Safety (Tuck & Sister Mags)

[Amelia Barrowcliffe]

Amelia looked around the priory with awe. She felt safer than she had in a long time. The last time she had truly felt safe was when her parents were still alive.

"This place is amazing" She said with a smile. She was surprised that there was a place like this here amongst all this depredation. It was like a light in he darkness.

[Sister Magdalene]

Jul 1, 2009 19:38:13 GMT Tuck said:

"Sister Magdalene, I have brought this child as one who is seeking a calm harbor to protect from a stormy sea. I had just left Robin to come consult you over some issues that were troubling me and ran across this young lady in the Forest. She is the best to tell you her story, but I do know that she is trying to escape some who were her masters. She is originally from Ireland. I know very little of the rest of her story, but knew the only place of relative safety would be with you. I suggest that you ascertain her story and do what you can for her. We can talk about my isues when her situation is more settled."

Sister Magdalene looked with interest at the girl, who accompanied Tuck. "Welcome, my dear. And what is your name?" She asked, carefully bolting the door after the guests. "Come into the kitchen and warm yourselves by the fire. Have you eaten? I'm sure I can find some food for you, if you require it." Turning, the Nun led the way down the corridor and through to the Refectory. Heading for the far corner, she disappeared down another short stone passage which led into a big airy kitchen. Approaching the fireplace, Magdalene took up the poker and riddled the fire, then she added some wood, which easily caught fire.

As the firelight lit the room, she turned back to Tuck and the girl. "Sit yourselves down. I'll get you some ale. Unless you'd prefer water?" She gave the girl a querying look. "Help yourself to bread and cheese." A quarter of a loaf was still left on the table and a hunk of cheese was wrapped in muslin. Mags busied herself, searching in the store room for a pewter jug which she filled with ale from a cask on the shelf. Returning to the kitchen, the nun seated herself across the table and poured the beverage.

"From what Tuck has already said, you have an interesting tale to tell, my Child." She looked into Amelia's face. It was an honest one. "I take it you have been a servant. What happened?"

[Amelia Barrowcliffe]

Amelia looked around she was still a little weary but that all changed when the warmth of the fire covered her whole body.

"I was a servant yes. My master was an evil man who worked my parents to exhaustion, they died because of this. One day he realized how pretty i was and decided he was going to take advantage of me" She said every inch of her skin had started to crawl at the Mere mention of this. "I was forced to hit him with a chair and i ran. I got a ticket to england with some money i stole form him. I have been here for five years now, moving from place to place being too scared to settle down in case he found me"

She felt that a little of the burden had been lifted just by telling them this.

[Sister Magdalene]

"Oh my Dear!" Mags reached her hand across the table and squeezed Amelia's hand. "What an ordeal! No wonder you appear so scared and frightened." Rising to her feet, the good Sister walked towards an alcove in the wall and, pushing the cloth hanging to one side, she removed a bottle and brought it back to the table. Pouring a good measure of brandy into a cup, Mags passed it to Amelia. "Drink that, my Child, it'll do you the world of good and then, when you've had something to eat, I'll show you where you can sleep." Her eyes wandered over to Tuck, the message in them clear that when Amelia was settled then they would be able to speak freely.

Magdalene looked back at the servant girl and smiled reassuringly. "You have my assurances, Amelia, that you're completely safe here. We are a house of women, apart from our occasional male visitor." And at this, she discreetly indicated to Tuck, "So you need not worry that any man will force his intentions upon you. Now, why don't you take your bread and cheese, and I'll show you to bed. You can eat while you rest."

[Tuck]

Tuck listened and watched with appreciation as Sister Mags treated Amelia with great empathy as Amelia recounted her story. She offered her story wit much more detail than Tuck had been able to elicit over the distance of their trip from Sherwood Forest to Nottingham. However, Tuck knew that had always been one of her special skills. With the deftness of an experienced negotiator she got Amelia to take a healthy dose of brandy and a good portion of food that Tuck was sure would lead her to a restful sleep, which was the Sister's primary intention now that she had gotten her to recount er story. Tuck nodded to them both as Mags led her off to the place he would sleep, and Tuck understiood that hey would talk some when she returned.

Tuck understood that even though Amelia was on her way to a well-deserved slumber, it might be some time before Mag would return, since the talk might continue for a bit. Tuck contemplated the strange turns that his life ad taken in recent days, with his journey with Amelia simply being the most recent chapter. Eventually, though, Mags did return. "I do seem to be keeping you up late at night with new boarders, Mags, but she seemed to desperately need a place of safety and I could see no others to be had," he commented somewhat sheepily.

[Sister Magdalene]

Mags patted Tuck's hand affectionately, then pushed the brandy bottle towards him. "No, you did the right thing by bringing her here. Poor girl." Mags sounded weary. "Unfortunately, her tale is all too common these days. Masters of men seem to think themselves above every law that they can do whatever they like and hang the consequences."

The Sister reached for the brandy and poured herself a tot. One sip sent a surge of warmth through her body. "Amelia is welcome to stay here for as long as she likes. She can help our servants and, when she feels up to it, I'll see if I can find her a position in an understanding household if thats what she wants. I dread to think of her roaming the countryside alone though, with men returning from the Holy Land, its not going to be safe." Sadly, Mags slowly shook her head. "Now what was it you wanted to speak to me about, Tuck?"

[Tuck]

Tuck was sorry that he had gotten Sister Mags up at this late hour and interrupted her much needed sleep. He gladly accepted the proferred brandy that she pushed toward him. "Honestly, I am sorry for burdening you Mags, but I did not know where else was safe that I could take her. Well .... if they can't be brought to justice in this life, perhaps in the next, eh?," he said grimly as he took another sip of the brandy.

