Hey, I apologize in advance, because in the distant future there will be a break in writing as I have GCSE Mock exams (oh joy!) But here's the third chappie.
Chapter 3
"I think we should go this way."
"Why?"
"Because there are footprints leading in the other direction, so we should avoid them."
We were desperately trying to find a new camp after the ambush of the previous one but it was like trying to find a needle in a haystack. We had reached a fork in the road and there were arguments over which fork to take.
"Lucy." Robin turned around to me. I was sitting on his horse. "Which way?" I thought for a moment.
"That way." I pointed to the left.
"Right! Do what the lady says- let's go." We cantered off. My arm still throbbed painfully. I shifted it and let out a tiny cry only Robin could hear.
"You alright?" he said twisting around slightly.
"I'm fine. Robin! Twist the other way! Your side! I'm not stitching it up again."
He turned around again. We rode on for about 20 minutes before we came to a stop.
"Here will do." Robin said. "Running water nearby, sheltered…"
"Robin, it's getting late." It was Little John. "We'll need a hunting party, Lucy- why don't you come? You'll learn what to do."
"Great." I put on a bright smile and went to get some bows and arrows.
"Lucy your arm." Will hissed in my ear. I waved him away.
"Oi! Little John, I'll come too."
"Right, so that's me, Lucy, Will and Allen. Right, let's go." We set off. I hadn't really much to do with Allen yet, apart from when he shot that soldier for me. He nodded to me.
"Alright?"
"Not bad, you?"
"It was your first battle today, wasn't it?"
"Yes…thanks for getting that soldier for me."
He clapped me on the arm. "No problem-it's always a bit strange and scary in your first battle."
'If only it was my first experience of battle.' I thought.
"Come on you two! Keep up!" We jogged up next to Will and Little John. "Right. Spot anything, creep up to it until it's in range and then give it a shot." He muttered quietly. "Did anyone bring a longbow?"
"I did" I whispered. Little John nodded.
"That's good."
We walked along, trying not to make too much noise and to avoid stepping on twigs. I was looking to the left, when I spotted something. I tapped Will on the arm.
"Look." I said in a whisper barely audible. It was a deer. Only a small one, but it could last us a couple of days, maybe even a week.
"Brilliant!"
I took out my longbow, but my new wound almost made me cry. Will took the longbow from me giving me a smile.
"Here, let me do it." I gave him a thankful smile. Will took aim and shot true.
"Little John! We have dinner!" Little John came towards us with two rabbits on string slung around his neck.
"Right. Lucy, you take these." He handed me the rabbit and he went to pick up the deer. "We need some more bread and flour as well. We've almost run out."
"Well, the nearest village is Knighton. We could go there tomorrow. Do some bartering." Replied Allen.
"Good plan. Well, let's get this back to the others. Lucy, you're cooking with me tonight. We do everything on an almost fair rota. You might want to stock up now. Will's cooking is notoriously bad."
"Hey. It's not that bad!"
"You forgot to skin the rabbit!"
"Well, at least no-one ever forgot that meal." Will said proudly.
"With good reason." Allen muttered in my ear.
We made our way back to the camp. It was getting dark. There was a sudden movement somewhere near us.
'Hush what was that?" Allen whipped out his dagger. Will edged in front of me as a shield.
"Probably just a pheasant." Little John whispered. "Come on, let's get back to the others."
We arrived back at camp to a roaring fire. I helped John skin the rabbit and deer and we threw them in a pot with various vegetables.
Will threw himself down next to me.
"Brilliant! I haven't had a meal cooked by a wo-"
"Are you going to finish that sentence Will, or shall I?" I said, glaring at him. There were various chuckles from around us.
"Urr…by a wonderful fire for ages!" I laughed and gave him a shove. Dinner seemed to take for ages but we were all soon tucking in. Robin came to sit next to me.
"How's your arm?" I shrugged. "You didn't damage it on the hunt, did you?" I shook my head. Robin looked relieved. "Good."
"Robin!" It was Allen. "Fancy going to Knighton tomorrow? For supplies? We need more arrows and things."
"Sounds like a plan." Robin agreed. "But we'll have to be careful. We're all wanted for various crimes in Nottingham. Keep our heads down. Do our business and get out of there. Unless, something else crops up and we have to undo the Sheriff's evil work against our people." He turned to me."We like to steal from the rich to give to the poor." I nodded
"Sounds like a good idea. Hardly anyone can pay taxes. The debtors' prison is already over its limit." There was a murmur of agreement. Roy gave a huge yawn.
"Right. Let's draw lots." Robin ordered. This time, I got the first watch. I was quite pleased about that it mean that I wouldn't be woken up a some unearthly hour of the night or early morning. Everyone started turning in.
