Sing For Absolution [Tag Rose]

[Asher Hardy]

It had been a week since the altercation between the Red Hawk and a member of the guard inside Locksley Manor, and Asher felt like the end of the teasing lay too far off for his liking.

As he'd walked back down the stairs, dripping blood and leaving the thief behind in Sir Guy's bedroom, his fellow soldiers had laughed and asked if he'd gotten a little too close to one of the maids. A glare and a shove had shut them up for a few seconds, but quickly started again as he fetched some water to clean his wounds with. A hiss, a realisation that it had probably been long enough, and he admitted to finding the infamous thief in the master bedroom, and startled the rest of the guards into searching for the thief, leaving Asher alone with enough time to tend to his wounds and find a place to sleep, unwilling to let himself stay awake long enough to think about what had happened.

Reprimanded by his lord quite horribly, he'd been subjected to stable duty for the rest of the week, which was something he was fairly bad at. You wouldn't think it was hard, looking after horses and cleaning out their muck, but everyone in the service of the Crown (in Nottingham, anyway) knew just how scared Asher was of the horses, and so it was likely the worst punishment he could have received. At least the fear had stopped him thinking about Rose, for the most part, although when there was a dull moment...

He had gone for a walk, and had stayed out until the sun was starting to set, transforming the sky into an ocean of pinks and reds, and Asher couldn't help but look up and sigh. It looked like rain, if the greying clouds, glowing orange from the sun's light, were anything to go by. It was a perfectly wonderful evening, and usually he'd already be at the Barnses, discussing the week with Rose and John, making small talk with Mrs Barns, the usual sort of thing friendly families did. But every time he considered getting up, going over to the house to talk to Rose, that same feeling of numbness from before washed over him, stopping him from doing anything. When he thought of telling one of the other guards just what he had really seen, he felt sick to his stomach and had, on a few occasions, vomited. He still couldn't understand why she had done it, why she had become the Red Hawk and robbed from the rich, given to the poor... Well he could understand that bit, for the most part, but it was still beyond his comprehension. She'd said things that challenged everything he knew to be the truth, and...

Dammit! At the end of the day he was supposed to be enforcing the law! She was a criminal, he was supposed to apprehend her. But no, he'd let his emotions get in the way, the shock, the fact that the person who cut him up so often (literally) was the same person who tore at his mind and made him wonder what he really wanted whenever he talked to her. Rose, he was beginning to realise, was a bit of a mystery, and he didn't know if he'd ever really known her.

No, he had to have known her. He used to know her well. Maybe it was his fault. He didn't spend that much time with her these days, maybe if he had she wouldn't have started stealing... Did she really give it to other people, or did she keep it for herself? No, she wasn't like that, of course she wouldn't keep it...

He was starting to give himself a headache, and the last wounds inflicted upon him by the Red Hawk – by Rose – were beginning to twinge as well. He rubbed at his arm absently, looking up as a group of birds flew overhead, and he realised that he couldn't just avoid it forever. He could go talk to her, ask her why she'd done it and listen this time, try to understand her point of view. He had a look at his purse – there wasn't a lot, but he always gave what he could to the family. That couldn't change now – they were all he had left.

He wasn't far away from the Barnses' home, and he hoped she would be in. He had always assumed that she stayed in at night, and now he knew better it really hurt him. Why hadn't she told him to start with? What was he actually going to say to her?

Taking a deep breath, pushing down the feelings of betrayal, he knocked on her door sharply.

[Rose Barns]

rose BARNS

That morning, Rose had been walking to the well to get water for some flowers she had picked the other day and for the soup she was going to make for tonight’s meal. She had passed by the Burns and they were burying another baby. It had been sick and as the Red Hawk she had been able to deliver what she thought the Burns would need for the sick thing, but because of her encounter the past week, she had nothing to give. She had gone as Rose to give them a loaf of bread she had made with her own hands, but they refused to take it. And she didn’t blame their pride for the death of their child. She blamed Gisborne, and worst of all, she blamed Asher. And secretly she blamed herself as well.

Rose couldn’t think of Asher. Not after what had happened. She had had gained a few bruises, but she was a fast healer and she was able to cover most of them up. The story was she had tripped in her house. That seemed possible with two people who barely registered on the activity list. And Rose had a general reputation for being a klutz. It was the only way she could make an excuse for the bruises and cuts she had accumulated in the past.

