Blind Pilots [Tag Robert]

[Allan A Dale]

With nothing to do and no one to keep him entertained, Allan had once again gone gallivanting off on his own to see what adventures he could find in Nottingham. It was starting to become a common occurrence, his buggering off to find someone to swindle or someone to save – whichever he was in the mood for – and he wondered idly if it had anything to do with the changing dynamics of the gang. He just didn’t see any of them a lot anymore, especially Marian, Robin, Will and Djaq. But maybe that wasn’t so surprising, all things considered.

He had travelled up to Nottingham Town that day, skirting the main road on his way in case a likely victim appeared for him to rob, but all had been quiet until he entered Nottingham. He’d slipped into a fledgling pub, feeling it necessary to avoid the Trip after his encounter with Guy, and with the help of his trusty cups, he successfully made a fair amount for the crusade against Vaysey. Or maybe for his own purse, he hadn’t quite decided yet. After all, what the gang didn’t know couldn’t possibly hurt them, and a man had a future to plan for.

When the patrons of the pub had started clicking on to the fact that more than the money being laid on the table was disappearing, Allan had decided it was time to make a dignified and swift exit – by starting a bar room brawl. He’d always known learning to throw his voice would come in handy one of these days, and as he momentarily surveyed his handiwork – a rather large, beefy man was battering an equally large, beefy man with a barstool while other members of the public placed bets on who would win – he couldn’t help but feel he was damn good at his job.

Now he was strolling back to the camp, late afternoon slowly turning into evening as the sun set behind the trees, casting long shadows along the outskirts of the forest. He hadn’t quite made it back in yet, and was hoping nothing was going to happen – he had learnt long ago that all good things had to have a counterbalance, and he’d had a spectacularly lucky day. Did this mean he was going to get mugged? More than likely. Or maybe today would be a counterbalance for the Guy incident – that had hurt a lot. He could still feel his bones ache in protest.

”May whatever is to come, come,” Allan muttered to himself, looking up at the sky. ”But just for once, be kind to a poor, underappreciated thief?"

[Robert Williams]

Robert thought to himself that it had been a long day. The ex-crusader had made the long trip from the coast on the horse that he had brought from the Holy Land. He had been away from England for 15 years, first fighting to drive the Moors out of central Iberia, then fighting with Frankish crusaders in the Holy Land and rising through the ranks, culminating in the defense of Jerusalem in '87. Although he had been an expert with the bow and the sword .... much of his initial expertise had been as a military engineer ..... given his training as a carpenter and wood-worker. He had built siege towers, catapults, and trebuchets. However, most of the years of his childhood and teenage ears had been spent in Locksley. It was where he had lived and apprenticed with an experienced carpenter.

He had heard stories about how bad thins were in England and he had decided to check out Locksley first when he returned to the shire. He was not recognized, partially since there seemed to be so few people there he recognized. Also, he had left as a clean-shaven youth for Iberia, and now he was a bearded, somewhat more weathered version of himself at the age of 32. He found that the carpenter's hut and shop was now abandoned .... they had either left or died .... which just lid another layer of sadness on Roe's mind. He found himself still bothered by the nightmares of the the crusade, and had hoped that the return to a more tranquil shire would be soothing for his soul.

Finding little in Locksley, he remembered, Sir Edward and his family at Knighton ... so he traveled there. On the outskirts of Knighton he ran into a young lass on the forested outskirts armed with a bow. She indicated to him the sorrowful news that Sir Edward and his wife were no longer living, and suggested that the only choices were being with the Sheriff or against him. "So, the stories I have heard about the Sheriff and the general situation seem to be true," he muttered grimly to himself.

He decided to continue to skirt through the edges of Sherwood as he traveled on towards Nottingham to see what the actual situation was. He had been very familiar with Sherwood as a boy .... it was where he had honed his archery skills as a young man and had done some limited hunting on the sly. He thought that he might have to see if he could search out some game to eat before it got too dark.

As he traveled though an area of some heavy thickets he heard the crackling of twigs and the rustle of leaves ahead. He quickly took the Saracen bow off his shoulder and pulled an arrow from a quiver. "I would prefer it be small game rather than large, but I will have to take what i can get," he smiled to himself. As he broke through the brush, with his bow at he ready, he found to his great surprise, to find another traveler, but this one was just on foot.

