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Post by Abigail Merton on Jun 30, 2009 5:39:18 GMT 1
"Surely you jest! I, of course, am honored that you would say such a thing of me. But we have known each other only part of a morning and afternoon. Of course I am taken with you, but I .... don't see how you could even think to marry so far below your class. Our worlds are so different. You would never want life in the Forest would you. That would mean that you would have to wait until the King returned and made everything right. I could never ask you to make any of those sacrifices. I'm afraid I would care for your well-being too much."
Abigail immediately regretted saying what she had. He was right, what was she thinking? She swallowed hard, barely able to make eye contact. She was completely embarrassed by how rash she was being. Abby looked up completely red in the face to Will when he took her hands for the second time that afternoon.
"Are you acting and saying these things too much out of haste? What is it that you truly wish?"
"You are right, Will, I speak too much out of haste. I don't know what it is I wish," she closed her eyes wishing the answer would just come to her. "I'm sorry... I'm just making everything more complicated for the both of us. I shouldn't have said that. I shouldn't have spoken so boldly," and this was exactly why Abigail found it easier not to speak at all.
"Look, Will, I don't know how much longer my father has to live. I don't know if he will try to find me a husband before his death. I don't know what will happen to me if he fails to do so before his death. What I do know is that we are extremely close to being destitute. My future is not by any means secure," Abby wasn't sure where she was going with this, but she felt it correlated. "So my world, soon, may not be much different than yours."
Abby was extremely conscious of everything at the moment, from the expression on Will's face, to the expression she wore on her own, the way she was standing, speaking, everything. She knew her hands were shaking in his, as they always did when she was anxious about something.
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Post by Will Scarlett on Jun 30, 2009 16:31:29 GMT 1
Will was unsure exactly what reaction that she expected from him for the words she had spoken. Of course he wanted to be her friend, and he was sure that he had stronger feelings for her than just friendship. He sensed, that at least right now she was being a bit impulsive and it had embarrassed her just a bit.
"Rest easy Abby. At least I know that you have stronger feelings than just mere friendship. Know that I have the same feelings for you. However, its also true that this is happening way too fast for the both of us. I think that you are in a vulnerable state because of the losses you have endured and what you are going through with your father. I have also gone through great loss and although I have companionship with the other outlaws, I am searching for love as well. It would be very easy for me to take advantage of you in the state that you are in, but I won't do that. It probably wouldn't take much encouragement for me to cross the line, but you are a friend andfriends don't generally do that to one another."
"So, truthfully, I ask you what you really want. If all you want from me is friendship that is fine. I don't want you to feel pressured beyond that. I am sorry to hear that of your financial situation. Just understand that I thought it might be difficult for you, socially, to be associated with an outlaw. I would never want to be responsible for anything that might cause you difficulty."
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Post by Abigail Merton on Jun 30, 2009 18:15:13 GMT 1
"Rest easy Abby. At least I know that you have stronger feelings than just mere friendship. Know that I have the same feelings for you. However, its also true that this is happening way too fast for the both of us. I think that you are in a vulnerable state because of the losses you have endured and what you are going through with your father. I have also gone through great loss and although I have companionship with the other outlaws, I am searching for love as well. It would be very easy for me to take advantage of you in the state that you are in, but I won't do that. It probably wouldn't take much encouragement for me to cross the line, but you are a friend andfriends don't generally do that to one another."
"So, truthfully, I ask you what you really want. If all you want from me is friendship that is fine. I don't want you to feel pressured beyond that. I am sorry to hear that of your financial situation. Just understand that I thought it might be difficult for you, socially, to be associated with an outlaw. I would never want to be responsible for anything that might cause you difficulty."
Abby nodded considering his words. She was sure he was right, however she couldn't bring herself to believe her losses affected anything that was going on right now. She smiled, "friendship is all that I need from you, Will. Anything beyond that would be merely selfish of me. And yes, I am aware that being associated with an outlaw may affect my social image, but I stopped caring about that long ago," Abby paused, surely he wouldn't accept that answer, "I'll be careful to keep our meeting a secret." Beyond that, Abby didn't know what to say, nor did she want to keep talking about it as it only made her relish in her own stupidity. She sighed.
