by Shea, K. M.
“I have no doubt of that,” I said, cringing while remembering how I bounced off him when I ran into him that morning. He wasn’t fat like Friar Tuck, but the man was a literal brick wall.
“No Robyn,” my men protested.
“You’ll be hurt.”
“Robyn!”
“Come now, you cannot change the rules of the game,” Friar Tuck protested.
“Just this once I will,” I laughed, stopping on the river bank, smiling at the abbot as he slid off his rock.
“Robyn!” the Merry Men murmured, clearly filled with concern.
“I’ll take the blow for you,” Little John volunteered.
“How about a reshoot?” Will Scarlet suggested.
“Hitting the rope that strung the target in the air might qualify as hitting the target if we look at the technicalities,” Will Stutely suggested.
“Hitting the twine, which is much smaller than the target, was more difficult!” a Merry Man shouted.
“Men!” I shouted, silencing them. “I missed the target. I’ll take the blow,” I said before turning back to the abbot. “Do your worst good sir,” I said as Little John and Will Scarlet pushed their way towards me.
“Are you sure?” the abbot asked again, pushing the sleeve of his robe up his arm. (His very muscled arm.)
I swallowed and winced. “Yes,” I said, squeezing my eyes shut.
I felt the abbot shift, readying to hit me no doubt, when Will Scarlet and Little John shouted, “Robyn!”
I was abruptly pushed sideways and swayed in the air, loosing my balance. I stumbled and fell right into the river.
I fell into three feet of water, soaking my entire body. I pushed myself up right and lost my hat when I rolled into deeper waters and the river bank dropped out underneath my feet.
“LITTLE JOHN!” I howled.
“It wasn’t me, it was Will Stutely!”
“WILL!” I growled, thrashing in the water before pushing my long hair out of my face. The river had already carried away my hat, so my hair tumbled down past my shoulders in a wet curtain.
“Will I’m going to KILL YOU! Your mother will cry on your grave and your siblings will morn their loss!” I promised, slapping my hands on the water when I regained my footing and started walking up the river bank.
“Every bloody time. EVERY TIME!” I shouted, emerging from the river. Water dripped off my clothes and clung to me like a second skin, outlining my chest. My hair hung long and loose. Even though it was soaking it was very clearly well kept and womanly.
A Merry Man waded knee high into the water, holding out a blanket. I brushed him off and instead squeezed water out of my hair as more Merry Men swarmed around with concern.
“Robin Hood, the legendary outlaw… is a girl?” the head abbot asked with no small amount of disbelief.
I stepped out of the river, shaking my limbs. “Yes. Yes. Sorry for the deceit. WILL! You’re DEAD!” I bellowed before bending over to shake my head and rid my hair of more water. “I hate water,” I uttered after popping upright.
“I can’t believe it. Robin Hood, the King’s champion, is a woman,” the head abbot continued to muse. “How did that come about?”
I sighed and faced the monk, accepting a smaller towel from my men to wipe off my face. “It was all a misunderstanding. Some foresters were threatening Marian, I had to shoot at them. And then the Sheriff was going to have Much axed for killing a deer in Sherwood Forest. The list continues on. Everyone in my band is aware of who I really am: Robyn Smith. A girl from Nottinghamshire. It is only because of them that the legends of Robin Hood are so big. I couldn’t do anything without my men.”
“That’s a lie!” a Merry Man shouted.
“We need Robyn more than she needs us!”
“Without her we’re nothing.”
“She’s our master. We follow Robyn.”
“Robyn is our leader, she’s the only reason why the outlaws of Sherwood Forest exist. She’s ours,” Will Scarlet said, edging in front of me to partially hide me, Little John mimicking the movement. “We will fight for her until the day we die.”
“We all love her because of her generosity, kind heart, and her love for us. It’s a mutual adoration,” Little John added.
“One cannot argue with such stout loyalty,” the abbot said. “Very well then. I can see you are all nervous. So to assure you I shall share a secret of my own,” the head abbot said before pushing back the hood of his robe.
