Regrets (Much)

[Much]

Much let out a noise of satisfaction, and shifted his possition slightly so that he was crossing his legs. Crickets could be heard in the long grass, and he plucked a piece from the ground and played with it childishly. "So," he asked, twirling the blade with two fingers, "what's your love life been like?" he asked, keeping his eyes firmly in front of him. Much's had been fairly non-exsistant. He had no family, and never really knew what it felt to be loved and cared for. Until he met Robin of course.

[Isabella]

Isabella could not help but be surprised at the question, and her eyes flicked towards Much for a second. Then she was looking back at Sherwood forest. Even if she was a little taken aback, she tried her best to answer Much honestly.
"Well," she began, "I'll tell you a story. A long time ago, when I was a child, I lived in the village of Locksley. There was this boy I was friends with there - not Robin, someone else - but Guy and I had to leave Locksley when our parents died and we never saw each other since. Well, now I've met this boy again. You see, Much, I can't remember much about what happened in Locksley, but I just have this feeling that - well, I think I... I don't know. But he's changed so much since then. We met in the forest a few days ago. I think I was too harsh on him - he's done things I just didn't understand. I still don't understand him. We used to be friends, but now..."
Isabella shrugged, thinking of that boy wistfully.
"Well, I don't know what I should do any more," she said.

[Much]

Much blinked, and then turned to face Isabella. He didn't really know there was another man in Isabella's life. He thought Robin was the one for her. But obviously not. Much frowned and racked his brains, trying to think of who this mysterious man could be. But of course, there were hundreds of men that lived in Locksley, and it could be any one of them. Much shrugged, and listened to the rest of Isabella's story in silence.

The woman was distressed, and Much smiled, putting a comforting arm around her. "It's alright," he said in a soothing voice, "He'll come around." He squeezed her shoulders slightly, and then with a sudden jolt of realization, remembered what he was doing. He quickly drew away, embarrassed. In all truthfulness, he hardly knew the woman. Whenever he put his arm around Kate, she either hit him, or shoved his arm away. Isabella seemed to have done neither. Well at least that was a good sign, that she did not completely loath him.

[Isabella]

Isabella was even further surprised at Much. She didn't really know what she had expected him to do, but it definitely wasn't comforting her and embracing her like that. Despite her shock, she found that Much did make her feel calmer. She let him put his arm round her and began to settle down against him - but then he realised what he was doing and moved away. Isabella remembered what she was doing, too. She sat up awkwardly, but still sat close to Much. She could see he was embarrassed, but that didn't stop her from turning towards him.
"Thankyou," she said, smiling slightly.

[Much]

Much turned back to face Isabella, when he saw out the corner of his eye that she was facing. He returned her faint smile, and nodded at her thanks. "It's alright." he said brightly, "It seems we've both helped each other out today." he said with a small laugh. "I'm sorry about, well, everything." he said, his seriousness returning. He chucked the blade of grass he was still fiddling with away, and gazed at Isabella's horse, who was happily munching at the long grass a few metres away.

After a few more minutes of gazing, Much patted his knees and suddenly bounded up, so that he was standing once more. He shifted his bandana slightly, and then scratched his head, staring into Sherwood Forest. The others would probably be wondering where he was by now. He was supposed to catch them dinner. "Hmmmm." he said thoughtfully, then turned to Isabella. He offered her a grubby hand with a satisfied smile.

[Isabella]

Isabella nodded happily in agreement at Much’s words. They had helped each other out, and she was glad of it.
“I’m sorry about, well, everything,” he said, his seriousness returning.
“Me too,” Isabella said thoughtfully.
The pair sat silently for a few moments more before Much stood up, looking into Sherwood forest. When he offered her his hand, she reached out hers and took it, getting to her feet.
“I’d better get back to the castle,” she said, her gaze shifting towards Lucy.
It wouldn’t be long before dinner, and she would be expected to accompany Prince John and her brother. It would be suicidal to keep them waiting, knowing what their temperaments were like.

[Much]

Much grinned as Isabella accepted his help and also jumped to her feet. He withdrew his hand, and brushed himself down. He was covered in grass. The outlaws would probably have been wondering what he was doing, with grass all over his back. He shook his head, just thinking of what taunts would be coming when he returned to camp. He'd better catch something to eat. Hopefully that would distract them so to speak. He nodded, picking up his bow and arrow that was still lying on the ground, readying himself for hunting.

He turned to Isabella. "Yeah. Better get back before anyone gets suspicious." he sniffed. It was time to say goodbye. He gave Isabella a light slap on the sholder, the kind of thing he would do to any of his male companions. He took one final glance at her, and then scampered into a small opening in the forest, brushing the leaves that were in his path aside. He disappeared into the wilderness.

[Isabella]

"Better get back before anyone gets suspicious," he sniffed.
Isabella smiled at Much's comment, agreeing with him. If her brother or Prince John realised how long she had been gone, suspicions would be aroused.
When Much slapped her on the shoulder, she wasn't too sure what to do. No-one had ever used that as a way of saying goodbye to her before. So she just nodded at the outlaw, before turning away from him and walking towards Lucy.
"Come on, Lucy, old girl," she said to the horse as she quickly mounted.
She kicked her into a walk, and set off on her journey back to the castle, a thousand thoughts buzzing around inside her head like the swarms of insects in the meadow.

END