"Lady Marian…" There was a gentle shaking on the young girl's body as she slept in bed. "Lady Marian, wake up, you father wants you to go with him to Locksley." The girl who was 6 years old suddenly woke and sat up in bed.

"Why is he going to Locksley?" Marian asked as she pushed off her covers and rose from her bed.

"He wants to speak with the Lord of Locksley." The maid said, as she pulled the nightdress of Marian and had her step into a lilac dress. She tied Marian's in a ponytail with a simple ribbon to match her dress. "You look lovely Lady Marian."

"Thank you." Marian said rushing down the stairs. Her father, Edward Lane, The Sheriff of Nottingham, was already on his horse. Marian walked out through the front door and into the stables.

"Ah Marian very good, now come on, get onto Ceola we must go, I shouldn't have let you sleep for this long." Her father said gesturing for the stable boy to get a block. Marian simply shook her head as she put her foot in the stirrup and pulled herself onto her horse, Edward disapproved of his daughter's wilfulness even at this age and was sure that spending time with the Lord of Locksley son wouldn't help, but the arrangement had been made and there was nothing he could do to change it.

"But father I have not eaten yet." She said innocently pulling Edward from his thoughts.

"Neither have I, we will be eating at Locksley." He replied.

"Very well."

Locksley Village

They rode into Locksley in silence her father hadn't spoken since Marian had told him she didn't want to learn how to ride side-saddle as it didn't interest her. She was so wilful and un-lady like that sometimes he wondered what he had done wrong, he supposed since her mother had died in the fire when she was young it was the lack of a role model.

"Marian!" Sophia, the head of Knighton house was running through the house trying to get to the young heir before the flames could engulf her. "Lady Marian!" She shouted running into her room. Edward the lord of the manor had gone to find the mistress and bring her from the house leaving Sophia to find the small child, when Sophia entered the room she saw Marian by the window clutching her favourite toy, she was screaming, Sophia saw that the bed was on fire, she thought to herself 'thank god she got out of bed'. "It is ok Marian it is me." Sophia said running towards her. The young girl continued to scream and cry, tears' pouring down her face, and the smoke was so strong that it made Sophia eyes water. She guessed that Marian's tears were from fear. She scooped Marian up into her arms and ran out of the room, the flames licking at her heels as she ran through the house. Sophia ran through the front door with Marian in her arms. "Where is Mistress Kate?" She asked between coughing.

"I don't know I assumed she was with Marian. Please tell me she was behind you." Sir Edward pleaded taking his daughter in his arms.

"No sir, she wasn't there. Lady Kate!" Sophia shouted looking around anxiously. By now a lot of the villagers had gathered, Edward handed Marian to one of the other servants.

"KATE! KATE!" he shouted running back to the house. There was a loud bang and then wood flew through the window. Some on the villagers grabbed Edward before he could run into the flames. "KATE!" He cried before falling to his knees in front of the burning house.

Edward was snapped back to present day when his friend John Carty, Lord of Locksley spoke, "Hello Sir Edward, we are very glad you could join us this morning. However you must excuse my son, he has been out with his bow this morning and is still out now."

"He still uses it?" Edward asked somewhat surprised.

"He hasn't put it down since I gave it to him last year. He wants to win the archery contest even though he cannot enter for another 4 years." Lord Carty laughed.

"Well at least he is committed." Sir Edward added. The Lord of Locksley smiled as he lead the Sheriff and his daughter into his house.

"Please take a seat at the table I will find my son." Lord Carty said.

"Please don't rush." Edward said. John Carty went to speak with his head of the manor, Thornton and he nodded and went outside.

Shortly after Thornton came back into the house shortly followed by a handsome young boy named Robin and his friend Much. Robin took a seat at the table with Much stood behind him. "Excuse me Robin where are your manors, we have guests. And Much if you do not mind you will need to leave until after breakfast." Lord Carty said.

"Of course my lord." Much bowed and scurried out through the door. Once Robin noticed his guests he stood and bowed.

"My lord sheriff, welcome to Locksley." He bowed, "And welcome to you Lady Marian, I trust you like our village." He smiled.

"It is very nice." Marian answered as confidently as the question was asked. Robin continued to smile and he sat back down. Robin was 2 years older than Marian making him 8.

Outside Locksley Manor

After breakfast Lord Carty insisted that Robin take Marian outside with him and he agreed. As they walked out of the manor Much came running across.

"Robin what are we going to do now?" Much asked with wide eyes.

"Marian, what would you like to do?" Robin asked turning to acknowledge there newest member.

"Anything that does not involve being inside." Marian smiled. Robin looked shocked, the girls he had known had almost never wanted to set foot outside the house, especially the ones at the royal court which he attended with his father and now here was a girl asking not to go inside.

"Very well, how are you at climbing trees?

"I have never had the chance to try."

"Well here is your chance. Come on this way." Robin said leading the way into the forest.

"Are you alright?" Robin asked as they climbed higher into the tree. Much had stayed on the ground.

"Yes I am fine." Marian said pulling herself onto the closest branch. "But I don't think I should go any higher."

"Robin… Robin will you please get down… well do not go any 'igher!" Much shouted from the bottom of the tree.

"Do not worry Much I am coming down now." He shouted back to his friend. He climbed down a few branches to the same branch as Marian then he turned around and did a backflip of the branch landing perfectly.

"Show off!" Marian shouted as she made her way slowly down the tree. She was two branches from the bottom when they all heard a loud ripping. Marian shut her eyes and threw her head back then continued down the tree. Once she reached the floor she tried to turn to see the damage to her dress. Robin put an arm on her shoulder to stop her as he looked at the back of her dress. "How bad is it?" She asked.

"It is quite bad." Robin answered honestly sucking in his breath.

"My father will not be happy." Marian sighed.

"Do not worry I will tell him it was my fault." Robin insisted.

The three friends walked back to Locksley manor, Much lagging behind. Much was the miller's son and their only child, he was a year older than Robin, but looked to the young Locksley as a role model. He was short and chubby as he had been well fed in the manor. There was an obvious difference the two boys, Robin was taller and even though he was only young he was very handsome and was sure to grow up even more so. Many of the girls in the village followed the duo, but Robin had no interest in girls who would simply gawk, he wanted to run and jump, not sit and talk. Marian entered the house behind Robin slightly nervous she walked to her father and spoke very quietly,

"Father I am very sorry but I have ripped my dress." Her father grabbed her shoulder and turned her around, probably rougher than he should have done as it caused Marian to lose her balance slightly, seeing the tear running from the top of the skirt to the bottom.

"And how did this happen?" Edward asked his tone firm.

"It was my fault sir, I told Marian to climb up the tree with me." Robin chirped.

"Robin you have no business teaching this young lady climbing trees. You will apologize to Sir Edward immediately." Lord Carty announced.

"I am truly sorry my lord sheriff, I promise it will never happen again." Robin said lowering his head.

"Well young man you had better hope it will not." Edward said, "We have to go, Marian needs to change. Goodbye."

"Goodbye Sheriff, Lady Marian." Lord Carty said and Robin repeated.

"Goodbye Lord Carty, Master Robin." Marian curtsied and followed her father from the house.