Promises Promises [Tag Kate]

[Allan A Dale]

Allan had, once more, been bored, and after making his excuses to the gang (see – Much, who just refused to let up on his completely insane and inappropriate theory that Allan was still working for Guy), decided it was prime time to go see Kate again. They’d started meeting every few days, when they could, and to say Allan was looking forward to seeing her would be an understatement. Despite their occasional lapses into territories neither wanted to wander around (namely anything involving Kate’s dad), they got on really well and Allan was, dare he say it, starting to grow fond of her. The others still didn’t really know her, in as much they didn’t know the identity of the lady he kept visiting – he was fairly sure Much had let slip about his little euphemism, but it wasn’t like they did anything but talk – but he wasn’t entirely sure they would approve…

More because they thought his intentions were entirely dishonourable which, for once, they weren’t.

Well, not entirely, anyway.

Whistling a little bit as he wandered through the forest, he contemplated the idea of dragging her through the woods for their chat. It was a lot more private amongst the trees, meaning she didn’t have to get so paranoid about being seen with an outlaw, and Allan simply liked being underneath the trees. It was cooler there, protected… It was home. Plus if Kate really did finally fancy something else, he could definitely lead them to a few places…

Well, you couldn’t blame him for trying.

In all seriousness though, Allan simply enjoyed Kate’s company. She was funny, smart, easy on the eyes and very opinionated, which lead to some interesting discussions. There were a few topics he had yet to broach with her, but he was finding he valued her opinion greatly and her voice was starting to join the nagging collective in his head that had a go at him every time he did something wrong. Those voices annoyed, and worried, him sometimes, but he dealt fairly well.

Finally, Allan snuck round the back of Knighton, through the outskirts of the woods, and noticed the town was fairly quiet. Mentally cheering, grabbed a few stones he found laying around and snuck closer to the house, making sure to hide out of sight in case the wrong person came out. He stood up for a moment, taking careful aim, and chucked one of the stones at her door, the thunk of the pebble hitting wood indicating a triumphant hit. He followed it up with another one before ducking behind the wheel of a cart and waiting to see what happened.

Maybe, just maybe, this time he’d get lucky, like she promised.

[Kate Miller]

Kate hadn’t be doing a lot, couple of orders her mother had left out for her to do, but they were hardly the most complicated things she had ever done. Taking up a few hems, repairing a few seams. Nothing really challenging. Once she finished tacking the last one she was going to go ‘collect some water’. Though she’d take a bit longer than usual she was sure. Especially where Allan was involved. Tacking didn’t take much time and she was soon in the back room again putting it all away before her father could hunt her down for leaving out a mess. That’s when she heard the chunk of stone of wood. She frowned at the noise and made her way back into the may room. Much like her father. Oh crap!

Peter Miller was a very impatient man, so when two stones came flying at the door he went to investigate. Kate followed him through the front door and leant against the side of the building. Peter looked around and saw nothing. Kate on the other hand saw Allan go flying at speed into the cart opposite the house. That probably wasn’t the best of ideas. Her father flew around and glared at her. Immediately, Kate found herself looking at the floor, Don’t look at him, and don’t look at Allan. she kept telling herself. ”You got something to smile about?” Kate merely shook her head and stayed leaning against the outside of the house until she was sure he had disappeared into the Mill again. Once he had she pushed off the wall and jogged over to the cart.

”You’re safe,” she smiled as she leant on the side of the cart. She couldn’t help the wicked grin that spread. Though to be fair, had her father caught him, it would have been his own fault. ”Having a tumble in the hay?” she said laughing, she couldn’t help herself. Once he got close enough she’d have to hit him one for being so stupid, but she wasn’t in the mood to reach and she sure as hell wasn’t getting in the cart. Who knew what the guy would do. Especially if he was feeling lucky.

