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maderrOnly about five pages or so. Will try to bust our more tomorow, since that is when the real fun will start. But, for those that want it, this section includes Robert Meets Marion.
I should probably stop using this icon, but it amuses me vastly.
Mounting his horse, he rode quickly back to the castle.
Full dark had fallen by the time he reached it, but torches had been lit throughout, making it a bit easier to see about the place.
Earlier, in the courtyard, he had been too distracted by other matters to linger long over the castle itself. He had even more to linger upon now, but…
He could not even clearly remember the last time he had stood in these halls. Thanks to the kindness of the villagers, it was not fallen into disrepair. The heavy beams across the ceiling were as he remembered them, though the banners which had once hung from them were long gone. Rather than mere rushes, his father had taken care to lay in a proper wood floor – to impress the love of his life, so she would marry him, he had often said with a wink toward his wife.
Once, four tables had graced the hall. Three were gone now, leaving only the main where the family had always sat, with the rest of the household at the others. It stood right before the great fireplace, in which a small fire was currently built.
Marion sat at the right end of it, her gold hair glowing in the firelight as she ate from a bowl of soup. She looked up at the sound of movement, and smiled at him in welcome.
He wished, not for the first time, that he could love her the way a man should. It would not be a bad life, indeed it would be a fine life, to take Lady Marion to wife and raise a family with her here in his old home. Though he never before had claimed his birthright, he could if he chose. His father had hanged as a traitor on the orders of Prince John, but the Prince did not yet have the right to reclaim the title.
If he married Marion, they could live here in peace and comfort, and he could retire from the army life he had led for the past fourteen years. All her problems would vanish with the union, as well.
But she was only as a sister to him, and his love held none of the passion she deserved.
"Will," Marion said warmly, standing to greet him though he motioned her to stay seated. "Thank you again, for all that you have done. It cannot have been easy, to convince the villagers to permit me the use of this castle. I did mean it when I said I would be content with a farmhouse. Such trouble as this was not necessary."
He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. "Milady, you deserve far more than this simple castle. Please, do not trouble yourself thinking about it. I assure you no one minds seeing the castle used once more. Sit, and eat. You need your strength."
She nodded, smile fading into an anxious frown at the mention of needing her strength – but she was not one to hide from realities. He had never known her to, even when reality was the greatest of burdens.
"You should eat as well," she admonished. "I know you have scarcely slept, let alone dined, since our harried departure. That is my fault, of course…"
Will cut her off with a sharp motion. "Milady, there is only one person to blame in this entire affair, and 'tis not you. Now, enough recriminations. We have made our choices, and we gain nothing by regretting and fretting over them. Did you get to explore the castle?"
"Yes," Marion said, shaking her head at him slightly, laughing softly. "It is beautiful. I think it a shame that it has gone uninhabited so long. Did the unfortunate Earl have no family to remain in residence?"
"They thought it best to leave after he was killed, fearing what might happen if they lingered," Will replied with a shrug. "Like you, milady, they knew that being titled and wealthy were not vital to a happy life."
Marion nodded. "Did you know them?"
"In passing," Will replied, ignoring a niggling guilt. Until it became necessary, he reminded himself, there was no sense in adding further complications. "Is your room adequate?"
"Yes," Marion said. "It's beautiful. A woman's room before, I believe."
"Yes," Will said, and almost bit his tongue as he nearly said 'my mother's'. "The Countess. Her private solar." He wondered if it still smelled like her, the wild lavender she and the other women had picked themselves to scatter amongst the trunks of clothes.
He reached for his wine, and took a deep draught to ease the sudden tightness in his throat. "The circumstances are far from ideal, milady, but I hope your manage to enjoy your stay, however brief or long it might be."
"I am enjoying it already," Marion said, and reached out to cover his hand with her own, smiling in her gentle way, that said she loved him as he did her. The bond had been there from the first, when he had first come to her aid. He had missed his brother these past fourteen years, but he had gained a sister. "Truly. This is the first time I have felt as though I can breathe, in a very long time."
He turned his hand to capture hers, squeezing it gently. "Good," he said, and fell silent as a servant brought them the next course and refilled his wine. "I wish I could take your riding about the village," he said when the servant had gone, "but it is too soon to take such risks."
"Oh, I think I can occupy myself indoors for a time." Marion smiled and nibbled at her food. "I and the women were talking of pulling some things out of storage, getting a bit more color to the place. Not that it lacks," she added hastily.
Will laughed. "Of course it lacks, milady. It had been closed up for at least two decades now. I am certain soon you will be overwhelmed with all that the villagers will want to do to make it a proper castle again. Do as you see fit; I will see you are left with plenty of coin."