The day had been short. All the days usually felt long as she was avoiding going to work. She had sent the oldest Burns girl to go in her place claiming she was feeling ill. Of course the girl had offered to come and help Rose with her mother and brother, but Rose had said it was unnecessary. She just couldn’t go back to Locksley Manor and see Asher. And it wasn’t like Asher came to see her. He had been scarce at the Barns’ household. She couldn’t blame him. Thinking of what had happened still made her want to crawl under a rock and hide.

Now it was late at night. Her mother had gone to sleep early and for some reason, so had John. It was almost as if they both knew that Asher would be coming over and that he would need to talk to Rose. They had made themselves very scarce.

Rose was in the kitchen area, making food that would last for the rest of the week. She knew if she didn’t go back to work, her family wouldn’t survive on air much longer. But she didn’t know if it was safe. Each day she waited to hear the footsteps of guards to come take her away. Each day she knew she run the risk of Asher spilling her secret. Half of her knew he could never to it, but the other half knew she couldn’t blame him if he did it.

And then it came. A knock on her door. Rose was not presentable for a hand-load of guards to take her to the dungeon. In fact her dark hair hung loosely around her shoulders and she was wearing a dark red blouse with a brown skirt. Her hands were slightly dirty from cooking, though she quickly wiped them off. She smelled of night flowers, home, and cooking. And the worst part was she looked like Rose. She was not the Red Hawk and she was not some man. She was a well respected figure in the community and now she was prepared for disgrace, until the unexpected came. It was Asher outside her door.

Rose opened it up, head high, expecting the head of the guards to escort her away, but when she saw Asher, alone, all she wanted to do was shrink back. But she would not. Instead she looked him challengingly in the eyes. Waiting for him to speak first.

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[Asher Hardy]

Asher had thought he'd prepared himself well for this confrontation, or as well as he could, under the circumstances, but the first sight of Rose as she opened the door took his breath and his willpower away immediately. She looked at him with such hatred in her eyes that he could feel his resolve shrivelling up into a small ball and blowing away in the wind. He had been hoping she would scream at him, or he would come up with something witty and clever to say on the spot, but instead he waited for a moment, just watching her, unable to draw his eyes away. She looked like... She smelled like home, and yet he didn't feel the same warmth he had before. He just felt confused.

He opened his mouth, willing something to come out, but when nothing did he closed it again, hating the fact he felt the way he did. He looked down at his hands, at the purse hanging from the strings he clasped so tightly, and he scrunched it up in his fist, trying to hide it. What he had felt was like his usual gift now felt like bribery, an attempt to make Rose talk to him or forgive him (forgive him for what?), which made him feel lower than dirt. What had he been thinking? Should he have just waited to see her elsewhere, or waited until she approached him, rather than come and confront this? Had he been kidding himself when he thought she'd actually want to talk?
All these thoughts were starting to make him dizzy, and he fought the urge to reach out and grab the door frame to steady himself. He waited another moment, letting his vision refocus (and wondering why it had gone like that – surely thinking shouldn't make him so dizzy?), before he found he could actually think of something to say.

”Hey.”

Okay, so that was a lame thing to say, but under the circumstances, what exactly would have been perfectly appropriate? He was struggling with the situation anyway. He tightened his fist around the purse once more, and tried to smile weakly.

”I... You... Can I come in?” he muttered, almost inaudible as he could no longer deal with looking at her face, looking at her hardened eyes, and his gaze lowered to the floor, his head, turned ever so slightly to the side so he didn't even have to look directly at her feet. He resisted the urge to shuffle – he'd conceded defeat in the staring contest, but he wouldn't let her totally win their confrontation. He was allowing her the advantage of being somewhere she was totally at ease, where she could get rid of him at a moment's notice – he'd leave if she asked, it was only respectful – but he wouldn't be completely backing down. ”I... I don't think that what I want to say to you should be done so outside,” he added, by way of explanation.

He raised his gaze a little, looked at her attire, so normal, so Rose, nothing like the thief he'd fought the other day. He wondered if she still had the costume – tales of the Red Hawk had been quiet for the last week, and he hoped to God that she'd given up, even if deep down in his heart he knew she wouldn't have, and he admired her for that. But God, why Rose...? He could even have handled it being John, his oldest, best friend, but not said best friend's kid sister.

