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Post by Will Scarlett on Jul 14, 2009 11:37:15 GMT 1
Will tried to pass by his old village of Locksley at least once every couple of weeks for a variety of reasons. First, he was always anxious to see how it was doing under the direct rule of Sir Guy, especially when it came to food. Since it was the home village of Robin it often merited the Sheriff's attention when he felt an example was made.
Will also was concerned, since his father had left and then died there was no one on site do to a lot of the necessary day-to-day carpentry work. He also liked to come back and work on getting his old home in some kind of livable shape. When King Richard returned and things returned to a normal state he planned to occupy it.
However, he had been gone long enough, and he had changed enough physically, so that that there were few who would recognize him on sight. The gang had no missions on the direct horizon planned, so as long as Sir Guy, nor any iof the Sheriff's men were about to harass the people, he was planning on spending a good part of the day, and perhaps the next, in and around in the village. He stopped in the center of the village, having aleready seen some roofs that needed re-thatching and some walls that needed repairing.
First off, though, he saw the main fence in the center of the village had been knocked down and damaged. Probably some of Sir Guy's guards had ridden through it just to damage it. Will chose it as his first project of the day, before he got to the worst of the individual buildings. He took his cloak out and spread out his tools on the ground, as he set to work on the fence. Focused as he was, he did not hear the footsteps of the person who was approaching from behind.
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Post by Margaret d'Anthony on Jul 14, 2009 12:21:00 GMT 1
Margaret wore a tired face as she strolled Locksley, she had been there most of the previous night, doing her duty - as it was. And in the morning after breakfast she had decided to ride to the town to see what people were saying of her work.
As Robin had told her, there were quite a number of masked heroes of the night. People were whispering to one another if the woman who came to them in the night with food and money had been the Nightwatchmen, an outlaw from Robin Hood's gang, or perhaps someone new. For she did call herself Rowan Hood. It was risky to use that name for herself, especially with the Matron. But her father had never learned the name she used, not that she knew atleast.
Mary gave a yawn as she walked towards a man who was repairing the fence, "A good man you are. Repairing the fence." She smiled and watched him work expertly on it. "I had a friend who's father was a carpenter, and he followed in to his trade. I know a little, would you like any help?"
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Post by Will Scarlett on Jul 14, 2009 13:03:26 GMT 1
Will saw that he had a lot of work ahead of him. His biggest problem or issue was the fact that he was goingto have to assemble quite a bit of material .... wood material .... to complete much of the work that would need to be done. First off, he had to decide what was salvageable of the fence, what could be fixed, and what was in god enough shape, as is. Will had already divided the fence sections into the 3 categories, and was now repairing the pieces that could be salvaged, when he eard a female voice behind him:
"A good man you are. Repairing the fence .... I had a friend who's father was a carpenter, and he followed in to his trade. I know a little, would you like any help?"
He thought that was a kind offer , and from a woman no less. "Well .... I thank you kindly. It really depends on your level of skill and knowledge as to what you can do. I suppose the fist thing to do is to lay out on the ground the useable pieces, so that we can see how they will have to fit together when the final work is complete. Of course I will have to go out in the forest for some wood to replaced the pieces too damaged to be used. i don't expect I will get it completed today. Some of those thatch roofs need to be repaired as quickly as possible. And your name would be? .... My name is Will .... this was once my home village and I'm thinking of making it that again."
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Post by Margaret d'Anthony on Jul 14, 2009 13:10:10 GMT 1
Mary thought for a moment about what she would say was her skill level, 'Well I can hammar the wood together, if that's any help." She laughed, "That's about as useful as I am. But I am good moral support. If you need any while you undergo this task."
"And your name would be? .... My name is Will .... this was once my home village and I'm thinking of making it that again."
"What a nice strong name, Will is. I'm Margaret but you can call me Mary as everyone else does. You're from Locksley you say? I'm from Leicestershire, but I'm staying in Merton." She smiled at Will softly, "Well, it is good that you are repairing the fence in a town you no longer live. Few people would do that, much less think of it. Where do you live now?" She picked up some of the wood he said that could be salvaged and helped him put it into the piles.