She smiled at him. "Thank you, Will," she said softly. "I wish…"
He returned the smile, and briefly stroked her cheek. "As do I, but we both know our fates lie elsewhere, though we know not where."
"I prefer not to think about," she said, face twisting in wry amusement. Then her face turned suddenly impish. "Many an interesting tale have I heard this day, Captain Scarlock. Did you know, some young boy called Scarlet once ran through the village, without a stitch of clothing?"
Will choked on his wine, and felt his face heat, no doubt turning the very color after which he was called. "Of all the stories!" he said with a groan. "Rob tricked me into that one, I vow it. Never again was I foolish enough to bet against him, especially when he and Little John whispered together for a time beforehand."
Marion giggled. "Little John! Oh, I have heard a tale or two about that one, and your brother Robert."
"I can only imagine," Will said dryly.
"Oh, I do wonder what your men would think, to hear the childhood tales of the fierce and terrible Captain Scarlock."
Will mock glared at her. "They had better not ever hear them. Milady."
She giggled again, and pressed a finger to her lips, winking. "Not a peep from me, Captain, I do vow it."
He nodded, and eager to keep her happy and laughing, drew out which tales had been told, and added others to her store, until it grew so late they both began to fall asleep in their sweetmeats.
Rising, he offered his arm and escorted her to her room, kissing her hand and wishing her a good night.
Then he made his way back downstairs, too restless from being truly home again to know quite what to do with himself.
"Your bed is prepared," said a voice behind him – the woman from this morning. Alice, he recalled her name to be.
"My bed?" Will asked. Being the Earl's children, he and Rob had slept in the attic rooms.
Alice smiled in polite amusement. "Yes, my lord. Your bed."
"Oh," Will replied, comprehension dawning, and he looked at the fireplace, which was open on both sides to provide light and heat not only to the hall, but to the solar behind it where his parents room had been.
His room, now, it would seem. It felt…wrong, somehow. Impertinent, perhaps. "I have no intention of taking up the title again," he said, worried that rumors were already flying about.
Alice clucked her tongue. "Of course not. That would not be like you at all, Will Scarlet. Still, it is your bed and you will sleep in it."
Never let it be said he did not know how to follow an order when it was issued. Sketching a bow in graceful defeat, Will gave one last look around the great hall, then strode off to bed.
When he woke, his first thought was that something was wrong.
He was mostly dressed and scrabbling for his swords before it dawned on him where he was, and another moment or two before the comprehension sank in that of course here, at Castle Huntingdon in Nottingham, that a relatively quiet morning was not something about which he had to worry.
Breathing a sigh of relief that he would not have to go yanking his men from the beds of whores or the stables where they had been tossed after drinking too much, even more relieved that there were no angry nobles or vile princes to be placated if not avoided altogether, he finished dressing at a calmer pace.
Smiling at the smells of the country, especially the fresh bread coming from the kitchens, he tugged on hi boots and strapped his swords in place, then went to find someone from whom he could cozen breakfast.
A fine repast already awaited him, however – as did a familiar face.
"Rob," he snapped. "What in the devil are you doing here?"
Robert grinned where he was comfortably ensconced in the chair Will had occupied the previous night. "Why, I came to bid my brother good morning, of course."
Will rolled his eyes. "You came to see milady."
"Well, if she happens by, I shall probably look," Robert replied.
"It is entirely too early to endure the sight of you," Will groused, and dropped down onto the opposite bench, tearing into the bread and cheese set out, thanking Alice as she brought him a tankard of cider.
Robert laughed. "You are the one who said I would be in great pain come the rising of the…" He drifted off, bread slipping from his fingers.
Will smirked, and stood as he turned, striding over to Marion, who had just arrived. Not expecting guests, she had not bothered yet to put on her wimple, hair pulled back only loosely, so that many curly strand slipped forward to fall against her cheeks and neck.
"Milady," he greeted, taking her hand to guide her to the table. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes," Marion replied, smiling at him. Then she slid her gaze back to Robert. "I need not ask who this young man is," she said formally, and Will almost snorted. They were not more than two years apart, Robert and Marion. Then again, especially of late, Marion had always been too old for her age. "You are Will's younger brother."
Robert stood hastily up – not, Will noted with a barely smothered laugh, as graceful as usual – and bent in a bow that was remarkably elegant. "Milady," he said. "Robert Loxley, at your service. An honor to make the acquaintance of one my brother holds so dear." He rose, smiling, all his charm brought to the fore. "You are far too beautiful for humble Nottingham."
He was vastly underestimating Marion, and Will was more than happy to let him learn that the hard way.
