I love this story - I only discovered it in March 2012 and I am so happy that you are still writing and updating. This is my second time through - its already becoming one of my go-to fics when I want something familiar and enjoyable to read.
You've captured the characters so well and maintained the integrity from the source material. At the same time you have also made them your own so they are not just shadow puppets of the series but real, fleshed out characters. Your OC's are realistic and are a natural fit - not forced.
I think one of the strongest aspects of the story is that it is multi-dimensional and complex. Its not just a single plot line, but multiple interwoven, just like real life. Djac and Will both have their own struggles adjusting to life in Acre, in their work, etc; there is the war, the mystery with Gisborne, the new outlaw arrangements, the battle with the sheriff, the pregnancy, and the Daniel viewpoint and others I'm sure I've omitted. You draw the reader in - even if I'm not particularly invested in one storyline, there are four others that I am addicted to which help keep me and other readers coming back.
I have been dying to find out since Chapter 1 what causes Daniel to have such disdain for his father. Obviously Will and Djac are physically separated in Daniel's time, and I want to know WHY. I have my theories, but I want to see what you have planned. Please don't abandon this story - there are some of us who are invested in the plot and the characters and want to see where you take it.
There's so much excellent stuff in this chapter I don't even know where to begin. Will's anger at Guy's reaction to seeing the Nightwatchman (I wonder if it's because he feels a smidgen of sympathy he doesn't want to feel?), Guy's response to Will (I like that he acknowledges his responsibility for bad things that have happened because of him to other people besides Marian, but it's also totally in character for him to refuse to apologize to Will), his reaction to Allan and particularly the taunt to Will about trusting Allan with his woman. It makes total sense that Djaq would be the one person he'd want to talk to; Djaq doesn't exactly like him, but it's much less personal for her than for the others. And then Djaq in the camp, and her reasons for not disclosing her pregnancy, and her conversation with the monk (love the Virgin Mary allusion and his shock at it!). And Will deciding he no longer wants to be an outlaw.
The meeting at the tavern - so many excellent touches there, from Djaq proposing to drink ale as a signal to Allan if there's trouble to the conversation itself. I particularly like Guy asking Djaq if she thinks he's beyond saving, and being apparently interested in the answer, considering she's not a Christian. Maybe he can't afford to spurn any viewpoint on the issue, given how much trouble he's in with God?
The beginnings of cooperation between Robin and Guy are interesting; I'm curious to see how far you'll take it.
Oh, and the deaf girl (if she really is deaf!) is the faux Nightwatchman! Wonder what her game is. Hope the next chapter is coming soon!
OMG, if you only knew how many times I've started to comment on this chapter and then been called away before finishing! Hmph!
Anyway...
The Djaq and John section here is really great. What has always intrigued me about their friendship is the fact that they are so clearly equals - perhaps more so than any other two people on the show - despite the differences in their ages, backgrounds, faiths, genders. They genuinely like and respect one another and there is never any pretense surrounding their interactions. And I love how that is still very evident here even though there is now a bit of awkwardness over the time that's passed and all that's happened in between.
It was *so* good to catch up with Much. I love him and I've missed how darned expressive he always is. I totally get why he's so ticked off with everyone around him and why he hates how things have turned out for all of them. And W/D being away just when they were needed most just makes it all worse in his mind. I'm actuallly glad he got to get some of it off his chest with Djaq. She, at least, would listen and try to understand while I doubt Robin would at this point.
Speaking of Robin, I really like how you're letting all the changes in him be revealed mostly through the words and attitudes of his men, rather than directly from him. It is so much more profound to be able to get a feel for how all these changes in his mood and priorities are affecting everyone around him. It sets an interesting tone to the story that keeps me on the edge wondering when the other shoe will drop.
In fact, I have to say I was very impressed with how you kept a sort of heaviness over everything in this chapter. Each conversation and thought about Robin, the new gang, the deaf girl, or Gisborne kind of pulled the reader someplace we didn't quite understand until BAM! the NWM appears and it puts a whole new spin on everything. Now you've got me wondering if the deaf woman is merely a red herring or if there's more to her than meets the eye. Hmm. Don't make us wait forever to find out this time. *pointed glare* ;)
Great chapter! Lots of stuff happening and everything is coming together now. I'm excited for the next update. Yay!
So much great stuff in this chapter! I love the Little John/Djaq interaction, especially his anger and bafflement that Will and Djaq would come back to Nottingham when they had a chance to raise a family in a "normal" environment, and how that ties into his still-present angst about his family. And Angry!Much - wow. I can totally understand that he'd feel betrayed by Will and Djaq for staying in the Holy Land. I was shocked that he doesn't even regret saying that he no longer likes Robin, but it's good to see him stand up for himself.