She tried to think about how to change the subject, but couldn't find a way to do that without making it completely obvious that that was what she was trying to do. But then again, why did she care so much?
Okay now this was getting awkward, but Abby knew she had brought that feeling on herself. Why had she said that? Why did she insist upon ruining everything? Absent mindedly she ran her hand through her hair, getting the loose strands out of her face since the wind kept pushing it back in her eyes.
"So now that I have told you of my dreams, what are some of yours, Will?" She asked curiously.
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Post by Will Scarlett on Jul 1, 2009 6:22:23 GMT 1
Will saw that she was closely considering what he was saying, but he did not know what she was really thinking. He was willing to give her as much time as she needed to say what she wanted to say. One thing that he surmised is that she tended to think out loud, which meant he had to show patience with respect to her making her point.
"Friendship is all that I need from you, Will. Anything beyond that would be merely selfish of me. And yes, I am aware that being associated with an outlaw may affect my social image, but I stopped caring about that long ago."
"Are you sure that is all you need, or do you really mean that its all that you want? All relationships are part selfishness and part sharing. You are selfish in that you expect that they will only love you, while you share your love with them willingly. And your social standing is not so much about what you perceive, but how others perceive you. Outside of your father are there those who rely on you, either financially or emotionally?" Whether they would be friends or something considerably more, she needed to think through more carefully what the ramifications mightbe for her and her family.
"I'll be careful to keep our meeting a secret."
"I would be more worried about that for your sake than for mine The Sheriff and his minions could come down hard on you. He is great for exploiting weaknesses, and right now that means your father. You don't need to keep it secret for my sake. I can deal with whatever difficulties arise. I think you have to do some considerable thinking about what kind of relationship you want with me and why. You may find, in the end, that I'm not worth the trouble, or you may find that I am, but its not something that we can determine easily or quickly."
"So now that I have told you of my dreams, what are some of yours, Will?"
"My dreams? .... Well they exist on many different levels. For England I dream of a land free from oppressors who tell us where to live and how to act. Personally, I just dream of a small and quiet home with a carpenter's shop attached, with 3 or 4 children, with a wife who loves me for what I am, as well as the children. And I also dream of peace. That is a good legacy to pas on I think .... hard work and a belief in something better than what we have."
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Post by Abigail Merton on Jul 1, 2009 19:11:43 GMT 1
"Are you sure that is all you need, or do you really mean that its all that you want? All relationships are part selfishness and part sharing. You are selfish in that you expect that they will only love you, while you share your love with them willingly. And your social standing is not so much about what you perceive, but how others perceive you. Outside of your father are there those who rely on you, either financially or emotionally?"
Abby thought about it for a moment, not sure how to respond. "That is all I... want," she responded hesitantly, not sure what answer he was expecting. What she needed and wanted was a friend at the moment, right? She had no others, so that was surely what she longed for. "I am not sure how others percieve me. I am sure it is not a very good perception as I have made myself scarce. There are no others that rely on me emotionally or financially."
"I would be more worried about that for your sake than for mine The Sheriff and his minions could come down hard on you. He is great for exploiting weaknesses, and right now that means your father. You don't need to keep it secret for my sake. I can deal with whatever difficulties arise. I think you have to do some considerable thinking about what kind of relationship you want with me and why. You may find, in the end, that I'm not worth the trouble, or you may find that I am, but its not something that we can determine easily or quickly."
"Thank you... for being concerned with my well-being. I will keep it a secret for both of our sake. And I will think about it but I doubt I wil come to the conclusion you are not worth it," Abby said. She knew what she wanted and she was sure that what she wanted would ultimately affect what the outcome of the internal debate would be. Will was much more wise than she was. Abby was being rash and completely naive of the ramifications of what she was saying were.