Who knows maybe today he would be lucky. If he played his cards right. Or they needed to cause another distraction for being near a Lord’s house. Either way maybe he would. She didn’t want to admit that given the choice she’d make it for him in an instant. She liked the guy. They cold talk about anything and everything, she trusted him despite his past of being a liar and a cheat. Despite his spying for Gisborne, but at the end of the day, she knew he hadn’t told him anything of any importance, overall he had been a rather crap spy. OR maybe that was his conscious decision, he didn’t want to spy, he just got paid to do it and money always seemed like a good idea to him. It did to everybody who had had to live without it in the past six years.

No she couldn’t fault him for that. It took a lot to think or anything she could fault him for. There wasn’t a whole lot she could think of.

[Allan A Dale]

Allan went to stand as the door opened, but when it came flying open he realised in an instant that he’d attracted the wrong attention, and his hiding place hadn’t really been to actually hide so much as make a pretence of hiding for Kate. And now he literally had a split second in which to find a new hiding place, else he might be getting himself and Kate into trouble.

Hence Allan’s flying into the hay-filled cart and getting a mouthful of the stuff for his effort. He lay still when he landed, hoping to not attract any attention from neighbours or the man he was hiding from, and after a few moments he allowed himself a sigh of relief. There wasn’t a great looming shadow over him asking what the hell he was doing in Knighton, so he figured he was safe. He could hear the man snapping, although he couldn’t hear exactly what he said, and the sound of the door slamming let him relax a little more. He must have gone back inside.

This thought was clarified as Kate appeared in front of him, leaning on the side of the cart and smiling, informing him that he was safe. Well, duh, else she wouldn’t be talking to him now, would she? He held back a snort as she commented on his situation and ran a hand through his hair, finding errant strands of hay lodged in between his locks. He propped his leg up, resting one hand on it, and leant his head on the other, looking quite relaxed.

”Seems like the time for it. Care to join me?” At least he was being polite about it before trying to drag her closer to him this time – it couldn’t be said that he always gave her any warning. Realising she wasn’t going to be getting into the cart any time soon (and dashing some rather lewd thoughts from his brain), he sat up, dusted himself off and hauled himself out of the cart, not bothering to go after the hay still stuck in his hair or brushing himself off any more. It would probably all fall off or out, anyway. He leant on the cart, facing Kate’s house so he could see if anyone decided to come back out and have another look around, and grinned.

”So how about that walk, eh?” he asked cheerily.

[Kate Miller]

Kate leant on the side of the cart, putting her chin in her hands. The dregs of her tied up hair falling around her face. The rest of her hair in a band falling down the centre of her back. ”If my father wasn’t in watching distance, sure,” she smiled that smile that seemed to put itself on her face whenever she was trying not to tempt herself into anything, and when she wasn’t about to let anything happen, even if she wanted it to. Resisting urges had been a big part of their relationship.

As he stood up out of the cart, she couldn’t help but laugh, taking a step towards him and reaching out her hand to the back of his head. She smirked, running her fingers through his hair slightly before pulling away with a piece of hay in her hand. ”A walk sounds good,” the piece of hay in her hand fell to the ground as she let it drop from her hand. ”Come on, let’s get out of here before he sees,” she shuffled her head into the direction of the house. She smiled shortly before heading down the path towards the well.

She walked a few paces ahead of him, if her father did see at least he’d think she was heading to the well. He could get suspicious about that later, right now seeing her and Allan together wouldn’t be the best of plans. She wasn’t going to think about that today that was the promise she made herself as she had walked away from him the day before.

She hadn’t really thought about a lot else, her mind had wondered easily. Then she’d berate herself for it. Sarah had called her on being distracted and she had merely brushed it off as being a ‘little out of sorts’. Not that she had believed her. Her sister was about the village that morning anyway, she was bound to have seen them. She’d just deal with her later.

”So how’ve you been?” small talk was always a good place to start, there were to be no heavy topics today. Just smiles, and airs and graces. Nothing about her father, or the Sheriff or the impending doom on them all.

