At A Cross Roads (Open)

[Isabella]

Isabella's gamble had paid off. So Luke's brother lived in Sherwood Forest? Only one group of people lived there: the outlaws. He must be one of them. That certainly narrowed it down. But which one? She ran through the outlaws in her head, and thought of which one looked the most like Luke. Then it hit her: Will Scarlett. There was definitely a strong resemblance between the two. Something about the strong jaw. But Luke's eyes were different; maybe it was his restless nature that filled them with a look of searching - though what they were searching for, she doubted even he knew. Not just yet. Isabella thought more on Luke's feelings towards his brother, and it made sense, his anger. Though she didn't know Will that well, she knew about his marriage to Djaq, the saracen woman, and their son. That was what Luke meant by abandoning. Will had left him to raise a family of his own. And here was Luke, furious and unsure what to do with the rest of his life.
"I think I know your brother," she said gently, "Will Scarlett, I believe? Yes, him and his wife and their child. I too have links with the outlaws, you see. And you can keep quiet about that too."

[Roe]

Roe had been making some round through Nottingham before taking a ride out toward Sherwood. It had turned out to be a rather uneventful night, but Will decided that he felt like turning in early and getting a bit more ret than normal. Therefore he decided to take a bit of a short-cut through one of the rougher and more undesirable parts of the old town.

As he walked Sherfore through the mists he suddenly heard two voices, one which sounded quite familiar, and the other not:

"I think I know your brother .... Will Scarlett, I believe? .... Yes, him and his wife and their child. I too have links with the outlaws, you see. And you can keep quiet about that too."

Riding up he entered the conversation for a moment. "That I trust is one thing that both of you will do, and be more quiet than you're being right now. You never know who might come riding out of the mist, eh? If either of you need assistance I'm available. Hmmm .... Will Scarlett, eh .... then you must be Luke. I knew your parents well .... the best of people they were."

[Isabella]

Isabella was startled by the sudden arrival of the horseman. As she heard the familiar clip-clap of a horse's hooves, she twisted her neck around at once to see who it was. All she could make out in the dark of the night was the shadowy form of a man and horse riding towards her and Luke. She opened her mouth to ask him who the hell he was, but before she could speak, he did.
When Isabella heard his voice, she was even more surprised. He sounded like someone she knew. One corner of her mouth pulled upwards in a half-smile as he continued to talk. She was almost certain who it was now. That man seemed to be offering assistance whenever she met him.
"Roe?" she asked.

[Roe]

"Ah .... I see .... I thought it was a familiar voice. Yes .... it is old Roe .... and if its not the beautiful Bella. And what might you be doing in this rather shady section of the tow, eh, as well as the young man here?"

Roe turned his horse lengthwise so that he could deploy his swords if he had to. You never knew in this part of the hire what you would have to do to protect yourself so it was always best to be prepared.

""Given the area that you find yourself in I was not sure if you needed an escort or not, or whether you would even need one, being accompanied by this trapping fellow," he smiled. "And how have you been Bella and where do you live now Mr. Scarlett?"

[Isabella]

Yes, it evidently was Roe. Isabella couldn't decide if she was perceptive or had just been hoping it was him. It felt like a while since they had last met, though that was probably only because of what had happened then. Isabella realised that she hadn't really stopped thinking about it. She felt a bit embarrassed, but seeing as she actually knew Roe, and Luke didn't, she decided to be the first to speak.
"I've been well, thankyou," she began, "I got a bit lost round this part of town. This 'strapping young fellow', as you call him, was making sure I got back to the castle safely."
It crossed her mind to ask him what he was doing here, but she thought better of it. It was best not to take the offensive; she'd done it before and the consequences hadn't been too good. Besides, he might tell her of his own accord anyway.

[Luke Scarlett]

Luke stared in mild shock as a new man showed up, and begun speaking to Isabella, as well as asking him questions to him. Not only that but he seemed to know his... parents. Well, that was just far too coincidental. There was no way this man could even know he was, and he would not allow it anyway. He was foolish for saying he was related to someone out of the outlaws, since then he could be traced back to one of them and that only meant he was giving away his identity. Not that he thought he was still going to be prosecuted for the theft of flour which almost got him hung, but being safe was better than sorry and he didn’t want anyone knowing he was the very same Luke Scarlett who should have been hung a couple of years ago.