His face was strong and sure. He had chiseled features, a solid mouth, a blonde beard, stormy blue eyes, and noble blonde hair. It was a face I had seen daily for the past eleven days. It was the face of the King.
“King Richard,” I whispered before collapsing to my knees.
One by one the Merry Men mirrored my movement.
“I have been told so much about you, Robyn Hood. You robbed my brother and stole from my lords in order to raise funds for my ransom,” King Richard said as the rest of the abbots slowly pushed off the hoods of their cowls. They were the lords who traveled with the King, I recognized every last one of them from the daily processions.
“I heard of the time you stormed Nottingham to save Little John and Will Scarlet,” King Richard continued. “How you protected the beautiful Maid Marian from the greedy Sir Guy of Gisborne, how you won the famed archery contest, earning that very arrow that hangs over your camp. I have heard so many ballads and tales about you, Robyn Hood.”
“I am sorry, sire, that I cannot live up to them,” I whispered, hanging my head.
“No, you surpassed your ballads, Robyn,” the King laughed.
“Sire?” I asked, my eyes shooting up to meet his gaze.
“Your Merry Men are not merely loyal, they adore you. The people of Nottinghamshire would rather die than tell the Sheriff where you are. You inspire love and adoration wherever you go. I would love to have such a person serve me,” King Richard benevolently smiled.
“My King?” I breathed.
“Robyn Hood, I officially pardon you and all of your Merry Men. Will you join my courts and serve me for the rest of your days?” the King asked.
I blinked back the tears and smiled before bending over again to look at the ground. “I will.”
“Then rise, Robyn Hood,” King Richard ordered.
I slowly stood even though the rest of my men continued to kneel. I briefly twisted around to glance at my men, my eyes resting on Will Scarlet. I owed him more than a mere pardon. I owed all my men more than a pardon. “Sire, if I have won any of your affection, may I make a request?”
“Hm?” the King asked as his lords twittered behind him.
“Please, sire. Return Will Scarlet’s title to him. He is William Gamwell, rightful Earl of Maxfield. He was outlawed for killing a man who was trying to assassinate him. Please grant Marian a pardon too. Her parents are terribly angry with her for associating with me. And as you have probably figured out, the love between Robin Hood and Maid Marian is a sham foraged to protect me,” I hesitated before gazing out at my band. “Every last one of them has special circumstances. I can’t just toss them back, my lord. Even if you pardon them.”
King Richard laughed. “You really are the king of this forest. Alright Robyn Hood. I shall see to it that every last one of your Merry Men will be well cared for. Any that would care to enter my services are welcome to. Any that would prefer to return home can do so with an easy mind.”
“Thank you sire,” I bowed.
The cheers from the Merry Men were thunderous.
We had a wonderful afternoon. After I changed out of my soggy clothes and reclaimed my hat from Crafty’s teeth (the black horse had gotten out of his pen and was splashing in the river when my hat floated past him.) the men and I dueled and fought with cudgels.
King Richard proved to be an even match for Will Scarlet, our best swordsman, and one of the lords nearly beat Little John at the staff.
When we heard horns trumpeting at the edge of Sherwood and tw
o scouts returned from patrol to inform me a procession was waiting for King Richard, my band of Merry Men and I escorted the monarch to his waiting parade.
“I will publicly pardon you when I return to London and my courts. However, I am not sure when I will see you again, for I plan to leave the shores of Britain in a week or so,” the King said as we walked.
“You’re leaving so soon?” I asked.
“Phillip, the French King, is eyeing my Angevin Empire. I will die before I see him have it,” King Richard vowed.
My Merry Men and I winced.
“Do not worry, even if I am not present my courts will treat you kindly. My mother is a deep admirer of yours,” King Richard chuckled.
“About that, Your Majesty. I really have no desire to work in a court. I am an ignorant peasant. Even with my pardon I am not eager to reveal Robin Hood’s true gender,” I hesitantly supplied.
“It matters not. You are a capable woman, Robyn,” King Richard insisted.
