Hey Moon Please Forget To Fall Down {open}

[Lily Waters]

The setting sun cast a warm glow on Locksley square, though the wind still bit, even though her cloak. She wrapped it tighter round her small frame as she made her way across the square. She was on her way back from an order. An old friend had relatives in Locksley, and so Pa had promised them some bread. It was business if nothing else, but Pa liked to have friends too.

They'd kept her there all day, telling her of stories from the good old days when Edward was Sheriff. Lily couldn't get a word in edgeways, but she hadn't minded. It was nice to see the nostalgic look on their faces and to just listen. Vaysey had only been Sheriff for a few years, but it felt like a lifetime and Lily had trouble remembering what it was like before.

It suddenly got darker as a large rain cloud covered the last of the dying sun. Lily groaned as the rain began to fall on her head. She would catch her death if she wasn't careful. She couldn't make it all the way back to Merton in this weather. Standing in the middle of the square, she looked around, trying to find any kind of shelter. She didn't really want to barge in on anyone - people weren't as friendly to strangers anymore, in case they were associated with Robin Hood or something.

There was always the people she'd visited today, but they were the other side of the village. It was her only option. So turning back the way she came, she made her way back to the house she'd spent the day at. The land squelched beneath her feet, making her slip and slide. If she wasn't careful, she'd end up on her bum or face first in the mud. Both equally embarressing, even when there was no one out.

Though she was certain she could hear feet squelching their way through the mud. But it may have just been her own. She decided to have a look round, but the action made her lose her footing. She never did see if there was someone else, as she ended up on the floor before she could see anything. Unsure of what to realy do with herself, she just sat there in the mud, trying not to cry. She was cold, wet and now horrifically muddy.

[Joshua Rayne]

Locksley was not the best village to pick pockets in, but Josh had spent the day trying his luck here anyway. Bumping into people repeatedly had made his shoulder a bit achy but all in all the day had been a success in the sense that he hadn't been caught. As for his take, it was much less that he would have liked, with the way things were people only ever had a few coins on them anyway. Be it because they were more cautious because times were tight or because that was all they had.

The thin material of Josh's shirt did little to shield him from the wind and he hunched his shoulders to try and keep out the chill. He kept a watchful on the sky, aware that it was probably going to rain and just hoping that it held out at least until he reached the partial shelter of the forest. Of course he should have known that with luck like his that it would start raining while he was in the middle of the square. Josh hated the rain, it made the rest of the Greensleeves irritable too because there was little they could do to avoid it and it made the wood all wet so they couldn't even light a fire.

The water quickly turned the dry dirt of the square into thick mud that seeped into the worn soles of his boots and made his feet uncomfortably damp. He spotted another girl making her way across Locksley and couldn't help feeling a twinge of bitter annoyance that she'd probably have escaped to a nice warm house in a matter of minutes. The girl must have heard him splashing his way across the muddy ground because she turned to look and next second she was slipping.

Josh felt a little bad as he watched her fall. It wasn't her fault he was an outlaw and had nowhere to go. She certainly didn't deserve to get all soaked and muddy. With a small sigh he adjusted his course to head over to her and help her up. It was the least he could do, it didn't exactly help to put him in a better mood about staying out in the rain for longer though. "Are you alright?" He asked when he was close enough. "That looked like quite a fall."

[Lily Waters]

Turns out someone else had been on the square, but she didn't care for that second in time. Right now, all she wanted was to be eaten by the mud in which she sat. It was bad enough falling when there was no one around to see, but with someone there! Things couldn't get worse. She made no attempt to get back up, she'd only fall again. Her Pa had always said she was a clumsy little oik, always walking into the edge of the counter and knocking things over.

Lily tugged at one of the soaked ribbons on her dress as the rain seemed to fall harder. Her cloak had done little to keep her dry. Her hair stuck to her face, her clothes felt heavy and the vast amount of water she now carried was making her shiver. A voice from across the square made her look up from the coloured ribbon. It sounded almost concerned, she'd been expecting laughter. She could have been hearing things wrong though, the rain was drowning out quite a lot of sound which was already muffled by her hood and hair.

Turning, she saw a figure coming towards her. "Pardon?" She asked, timidly. She had to be sure that what she thought she was hearing was correct. When he was close enough, she looked up at him, the rain falling on her face. She had to squint to stop it going in her eyes. The newcomer looked quite tall from the ground, but it could well have been tricks of the light and the fact she was looking up from the floor. She bet she was looking rather small down there.