[Allan A Dale]

Allan hadn’t thought he’d been making that much noise, but then he hadn’t been particularly worried about anyone being about the road at this point in time, so when some random, rather rugged looking bloke jumped out from the bushes, bow ready to shoot him, he couldn’t help but let out a rather undignified yelp and threw his hands straight in the air to show he was unarmed (well, not unarmed, but unable to defend himself with an arrow ready to fly into his chest).

”Oi, oi! Calm down mate, I don’t mean no harm!” he said quickly, hopefully putting his attacker off from shooting him. He hoped the guy wasn’t going to kill him, he had so much to live for, so much to do… And was that a Saracen bow? Allan couldn’t help but notice the odd shape of the device, and figured it would probably fetch a pretty penny. Part of his mind scolded him for wandering off the topic – you’re about to get SHOT you idiot! – but it was in his nature to spot things worthy of stealing.

If he survived.

He slipped on a nice easy grin, hands still in the air, and shrugged.

”Now ya got me, what ya gonna do with me?” he asked, eyeing up his new “friend’s” horse with great interest. Good horse, too, by the looks of it, and would probably also fetch him some more money for his funds. But how best to mug a man who was ready and poised to kill you? Even in the face of almost certain (or entirely possible) death, Allan remained a thief.

(OOC: Okay, two things – I’m assuming Robert is mounted but left this open to suggestion to be sure, and I’m sorry it’s kind of short. They’ll get longer as I have more to say =3).

[Robert Williams]

”Oi, oi! Calm down mate, I don’t mean no harm!” he said quickly, hopefully putting his attacker off from shooting him. He hoped the guy wasn’t going to kill him, he had so much to live for, so much to do
He slipped on a nice easy grin, hands still in the air, and shrugged.

”Now ya got me, what ya gonna do with me?” he asked, eyeing up his new “friend’s” horse with great interest.



Robert thought to himself ....."hmmmm ...... he appears to be unarmed .... at lest he has no weapons at the ready. However, he seems to have an awful ready smile ..... like he is either used to this kind of situation or has some confederates close by." Robert looked from side-to-side quite carefully to see if h could see any others and decided to play along.

Robert immediately smiled back at the somewhat younger man. "I will take you at word sir ..... I was only looking for some small game so that I'll have something to eat tonight. Do you happen to be alone and what might your name be." He immediately pulled the arrow out of his bow, slung the bow over his shoulder and dismounted.

He held out his hand ...... "my name is Robert, and despite not knowing what your intentions might be toward me, I do apologize for scaring you as I did .... but its was unintentional on my part. So what would you have in mind for me ...... knocking me on the back of my head and taking my horse?, he raised his eyebrow quizzically.

[Allan A Dale]

Allan noticed the other man glancing around, as if wary. This wasn’t exactly a typical trap, though – if they’d wanted to catch him, Marian or Djaq would have been the bait. After all, how many guys could say no to a damsel in distress? The thief felt it was a little bit offensive, to be immediately assumed to be trying to ambush him. What had happened to his lovely, innocent look-at-me-I-mean-no-harm looks? It usually worked, but apparently not so far. He’d just have to try harder, he supposed.

Allan chuckled a little as the other man called him sir. Now, that was funny. ”I’m not no sir, mate, just call me Patrick.” The false name slipped off his tongue as easily as if it really had been his own, years of flaunting false identities making it second nature. He lowered his hands slowly, and watched the other man dismount.

”Yeah I’m on my own,” he replied. But don’t let that fool you, mate. Run for it now. He clapped his hands together and rubbed them a bit. That bow really was a nice bit of work, and the guy generally looked like a bit of money could be made from him. Maybe he was one of these more naïve nobles, which would make life a lot easier for Allan. ”I were just going ‘ome meself, live over in Nettlestone. Not seen you round these parts lately Robert, been somewhere?”

Allan made sure he looked at least a little bit offended. Fancy that, someone thinking little old me is a thief! his face seemed to say, as he scowled a little bit and crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow. ”I’m not being funny, but if anyone’s accusing anyone of trying to mug someone, that’d be me. After all, you’re the one who came charging in with a drawn bow.”

Before Robert could answer, however, he walked over to Robert, unfolded his arms and slapped the man on the shoulder. ”But I understand, mate. Bit dangerous round these parts, can’t be too careful. What did you say you were looking for again?”