“My King,” Marian said with a devious grin. “You have Will Scarlet to his rightful position. I would bet my father’s castle on Robyn becoming a countess and joining your courts in a matter of months.”
“Marian!” I hissed, turning red.
King Richard laughed. “So be it. I look forward to receiving tidings of your wedding, Lord William.”
I crankily pulled my hat lower on my head, meticulously checking to make sure no long locks were peeking out of the cap.
Three steps later and we were in front of King Richard’s procession.
“Thank you for honoring us with your presence, My King,” I said, bowing. The rest of the Merry Men kneeled and murmured similar thank yous.
“The pleasure was mine, Robyn Hood,” the King smiled, nodding at the servant who brought forth a beautiful, white horse. “I am glad I met you. And I am equally relieved to hear that the stone in my horse’s hoof was from you,” he wryly added.
I blushed darker and muttered at the ground.
King Richard laughed again. “I will send word from London after your pardon is public. My brother won’t be able to touch you. Thank you, Robin Hood, and Merry Men, for your service. Please, rise,” he ordered.
We all got to our feet and beamed at our monarch.
“Farewell, take care,” King Richard wished.
“You as well, Sire. May God protect you,” I said.
“Thank you,” King Richard said. He started to mount up his horse but paused and backed away. “I can’t help it,” he announced before reaching out and grabbing me.
I was shocked witless when he aimed his face down and kissed me.
And it wasn’t a short kiss.
Oh no.
I can’t say I remember much of it, mostly because I had the overwhelming feeling of shock flooding through my body. I do remember his blonde beard tickled my face.
When he let me go I stared at him and stumbled backwards, only to be steadied by Marian.
“KING RICHARD!” several of the lords-disguised-as-abbots shouted.
“What will people say!” they cried, clearly indicating that the rest of the procession didn’t know I was a girl.
Indeed the gossip had already started up.
“Did you know our King was like that?” one boy who held a trumpet muttered to a boy holding a flag.
“No. But clearly he is,” the flag boy replied.
“King Richard!” Will Scarlet and Little John also shouted, although for a very different reason than his lords.
“You just—you just!” Will Scarlet sputtered.
“Took advantage of our leader!” Little John thumped.
King Richard laughed as he swung onto the back of his horse. “What… jealous you didn’t get to Robyn first?”
“KING RICHARD!” his lords screamed.
King Richard turned his horse and rode away, raising a hand in farewell. His lords and procession hurried after him, gossiping and muttering the whole way.
“—ruined his hard earned reputation in a single day thanks to some pretty face.”
“Should have known better than to do such an act publicly.”
My Merry Men and I watched them go in shocked silence.
“Well. That was interesting,” Marian chirped.
“Did that really happen, or did I imagine it all?” I asked in a dazed voice.
“That King,” Will Scarlet hissed, angrily eyeing the dazzling procession.
“He’s lucky he’s leaving Britain,” Little John chuckled before gesturing for us all to return to the forest.
Will Scarlet was still scowling as we plunged back into the foliage.
“Is something wrong?” I asked, slowing down.
Will Scarlet nailed me with a rather accusing look, and I blushed bright red. I was about to make tracks and escape Scarlet’s bad temper when Little John unfortunately foresaw my plan and waylaid it by sweeping out a tree trunk arm. He caught me in the chest and heaved me backwards, throwing me to the ground.
“Oh, sorry Robyn. I didn’t see you there,” he said, sounding not at all apologetic as I coughed and hacked, trying to get air to my lungs. Perhaps he was still a little sore that I chose Will.
I heard some of the Merry Man, Much probably, murmuring further down the path. Little John replied in his deep tones, “She is fine. Will Scarlet can wait with her. We had best return to camp and clean up.”
Little Johns stomped away like a giant as I hesitantly propped myself up on my elbows. Marian and the Merry Men went with him, occasionally glancing back over their shoulders to look at me.
I tried to beg for someone else to stay, but I couldn’t speak with the air still knocked out of me and breathed like a wheezing dog. I breathed deeply in the new silence of the forest and glanced fretfully to Will Scarlet—who was crouched next to me with a thoughtful look.
