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Post by Luke Scarlett on Jan 7, 2008 2:27:31 GMT
The cart bumped and jolted over the uneven dirt of the road through Knighton and Luke let out a grunt of discomfort as a thin trickle of grain fell from one of sacks piled up next to him and went down the neck of his shirt, irritating the skin of his back. Luke shifted, reaching behind him to try and relieve the itch but only succeeding in knocking more of the grain loose, which this time scattered in his hair.
Sighing he shouldered his pack and jumped from the cart while it was still moving. He called a thanks to the driver of the cart who only gave a curt nod, clearly used to giving lifts to travellers so long as it didn't overburden the horse. Luke shook his head to dislodge the grain, looking rather like a dog shaking off after a swim, and then turned to get his bearings.
He was just outside the village square and only a short walk from the mill. Luke paused, wondering what his next move should be. Knighton was so familiar, it was one of the places of his childhood, but it had also changed, or maybe he had, he'd been gone a long time after all. Does Peter Miller still own the mill? He pondered, hoping the old man didn't hold a grudge. Perhaps he should go and see the family before he went to find Will. He might even be able to stay there for the night instead of having to pay for an expensive room at the inn. It wasn't like he could go back to Locksley, there was no home for him there any more, and he didn't fancy stumbling around Sherwood in the hopes of coming across Will or one of the other outlaws before it got dark.
Luke's stomach grumbled, protesting loudly that he hadn't eaten all day. Shoving his hand in his pocket he fingered his money pouch. He'd left most of his savings for Aunt Annie but he had enough for a meal at least. Letting his hunger decide for him he set off at a slow stroll towards the village square. He could always visit Peter and his family a bit later.
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Post by Kate Miller on Jan 7, 2008 9:08:18 GMT
Kate watched on as she looked after her youngest sister, currently playing Lady Marian in one of there stupid little games. She feared it would bring trouble for them if the guards knew what they were up to. Beating on the Sheriff, laughing at him openly. But oddly, she thought they knew about, and ignored it. They were only children, and they weren't all that heartless not really.
Across her lap as ever lay her current project. After Lady Marian visit, taking the measurements from old clothing had been harder than she had envisaged, but she had to manage with it now. One of Robin's men, or women, would be coming to collect their clothing over the next few day and she had to get it done. Her mother wasn't best please with her that she had taken an order from an outlaw, their old Lady or not. And had set about making Kate do the entire order on her own.
Kate let out a sigh and continued to sew. All of Robin's men it seemed were well built, not fat, by no means, but muscular. Apart from one. It didn't take two guesses for her to figure out which. William Scarlett had always been tall and slender, muscle to speak of, but he was still a bit of a weed compared to the others it would seem. Much like his brother, but he had always been slightly shorter.
A slight kafuffle started within the village square, which drew her attention from her work. A new comer it would seem. Nothing else, apart from an outlaw drop off would cause such a stir. But it was Monday, Knighton's drop off day was a Wednesday. Placing her work down she made her way out onto the green, looking through a crowd of people.
"Luke?"
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Post by Luke Scarlett on Jan 7, 2008 18:06:54 GMT
Luke watched with mild interest as a group of young children darted between the other villagers of Knighton. Two grubby boys tumbled into a fight and Luke couldn't quite work out if they were already in character or were just scrapping over the makeshift bow and arrow and therefore who got to be Robin Hood. Smiling slightly he turned and, lacking the seemingly effortless grace of his older brother, tripped over his own foot.
The short yelp of surprise that Luke gave as he started to fall was the only warning that a rather elderly lady got to move out of the way. He twisted, missing her by inches and instead crashed into a man carrying a large crate of apples. Apples flew everywhere and a few of the children were momentarily distracted from their game as they ran to grab the fruit that had rolled furthest afield.
”I'm sorry!” Luke apologised, wincing as the man picked himself up off the floor. “I'll pay for the fruit.” He added reluctantly, knowing that it would cost him pretty much all the money he had. The man nodded somewhat placated and held out at hand expectantly and Luke parted with his money pouch, not bothering to wait for the man to count the coins inside. A crowd had gathered and he was supposed to be keeping a low profile. He doubted that any of the guards, or even Gisbourne or the Sheriff would recognise him but he couldn't take that chance.
”Luke?” A strangely familiar voice called and Luke almost bolted, thinking he'd been recognised. Then he realised that the voice was female and he frowned, standing on tiptoes to try and see over the crowd and find out who was calling him. A blonde girl stood some distance away and Luke pushed his way forwards.
”Katherine Miller? Kate it really is you!” He beamed, fighting his way all the faster through the still lindering villagers and ignoring the throbbing in his elbow where it had connected with the splintered corner of the apple crate.
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Post by Kate Miller on Jan 7, 2008 18:15:27 GMT
Kate's smile widened as she hit the ground running towards him, and the commotion. She mentally rolled her eyes at him, clumsy as ever, poor boy. She watched as the apples fell to the floor, and him practically dance around the people of her village. She couldn't help but laugh. When she finally reached him she flung her arms around his neck, she'd not seen him in what felt like forever. A year and a bit in reality. But she had spent nearly every day with one of the Scarlett brothers before Will was outlawed and Luke had run away to Scarborough.
