Written By Time - Year Nine
Title: Written By Time
Author: ladylovelace
Rating: PG - 13
Pairings/characters : Much, Robin, Guy, Vaysey.
Word Count: 1453
Warnings: None
Summary: Robin decides that heading off to war would be nice. Vaysey and Guy take their places in Nottinghamshire.
Disclaimer: I own very little, and certainly not and recognisable characters. More's the pity.
All too often arrogance accompanies strength, and we must never assume that justice is on the side of the strong. The use of power must always be accompanied by moral choice. - Theodore Bikel
Year Nine - Much & Robin
By the beginning of the year, Much was getting a little sick of the sight of Nottingham. And Marian. But mostly Nottingham, he told himself.
Robin had decided it was a good idea to befriend the Sheriff. Or at least, that was what he told Much. However, since they always saw more of his daughter than the man himself, Much was fairly sure that this wasn't the truth. If he was being fair, Much would say that Marian was a nice girl. Not necessarily the sort he would pick for himself, but he could see what Robin saw in her. She was carefree and not a little headstrong, and certainly not the picture of a quiet, submissive, well-bred young lady. A challenge, and Robin had always liked those. She wasn't unpleasant to Much, she didn't speak down to him and tried to include him in conversations. That was even worse, of course, because now Much was down to disliking her simply because Robin liked her. He could admit to himself that it was a little pathetic, but knew better than to say anything to Robin.
Robin did actually get on well with the Sheriff, too. Even Much could see that a healthy relationship with the man in charge could only be a good thing for Robin and the people of Locksley. The Sheriff was a kindly, jovial man who always had a smile for both boys. Much rather liked him.
Much was used, by now, to hearing rumours that Robin was to marry Marian. The locals weren't silly, they could see what was going on between Robin, the Sheriff and his daughter. Robin somehow remained blissfully unaware that his wedding was being planned out by the villagers behind his back.
Christmas came around again before Much even noticed. Robin was invited to Nottingham again for the holiday. Only Robin, apparently, since there was no talk of any big celebration. When Robin came back, his entire attitude towards Marian had changed. He didn't say one word about his previous obsession on his return, and even when Much asked directly how she was all he got was a slightly snappy “she's fine”. Asking if he had enjoyed himself was met with a similar mild hostility and Much decided it was better for everyone if he dropped it.
Robin started talking about going to war again. Much hadn't heard him even suggest it for years, he thought his master had simply grown out of it or lost interest. He hadn't counted on the rumours that the King was about to head off again, and that he was looking for knights. Eventually Robin started dragging Much along to Nottingham to visit Marian at every possible opportunity again, and Robin stopped talking about leaving.
It was a great shock to Much, then, when in mid-July, he found Robin in his room.
“Master, what are you doing?”
“Packing.”
“Well, obviously packing, but why?”
“I told you ages ago. I'm going to fight with the King in the Holy Land.”
“But I thought...you...I don't understand.”
“It's my duty, Much. I have to go.”
“No. That's not true. Even I know that you could simply pay your dues to the King and stay here.”
“Yeah, well, I'm going anyway. It'll be an adventure, and I'll never get to have one of those if I stay here.”
“This is about Marian, isn't it?”
“No. Well, not exclusively.”
“I see. Well, I'll go pack then.”
“You aren't coming with me, Much.”
“Oh I'm not, aren't I? And what happens the first time you need something washed?”
“Then I'll wash it. I'm not dragging you off to get killed on the other side of the world.”
“And I'm not letting you go off and get yourself killed without me. What am I going to do while you're away anyway? Sit at home and knit.”
“You can't knit.”
“I could learn.”
“Good, then stay here and knit.”
“Fine then, I...oh no you don't. I am going with you and that is final.”
Much turned towards the door in a huff.
“Much...”
He turned back to face Robin, who was smiling shyly.
“What?” Much snapped.
“Thank you.”
Three days later, Much found himself saddling horses in the stables. Two sturdy backpacks stood full to bursting, just outside the front door of Locksley manor. Another horse was running full tilt through the village, one he didn't recognise. It was heading towards the house. Once it got closer, Much could see that the person riding it was none other than Lady Marian. He took a moment to appreciate her technique before realising that he really needed to warn Robin. He bolted towards the house but got there seconds too late, and could only watch as an angry young lady banged on the front door, demanding that Robin “come down here this minute.”
Robin appeared in the doorway after a few moments and was subsequently treated to a torrent of verbal abuse, only bits of which Much could make out. Once Marian ran out of either breath or insults, Much could hear Robin calmly tell her that he had to go, that it was his duty to King and country and that he'd be back soon enough. Marian argued for a while but quickly realised that there was no point. Robin hugged her briefly, and whispered something in her ear. It seemed to placate her, and she headed back to her horse, looking back a couple of times, but apparently ok with Robin leaving. They both stared after her as she left, and Much went back to the horses.