“Are you really that terrified of me?” he asked. Although his voice was friendly I could tell it pained him to ask.
“No,” I said after taking several gulps of air.
“Then why are you so frightened of facing me when it comes to love? I have been patient and I haven’t pushed you much. You must be either scared stiff of me, or you don’t love me at all and you’re avoiding me,” Will Scarlet said, standing up. “Which one is it Robyn?”
I shook my head. “Neither,” I said as I stumbled to my feet.
“Then what is it that makes you so unwilling?”
I stared at my feet and did not answer.
Will sighed before walking away from me. “I see. I will take care to not be caught alone with you again. I wouldn’t want to further impede you.”
“Will!” I shouted, hurrying after him. “Wait, it’s none of that.”
“Oh?”
“I, I just don’t know if this is real,” I lamely said.
Will Scarlet stopped, staring straight ahead. “You doubt that I really love you? Do you think me to be that fickle?” he asked, finally turning to look at me.
“Yes. No. What I mean is you’re a Lord’s son! Even if you love me there’s no possible way you can marry me,” I explained.
A shadow of a smile finally found its way to Will Scarlet’s lips. “Robyn, you have robbed a prince and saved a King, and you speak of impossibilities?”
“Aren’t you like Marian? Do you not have to marry another member of nobility?” I said.
“That’s what this is about?” Will Scarlet said, his eyebrows rising. “Oh Robyn, you should have said something sooner,” he said before taking a step closer to me and folding his arms around me.
Although I was tense and closely imitated a plank of wood Will Scarlet was warm and gentle as he rested his chin on the top of my head. “I’m aware that you just went and got my title back for me, but it’s not important to me. Robyn, when I joined your band I gave up everything—my claim to my title, my family—because I believed in you and what you were doing. My feelings have only increased since then. I would gladly stay with you in Sherwood forever if that is what
you wished. If you are afraid that I will not marry you because of a silly title then I do not want it. My younger brother can have it, I care not. You are what I desire, Robyn. You are what my waking moments are about. I will follow you until I am physically unable to, and I will love you until the last beat of my heart.”
I was quiet as I leaned into Will Scarlet, finding comfort in his declaration.
He was quiet for a few moments until he gently stepped back, placing his fingers under my chin to tip my head upright. “So Robyn, my heart’s desire, do you accept my love? Do you return it?”
I thoughtfully studied Will’s face. He had to become a lord. He needed to. Will Scarlet was the one member of my band that would hold a reasonable amount of power now that we were pardoned. At the same time, though, I did love him. I loved him for what he did, for his vanity and gentleness, for his kindness, concern, and love. I loved Will Scarlet. What frightened me was that I loved him so much I was willing to become a lady to stay with him. The idea of being a noble was even more terrifying than Marian’s Outlaw Dream ever was.
I nodded, unable to speak at first. “I do, Will.”
Will Scarlet smiled as if I had just saved his life and given him his greatest wish in the span of one moment. His smile turned mischievous as he leaned in, touching his forehead against mine. “So you’ll take on my last name as my wife, not my cousin?”
I winced. “I was wondering if you picked up on that.”
“I did. I just about slugged that George fellow when he took you from me at the party. The fact that you called you Lady Gamwell is the only thing that saved him.”
“How big of you,” I laughed when Scarlet’s breath tickled my face.
“Indeed. And King Richard… I cannot say I’m sorry to see him go.”
“Will! He’s our King!”
“Yes and he kissed you first even though you’re going to be my wife. That is a rather high, not to mention unfair, tax,” Will Scarlet, his lips grazing my cheek.
“It’s one kiss, Will. What is a kiss compared to a lifetime?” I sighed.
Will pulled back for a moment and blinked at me before softly smiling. “Yes, a lifetime,” he agreed before leaning in and kissing me.
At first I tried to squirm away, but Will would not let me go. He kept kissing me until I leaned into him, the strength of my legs abandoning me against the romantic onslaught.