(OOC: Sorry I took so long, sorry about the melodrama and GOD I missed these two X3)

[Rose Barns]

rose BARNS

Rose stopped herself from smiling when she heard Asher speak. She knew that right now their relationship had altered so drastically that she could not smile when she saw him. She was angry, though relieved that he wasn’t here to arrest her. She could tell that standing in the doorway with her staring at him, made Asher uncomfortable. Half of her wanted to welcome him in warmly, to hug him and offer him food and water, but she knew that would not be good.

The way he had looked at her when he found out she was the Red Hawk was burned into her brain. She didn’t know if she could ever forget it. Thinking about it only made her feel worse, but she would not show it. Rose continued looking at him, even though he couldn’t see her staring at him.

Rose raised an eyebrow as he asked to come in. She didn’t know if she wanted him to come in or not. It almost felt like he was unwelcome here, and not because she stated it. The way he avoided the situation that day was like uninviting himself out of her life. And then not coming to speak to her or see her for a week made her think he just didn’t care anymore. He probably just came to give her a lecture and tell her to maybe never go back to Locksley Manor and the next time he saw her as the Red Hawk, things wouldn’t go down the same. Maybe next time he would throw her out to the dogs, which would be the other guards and Sir Guy himself! She would not let him catch her again. But she did not know if she could give up her new identity.

“You may come in, I guess.” Rose turned around and made sure the door to her sleeping family was closed firmly. It was. She knew Asher would close the door behind him. Rose went to sit down at the only table in the house. She did not offer Asher a seat, though she guessed he would sit as well.

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((I'm just glad you're back!))

[Asher Hardy]

Asher was relieved that she didn't just slam the door on him, leaving him out in the cold, so to speak. In fact, it was all he could do to not breathe a huge sigh of relief and give her a hug for giving him a chance to talk to her. Of course, she didn't exactly give him enough time to do that – she had walked back inside so fast it nearly made his head spin. He followed her, slower, stopping to close the door quietly, and looked around the Barns household, feeling so much more at home than he had done mere moments ago. Even Rose being cold with him couldn't shake off the fact that he really did consider this place his home, these people his family. He was a little surprised to see John and Lily were not around, but shook it off. It was better if it was just the two of them, anyway.

More than a little nervous, Asher took a few steps into the room, but didn't close the gap between himself and Rose too much. He thought distance might be a good idea, although it was the last thing he really wanted. He thought. He didn't know, if he was honest with himself. On the one hand, he wanted her to be as far away as possible and didn't even want to be here, but on the other hand he wanted to clear things up and go back to the way they had been (if that was possible). He opted for a middle ground, and looked around the room, finding it difficult to come up with something to say. How did one start talking about another person's crimes, anyway?

”Hey, just thought I'd come round and ask why the hell you're such an idiot!”.

He didn't think that would win him any favour from her.

”Um...” he started, shifting again to try and keep himself calm. He linked his hands together behind his back, fiddling with his thumb. ”How are John and Lily? Are they doing okay?” he asked, desperate to add ”And you, how are you doing?”, but holding himself back for now.

[Rose Barns]

rose BARNS

“Lily and John are perfectly fine. They both went to sleep early.” Rose thought that if weren’t for the fact that John and her mother were asleep, then she would be tempted to yell and scream at Asher. She could have such a temper when she wasn’t careful. It was one of her few faults. Her mother used to say that she wouldn’t get a husband with that temper. Now she wouldn’t get a husband because of her mother! What man would want to marry into a family that he would have to constantly support. Her brother used to joke that Rose and Asher would marry and he would go off to the Holy Land, make a fortune, and die, leaving his little nieces and nephews tons of money so they would never have to work.

At this moment, Rose was glad that didn’t happen, even if this situation wouldn’t exist if it did. She felt good being angry at Asher. She never really let herself feel angry and frustrated about her family. She would feel too guilty. But being angry at Asher was almost too easy and at that thought she turned away to hide her suddenly watery eyes. She took a second for the tears to disappear before she turned her head back around.

“I am fine. Thank you for asking.” She looked at Asher, trying to find some emotion behind his eyes. Disgust, or maybe kindness, or even a sort of love. But her anger blinded her from seeing anything. “And you? How are you?” she asked to be polite.

[Asher Hardy]

(OOC: I am SO sorry I did it again. *swears not to ever again*)

Asher shifted again nervously as Rose replied, glad to hear that they were both alright. He was a little concerned that they'd both gone to bed early, which seemed a little odd to him – fate, maybe? - but he didn't press the matter. If Rose said they were fine, then they were in a good state of health for them and he trusted her. They were her family, after all, and she'd take the best care of them as she could. He rocked back on his feet, looking anywhere but at the girl once more. He would have looked at her as he heard a rustling of clothes, but he didn't think she'd appreciate it a whole lot.