She blinked back the tears, this was too good to be true. These guys were like brothers to her, since hers was away fighting in the Holy War. Holy, right. Robin Hood didn't seem to think so. She pulled away from him slightly, god he'd grown. She looked him up and down and finally settled at looking up at his face.
"Little Lukey," she giggled slightly at the sight of him, "Not so little any more."
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Post by Luke Scarlett on Jan 7, 2008 18:34:20 GMT
Luke staggered backwards a few paces and Kate barrelled into him. "Watch it! You'll have my eye out." He warned laughing and patted her somewhat awkwardly on the back. She held him at arms length, scrutinising him in a way that reminded him of his aunt.
"Little Lukey, Not so little any more." She said and Luke desperately tried to fight off a deep blush. He shrugged sheepishly, staring back at her. He wasn't the only one that had changed and Luke found it hard to believe that this beauty was his childhood friend.
"Yeah..." He trailed off. He wasn't sure what he should say to her. After all the last time he'd seen her it was just after he and his brother had stolen a couple of bags of flour from her father's mill.
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Post by Kate Miller on Jan 7, 2008 18:47:34 GMT
Kate couldn't wipe the smile from her face, it was awkward. The most awkward situation she had been in in a very long time, since perhaps they'd stolen from her family, she'd quickly forgiven them, he father had not and reported them to the authorities. They'd nearly hung for it. "Oh god," she quietly spoke her thoughts, "Luke, how can you even want to be near me, my father had you hung, you nearly died!" the brimming tears of joy for seeing him, soon turn into those of upset and fell over the rims of her eyes, slowly making tracks down her cheeks.
She didn't know what else to do, he'd nearly died becasue of her father. Her father was the reason he'd left. She;d known this before, but it had only really occurred to her now. "I'm so, so sorry!
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Post by Luke Scarlett on Jan 7, 2008 19:13:39 GMT
Luke was startled, he hadn't been expecting an apology. He was the one at fault, he'd stolen flour off of Peter during a time when he had precious little else. He had nearly died, Luke shuddered at the thought, but how could anyone know that the Sheriff would choose to make an example of them?
"I- I-," He stammered and now she was crying and he really had no idea what to do when girls started crying. He reached out and patted her tentatively on the shoulder and tried to be soothing instead of just awkward and heavy handed. "It was my fault. We shouldn't have taken the flour... Sorry." Luke felt terrible, this wasn't the happy reunion he'd been imagining on the trip down.
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Post by Kate Miller on Jan 7, 2008 19:31:45 GMT
Kate chastised herself, shaking her head and wiping away her tears. "God, I'm sorry, her I am crying like an idiot, whilst the Sheriff tries and arrest us all." she motioned towards the personnel who were taunting people on the other side of the square. She tossed her head in the direction of her house, "Come on, let's get out of his way," she smiled slightly, still mildly tearful, "Or he'll arrest the both of us for breathing.
She walked in the direction of the Mill, trying her best not to attract the attention of the guards posted around the village. She quietly opened the door, and walked inside. Her father was in the Work Room, doing whatever it was he actually did (grinding wheat to make flour wit the big rock), so hopefully he wouldn't notice the arrival of an unwelcome guest, by his standard anyway. he checked through the doorway of the Work Room, he was hard at work, so she dropped across the cloth to hide Luke from view.
"I never asked, what brings you back to Nottingham?
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Post by Luke Scarlett on Jan 7, 2008 20:10:17 GMT
Luke sent up a silent prayer of thanks when Kate seemed to pull herself together. She indicated the Sheriff across the square, looking alarmingly like she would start crying again at any minute. Luke frowned. Now he had the Sheriff and a still tearful girl to worry about.
Come on, let's get out of his way," She suggested and Luke readily agreed, he would have done just about anything at this point if it prevented her from getting upset again. Plus there was the small matter of him not wanting to be thrown in the dungeons again.
Once they got to the Mill Luke peered over Kate's shoulder into the other room, but he backed up quickly when he spotted Peter, head bent over his work. Skulking near the door, so he could make a quick escape if Kate's father looked up and spotted him, he smiled with relief when she let a cloth drop across the doorway.
"I came back to join the outlaws." Luke announced when she asked, totally certain that he was going to achieve his goal. "And see Will." He added, almost as an afterthought.
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Post by Kate Miller on Jan 7, 2008 20:19:20 GMT
Kate laughed at him. It wasn't often that they got news of a 'new' outlaw. In fact, since the Saracen woman, nobody had joined them. Apart from Marian. But she was the love of Robin's life, nobody went against him on that. "You seem so certain of it," she laughed and fiddled with some material that sat on the table in front of her. She'd forgotten all about the outlaw's clothing she was tailoring, forgotten on her door step.
