Anna Returns Home [[open]]

[Annabella Scarlett]

Annabella Scarlett staggered through the centre of Locksley, hand reaching for the gate of her house as she struggled to reach her home.

She didn't know exactly how long she had been gone, but she was relieved to be back.

Her hand fumbled on the gate, bringing a section of the fence crashing to the ground, echoing in the silence of the night.

[Roe]

Roe had just returned to the old Scarlett house from his trip to the Forest. He wanted to rest for at least a few hours, if not a good amount of the day, before he ventured on to Nottingham, in his knighthood regalia, as he tried to establish himself as a spy in the castle. He had just fallen asleep on the cold floor when he was awoken by a large crash. Before he had drifted off to sleep he had thought how comfortable the forest floor was in comparison to the floor of the house.

Quickly he arose to see what the commotion was. As soon as he exited the front door to the house, since his eyes were already acclimated to the darkness of the night, he could see a form wrestling on the ground in front of Anna's cottage. "Anna? .... is that you? .... it looks like you've destroyed half the fence. Here, let me help you up. If you are nice to me me maybe this friendly local carpenter will fix what busted when we have some light. First, though, lets get you out of the damp night air, eh?"

[Annabella Scarlett]

She scrambled to her feet as best she could, looking around for the source of the familiar voice.

"Did I wake you? I'm sorry."

Anna mimbled quietly, tugging her cloak over her shoulders to hide her torn dress and cut and bruised shoulders.

[Roe]

Roe thought that she seemed to be a bit disoriented. The air had cooled markedly since sunset, but it seemed strange that she was bundling herself up so tightly in her cloak. "Don't let it trouble you a bit. I had just gotten in, myself, and laid down. Besides, this is what neighbors are for, isn't it? You should really be more careful, though, you know. Even when you are traveling home, its best to do it during daylight. That way you can see where you are going, and you can also avoid any outlaws or highwaymen that you might be unfortunate enough to run across. Are you sure you are all right?," he said as he led her toward her doorway.

[Annabella Scarlett]

"I had to walk at night. They'd find me if not."

Her eyes shifted around, cautious and nervy, eager not to attract anymore attention from the other villagers.

[Roe]

"I had to walk at night. They'd find me if not."

That comment seemed to come out of nowhere to Roe. He noticed how tense both her body felt and voice sounded. Her whole body language, if iut didn't shout fear, did seem to indicate someone who was not trying to draw attention to herself. "Anna, who will find you? Have they done anything to you?," he asked with a calm and level tone. "Perhaps you would like to rest over in my house. It might be safer there. I will defend you against anyone who might threaten you. I could even lie in wait for them in your cottage, while your safe in my house. What is it that you would like to do?"

[Annabella Scarlett]

"I can't tell you. They'll hurt me again."

She looked to her front door, the darkness of the house daunting somehow, and not aiding her already panicked state.

"Where would be safest?"

[Roe]

"I can't tell you. They'll hurt me again."

She was clearly terrified Roe thought to himself. From his initial meeting it had been easy to tell that this girl was afraid of very little, but this was obviously not the case now. "You can trust and tell me most anything. As a crusader, kings and queens were entrusted to my protection. I will let no harm come to you. Plus, there are others that I could call on to aid me if needs must. However, in any case, I would be willing to lay down my life in defense of yours, both as a woman and as a Scarlett."

"Where would be safest?

"Hmmmm .... since you are not safe undefended out in the open and you, obviously, are not t rusting of your own cottage right now, my house will have to serve as a fortress for the moment," and he began helping her move in that direction.

[Annabella Scarlett]

"M....my...dad... and my brother. They followed me... into the forest..."

Her voice wavered a little as she tried to tell what had happened to her, but it was impossible for her to finish, too concerned about getting somewhere safe for the time being.

"Th...thank you..."

[Roe]

Roe quickly put himself back into the mindset of being a crusader and a fighter. How could family instill such fear in other family simply because they had the power, Roe could never understand. "Come, as you know, its not very far .... its just over here. I doubt if they are familiar with much of the village then. I can barricade the back door easy enough. What they will find if they bring the battle to my door that neither the cottage nor the Forest will be a safe place for them."

They quickly made it through the door and closed it. Roe moved quickly through the house lighting several lamps as he passed, on his way to barring the back door. Within moments he had returned, with 2 swords fastened to his back, and a small hatchet hanging from his belt. He set down a Sarecen bow and quiver on the table within easy reach if he needed it. He then led her to a chair at the main table and sat her down, and folded her cloak back over the chair, exposing her shoulders. "Did they do this to you?", he said with his voice shaking slightly in anger.

[Annabella Scarlett]

Anna nodded slightly, running her hands delicately over the collection of burns, cuts and bruises that decorated her shoulders and chest.

"They... they took me back... and made me pay for leaving..."

[Roe]

"Even though they be Scarletts I have utter disgust for them. Do they know where you live? Did they take you from your house or did they happen upon you somewhere else? We will dress your wounds and make sure that they don't get infected. Then we'll make sure that you get a good meal. I will be heading to Nottingham as a knight. You will accompany me as my sister, or my cousin, or whatever you choose to be. You are likely to be safer within the castle, until I figure out a way to draw them out and deal with them in the open. One way or another they'll never return to Nottingham, I promise you."

They think they are the hunter pursuing the hunted. Little do they know it will actually be the other way around, he smiled to himself. "So .... what would you like your disguise to be .... a sister, a cousin ..... what?"

[Annabella Scarlett]

"They followed me... to the forest... from the market"

She opened and closed her mouth a few times, thinking things over. This was all somehow, really confusing to her.

"I...erm... I don't know..."

[Roe]

Roe thought that this might have bought them a little bit of breathing space. They might surmise that she's in and around Locksley, but they don't know exactly where, and even if they find her house, chances are they know nothing of Roe.

"What did they tell you when they finished with you? Did they let you go, or did you escape? Think carefully and well .... it may give us an idea of where they will go next and what they will do."

"Do you want me protect you? If you do you will need to come with me to Nottingham. You don't have to make up your mind about your relationship with me until we get there, but when we do get there I suggest that you let me do the talking. Now .... let me clean those wounds and then we can get something to eat, eh," he smiled.

[Annabella Scarlett]

Screwing her eyes shut, she tried to think back. It had only been a few days ago that she had gotten away, but, what had happened, exactly?

"They took me to Scarborough, and when they had finished... they left me in the garden shed... I ran away from there."

A greatful smile lit up her tired face and she nodded gently.

"Thank you. Food would be very welcome. And would you mind me travelling to Nottingham with you? I don't want to be a burden."