"My dreams? .... Well they exist on many different levels. For England I dream of a land free from oppressors who tell us where to live and how to act. Personally, I just dream of a small and quiet home with a carpenter's shop attached, with 3 or 4 children, with a wife who loves me for what I am, as well as the children. And I also dream of peace. That is a good legacy to pas on I think .... hard work and a belief in something better than what we have."
"It is a great legacy to pass on. That is a lovely dream, Will Scarlett," Abby responded sincerely. She wondered if Will had dreamed of being an outlaw once as well. Childhood dreams were so much different than dreams as an adult. She had once herself dreamed of being a prim and proper noble, and she had been just that at the best point in her life. The world had seemed so much brighter then. Once her frame of mind had dimmed so had the world around her. "As a child did you dream of being an outlaw?" She asked thoughtfully.
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Post by Will Scarlett on Jul 2, 2009 16:21:35 GMT 1
"That is all I... want .... I am not sure how others percieve me. I am sure it is not a very good perception as I have made myself scarce. There are no others that rely on me emotionally or financially."
Will thought that was a very clear answer. It was obvious that she was only looking at him as a friend. He could understand that. After all of the time that she was looking after her father he could imagine that she just wanted someone to talk to. However, her expected that she would rather have a female to talk to. "I, of course, am always glad to be your friend," he smiled.
"Thank you... for being concerned with my well-being. I will keep it a secret for both of our sake. And I will think about it but I doubt I wil come to the conclusion you are not worth it."
He smiled thinking that she would think of me in that positive a light after knowing him as short a time as she had."That is a fine sentiment to utter, but remember I am just an ordinary peaant and outlaw. Be careful in giving me such elevated status after knowing me as short a time as you have.'
"It is a great legacy to pass on. That is a lovely dream, Will Scarlett."
As the time had passed Will bot thought less of the dream and believed that it had a chance of coming true even less. That being said .... often dream were all we have left in the end .... that and memories.Yes, but everyone has that dream in one form or another. I wonder more and more how likely it is to come to pass.'
"As a child did you dream of being an outlaw?"
Will laughed, "No, when I was young times were good and all I thought of was working with my father in the carpentry shop. That was my world. It was a simpler world, but one I would greatly prefer to the present."
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Post by Abigail Merton on Jul 2, 2009 18:55:23 GMT 1
"I, of course, am always glad to be your friend,"
Abby returned the smile, relieved that her previous statement hadn't wrecked everything and made it completely awkward between them. "I am glad to be yours as well."
"That is a fine sentiment to utter, but remember I am just an ordinary peasant and outlaw. Be careful in giving me such elevated status after knowing me as short a time as you have."
"Is that some sort of warning?," Abby questioned with a fake critical look that began to fade into a smile. "I don't think ordinary is a word to describe you. Not at all." Abby couldn't see how Will thought he was just ordinary, but she supposed everyone viewed themselves as being ordinary. And then people envied everyone elses ordinary lives seeing them as so much better than their own.
"Yes, but everyone has that dream in one form or another. I wonder more and more how likely it is to come to pass."
Abby nodded glancing down at the forest floor as she thought about it. She began to speak, with her eyes still downcast watching a bug move by. "Well as a wise man once told me," Abby looked up smiling at Will, "if one makes the right choices you never know what you can achieve. And some dreams do come true," she said repeating his earlier statement. "And you, you deserve for all of yours to come true. You have worked hard for everyone else except yourself. You didn't take the easy way... well I guess there really wouldn't have been an easy way... but you chose the harder way, in any case. I hope at least a portion of your dreams come true," Abby said with a smile.
"No, when I was young times were good and all I thought of was working with my father in the carpentry shop. That was my world. It was a simpler world, but one I would greatly prefer to the present."
