Newcomer [outlaws]

[Kate]

“Rosetta, she’s a witch told me so her self in the forest. Tried to give me a dagger and say she could speak to the dead, ” Kate smiled as she recounted the brief meeting she had with Rosetta. Kate shrugged indifferently as she sipped another spoon full of soup. She wondered if all Much’s cooking was going to be this tasty. Before Kate had imagined them living off rat or as Allan said squirrel. Perhaps she had judged their way of living far too severely.

[Allan A'Dale]

"You reckon it's true?" he asked nervously. Robin always poo-pooed suggestions of magic and witchcraft, but Allan wasn't so sure. Why take the chance? Then again, why admit it? The bible said something about witches being evil, he was sure of it. Not that he was a regular church-goer - far from it - but he didn't fancy messing with forces he didn't understand.

"She goes around telling people that she's a witch, she's gonna find herself getting a ducking before long. The Sheriff's got form on that front. Remember what he did to Matilda that time?"

[Much]

Much was confused. He didn't really know what was going on. He was not aware that Rosetta was a witch. Or at least, claimed to be a witch. "Are you sure she's just not....a crazy person? I mean how do we know witches exsist!" exclaimed Much. He narrowed his eyes in though as he tried to remember Matilda. "Oh, yes, I remember," Much said after a few moments. There had been a few incidents with witches in Nottingham over the years, but nothing Much had taking too seriously. But now...

[Kate]

” Who’s Matilda?” The name had been passed around in gossip about a year ago but Kate had never gotten round to finding out what the gossip was about. She had presumed it was yet another person stupidly taking a stand against the sheriff and getting publicly punished for it. Kate shrugged again with a smirk at Much’s comment. Kate wasn’t to sure what to make of Rosetta. On one hand she seemed perfectly friendly and had offered Kate a nifty looking dagger that she claimed she had made her self. ON the other hand she also claimed to be a witch and witch craft was something Kate wanted nothing to do with. Why risk having a mark on your soul just for a present or two.

“I think she’s already found her self in trouble. I heard she’s meant to be marrying Prince John but ran away when she fell in love with some blue eyes outlaw,” Kate said keeping her eyes on her soup. The conversation had succeeded in keeping her mind off the sick feeling that simmered in her stomach threatening to rise at any second. She refused to show it but she was grateful for both Much and Allan company.

[Allan A'Dale]

"Mathilda's the herb woman that lives out in the forest with her daughter. They got a little cottage, you probably know her face if not her name. Number one midwife around here by all accounts. She whelped Robin, so there's probably a fair chance she had a hand in your birth an' all. Basically, the Sheriff took a disliking to her cos she helped us out, and he called her out as a witch. Ducked her in Locksley pond and everything! But we saved her. An' her daughter was giving birth while all this was going on. It was a bit of a day, all in all."

[Much]

Much smiled as he recalled the situation in his mind. Life for an outlaw was never boring. There was always an adventure just around the corner. "We've had a few days like that in our time" responded Much with a grin. "You're going to have to get used it Kate, you've always got to be ready for action. There may be some days where we do hardly anything. But then something could happen at any moment. Believe me, it takes some getting used to." he said.

He rested his back against the kichenworktop, and smiled, staring up at the sky. "I mean, there was that time we went to the Holyland. We've been there you know! We had to save Marian, England, and so on. That's what we're about. We're here to help people. Well mainly poor people really. Because the Sheriff, well you know the story. Rob to the rich and give to the poor. Actually, that's pretty good! That should be our catchphrase. I mean, 'We are Robin Hood' is getting a bit tired..."

[Allan A'Dale]

"Rob from the rich and give to the poor," Allan echoed. "You might have something there, you know!"

He looked over at Kate. "He's right, you know. We can get into a few proper scrapes. I hope you're ready for it."

[Kate]

Kate listened intently as they spoke. Her homesick tummy comforted by Much’s superb broth. She could get used to his cooking but the home sickness was going to be hard to shift.

“Im sure I’ll be fine,” she replied dryly setting the battered bowl down on the makeshift counter. She hadn’t thought about that. Kate had been so preoccupied by the living situation and missing her family that she hadn’t even begun to think about what else came with being a part of this group. A quick glance down at her inappropriate grey dress told her that she was in for a sudden change of closet. An unexpected smile graced her down cast face as she tilted her head to look over at Much. Much’s new phrase, in Kate’s opinion, sounded far better than “We are Robin Hood”. To her that just seemed self-centred and big headed.

“I like it” She said before turning to Allan. “I was doing fine looking after myself before you lot came along and ruined my life.”

She shrugged again and turned her attention to the dusty ground beneath. “I can keep up”.

[Allan A'Dale]

Allan felt annoyed with himself. He hadn't meant to upset her, but it seemed like whenever it came to Kate he said the wrong thing. Now she was back on the whole ruining her life bit, as if leaving her to murder that creepy bloke wouldn't have got her outlawed.

He decided to stop trying to make her feel better and leave her to her own devices. Maybe doing nothing would stop her sniping at him. He sat down and turned his attention to the food. It wasn't bad actually.

