Dear Diary,
Yesterday was a very weird day. Luke came back. Will came to Knighton, with Allan – I’ll explain about him later – Will got taken to the castle… or rather beaten to a pulp then taken to the castle. The Outlaw hid and plotted in my house, and left Allan here with me. Father nearly went to hit me, and I knocked out a guard. All in all, it was very hectic…
It all started in the morning, as most days do, with Lady Marian coming by and placing an order. Taking some clothing away with her, and leaving me with measurements for the rest. She had to scarper, Gisborne and The Sheriff appeared, so it wasn’t safe for her let alone me. Not long after I was sat watch Sarah and Rachel playing ‘Outlaws’ with the lads, when Little Luke Scarlett turned up. Clumsy as ever, and not really that little anymore! It was so strange to see him. After a year has past. Had my father known he probably would have gone ballistic, after all, Luke and Will did steal from him. I never cared for it though. It was two bags of flour, it made little difference. Nobody can afford it any more anyway. He was looking for Will. Obviously. Which coincidentally he happened to be sat with his outlaw friend, Allan A Dale, across the square. Allan injured and ‘incapable’ of moving. Yeah, right. He seemed pretty capable when he was fighting the guard later that night.
But that was when it all went down hill. The Sheriff and Gisborne were still there, and were getting close. So Will, bless his soul, distracted them, leaving me to drag Luke, and aid Allan back to my house. Along with Robin and Djaq. Marian had been tied up at the time, quite why I never found out. Story for another day I guess. But they came back, and watched the events unfold before us. It was all a little disturbing. I hated it. Seeing Luke how he was, was utterly heart breaking. I’d given anything not to have seen it. The look on his face he got when his mother died, the look on his face she assumed he got when his father died. It was all a little bit much.
So they planned, and plotted, and eventually decided on a plan of action. Oddly she had contributed, not sat quietly in the corner being her usual boring self. But I found myself oddly attracted to the situation, but I don’t envy them. Not at all. They do this nearly everyday. Once is enough for me.
They let not long after they made their plans. Sure they would probably recite them, and add more detail as they went back to camp. But time was slowly running out for Will, and for the day. So they had o move quickly.
In my grasp, they left one outlaw, Allan A Dale. I’d known him mere hours, but already felt safe with him there, even if his ankle rendered him useless. He was good company and a great laugh. When he had first introduced himself he’d flirted. And I’d done so back. I wasn’t about to leave it. He was good looking, a nice guy, I was going to retaliate. We then spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening messing around. Initially he was meant to be changing his clothing, and me making sure it fitted. It ended up in shameless flirting, outlaw lessons and a bit more flirting. Not that I minded. And I’m pretty sure he didn’t either.
He’d been getting changed, so I left him in the back room, alone. But he managed to fall over. Splayed on the floor he wasn’t half a sight for sore eyes. Topless and muscled. What more could a girl ask for? Apart from him not being an outlaw, and a few years younger perhaps. Oh and for him to be impressive by my father’s standards opposed to my own. All I ask for is a nice guy who’s going to treat me right. What does my father want? Money. Power. My father is an idiot.
Anyway, He was led on the floor, so I walked over and offered him a hand up again, what he had been asking for. But he pulled me down. It was awkward. I landed on him, hands on his chest, very firm, very nice, by the way. But he seemed unfazed by it. Obviously, he is older than me. He’s been around a bit as well, not that he admitted to it, but close enough. I’d stayed their. I sat up a bit sure. But I stayed across him. Stupid though it was, my dress wasn’t exactly the modest of things, and he was getting an eyeful. But by the look on his face, I don’t think he cared.
Then he decided he was going to teach me to be an outlaw. It was slightly disconcerting. I mean I’d known the outlaws for a day, I’d allowed them into my home. But at the same time at any moment if I was found out, by the law or my father, I would
be an outlaw. The thought hadn’t really crossed my mind. He cheated. When he’d taken the money from me, it had been easy. He was a pro. I’d never done it and he’d moved the purse. Hidden it. I guessed how he’d taken the purse, rooted about in his pocket, slightly worried him I think. But all the same, the arrowhead is still in my dress pocket. It may come in useless one day. As a stealing weapon, or as an excuse to see him, whichever comes first!
I vaguely recall going hysterical and a little hyper, before calming down and running away rather sharpish to get a torch. It had gotten dark with us noticing. Very odd that. Then it all went a little sour.
My family weren’t here. I could sense it. The mill was silent and Sarah and Rachel always had something to say. If not to each other to someone. The Square was empty, or near enough, and they weren’t there. Next thing I remember is making a fool out of myself in front of Allan. Crying, hugging, parents. Oh their crappy timing skills! Had they given it another five minutes, or maybe even just another one, who knows how it may have turned out instead.
Instead of my father threatening to hit me, he would have hit Allan. He very near did anyway. Bastard. It wasn’t the side of my family I had wanted him to see. I didn’t need anybody to know about this. I could deal with it. Now, I’m not so sure. If he found out Allan was an outlaw, and that I had spun lie after lie to get Allan out of trouble with him, I will be for it. And I’m fairly certain it would include bruises of the hurting kind, and perhaps a little blood. What can I say? The guys a bastard! This could swiftly lead on to my dream, but that comes later. So bear this in mind, and come back to it later if need be.
I apologised to Allan for my father. Not so oddly did he tell me not to apologise and he thanked me for stopping my father before he hit him, or me. Which is slightly odd I suppose. I made him up a bed, the blankets from the top of the cupboard, as per usual, he’d quipped about my height, I stared and put them down in the back room. He’d flirted some more. I flirted some more. And then I saw the guard coming across the green, and Allan had gone out to fight him. Alone. With an injured ankle. That man was an idiot I swear. He told me to stay. I didn’t. He told me to forget him. I wouldn’t. And I won’t.
Watching him fight was comical. The man was twice his size, and would have squished me like a bug if he had seen me coming. Well… plank of wood to the side of the head. I just hope he doesn’t remember my face. I really do. I’m a dead peasant if the Sheriff finds out. All the same, Allan’s still in one piece. Near enough. He didn’t let me check him over, but he was tired. And so was I.
Cue more flirting. And blushing… On my part anyway. He took my hands and took me to the door, clear indication of: Sleep now! Flirt later! But all the same, it was nice. He kissed one of them, and my entire insides jolted. Never a good sign. My father was sleep right there, and trying to convince myself that it was out of fear that my body reacted that way instead of it being out of attraction for the guy, I failed. More Flirting, more blushing, and finally sleep.
Though it wasn’t a great sleep either. I had that dream again. Only this time, there was one thing different. He wasn’t just laughing at me, he had tortured Allan first. And as he hit me, I woke up. Like usual. Always the same. I’m not looking forward to today. Not with Allan gone - I feel suddenly unsafe. A guest in our home always put lenience on my side, eh couldn’t do it if people knew about it. Which of course Allan did. But my father was too much of a idiot to realise it.
Oh no. I can here him. Better get back to this dress.
Kate
PS. I hope Will and Luke are alright. Same with Allan on that ankle, who knows what might happen!
