying to remember what he had previously been talking about, "Oh yes, tools and things like that should be....over there." He smiled happily, whilst keeping his blue eyes rested on Kate. He gave her a goofy smile.

[Allan A'Dale]

Allan trudged home, damp and tired after the day's events in Locksley and Nottingham. He couldn't help but feel a little concerned about Kate. When he'd been outlawed, he'd already been a long way from home and so missing it wasn't something that really troubled him. But Kate was close to her mum, that was obvious, and he wasn't sure how well she was going to cope with being separated from her family.

Still, he'd noticed that she didn't dwell so much on the past when she had someone to bicker with and by God she was easy to tease. He grinned. Things might be a little more fun around here now.

He was looking forward to a hot meal, and it smelt like Much had something on the go already. As he entered their camp he saw him ladling something out of the pot.

"What's that then?" he called out to Much. "Squirrel stew again?"

[Much]

"It's chicken, actually!" exclaimed Much, in the tone of an annoyed child. The soup was ready. He thrust a bowl in Allan's direction, and also gave a bowl to Kate. He made himself confortable on one of the makeshift stools Will had made. "Where have you been anyway?" he asked, addressing Allan, still keeping his moody tone. He was often not in Camp, going about his own business in Nottingham. "You better not be up to no good again, plotting God knows what with that Sheriff." Much said, eyeing Allan suspiciously.

"Oh and by the way, I bumped into Lady...Rosetta is it? Anyway apparently she loves you." he laughed sharply. He never thought of Allan actually loving anyone. Women were women to Allan. He gave Allan a playful shove. "What's it all about? What brought that on?" he asked, grinning. Much was never good at teasing, he was a lot better at being teased.

[Kate]

Kate watched Allan as he approached her lonesome expression changing to mild disgust. God he actually thinks he’s some divine creation, Kate thought irritable. Kate moved away from Much’s bed and was drawn to Much’s side by the smell of his cooking. It smelled delicious far better than anything she had ever cooked and she was sure it would be heaven compared to Allan cooking. Allan probably had never cooked a day in his life not with all those women falling in line to cook him his meals and feed him like a baby, pathetic.

“Thanks,” Kate mumbled excepting the tattered wooden bowl and sniffing at it eagerly.

As Much mentioned Rosetta Kate had to be careful not to smirk. That proved her right yet another woman falling at his feet did they not have any self respect? Kate had met Rosetta briefly before and all she had learned was that she was both a noble and a witch

“What the witch woman” Kate said trying to hid her amusement by taking a sip of her broth. It really was lovely."Has she bewitched your heart?"

[Allan A'Dale]

Allan pulled a face at the two of them and ate a spoonful of the soup. "Look, she's said as much to me," he replied with his mouth full, "but I only met the woman once. I think she's a little touched if you ask me. Pretty girl, don't get me wrong," - he broke off and took another mouthful - "but ain't no-one bewitching my heart."

He chewed reflectively, trying to call to mind what it was about Kate's words that was bothering him, and choked on a lump of potato when his brain finally figured it out.

"Hang on one minute. Witch woman?"

[Much]

Much laughed at Allan's responce. It was fun to gang up on someone else once in a while, rather than everyone ganging up on you. He messily spooned soup into his mouth, and listened to Allan frantically deny his and Kate's accusations. Much was rather puzzled at Kate calling her a witch. At first he thought she was just being rude, but at Allan's reaction, Much came to the conclusion the words must have had a deeper meaning. Much frowned and awaiting Kates reaction.