[Much]

Much stared at Allan and Kate. He had already finished his food, and the bowl that was once filled with soup was still resting on his lap. "I'm sure you can keep up. I mean someone as...as...brave and...well...brilliant as you...could keep up...with anything!" Much said with a smile. He turned to face away from Kate, embarrassment taking over. He rapidly got up, and chucked the bowl over towards the kitchen worktop area. He missed.

He sighed and walked back over to his bowl, still listening to Kate's ranting. Kate and Allan always had a go at each other. But there was a certain fondness there, that Much was jealous of. His cheeks flushed as he thought about it, and he clumsily put the bowl back where it should be.

[Robin Hood]

Robin leaned against a tree trunk just beyond the edge of the Outlaw's Camp, observing yet remaining unobserved. It was good to hear laughter again. Since they'd returned from the Holy Land, the general mood had been sombre and Robin knew that it was mostly down to him. He'd been so worried about Marian that it had consumed his mind for a while. But now, thanks to Djaq's ministrations and his own tender loving care, there had been some improvement in her condition. Of course, it was still very much early days but Marian had all but pushed him out of the cave and told him to get a life.

He'd been neglecting the band. Leaving them to do their own thing when they should have been plotting and planning against the Sheriff and Prince John. Robin didn't want to think about Gisburne just yet, even now the anger still welled up in him and it was a struggle to keep his temper in check.

Reaching down, Robin picked up his bow and, taking a deep breath, stepped out from behind the tree and walked into camp. He fixed a grin on his face and smiled at Kate and Allan before heading over to the work table and sniffing the pot of soup. "Don't let John hear you say you're tired of We Are Robin Hood. He swears by it." Rob grinned at his oldest friend and companion. "But as a job description, rob the rich and give to the poor, is pretty accurate. Although, I reckon we've been sitting on our backsides for so long, we're not fit enough to go running off after any merchants." He leaned across and patted Much's tummy. "Putting on a bit of weight there, Much." He laughed.

[Much]

Much turned around, still wearing his frown, but as soon as he saw who it was that was stood beside him, the widest of all grins spread across his face. "Robin!!!!!" he practically screamed, and he gave him an excited hug. He was so pleased to see his dearest friend once more. Not only because the outlaws where doing hopelessly without him, but because he missed him.

"Where have you been?" he asked, giving Robin a playful shove. "We've just been sitting around, day in, day out, doing absolutly nothing! You need to whip us back into shape!" he said still beaming.

Much looked down at his stomach shamefully. He shook his head and looked back up at Robin. If anyone else had said it, he would have complained forever more. But because it was Robin, he simply stood and grinned. "I'm glad you're back Robin."

[Robin Hood]

Robin felt a tightness in his throat. How could he have been so selfish? Of course, if they knew where he'd been, then they wouldn't blame him. He squeezed his eyes tightly shut as he returned Much's bear hug. "I'm glad to be back." He whispered for his friend's ears only. Giving a deep, tired sigh, Robin let go of Much and took a step back.

"I've been with Marian. She's better. Still not completely recovered, but better than she was in the Holy Land." Robin let his head drop for a moment, so his fellow Outlaws couldn't see the concern in his eyes. "But, for once, Much is right." He continued. "I've been slack of late and there's really no excuse. I hear Prince John's in town. And I'm sure the Sheriff has been missing us." Robin picked up a wooden cup and sniffed it. When he realised it was just water, he drank a draught before putting it back on the table. Grinning his irresistable smile, Robin held out his hands. "Hi Honey, I'm home!" He joked.

[Kate]

Kate watched Much with a look of bewilderment on her face. There had been an uncomfortable conversation a week or two ago where Much had told her she was perfect. Kate had been short with him at the time but it was flattering. It wasn’t often an almost strange hit out with such complements and Kate was never good at accepting them. Insults where easy to deal with you just threw them right back but how where you supposed to react when someone said you where perfect or brilliant?

Luckily Robin appeared that very moment and she was saved. Kate couldn’t help but sigh with relief. She would have most likely have said something that would have hurt his feelings and she didn’t want that. She liked Much just not like that. Wasn’t telling him once enough?

“Your alive then,” Kate asked with a grin. “When will Marian be coming to live here?”

It would be nice to have another woman in the forest. Kate hadn’t met this Djaq person yet but she did know of Marian the Noble woman who had masqueraded as the nightwatcman. Kate would have to thank her for the food parcels the nightwatchman had dropped off that harsh winter 2 years ago.

[Robin Hood]

May 21, 2009 23:27:54 GMT Kate said:

“Your alive then,” Kate asked with a grin. “When will Marian be coming to live here?”

"Barely," Robin replied, jokingly. "She won't be back for a while. Although its healing, it was a really nasty wound. But I'm sure she'd appreciate a visit from you in a day or so."

Robin sat down heavily on a stool and looked towards Much and the soup pot. "Is there any of that going spare?" He asked, pointing his finger at the pot. "I keep forgetting to eat." Reaching over, Robin pinched a hunk of bread off the trencher board. Ripping off a small bit, he popped it into his mouth and chewed thoughtfully before swallowing. "So, fill me in on whats been happening?" Robin asked.