"I accepted an order from Lady Marian, for them. Mother wasn't pleased. She said that I've put our family in danger. It's all a joke if you ask me. They're too good to get caught. And The Sheriff's too stupid to catch them. And Don't even get me started of his lacky." she looked out of the window over the green. The shutters were open letting in fresh air and light. She sniffed to stop her nose from running and using the back of her sleeve wiped down her cheeks and her nose.
"I haven't seen Will for a while either. The Occasional glimpse. But never close enough to talk to. Probably a good thing I imagine."
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Post by Luke Scarlett on Jan 7, 2008 20:44:20 GMT
"I am certain!" Luke insisted, sounding rather childish. "Even if they say no, I'll persuade them eventually." He was determined and he had inherited the Scarlett's stubborn streak. His eyes were drawn to the cloth as Kate reached out to touch it and then they strayed across the table to the freshly baked loaf of bread set out nearby. His stomach grumbled loudly and he flushed, hoping Kate hadn't heard. In the excitement he'd forgotten all about getting some food.
"Lady Marian has joined the outlaws in the forest?" Luke asked confused, the last time he'd been here she was living in the castle at the mercy of the Sheriff. He wondered what else had changed while he was gone, he was very behind on all the gossip. Half the rumours that reached Scarborough weren't true and the rest were usually so exaggerated they couldn't be trusted.
At the mention of his brother Luke perked up. "I haven't seen him since-" He broke off, his face going tight with sorrow. He didn't want to talk about Dan and he wouldn't cry in front of Kate, he was older now, not the little boy who burst into tears at every slight injury and argument. "Well... I haven't seen him since I left for Scarborough again."
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Post by Kate Miller on Jan 7, 2008 20:54:07 GMT
Kate laughed at her friends mind set. He could be so stubborn sometimes. How he could be so certain that they would allow him into the forest she had no idea. He was barely out of childhood, how would he cope? He had been through a lot in recent months, that much was true. With his near death, his father's death. Oh God.
"Lady Marian has joined the outlaws in the forest?" she heard him ask her, she merely nodded.
"Gisborne and the Sheriff went to the Holy Land. Taking Lady Marian with them. Robin and his gang went after them, and when they came back they had Lady Marian, and Sir Guy did not. Well, that's the rumour from the kitchen maids in the castle at any rate. My LAdy has been in the Forest before though. I do not know how long for. Talk was she was at Kirklees. But she would never become a nun." she finished hearing his stomach growl.
She reached out her hand and placed it on his arm at the near mention of his late father, "I'm sory about your father," she smiled slightly and squeezed reassuringly, "He was a good man." she reached out for the small loaf that was on the table and passed it to him, her other hand resting on his arm all the while, "Here. Eat it."
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Post by Luke Scarlett on Jan 7, 2008 21:09:02 GMT
Luke listened avidly as Kate explained what little she knew about the gang's latest adventure. Will had been to the holy land? Filled with envy Luke vowed to ask him about it as soon as he met his brother again. "Did anyone bring back news of William?" He knew they had probably been too busy fighting the Sheriff to ask after Kate's brother, but there was still a small hope that they had heard something.
The hand on his arm was a small comfort and Luke scowled, still trying suppress the lump in his throat as Kate gave her condolences. When she handed him the bread he set upon it with a little more vigor than was necessary, party because of his hunger and partly to try and quell the tears that threatened to spill if he thought about his father too much.
"Thank you." He said, voice muffled because is mouth was full. Auntie Annie would be horrified at his manners, but he couldn't bring himself to care.
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Post by Kate Miller on Jan 7, 2008 21:22:24 GMT
Kate laughed at his eagerness to eat the bread, all manners forgotten, "It's just bread, but your welcome," she smiled at him and took her hand off of his arm. Drawing back into herself and crossing her arms across her chest. She shook her head. They had had no news of her brothers in months. Unlike Robin though he visited home once every year if he could. But last Christmas was the last they;d seen him.
"He was home the Christmas Robin first returned. But we've not heard from him for over a year. I'm beginning to fear the worst. But he can not write, he does not know how. So we shall have to wait and see." she turned and sat at the desk and continued with the shirt that was lead out across the desk. "This is for your William though. she said holding it up to him, "I don't know anybody as tall or thin as he is. Especially in Robin's gang."
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Post by Luke Scarlett on Jan 7, 2008 21:50:00 GMT
"It's good bread!" He insisted with possibly misplaced enthusiasm. He tore off another chunk, although this time it was smaller. He'd nearly choked when he tried to swallow the first huge mouthful.
"He'll be back." Luke assured her, refusing to let gloomy thoughts drag them down even more. He was chewing more slowly now, and actually tasting the food. "William can look after himself."
Luke looked the shirt with the indifferent eye of a teenage boy. It looked rather baggy and would probably be even more so on the lanky frame of his brother. "He hasn't filled out with muscles yet then?" He grinned, not above teasing his sibling, especially when he wasn't here to defend himself. "He'll always be scrawny."
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