They were on their way to Portsmouth by noon.
Year Nine - Vaysey & Guy
Vaysey's Diary,
January 1st, 1187
Thought I'd start the new year off with some hangings. Gisborne kindly provided me with a couple of thieves for the occasion. He's such a sweet boy.
August 5th, 1187
It seems that Saladin has taken back Jerusalem. Good for him. Killed an awful lot of the king's men, I hear, too. No doubt there will a call to arms, soon enough. Perhaps that will get some of the more tiring nobles out of the way. If we get really lucky, they might even get killed.
Now may well be the time to get into Prince John's ear. He's sure to loose a few people to his brother's efforts, and I know just the man to take up some of the slack. Me.
September 13th, 1187
The Prince wants to see me. This may well turn out to be a good birthday, even if I do have to deal with the tiresome bore.
Perhaps I should have Gisborne accompany me, spread the royal pain out a bit. Or dump it on him, whichever works.
September 21st, 1187
Prince John has decided to appoint me Sheriff of Nottingham. Apparently old Eddie has gone all senile or something. Or perhaps it was something about his wife dying. No matter, he's out of the way now.
I suppose it would be inappropriate to jump up and down shouting “mine, all mine!”? I cannot wait to tell Gisborne, he will be so pleased. And I live to please him, of course...can you hear my eyes rolling?
October 15th, 1187
Moving day! I must say, I especially like the dungeons Nottingham castle has to offer. Plenty of room for miscreants without being spacious, by any means.
Turns out that the lord of Locksley has gone swanning off after our gracious king. Nobody left but the servants to look after his lands. Well, at least we know he's a responsible sort. I think I'll put Gisborne in charge there. Keep him happy and he'll be happier to do things for me. Can't have the peasants running the place, I get a feeling they won't be used to a firm hand. All the more fun for young Gizzy.
November 7th, 1187
Well, turns out the so-called Lord of Locksley was only a boy! That does explain rather a lot about the sorry state of his estate. Gisborne seems to be settling in well, though. Must pay him a visit in his new home at some point.
December 9th, 1187
Gisborne sent me a peasant from Locksley today, to be “punished as you see fit, my lord.” It's important to mark milestones like that, I think. And the note giving me free reign over the boy's punishment was a nice touch. Not that I would have done anything he had specifically told me to do, mind.
Next Chapter
Author: ladylovelace
Rating: PG - 13
Pairings/characters : Much, Robin, Guy, Vaysey.
Word Count: 1453
Warnings: None
Summary: Robin decides that heading off to war would be nice. Vaysey and Guy take their places in Nottinghamshire.
Disclaimer: I own very little, and certainly not and recognisable characters. More's the pity.
All too often arrogance accompanies strength, and we must never assume that justice is on the side of the strong. The use of power must always be accompanied by moral choice. - Theodore Bikel
Year Nine - Much & Robin
By the beginning of the year, Much was getting a little sick of the sight of Nottingham. And Marian. But mostly Nottingham, he told himself.
Robin had decided it was a good idea to befriend the Sheriff. Or at least, that was what he told Much. However, since they always saw more of his daughter than the man himself, Much was fairly sure that this wasn't the truth. If he was being fair, Much would say that Marian was a nice girl. Not necessarily the sort he would pick for himself, but he could see what Robin saw in her. She was carefree and not a little headstrong, and certainly not the picture of a quiet, submissive, well-bred young lady. A challenge, and Robin had always liked those. She wasn't unpleasant to Much, she didn't speak down to him and tried to include him in conversations. That was even worse, of course, because now Much was down to disliking her simply because Robin liked her. He could admit to himself that it was a little pathetic, but knew better than to say anything to Robin.
Robin did actually get on well with the Sheriff, too. Even Much could see that a healthy relationship with the man in charge could only be a good thing for Robin and the people of Locksley. The Sheriff was a kindly, jovial man who always had a smile for both boys. Much rather liked him.
Much was used, by now, to hearing rumours that Robin was to marry Marian. The locals weren't silly, they could see what was going on between Robin, the Sheriff and his daughter. Robin somehow remained blissfully unaware that his wedding was being planned out by the villagers behind his back.
Christmas came around again before Much even noticed. Robin was invited to Nottingham again for the holiday. Only Robin, apparently, since there was no talk of any big celebration. When Robin came back, his entire attitude towards Marian had changed. He didn't say one word about his previous obsession on his return, and even when Much asked directly how she was all he got was a slightly snappy “she's fine”. Asking if he had enjoyed himself was met with a similar mild hostility and Much decided it was better for everyone if he dropped it.