[Robert Williams]

”I’m not no sir, mate, just call me Patrick.”

"Hmmm ..... Patrick is it ..... ok," he chuckled .... "that's as good a place as any to start ..... do you want to be be called Patrick or Pat? I prefer to be called Roe by my friends .... and its much easier on you in the end to be a friend than not."

”Yeah I’m on my own,” he replied.

"So it would appear .... my only advice is that if you are planning to attack me you are wisest just to kill me .... don't merely wound me .... I'll just hunt you down .... I have plenty of time to kill," he chuckled. "I'm not making threats you understand, I'm just making you aware of what would happen," he smiled.

”I were just going ‘ome meself, live over in Nettlestone. Not seen you round these parts lately Robert, been somewhere?”

"Actually Patrick ... I'm quite familiar with Sherwood ....I grew up in Locksley .... left to fight in Iberia and the Crusades in the Holy Land for the frankish crusaders 15 years ago. I fought in the defense of Jerusalem in '87, but never fought with the English crusaders. Enough about my war experience though. So, the Saracen bow is not the only weapon I'm familiar with or that I carry," he winked. I've killed enough though .... I knew it was time to come home and see what was left ... and see if the stories of the new tyranny were correct. I hoped to rest .... but if i still have to fight ... I can do that for the right cause."


”I’m not being funny, but if anyone’s accusing anyone of trying to mug someone, that’d be me. After all, you’re the one who came charging in with a drawn bow.”

"Well I was simply looking for dinner and you kind of surprised me!"

”But I understand, mate. Bit dangerous round these parts, can’t be too careful. What did you say you were looking for again?”

"Actually I had been to Locksley, and saw that my carpentry master's hut and shop were abandoned. I originally trained as a carpenter you know, not as a crusader, believe it or not. Had a run-in with a young lass at the edge of Knighton, and found that Sir Edward was no longer among the living. She said that I was either for the Sheriff or against him, and it was pretty clear that she thought I shouldn't be for him. So I decided to make my way toward Nottingham to verify if everything I have heard is true. So what do you have to say .... Patrick?," he asked with a questioning look.

[Allan A Dale]

Allan chose to laugh at that, it would be easier to be a bit of a simple man than keep trying to defend himself against this Robert bloke. Bloody hell, he was a suspicious git. Must be a soldier thing, Allan had decided, and made a mental note to never go off to the Crusades or to join an army.

”I prefer Patrick, meself, ‘cause me youngest is Pat,” he replied, making a mental image of the child in case he was asked. Young, maybe five or six, with long blonde hair and wide blue eyes. A laugh like liquid gold. The kid looked like someone… But he shook his head. He could dwell on that later. He quickly made a brother for her, too – Adam, maybe, darker haired, quieter, watched over her when she wasn’t aware of it, liked to visit his friends or help his old dad out… Really not going to dwell on that one, Allan thought to himself.

”Then Roe it is!” he replied, and blanched a little as Robert began explaining that Allan had better kill him than leave him alive, else Allan himself would wind up dead. This guy was that scary kind of intense, the same way Robin got when he thought Marian had been dead last year – thank God someone had noticed she was breathing! In response, Allan shook his head. ”Look, no offence, but it’s been a long day and I’m not in the mood to fight.” Instead of carrying on, he picked up on Robert’s interest of the current situation in Nottingham and made a mental note that the man had more weapons. Well, he’d been expecting that, but it was nice to have it clarified. Allan now felt a little bad about his plan – did the Crusade make all people want to come home and fight the good fight? He made sure the mental note to never go on the Crusades was doubly enforced – he’d come home with proper morals. That was a bad thing.

Allan grinned sheepishly. ”Trust me, mate, you surprised me too. Saw my life flash before my eyes – can’t say it’d make an interesting story.”

Oh bugger, was he insinuating that he knew Will’s dad? Or Will? Now Allan really was torn. He could always not mention it to anyone, if he went ahead with his plans, but then if Robert did catch up with Will, he’d be fairly screwed. On the other hand, leaving him be would mean… well, Allan was screwed either way, if Robert caught up with Will. Or anyone else he knew from Locksley.

Like Robin.

Mentally, the thief groaned. He hated it when this sort of thing happened to him. Why did Robert have to divulge his life story? Why couldn’t he just let Allan get on with what he was good at, remove Robert’s worldly possessions from his person and leave him be? But no, of course not – he was going to have to do the right thing, wasn’t he?