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Post by Will Scarlett on Jul 14, 2009 13:30:59 GMT 1
Will thought to himself that that was better than some. "Well there's nothing like on-the-job training. However, you needn't feel obliged to help. I'm quite capable of doing it myself, but your offer is greatly appreciated. Some, these days are even afraid of just providing a helping hand."
"Ah, well Mary or Margaret are strong-sounding names of themselves. I do think that I do prefer Mary. Its much simpler, and I, as most carpenters, prefer things that are simple," he said with a slight smile. "Yes .... I was born and raised here. No family left here though. Our house is the one at the end of this row. My mother died starving herself as a result of the Sheriff's starvation, and my father was killed by one of the High Sheriff's guards in Nottingham."
"I do have a younger brother, but he stays with relatives in Scarborough. Leicestershire you say .... my you are aways from home aren't you. What are you doing in Locksley? Oh. I have been living in the Forest .... Sherwood, but that may be changing soon .... I haven't completely decided yet."
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Post by Margaret d'Anthony on Jul 14, 2009 13:36:04 GMT 1
"Well I am very sorry for your loss Will, it is hard to loose someone. I am here as punishment acctually. My father is the Earl of Leicestershire. And, well, I made some mistakes in his eyes. I helped the poor, and was punished by being sent here. Which is quite comical, for he sent me to the land of Robin Hood. The old fool!" Mary laughed chimely, and kneeled to the ground, leaning against part of the fence that still stood.
'You say you live in the forest. You are part of Robin's men?" She laughed to herself, thinking perhaps Robin hadn't been lieing about more handsome outlaws. "You would give that up?" She was taken by surprise.
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Post by Will Scarlett on Jul 14, 2009 14:34:15 GMT 1
Will was appreciative of her sympathy. "Thank you. I know, though, that the type of loss I have endured is not uncommon in our land these days. Hmmm ..... it sounds to me as if you should be commended and not punished. Yes," he smiled grimly, "this is definitely the land of Robin Hood, and just barely Will Scarlett."
"Until quite recently I was one of his. I still support his goals and methods. We just don't see eye-to-eye on things that are more personal. Besides, I think I can do more good as a carpenter her than I could as an outlaw, at least until I'm arrested," he laughed for the first time.
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Post by Margaret d'Anthony on Jul 14, 2009 15:37:40 GMT 1
Mary laughed, "Your seceret is safe with me Will. I will tell no one of your aide to Locksley."
"Robin is a good man, I have spoken with him recently. He was my hero that spurred my actions in the past." She paused, thinking of what he had said. "You must make a name for yourself if you want to be known. Yes you are Will Scarlet, but have you made it known? Do you want it known? Perhaps you can be the unsung hero. Your name never known, but your actions never forgotten."
She bit her lip, "Glory and honor does not come from high esteem. More satisfaction comes from the quite little known aide you give." Mary laid her hand on his shoulder. "You do not need to be well known to be a hero."
Intrigued, she questioned."What is it that you do not agree with?"
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Post by Will Scarlett on Jul 14, 2009 15:52:27 GMT 1
Will was already taking a liking to this woman. She was quite up-front, but not arrogant. "I appreciate any consideration that you can give me, especially from a fine lady such as yourself."
"Yes he is a good man, there are none better. I grew up in the same village and he's never changed, which has its good and bad sides. A name for myself? .... No, I want no such thing. I will just be the Carpenter and that will be enough."
Will hesitated. She was a good person, but he did not know her well enough yet and it was a private matter. "Lets just say that we have personal differences and that we agreed to go in different directions."
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Post by Margaret d'Anthony on Jul 14, 2009 15:56:55 GMT 1
"Understood." She smiled, "Have you heard of a masked hero who calls herself Rowan Hood? I have heard the members of town speaking of this woman." She gave a wry smile, speaking of herself.
"Please I'll never be a lady, no matter how hard people work on me. It just won't happen." She smiled at Will, picking up a piece of completely ruined wood.
"Did your father work with wood as well?"[/color
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Post by Will Scarlett on Jul 15, 2009 2:45:04 GMT 1
Will wondered why she brought up this subject. He had heard comments from some villagers in different towns, as to whether this was actually the Nightwatchman. "I have heard whispers about this person, but many wonder why thier name is so similar to Robin's."
