Robyn Hood: A Girl's Tale

by K. M. Shea

  “Great, I might as well summon the men to tell them,” I said as I unhooked the horn Scarlet had given me. I raised it to my lips and gave one solid blow, the note echoing around Sherwood. I nodded in satisfaction and sat down on a log. A few minutes later all of my men, except Will Stutely who hadn’t even stirred from his sleep, crowded around me.

  I looked at the 21 faces surrounding me before smiling. “Men, we’re moving!”

  Fall hurried through Nottingham with winter gnawing at its heels. It grew cold, the still waters froze, and snow fell. Thankfully all fall we had concentrated on laying the groundwork for our new camp, making it nice in the winter so we didn’t have to mess with the frozen ground.

  Will Stutely really had found the perfect spot. It was walled in by rows of trees, both evergreens and leaf trees alike, and a small waterfall was in the center. Although the waterfall itself was over seven feet tall it made very little noise, and the river was swift but not dangerous near our camp. It moved enough that it didn’t freeze during the cold months of winter, making it infinitely easier on us. We were all in good spirits, my men extravagantly so, and I often found myself refusing most of their lavish plans.

  “No,” I said, pushing the paper out of my face.

  “Come on Robyn!” Will Stutely complained. “You need a hut worthy of you!”

  We had decided to build wood and mud homes, small enough to keep us warm but large enough to sleep and keep any personal items in. We had already laid the frames down during the start of November/late October.

  “No Will. That is no hut, it’s a castle,” I said as I stormed by, my boots crunching in the soft, newly fallen snow.

  Will stalked after me, intent on getting his way. “But Robyn you need to live it up a little! You’ve helped hundreds of people in countless ways and you rarely ever reward yourself,” he whined as I walked through our new camp, waving to the many new trainees as well as my old, familiar members. We were now up to thirty five Merry Men.

  I stopped and turned around to face Will Stutely. “Will, I’m not the only hero. I just boss you guys around. The Merry Men are the real heroes, I don’t deserve special treatment.”

  Will frowned, trying to wrap his mind around that. “Well, we could take off two rooms and the stables,” he graciously offered.

  I growled and threw my hands up in the air when my second in commands swirled in.

  “Hey Will, irritating our Bold and Brave leader again, eh?” Little John asked at me as he smiled down at me, his green eyes sparkling against his rosy complexion.

  “You know it’s not good to make her mad,” Will Scarlet said, shaking a finger in Will Stutely’s direction as he stood in a relaxed position before running his hand through his black hair, pausing to wink at me. “She’ll put Crafty on you.”

  “So true,” Little John agreed before lifting up my hat to ruffle my hair.

  “Give me that!” I snapped, pulling the hat back onto my head before stomping off. It was very difficult to remain irate around those two. They were like court jesters, constantly joking and breaking off into a random songs. It wasn’t that bad, unless they were purposely singing off key. Why two days before they serenaded Much with a love song. It was quite a sight to behold.

  “Little Robyn’s got a temper!” Little John laughed, Will Scarlet joining in as Will Stutely grunted and studied his crinkled paper that depicted his plans for my hut.

  “Little Robyn’s gonna get mad!” Will Scarlet said, talking as though I was a small child or puppy. Both he and Little John broke out laughing, not noticing as I scooped up some snow into my glove covered hands.

  “Did you know that to get into the Merry Men I had to thoroughly beat her with my cudgel?” Little John asked Will Scarlet as I loaded the snow into the front of my shirt before climbing up a tree.

  “No, but I also had to beat her. Only I used my sword,” Idiot number one said to idiot number two as I stretched out on a high branch and began to form the snow into circular mounds.

  “She really does stink when it comes to using a staff,” Little John grunted. “I bet it’s got something to her being a girl.”

  I looked at them with vague interest as I raised my arm, Will Stutely noticed and took four steps backwards.

  “Yeah, you know how it is. All bark and no bite,” Will Scarlet laughed.

  “Indeed,” Little John agreed before my snow ball nailed him in the face. A second one hit Will Scarlet on his cheek.