[Joshua Rayne]

She really looked rather miserable and pathetic, with water plastering her hair to her face and obviously soaking her clothes. Josh dreaded to think what the back of her dress would be like now that it had been thoroughly rubbed in the mud. He reached her and stood with his back to the wind so that the rain wasn't getting in his face and he was at least sheltering her from the worst of the large droplets that were beating consistently down.

"I asked if you were alright." He repeated with a small smile. He peered down at her as she squinted upwards and made no attempt to stand. If he was sitting in the mud in the middle of a rainy square he would have made every effort to move. Then again he'd probably have fallen over again and got even more muddy so maybe she was just saving herself some trouble. Either way it was a bit odd.

"It can't be very comfortable down there, aren't you going to get up?" He asked amiably and held out a hand for her to take. She'd looked at him a little warily when he spoke before and she'd seemed kind of nervous when she turned round to try and see him so he tried to seem his most trustworthy. Although in all honesty she probably should be afraid, at least for her purse, but he wasn't in the habit of attacking girls though. That was more Gavin's area of expertise. "I don't bite, honest."

[Lily Waters]

Lily was greatful that this newcomer was blocking most of the rain, though she could hardly got wetter even if she was dropped in the sea. She tried to smile back at him, though it came out more as a grimace. It was hard to smile when one was in Lily's position. "Not really. I'm cold, wet and muddy." She admitted miserably. Talking was a bad idea, her voice was wobbling and could what pushed her over the edge to make her cry. Saying that she was cold, wet and muddy only reminded her that she was in fact cold, wet and muddy.

"It can't be very comfortable down there, aren't you going to get up?" She looked away, a little embarressed. She couldn't exactly say that she would only fall over again, being the ungainly girl she was. She also had to consider this newcomer. Yes there were Hood's men in the forest who would help a useless girl sat in the mud; but then there were the others. The sort who'd lead her into a false sense of security only to knock them back worse than before. Something about his tone made her want to trust him, but her Pa was constantly telling her that she shouldn't be so trusting.

But then again, the woman he'd loved had run off, so he had every reason to be bitter about people. Lily tried to be optimisitic, but sometimes it was hard. "I don't bite, honest." This decided it for Lily. She was going to trust him, for now anyway. She accepted his outstretched hand and hauled herself up, without falling over. "Thank you." She said as brightly as she could muster, which wasn't very bright.

[Joshua Rayne]

Joshua looked at her a little nervously as her voice trembled, she wasn't going to cry was she? He'd never been very good at comforting crying women. Well that wasn't entirely true, he'd been ok at it with his mother and later his wife, but since living in the forest with all the lads he was out of practice. Of course there was Gina, but she'd probably kick you in the groin just for catching her shedding a tear, let alone trying to comfort her.

"It's only going to get colder, wetter and more muddy out here I'm afraid." He said truthfully, glancing up at the sky for a brief moment to take in the dark clouds overhead. She seemed to be judging him, trying to decide if he was trustworthy. Josh wondered what she would do if she decided he wasn't, maybe scream and bring all the guards in Locksley down on him. Suddenly it didn't seem like it had been such a good idea to go over and help her, he should have made for the trees when he had the chance.

"It was nothing." He shrugged modestly when she finally took his hand and pulled herself to her feet. The mud squelched hungrily as she pulled herself free and it was all Josh could do not to fall over, when he'd offered he hadn't expected her to practically try and pull him down with her. Now that she was standing Josh realised that they were near enough the same height, which was a bitter reminder that he was a bit on the short side. "Do you have somewhere to go?" He asked, glancing around the square, any building would do, not that he expected to be invited in.

[Lily Waters]

Lily was proud that she'd managed to keep her tears at bay. Normally they fell on their own accord when she was distressed, a trait her Pa tells her she shares - shared - with her Ma. It was annoying to say the least; well sometimes it was. When she was onher own it was fine, there was no one to shower her with false pity or laugh at her or something. In all respects, Lily was an insecure girl. The older women of Merton gossiped in regards to this, blaming her Ma's sudden disappearance. Lily liked to blame her too. But she wasn't too fond of the women gossiping about her.

She too noticed that she stood at the same height as this young man, but thought naught of it. He'd helped her out of the mud, without managing to fall in with her. For that, she wa greatful. She did not want a second trip into the squelchy, cold mud. She was never going to be clean ever again! Now she really would have to wear her Ma's dresses, which would all be too big for her. She must go see Kate at some point. That was her thing to do tomorrow, but she doubted whether she'd even see Merton tomorrow, let alone Knighton.

"Well, I live in Merton. I was only here visiting." She bit her tongue, thinking it would be unwise to mention that she'd also been here on business. She did not want to finally get home to find that she'd been there and back with a side trip into the mud for nothing. The young man before didn't look like a theif, but you never could tell these days. Everyone in Merton knew of the story about the theif who'd hurt Lady Daine at the Silver Arrow Contest. You could never be too careful these days, something the Lady of Merton obviously hadn't had in mind that day.

