Arrow To The Heart (De Bron Saga) (23 page)

Rowena and Robin threw down their quarter staffs, laughing.  Breathing hard, they collapsed upon the ground.

"We will call this a draw," Robin decided. 

It wasn't as good as winning, but Rowena felt she had held her own.  As she rose to her feet to take a drink of ale, she smiled at Kendrick, whose eyes mirrored his admiration.

"You are certainly worthy to join with us," Robin was saying loudly.  "But first we must give you a name just as we have the others."  He thought a long moment.  "What say you to Arrow?"

"Arrow." Rowena said it again. "Arrow."

"The name will suit the one who so nearly bested me."  Robin Hood put his hands on his hips.  "Arrow."

"Arrow!  Arrow!  Arrow," chanted the assembled band of outlaws.

"So, now you will be known as Arrow,
lad
."  Kendrick put his hand upon hers and Rowena felt the old flames of desire fan through her.  If only she could conquer these feelings his nearness brought forth.   Alas, what did it matter?    Kendrick's attempt at seducing her was certainly out of the question now.  For as long as they were among Robin Hood's men, he couldn't and wouldn't.  Not unless he wanted to look strange to the others.  For that she should feel relief, and yet she didn't.   For the first time in her life she felt trapped by her lad's clothing.

Part Three:  Arrow

Sherwood Forest, 1194

Three cheers for the lad named Arrow,

Wise and brave and strong.

With our cups raised up,

We drink and sup,

And offer him this song.

  -   Allan-A-Dale

Chapter Twenty-One

Rowena knew if she lived to be a hundred she would never forget what it was like being one of Robin Hood's "men".  It meant enjoying the ultimate freedom combined with a camaraderie that put a whole new meaning to the word friend.  Indeed, living in the forest with a price upon one's head meant that each and every outlaw depended upon the other.  Just one mistake, one slip of the tongue or bit of foolishness could mean disaster, thus they were loyal to each other to the point of obsession.

That did not mean that everyone got along, however.  The outlaws were much like a group of siblings with Robin at the head as father.  It was up to him to settle disputes, keep the peace, enforce the rules of the band and generally govern.  All this he did with a fairness that Rowena greatly admire
d.  Because of him, life in the forest retreat usually went smoothly and followed a strict code.  Strict, that is, but not too strict.  Above all, the outlaws never seemed to forget their penchant for having a good time and poking fun at Prince John and his favorite henchman.  This evening, it seemed was to be no exception.  As Rowena watched a group of her friends arrive back at camp in their brown hoods, Lincoln green tunics and hose, she sensed that some mischief had been in the making.

"Little John, what have you been about?" she asked, tagging after him as he started a fire and readied the spit.  Whatever it had been she wished she had been included.  Sitting around camp all day or being forced to do chores was the part of living among the merrymen that she abhorred.

"About?"  He grinned like a boy, hefting up the hind quarters of a large dear, antlers and all.  "Just roasting the Prince's cow."

"Cow?"  For a moment she feared something had addled his wits, but as he winked at her merrily she knew he was making a pun.  "Of course.  Cow."  Whatever he wanted to call it, cooking over the fire it smelled delicious.  Soon the aroma of roasting venison filled the air of the forest.  Around the crackling fire crowded the group of hungry outlaws, Kendrick included.  Just like Rowena, he seemed to be thriving on forest life.  He was now nearly healed, his color had returned, most of his strength was revitalized, and above all his good humor was present at least half of the time.  From across the fire he grinned at her now, an irritating smile that seemed to remind her that she had a secret, one that he could hold over her head.

"Ale all around."  Little John's voice thundered over the other outlaws' chattering.  He raised his own tankard high in the air, motioning towards a man who stood at the back.  "Bring our guest forward."

"Guest?"  Rowena quickly noted the blindfold wr
apped around the man's face and recognized him the moment the cloth was removed.  It was a very angry Sheriff of Nottingham.  As he turned his beady eyes in her direction, Rowena flushed and turned away, hoping he would not recognize her as the Lady Rowena.

"What treachery is this?" he was asking, seemingly amazed to find himself surrounded by his worst foes.

"Why, noble Sheriff, you are to be our guest."  Robin Hood motioned towards her.  "Arrow, get our guest a cup of ale."

Rowena poured the brew from the wooden keg, all the while keeping her head down and her eyes to the ground, hoping her identit
y would go unnoticed.  It did, for the Sheriff was much too angry to notice anything except that he was being made a fool of.   Like a wolf he snarled and growled.