  They wiped the snow from their faces as all of the Merry Men around laughed. My two best friends looked up, craning their necks, and spotted me casually leaning against the trunk, a good supply of snowballs stored between two large branches on the trunk.

  “What was that about all bark and no bite?” I loftily asked, sending two more their way. They ducked, but not fast enough. My snowballs dusted their hair.

  They exchanged glances as they brushed off snow. “Do you think she’s making us eat our words?” Will Scarlet wondered.

  “I believe she is implying that,” Little John replied before picking up his own glob of snow to heft at me.

  It was thrown far too low. I had purposely chosen a high branch, making it nearly impossible to hit me. I sent a few more snowballs down as pure chaos broke out, my light hearted men throwing snow at each other as I watched from above, safe and out of reach.

  Will Stutely loudly complained until his drawings were hit by a couple of rookies. He promptly dropped his papers and made the trainees eat snow.

  Much and Little John went at it, throwing and ducking while teams were swiftly formed and cover was taken.

  Hob leaped into the midst, dragging Tom with him before they quickly joined Much’s side, building snowballs for their team members, who would throw the snow at Little John and his minions.

  I laughed, lodging a few of my own every once in a while, enjoying the uproar.

  “That’s right, laugh while you can!” a voice came from behind me. I twisted around to see Will Scarlet, crouched like a cat, on a branch directly behind me.

  I yelped and hefted the snowball I was holding at him before jumping backwards, landing on another branch. I then dropped down, catching a lower branch with my hands. I swung back and forth before gaining enough momentum to fly to a thicker, sturdier limb. I landed on it and glanced up, looking for Will in the branches above me.

  He wasn’t there.

  “Gotcha!” he suddenly crowed in my face. I was so startled he was able to knock me off the branch. We fell several levels down, I was pushing and fighting the whole way. When we finally stopped falling, hitting a thicker branch, Scarlet jumped at me. Out of pure instinct I jumped to another, smaller branch. He followed me. When he landed next to me I heard a cracking noise.

  “Get off the branch you fat cow!” I hissed, feeling my eyes grow bigger. “It’s going to break!”

  Scarlet smirked. “Yep,” he agreed before springing toward me as the branch snapped. We landed in a snow drift underneath the tree. I poked my head out of the cold material, noticing that the snowball fight was still going on before I wriggled out of the pile and leaped onto Will, who was starting to get up.

  “You dunce,” I said, about to wash his face with snow, but he caught my wrist and started pushing it back. “You could have gotten us killed!” I scolded. “Much would have murdered you!”

  Will grinned before throwing his weight and rolling on top of me, reversing the roles. “Not so Lady Robyn, but right now I would be more concerned about the snow in your face you’re going to receive,” he laughed, holding a thick ball of snow.

  “You wouldn’t dare,” I said, catching his lowering hand.

  “Oh, I would,” Will smirked.

  I leaned further back into the snow as Will increased the pressure and pushed his hand down. Scrambling for options I came to my last resort. “MUCH!” I shouted.

  Instantly I could see the head of my first Merry Man pop up from behind a fallen log, peevishly looking around. “I heard my name c
alled by a distinctly feminine voice! Robyn, where are you?” he shouted before getting smacked with a snowball in the side of the face. “Ow!” he howled, glaring as he continued to search for me.

  “OVER HERE!” I shouted as the snowball inched closer to my face.

  Much spotted me and stood, pointing his finger in my direction. “Ah-ha! The ruffians from the other side are attacking our leader! Unleash the storm Merry Men!” he ordered. Instantly a horde of snowballs pelted Will Scarlet.

  I laughed hysterically as Will smiled good naturedly before pulling me up. “I have a shield!” he laughed, holding me out in front of him. “Get her Little John!” he shouted. Little John’s team raised their arms (At least the veteran and more daring members did.) when suddenly the baying of hounds filled the air.

  I felt my blood turn into ice, and every one in our camp froze. The sound of pounding hooves filled our ears while the dogs got closer.

