Morning Glory (open)

[Will Scarlett]

[shadow=red,left,300]Morning Glory[/shadow]

Will walked through the forest, the sack heavy in his hand. The autumn leaves glistened with tiny drops of morning dew as the virgin sunlight shone upon the new day. A hundred different birds flitted and called shrilly around him, restless with the joy of the morning. A young russet-coloured squirrel scampered up a nearby Alder tree. This was Will’s favourite time of day in the forest; everything had a sudden burst of new life, reborn again with each morning.

But then the wind picked up, throwing dozens of papery leaves into the air, and suddenly Will felt very cold. He remembered why he was there, and focused on the individual trees of the forest. It was not long before he found what he was looking for. Pulling out his felling axe from the sack, he began work on a sturdy oak. It was hard work, and it brought him to a sweat, but he was used to wielding an axe, having employed one in the past for less pleasant jobs.

Eventually, he heard the tell-tale creaking that meant he was nearly done. With a final swing, the oak gave in and crashed onto the forest floor. Will breathed out heavily, but his work was not done yet. Taking out his broad axe, he started to take the smaller branches off of the tree, the ones he could not use in his work. They would not be wasted, however; he could use them for firewood later.

As he was engrossed in his work, he thought about how much quieter life was now that he had left the outlaws’ camp. Of course, he still supported Robin and the cause, but he was always one step behind everyone else in the gang. It wasn’t the fighting and thieving he missed, but the friendship and companionship of his brothers. It had been a while since he’d spoken to Allan, Little John and Much, when before, they had been as thick as thieves. (Well, after all, they had been thieves.) Still, Will thought, he had a better life now: a future with the woman he loved, a son of his own and an honest job. Really, he was content like this.

Suddenly from behind him, a twig snapped. His axe still gripped tightly in both hands, Will twisted around to see who it was.

[Thea Linnet]

Thea sat on the floor of her bedroom, trying to sleep. Or at least trying to stop her pounding headache. She wasn't tired, but she was weary. She just wanted things to get better. Yes, she was angry and annoyed at Roe, and yes, she was going to do everything to get Liam free, but now she just wanted peace. Not world peace, not peace for all of Nottingham, just peace for her own little world.

"Birmingham," she sighed out loud. Birmingham was peaceful, but that wasn't an option anymore. No point in going back home, just to have taken from her. She just wanted quiet. She wanted to be a bratty child and get her heart's desire just this once. If Liam was free, maybe things would be different. She and Roe could agree to just be indifferent to one another and Isabella and Roe could do what ever they wanted to, just so long as Thea didn't feel like the whole castle was a coiled spring. One wrong move, one wrong word, and the whole place would collapse.

Of course, tomorrow it would be a different story. Tomorrow, she'd want Roe's head on a spike and everyone connected with him to suffer greatly, but Thea was in a lull and planned on moping, or at least not getting angry, for the next while.

The cold stone walls weren't helping her current state of mind, so she wandered around, intent on finding an open place where she could think freely. Sherwood Forest showed just beyond the castle walls, glowing various shades of amber in the early light. She could already feel the clean, crisp air against her cheeks in the cool shade of the canopy. Thea inhaled and went about getting her horse ready.

The forest was just like she thought it would be. Cool and shady, the crisp air of autumn refreshingly cold. She dismounted and tied Runner's reins loosely to a nearby tree. She felt much more free when she was walking rather than riding. Thea walked slowly around, going nowhere really. Part of her was hoping to come across the meadow she and Roe had sat in before, but she hadn't entered the forest from the right place.

Her hands trailed along some of the trees as the bright leaves twirled in the wind. Thea caught one and laughed as a curl of her hair flew in front of her face. What made her laugh was how similar the colours were. She let the leaf go and spread her arms. The castle seemed so far away from here, and with it her worries and anger. She felt at ease in the red glow, strange for someone who didn't adore the outdoors as some did. Thea inhaled and exhaled slowly before walking on. She reached out and snapped a branch off of a tree, the sound surprisingly loud for such a small twig. She slowly broke off little pieces to give her hands something to do. She looked around her, not paying attention to where she was or where so was going.

