Treat Much Spooky: If You Can Keep Your Head...
If you can keep your head...
by wastingyourgum
"M-master? Master Robin? Thornton sent me to fetch you for supper. Lord Knighton has arrived..."
Much nervously peered into the dark barn. He wasn't scared. Of course he wasn't. He didn't believe a word of the stories Robin had told him of how witches and demons roamed about on All-Hallows Eve looking for unsuspecting innocent souls to enslave. Those were just tales to frighten children and he was nearly fourteen now...
Still, it was very dark in there... Where was he? He'd said he'd be out here practising his archery but sunset had been over an hour ago now.
Much started at a sudden noise behind him and relaxed when he saw it was a small cat, looking for some mice or another tasty treat.
Wait - hadn't Master Robin said witches kept cats as familiars? Much backed away from the scrawny animal. It didn't look particularly demonic, especially when it started licking itself like that.
"Muuuuuch." It was the barest whisper from inside the barn. He spun round, trying to see where it had come from. "Muuuuuch."
"Wh-who's there? Show yourself!" he squeaked, his voice sounding impossibly high-pitched in his ears.
"Muuuuuch. I've come for yooooou...."
And then like something from his worst nightmares, an apparition from Hell flew out of the barn towards him. A hideous hook-nosed hag riding a broom and shrieking with cackling laughter as she came to carry him off...
Much screamed, stumbled backwards and fell over, landing face to face with the cat. It flattened its ears and hissed at him, suddenly looking like an entirely plausible creature of the netherworld. As he jerked backwards to dodge its claws he felt the witch's cloak wrap around him, muffling his frantic yells in its deep folds. He flailed violently, screaming and crying that he didn't want to be eaten by devils. It wasn't till he fell to the ground again and had the breath momentarily knocked out of him he realised that instead of the witch's cackling he could now hear loud boyish laughter.
He stopped struggling and seconds later the cloak was jerked away from him to reveal Robin standing with tears streaming down his face, almost breathless from laughing so hard at his unfortunate and gullible manservant.
"Oh, you should have seen your face, Much! It was priceless!" Robin snorted. He tossed the 'witch' at the older boy who flinched involuntarily as it landed on him. "You better get that broom back to Sarah before she looks for it in the morning and those clothes will need washed."
"Yes, Master," Much said quietly, staring forlornly at the straw stuffed garments and trying to calm his heart and breathing.
"Oh and pick up my bow and quiver - they're still round by the side of the barn. I'm going for supper - see you later." Robin ran off, still laughing at his excellent jest.
"Yes, Master." Much dragged a sleeve across his face. He wasn't going to cry, he wasn't. Only silly children cry... Just like only silly children get scared by witches...
>>>--------------------->
"Where's my bow and quiver?" Robin muttered to himself as he looked around his room. Much must have forgotten to get them like he'd asked. Robin sighed. He couldn't leave them out all night - the damp air would rot the string.
He sneaked downstairs and looked for Much but he wasn't in his customary position by the fire in the servant's quarters.
S'pose I'll just have to get them myself. Honestly! What's the point in even having a manservant?!
Robin dodged out of the side door and quickly crossed the grounds to the outbuildings.
He found his bow and quiver and was about to head back when the door to the barn slowly creaked open to reveal a tall figure sitting astride a dark horse. The horseman wore a long black cape, a fine dark tunic and leggings... and was completely missing his head.
Robin's legs turned to jelly. He stumbled backwards before he suddenly came up with a rational explanation for the spectre. "V-very funny, Much. I might have guessed you'd try some pathetic attempt to pay me back." Robin tried not to let his voice give away his initial fright. It was a far more convincing ghost than he'd imagined Much would come up with. He turned quickly as he heard his name being shouted from the Manor behind him.
"Master Robin! Your father says it's time you were in bed! Master Robin!" Much was standing by the front door, peering into the darkness and calling for him.
Robin frowned. If Much was over there...
He felt his hair stand on end as he turned back to the headless horseman who raised a skeletal hand and beckoned to him, urging his steed slowly forward.
"Ahhh!" Robin turned and ran screaming towards Locksley Manor, colliding violently with Much who came running out hurriedly towards him at the sound of his cries.
"Master! What is it?"
"Gh-ghost!" he pointed back towards the barn as he scurried to hide behind Much's bulkier frame.
Much looked at him sceptically. "Very funny, Master Robin. I'm not falling for it twice in one night!"
"No...r-really!"
Much followed his young lord's shaking finger and sighed. "There's nothing there, Master."
Robin turned and his eyes frantically scanned the ground in front of the outbuildings. Much was right - there was nothing there.
"But - but I saw..."
"Can we go inside now, Master? Your father is already most displeased at you for being so late for dinner. If he catches us out here at this time of night..."
"Yes, inside, good idea." Robin was still clutching at the back of Much's tunic and trembling slightly. "Much, I'm - I'm sorry I tricked you earlier. It's really no fun being scared, is it?"
"No Master, but I'm sure if we stick together there will be very little that can ever scare us again." Much put his arm around him protectively and just for a moment thought maybe Halloween wasn't so bad after all...
>>>--------------------->
Marian watched from the shadows as Much helped his badly shaken Master into Locksley Manor. She smiled wickedly to herself as she lifted off the large jacket and took the small yoke from around her head that she'd used to prop it up.
God forgive her but that had been tremendous fun! Robin was always playing pranks on her and Much and she wasn't at all sorry for giving him such a scare, especially after she'd seen how upset Much had been earlier and how little Robin had seemed to care.
Actually it had been quite thrilling sneaking round in the dark in disguise - she might do it again one day...