"Lucy, I'm the watch after you. You should know when your watch is over if you don't stoke the fire. It will be almost in embers by the time you finish." I nodded to Robin.
"Right you are."
I sat in silence. Listening to the sounds of the forest, the crackling of the fire, the occasional hoot of an owl. I had never been bothered by the dark. As a girl, I was the only one brave enough to go outside in the night. All my friends would squeal and find it terrifying. I had always been a bit of an outsider. Didn't understand the fuss of dresses and attempting to look pretty all the time. I always took the view of you took me how I was. Like it or leave it. Most boys didn't give me a second glance, but one had…I was lost in memories of the past. I only realised that my watch was over when I felt the light of the fire had gone. I went over to Robin to wake him.
"Robin." I said quietly. "Robin." I said shaking his arm. "Robin!" I hissed in his ear. Nothing. I knelt back. I very carefully opened one eyelid. Immediately a smile appeared on his face.
"Well. What a nice face to wake up to." He said giving me a grin. I blushed violently, but thankfully it was too dark for him to see. He got up. "Anything happened?"
"No." I said shaking my head.
"Good. Well, goodnight."
"Goodnight." I took my place in the well, it could be called a circle, around the fire. I slipped my tunic off, so I was sleeping just in my undershirt and leggings. I closed my eyes and was soon asleep.
Robin watched her fall asleep. He sighed and stoked the fire. It was very different having a girl around. Everyone was a lot more alert and...more polite? He thought about this for a second. No, no more polite. Having her around made him think a lot about Marion. She had changed a lot since he had come back from the Crusades. He was 20 now, but still loved her. But everything she said to him was like a criticism. They had moved apart. In…different directions. He was travelling in the same direction he always had, therefore she must have changed. She's still unmarried. Robin smirked into the fire. But she seemed to hate him. She was icy, cold like she had never been. 5 years is a long time apart, admittedly, but he never thought she could be that cold. Maybe when King Richard came back she'd change but… well, who knows. Robin didn't want to chase Marion forever. He wanted to settle down. Take his manor back at Loxley sometime in the future. After he had got rid of the Sheriff once and for all. But he didn't want to be chasing Marion fruitlessly forever. There's only so much criticism one man could take.
He looked back at Lucy who was fast asleep. He still couldn't believe she had fought in the Crusades. She had seen more battle than most men ever see and she had spent 5 years in that nursing tent, 5 years! Robin shuddered. He had been in the tent twice and it was awful. Blood everywhere, death… and she didn't cry for five years. He had seen most men cry after about a month. Something about Lucy told him that she had become an expert at bottling up her emotions. A bit like him he supposed. There was the issue of Gisbourne as well. The day they found her, everytime Gisbourne mentioned, her eyes went funny as if something unpleasant was crossing her mind or she shivered slightly. He may have been the only one to notice it. He hated Gisbourne, he couldn't stand it that he was with Marion so much. Who knew what he was capable of. Perhaps Lucy did. Perhaps that's why she's so scared. He knew he'd tell her when she was ready. For, he had seen been through what she had. He was probably the first person she could talk to about it. He had had Much, but she would've had no-one. He shook his head. Too many thoughts. He went over to wake up Roy.
"Wake up! Rise and shine!" I sat bolt upright.
"Will, do you have to shout that in my ear?"
"You threw water at me!"
"Fair point." I pulled my tunic over my head. "What's for breakfast?"
"Cold rabbit or berries."
"Berries it is." I sat down next to Robin who handed me the bowl.
"Hungry?"
"Starving."
After I had finished I turned to him. "Right, I need to check your wound."
"Why?"
"To check it's not being infected."
"It's fine honestly. No pain." he said as he shrugged his shirt off.
"Robin! What the hell are you doing?" said Will in mock horror.
"I'm checking his wound." I replied. I touched Robin's wound lightly. "Does that hurt?"
"No."
"How about this?" I pressed harder.
"No."
"Good." I grabbed a wet cloth, cleaned the wound slightly just in case any infection was lurking. "Right. You're free to go."
"How's your arm?" Robin asked quietly. I shrugged.
"Sore. But as good as can be expected. I should be able to use a longbow again in about a week. I'll just have to cope with a short bow until then." Robin nodded. The whole camp was awake.
Robin addressed them. "Right. Who wants to stay behind and look after the camp? Roy. Excellent. Right, let's go."
Everyone began to saddle up their horses. Robin turned to me.
"Ready for a little trip to Knighton?" he asked.
Hey, thanks for reading and don't forget to review, I take everything onboard. I have GCSE Mock exams coming up so I don't know when the next chapter will be, as revision must come first, but I'll do my best!