  “Foresters!” I yelled. My men scrambled for cover, disappearing from view. I looked up at Will, we wouldn’t be able to hide in time. He grimly pushed me deeper into the drift, burrowing next to me before tossing snow on top of us.

  The hounds were baying directly outside our natural wall. We heard the horses neigh while the clinking of their tack and harsh voices drifted through our camp.

  “Did ye find anything?” a man’s voice boomed.

  “Nay. Even with most of the trees bare it’s still impossible to find him. Curse that Robin Hood!” a second man shouted.

  I shivered and clutched Will Scarlet’s hand.

  “I’m not looking forward to telling the Sheriff that we haven’t found him,” the first voice grunted.

  “He can get off his fat rear and come look himself. Besides, telling George is what I fear more. Come, let’s go.”

  The horses neighed before pounding off through the woods, the hounds chasing after them. No one moved even after our camp fell silent.

  “Robyn?” I heard a frightened Much ask. Will Scarlet popped out of the snowdrift and stood, dragging me up with him. As I brushed snow off my clothes my Merry Men began popping out from behind bushes, trees, and snowdrifts.

  “What was that about?” Will Stutely asked as he stood up, brushing snow off of his precious plans.

  “It looks like the Sheriff is starting to get serious,” Little John grimly considered.

  “Yes, so it seems,” I agreed, narrowing my eyes as I gazed off into the forest. “Scarlet, Little John, Much, Stutely, meet me at the campfire. The rest of you should return to your previous activities,” I ordered, squaring my shoulders.

  I stalked off toward the campfire. My veteran members were already there, seating themselves on logs.

  “We have to do something,” I said, standing before them with my hands on my hips. “I won’t let a single man get captured.”

  “We understand Robyn,” Will Scarlet soothed.

  “Robyn, I’m more concerned about you,” Will Stutely said, worry lining his voice like a rabbit skin lining a quiver.

  I said with as much quiet force as I could muster, “I don’t care about myself. It’s my men that matter. I’m responsible for them!”

  Little John placed a large hand on my shoulder. “We understand Robyn,” he repeated Scarlet’s words. He was trying to pacify me, the slug.

  “No you don’t!” I said, whirling around. “I’m the leader! They are under my care and leadership. I won’t let a single one get caught.”

  “Robyn,” Much said.

  I spun around, ready to strike out at him if he was as difficult as Stutely, Little John, and Scarlet were turning out to be.

  “I understand. I was your first man. I trained every single Merry Man,” he reminded me. I slowly relaxed under his firm voice. “But I don’t think you understand.”

  I tensed up and glared, preparing to bite his head off.

  “We, your Merry Men, we would rather die then see you hurt,” he quietly explained. “When you go off on your own and when you try to save everyone, or even when you injure yourself, we are hurt because we feel as though we have failed you. Let us take some of the risks Robyn. We have all pledged our loyalty to do so. Besides, I promise I won’t let anyone get killed or left behind,” he vowed. “The Merry Men are just as important to me as they are to you.”

  I sighed, the fight leaving me with the air that exited my body. “Alright,” I quietly agreed.

  Neither Much nor I realized those very words would haunt me in the days to come.

  Christmas Day came and went. My men and I had a merry feast with many of the delicious homemade delicacies that the peasants from the village gave to us. It was an amusing and entertaining day. We exchanged odd little gifts (I received nearly 30 bow strings) and Marian rode in, in late that afternoon to spend the evening with us. She restocked some of our supplies, teased Crafty with a dried apple, joked with the Merry Men, and was introduced to the newest members by yours truly. (My little band had reached the large number of forty.)

  January was a drab month. It brought some of the coldest days of the year along with dreary times since it was harder for Marian to sneak out of her castle. However, the Sheriff was still taking an active stand against us. We were reminded of this in the last week of January.

  “Strike out harder Robyn. With the amount of force you’re using you could manage to barely knock over a new born lamb!” Will Scarlet shouted as he twirled his sword, blocking my every charge.

  “I’m doing the best I can, you cad!” I complained.