Bloody morals and bloody rubbing off on people. He’d clearly spent too much time with the gang.

”Well,” Allan said, looking round nervously as if checking no guards were around. ”The new Sheriff? Bloody nutter. Bleeding everyone, he is. All the lands are poor, no one can afford to eat these days, no one can afford to work.” He took a moment, looked at Robert with sad eyes. He was going to have to play his way out of this one. He needed a sob story and quick. ”My wife, she… won’t admit it, but she’s not well. I can see it, but no one’s got anything! How am I supposed to help her? I’m supposed to look after her, but I can’t…” he trailed off, feeling the tears welling up in his eyes, the despair in his voice so clear.

Oh, he was good.

[Robert Williams]

”I prefer Patrick, meself, ‘cause me youngest is Pat,” he replied, making a mental image of the child in case he was asked.

"Really .... how old is he and what's the ages of the others. It must be quite a challenge to raise a family during these difficult times. In my case, I should have stayed home to raise my son instead of going off to the Crusades," he said with a far-off look in his eyes.

”Then Roe it is!” he replied, ..... Well, I'm glad that you find that acceptble, he said with a laugh ..... "Just as I've accepted you as Patrick," he said with a twinkle in his dark eyes.

”Look, no offence, but it’s been a long day and I’m not in the mood to fight.”

Hmmm .. what's made your day so long? I'm glad and feel fortunate that you're not in a mood to fight. I'm sure that I wouldn't stand a chance against the likes of you. Just as I would hope that you wouldn't club me on the back of the head for a purse that I have not," he winked.

Allan grinned sheepishly. ”Trust me, mate, you surprised me too. Saw my life flash before my eyes – can’t say it’d make an interesting story.”

"I'm sure it would be quite interesting and a good deal less bloody than mine. Really sorry about that mate ... but I really don't know anybody around these parts anymore, and i didn't come out of a line of work where there was a lot of natural trust between crusader and civilian," he mused.

”Well,” Allan said, looking round nervously as if checking no guards were around. ”The new Sheriff? Bloody nutter. Bleeding everyone, he is. All the lands are poor, no one can afford to eat these days, no one can afford to work.”

"I've heard that about the Sheriff. There were rumors that I had heard when I was traveling west across Europe about England in general. I knew that I would have to find out for myself what shape the 'ol shire was in before I moved on. Specifically, Ive stopped in Locksley and Knighton. I noticed in Locksley that the Scarlett's hut and shop were abandoned and in dis-repair. Do you have any idea hat happened to them or their 2 sons? Will was a toddler and Luke was still almost an infant when I left."

”My wife, she… won’t admit it, but she’s not well. I can see it, but no one’s got anything! How am I supposed to help her? I’m supposed to look after her, but I can’t…”

"These are rough times .... Patrick. I would do what I could to help you if I could. Unfortunately, I always used what funds I had to support the men under my command in the Holy Land. Besides .... Patrick ... we were used to living off the land ..... and running a good game to get what we needed. Curiously .... the story you just told is very similar to the one that you just told ... just not lad on quite so thick," he said with a slight smile with his arms folded. But , we had to survive .... just as you do. So I had to become quite adept at conning others out of their goods and recognizing those who thought they could take advantage of me .... quite a useful skill to have don't you think, he said with a quizzical expression. "I've had to be a 'survivor' too."

[Allan A Dale]

”She,” Allan corrected, making sure to sound a little bit offended. ”Pat’s four, now, and Adam’s seven.” He shrugged a little, not wanting to make a deal out of it, almost as if the children really were alive, but he felt edgy again when Robert started thinking of his son. He gulped silently. ”How old is he?” he asked, softly. This guy seemed to know how to make him feel extremely guilty with few words.

”I were working all morning, here selling my wares in the evening!” he said, gesturing to the obvious purse from his hip. ”Can’t afford a cart or a horse, but maybe soon we could get a donkey…” Allan rather liked his little made up family already. He wondered if there was a spare home going in Nettlestone, or if they’d mind him moving in.

”I can’t imagine going to war,” he muttered quietly, shaking his head. What was going on? Since when did he, Allan A Dale, master thief, care about a random stranger? He really needed his head checked sometime soon. He looked down at the floor and then back up again, kicking a random patch of earth. ”What was it like?” he asked, quietly.