Staring for a moment at the two people, he gulped uneasily. “I’m not Luke Scarlett. I am not related to Will. I’m related to.... Robin’’ he came out with, even if it was a lie and an obvious one at that. However, he couldn’t help himself since he had always dreamed of having a cool brother like Robin, and there were ways in which he could work round it. “We aren’t related by blood though. I was a young serving boy in the crusades and he sort of took me as a foster brother. I’m here to find him again’’ he lied further, though as he thought more about the lie and he was practically saying Will had nothing to do with him and he was not his idolised elder brother, it made him feel sick. Despite being furious at his sibling, he still loved the man.

[Roe]

Roe smiled and said .... "Glad to hear that Bella. I had been wondering how you were getting on. However, this is a fairly dangerous part of Nottingham to get lost in, ya know? I am glad that this young man .... Will's brother you think .... was guiding you back on the proper path. As far as I know Will has only one brother, a younger one named Luke. Are you he?"

“I’m not Luke Scarlett. I am not related to Will. I’m related to.... Robin .... We aren’t related by blood though. I was a young serving boy in the crusades and he sort of took me as a foster brother. I’m here to find him again.’’

Roe that this young fella had the look in his eyes that was a cross between panic and conman who just been caught doing something and was instantly manufacturing a story. Roe turned around and rolled his eyes at Bella. "Well Bella .... for a minute there I was going to trust you in the company of this youngster .... him being the younger brother of Will Scarlett .... who I would trust my life with, as one of the outlaws," he whispered. "But now .... For one thing .... whoever you think you are .... I was raised in the same household as Robin was .... and I know you are no blood kin, so its a good thing that you changed that part of your little story."

"Now, myself, I was taking a ride around and about, after my rounds in Nottingham, because I love the countryside as well as the Forest that I explored in my youth. Let's just say for the sake of argument that I go for a ride tomorrow and go on a visit and tallk to Much or Little John or Will or Robin .... the lad I schooled as a youngster about this serving boy and about Luke .... just what are they going to say I wonder. In any case, until you two are on safer ground .... at least you Bella .... I'm going to be sticking as close as glue on paper."

[Isabella]

Although Isabella could not see Luke clearly, she could certainly hear the unease in his voice when he told them he was related to Robin. She should be able to tell a liar by now - she had known enough of them - and this young man was among their ranks. Roe could see it too. She nodded to him in agreement. He had called Luke's bluff, and it remained to see if he would tell the truth or not. Isabella was glad to have found out what Roe had been doing here. Rounds. It was ridiculous to worry but he had told her before he was a killer, and she could not know how much of that was still in him. However, she was more glad to hear that he was sticking around; firstly, because she wanted to hear the truth from Luke, and Roe would probably to be able get that information, secondly, because she had no desire to be here alone, and last, because she just wanted him to be there. She frowned at Luke, demanding to know what he was playing at with her eyes.
"Tell us the truth, Luke," she said firmly.

[Luke Scarlett]

Luke looked from one to the other, knowing that they knew he had been telling lies about Robin and who his brother was. However, he was far more guilty about denying that Will was his brother than just lying to two people who he didn’t really know about. But, then again, he wasn’t sure as to why he was feeling guilty at all about it. Will had left him, dumped him for that woman and started a family without even telling him where he went and that he had the desire to add more to the Scarlett family. Of course, he did know that one day he would eventually do it but that didn’t mean he was happy about it all. Him having a child to take care of meant that there was no one to look after him, and he needed that more than most people would really give him credit for. Will, however, should have known that before he started up a family. He had ruined everything that hadn’t been ruined, which in truth was very little, but it still stung.

That meant for him that he had to try his best at acting, and to try and get out of this situation. Perhaps then he would be able to get some sort of revenge on Will, since thinking more about it in his mind when feeling guilty just made him even clearer on how much he really despised that man. Gulping, he shook his head. “I’m being honest. Why would I lie to you two? I’ve never been a liar before in my life’’ he said, shooting them a fake look of confusion and that of being upset. He reckoned it would be convincing, but he did not have a mirror so he didn’t know for sure. “I have never heard of Will before in my life.’’

[Roe]

“I’m being honest. Why would I lie to you two? I’ve never been a liar before in my life .... I have never heard of Will before in my life.’’

Will through a look of both pleading and frustration Bella's way. Roe considered his options for a few seconds. Could he just let it and this kid go. There was also Isabella to consider. He had sworn oaths to both the Huntingdons and the Scarletts, one noble and the other not, years ago. He owed Dan and Jane far too much. He had to stop the Scarlett son, he had never knew existed on, the path he was going, now. Roe had let his head drop for a moment but now it stood erect, and he knew that he was looking at the young man as if those eyes were looking straight through him.