He winced as she revealed she was fine – maybe he should have asked, after all – and ended up looking up, hoping she'd see the apology in his eyes, the pain that was wrecking his life at the moment. Instead, it seemed she was remaining civil, that cold kind of politeness that burned more than fiery, righteous (or, indeed, even non-righteous) anger ever could hope to hurt him. The tone cut through his defenses, making him want to turn away and lick his wounds. But he stood his ground... Sort of.

Was he alright? Oh, the things he could say. Of course, he was fine, thanks for asking. Yes, the wounds had healed over, thank you very much for caring about the damage you caused. Yes, I've gotten over the fact that you've betrayed my trust and become a criminal, it's so kind of you to consider my feelings this time around.

”Of course I'm not bloody fine!” was the response, a fast, angry hiss, tone lowering in volume as he remembered the sleeping residents. He couldn't help it – how was he supposed to react? He dropped his hands from behind his back, took a step forward and stopped, watching the woman. ”How can you just sit there and act like everything is normal?” he growled, holding her gaze for a moment before turning and throwing his hands in the air in fury. He had forgotten about the purse in his hands, and so it went flying to the floor with an audible clink of coin, sounding so traitorous to his ears. He turned to face her again, his face paler than it had been a moment ago, but also emotionless. He wanted to see what she had to say.

[Rose Barns]

rose BARNS

Rose stopped herself from jumping back when Asher’s lowered tone resonated through her body and his words pierced her heart, though she did stand up. Of course he was not bloody fine. How could he be after what she had done to him? The pain spread from her heart to her stomach and down to the tips of her toes, causing her to want to crumple to the ground. But she stood strong, even though her anger was slowly ebbing out of her in small waves, taking her energy with it. She went to the table and sat down, keeping her back straight and her eyes trained on his. All she could see were Asher’s eyes. She refused to look down at his strong jaw and thin lips. Nor could she look up, her eyes following his jaw line up to his ear and across to his eyes again. There was no emotion in his eyes and being stubborn, Rose refused to show any emotion as well.

“I suppose everything is not normal,” Rose replied, looking down at her hands and then back up at him. “But nothing is normal anymore. Sir Guy of Gisborne is now in the place that rightfully belongs to Robin Hood. The Sheriff is terrorizing the villagers of Nottinghamshire, and I am now the head of the Barns household and working night and day to prevent us from being thrown out into the forest. I cannot do anything, being just a woman and a servant of the very man I despise. I could not do anything.” Rose took a deep breath.

“Being the Red Hawk gave me that opportunity to do something. I was able to help the villagers of Locksley. Old Mr. Tanner was sick and I was able to by him food and a warmer blanket from the coffers of Gisborne. He would have died this winter if it had not been for me. I myself had nothing to spare, but the Red Hawk was able to do something.” Rose paused.

“Tell me, don’t you want to help the people that watched you grow up, who grew up with you, who shared your pains? Or will you turn your back on us now that you are under the protection of the might Sir Guy of Gisborne?” Rose never stopped looking into Asher’s eyes as she spoke.

(((gah! so short! sorry )))

[Asher Hardy]

[ooc: tis fine, dude <3]

He should have known that losing his own temper was going to do nothing to convince Rose of how irresponsible her actions were. If anything, it seemed as though his words, his own anger had just made her more resolved. Typical, bloody typical. Sometimes he wondered why she had to be so hard headed, but then he realised that she just wouldn't be Rose if she was like the other simpering girls. Did he really want her to stay at home and do what she was told, never get into trouble and just be the sort of girl who was only good for one thing – being a wife? Of course he didn't. He loved to hear her laugh and see her smile, things he didn't expect to be seeing any time soon. He liked to argue with her, under other circumstances. As it was, he folded his arms over his chest and listened to her, doing his best to keep the scowl off his face but not entirely managing to do so.