[Allan A Dale]

Allan rolled his eyes and shrugged in defeat. You couldn’t win them all, he supposed. He was a little bit irritable – it would have been fun to get all the hay stuck in her hair, tickle her…

He lent forward a little to allow Kate easier access to whatever it was she was pulling out, and watched as she dropped the piece. There was probably more in there somewhere, he’d have to get it out later, else he’d just be giving Much more ammunition to taunt him with. He simply nodded as Kate started off, following her and wondering why she was walking ahead of him – great, now he seemed like a stalker, following his prey somewhere he could get her alone.

Okay, so yeah, he did want her alone. But not totally like that, although-

Yep, he was going to stop those thoughts right there.

He followed her anyway, whistling a tune and shoving his hands in his pockets as he walked, wondering if he was annoying Kate yet. Which was, after all, the aim of his out of tune whistling. A familiar tune, if she’d remember it. He sang the words in his head.

”So an arrow with a silver head, and shaft of silver white, who won the day should bear away for his own proper right. Tidings came to brave Robin Hood un the green-wood tree: ‘come prepare you then, my outlaw gang, we’ll go for the sport to see!’”

He couldn’t help but grin at that. It had been fun. They’d have to make up another one sometime soon. Or he would. Perhaps how Robin Hood met Little John, maybe add in something about a river while he was at it, to make the entire thing more interesting…

Allan took Kate’s attempt at small talk as an indication that he could now go and speak with her, so he jogged up to her side and slowed back down to her pace. ”Not bad, just the usual. Much is whining, Robin and Marian are acting like lovesick chickens, God knows what Will and Djaq are getting up to…” he shrugged. He’d talked to Kate so often now that she pretty much knew the gang as well as he did, even if she didn’t see them.

Kate seemed a little distracted, so he reached a hand out and put it on her shoulder. ”Hey, you alright?”

[Kate Miller]

As she walked up the dirt path towards the Well - their usual meeting point quite why he hadn’t stayed there today she would have to find out, that and give him a wallop for being such an idiot – she heard the insistence whistling of the outlaw behind her. Whatever he was trying to prove, how annoying he could be perhaps, she wasn’t about to give in. She recognised the tune, quite why or where from she couldn’t remember.

”Great” she thought to herself, frowning slightly, ”Now that’s going to bug me all day,” and until she remembered what it was he was sounding out with the air from his lungs she wouldn’t rest and that was what annoyed her. Not the sound, the fact she was unable to actually place it.

”Ahh, good old Will,” she chuckled and shook her head slightly. It would seem that despite how long she had known Will, the tables had turned on how much she had spoken to either outlaw. Regardless of how long she had know Will, Allan liked to talk, the carpenter did not. He was quiet and reserved and only really spoke when spoken to. Like a child should, only he wasn’t a child anymore and he still hadn’t grown out of the habit. (OOC: lol habit… anyway!)

She wasn’t really paying a lot of attention to what was being said, a small smile on her lips and nothing else, no signs of life as it were. She felt the weight of his hand on her shoulder, looking at it with a quizzical look gracing her face before looking back up at him. ”Hmm?” she sounded before stopping and blinking a few times shaking the distractive expression from her face. ”Me? Yeah, I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”

She had no reason to be sad, or upset. Her father had been in a good mood – as good the guy could get anyway – since he managed to gauge himself full of food at the fete. He hadn’t cared for the competition, or the dancing, he spent all his time drinking bad ale and eating all the food in his sight. His stomach still ‘full’ of that sustenance, as the food would last them a week at least before they needed to really eat again, he was content with himself and tended to ignore Kate and her sisters. He hadn’t even mentioned anything about her coming back worse for wear nor had he noticed the fact she had made a fool of herself in front of the village and most of the surrounding ones.

Maybe he had been to engrossed in himself to notice – that made a change.

Kate smiled at the outlaw, it wasn’t fake, nor was it wholly genuine, but if it got him off her case for how she was feeling it was all fine by her. All she wanted to do today was have a good time. Nothing was going to bring her down. Not if she could help it!