Tuck was glad to here that Amelia was quite welcome to stay. It sounded as if Mags was quite experienced in placing such unfortunate people as Amelia in relatively safe places and homes. "You mean men like me perhaps," he smiled as the affects of the brandy were beginning to be felt. "Ah .... its a subject that we have touched on before that you have given me your opinion, but now it is much more specific and immediate. Our old friend, Lady Rosetta Court, who escaped me at our last meeting, is to marry Prince John."

"Robin's plan is to take er hostage and replace her with an outlaw at the church just before the ceremony, and collect as many donations from the assembled nobles while Prince John is held at swordpoint. The Bishop is to conduct the ceremony. If I assist the outlaws there will be no going back. I know what my heart tells me, but my head tells me something else. Do you have any words of wisdom?"

[Sister Magdalene]

The Sister waved away Tuck's apologies. "Its a burden I don't mind shouldering, my friend." she replied, musing carefully over the situation. "If justice is lacking, then God's Will be done." she tore off a corner of the rough bread and popped it into her mouth, chewing slowly as she listened as the Friar came to the other reason for his visit.

"Why kidnap her? Why not let the two of them marry and let them face the consequences! After all, its hardly a match made in Heaven." She replied, her brow creasing into a frown. "By assisting them, you will indeed ostracise yourself from your Brothers. Is it worth it? I don't understand why Robin Hood would plan this, unless you're not telling me everything?"

Ignoring the brandy bottle this time, Mags added some water to her goblet. "Your heart can rule your head, but your head will never rule your heart, Tuck. I rarely trust my heart or my head, instead preferring to go with my gut instinct. So tell me, old friend, what is your gut instinct telling you about this?" The Nun sat back and waited for her companion to tell her what was troubling him.

[Tuck]

Mags was always good at smelling things out. "No, I didn't tell you everything. It seems that our good Lady Rosetta Court was sent here by the good King Richard the Lionheart to assassinate his brother. Her whole effort to put herself in a position to do just that was the only wedding plan she reaklly had of it. By the time Richard ad cooled off she had already left on her mission. He sesnt a message to Robin by special messenger to stop her, Robin came up with the plan of kidnapping her, switching her with one of the outlaws, to stop the assassination, embarrass Prince John, and to rob the nobles.

Now they've asked me to join with them. However, the Bishop is presiding over the ceremonies. If I assist them he will recognize me and I will forever be associated with the outlaws. My gut tells me that zRobin is on the side of te people, and I don't think I can allow that side to fall to the many forces of evil. But are the outlaws truly my destiny? Any opinions Mags?" He waited patiently for her verdict ... he knew it would be well thought-out.

[Sister Magdalene]

"Act in haste, repent at leisure," Magdalene whispered as Tuck explained about the King's actions. "I'm only thankful that Lady Rosetta was stopped before she could do any harm. Could you imagine what would happen if Prince John were assassinated? The country would be ripped apart by Civil War." A sense of forboding fell onto the Nun and she looked moodily into the dancing flames of the fire as she nursed her glass of brandy.

"I think you've managed to answer your own question, my friend," Mags added, watching images form in the embers of the fire. "You're caught between the proverbial rock and hard place, Tuck. You're damned if you do and damned if you don't. But by your own admittance, you've already said to me that you will never return to your Brothers." Closing her eyes against the images in the flames, Magdalene turned to Tuck and rested her hand on his. "My friend, you fight for the people and so does Robin Hood. I believe your destiny entwines his."

[Tuck]

"Yes, there was much frustration in the outlaw camp when then they found out what Lady Court's mission was and that they were being given the mission of saving the life of the person who most wanted them stopped and dead." Robin had gone through the same rapid, but logical progression of analysis that Sister Mag's had just gone through and determined that to allow his assassination would unleash a civil war that may not be able to be contained, and the deaths and carnage from such a thing could be too immense to truthfully imagine.

Tuck chuckled to himself with reference to the witty sayings she sometimes came up with. "Fortunately we had both time and space to plan what our next moves should be." It seemed that Mags always saw what his path should be so much more clearly than he did.

"Yes, I don't see any way back to where I have been before, that's true. The only way forward, in which the rights and liberties of the people are preserved would seem to be through Robin Hood and his group of loyal outlaws. I believe that we fight for the same things, and the things that we fight for are worthy ones, but is that kind of violence likely to sanctioned by God's law and its interpretation? I am likely to be a spiritual leader and confessor for them, so these are things I must know."

[Sister Magdalene]

Mags eyed Tuck. The brandy she'd consumed had already given her a warm glow inside. "I am sure that Robin Hood and his outlaws never use violence unless it is completely necessary. Unlike the Sheriff's men, who seem to find some sort of perverted joy in injuring and degrading people." She reached for the brandy bottle again then hesitated. Perhaps she'd had enough to drink, instead Magdalene settled for eating a morsel or two of bread.

"I'm afraid its going to be a learning curve, Tuck, for both them and yourself. Do not spend too much time, debating the whats and wherefores, my friend." The Nun added, rising unsteadily to her feet. "And now, it is time for me to retire. You're more than welcome to bed down by the fire tonight, if you wish, Tuck, but then you know that." The Sister walked to the Friar's side and placed her hand gently on his shoulder. "Let your conscience be your guide, my friend." Then, inclining her head to him, Mags turned and walked unsteadily from the refectory. However, instead of retiring to her room, Mags found herself drawn to the small chapel. Once there, she fell to her knees by the altar rail and clasped her hands in prayer.