"Killing the Prince's deer.  You will all pay for this," he threatened.  "You are thieves, all of you."  He started towards Robin Hood, but Kendrick blocked his way.

"Nay, Sheriff, it is you who are the thief," Robin countered. "I merely am trying to do a good deed.  To take from those who rob and give back to those who in truth are the real owners."  Rob pushed the Sheriff down upon the ground to sit at a huge split log which acted as banquet table.  "But no more of talk, let us dine."

All of the outlaws likewise sat down, some on makeshift chairs, others on logs, a few on the ground.  For just a moment Kendrick's eyes met Rowena's and he beckoned for her to sit beside him.  She shook her head "no".  Since joining the outlaws she had carefully avoided him, determined to rid herself of the power his nearness had upon her.  Instea
d, she sat beside Little John. From behind a thick cropping of trees came the Sheriff's own cook, bringing with him a set of silver dishes and cups.  Placing the plates and cups before the Sheriff, the cook bowed mockingly.

"'Tis you.  Here!"  sputtered the Sheriff.  His eyes blazed anger.  "Rascals.  Rogues.  You take from me my servants and silver as well."

As the outlaws dined, the story was told that Robin Hood had gone to Nottingham dressed in the blouse and apron of a butcher, having also purchased the man's cart and horse. A merry disguise.

"He made his way to our dear Sheriff's own house to dine at a banquet, babbling like one simple of mind.   Robin talks about his herd and asks twenty pieces of gold for five hundred of the creatures," John whispered in Rowena's ear.  "Thinking our Rob to be a fool of a butcher, the Sheriff agrees and offers to go with him the next day."

"A herd of five hundred?"  Rowena didn't understand what John thought was so funny.

"Aye."  John laughed so hard that he was unable to speak for a moment.  "Not cows, you see.  But the Prince's own deer is the herd he was talking of."  Again he laughed.  “You can imagine the fury our Sheriff felt to find that instead of fleecing the sheep, he instead was fleeced by the "butcher" into having given twenty gold pieces for that which was not Rob's to sell."

"And serves him right too."  Rowena looked towards the Sheriff, who sat cross-legged upon the ground, his sharp teeth devouring the venison.  It was a proper jest to play upon him.  How she wished it had been her idea.

As they supped, John told her of his own mischief making, that of entering the employ of the Sheriff.  "I vowed to be the worst servant he had, thus I proceeded to eat the Sheriff's best bread and drink his best stock of ale and wine."  After jousting with the cook, who at first tried to protect the Sheriff's supplies, Little John had persuaded him to join Robin's band.  Stuffing the Sheriff's silver plates and cups into a sack, they had both taken off for the safety of
Sherwood Forest.

Little John's tale was interrupted by the sound of a horn signaling a merry bout of skill between the men of the band.  Rowena was quick to finish her slice of venison and down her cup of wine.  As a small target was set up, she readied her bow.  "Well, de Bron, will you enter too?  Or are you afraid of being beaten by a woman?"  she challenged in his ear.  "He who misses the target will get his come-uppance, or so I have heard, and be target for the outlaws jests."

"Oh, is that so."  While no one was looking he whacked her on the behind, laughing softly at her gasp of indignation.  "Well, I shall soon prove that it won't be me."

A wreath of evergreen trees was set far into the distance.  Each of the archers took turns shooting.  Rowena's aim was true, as was Kendrick's and Robin's, but there were those whose arrow was short of the mark and who had to face condemnation.  As the outlaws formed two lines, the outlaws who had failed to hit the bulls eye had to walk in between, suffering the humiliation of being spanked by paddles.  The Sheriff of Nottingham, having missed the mark as well, was among them.

"Well, de Bron, you were lucky this time," Rowena taunted.

"As were you," he responded, wishing he could take her over his knee and spank her soundly as she deserved.  Oh, how she had been teasing him of late, keeping just out of reach yet looking at him every chance she could.  Oh, she still cared, he thought, as he would prove were he to get her alone.  For just a moment their eyes met and held, communicating his inner thoughts.

"Never," Rowena retorted, reading his mind.  Thank God for the safety of the outlaws.  He wouldn't dare try anything.  Quickly she turned her back on him, but before she could get away they were both pushed forward by the surge of outlaws who had volunteered to accompany the Sheriff back to Nottingham.

"I swear by my patron saint, St. George, that I will n'er seek to cause ill to befall the outlaws in
Sherwood Forest," the Sheriff was saying as Robin held him at dagger point.  "But out of Sherwood 'twill be another matter," he shrieked as soon as Rob put the dagger away.  Blindfolded again, he was taken kicking and screaming from the hideaway.

