It's Christmas! (Closed to just Outlaws)

[not_a_maid]

Who: Marian and open to all outlaws
What: Christmas. YAY
Where: Camp
When: December 25th

Comments

[robin_hood49]

Marian's surprise for him, spending Christmas Eve together, had been unexpected but lovely. Of all the memories of their time together, that Christmas Eve they had spent on the hill overlooking Locksley was a favorite. Few times in their lives had been that peaceful. And, it was good to know that she carried those memories, too. While Robin no longer wondered about her feelings for him, discovering things like that were still as much a part of her as they were him meant something.

Visiting Edward was bittersweet, with Marian so pleased to see her father, yet so sad to leave him when it was time. It was also a little awkward, as Edward had not been pleased with Robin on that Christmas Eve before when he discovered that they had passed the night alone together, even out in the open as they had been. Robin did not fancy his chances against the former sheriff, regardless of his current state, if Edward discovered that they had commemorated that time. Fortunately, everything had gone well, and the monks who cared for Edward had even been good enough to gift them with a meal to take back home.

Once they were finally, safely back, Robin walked into camp with Marian, surprised to find himself almost completely happy. That was a rare occasion for him, and faded when his eyes fell on Much, but he gave Marian's hand a little squeeze to acknowledge that it had been there-- even though she would not comprehend what he meant by it.

"We've brought breakfast," he added after her greeting.

[djaq_thesaracen]

When Robin and Marian had left camp the last night, Djaq had remained behind with the others. She had wondered if it was a lonely night for them. They were away from their families the whole year, but maybe it was yet lonelier for them this night, even more so with Robin away too.

When Robin and Marian walked back into camp, it was in a cheerful mood.

Djaq nodded towards Marian with a smile. "Merry Christmas to you." It was at times like these that Djaq missed the festivities of her home, but then this didn't mean that she would not wish her friends to enjoy theirs.

"Merry Christmas to you, too, Robin."

[millers_son]

Much forced a smile as Robin and Marian entered the camp. "Merry Christmas," he greeted them.

He couldn't bring himself to say anymore, not even to express gratitude at being relieved from cooking duty. His mind had conjured an image of Robin wrapped in Marian's embrace as he told her all the things he refused to discuss with Much. Nearly a fortnight had passed since their quarrel, yet he was still unable to think of anything else for very long.

Robin, however, looked as though he had forgotten. Much wondered whether he would care if they never spoke again. Why should he? He had Marian to talk to.

[not_a_maid]

Marian's eyes fell on Robin as she felt his hand squeeze at hers, noticing the slight shift in his look. Biting her lip she found her gaze slipping from Robin to Much and then back to Robin once more. She knew they had had some sort of disagreement but not anything in detail, but even if she didn't know about it she would have been able to tell. Things had been tense around here recently. But it was Christmas, and hopefully things would get better though she knew that may be a silly thought.

"Why don't I get the food sorted?" she said after a moment of silence, holding her hand out for Robin to give her the bag. It didn't need a lot of preparation, maybe just heat the meat up a little.

Now she just had to hope that things would lighten up a little. Perhaps the wine would help with that.

[scarlett_outlaw]

Will had slept poorly; thoughts of his brother had kept him awake part of the night. This was to be the second Christmas apart from his family - or what was left of it anyway. He could only hope Luke had returned to Scarborough safe and sound. His brother deserved the chance for a normal life, that’s what their father would have wished above all else.

He had eventually fallen asleep and consequently woken up rather late. It was just as well; they were all waiting for Robin and Marian to return before eating. It was a pleasant surprise to see them bring more food. They had stocked up a bit already, but now they could have a proper feast. He yawned and mumbled a greeting while getting up from his bunk.

Will noticed the lack of excitement in Much’s voice. His friend had been in low mood for some time, although he could almost swear that visits to Nottingham seemed to lift Much's spirits, as odd as it was. The dynamics in the gang had changed after Allan had left and certainly after Marian had joined. They all needed to adjust to it and apparently it was hardest for Much (though truth be told Will didn’t think Much missed Allan).

"I think I forgot to disarm one of the traps," he said grabbing his cloak and heading outside. "We can let people pass freely through Sherwood today, right? It’s Christmas, after all." Checking the traps wasn’t what he needed to do, it was just an excuse to go get his own little surprise for the others.

[robin_hood49]

"Merry Christmas," he replied to all of them, avoiding Much's gaze-- and then, avoiding John's, as the big man gave him a knowingly disappointed look. He was glad when Marian spoke, handing her the bag and going over to drop onto his bunk.

At Will's question, Robin shrugged and nodded. "Might as well. We have enough in the parcels we've put together, already." Of course, that was not entirely true; there would never be enough. However, there had been some good pickings along the Great North Road in the last week or so, leading up to the holiday, so that should help the poor of Nottinghamshire have a happier Christmas than they expected.