Great Allan/Will interaction, especially Allan teasing Will about looking at a girl's legs and Will's resentment at Allan adopting the "big brother" role. Allan's attitude toward Guy seems spot-on - he doesn't LIKE him, exactly, but he does see that he's not all bad. And GREAT stuff with Tuck and the backstory for what happened to Guy after Marian's death. I know I told you when I read your first Gisborne chapter that he seemed a little too "together" for post-2x13 Guy, but with this kind of background it makes sense to me. Guy has a flair for the (melo)dramatic, and I can TOTALLY see him developing the "God saved me for a reason" mentality.
Can't wait to see what his mission is, and that twist with the Nightwatchman... WOW! so, who's behind that mask? We know it isn't Allan, this time... ;)
*Sniff* I like your description of Robin, sad though it is, and the glimpse back at happier times when Marian would whistle and Robin would go after it "like a rabbit in the spring". That's so true! But I love how Will and Djaq are immediately drawn back into the inner circle.
*Sigh* I know you're not an Allan/Djaq shipper, but any moments between these two just make me melt, especially when he thinks how much he missed her. And when he says: "I'm not leaving without you." AND how well he knows how to defuse a situation between them whilst simultaneously stir it up a little - in more ways than one ;)
*Sigh* I'm late to the party again. Still, better late than never, right?
I love seeing the differences between everyone: Allan as a leader, Will and Djaq communicating without words, more people in the forest, the living conditions much more difficult, and Robin trying to cope with his loss: it's all very bittersweet, but you've made it your *own* scenario and yet not taken it so far that we can't recognise who these people are or what they're trying to deal with. And it rings truer than canon, in which everyone sans Guy was inexplicably cheerful.
You have an interesting OC brewing here in the shape of this young mute/deaf girl. Methinks there's more to her than what it seems. And if not, it's always good to get some more estrogen in Sherwood (er, well - with one obvious exception).
I loved seeing Matilda again. She was such a great character, and you really captured her ("where else would I be but my own cottage?" Heh). That was such an adorably awkward conversation between her and Djaq. I like it when Djaq gets to show her uncertain side, and Matilda's little comment about her own husband was a nice character moment.
And the plot certainly thickens around Gisborne! Can't wait to meet this Catherine and see what her game is.
One thing though, could I get some clarification on these lines:
Allan laughed. "You ask a lot of questions, Djaq."
"True, but that never bothered you before."
"Yeah, but that was because I thought you..." His voice trailed off and he stopped in his tracks, giving her a sheepish look. "Never mind."
I think I know what Allan's getting at (to do with the Will/Allan tension a few paragraphs later), but I don't want to say because I'm not 100% sure and I don't want to just assume wrongly!
Uh-oh! I see I have yet to comment on this chapter despite the fact that I enjoyed it so much. Sorry about that.
I'll try not to ramble on about how awesome it is and just stick to the key points, but don't hold your breath (As you know, being concise is not one of my talents, lol).
I really enjoyed getting an up-close look at Robin post Marian's death. I always felt that S3 Robin was a bit all over the place and not really in keeping with his S1-S2 character. But here, Robin seems to have poured every ounce of himself into serving the king, which I find ver in-character. I can easily believe that he would dedicate himself to the king's cause whole-heartedly rather than allowing himself to get swept up in all of the romantic distractions he fell prey to in S3. Marian and serving the king were his two drives in life and losing one would surely make him double his efforts on the other.
I don't like his plan to separate W/D from one another, but I can totally believe that he feels, as usual, that he understands the ways of the world better than most (especially his men) and that he's doing what's best and what needs to be done. Poor Robin though...SIGH...he never did quite grasp the concept (on the show, at least) that *his* goals and the king's never really did coincide. I think he honestly believed that the king's return would mean an end to all troubles (no more hungry peasants, no more tyranny, no more outrageous taxes, etc.) so the fact that he's working overtime to get the king home is no great surprise. I'm really looking forward to seeing how it all unfolds here.
And of course, last but not least, I love the W/D stuff. I think it has worked out incredibly well for the story to have had so many chapters of just W/D (without the gang) so that now, when they've finally rejoined their friends, there is not only a real bond and understanding between the two of them, but it also serves to underscore just how much they have missed while away and how much they truly are outsiders right now.
Plus, of course, the fluff scene was excellent. The way they relate to one another is very realistic and the way you write them is lovely. I'm saddened that they'll be apart for a bit, but I am absolutely looking forward to their reunion.
I also can't wait to catch up with Much and maybe get some thoughts from John's POV.
This story is, as you well know, my very favorite. Every time there's a new chapter I feel like I'm catching up with old friends. Thanks for that. :)
So glad to see you finally updating! Lots of interesting stuff happening in this chapter: Robin trying to ally himself with the Church and pushing away Djaq because the monks may mistrust her; Djaq wanting to prove herself; the mystery of the "deaf" girl; the Allan/Djaq and Will/Djaq interaction (I really like Allan playing on Will's jealousy to get him to look out for Djaq). Can't wait to see what happens next.
So the gang is almost fully back together! Yay! I'm eagerly awaiting W/D's meeting with Much next chapter. Although I can't imagine he's changed much. Much will always be...well *Much*!