He'd never been particularly good at staying still, so halfway through Rose's explanation of her actions, he began pacing. It was only slight and not once did he turn his back to her, but it helped him to think and to process her words, even if his actions might come across as if he weren't paying any attention at all. He gnawed on his bottom lip, occasionally glancing at Rose as she spoke. He knew that life had been bad since the current Sheriff, Vaysey, had come into power, but it had been pretty bad before that too. He often wondered why people failed to remember this fact, or had it just been his imagination? Had the failing crops of his old home all been in his head? Had taxes not been high enough and had the young men not already been shipped off to the Holy Land to fight for king and country, leaving the land untended thanks to too few hands to work? It truly did irritate him that everyone seemed to blame the law right now, but he knew that there was at least some basis. As for Rose and her family, well... He did his best to help her and he opened his mouth to say so, but she carried on and he thought better of it. Now probably wasn't the time to be saying he only took his current job to try and make her life easier, whether it was the truth (which it was) or not.

He also didn't entirely understand why Rose hated Gisbourne so much. As far as he knew, the man had never treated any of his servants too badly, although he certainly didn't show them the same courtesy that the Locksleys had done. No, he wasn't as good a lord as Robin's family had been, but Robin had broken the law. Asher had never managed to get the full story, although he knew the Scarletts were involved because they'd all disappeared off the face of the planet, but the next thing he knew, his former lord was on the wanted list and as a guard, Asher had to do what he was told. It didn't entirely sit well with him but he'd always figured that Robin must have lost it over in the Holy Land. So many others had, after all.

”You could have told me,” he muttered, frowning. He'd known Mr Tanner was sick, indeed, but he'd also been a bit preoccupied with his own little side quest – helping out the Joneses with their barn. A fire had burnt it down and a few of the guards had managed to use any time they weren't on duty to help rebuild the little area. He pulled his arms tighter to his body and watched Rose carefully. ”You know I would have found a way to get money for him. You didn't have to steal it.” He sighed. ”You know, by all rights I should march over there and arrest Mr. Tanner for his part in the theft? Receiving stolen goods?” Not that he was going to, of course, but it was what he should do. Hell, he should be arresting Rose right now, should have done already. ”I don't understand you, Rose, but then I wonder if I ever did.”

He glared at Rose for her slight at the end of her little speech and took a step forward, before pausing. What was he going to do, go over there and shake her? No, he'd hold his ground. ”I'm not under anyone's bloody protection,” he snapped, feeling irritable. ”I'm as subject to the law as anyone else in the country. Hell, it's worse. Do you know what it feels like to take someone you know over to the castle and then wonder if they're going to die?” He had done, twice before and he never wanted to again. One of them had been hanged, a lad only a few years younger than Asher from Knighton. He'd bought vegetables from that family whenever he was in the area and, ironically enough, the lad had been arrested for stealing vegetables from the castle stores. It had been his third offence and the law weren't going to be lenient anymore. ”Of course I want to help people, that's why I do what I do! Better I catch them when they've done something and give them a slap on the wrist than one of the others. But I can't protect everyone, Rose. The law is the law. What do you want me to do, run Sir Gisbourne through in his sleep?” Asher was hardly skilled enough to confront him in face to face combat, after all.

[Rose Barns]

rose BARNS

“Go arrest Mr. Tanner,” Rose taunted, knowing Asher could not do that. Mr. Tanner had not even known that the money had been stolen. She had weaved a story that she had done some extra work at the market and had a little to spare for him. In his weakened state, Mr. Tanner accepted the story, no questions asked.

The next thing Asher said caused one big fat tear to roll down Rose’s cheek. He had never understood her. Where did that leave them? If Asher never understood her, then he never truly knew her, and if he never truly knew her, how could he even love her. Wait, where did that come from? Rose’s head suddenly shut down as she tried to process where her thought process had taken her. He was her brother’s friend. He was like another brother, and yet he really was not. She had never thought of Asher as her other brother, nor as just her brother’s friend. She had considered him a friend of her own, and her first crush. When had her crush developed into more? She had not noticed, but now she was made fully aware of it. She wanted Asher to think of her as something more than just her brother’s sister, and maybe even more, but then she was brought back to the present.

“It is your own fault for being so blind. I do not just sit in the kitchen or mend clothing by the hearth. I am more than just a good little girl ready to be made a good little wife. I could never be just a weak damsel in distress waiting for her knight in shining armor. He has been taking his sweet time waiting to come and rescue me. I needed to rescue myself.” Sure Asher had done a lot for the family, but what had he done for just her? He did not save her, and now she did not want that possible life she had dreamed of as a little girl. She did not want to wait at home for him and make him his supper and take care of him when he was sick. She was too independent for just that now.

