A Forest for Everyone (Allen)

[Allan A'Dale]

He was slightly taken aback by her question, and had to genuinely think about the answer. He'd very carefully not thought about this ever since he'd made his final decision to abandon Gisborne in Portmouth and save the outlaws. Truth be told, he knew his own weaknesses and thought it was better not to tempt them.

"Well, I ain't gonna lie, I'm not exactly tied to the fight like the rest of the lads. I mean, I've got a place here and everything, but I know better than to say never. I can't honestly say that if something amazing presents itself I'm not going to consider it. But I let the gang down once before, and I ain't doing that again. I might not be fighting at Robin's side forever, but I'm not gonna turn against 'em. Can't really see a better prospect turning up any time soon. I've got friends here, and a purpose; we're helping people. If something was gonna take me away from here, it'd have to be pretty impressive, put it that way. I'd be leaving a lot behind, more than I've ever left before."

[goddess1girl]

Asha studied Allen as he spoke. It was good that he made the right choice, it probably felt like the right choice to him, or well she hoped. Smiling genuinely as it seemed Allen was describing his whole storey of his coming to be. It was like a caterpillar turning into a cocoon and blossoming into a butterfly. Something that takes a lot of time, but is irreversible.

She understood Allen even if she was not there to witness it. Friendship is hard to gain and hard to break. Once you gain friends it hard to turn from them, no matter what the circumstances are, no matter how bad it really is. ”At least you’re a strong enough of a man to admit that. At least ou gained from this experience.” Asha replied politely, a little unsure of how to answer to Allen even if she was the one to ask the question.

[Allan A'Dale]

He smiled and nodded. "Yeah, that's a better way of looking at it. A learning experience." He scratched his head, awkwardly. He'd told this almost-stranger a potted history of his last year or so, and he knew next to nothing about her.

He paced around the clearing, looking for somewhere comfortable to sit. If they were going to swap life histories, he wasn't about to do the whole thing standing up. He settled upon a fat tree root half-protruding from the mossy ground and brushed it off before sitting down.

"So you got taken here from....India, right? By slavers? Have you got family back home? Or did they get taken too?"

He thought briefly of Djaq. He knew her brother had been killed, but she'd never said if her parents were still alive. Probably not, he guessed. They'd been to Bassam's in the Holy Land; poor old Bassam, he ruminated sadly; but wouldn't she have mentioned her parents, being back in her homeland again?

[goddess1girl]

Asha smiled at bit before taking a seat on a rock not to far away from where Allen sat. It was like a little community session to poor your heart and soul out to a complete stranger. ”By slavers yes. Most of may family still lives back home.”Or so she hoped .Asha didn’t notice if any of her other members of family were taken, because they could have taken them after she left. ”Honestly I could not tell you about there well being, or who is still alive. .”

It was a little sensitive spot of Asha having not spoken about this in years, because she had no one to talk to. Now that she really thought about it, she had been alone for the past couple of years. It was nice to now have someone to talk to. ”I had two brothers and my older sister Sana ,I was the youngest child but for some reason my father liked me best even over his two sons. I guess I was just an odd child. ”

[Allan A'Dale]

Allan frowned slightly. He had no family left, but he couldn't imagine how it would feel having so much distance between him and his roots.

"Do you think you'll ever go back?" he asked. "They must have no idea what happened to you, just disappearing like that. Did a lot of people get taken before you?"

He knew that whilst Tom had still been alive, despite their differences he had worried about his wellbeing from time to time. At least he'd known that Tom was in the same country, even if he wasn't always certain that he still breathed. But Asha's family didn't even know where in the world she was. She could be anywhere as far as they were concerned. He couldn't help but feel sympathetic.

[goddess1girl]

Asha looked away from Allen after he asked the question. The truth was she probably would never go back, to long of a journey and what would happen if she went back and no one was left. Asha was better off staying here, it was safer.”Probably not. To go all that way alone with a chance of not even surviving the journey. I would rather stay here, where I know I can live a life.” After replying to him, Asha looked back at him, her eyes a little damp. Maybe she was being a little over emotional, but it was an emotional subject.

”Be for me no. It was just almost out of know where. A surprise for most of us.”Asha replied .Of well they might have come before and she just might not have known.

[Allan A'Dale]

Allan let out a slow breath, weighing up what she'd said. India must be further than the Holy Land even; although Djaq had come back to England in the end, at least she'd had a chance to say a final farewell to her homeland.