This peek at Robin is very interesting. He's more secretive and also more driven where the king is concerned. That's very believable given what happened in Acre (both with Marian and the King). Those were always the aspects of Robin's personality which I liked least though (obviously), so it was good to see it tempered with his genuine happiness and excitement upon seeing his friends after so long. Yay!
I'm really excited about W/D (& A?) solving this riddle in order to meet up with Gisborne. And I can't wait to see what kind of team they all make (G,W/D and A) and what they get up to together.
I also really like the deaf/mute girl and it's interesting that she's got secrets of her own. Hmm.
Another perfectly brilliant chapter. Everyone was completely IC (of course) and it's wonderful to see the gang together once again. But uh-oh! Things are definitely *not* as they were before. How will W/D cope? Update soon! :)
Well, you've pulled me back into the story with the Guy-bait ;) (and honestly, the only reason I drifted away was lack of time - I was going to catch up anyway), and now I really want to go back and catch up on all the stuff I missed; Will and Djaq's Holy Land adventures sound fascinating. The situation back home is really interesting too; so the gang's basically broken up into three and no one's really helping the poor anymore? And Robin's off on his King Richard kick? Very interesting. Love the conversation with Allan (everyone is so much in character), and of course a very nice appearance by Matilda. I especially like her questioning of Djaq about how she came to be pregnant. Very nice interaction between Djaq and the deaf-mute girl, too. Finally, the Gisborne stuff is quite interesting. How DID he learn about the pregnancy stuff? Was he doing penance for Marian's death by volunteering in a women's health care center? ;) Somehow I doubt it.
Uh-oh, how long has this chapter been here? I have this story on alert, and I've only just found it...and I've been *dying* to know what happens after last chapter's cliff-hanger.
Interesting Guy/Djaq interaction: I've always thought that Djaq would be more open to the idea of working with, or at least *talking to* Guy - all things considered, he never did anything wrong to her specifically, and I liked the detail that Guy automatically assumes that Robin/Djaq is an item and that she's pregnant with his child. It's a typical misconception that someone like Guy would make, but it's also rather interesting in light of Marian's death (weirdly enough, I keep forgetting that Marian is still dead in this continuity. It's only now that they've come home again that it's hit home).
In any case, there's a nice little mystery going on here...everyone thinks that Guy is dead...so what's he up to, and why he had her walk around in a circle of all things (did he just not know what to do, or was he hoping Robin would turn up?) It was a nice discussion on loyalty as well - who deserves it and who doesn't, especially in regards to the murky waters of King Richard.
But oh, not the best homecoming in getting home to camp and realizing that everyone's gone (though they certainly find a way to take advantage of that fact!)
And then Allan! I admit, I had tears in my eyes. But ouch, it's only natural that things would be different now, and I thought you really nailed the happiness and awkwardness that Allan would feel seeing them together, and as a unit. Hopefully they manage to find a new balance between the three of them before long...(though I did go "ooh" when Allan got a trifle defensive over the split ale. I get a bit of a feeling that things have to get worse before they get better).
I'm sorry I'm so late in commenting. I figured it would be better to type something that was *not* laced with cold-medicine-induced babbling, lol.
There may still be babbling, but it will be all my own. :)
Let's see...where to begin? So much goodness in just one chapter! First of all, Gisborne was great. A perfect balance of a man at the end of his rope, yet still hiding some compassion deep down. I like how Djaq and he both manage to impress the other - unintenionally and even grudgingly. And his words to her about Robin's devotion to the king are true in a big way, aren't they? That was never really addressed on the show, with regard to the awkward position it must place Djaq in. I'm glad you brought it up here.
Will's mini breakdown after almost losing her was very poignant. She and the baby are his entire world now. Naturally he would be incredibly shaken by the experience.
And the fluff scene was, as always, very well done. I always like the way your m-rated scenes read like genuine love scenes between Will and Djaq and not just sex inserted to please the masses. That's such a difficult thing to pull off, but you always do. Excellent!
And Yay! They're reunited with Allan! Yippie! I love how he desperately missed them and waited for their return, yet also the way that he's pained by the little hints of closeness between the two. Things that he can never really share with them.
And I'm so intrigued by the changes in the gang since they returned from the Holy Land. I can't wait until the next chapter to find out where they're living, who all these new men and women are, and how much their purpose has actually changed.
Plus, the twist with them believing Guy is dead was great! Will Will and Djaq tell Allan what they know? Even after Guy released them?
All good stuff, but my favorite, favorite, *favorite* part of this chapter was the little references to them belonging in Sherwood.
Like this:
"Somewhere in the back of her mind, she suspected it was just the magic of this place, of Sherwood Forest."
and this:
"Will inhaled, taking in the scent of the fresh growth in the underbrush, of the rich, dark earth drenched with rain water, and feeling as if he had somehow found the one place in the world where everything was right."
Sigh. Very nice. They're back where they belong! What could *possibly* go wrong now? Okay, do NOT answer that! ;)
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