“I do not want you to kill him like a coward, but I thought you would not stand for the injustice. Sir Gisborne treats the peasants of Locksley worse than he treats the other villagers. We are his whipping boys, passed down from the Sheriff who no doubt abuses Gisborne. I’ve seen how he is treated by the Sheriff. Why didn’t you do what Robin did and gone to the forest to fight against the Sheriff?!/” Rose exclaimed, tears coating her soft voice.

[Asher Hardy]

”Don't mock me,” he sighed, ignoring her comment to go arrest the elderly man. It wouldn't do any good and he'd never do such a thing anyway. He did his best to help the community where he was, where he thought he was doing it best but apparently he and Rose had completely different views on that particular matter. He turned away for a moment to breathe and collect his thoughts, turning back to find Rose with a tear streaking her face. He was concerned and immediately went to her side, putting a hand on her shoulder and kneeling on the floor beside her, looking up at her face. ”What's wrong?” he asked, worried that perhaps he'd been a bit too harsh. He hadn't meant to be, but... Well, he was with Rose! He just wanted her to be safe and running around stealing was not safe.

Naturally he had no idea what was going on in her head, but it would have probably scared him, had he known. Had she verbalised any of it. He'd hate to know he was confusing her just as much as she confused him. He rolled his eyes, not moving away from kneeling beside her but he did have the courtesy to remove his hand. It was probably the last thing she wanted right now, knowing his luck. Under any other circumstance, he would have taken offence to her words. He wasn't blind, he had a hell of a lot of information to be sorting through and, in his defence, he'd spent the last few years working for Gisbourne and the Sheriff so his experiences would be slightly different.

He looked at the floor, placing his hands in his lap and shrugged, looking up again and grinning for the first time in what felt like years. ”Maybe he's scared of horses so he's having to walk?” he joked, feeling a little awkward. Okay, too close to home there. He hadn't meant himself, specifically, although the horse reference had been about him. He felt a bit embarrassed but decided that saying something else might dig him deeper into the hole he was about to bury himself in. Asher wondered where he had gone wrong, though, that she needed to save herself. ”You couldn't have asked for a little help? You don't have to run off and face everything alone, you know.”

Asher groaned and raised his hands to his face, rubbing it as though it would make the pain go away. He really had no idea what Rose was talking about. He and the guards usually did their best to try and make sure everything was fair, that no one was suffering but the world was full of injustice and he couldn't right it all. He looked to the ground again, pondering his answer. ”I don't know why he treats our village so badly, Rose, but frankly standing before him and telling him that he's a terrible lord is tantamount to suicide,” he replied, looking back up at her and fighting the urge to take her hand. He pushed himself back off his knees and stood before Rose instead of kneeling beside her. His knees were getting stiff down there. He hated to hear her so sad and desperately wanted to hug her, but how would she react to that? He decided it didn't matter and did so anyway, only briefly before reluctantly pulling back. ”I didn't run off into the woods because it never entered my mind as a good idea,” he admitted, although the good idea part was a bit of a lie. It had simply never crossed his mind as an option. ”As much good as Robin does for some of the people, and don't you say everyone – he can't look after everyone, he's only one man and even we know his gang hardly amounts to many – being off in the woods hasn't done wonders for Nottingham. Sure, the Sheriff is a little poorer and some people have been fed, but really, what good has it done? Every time Robin steals from Vaysey, the Sheriff raises the taxes that bit higher. People end up starving despite the food they're given, and you can't forget that someone else must go without food in order for those people to eat. There are those tied to the castle who can't leave, even if they want to. Is it right to punish the servants in the castle because their lord is cruel?” he asked, trying to reason with her. ”The same goes for you. Why haven't you run off into the woods?” Without waiting for an answer, he continued. ”Because there are people here you must look after. You have responsibilities you can't give up so you risk even more by remaining here and copying Robin instead.”

He looked out the window at the darkening sky for a moment. ”Rose, if you asked me to now, I would leave and seek out Robin. He would probably kill me for being one of Gisbourne's men before he listened to me, but I would try and help him.” He glanced back at the girl once more. ”But is it really going to do any good? I'm a mediocre fighter at best, I'm not good with tactics and I'm scared of horses. I work to live and to try and make life a bit easier for you. What use would I be out in the woods?”