"You are quite the charmer, I see," Marion said, polite and friendly – but unmoved.
Robert laughed, though Will could see he was a bit startled. "Milady? Do I offend? I mean only to be friendly; my brother spoke quite highly of you, and he never speaks well of anyone if he can help it."
Marion shook her head. "Simply an observation. I would not care to offend the brother of my dearest friend. I note only that you possess a great deal of charm."
"Charm is not a bad thing to have," Robert replied, sensing now he was being challenged. "Indeed, it is a good thing to have. Look at my brother," he said playfully. "He has none."
"Yes," Marion replied, "and it is his most charming quality." She gave him a polite nod, then made her own way to the table, resuming the seat she had occupied last night.
Will smirked at his brother, who stood looking horribly confused.
Then Robert scowled, and took his own place at the table once more.
I should probably stop using this icon, but it amuses me vastly.
Mounting his horse, he rode quickly back to the castle.
Full dark had fallen by the time he reached it, but torches had been lit throughout, making it a bit easier to see about the place.
Earlier, in the courtyard, he had been too distracted by other matters to linger long over the castle itself. He had even more to linger upon now, but…
He could not even clearly remember the last time he had stood in these halls. Thanks to the kindness of the villagers, it was not fallen into disrepair. The heavy beams across the ceiling were as he remembered them, though the banners which had once hung from them were long gone. Rather than mere rushes, his father had taken care to lay in a proper wood floor – to impress the love of his life, so she would marry him, he had often said with a wink toward his wife.
Once, four tables had graced the hall. Three were gone now, leaving only the main where the family had always sat, with the rest of the household at the others. It stood right before the great fireplace, in which a small fire was currently built.
Marion sat at the right end of it, her gold hair glowing in the firelight as she ate from a bowl of soup. She looked up at the sound of movement, and smiled at him in welcome.
He wished, not for the first time, that he could love her the way a man should. It would not be a bad life, indeed it would be a fine life, to take Lady Marion to wife and raise a family with her here in his old home. Though he never before had claimed his birthright, he could if he chose. His father had hanged as a traitor on the orders of Prince John, but the Prince did not yet have the right to reclaim the title.
If he married Marion, they could live here in peace and comfort, and he could retire from the army life he had led for the past fourteen years. All her problems would vanish with the union, as well.
But she was only as a sister to him, and his love held none of the passion she deserved.
"Will," Marion said warmly, standing to greet him though he motioned her to stay seated. "Thank you again, for all that you have done. It cannot have been easy, to convince the villagers to permit me the use of this castle. I did mean it when I said I would be content with a farmhouse. Such trouble as this was not necessary."
He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. "Milady, you deserve far more than this simple castle. Please, do not trouble yourself thinking about it. I assure you no one minds seeing the castle used once more. Sit, and eat. You need your strength."
She nodded, smile fading into an anxious frown at the mention of needing her strength – but she was not one to hide from realities. He had never known her to, even when reality was the greatest of burdens.
"You should eat as well," she admonished. "I know you have scarcely slept, let alone dined, since our harried departure. That is my fault, of course…"
Will cut her off with a sharp motion. "Milady, there is only one person to blame in this entire affair, and 'tis not you. Now, enough recriminations. We have made our choices, and we gain nothing by regretting and fretting over them. Did you get to explore the castle?"
"Yes," Marion said, shaking her head at him slightly, laughing softly. "It is beautiful. I think it a shame that it has gone uninhabited so long. Did the unfortunate Earl have no family to remain in residence?"
"They thought it best to leave after he was killed, fearing what might happen if they lingered," Will replied with a shrug. "Like you, milady, they knew that being titled and wealthy were not vital to a happy life."
Marion nodded. "Did you know them?"
"In passing," Will replied, ignoring a niggling guilt. Until it became necessary, he reminded himself, there was no sense in adding further complications. "Is your room adequate?"
"Yes," Marion said. "It's beautiful. A woman's room before, I believe."
"Yes," Will said, and almost bit his tongue as he nearly said 'my mother's'. "The Countess. Her private solar." He wondered if it still smelled like her, the wild lavender she and the other women had picked themselves to scatter amongst the trunks of clothes.
He reached for his wine, and took a deep draught to ease the sudden tightness in his throat. "The circumstances are far from ideal, milady, but I hope your manage to enjoy your stay, however brief or long it might be."
"I am enjoying it already," Marion said, and reached out to cover his hand with her own, smiling in her gentle way, that said she loved him as he did her. The bond had been there from the first, when he had first come to her aid. He had missed his brother these past fourteen years, but he had gained a sister. "Truly. This is the first time I have felt as though I can breathe, in a very long time."