Allan shook his head again. ”News has spread that far?” he asked, in disbelief. That was incredible. He’d have thought Prince John would attempt to keep it on the lowdown, but apparently there were sneaks everywhere. He looked at the ground again as he spoke. ”Jane died, starved herself for the boys. I heard Will buggered off to join Robin Hood and his gang. No idea what happened to the other boy, but Dan… mouthed off in the street, got stabbed.”

He waited a moment, and then added, ”I’m sorry.”

Apparently protesting his innocence earlier hadn’t worked, so Allan decided to feign ignorance as to what Robert was talking about. ”I don’t get ya,” he said, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. He could sod off, no one caught Allan A Dale out!

[Robert Williams]

”She,” Allan corrected, making sure to sound a little bit offended. ”Pat’s four, now, and Adam’s seven.”

"My apologies there Patrick ..... its just that "Pat" is more often than not a boy's name I suppose .... no offense intended," as Roe looked down.

”How old is he?” he asked,

"He would be 15 or so .... I don't even know if he's alive .... and probably never will," as he drifted off momentarily into another world.

”I were working all morning, here selling my wares in the evening!” he said, gesturing to the obvious purse from his hip. ”Can’t afford a cart or a horse, but maybe soon we could get a donkey…”

"What exactly would those wares be Patrick," Roe asked with a sly smile. I would do what I could if I were able, or even still a nobleman, I might have access to what you would need. If you need any help besides money, though, I would be more than happy to help. Where exactly do you live," as he gave "Patrick" one of his more intense stares.

”I can’t imagine going to war,” he muttered quietly, shaking his head. What was going on? Since when did he, Allan A Dale, master thief, care about a random stranger? He really needed his head checked sometime soon. He looked down at the floor and then back up again, kicking a random patch of earth. ”What was it like?” he asked, quietly.

Suddenly Roe had a much more melancholy look on his face. "When you first go off to war its a great adventure. Here I learned to be an archer ... maybe one of the best in the shire. In Iberia I learned swordplay .... among other things .... I was only 18 or so when I left. I was trained to be a carpenter ... a builder. Those skills were transformed into building siege towers, catapults, and trebuchet. I not only learned to kill with my bare hands but with other instruments of war. At first I was helping the Spanish drive the Moors out of Spain. Then I linked up with frankish forces on their way through through the Holy Land, moved up though the ranks steadily, finally participating in the siege of Jerusalem fighting on Balian's right-hand side. We must have been outnumbered 10 or 20 to 1. They just came in wave after wave ... with fire everywhere. They were all around us .... I have no idea how many I killed ... I lost count long ago. I was with him when he negotiated with Saladin. Many would have been excited by that I suppose. I simply lost my taste for the combat, though none of the skill," he smiled darkly to himself. He was staring down at the ground as if lost in another world ..... "I lost so many friends and comrades across the years ... and there's just me."

Allan shook his head again. ”News has spread that far?” he asked, in disbelief.

"Yes ... its tough to keep some things under wraps for too long. Hiding secrets can be difficult ... Patrick. Besides, it was pretty much confirmed for me a bit ago, over at Knighton, where Marian told me how bad the sheriff was, and I would have to decide what side I was on, and that I'd better choose the side that was against him. Do you know her Patrick, she can be mighty persuasive with a loaded bow in her hands. She is the spitting image of her mother though," as he rubbed his beard at the memory.

”Jane died, starved herself for the boys. I heard Will buggered off to join Robin Hood and his gang. No idea what happened to the other boy, but Dan… mouthed off in the street, got stabbed.”

He waited a moment, and then added, ”I’m sorry.”

Roe hung his head .... "I though as much .... that's exactly what she ould have done. I made wooden toys for the boys. Dan and Jane were some of the best friends I had .... life is generally so unfair isn't it? I have heard of this Robin Hood ... generally positive things ... where is he from and who exactly is he? I hope Will is well. Dan could be impulsive ... but he did generally keep to himself .... a horrible way for 2 good people to leave this life ..... he was a good carpenter and person .... a difficult soul to replace. Jane .... poor Jane .... she would be impossible to replace too, especially for the boys", and tears welled up in his eyes.