[Joshua Rayne]

"It'll be tough getting home in this weather." He pointed out, a rather obvious comment, but at least it was truthful which was more than could be said for most of the people he associated with at the moment. "I'm only visiting Locksley myself." He wondered if she was still too wary of him to find a place to wait out the storm together. It would certainly be more enjoyable loitering at the forest's edge or in a barn if he had somebody to talk to.

It was really beginning to rain now, the kind that seemed to fall in sheets rather than seperate droplets and that the wind always managed to blow in your face whatever direction you faced. If they didn't get under shelter soon they were both going to catch a chill. Josh could feel the water soaking through the rather flimsy material of his shirt and sticking it to his back. He grimaced and folded his arms to try and preserve as much heat as possible which just about hid the shiver that passed over him.

Josh squinted at her, rivulets of water running down his face and getting in his eyes even with his hat on. He took a step closer to the girl so he could see her better, hoping that the approach didn't maker her nervous and put her on her guard again. He wasn't going to attack her, it was just hard to talk when dark clouds and lashings of rain made it difficult to see much more than a couple of feet ahead. Perhaps he ought to do something chivalrous to put her at ease. Josh plucked the hat from his head and held it out to her. "Here," He said, ducking his head as his hair began to get wet. "It'll keep the rain off, at least until we part ways, then I want it back." He added with a small smile, it was a good hat and the only one he had right now, he would not part with it willingly.

[Lily Waters]

Lily fought the urge to say, "Yeah, well duh!" to the man before her. That was her exact gripe with the rain. It was stopping her getting home to the warm, to the welcoming smell of cooking bread and to her Pa. She wanted nothing more than to be at home, safe and warm with him right now. But here she was, in the rain, far from being warm - at least. Safe? That was anyone's guess and all down to how this guy acted.

He did step forward, which initially put Lily on her guard. But she relaxed. What could this man do to her? He'd been naught but friendly to her so far. And besides, if he did try anything she'd know it was him. She couldn't order a man hunt for him, but she would be able to point him out to her Pa if she ever saw him again. And he'd certainly teach him not to harm his daughter. Nevertheless, Lily had no reason to distrust this man, and neither was she going to. This immediate trust was going to end up killing her one of these days, but she felt certain that today was not that day.

The beat came down harder. She'd been wrong before. She could get wetter, because she just did. She now felt drenched to the bone. Never mind never being clean again; Lily was never going to be dry ever again - ever! "Here." It took Lily a moment to comprehend what it was he was holding out to her. In the faded light it just looked like a blob, but she quickly realised that he was suddenly lacking a hat. Extending a hand, she found a soaked hat being extended out to her, like she'd suspected. "Thanks."

It wouldn't keep her dry, but it would certainly keep the rain out of her eyes. "I'm Lily." She introduced as she put the hat on her drenched curls. It was a little uncomfortable to begin with, putting something wet onto her already wet head, but she didn't let it show. It was another ack of kindness this stranger had showed, it would have been rude to not appriciate this kind gesture. "I think we should find some shelter." She called out, having to raise her voice to be heard over the driving rain.

[Joshua Rayne]

The girl seemed to still be on edge, or at least still debating internally whether he could be trusted. Josh didn't blame her, it was probably the weather; it wasn't often you met trustable characters on dark and stormy nights like these. Okay so it wasn't exactly night yet, it was still early evening, but it was certainly dark enough to be considered night. He beamed at her as she thanked him for the hat and plonked it on her head, then he rubbed a hand over the already sopping wet strands of his own hair, making them stick up terribly.

"Jo-" Josh cut himself off mid introduction and frowned. Now it was his turn to be cautious, sure there probably wasn't much this girl would or could do with just a name. It wasn't like he was a famous and well known outlaw either, not like Robin Hood and his men. However, there was still the chance that she would have heard of him and Josh didn't really want to have her running screaming for the hills. He would have to chase after her, which wouldn't be fun, with all the mud and the rain it was just an accident waiting to happen.

Besides, when he got back to camp and told the Greensleeves Gavin would probably suggest he should have killed her so that nobody knew he was still in Nottingham. Sometimes Josh thought Gavin suggested killing or robbing people as the answer to everything. He didn't want to have to hunt anybody down and kill them, he just wasn't the sort to do that kind of thing. Lily seemed nice, sure he'd pick her pockets if he got the chance, but he wouldn't kill her.