[Rose Barns]

rose BARNS

Rose raised an eyebrow when he mentioned that her knight could be afraid of horses. She knew Asher very well and caught that possible reference to himself, though she shrugged it off. It was a very possible explanation for why a person would take so long in going from point A to point B. And then his hand on her shoulder. Suddenly her shoulder felt a little bit warmer and she all in all felt a little bit safer as he knelt before her. Rose then hid a protest as he moved his hand away, leaving her shoulder to feel the cool rush of cold air. A little shiver ran through her body.

Rose could barely take it when he finally gave her a small hug. This sudden burst of affection confused her, though she knew it was simply because she looked upset, and she was, but she was also quite confused. After having Asher angry with her and she angry with him, this sudden change back to their old way of interacting was strange. It would be normal for her to comfort him and for him to comfort her. Still, she refused to look at him as he gave his own opinion. Someone was wrong about the Sheriff and Robin Hood and it was not Rose. She had idealized Robin and his gang since things were starting to go bad. He was her only hope at a happy life since Asher had turned to the dark side. Rose had never seen the guards actively do anything nice for the villagers. She only saw one sad mother or wife after the other as they buried their children and husbands. She had seen Asher march away people that they had both known, knowing their fates would not be favorable. How could she forgive Asher, or was their anything for her to forgive? Who was in the wrong and who was in the right? If Asher asked her to give up the Red Hawk right now, would she do it? That was a question she would not think about until it came up seriously when neither of them was in the heat of anger.

“You would be able to actively do something,” Rose answered, though now that she thought about it, Rose did not want Asher to leave, especially leave her behind. She just then realized he had said he tried to make her life easier. Was that the slip of the tongue? Something he did not mean in the way she had took it? “I do not know anymore,” she said truthfully.

[Asher Hardy]

At the end of the day, if Rose was sad or hurt then Asher was naturally going to ignore his own feelings and try to help her out. She and her folks were his only family now, since his father died and he wasn't about to lose her, even if he was kind of angry at her. It wasn't even anger, he started to realise, but fear. Fear for her safety, fear for her mother and brother, fear of losing her to the Sheriff and having to watch her be punished for just being herself., for trying to help people. And she wasn't looking at him anymore, which made him feel awkward. Maybe he shouldn't have tried to hug her, maybe it was still too early in what he hoped was them making up to be hugging her.

If Asher had known she thought of him as turning to the dark side, he would be appalled. Asher truly thought he was doing something good in his job and if he'd known that she thought he was part of the problem, then he would have been devastated. He didn't like to think he was wrong at the best of times and he didn't think he was wrong now, but if Rose continued then maybe he would have to rethink his situation. She seemed to think she was in the right, at any rate, which was a bit... odd, if you asked him. Stealing? How could that ever be right? He'd always been told that such behaviour was antisocial, something drilled into him by his father from an early age and he was still a bit disappointed that Rose had turned to a life of crime.

”I'm actively doing something now,” he pointed out, shaking his head. ”I'm actively separating the people who would pick a fight and drag down a whole group of people from those who only tag along. I'm actively trying to help out as best I can, when I can. I do what I do because I feel like I must.” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, wanting to hug her again. He hadn't realised quite what he said, but he did mean it. He wanted his family to be happy. She was his family, so she needed to be happy. ”Why? Was it something I said?” he asked, a little surprised. Rose was always so stubborn, so sure of herself and to hear she wasn't sure of something was a shock to his system.

[Rose Barns]

rose BARNS

Rose was too stubborn now to admit that Asher had a point. She was listening quite closely and believed he had a point. He was doing something, though it did not show. But sometimes people did subtly things that helped equally. He was not actively stealing and giving people money and food like Robin Hood, but now she saw that he was probably trying to save the lives. It did not prevent the person from having to steal again for a little food and clothes, but it was an attempt.

Looking up at Asher, Rose tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She did not know what to say now. “No, I don’t know,” she said, resting her forehead in her hands as she took in a shaky breath, trying not to cry. All she wanted was to feel Asher’s arms around her, holding her close and keeping her safe. But she could not just ask and she could not show that she needed it, all she could do was hold herself together and wait for Asher to leave before she would run to her special place to cry.

“I appreciate everything you’ve done for my mother and brother,” she said, purposefully not including herself, though it was not as if she was not grateful; she was. Just Rose rarely put herself first. She did not care if she got caught or died. But she could not leave her family without someone to take care of them. Asher could, but she would never put him in that position. She longed to do something for the villagers of Locksley, but knew she had too many ties she could not break. “I don’t know what to do,” she finally said.