[Allan A Dale]

(OOC: *snorts over habit* X3;; )

Allan nearly snorted as Kate stopped for a moment, as if gathering herself, and told him everything was fine. He shrugged in response – there was always a reason for people not to be fine, and he was just wondering if she’d found one. He grinned at her mischeviously.

”You were being quiet, which you ain’t usually. Has anyone got such healthy lungs in all of Nottingham?” he said, debating the merits of tickling her to see just how loud she was, but deciding it could wait till they weren’t in Nottingham anymore. No point waking the neighbours and getting themselves into trouble, now, was there?

Anyway, he was pretending to be offended that she could have her mind anywhere but on him. He had an appearance to keep up, after all. Kate seemed to be extremely thoughtful today, so maybe the ticket was to distract her. He wouldn’t have guessed that she had been thinking about her dad, and if he knew how much she did mentally berate him, he’d be slightly worried. That much detest for a parent…Surely it couldn’t be healthy? He’d ask Djaq at some point, she was good with all that stuff.

He noticed they were approaching the well at a rapid pace, and changed his trajectory slightly so they’d go past it, rather than directly to it, and off into the woods.

”So,” he began again, deciding that distracting her seemed like a plan and a half. ”Do you want to know what I’ve got planned today, or do you wanna wait and find out?” he asked with a grin.

(Sorry little short...)

[Kate Miller]

Kate didn't know where being a rather loud person at times was a bad thing. Not outlaw material, but they had already covered that fact. She wouldn't make a good outlaw. For starters she didn't like dirt, or being dirty, and didn't expect she could cope with the copious amounts of mud she was be subject to on a secondly basis. If what he wanted was for her to be thinking about him and doing things with him then she'd happily do that. But if he even mentioned Nuns she was out of there. Like a shot she'd just go straight back to Knighton... well she wouldn't she'd raise an eyebrow and ask him if he was serious when he said he was she'd ignore him and carry on.

She unnoticeably followed his lead when he detoured slightly. Leading them in the direction of the forest rather than the well. Considering they were meant to be going on a walk she didn't question the turn. She raised her eyebrow turning her head to look up at him as they continued through the forest. "Do I want/i] to know what you've got planned today? Or am I better off finding out later?" she countered smiling back at him. With a grin like that on his face she was better off not trusting his judgement and nodding in agreement. She wouldn't win against him in this mood. Not that she was about to turn around and run, but she was a little worried about her well being. Who knew what the outlaw could plan.

Before answering his question she considered something else, "What mood are you in? How are you feeling?" she asked eyeing him slightly as she asked, crossing her arms across her chest. A mock frown appearing on her face, she was going to consider his answer very seriously. One 'wrong' word and she would know exactly what he was planning.

(Short too but I got t get ready for work!)

[Allan A Dale]

Allan scratched his head a little sheepishly. Well, on the one hand, he hadn’t really planned anything in particular – it was more a list of vauge hopes and occurrences that might happen, if they stumbled upon the right situation, but they were hopes that Kate might not be too enthralled by if she’d actually been able to see exactly how they ended up in his head. On the other hand, not planning had lead to much fun before and he thought that Kate liked his random, often bad ideas, so it depended on what the first thing coming out of his mouth was going to be.

”A swim?” he shrugged, smiling at Kate again as he remained level with her and they entered the thin layer of trees around the edge of Knighton, quashing a bush ruthlessly beneath his boot-clad feet. ”To be honest I ain’t really got anything planned, but I can think of a few things we could do…”

He let the suggestion hang in the air for a moment, before carrying on. ”We could go to Nottingham, if ya wanted, or maybe get Will to drag his sorry arse out of the camp and finally pay you a visit like you deserve.” He paused for a moment, thoughtful, and then shook his head. ”Although then I gotta explain why you’re with me in the first place, and I reckon Robin might shoot me if I brought ya back to camp with me.” He wondered for a moment if he’d told Kate that he hadn’t told the gang about his visits, or if she’d sussed it out, but either way – if she didn’t know by now, then she’d just learnt that fact. She was currently his (most recent) little secret, and boy was she a fun one. It was nice to have something personal kept from the rest of the gang, although he sometimes thought that Marian and Robin probably knew anyway.