Rowena felt a tap on her shoulder.  Expecting it to be Kendrick she whirled around.  "Get away from me
de Br-------Robin."

He recoiled. "Lad, I was but going to tell you that you shot very well."

"Oh."  She tried to make amends.  "As did you."  She couldn't help blurting.  "So when are you going to let me do more than just stay around camp?  I want adventure.  I want to help in getting the monies necessary to bring our king back to England.  I want....."

"Calm yourself."  Robin laid a hand on her arm.  "You chatter on like some female."  At her frown he laughed.  "You will get your chance."  He eyed her up and down.  "Perhaps now."

Reaching for her bow, which she always kept nearby, Rowena was enthusiastic.  "I'll do anything."

Robin grabbed her wrist.  "Nay, not the bow.  I have other things in mind."  He left and came back with a small bundle.  Rowena took the package from his hands, a look of puzzlement on her face.  Opening the bundle she found women's garments inside.  A flash of fear struck her.  Robin knew.

"What would you have me do with these?" she asked, her fingers grasping the fine cloth tightly.

"Wear them," Robin answered.

"No!"  She threw them on the ground defiantly.  "Damn de Bron!"  He had told on her.  Angrily she sought to find him in the crowd.  She would tear him to bits with her bare hands.  She would....

"De Bron hasn't anything to do with it."  Robin said, trying to calm her.   "I merely thought that you wanted to go with us."

She was careful in what she said next.  "I would, but not dressed in skirts.  I want to fight."

Robin gathered up the clothing.  "Then you refuse."

"I do!"

He walked a few feet away then paused.  You must learn to obey my orders, lad.  My loyal men never question  what I ask of them."

Lad.  He had said
lad
.  Rowena quickly recovered her poise.  "And I will.  I
will
."

"That's better."  Robin explained that they needed a decoy, a young woman dressed in finery to lure the Prince into a trap.  "You are slim and therefore of the right build to fit into these clothes," he added, thrusting them into her hands once again.  "Put them on."  He waited as if expecting he
r to dress right there in front of him.

"No...."  She couldn't take off her garments while he was watching.  More than her  modesty was at stake.  "I.....I......well.....I......"

It was Little John to the rescue.  "Me thinks our young lad is a bit shy.  He will soon learn."  Taking her by the arm, he led her to the bushes.  "Dress here if you must."

Rowena's hands t
rembled as she stripped off her tunic, leaving on only her hose.  The binder which flattened her breasts was still secure.  She longed to remove it if only for a moment and let her breasts free, but didn't dare.  Instead she slipped the kirtle over her slim body.  Tying the belt securely around her waist, she headed back towards the men.

"What in Heavens name?"  Kendrick was totally stunned as she walked by him. 

"Shhhhh."  Putting her finger to her lips, she silenced anything he might say.

"We're going to use Arrow as a decoy," Robin explained, "though we must do something to cover his hair.  That mop would give him away immediately."

"Mop?"  Self-consciously Rowena ran her fingers through her hair which was shorter now than it had been.   "Does it really look that bad?"?  The criticism stung.

"Aye," taunted one of the archers.  "If you ask me, no one would stop for this wench."

Seeing the hurt in Rowena's eyes, Kendrick quickly defended her.  "I would."

From the bottom of her heart she thanked him for that.  "Oh, you would?"  She affected a defiant stance.  "Well, little good it would do you."

"Here."  Robin reached inside a large pouch, pulling out a veil and wimple from among other confiscated goods.  "This will work the magic we need upon our "lady's" head.  He draped them over her hair, then stood back and looked at his handy work.  "'T is a fetching wench you will be now."

"Fetching,"  laughed Little John.

"Best show our lady how to act as one," shouted one of the archers.  "Arrow walks like a man.  He should walk like so."  The archer walked about, swinging his hips slightly in a graceful movement.

All the outlaws joined in.  "Oh, dear lady, let me kiss your hand."  Rowena promptly gave the man a shove that sent him sprawling as he reached out.  Hoots of laughter followed.

Robin  put up his hand to silence them.  "Leave the lad alone.   Don't make fun of him.  We have much to do and far to go.  We have to get started."

Rowena was relieved.  Being made sport of was annoying.  Worse yet, someone might accidentally stumble upon her secret if they thought ab
out it very long.  "Aye, we had best get started."  Before they did, however, they were interrupted by an out-of-breath archer.