Here is episode 4 of our Robin Hood series! Enjoy, and let us know what you think :)

Robin Hood

Series 4, Episode 4

The Outlaw and His Lady

The light spring breeze made her cloak flow behind her as she moved quickly and purposefully down the familiar path leading through Sherwood. She had waited so long for this moment.

She took a deep breath of fresh forest air; She had missed this. The green leaves unfolding to the sun's rays as summer neared its opening and spring entered its close.

The distant sound of hoof beats and the slight jingling of chain mail broke through the silence.

After a quick glance behind her, she rushed off of the path and viewed her surroundings. Dismayed, she realized that the only way to escape was to climb a tree and to hide in the thick branches.

She scrambled up the nearest tree trunk and hid among the dark green leaves.

Several mounted guards clustered around a finely dressed man as they trotted down the road.

She leaned further out in order to catch a better glimpse, when, suddenly, the branch beneath her cracked under her weight.

Her hand flashed up, grabbing a higher branch to avoid falling. She stayed perfectly still, praying the soldiers did not hear her.

A single leaf fluttered down towards the forest floor and landed on the nose of one of the guards.

"Squirrels," the soldier muttered as he looked up.

Her heart raced with adrenaline as he met her eyes.

"That's no squirrel," said a soldier beside the first, who was also squinting into the tree. "I know who that is. You're--"

The branch below her snapped completely and she lost her grip. She fell, but before hitting the ground, her hand snatched another branch, closer to the ground.

The first soldier had reached behind him and pulled out a bow, fitted with a white-feathered arrow, and aimed it at her.

She thought quickly. There was no time to climb back up. It was useless to try; they would just shoot her down. She had no sword, but she did not need one. The guard was close enough.

She swung forward and kicked the bow out of the soldier's hands. When her back was to the ground, she let go of the branch and continued her arc in a back flip. Her feet landed with a soft thud and she faced the mounted guards, crouched slightly with her hands out defensively in front of her.

Her fluttering cloak caused the horses to shy away from her, and one of them reared, dumping its rider in a cloud of dust before trotting off with a nervous gleam in its eye. Those who had maintained their seats drew their swords, eying her as though measuring her strength.

Weaponless, she started to back away into the forest. One of the guards came charging toward her, sword drawn, but before he was near enough to swing it effectively, an arrow whistled through the air and struck the saddle, not an inch from his leg.

Her heart leaped in recognition as she stared at the quivering brown and white feathers.

"Hood!" the finely dressed man called out, scanning the trees.

Then, suddenly, there he was. His sword was out and ringing as he charged forward, startling the horses and causing them unseat their riders. The only one who stayed in his seat was the well-dressed man, who stayed in his saddle only because he wore no heavy armor to weigh him down.

In a flash, Robin had disarmed the first soldier. He quickly picked up the sword that guard had dropped and tossed it to her.

She caught it deftly and swung it at the nearest guard, striking him with the flat of the blade.

Realizing that he would soon be outnumbered, the mounted man called out, "I would kill you today, Hood, but I have other plans that are much more important than catching some blundering outlaws." He gave his horse a swift kick and galloped down the path, leaving the last conscious soldier to deal with the outlaw and his friend.

She kicked the soldier in the stomach, causing him to double over, while Robin gave the final blow across the guard's head.

Robin lowered his sword, then turned and gazed at her.

She stared back at him as he lifted his trembling hand hesitantly toward the mask that lay over her eyes. She drew down her hood and pulled off cloth that covered the lower half of her face.

Robin lifted the mask from her tear filled eyes.

"Marian."