In a flash he had drawn both of his swords, and each one lay a fraction of inch from each side of Luke's face. "I have not heard nor smelt such a load of manure in many a year that you just tried to pawn off on us. You may not know me, but I knew your parents. For 15 years the Franks knew me as Rober' the page, then Rober' the squire, and finally Rober' the knight. Before that, though, I was an English noble turned peasant, and from the age of 12 I apprenticed in your father's shop. So yes, I knew Dan and Jane well, your parents. I saw your brother born, and when I left for the Crusade when I was 17 she was pregnant with what I assume was you."

"Now, I've heard all of the stories .... how both of your parents dies ... how Robin saved you, your brother, Allan-a-dale, and a village boy from the gallows. Now, most of what I became that was good .... as a man .... I owe to your parents, and as such I will act to protect the remnants of your family. But I have taken all I'm going to take from you ... so either spill the truth or so help me I'm going to take you over my knee, spank you and then throttle you, or the reverse. But I warn you, don't provoke my intelligence one more time, unless you want to bring out the Crusader in me!"

[Isabella]

Isabella kept on frowning at Luke as he continued talking. She was never going to believe that lie about Robin being his brother, and neither was Roe. Luke was just digging himself deeper into the hole he had got himself into, and he needed to work that out. Fast. She was just about to tell him that when Roe suddenly unsheathed both of his swords and jabbed them at the young man. The sharp steel glinted nastily, waiting to be covered in blood as they often had been before. Isabella felt a sharp intake of breath, the cold air hitting against the back of her throat. She could never forget how violent and efficient Roe could be, but he had taken both her and Luke completely by surprise. Her body tensed as she listened to his harsh words, her hands clamped over the reins as if they were attached to them. If that did not make Luke talk, then nothing would. Although she knew about Roe's oath to protect the Scarletts', she was still wary of what he would do when he was angry, and he certainly was now. It made her wonder if it was this Roe she liked, or the old one. But hadn't he warned her about that? And she had been adament that it was who he was now that she cared for. Isabella realised that she had to go on a little faith, and stayed where she was. There was nothing to stop him from killing Luke where he stood. She'd just have to trust that he would not. She did trust him, didn't she? Luke would have to consider his life before he spoke next.

[Luke Scarlett]

Luke looked down at either sword in terror for a moment, as he was taken by surprise by what this Roe had done. A subtle shiver went down his side as he considered whether the man really would go so far as to slash his cheeks and leave him to bleed to death, or move them to just swiftly decapitate him and be done with it. Though, perhaps those two things would have been a gross over reaction, but he couldn’t trust a stranger that he knew nothing about for definite, when he could have been some sort of psycho slashing maniac who just had some sort of awful blood lust. He sent a brief pleading look towards Isabella, even if he doubted she would help him. All he wanted to do however was get out of this man’s company and run somewhere... perhaps hide as well, so no one would find him.

As he listened to the man go on about his past and the stories of Luke Scarlett’s past he did understand though that it would be no good to carry on telling lies about being the adopted brother of Robin would do no good and he didn’t exactly want to be spanked or throttled as he so rudely put. It reminded him of his father however, who would spank him whenever he did anything wrong (when he was a little boy anyway), which inevitably sent a rush of guilt through him as he thought how he would think about his hatred of Will. However, as he thought more of it, he reckoned his father would agree. After all, he hated the fact his brother had gone off with the outlaws and he knew that him just leaving his family to cope alone would happen. No, the more he thought of it, the more he reckoned he was in the right and his stupid brother was wrong.

“If you want the truth, then I will give it to you’’ Luke started, sighing, even if he was still wary of the swords by his face. Even if he got slightly hit by them he was worried he might have some scarring, or even worse get the wound infected. However, he knew that he would not be able to back down from telling this man what was what even if he didn’t feel like revealing all of his inner troubles. “I used to have a brother called Will, but he died when he joined the outlaws. At first, I had a lot of admiration for him but know I can just see how stupid of a boy I was. I mean, what sort of brother just leaves the only member of their family to fend themselves in a strange place? I lived a sheltered life and hadn’t seen a lot of the world, but I was thrust into growing up. So, I am Luke Scarlett but I don’t have an older brother called Will anymore.’’

[Roe]

Roe looked down at the terror-filled face of the young man that he still believed was Luke Scarlett. He had always believed and practiced on the battlefield that the appropriate application of terror could be more effective than the act of killing a man. He had found outright murder to be counter-productive. Just about any man, unless he had been properly trained could be broken. You just diidn't want to destroy them in the process. That's where he was with Luke right now .... he wanted him to come clean .... but without lasting physical and emotional damage. He knew that what Luke was trying to do was to let enough doubt seep into his mind that he give enough separation that Luke would be able to steal away into the night. That was why Roe knew that he needed to maintain or even increase the pressure.