[Will Scarlett]

Will was surprised when he saw a pretty young woman with blazing red hair behind him. He had expected to see one of the outlaws, or at worst, one of the Sheriff’s men, come to get him at last. Although his days fighting with Robin were over, and he now lived like any normal respectable carpenter in Clun, he and Djaq were still in contact with the law-breakers, and there was always that nagging doubt that one day, their crime would be discovered. He’d never worried about it before, but now he had a wife and child who depended on him.

He was partially relieved at the sight of the lady, but also a little worried. She seemed oblivious to him at present, but he doubted that would last for long. She also looked quite peaceful, too. If she was who he guessed she was, that wouldn’t last long, either. Word travelled fast, and news of the arrival of a Lady Thea Linnet at Nottingham Castle had reached his door some months back. He had never seen her, but she had been described as young, fair, with fiery hair and an even more fiery temper. There was some rumour of a scandal involving her and a French knight, he remembered. Not likely to be Roe, Will thought with a chuckle, He’s far too guarded and careful, even around beautiful women.

If this was Thea Linnet, he needed to be careful. She lived in the castle and was a niece of the Sheriff’s, so there was no way she was going to be allied with the outlaws. No, for all she should know, he was just a carpenter chopping wood in the forest. Realising she was going to notice him at some point, he lay down the broad axe. She was a noble, and he shouldn’t speak to her until he was spoken to, but she seemed to be in a good enough mood, and it was a glorious morning.
“Beautiful mornin’, m’lady,” he greeted her, exaggerating his village accent a little.
From what he had learned, people, especially nobility, felt less threatened by someone they thought was stupid, and the accent definitely helped some way to making him seem like a simple villager. He bowed slightly, somewhere between a nod and a bow, before settling his eyes at the ground. Low and submissive – otherwise, she might think he was staring.

[Thea Linnet]

Thea's eyes swept over the forest, taking in the serenity of it all, when she did a double take at a man she hadn't noticed before.

"Hello?" she said at the same time he said “Beautiful mornin’, m’lady." Thea stopped and laughed quietly for a moment before glancing up to the canopy above. "It is isn't it? There's something appealing about the idea of living out here. But I don't have the patience for it, or the skill. Spent far too long with the luxuries of nobility, I assume." She laughed again but a crease formed between her brows. "Though, I suppose that won't be a problem for much longer." She'd probably end up living in the castle, and oh, what fun that would be. Her uncle would love that idea. Truthfully, she thought Roe would end up upsetting much more people than just herself. Roe himself wouldn't enjoy her constant presence, Lady Thornton wouldn't either, and her uncle would probably kick her out if she didn't play her cards right.

Suddenly, she lifted her head and pulled herself from her thoughts to see the man, a carpenter she assumed by the fallen tree near his feet, staring at the ground. Although he was taller than her by at least a head, she ducked her head down to try to get a look at him.

"What? Is the ground more interesting?" she asked with a teasing, but kind smile. "You're lucky. You haven't caught me on one of my rants. Believe it or not, this is a quiet day for me. Any other given day, I could make your ear fall off from all the talking and you'd never get any work done." Thea looked around again, snapping the twig in her hands in two.

[Roe]

Roe was a French knight, and he was head of the castle guard, now, at Nottingham castle. However, he had also been a lad of the 'shire, and Sherwood had always been his sanctuary when he had been growing up. He trusted his subordinates at the castle well. So often he would leave the castle behind and go out to Sherwood to relax.

He took his horse on a dead run out of Nottingham town, slowing it down to cool it off as he entered Locksley. He dismounted there and began walking he horse quite silently into the edge of Sherwood between the villages of Locksley and Clun. He had learned as a lad how to walk silently in the forest and glade, especially since a young lad who was hunting the king's game would want to stay unnoticed at all costs. However, on this day, he was just relaxing and enjoying the same forest that he had enjoyed in his youth, when the sound of a familiar male, and a familiar female voice caught his attention. The male voice was using a somewhat different accent than he was used to, but there was no doubting that that was Will Scarlett. Roe had been present at the young carpenter's birth, and was much aware of his young life than he had ever alluded to him, but they had never had the chance to converse much.