  “Well do better!” he ordered.

  “I need a break,” I grumbled, lowering my sword so I could lean on it. Will Scarlet had made himself my private, self appointed teacher of swordsmanship. Every other day he dragged me to the river bank where we practiced form and many other horrid exercises.

  I panted as Will looked around, not even breaking a sweat. I darkly glared at him, wondering if I could somehow let Crafty into his hut at nightfall. We were practicing on a stretch of river that was a little over a quarter of a mile away from our camp. Most of the Merry Men were with us, they were either hunting, making traps, mending clothes, or polishing their weapons. (Will Stutely and Much had kicked us out of the camp, they were finishing my one room hut and didn’t want anyone to see their “secrets” of building. The idiots.)

  “Right, back to practice Robyn,” Will Scarlet urged, giving me a not-so-gentle tap on the side.

  “Is this payment for that snide remark I made about your gaudy scarlet gloves?” I complained as I stood up. “Because I already apologized for that,” I said as my sore muscles painfully protested.

  “You won’t get better with the sword unless you practice,” Will schooled.

  “What if I don’t want to get better?” I said as I moved into a defensive position.

  “You don’t have a choice,” Will said before attacking. He delivered several blows, and I managed to parry almost every single one. The clanging of our steel blades filled our temporary camp. Will pushed me back further and further until I was standing near the edge of the river, which was not good. Instead of having a nice little beach, this part of the river was a dead drop off into deep water that was well over my head. It was also the roughest part of the river in all of Sherwood Forest, and hadn’t frozen over even during the deep freeze of winter.

  Eyeing the water, I tried pushing Will back, edging away from the precipitous river bank. We exchanged several blows, I was mostly parrying, but Will seemed a little distracted.

  Suddenly, shouts erupted in the air. Will turned his gaze to Little John, who had flown into the clearing, yelling at the top of his lungs.

  “FORESTERS!”

  My men scurried about, trying to take cover as men on horses rode into the clearing seconds after Little John.

  I stood frozen, my hands clasping my sword as I watched a forester hit Little John over the head with a sheathed sword, knocking him to the forest floor with blood trickling out of a wound on his temple.

  Will
Scarlet burst into motion and knocked me to the side. I went flying into the river, the freezing water stinging my skin. The current dragged me under for a few moments, and when I popped up I was a ways downstream, but I was still able to see my men furiously fighting with whatever weapons they had on hand. The last thing I was able to see was Will Scarlet being shot with a crossbow. Then I was hauled under water again.

  Chapter 7

  Foresters Attack

  I clawed my way upward as my legs and arms grew numb. I surfaced and gasped for air. I shrieked when I narrowly missed being thrown into a rock. I watched with some amount of interest as ice particles floated next to me, vaguely remembering that I should try to get out of the water before I completely froze and drowned.

  I tried swimming to shallower waters, but it was no good. My clothes were heavy and weighing me down, and I was not a strong swimmer to begin with. The river was mellowing, and more ice chunks floated on the water next to me as I fought to remain above the water level.

  The coldness crept into my bones, and instead of feeling unbearably cold I felt numb. Everything felt so heavy, and I could feel panic setting in as my eyes drooped. I bobbed underwater for a moment before rising again, spitting out the icy, frosty water that filled my mouth. It left behind a frozen, dark taste.

  I tried one last heroic and terror filled fight toward the river bank. The water slowed to a trickle. Alarm and dread poured through my body as adrenaline kicked in and I fought my way through the water.

  In the end the bitter water won, and as I was dragged down for the last time. I saw a black blob on the bank before I was pulled to the bottom of the river. Allowing bubbles to escape my mouth in a soundless scream, I wanted to cry. My life and my men’s lives had been torn from us. We hadn’t stood a chance. My body went totally unfeeling and my lungs screamed for air as I remained stiff and frozen at the bottom of the river.

  There was suddenly a great wave of water and I felt something sharp digging into my side. It kicked me again, hurting me and returning feeling to my side. (A rather painful, stinging feeling.)