Ficathon 2: Courtship in Reverse
Author: Adia
Title: Courtship in Reverse
Prompt: flowers
Length: very short story (493 words)
Rating: G
Notes: Robin comes back from an early morning walk with a present and a lecture for Much.
Competition: yes
When Robin returned from his early-morning visit to Locksley and the neighboring estates, the rest of the outlaws were still asleep. That was probably for the best, considering what Robin had clutched in his hand. Will and John, at least, would tease him mercilessly. Much was wrapped so securely in his cloak and blankets that almost none of his body was visible. An ear poked out here, and his shod feet at the bottom of the cot. Gently, Robin rested his hand on Much’s back. Leaning over, he whispered into Much’s ear: “Come on, then. Time to wake up.”
Much woke very slowly. As he carefully untwisted his feet and legs from his blankets, he mumbled, “You’ve been walking?”
“To Locksley,” Robin said. “I went round to Bonchurch as well.”
Having finally extricated himself from the blankets at the foot of Robin’s bed, Much sat up. He leaned against the earthen wall of their camp. “And Knighton,” he guessed when he noticed the festive bouquet of wildflowers in Robin’s hand.
Robin smirked wickedly. “No, just Locksley and Bonchurch.”
“And you… picked some flowers whilst you were there?”
“Yeah,” Robin said sarcastically. He set the flowers on the bed near Much. “Every morning, I get up before sunrise and gather wildflowers. Then I nip over to Nottingham and have breakfast with the Sheriff. It’s lovely.”
Much rolled his eyes. “There’s no reason to be glib,” he snapped. “I didn’t wake up at the crack of dawn to be berated for asking perfectly rational questions.”
The exchange was not going as Robin had hoped. Dropping to the cot beside Much, he said, “There were a few people up and about by the time I got to Bonchurch. They all asked after you, one girl in particular.”
“Eve,” Much started. Suddenly, it didn’t matter that he’d been awakened just after sunrise. “Please, Master, is she-Is she all right?”
“Yeah,” Robin said. “She told me to tell you that it feels so long between Sundays. I tried not to let on that I had no godly idea what she was talking about.”
Much spoke quickly, desperate to excuse his secrecy, “There’s nothing untoward going on. We’ve never been alone together since I declared my intentions. I’ll stop visiting her if you disapprove.”
Robin gently chafed Much’s arm. “I think she’s a good, kind girl with a solid head on her shoulders. I also think that if you don’t start doing things properly and sending her flowers, instead of the other way round, she’ll have no incentive to hang onto you. You’re doin’ things a bit backwards.”
Laughing, Much said, “There fields beyond Knighton are overrun with wildflowers. We could both go-after a good breakfast, of course.”
“Naturally,” Robin agreed. He jumped to his feet and pulled Much after him. Flinging his arm around Much’s shoulders, he guided his friend into the camp’s common area, where the cooking fire was burning low. They had serious work to do.
Title: Courtship in Reverse
Prompt: flowers
Length: very short story (493 words)
Rating: G
Notes: Robin comes back from an early morning walk with a present and a lecture for Much.
Competition: yes
When Robin returned from his early-morning visit to Locksley and the neighboring estates, the rest of the outlaws were still asleep. That was probably for the best, considering what Robin had clutched in his hand. Will and John, at least, would tease him mercilessly. Much was wrapped so securely in his cloak and blankets that almost none of his body was visible. An ear poked out here, and his shod feet at the bottom of the cot. Gently, Robin rested his hand on Much’s back. Leaning over, he whispered into Much’s ear: “Come on, then. Time to wake up.”
Much woke very slowly. As he carefully untwisted his feet and legs from his blankets, he mumbled, “You’ve been walking?”
“To Locksley,” Robin said. “I went round to Bonchurch as well.”
Having finally extricated himself from the blankets at the foot of Robin’s bed, Much sat up. He leaned against the earthen wall of their camp. “And Knighton,” he guessed when he noticed the festive bouquet of wildflowers in Robin’s hand.
Robin smirked wickedly. “No, just Locksley and Bonchurch.”
“And you… picked some flowers whilst you were there?”
“Yeah,” Robin said sarcastically. He set the flowers on the bed near Much. “Every morning, I get up before sunrise and gather wildflowers. Then I nip over to Nottingham and have breakfast with the Sheriff. It’s lovely.”
Much rolled his eyes. “There’s no reason to be glib,” he snapped. “I didn’t wake up at the crack of dawn to be berated for asking perfectly rational questions.”
The exchange was not going as Robin had hoped. Dropping to the cot beside Much, he said, “There were a few people up and about by the time I got to Bonchurch. They all asked after you, one girl in particular.”
“Eve,” Much started. Suddenly, it didn’t matter that he’d been awakened just after sunrise. “Please, Master, is she-Is she all right?”
“Yeah,” Robin said. “She told me to tell you that it feels so long between Sundays. I tried not to let on that I had no godly idea what she was talking about.”
Much spoke quickly, desperate to excuse his secrecy, “There’s nothing untoward going on. We’ve never been alone together since I declared my intentions. I’ll stop visiting her if you disapprove.”
Robin gently chafed Much’s arm. “I think she’s a good, kind girl with a solid head on her shoulders. I also think that if you don’t start doing things properly and sending her flowers, instead of the other way round, she’ll have no incentive to hang onto you. You’re doin’ things a bit backwards.”
Laughing, Much said, “There fields beyond Knighton are overrun with wildflowers. We could both go-after a good breakfast, of course.”
“Naturally,” Robin agreed. He jumped to his feet and pulled Much after him. Flinging his arm around Much’s shoulders, he guided his friend into the camp’s common area, where the cooking fire was burning low. They had serious work to do.