The woman was unquestionably Thea Linnet, and Roe knew far more about her than he cared to admit. In fact, she was one of the primary reasons he needed some rest and relaxation in the Forest. In this case, though, Roe was determined that Thea would know as little about their connection as was practical. After all, he knew that Will had a young family, and he had already delivered his wife from harm's way at the castle once before. He wanted to make sure that Will wasn't endangered by this noblewoman.

Roe led his horse to a small green patch of grass for him to hungrily feed upon in the glade that he was watching and listening to the other 2 other people. "Carpenter, if I were you, I would be more careful of the strangers that I struck up conversations with in the middle of Sherwood, I think," he smiled. Despite the fact that it was this particular noblewoman, he did find it to be a fine day, at least weather-wise. "I would have to agree, despite the company, though, that it is a fine morning, here in the Forest. You willhave to be careful of her sense of humor, though. It can take some gettng used to, Will."

[Thea Linnet]

Thea didn't turn at the sound of Roe's voice, but glared at the trees before her. She almost spun and slapped him across the face, but stopped mid-turn. No, today she wasn't going to get angry. She'd just be calm and aloof around him, at least for now. Taking a slow breath through her nose, he forced a smile at Will, but spoke to Roe.

"Once, I believe I told you I thought it was charming how you sneaked up on me. Now, it's just irritating." She turned and faced him, nothing short of repulsion shadowing her features. "Tell me, how is Liam? Still behind bars, I assume? And what of my estate? I take it you've gotten those letters all sorted, ready to be sent. Well, whenever you decide which course of action to take, let me know." With small, tight smile in his direction, Thea stepped in front of Roe and continued to talk with the carpenter.

"I apologize for the interruption...Will, did Rober' say? But if he were wise, he would take heed not to interrupt me further." Taking another step away from Roe and towards Will, she half-smiled. "Where were we?"

[Roe]

Roe could simply feel the rage boiling in her as she began to turn. However, just as he thought she might let it out in a burst as she had at the castle, she seemed to put a stopper in it, almost acting in the end like a coiled spring. This was an improvement ... she had learned to hold back the rage .... perhaps she was learning some of the politics of the nobility after all. Obviously, her tack now was to try an ignore him ... at least not even look at him .... even as she spoke to Will. Roe was quite amused, and he allowed a smile to break through.

"Well at least I'm only irritating when I sneak up on you .... I find othe members of the nobility irritating 24/7," he said with a wink in her direction, knowing how infuriated it would make her. "Oh Liam, yes well, I would guess he is making himself as familiar with his current environment. To be sure, I know that he is more comfortable than he was planning to make my stay in the Tower of London, but I'm sure our guards will make him feel as welcome as he deserves. As far as your estates are concerned .... yes .... I have made all the necessary preparations. However Birmingham will know nothing, ever, as long as you behave yourself."

Roe considered her latest barrage of words before continuing, "It seems that the lady Linnet does not realize how the appearance of Sir Liam jeopardizes her position at the castle or how little he is concerned with the situation of anyone else but themselves. However, some people simply have to find out for themselves. Although she is wrong much of the time, she is right about this. It is my place to apologize for the interruption. I will leave you to your private conversation. Please, Will, pass on my greetings to Djaq .... good day to you both. Come along Sherfore ...."

[Thea Linnet]

Thea blinked a few times then, without turning said to Roe, "And what would you know about nobility?" Her tone of voice was one she didn't use often, if ever, but she pulled up as much superiority as she could manage as she spoke to him. You mean nothing to me anymore, the tone said. "I must let the Lady Thornton know how you feel about nobility." She looked at him, mock surprise written on her face. "Oh, or is she an exception? Or do you just find me irritating? I could see why someone like you would find me irritating. I think I have some self-worth, and I actually have feelings. But I can see how someone like you would find that annoying."

When Roe spoke of how Liam was being treated, she shook her head. "Funny how none of that reassures me." She muttered. And her idea of staying calm was shattered at his next words. "As long as you behave yourself."