"It must have been a hard choice," he said awkwardly, after a pause. He felt bad for asking now; the poor girl was clearly still unable to talk about it without emotions overwhelming her. "There's another one of us - one of Robin's gang - who had to go through what you did. I can't say I know how either of you feel, but..." He wasn't sure how to end the sentence. He didn't want to say I feel sorry for you, but he wanted to say something to make her feel better.

[goddess1girl]

”Its was.” Asha replied, taking a breath in, attempting to hide a tear that was starting to form. Normally things like this weren’t so emotional for her, they were over looked at not sensitive, but maybe the choice was harder then she had imagined in the beginning. Calming her self down, Asha put on a smile, she was always good at acting.

”Its all right Allen. You don’t have to feel bad for us. We all go through losses at one point of time in our lives, just some different from others.” Asha replied, almost knowing what Allen was going to say next. Even if he hadn’t said it out load, she was happy to have him thought about saying it. Though she wasn’t asking for pity, just someone to talk to.

[Allan A'Dale]

Allan nodded sadly in agreement. "That's true enough," he replied, thinking of the outlaws. They'd all had their share of strife and hardships. "No-one leads a charmed life; we've all got our crosses to bear, so to speak."

He fell silent for a moment. This conversation had taken a pretty depressing turn. He ran a hand through his hair and gave her a grin. "So, let's talk about something a bit more cheerful," he offered. "What do you do with yourself these days?"

[goddess1girl]

”Yes, hardships are what shape a person I might add.” Asha added with a small nod. This was hardly a cheerful conversation to start a friendship or at least a decent conversation with. Hardly uplifting.

There was a brief silence between them, it didn’t bother her much, and silences were common in her life. Allen then ran a hand though his hair before speaking again.”Take from the rich , steal the usual.” Asha replied with a smile. ”Yourself Allen? I assume a man such as yourself has better things to do then talking with passing women.”

[Allan A'Dale]

"Pretty much the same," he admitted. "Trying to keep abreast of news from the castle, robbing as many as we're able, and giving out handouts. That in itself can pretty much be a full time job. Although..." He pondered for a second. "Seems to have been a while since there was really even a hint of something going on up there. I think Prince John had everyone so much on their toes that there wasn't really time for any proper mischief. Apart from the wedding, it's mostly been pretty quiet lately for us. Don't suppose you've heard any word of plans a'brewing?"

[goddess1girl]

”Great minds think alike I guess.” Asha replied with a grin. Listening to what Allen had to say Asha thought to herself. She really hadn’t heard anything, but then there was one thing.” I find its to quiet in the castle ,something must be going on just no word is coming out yet. But news will leak sooner or later.” She replied satisfied with her response, well that’s was her option of the whole situation with the castle. ”mind you I don’t hear much. I’m not exactly on the most wanted list am i? ” She said with a light hearted smile,Asha was only teasing him after all.

[Allan A'Dale]

Allan laughed. "Sometimes not being well known's for the best though. Most locals know I'm involved with Robin, even if they don't know exactly who I am. It's pretty hard for me to overhear any loose talk; people know better than to start swapping gossip in front of me. Tends to be people like you who pick up the best tips - people who aren't considered troublemakers."

He smirked ruefully. "Although having a known face has its advantages. I might not hear the news from the horse's mouth, but anyone who learns something juicy knows who to tell."

[goddess1girl]

Asha smiled bigger as Allen laughed.”But I wear a mask silly, I had my face other wise I’d stand out in the crowd like a swore them. Don’t want people being pointed fingers at.” She said knowing that would the last thing locals would want ,though Robin and his men wouldn’t say anything about where they got there information from. ”because you look like such a troublemaker.”

”Well now I know who to spill my secrets with.”Asha replied with a small laugh.

[Allan A'Dale]

Allan nodded. "True, you wear a mask, but that's a face too, in a way. No one knows who the Nightwatchman is," he chuckled inwardly as he said it, "but everyone recognises his mask. They can still pass on information."

He leaned back and looked up at the sky. The sun was brightening now, chasing the clouds away.

"Seems like maybe people just need to know that there's someone else out there that they can rely on. Unless you're staying out of the limelight to stop the Sheriff getting wind of you. I suppose if they don't know you exist, there's no-one to catch."