He turned his hand to capture hers, squeezing it gently. "Good," he said, and fell silent as a servant brought them the next course and refilled his wine. "I wish I could take your riding about the village," he said when the servant had gone, "but it is too soon to take such risks."
"Oh, I think I can occupy myself indoors for a time." Marion smiled and nibbled at her food. "I and the women were talking of pulling some things out of storage, getting a bit more color to the place. Not that it lacks," she added hastily.
Will laughed. "Of course it lacks, milady. It had been closed up for at least two decades now. I am certain soon you will be overwhelmed with all that the villagers will want to do to make it a proper castle again. Do as you see fit; I will see you are left with plenty of coin."
She smiled at him. "Thank you, Will," she said softly. "I wish…"
He returned the smile, and briefly stroked her cheek. "As do I, but we both know our fates lie elsewhere, though we know not where."
"I prefer not to think about," she said, face twisting in wry amusement. Then her face turned suddenly impish. "Many an interesting tale have I heard this day, Captain Scarlock. Did you know, some young boy called Scarlet once ran through the village, without a stitch of clothing?"
Will choked on his wine, and felt his face heat, no doubt turning the very color after which he was called. "Of all the stories!" he said with a groan. "Rob tricked me into that one, I vow it. Never again was I foolish enough to bet against him, especially when he and Little John whispered together for a time beforehand."
Marion giggled. "Little John! Oh, I have heard a tale or two about that one, and your brother Robert."
"I can only imagine," Will said dryly.
"Oh, I do wonder what your men would think, to hear the childhood tales of the fierce and terrible Captain Scarlock."
Will mock glared at her. "They had better not ever hear them. Milady."
She giggled again, and pressed a finger to her lips, winking. "Not a peep from me, Captain, I do vow it."
He nodded, and eager to keep her happy and laughing, drew out which tales had been told, and added others to her store, until it grew so late they both began to fall asleep in their sweetmeats.
Rising, he offered his arm and escorted her to her room, kissing her hand and wishing her a good night.
Then he made his way back downstairs, too restless from being truly home again to know quite what to do with himself.
"Your bed is prepared," said a voice behind him – the woman from this morning. Alice, he recalled her name to be.
"My bed?" Will asked. Being the Earl's children, he and Rob had slept in the attic rooms.
Alice smiled in polite amusement. "Yes, my lord. Your bed."
"Oh," Will replied, comprehension dawning, and he looked at the fireplace, which was open on both sides to provide light and heat not only to the hall, but to the solar behind it where his parents room had been.
His room, now, it would seem. It felt…wrong, somehow. Impertinent, perhaps. "I have no intention of taking up the title again," he said, worried that rumors were already flying about.
Alice clucked her tongue. "Of course not. That would not be like you at all, Will Scarlet. Still, it is your bed and you will sleep in it."
Never let it be said he did not know how to follow an order when it was issued. Sketching a bow in graceful defeat, Will gave one last look around the great hall, then strode off to bed.
*~*~*
When he woke, his first thought was that something was wrong.
He was mostly dressed and scrabbling for his swords before it dawned on him where he was, and another moment or two before the comprehension sank in that of course here, at Castle Huntingdon in Nottingham, that a relatively quiet morning was not something about which he had to worry.
Breathing a sigh of relief that he would not have to go yanking his men from the beds of whores or the stables where they had been tossed after drinking too much, even more relieved that there were no angry nobles or vile princes to be placated if not avoided altogether, he finished dressing at a calmer pace.
Smiling at the smells of the country, especially the fresh bread coming from the kitchens, he tugged on hi boots and strapped his swords in place, then went to find someone from whom he could cozen breakfast.
A fine repast already awaited him, however – as did a familiar face.
"Rob," he snapped. "What in the devil are you doing here?"
Robert grinned where he was comfortably ensconced in the chair Will had occupied the previous night. "Why, I came to bid my brother good morning, of course."
Will rolled his eyes. "You came to see milady."
"Well, if she happens by, I shall probably look," Robert replied.
"It is entirely too early to endure the sight of you," Will groused, and dropped down onto the opposite bench, tearing into the bread and cheese set out, thanking Alice as she brought him a tankard of cider.
Robert laughed. "You are the one who said I would be in great pain come the rising of the…" He drifted off, bread slipping from his fingers.
Will smirked, and stood as he turned, striding over to Marion, who had just arrived. Not expecting guests, she had not bothered yet to put on her wimple, hair pulled back only loosely, so that many curly strand slipped forward to fall against her cheeks and neck.