Apparently protesting his innocence earlier hadn’t worked, so Allan decided to feign ignorance as to what Robert was talking about. ”I don’t get ya,” he said, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Don''t worry about it .... Patrick .... you are very good," he said with a smile as he wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. "It doesn't matter ... i don't have much worth taking, except for my life and my horse," he laughed.

[Allan A Dale]

”No worries,” Allan sighed the sigh of a man used to whatever he was enduring. ”’Er name’s actually Mary, ‘cause me wife thought it’d be nice to name her after me mam and I can’t say she were wrong… But she don’t like it, she’s Pat.”

Allan listened carefully, slightly uncomfortably, as Robert elaborated on how old his son would be, whether or not if he was alive… That must be so utterly terrible, so heartbreaking… And yet Allan still couldn’t think about anything except how he was going to get out of this and never see Robert again. Maybe Allan would have to shoot him on sight next time, or was that a little extreme? It wasn’t likely Robert would encounter the outlaws as a group, anyway, so as long as Robert didn’t see him…

”Farm mainly barley,” Allan replied as easily as anything. ”Neat little source for a few of the pubs in Nottingham, ‘cause it’s not like anyone round ‘ere is gonna buy it off us. Got an apple tree though, don’t get much from it but the kids have fun.” Allan rubbed the back of his head, mentally wondering how Robert could come off sounding poor and having lived in Locksley and yet have been a former nobleman (surely that made no sense? And also, it totally wasn’t fair – how come all the outlaws seemed to be noblemen these days? It really made no sense…), and shook his head.

”Wouldn’t ask you that, mate,” Allan eventually replied, a large part of his brain hammering itself against a metaphorical wall. The money! The potential money!!! ”’S’not like you can know how bad it is, you’ll need every penny you can keep, Roe. An’ I told ya, I’m from Nettlestone.”

Robert’s stares were kind of creepy. Allan fought down the urge to slap him in the face and tell him to sod off. His feeling for the man were slowly turning foul, mostly because he felt robbed – he couldn’t rob from this guy, he’d been through too much lately, and he’d wasted too much time talking to him. He should have just taken what he wanted, shot him and left. So, naturally, Allan was feeling a little bit bitter. He played it off as being tired and made a little bit of a show by stretching.

Allan was a little bit horrified at the descriptions of the war he had just heard, and suppressed a shudder. ”Glad they ain’t been recruiting, then.”


”Marian?” Allan asked, slightly in awe. At Marian’s stupidity, that is, although hopefully Robert would take it as awe at the Lady herself. ”As in Lady Marian?” Allan shook his head and didn’t say another word, because he was going to berate her, he could feel it. The only outlaw who was allowed to be stupid enough to walk into enemy territory was Allan, and that was because he was going to get laid… eventually. Plus Kate was an absolute star and Allan was starting to consider his idea of slightly drunken origins seriously, which basically consisted of taking her and Will and running off with them to Norwich. ”She’s an outlaw, you know. An’ I reckon most anyone is persuasive with a loaded bow in their hands, unless you know they’re a bad aim.”

”Robin Hood?” he asked, slightly in disbelief, then shook his head. ”Nah, you ain’t been back long, ain’t your fault. He robs from the rich, gives to the poor,” he said, mentally adding that Robin didn’t give to the poor members of his gang. ”Looks after the shire with a gang of outlaws. Rumour has it he’s got forty odd men. I don’t reckon on that meself, ‘cause someone woulda been caught by now, but he’s gotta have a fair few right? I think he’s from Locksley, but I ain’t sure – there’s so many rumours going round now you can’t tell which one’s the truth and which is a lie.”

Allan rolled his eyes. ”Back to that are we? Fer Chrissakes…” He just sighed and shook his head, refusing to deign it with an answer. Let the bugger be suspicious, he wasn’t getting anything more out of Allan in regards to his original plans.

(OOC: One more post then Allan buggers off into the forest, y/y?)

[Robert Williams]

”Farm mainly barley,” Allan replied as easily as anything. ”Neat little source for a few of the pubs in Nottingham, ‘cause it’s not like anyone round ‘ere is gonna buy it off us. Got an apple tree though, don’t get much from it but the kids have fun.” Allan rubbed the back of his head, mentally wondering how Robert could come off sounding poor and having lived in Locksley and yet have been a former nobleman (surely that made no sense? And also, it totally wasn’t fair – how come all the outlaws seemed to be noblemen these days? It really made no sense…), and shook his head.

