The Highwayman 1/2
Title: The Highwayman
Author: Sofipitch
Rating: PG
Characters: (Edward, Winry, Envy, mentions of Rockbells
Summary: He wore a french-cocked hat and many ruffles of lace at his collar.
Warnings: character death
A/N: This story is a rewrite of Alfred Noyes's poem The Highwayman. But this is not a poem and the Fullmetal Alchemist characters take the place of the original characters. All the phrases that where directly taken from the poem will be written in italics. A highwayman back in old England was a Robin Hood figure. They stole from the rich and gave to the poor.
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Part One
The wind blew through the tree, taking hostage stray leaves. They crackled and moaned as they were carried away but could do nothing against their captor. And as they were whisked away they watched the scene carry out below them.
They watched as the highwayman came riding in from the west. The hooves of his horse kicked the dust on the dirt path to and fro. Making small tunnels of dust at its feet with each step it took.
He had come to the moor many times before so it was not unlikely to see him for those who were expecting him. He always approached the Rockbell Inn in the darkness of midnight.
The horse came to a stop and hi dismounted. He wore a French cocked-hat on his head and many ruffles of lace at his collar. A velvet coat and doeskin breeches shield him from the cold. Along with leather boots that made it up to his thigh. The moon struck light to his two weapons of defense. A small hand gun and a rapier, a sword. He was of what is then an old age, now it is considered the prime of youth, twenty-two years old. Trimmed and firm under his many layers of clothing. Long blonde hair braided down his back closed with a single red lace ribbon.
He walks through the inn yard of the Inn with his horse in tow. Making his way towards the windows. He taps his whip against one of the windows. The landlord, Urey Rockbell and his wife, Sara Rockbell are good and asleep. The windows of the inn are all locked, except for one.
He walks over to the unlocked window; hi horse still following closely behind. He whistled a tune and he saw her appear, the landlord’s daughter.
She approached him dressed in her nightgown, blue eyes so far dilated they appeared black in the moonlight. A single red lace ribbon plated her hair, identical to his, her long blonde hair.
But they were not alone. Farther in the courtyard someone else was there. Watching them through cold beady, angry eyes. Watching the highwayman, Edward Elric, a very wanted criminal and the landlord’s daughter, Winry Rockbell meet in the moonlight. Envy the ostler, a simple stable worker, watched the forbidden lovers meet again as they had the night before, and the night before all the others. He watched him with jealousy as he too loved the landlord’s daughter. The landlord’s red lipped daughter. And he listened to them as he heard Edward say-
“One kiss my beautiful, sweetheart. I’m after a prize tonight, but I shall be back with the yellow gold before morning light. Yet, if they press me sharply, and harry me through the day, then look for me in the moonlight. Watch for me by moonlight. I’ll come to thee by moon light though hell should bar the way.”
He elevated himself back onto his horse, to be able to reach her from the second floor window. She loosened the casement in the window opening, and opened it slowly. She looked at his face, and it burned into her memory, those golden eyes like a brand.
The long blonde tresses cascaded onto him as she leaned out the window. He kissed the locks of hair first before moving to her lips. A gentle goodbye.
They stayed like that for a few seconds, and then he tugged at the reins of his horse and galloped away. Her eyes watched his back already awaiting his return.
Ostler: a stable worker.
Rapier: a type of sword.
Highwayman: a robber that steals from the rich and gives to the poor. Like Robin Hood.