Robin started talking about going to war again. Much hadn't heard him even suggest it for years, he thought his master had simply grown out of it or lost interest. He hadn't counted on the rumours that the King was about to head off again, and that he was looking for knights. Eventually Robin started dragging Much along to Nottingham to visit Marian at every possible opportunity again, and Robin stopped talking about leaving.
It was a great shock to Much, then, when in mid-July, he found Robin in his room.
“Master, what are you doing?”
“Packing.”
“Well, obviously packing, but why?”
“I told you ages ago. I'm going to fight with the King in the Holy Land.”
“But I thought...you...I don't understand.”
“It's my duty, Much. I have to go.”
“No. That's not true. Even I know that you could simply pay your dues to the King and stay here.”
“Yeah, well, I'm going anyway. It'll be an adventure, and I'll never get to have one of those if I stay here.”
“This is about Marian, isn't it?”
“No. Well, not exclusively.”
“I see. Well, I'll go pack then.”
“You aren't coming with me, Much.”
“Oh I'm not, aren't I? And what happens the first time you need something washed?”
“Then I'll wash it. I'm not dragging you off to get killed on the other side of the world.”
“And I'm not letting you go off and get yourself killed without me. What am I going to do while you're away anyway? Sit at home and knit.”
“You can't knit.”
“I could learn.”
“Good, then stay here and knit.”
“Fine then, I...oh no you don't. I am going with you and that is final.”
Much turned towards the door in a huff.
“Much...”
He turned back to face Robin, who was smiling shyly.
“What?” Much snapped.
“Thank you.”
Three days later, Much found himself saddling horses in the stables. Two sturdy backpacks stood full to bursting, just outside the front door of Locksley manor. Another horse was running full tilt through the village, one he didn't recognise. It was heading towards the house. Once it got closer, Much could see that the person riding it was none other than Lady Marian. He took a moment to appreciate her technique before realising that he really needed to warn Robin. He bolted towards the house but got there seconds too late, and could only watch as an angry young lady banged on the front door, demanding that Robin “come down here this minute.”
Robin appeared in the doorway after a few moments and was subsequently treated to a torrent of verbal abuse, only bits of which Much could make out. Once Marian ran out of either breath or insults, Much could hear Robin calmly tell her that he had to go, that it was his duty to King and country and that he'd be back soon enough. Marian argued for a while but quickly realised that there was no point. Robin hugged her briefly, and whispered something in her ear. It seemed to placate her, and she headed back to her horse, looking back a couple of times, but apparently ok with Robin leaving. They both stared after her as she left, and Much went back to the horses.
They were on their way to Portsmouth by noon.
Year Nine - Vaysey & Guy
Vaysey's Diary,
January 1st, 1187
Thought I'd start the new year off with some hangings. Gisborne kindly provided me with a couple of thieves for the occasion. He's such a sweet boy.
August 5th, 1187
It seems that Saladin has taken back Jerusalem. Good for him. Killed an awful lot of the king's men, I hear, too. No doubt there will a call to arms, soon enough. Perhaps that will get some of the more tiring nobles out of the way. If we get really lucky, they might even get killed.
Now may well be the time to get into Prince John's ear. He's sure to loose a few people to his brother's efforts, and I know just the man to take up some of the slack. Me.
September 13th, 1187
The Prince wants to see me. This may well turn out to be a good birthday, even if I do have to deal with the tiresome bore.
Perhaps I should have Gisborne accompany me, spread the royal pain out a bit. Or dump it on him, whichever works.
September 21st, 1187
Prince John has decided to appoint me Sheriff of Nottingham. Apparently old Eddie has gone all senile or something. Or perhaps it was something about his wife dying. No matter, he's out of the way now.
I suppose it would be inappropriate to jump up and down shouting “mine, all mine!”? I cannot wait to tell Gisborne, he will be so pleased. And I live to please him, of course...can you hear my eyes rolling?
October 15th, 1187
Moving day! I must say, I especially like the dungeons Nottingham castle has to offer. Plenty of room for miscreants without being spacious, by any means.
Turns out that the lord of Locksley has gone swanning off after our gracious king. Nobody left but the servants to look after his lands. Well, at least we know he's a responsible sort. I think I'll put Gisborne in charge there. Keep him happy and he'll be happier to do things for me. Can't have the peasants running the place, I get a feeling they won't be used to a firm hand. All the more fun for young Gizzy.
November 7th, 1187
Well, turns out the so-called Lord of Locksley was only a boy! That does explain rather a lot about the sorry state of his estate. Gisborne seems to be settling in well, though. Must pay him a visit in his new home at some point.
December 9th, 1187
Gisborne sent me a peasant from Locksley today, to be “punished as you see fit, my lord.” It's important to mark milestones like that, I think. And the note giving me free reign over the boy's punishment was a nice touch. Not that I would have done anything he had specifically told me to do, mind.
Next Chapter