"It may not make much sense to you ...... Patrick ....... my background may sound a bit contradictory. So I will tell you this. My natural father was a baron in these parts, but he was greatly in debt. He went to fight in the wars and got himself killed. My mother died soon after the news came back .... some say of a broken heart. Anyway, the only way his debts could be settled was to sell the title and lands back to the crown. So now their difficulty was what to do with the lad. A generous local nobleman agreed to take him on as a ward, but since I had no prospct of title or lands, it was decided that I would have to learn a trade, and carpentry it was, so I was apprenticed to a young carpenter in Locksley."

”Wouldn’t ask you that, mate,” Allan eventually replied, a large part of his brain hammering itself against a metaphorical wall. The money! The potential money!!! ”’S’not like you can know how bad it is, you’ll need every penny you can keep, Roe. An’ I told ya, I’m from Nettlestone.”

"Yeah, Nettlestone ... at least your keeping your sty consistent, I'll give you that. Thanks for the finacial advice, its appreciated," he laughed.

”Marian?” Allan asked, slightly in awe. At Marian’s stupidity, that is, although hopefully Robert would take it as awe at the Lady herself. ”As in Lady Marian?” ..... ”She’s an outlaw, you know. An’ I reckon most anyone is persuasive with a loaded bow in their hands, unless you know they’re a bad aim.”

"I knew her and her family when I was a lad, although she doesn't know me ...... the same with Robin's and I'll keep it that way. The less they all know about me the better. but I think she's been the most trustorthy source of information so far, including you."

”Robin Hood?” he asked, slightly in disbelief, then shook his head. ”Nah, you ain’t been back long, ain’t your fault. He robs from the rich, gives to the poor,” he said, mentally adding that Robin didn’t give to the poor members of his gang. ”Looks after the shire with a gang of outlaws. Rumour has it he’s got forty odd men. I don’t reckon on that meself, ‘cause someone woulda been caught by now, but he’s gotta have a fair few right? I think he’s from Locksley, but I ain’t sure – there’s so many rumours going round now you can’t tell which one’s the truth and which is a lie.”

'Yes .. its difficult to tell what part of people's stories are the truth and which ones are made up ... isn't that right ..... eh, Patrick," he smiled slyly once again."

Allan rolled his eyes. ”Back to that are we? Fer Chrissakes…” He just sighed and shook his head, refusing to deign it with an answer. Let the bugger be suspicious, he wasn’t getting anything more out of Allan in regards to his original plans.

"Here you go, you might as well look through the pouches here on the saddle to satisfy yourself. I may not know exactly who you are .... but I know what you are. So you might as well move along ... as I move along .... to some other sod who's likely to fall for your line than me. i'm sure that if i stay in the area long enough I'll have it mostly figured out. So, you might as well either move along now or take me on. Its obvious you are more interested in spinning your yarn than in dealing with me straight up .... so let's bring an end to this charade now." And Robert pulled his 2 broadswords from their sheaths in his back in one motion. Its decision time for you my friend .... and I do use the term loosely."

(OOC: Be my guest to do whatever Alan wants to ... he probably needs to devote his attention to Kate.)

[Allan A Dale]

”I didn’t ask for a lesson in your history, mate” Allan hissed, annoyed with the man and unnerved with his ability to seemingly be able to read his every thought. It was genuinely creepy. And then the bloke pretty much admits he’s fed up with Allan’s lies (they were really good lies, the thief was a little more than put out at being caught out so easily) and draws more weapons out from seemingly nowhere and threatens him!

”Oi!” Allan scowled, taking a few steps back to get out of the man’s reach. ”What happened to friends, eh?” Two swords? That was hardly fair, was it? Not that the conman was all for fair fighting – he just though better of former nobles and apprentices to Dan Scarlett. Surely his father and Dan Scarlett (the man who dared and failed to stand up to Vaysey, and it really had been a ballsy thing to do) would be ashamed?

Allan drew his own blade, a two handed weapon that would hopefully lend him an advantage in this fight. If he could unbalance his opponent, then he’d be fine. Of course, the other man had fought in the wars – who knew what he learnt over there? Robin was certainly a fine swordsman, as Much and Carter were, and if they were any indication of the calibre of fighters, then Allan had a challenge ahead of him. The thief raised his blade, and his eyebrows, daring Robert to advance.