She stared at him thoughtfully, trying to picture the present Will Scarlett as a child. A simpler life was indeed a better life. She blinked a few times and smiled, She then remembered that Will had said his father had died... That dream would never be fulfilled. Why did life have to be full of so much loss and grief? She swallowed hard thinking about it and dropped her gaze once more. "Do you not have any family left?," she asked.
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Post by Will Scarlett on Jul 3, 2009 6:53:43 GMT 1
"I am glad to be yours as well." He smiled since they seemed to have a meeting of the minds on the subject of friendship at least. After all, a solid relationship had to start out somewhere around the friend position didn't it. Besides, at least, right now he felt like he was putting her in less danger as a friend.
"Is that some sort of warning? .... I don't think ordinary is a word to describe you. Not at all." In Will's view he was a very good carpenter, but outside of that, he considered himself to be quite ordinary, almost boring in fact. "Haven't you heard the old saying about what makes a brave man. He's an ordinary man placed in extraordinary circumstances."
"Well as a wise man once told me .... if one makes the right choices you never know what you can achieve. And some dreams do come true .... and you, you deserve for all of yours to come true." Will laughed and smiled broadly again. "I wonder what wise man would have come up with such a thing. As for me, I never seem to have the luck of the draw when making choices, at least until I met you."
"You have worked hard for everyone else except yourself. You didn't take the easy way... well I guess there really wouldn't have been an easy way... but you chose the harder way, in any case. I hope at least a portion of your dreams come true." He shook his head negatively, giving her a very grim smile instead."That's because it was never supposed to be easy for poor peasants like me. We were supposed to scratch our existence out of the dirt in the road. If they do they do, but I won't be holding my breath for it. All we can do is the best we can and leave the rest to the Lord."
"Do you not have any family left?," she asked. "Not locally. I have a younger brother living up with some relatives in Scarborough, but that's it .... not too much left," he shrugged his shoulders.
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Post by Abigail Merton on Jul 3, 2009 8:10:17 GMT 1
"Haven't you heard the old saying about what makes a brave man. He's an ordinary man placed in extraordinary circumstances."
Abby nodded, "I suppose that is true," she said. She crossed her arms over her stomach as a light breeze blew past them. Abby loved these kind of days, warm and breezy. She had never liked the rain, but seemed to have been seeing a lot of it lately.
"I wonder what wise man would have come up with such a thing. As for me, I never seem to have the luck of the draw when making choices, at least until I met you."
Abby laughed for a moment. Her mind formed another question and she raised an eyebrow curiously. "What does that mean?" Abigail questioned. She did not see how making choices related to him meeting her.
"That's because it was never supposed to be easy for poor peasants like me. We were supposed to scratch our existence out of the dirt in the road. If they do they do, but I won't be holding my breath for it. All we can do is the best we can and leave the rest to the Lord."
His response surprised Abby. His view on the topic of dreams seemed to have changed miraculously from when they applied to him versus her. She wanted to say something contradictory, but she couldn't think of anything to say, he was right. Nothing came to her mind that could be slightly uplifting in any way from his grim statements. She nodded, glad to see he still maintained a faith in the Lord even though he had been through so much. She couldn't say the same for herself. "I'm glad to hear that you still have such faith in the Lord after all you have been through," she said speaking the only positive thing she was thinking.
"Not locally. I have a younger brother living up with some relatives in Scarborough, but that's it .... not too much left,"
Abby was slightly relieved to hear that he had a brother left and prayed that nothing would happen to that brother. She wondered what he was like, if he was anything like Will. "I am glad to hear you have a brother. What is he like?," She asked thoughtfully. "I'm sorry. I am asking a great many questions," she said with a smile.
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Post by Will Scarlett on Jul 3, 2009 16:18:35 GMT 1
Roe wasn't sure whether she agreed with hi comment about ordinary men and bravery or not. She seemed to, but she didn't do it with any outright enthusiasm. Roe didn't look at it as bravery or being courageous, though. He just saw things that needed to be done, that had to be done, and did them. He didn't look at them as brave choices, just as choices that had to be made. He much preferred being an ordinary man, though, than a figure of adulation, like Robin Hood.