"John." He said finally, with a small and probably unconvincing smile, it grew as she suggested they find somewhere to get out of the rain. He nodded vigorously, blinking to try and get a little of the water out of his eyes. "Sure, that sounds like a great idea." Josh enthused and grabbed her wrist to pull her off in the direction of the edge of the square. He wasn't really sure where they were heading, but anywhere would be better than out in the centre of Locksley, facing the elements unprotected.

[Lily Waters]

To try and show this young man that she trusted him, Lily smiled - almost laughing - at his disshevelled hair. It was fair amusing, but her probably looked worse. At least now it was hidden under a hat. Well, some of it was anyway; the worst bits were probably exploding out, all knotted, soggy and untangleable. She was never going to get those ribbons out of her hair now.

The smile had to fade to a frown when John corrected his own name. Some of that distrust surfaced again, but Lily swallowed it. Who's to say that he didn't trust her and wanted to hide his identity from her. It was a possibility. No one trusted a soul in Nottinghamshire nowadays. Which was fair enough, just one word to the wrong person could get you a one way ticket to the gallows. Why should he trust her?

"Do you know Locksley at all? 'Cos I don't." She only knew where to go today from the instructions her Pa had given her. And even then she had to get someone to explain them to her in 'Human English'. Lily had no sense of direction, she could get lost going in a straight line. Which she did do today. Another reason why she was so late going back to Merton, she'd spent half the day trying to find Locksley, let alone the house she was supposed to visit. "Maybe there's a barn near by?"

[Joshua Rayne]

"I don't either." He admitted, slightly distracted as he squinted through the dark and rain trying to catch a glimpse of the buildings he knew couldn't be more than a few dozen feet away. Water that had soaked into his hair was running down his forehead and into his eyes making it practically impossible to see anything. He rubbed at his face with his free hand, frustratedly trying to wipe the moisture away and wishing that he hadn't had a sudden attack of chivalrous behaviour and lent Lily his hat. What had he been thinking? It wasn't like he owed this girl anything. Maybe it was the way she reminded him a little of Joy, but that was probably just wishful thinking on his part.

"I think I saw a barn on my way into the village though. It was over here somewhere." Josh didn't mention that he'd spotted the building when he was casing Locksley for potential places to hide his stash while he was out picking the pockets of the villagers. (It wouldn't do to have his takings stolen by some eager fingered peasant child, he'd learnt from experience that the teasing from Gavin alone was enough to make him want to avoid that outcome.) He also failed to mention that what he was calling a barn was actually more of a shed and it was a rather dilapidated shed at that. The thatch was badly in need of repair, but it would still provide enough shelter to wait out the storm.

Their progress was slow across the mud bath that had once been Locksley square. Josh was being more cautious than was probably really necessary, he was terrified that he might lose his footing and pull Lily down with him. She'd already had one experience with the muddy ground and he was pretty sure she didn't want to repeat it. Eventually the wall of a house loomed up rather suddenly into view and he stopped in his tracks to get his bearings. "We're almost there." He told her, he still hadn't let go of her wrist, even though dragging her along probably wasn't really needed at this point, it wasn't like she was going to stop following and decide to stay out in the rain.

[Lily Waters]

Great... Lily moaned silently. Two chumps lost in Locksley. Things couldn't get worse though, it was already raining. It was coming down hard too, the summer rain which fell in big droplets - dubbed 'Big Rain' by a seven year old Lily. It was a good name, but she couldn't think of that right now. John was having difficulty seeing and he was leading the way. She felt guilty for wearing his hat. She was weighing up whether it's be considered rude to offer it back when John started to talk of a barn.

Lily nodded and "mmmhmm"ed - he wouldn't see the nod in this weather. The big rain made the night much darker than it already was, covering them like a blanket. "I might know the one you mean." She'd seen a fair few barns on her way into Locksley (and little outhouses-shed-like-things which he could have meant.)

The mud squelched more than ever and Lily subconsciously slowed her pace - she didn't want another mud bath anytime soon. Though, she'd heard that some nobles bathed in mud for fun! the Baker's girl prayed that her Lady didn't, that was just weird. However, Lily got the impression that Merton would do it if the Sheriff did - but she didn't care for him. Merton was disliked by all his people and Lily was no exception.

Lily's mood lifted tremendously when John uttered, "We're almost there." She felt his pace pick up but didn't complain - they were close to shelter! Things were looking up for them on this horrific night. Then she looked at his 'barn'. The rotten shed looked like it'd let more rain in than keep out. "Yay." She said, a tad dryly. But it was better than nothing - something that made her smile. She took her wrist back only to grab John's and began to run. "C'mon, let's get out of the rain!"