His encounter with Guy, Will’s torture, being tricked by his own friends, being practically ignored by the outlaws he’d give his life for and had fallen in love with… He’d had a bad few weeks, and he’d been itching for a fight. He had a lot of pent up anger.

Allan would show him the savagery of Nottingham as it was now.

[Robert Williams]

”I didn’t ask for a lesson in your history, mate” Allan hissed,

“That, fine …. Patrick ….. perhaps we could move on to some other lessons then …… perhaps ones in truth-telling and swordplay, eh?” However, Roe figured now was not the time for speech-making. Leaving his swords balanced diagonally on his neck, he gave Patrick some space, so he would have the advantage of reach. And he began to circle him, hopefully to force Patrick to change position and not become comfortable with his position. Roe turned to present his opponent with the smallest possible target. Roe surmised that Patrick would look for Roe to make the first move and try to counter-stroke ….. maybe to take Roe off-balance. Roe’s plan was probably similar … keeping himself at a good distance …. And hopefully making Patrick make the first move …. Be over-extended … and leave him vulnerable to some quick strokes from Roe …. Perhaps leading to a quick end to their fight. Roe had no serious intention to seriously hurt Patrick, which in the end might be a serious disadvantage.

”Oi!” Allan scowled, taking a few steps back to get out of the man’s reach. ”What happened to friends, eh?” Two swords? That was hardly fair, was it? Not that the conman was all for fair fighting – he just though better of former nobles and apprentices to Dan Scarlett.

“Well ….. let’s say that my patience after a hard few days travel across England is a mite short. That’s not that I hold being an outlaw against you. But when you give me the lack of respect where you think I’m just a cut above the village idiot … well that’s hardly the thing that friendships are born out of. I did not survive for more than a decade in the wars by falling for such lines quite so easily, and you may find that I have some skill with sword. I will grant you though …. I am better with a bow. My advantage is that I can fight equally well or poorly with either hand..

Allan drew his own blade, a two handed weapon that would hopefully lend him an advantage in this fight. If he could unbalance his opponent, then he’d be fine. … The thief raised his blade, and his eyebrows, daring Robert to advance.

Roe would, however, not allow himself to the ill-advised invitation to strike first. They would circle each other, until one would see an opening, making their opponent vulnerable to a quick attack. Roe kept up his constant eye contact, keeping a smile on his face, hoping to un-nerve Patrick, which he figured that the outlaw often used to get opponents to underestimate hi, Roe had fought too many to underestimate anyone.

[Allan A Dale]

(OOC: Woo! Alsa sorta has her mojo back~!)

Allan wasn’t that stupid. No way was he making the first move – it was easier to defend than to attack to begin with, despite the potential element of surprise one had when attacking. Without directly looking at them, the conman kept a close eye on Robert’s feet, taking note of the patterns and looking for an odd step, one that might suggest he was about to press an advantage and attack. None were forthcoming, however. Apparently, he felt the same way Allan did about battle. Well, that was fine by him – he could keep up the dance a little longer, until he found something more useful to help him out in this fight, give Allan the advantage.

”Wasn’t exactly thinking of you as a village idiot, now,” Allan replied, hoping his smile would put Robert off a bit. ”You’re being a bit harsh there. And I ain’t so sure it’s a good idea to be telling me your weaknesses, now, is it?” he continued, hopefully distracting Robert and convincing him to make a mistake. Allan shifted back a step and kept pace with Robert, always watching every move in case he tried something tricky, blade held upright and firm. Perhaps Robert was a village idiot, if he was revealing his sort-of weakness, because no true fighter would do that, not really. He must have had too many blows to the head at the end of his time in the Holy Land, Allan thought. Poor bloke. Oh well, at least Allan might get something out of it. Unlike Robert, Allan’s best weapon was a sword, and he liked to think he was one of the best swordsmen in the shire. Robert knew the same tricks as Allan did, however, but Allan wasn’t easily unnerved.

He rolled his eyes briefly. ”We gonna be dancing around all day, then?” he taunted. ”I thought you said you were skilled. Shoulda been able to disarm me by now, then, eh? Or are you too afraid of finding out you aren’t as good as you should be, fella?” Robert might have no intention of seriously harming Allan, but in his current mood, Allan didn’t really care what the outcome was for Robert, so long as Allan himself remained alive and hopefully the victor.