Roe watched and could see that she was enjoying the sudden cool breeze. He watched it blow quite seductively through her locks of golden hair. He could feel its light cooling touch blow hi long dark hair this way and that. Overall, it was a very refreshing change to the warm afternoon temperatures.
He listened for a moment, taken in by the sweet laughter of her voice. "You know you should try to laugh more .... it brightens everything. Hmmm ...... Well .... if I had never made the choice of investigating what your problem was we never would have met."
She seemed to be somewhat surprised to his whole attitude about dreams, at least with how they applied to himself. "Ah well .... you have to have faith in something. I have very little in myself, I might as well have it in the highest power of all."
"Questions are fine .... we are similar in some ways ... different in others. He is younger, more impatient, less tolerant ... but he has a good heart."
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Post by Abigail Merton on Jul 3, 2009 17:23:49 GMT 1
Abigail toyed with a strand of her hair for a moment, twirling it around her finger. She then dropped it back on her shoulder and pushed her hair out of her face again. It was getting quite annoying today with the wind. She wished she had put it up before coming outside. More over, she wished she actually had fussed over it instead of not caring out it looked. She hadn't expected seeing anyone, especially someone like Will who would actually make her care how she looked.
"You know you should try to laugh more .... it brightens everything. Hmmm ...... Well .... if I had never made the choice of investigating what your problem was we never would have met."
Abigail smiled at his comment. "Well thank you. I will try to remember that," she said brightly. She thought about what he said for a moment. "And you think it was a good choice, meeting me?" She asked skeptically. Abby was indeed pleased that he had made that choice, or else this day would have been just like every other, her only company being herself and her father who didn't offer much company and didn't speak with much sense at all in the few times he did speak to her.
"Ah well .... you have to have faith in something. I have very little in myself, I might as well have it in the highest power of all."
Abby nodded considering those words. She had very little at the moment also, in both herself and the Lord. She used to be a very religous child and her father used to be a very religous man. That was, until her mother died. Abby was still faithful even then, but when her child died she had completely given up on religion. She had given up on everything.
"Questions are fine .... we are similar in some ways ... different in others. He is younger, more impatient, less tolerant ... but he has a good heart."
Abigail listened to his vague description with interest. "Well, if he is anything like you I am sure he is a fine young man," she stated with a smile. She tried to think of another question to ask. "And what does he aspire to do?," she asked. She wondered if he was similar to Will in his feeling of a duty to the people or if he was less concerned, or didn't take action about it. She was curious if he and Will were close as children or not.
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Post by Will Scarlett on Jul 5, 2009 19:33:03 GMT 1
He watched Abby play with the strands and locks of her beautiful hair. Will assumed it was something that was just an absent-minded habit of hers when she was thinking about something. It also was clear that she liked to map out exactly what she was going to say before she said it. This made her seem to be a very deliberate kind of thinker, although, on occasion, Will had seen that she could be somewhat impulsive. You could tell, however that she was a bit annoyed by the breeze that was blowing through her hair, and messing it up. She probably didn’t realize it but he preferred her hair like that.
"And you think it was a good choice, meeting me?"
Will just shook his head in disbelief at her last question. “I’m not known as a very talkative person, in the first place, even with people who know me well. I’m generally a pretty practical person, who has little need for smalltalk. I’ll have a question and I’ll seek an answer, and not much more, and then I’ll be back about my work. You make talk as pleasant a pastime as I’ve ever enjoyed. It was by chance I made the choice, but it was the best decision I’ve made in months, at least, I assure you.”
She had asked about his family, and he had already related his losses, and then spoke of his brother in quite generic terms. "Well, if he is anything like you I am sure he is a fine young man …. And what does he aspire to do?,"
“He is younger, and he has some of the same carpentry skills as me, but we are alike in little else. He was always trying to be like his big brother, and it was always my responsibility to look after him, mainly because he was always getting too deep into trouble. What does he aspire to? Well, I don’t know for sure, but I’m afraid its to be an outlaw like his brother, and I know he’s not ready for it. The problem is that this time I wouldn’t be able to protect him …. I have trouble enough keeping myself out of harm’s way.”