Roe was hoping that going over the past history would convince the lad that his lies were pointless and a waste of his time and energy. Luke simply ad to keep track of too much information to keep his lies straight with a person who knew so much about his family's history. Roe knew that the boy was trying to come up wit a storyline that was mostly reflected in the actual facts, but had just enough falsehoods to through his questioner off the track. Unfortunately, even with the knowledge that Roe had exhibited so far, Luke didn't understand that Roe knew too much for any ordinary set of lies to work. So, roe listened patiently to the next set of folklore that Luke tried to pass off a fact.

“If you want the truth, then I will give it to you .... I used to have a brother called Will, but he died when he joined the outlaws. At first, I had a lot of admiration for him but know I can just see how stupid of a boy I was. I mean, what sort of brother just leaves the only member of their family to fend themselves in a strange place? I lived a sheltered life and hadn’t seen a lot of the world, but I was thrust into growing up. So, I am Luke Scarlett but I don’t have an older brother called Will anymore.’’

"So," Roe thought to himself, "he has begun to break enough to give some Kernels of truth, at last." However, Luke had not gone near far enough yet .... not for Roe's satisfaction anyway. Roe rolled his eyes at Luke's answers. "Well, so you are Like after all, eh? And I can see that you feel like he's abandoned or neglected you over some issue that I have neither the time nor the patience to deal with. So he's dead, eh .... when did you see him last and when did this death place exactly." Roe applied even more pressure with the blades .... so much so that a small trickle of blood began to appear. "What kind of fool do you take me for boy! You've given me 9/10 of the truth why don't you go the rest of the way so you'll be able to avoid the confessional!"

[Isabella]

Isabella saw that Luke was only giving part of the truth, and not all of it. He was Luke Scarlett, but Will had not died when he joined the outlaws. Isabella had seen Will not long ago, when she, some of the outlaws and Roe had been trying to get Djaq out of the castle. Will was still alive, and Luke knew it.
A frown slashed across her brow when Roe spoke again. He was still angry, of course, but this time she saw him move closer towards Luke with his swords. At first she did not notice the blood, but then she saw the tiny trickle crawling down his neck, and her worries about Roe suddenly multiplied. Still she did nothing. She wanted answers, as did Roe, and if this was not enough to extract them, Luke had less sense than pride. She hoped that he would speak the truth this time, or Roe might turn to more drastic measures.

[Luke Scarlett]

Luke winced as a sharp pain struck at his cheek, and he looked into the eyes of who had caused it. He wondered vaguely what would happen if he kicked Roe in the legs and tried to make a run for it, but he assumed that before he went down the man would be able to dig the blades deep into his cheeks before that. As the blood rolled down his cheek more, he felt that it was cold and sticky, and would probably stain his cheap, peasant clothes which had no value to most, but to him they were all he had and were the only thing stopping him from freezing to death if he had nothing to keep him warm. It wasn’t like he had a home after all, which, funnily enough, was down to Will yet again. Even this Roe’s anger could be linked back to his selfish brother. This encounter was just serving to make him even more embittered towards him.

“I mean that the death is metaphorical’’ he announced, shocking himself with using such a large word. He had understood it however when he heard a noble say it, and had decided that he would get it into at least one conversation. The death was metaphorical however, which was what he meant to begin with, even if he had been unclear about it. However, it was a wonder he was able to think clearly at all with two blades stuck to his cheeks and a mad man wielding them. Though, he did wonder why Isabella was not even helping him. He sent her another pleading look, hoping she would intervene and save him from this man before he said something stupid. Not that it mattered, he figured, since he reckoned that the man would kill him anyway. A shiver ran down his spine, before a faint tear rolled down his cheek, mingling with the blood.

Gulping, he managed to hold back the tears, so that he could at least appear strong if he was really going to die. His father and his mother had, and as the last member of the Scarlett family left as far as he was concerned, he would follow suit. “Although, who knows how long until he gets buried in the ground. Not that I care. In fact, I can’t wait. Will serve him right’’ he muttered, slowly, more to himself than Roe. No doubt he would be annoyed at that, but he didn’t care. No, he would have to try and get himself out of this mess. “What do you want to just leave me alone anyway? I don’t have any money though. All I have are the clothes on my back...’’ he said, becoming desperate. He didn’t even know what Roe wanted from him anymore, but he guessed he could at least try the possessions route.