He stopped for a moment, a little startled by the question. He raised an eyebrow as she crossed her arms, wondering what was going on in that pretty little head of hers. ”Me? I’m alright, got a bit of a stiff back this morning,” he replied, stretching his arms behind him to prove his point, and then relaxing them to continue speaking with a large grin on his face. He tipped his head to the side briefly as he shrugged. ”But I’m not too bad, thank you, my lady.” He paused again to bow, and looked up while remaining bent. ”But we have a physician, so I’ll let her deal with that, eh?”

[Kate Miller]

Kate raised an eyebrow, ”A swim?” she asked looking quickly over at the river as she started to feel the crunch of the bush beneath her feet. Her shoes weren’t so built for this as his were. She was meant to be at home being quaint and feminine. Not traipsing through forests with outlaws. Not that anybody would know that. She doubted even the rest of the gang knew much about there little jaunts and chats. Which he had just 100% confirmed when mainly talking to himself about what they would be doing.

”And you’d might just have to explain to Will quite why you’re with his childhood friend. And I’d have to be oh so careful what I say just incase I say the wrong thing.” she tried to keep the expression on her face as serious as possible, but she failed at any attempt she made, a broad smile covering her features in a matter of seconds. ”And he doesn’t owe me anything. Last time he was in the village he got himself captured by Gisborne, I can understand why he’s been a little scarce recently.”

”Me? I’m alright, got a bit of a stiff back this morning,”[/i]

Well at least he hadn’t replied that he was feeling ‘lucky’. Then most things that required close quarters would be out of bounds. As he stretched out his arms behind him she turned her head and saw the movement out of the corner of her eye.

”You know, you guys would get a lot better sleep if you just piled up a load of material under you. I mean, I don’t know what you sleep on or anything, but you always complain of an achy back, so I’m guessing it can’t be that well padded.” Kate swung her arms by her sides as she stepped over roots and spiked bushes and in a vain attempt to steady herself as she leapt slightly. It was alright for him, he probably knew this route like the back of his hand and he wasn’t doing this in a loose dress and unsuitable shoes.

She frowned slightly as she made her way over one spiky plant only to find herself stepping in another, a small yelp of pain escaping her lips before she straightened herself up again and moving away from the foliage. A dirt path was very much welcome.

[Allan A Dale]

Allan shrugged again. He liked swimming, sort of – more the act of being in water, occasionally, to think about things or challenge himself than to actually swim – but he’d figured Kate would probably like something like that. Then again, would she actually be able to swim or anything? Despite his near constant visits, he didn’t really know that much about her. And then there was the entire she’d be wet and-

Oh, uh, oops?

Kate looked a bit uncomfortable. Maybe she’d start wearing trousers like Marian did, or get a sturdy pair of boots – surely they’d be better for everyday anyway, much more durable and whatnot? Really, women were so impractical at times…

Allan nodded as Kate mocked him about the entire problem with Will. He wondered if Kate had told Luke, or if the boy even knew – he was sure he wouldn’t approve of it either. Of course, Luke’s disapproval wouldn’t bother him all that much, but… Well, it was more likely to get back to Will that way and then it’d be a whole other kettle of fish… Because Will would be more likely to kill him. And Allan was rather happy being alive, thanks very much.

Will had been a little more than a little scarce. He’d been down right bloody invisible. Allan saw him around, sure, but couldn’t get him to talk. Maybe he should drop the bomb about Kate, just to get a conversation going…

Allan nodded – he used his cloak as a pillow, most of the time, but more often than not they slept on bracken and heather or one of the quasi-beds made by Will. There wasn’t enough room in the camp for beds for everyone, but they did their best and Allan didn’t really mind sleeping on the floor. ”It’s just ‘cause I got used to not sleeping on the floor,” he replied, rubbing his arm briefly from nerves at the memories. He shook them from his mind. Nope, focusing on happy things.