"Milady," he greeted, taking her hand to guide her to the table. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes," Marion replied, smiling at him. Then she slid her gaze back to Robert. "I need not ask who this young man is," she said formally, and Will almost snorted. They were not more than two years apart, Robert and Marion. Then again, especially of late, Marion had always been too old for her age. "You are Will's younger brother."
Robert stood hastily up – not, Will noted with a barely smothered laugh, as graceful as usual – and bent in a bow that was remarkably elegant. "Milady," he said. "Robert Loxley, at your service. An honor to make the acquaintance of one my brother holds so dear." He rose, smiling, all his charm brought to the fore. "You are far too beautiful for humble Nottingham."
He was vastly underestimating Marion, and Will was more than happy to let him learn that the hard way.
"You are quite the charmer, I see," Marion said, polite and friendly – but unmoved.
Robert laughed, though Will could see he was a bit startled. "Milady? Do I offend? I mean only to be friendly; my brother spoke quite highly of you, and he never speaks well of anyone if he can help it."
Marion shook her head. "Simply an observation. I would not care to offend the brother of my dearest friend. I note only that you possess a great deal of charm."
"Charm is not a bad thing to have," Robert replied, sensing now he was being challenged. "Indeed, it is a good thing to have. Look at my brother," he said playfully. "He has none."
"Yes," Marion replied, "and it is his most charming quality." She gave him a polite nod, then made her own way to the table, resuming the seat she had occupied last night.
Will smirked at his brother, who stood looking horribly confused.
Then Robert scowled, and took his own place at the table once more.
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Date: 2008-07-30 01:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-30 01:20 am (UTC)LMAO
<3
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Date: 2008-07-30 01:24 am (UTC)Oh, by the way, I have the first bit of the Kidnapped story up on my livejournal, if you want to read it.
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Date: 2008-07-30 02:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-30 02:23 am (UTC)Marion: 1,000,000,000,000,000
Robert: 0
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Date: 2008-07-30 03:39 am (UTC)-TOD
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Date: 2008-07-30 03:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-30 05:39 am (UTC)And poor Robert - that was a total burn haha
Havent peeps taken historical bits, legends etc. and made them into books? I don't see any reason why in the future, you can't have a
Robin HoodWill Scarlet book on amazon ^_^The idea of a Rob/Marion sub het romance and a Will/Abraham main romance clicks superbly with me. The only things that pop out as unusual are the ideas that Robin is Scarlet's brother, Scarlet as the older one and that since they're related in your version, Scarlet also having of a higher status. I always figured that if they were brothers, Will was the bastard son (who was well treated though!) which was why Robin would be the one with any title.
OMG, WHAT YOU DO TO ME - am thinking about this way too much.
Now all that's left is a clash betwee Robin Hood and his merry men and the Mayor and Sheriff and \o/
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Date: 2008-07-30 07:17 am (UTC)-TOD
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Date: 2008-07-30 09:27 am (UTC)In the earliest, earliest stories, Robin was just a peasant. He didn't become a noble until later on. In the original appearance of Scarlet, he was Robin's nephew. his role changed in the different versions. I think Hollywood was the one to decide Scarlet was the younger, bastard brother.
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Date: 2008-07-30 09:28 am (UTC)Prince of Thieves, I believe that was the movie which really made it popular and 'accepted' lore that Will was the younger, bastard brother.
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Date: 2008-07-30 09:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-30 09:55 am (UTC)Prince of Thieves, yeah. After that, I think it sort of became cannon. but, Scarlet was traditionally held to be pretty, hot-tempered, but a bit more thoughtful than the rest. Robin, to my mind, always seemed brash and reckless, so I thought it would be interesting to flip them in order of birth. Plus, I have other things afoot.
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Date: 2008-07-30 10:02 am (UTC)Plus, I have other things afoot.
DON'T TEASE
*sits on hands*
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Date: 2008-07-30 11:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-07-30 05:45 pm (UTC)On another note, kind of referring to your last post, I've noticed a lot of historical/ fantasy writers having trouble deciding how to create accurate historical context. Most people simply don't have the resources to do the right research, unless they live in a library of course >_>;
I wonder, would you be interested in having a fact checker, or someone who could do the relevant research for you? I've been thinking of offering my services to the online writing community, since I work with a ton of archaeologists and historians - its just difficult to know where to start.
Your stories are awesome anyways, even without the fact checking ^_^ most accurate stuff I've read in a while, definitely <3
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Date: 2008-07-31 01:06 am (UTC)your conversations are so GOOD. witty, with multiple layers, revealing, and you have mastered the art of the BURN.
looking forward to more-
thankee!