[djaq_thesaracen]

Djaq noticed the tense mood betweem the others. It had been there for a while now.

It certainly wasn't the time to do anything about it now, and she actually wouldn't have known what to tell them in any way.

"Can I help you?" she asked Robin. She could at least do something useful for them at their holiday.

[scarlett_outlaw]

Edmund of Teversal had given Will an old wooden chest to thank him for fixing the roof of his house. Will had had to walk back there to fetch it after the day of the church blessing, as he had wanted to keep it a secret from Djaq as well as the others. He’d hidden it near the camp and had worked on the broken lid whenever possible. It had not been easy lately, with the weather getting colder and snow falling on several days.

He had a little bit of trouble carrying the chest through the doorway, but when he finally got in, he noticed that food was being prepared and even John was tidying up the camp. Panting, he placed the gift on the floor and announced, "Look what I found in the trap!"

((ooc: Will wasn’t away for long, maybe just 5 min. Hopefully others don’t mind the little time-jump/unauthorized godmodding I did to cover the time))

[not_a_maid]

It didn't take much to get everything sorted, given the food was still basic. She had put enough on the plates they had managed to acquire in the past so that each member had enough and placed the sausages on to heat. This was the type of cooking she could handle. She wasn't exactly a bad cook she just rarely had the opportunity in the past to do so. Leaving the wine so everyone could help themselves, she was just starting to plate up the sausages when Will came back.

She glanced up when he said he found something, a small smile pulling at her lips. She didn't really think that was entirely possible, in fact she knew it was more than likely wasn't true, but it still made her grin. Glancing at Robin, waiting to see what the others would say, she went back to the food.

"It looks beautiful," she finally said to Will.

[millers_son]

Much eyed Marian in surprise as she prepared the sausages. She had always shown distaste for womanly tasks. Not that cooking was a womanly task -- it did not make him any less of a man, thank you very much -- but it still seemed...unlike her, and it bothered him slightly, though he appreciated that someone else was doing the cooking for a change.

When Will announced that he'd found something in the trap, he looked up curiously in spite of himself.

"What's that?" he asked.

[robin_hood49]

"I think we're good," he said to Djaq, with a smile of thanks. No matter that only some of them were good; it would not do to point that out just now.

Robin's eyebrows went up when he saw the chest. "Must have been one of the larger traps," he said with a laugh, wondering what Will was up to..

[djaq_thesaracen]

"What is this?" Djaq asked wondering, as she looked at Will's finding.

OOC: Sorry, very short, but let's find out what Will is up to.

[scarlett_outlaw]

Fixing things around the camp was all good and useful, but making special projects was what really made Will happy. And his father had taught him that it was alright to take pride in one's work, so he was rather pleased with the attention from others.

"This is our new treasure chest," he said and opened up the lid that he had decorated with wood carvings. "It used to belong to Edmund from Teversal, or to his late wife, actually. He didn’t need it anymore, so he gave it to me. I added these," he continued, kneeling down to show off different sized compartments that fit neatly inside the chest. Then he got up and smiled.

"It’s empty now, but I thought we could keep valuables there. Sheriff’s donations and such."

[robin_hood49]

Going over to check out the chest, Robin ran a hand over it. "This is very good, Will," he said appreciatively. Smiling at Will, he said, "It will be very useful." The different compartments would help keep everything sorted nicely.

[not_a_maid]

"That certainly will help," Marian told Will as she looked up from finishing the cooking. "Very good thinking."

She couldn't help it, when Robin stood her eyes shifted to watch him, even though she continued placing each sausage on a plate. Things had certainly changed between them and for the better so she knew he would not disagree with the way her eyes briefly roamed over him and lingered slightly over the curve of his...

Her hand slipped as she grasped a plate to put food on just as Robin shifted slightly, making his breeches tighten at the back. She gasped as it clattered to the floor and quickly knelt to pick it up, her cheeks red and her pupils still slightly dilated.

"Must have not looked at what I was doing," she mumbled quickly as she grabbed a rag to wipe at the dirt on the plate. It took her a moment before she allowed herself to lift her gaze to Robin again.

{OOC: Just thought I'd say that things have changed between Robin and Marian so this tag is partially there just so there is something there for the gang to sense the air change :) }

[scarlett_outlaw]

"Thanks. We’re lucky to have such good supporters in Teversal. All it needs anymore is a good--," Will turned as Marian dropped a plate, "...lock." He noticed she looked almost flustered, more than it was necessary for the situation. It was no big a deal, dropping a plate. Perhaps she was just emotional about being away from her father at Christmas time, so Will smiled at her, and then to Djaq. Her family was even further away. Then he pushed the chest closer to the wall so it would be out of the way.

"How was Edward? Everything went well?" he asked. Maybe the others had already talked it through while he’d gone out, but it would have been rude not to ask.