The thief rolled his eyes a little bit as Kate yelped in pain. Yet more proof that her attire was a little bit less than desirable. He didn’t really want to go near the more well-trodden paths because it increased the chances of meeting someone they didn’t want to, but on the other hand he didn’t want Kate to go home injured either. Then her dad would have a real field day. Sighing as if the world was against him (which, to be fair, it often seemed to be), the shorter-than-average outlaw pulled Kate to a stop, put one arm round her shoulders and the other behind her knees and swooped her off her feet with barely a wasted breath.

Damn, she was light…

He grinned at her jovially. This was so not going to be doing his back any good, but he’d get over it soon enough. They were far enough away from a decent path that it was better for him to do this for her sake, anyway. ”So, where to my lady? Not having you moaning and groaning ‘cause you got yer shoes a little dirty, now.”

[Kate Miller]

Kate could swim. She’d grown up with a group of boys from the next village who decided that the stream was a great place to spend the summer afternoons. That and Locksley pond. So she had her fair share of swimming in her life. But she wasn’t about to turn round and go swimming in a dress and at the age of 18, returning home soaking wet probably wasn’t a good idea.

Kate hadn’t been foolish enough to tell Luke, he’d lock her up himself. And throw away the key .But whether or not he had seen the outlaw hanging around, or seen her leave with him, she had no idea. He hadn’t made it known if he did know. Luke wasn’t an idiot. He wasn’t about to see Allan hanging around in the village on a day that wasn’t Tuesday and merely think he was there for the villagers. He knew Allan. And he knew Kate.

Got used to sleeping on a bed when he was at the castle. It made sense. It was alright for some. If she could be unused to sleeping on the most uncomfortable bed in Nottingham, then she’d have to be living in a different time. It couldn’t be now.

Kate wasn’t quite sure where to look when he stopped her. She looked at him questioningly, and then when his arm was round her shoulders she looked at his hand, confusion painted on her face. Then with his final movement of lifting her up she squealed slightly. Unsure with what to do with her own hands in the situation she put one around his shoulder to help herself balance and lessen the chance of him dropping her, the other she left on her stomach.

She frowned, she wasn’t that dainty, and her shoes were already dirty. ”Do I have a choice?” he seemed to be carrying her with great ease. No problem with his back, and she knew she wasn’t heavy, but she still wasn’t the lightest load in the world. She tried not to swing her legs too much, she knew that would bare the weight down more, not that she had been carried much before.

”I’m just not dressed for the occasion, okay?” she muttered, pulling at a loose thread she found on the hem of her dress between the top and skirt. She frowned, it hadn’t been there that morning. Pulling on it would only make it worse so she would have to try her best to not fiddle with it. Like she would normally when nervous.

[Allan A Dale]

Allan laughed as Kate squealed. She was a real weird one and no mistake. He certainly wasn’t adverse to her sticking her arm round his shoulder and welcomed the further contact (and it was not because it meant he got a better view of her cleavage, no sir, and he’d deny the accusation if anyone ever asked).

”’Course you have a choice!” he declared, taking a few steps forward and then stopping as she replied. He looked at her, and then around at the forest to gesture the expanse they had to explore. ”I mean, I don’t wanna drag you off into something you don’t wanna do, right? Besides, if I pick we’ll probably run into trouble and then where’d we be?” He grinned. ”Locked up in a cell awaiting rescue.” He paused for a moment, looking up at the canopy in thought, his smile increasing. When you stopped for a moment, looked at the surroundings, the forest really was amazing. The trees were thriving, fighting against the inhabitants who sought to tame its wild ways, and the colours were so alive. He could still hear the stream nearby, along with a few birds whistling around the tops of the trees. He could feel the soft earth beneath his feet, a few pebbles here and there, appearing from God only knew where. No sound of other people for miles, even though they’d just left Knighton – the walls of trees blocking out any noise from the sleepy village. ”Reckon that could be good fun, actually. What do you think?” He chuckled to let her know he was just joking, and started walking again.