Her voice was still quiet, but her eyes narrowed to slits. "What do you think gives you the right to tell me what to do? Do you think you're my father? You hold no authority over me here, so I suggest you watch what you say."

Thea drew a breath, her eyes shooting open then squinting with disbelief. "How does Liam's being here even remotely affect me? He is an old friend, simple as that. He's come here for something, or maybe he was on his way to London and heard I was here. You know, some people truly care about others close to them. And, yes, I've been wring about some things. You, for instance, everything I had initially thought about you was wrong, but Liam is a friend who perhaps said the wrong thing. And somehow, you're doing this to him to get to me, that I know I'm right about. Because you just can't leave me alone!" Thea heard his speech reach its end and nodded once.

"Yes, I think it's time for you to leave," she muttered and turned back to Will. "Who's Jack, if you don't mind me asking?"

She wanted to talk with this man, but Roe wouldn't leave her mind. She couldn't stand the fact she was still thinking about him. She could believe it actually, since he never left her alone. What bothered her the most about arguing with him was that she never got a raise out of him. He never lost control and shouted, never said something he hadn't meant to, and no matter what she tried, she could never get the upper hand with him. Just for once, she wanted to know that she'd affected him in some way, to know that something she'd said or done had truly stuck with him. She wanted to say something that would make him feel what she was feeling: angry, annoyed, frustrated and vulnerable.

"Does anything I say have meaning to you? Or is my voice as inconsequential as the wind through the trees? Because it's like I'm nothing but a speck of dust to you. Just tell me, do I mean anything, do my words mean anything?" She was angry, visibly so and waited for his response. She supposed it would hurt if he said that she didn't mean anything, but it would put her racing mind to rest at last.

[Roe]

"Young Lady Linnet here might find it interesting to note that I was born as an English noble. Its just that in short order, both my parents were gone, along with the title,the lands, and the wealth ..... all those things we went to Birmingham to safeguard for your future, milady. I had no family .... I got shipped off to serve as a noble's ward, where I would eventually be apprenticed to a trade, so that I could make my way in the world. So you can use that uppity tone with me all you want, but yes, I know the nobility, both those that are good and those that are not. Oh, and for your information, she knows how I feel about such people. Yes, you can be irritating, but don't think you have a monopoly on such behavior, though you are trying your best to be as irritating as possible. I trust that is intentional," he smiled.

It was obvious that she had no trust in what he was doing. He, and others, he found, constantly had to re-prove themselves to her, while on the other hand, she felt that everyone should take her at her honor and word, and it was his turn to shake his head. "It should .... if it doesn't, that's too ad and you just have to seek assurance from other quarters." He knew how his line about her behaving would be received, since she had never had to be accountable for her actions. Roe enjoyed the the mental anguish that she displayed in being so vulnerable to someone else,especially him , and he smiled broadly as he watch her squirm with the notion.

The true lady Linnet was on full display in her reaction. "It is my responsibility to protect the kingdom against such self-centered blood-suckers as you nobles, such as tourself and Liam. You only think about how things affect you. Someone has to keep you and your like on the straight and narrow. If Robin isn't available, such duty will just have to fall to me. Ha Ha. If I was your father I would have put you up for adoption years ago, girl. The first thing you need to deal with is that I'm a form noble lad of Nottinghamshire who was transformed into a mere peasant of Locksley,before you try and figure anything else out about me."

Some things she was extremely suspicious of, and others, well, she couldn't see the connections if all the dots were connected for her right in front of her face. "Do you really think that Liam would take a side-trip from an important visit to London, through Nottingham. He has come here for a specific purpose, and I doubt if much of it be a good one, with the exception of some positive he see he himself gaining. He is not here to work for Richard .... this is a place where you come to work against him. If he is looked upon as an outsider, from the Lionheart's court, you can bet he would have been killed as soon as he reached the shores of Britain. His appearance only bodes ill. Well, when your words do have meaning, I'll be of the first to let you know. Will .... I really do wish you luck here with her highness, but I think it would be best if I circled back a bit later to get your opinions on some things."