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Post by Abigail Merton on Jul 11, 2009 2:27:07 GMT 1
“I’m not known as a very talkative person, in the first place, even with people who know me well. I’m generally a pretty practical person, who has little need for smalltalk. I’ll have a question and I’ll seek an answer, and not much more, and then I’ll be back about my work. You make talk as pleasant a pastime as I’ve ever enjoyed. It was by chance I made the choice, but it was the best decision I’ve made in months, at least, I assure you.”
Abby couldn't help but smile. From what she had seen she would have assumed he always talked like this. But then again, she normally didn't speak this much either. "That is hard to believe, though I am the same way," she said. Abby was surprised that he thought she made talking pleasant. "I would say the same for you, Will Scarlett. And I'm glad you made that decision...," Abby started to say something else again but closed her mouth, deciding to leave it at that. She regained her smile again pleased with the fact that he enjoyed her company.
“He is younger, and he has some of the same carpentry skills as me, but we are alike in little else. He was always trying to be like his big brother, and it was always my responsibility to look after him, mainly because he was always getting too deep into trouble. What does he aspire to? Well, I don’t know for sure, but I’m afraid its to be an outlaw like his brother, and I know he’s not ready for it. The problem is that this time I wouldn’t be able to protect him …. I have trouble enough keeping myself out of harm’s way.”
Having had no siblings herself Abby found brotherly or sisterly relationships to be interesting so she listened intently as he explained his brother to her. She nodded slightly thinking it through. "Well from what I have seen you would be a good role model for a younger brother. I can see why you have reason to worry for his safety... I would be too," she swallowed hard not knowing what to say. She couldn't say he would be fine, because she didn't know what would happen to him.
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Post by Will Scarlett on Jul 11, 2009 13:10:37 GMT 1
Roe suddenly realized that perhaps they simply brought out the best in each other. Friends often did that he reckoned. He had it happen in only a few relationships that he had had over his short life, where the other friend would be talking and he would know exactly what they were going to say next.
The only thing with Abby was that he had the feeling that there had been several points where she was going to say something or ask something, and at the point where she was about to spit it out she would hold back. "Why are you glad I made that decision?," he inquired. She always came back with that smile that could break through barriers, he thought, and was so disarming.
"I can't remember whether you said .... do you have any brothers and sisters? I hardly think that an outlaw is the best of role models for younger siblings. I would think its one of the more dangerous lines of work," he laughed, showing his rows of white teeth for the first time. He still did wonder what she saw in him, besides what she may have seen as his exciting life .... which it wasn't .... and whether she wanted to be more than friends. If she did he wondered if she knew what kind of danger, even just being friends, might put her in.
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Post by Abigail Merton on Jul 11, 2009 20:03:25 GMT 1
"Why are you glad I made that decision?"
"Because if you hadn't I would have hardly found the will or reason to get through today... like every other day," Abby sighed. Will must have noticed she was about to say something else. Abby often did hold back things when she hadn't thought through her words carefully enough. Though, there had been a few times in their conversation where she had said something without thinking about it and then regretted it. She was careful to think through her words now. But if he did ask, like he had now, she would tell him what it was she was about to say.
"I can't remember whether you said .... do you have any brothers and sisters? I hardly think that an outlaw is the best of role models for younger siblings. I would think its one of the more dangerous lines of work,"
No. I do not. I always wanted one..." Aby smiled momentarily imagining her life shared with another. She always had been jealous of others who had been granted a siblings, feeling as though somewhere in life she had missed out. Abigail laughed along with Will glad to see his more light mood. "Yes, I suppose it is. I meant the principles you have would be a good thing to look up to..." Abby once again left it at that. She wanted to say more but couldn't think of any way to put it.
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