Kate was fiddling with a thread, and he struggled not to laugh again. She looked young when she did that, and it made Allan feel like a dirty old man. Not that such a thing had stopped him before, but still. ”I think you look great,” he said, eyeing her clothes and unashamedly staring at her stomach, or rather the hand doing the fiddling. She stopped and he returned his gaze to her face. ”Not like you asked to be dragged in here after all.”

[Kate Miller]

Kate frowned as Allan laughed it her. It wasn't funny. Wouldn't he have had a bit of a shriek if somebody had just picked him up without his prior knowledge? Probably! She raised her eyebrow slightly as well, his grin was far too mischievous and she could be certain his intentions were one hundred percent pure.

"Oh, yes please. Let's get locked up in the cells and get ourselves hung! Sounds like some twisted game. Robin will always come and rescue you. You're part of his crew. And obviously you'd just couldn't refuse to take me with you!" She smiled as she finished. Letting out a small chuckle her shoulders shaking as she did so. Probably not doing anything for the grip he had on her. But then she wasn't really thinking about that. She contemplated the idea of being stuck in the cell of the Castle. Made her think of her family's reaction. Her father would just be bad tempered and normal. Her mother, she didn't know, probably wouldn't realise she was missing until her work load increased. Sarah and Rachel, they'd be worried, need to know where she was.

"Thanks," she laughed slightly looking up at the canopy above them, the thread still in her fingers being tugged and played with. Once she'd stopped she looked at him, and him her, and how she wished he'd watch where he was going. If he fell now, he'd land on her. It would make a change really, him being the one doing the landing opposed to her. Seemed to be somewhat of a tradition. And it wasn't even like she fell all three times, he'd pull her.

"I gathered a walk would involve, you know, paths. Otherwise I would have worn my other shoes." She said sarcastically, her other shoes would be barefoot. She;'d love a pair of boots, it would be more useful when she went to actually get water from the well, less chance of slipping. But alas she didn't. Her father got the boots in the family. And her feet were a lot smaller than his.

[Allan A Dale]

Allan was slightly uncomfortable about that – she sounded so sure about herself, about Robin, but he didn’t know if it was entirely true. He’d spent no time at all with the man since their return to England and had no clue how he felt about him now. They’d not talked, they’d not even really seen each other except the occasional view of one or the other skulking off to who knew where every other day. For all he knew, Robin was just counting the days till he could say goodbye to the thief and never see him again.

Gee, wasn’t that a cheery thought?

There was no real chance of Allan falling over – he was, for the most part, very sure footed – unless they came across one of Will’s traps, in which case there might be a repeat scenario of the night they first met. As it was, Allan wasn’t fond of that idea himself, so they were probably fairly safe – he’d be avoiding any areas like that if he could help it.

He laughed again as Kate quipped, and shrugged, jostling her a fair bit. ”Well, it’s time we found a proper path then!” He wasn’t fond of this idea, really – the only decent paths would be the main roads, and they were patrolled by various groups – the Sheriff sent pairs up and down the roads at times, Robin’s gang of course monitored them as closely as possible, and then there were other groups of outlaws that he didn’t really want to meet up with. He supposed he could probably defend himself quite well, if it came down to it, but he wasn’t confident in his ability to defend an unarmed woman as well. The last person he’d had to defend had actually been Annie, and he’d had help. It wasn’t like Kate was defenceless or anything, it was just… Well, she was unarmed.

Hopefully it wouldn’t come down to that.

As they reached the run down path, he dropped Kate lightly, holding her to make sure she had her balance before letting go completely. He gestured to the expanse before them, easy smile on his face once more. ”Pick a direction, m’lady, any direction.” He pointed one way, and then the other. ”And by that I mean north or south.”