Will shook his head and smiled. "I'm afraid that I will forever have to disagree, for you will always be an example of a fine lady to me. I doubt whether even a sword held at my throat would change that opinion," he chuckled.
Will's father had been the best carpenter he had ever known. "My father was a great carpenter and worker of wood, and builder. He built more than 1/2 of the buildings in this village, and then because he protected us, Sir Guy had his hand cut off instead of ours. But yes, he taught me everything I know about wood. He probably forgot more about wood than know about it. We all miss him."
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Post by Margaret d'Anthony on Jul 15, 2009 12:48:23 GMT 1
"Really? Well perhaps this woman, Rowan Hood, thinks of Robin as what inspires her to do good. Perhaps that is what influenced the so similar of the name. There seems to be quite a large number of dogooders here. A shame that this kind of integrity to do good is limited to here."
Margaret blushed, she laid her hand on his shoulder and bit her lip with a grin. "You make me blush, Will. You are too much." Her words were soft and had a hint of trying to hold back a giggle.
She gave a reassuring squeeze to his shoulder as he spoke of his father, "He sounds like a great man Will. I am sorry that you had to loose him in such a way. It is a shame I could never have met this great man."
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Post by Will Scarlett on Jul 15, 2009 13:57:28 GMT 1
"He has inspired many, even including myself. I did not always look so positively upon him. When we were growing up I looked on him both as a friend and someone that had an incredible advantae over me because of his class. In any competition he was unlikely to lose. And then, when we needed him most he left when called forth by the king to crusade. So when he returned I was not exactly an admirer, but that changed. Ah, but every great revolution has started with one man with a vision. We can only hope that this is where this movement has begun."
Will saw her blush and he thought that she put up a good tough front, but she was still a woman. And as a woman she was still affected by compliments. "Well, when something is obvious its not in my nature to ignore or deny it. Besides, what is it about what I said that is not true?"
He nodded at her in recognition of the compliment that she paid. "He was not a perfect man, he had his faults. Often at the time that someone is still with you you don't appreciate them fully, or as fully as we should. When he died he was trying to prove himself to me. I always blame myself for not not doing enough to take him out of harm's way. Its not useful to feel that way, but some things you can't avooid or change, no matter how much you want to."
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Post by Margaret d'Anthony on Jul 15, 2009 16:40:04 GMT 1
Mary nodded, trying to keep back a smile. She would not reveal that she was Rowan Hood, not yet atleast. "It is a change I do hope would spread to my people. They are in such a dire need of the help that the heroes here convey. Perhaps it will spread like wildfire! That can never be stifled!" A fire burned in her eyes, a passion.
"You spoke nothing untrue. I cannot deny that I am a woman, nor can I deny that I am a Lady of high status. However I can deny the affiliation with the aristocracy that turns a blind eye to the underprivleged. That I must say is where I draw the line to being a lady. I can see what needs to be fixed and what needs the care of the aristocracy to aide it." Mary pulled a peice of grass and began twisting it in her hand with frustration. "I apologize for such a bold language, Will."
"No man is perfect, which is what makes us human. But it is the good we do that makes us honorable and great. Change is needed, and it is a shame when it can not be found."
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Post by Will Scarlett on Jul 15, 2009 17:44:27 GMT 1
"You seem to want to emulate not only Robin Hood, but this Rowan hood as well. Be careful who you speak this message to. Say the wrong thing to the wrong person and all of these homes might be razed by morning. The goal is fine .... we all want to make the life of the common people better, as well as rid ourselves of this tyranny. It will spread, if given the proper nurture, and not be forced to spread far and too fast.'[/i]
In many ways she seemed to be ashamed of her class, or of her place within it. "Well, it would be grossly difficult for you to deny that you are a woman, that is for sure. It is good that you know what you stand for and that you are bold enough to state it. Just try not to be too too bold in the wrong places. However, don't apologize to me for bold language .... with me you are preaching to the choir. Perfection certainly does not apply to me in any form," he laughed.
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