set in the Robin Hood legend, it focuses on a new character. Not a Mary Sue! Please
let me know if this looks at all interesting to you. It will have action and romance and
a little bit of angst.
Piper in the Forest
by Byrdgirl
It was a chilly October night. Fog rose off
the ground in thick patches, obscuring view
of the only two people roaming the streets. They
crept silently through still streets,
communicating with intuition alone. They moved
efficiently, one scouting ahead for possible
trouble, the other following behind and carrying a large
bundle. Both wore hoods of lincoln
green to hide their faces. Quickly and decisively,
they made their way to the edge of town,
where a large stone manor stood. Though it was
late, the torches were still lit in the small
windows. The young lord of the manor would be returning
late from business, and the few
servants that lived there were instructed to keep the
fires burning for him. As the two mysterious
figures approached the manor, the first signaled the
second to stay back. The first figure,
tall and strongly built, inspected the building from
a safe distance. Though it was difficult
to tell in the dense fog, the perimeter seemed unguarded.
It was as safe for them as it
was likely to get. The first figure turned to his
companion. His hood fell away from his
face, revealing his strained, angular features.
His companion, much slighter than he, but
still well muscled, pulled the hood from her own face,
and joined him. Her deep auburn
hair fell around her shoulders and her vivd green eyes
looked into his in despair.
"It's the best thing." He said in a warm tenor
voice. "She'll be dead before she's five
with us. At least this way, she'll have a chance."
Not trusting herself to speak, the woman handed
him the bundle - her child - tears
cascading silently down her face. Wrapped in warm
wool, the infant stirred slightly at
the movement. For a moment, the man looked fondly
at the baby girl. Then he looked
up at the face of his wife. His eyes were wet with
tears, just like hers, and his voice shook
a bit when he said "I'll be right back." He walked
towards the manor,disappearing into
the fog. Moments later he reappeared empty handed.
The wail of a child who was suddenly
left cold and alone split the night. The woman
whimpered at the sound, but the man, fearing
for their own safety now, grabbed her wrist and whispered
"We have to go now!" He
dragged her to away just before the lord of the manor
came riding by, shrouded in a black cloak.
For years to come, the people of the town would
whisper and wonder about the desperate
couple who abandoned their daughter. Who were they?
Why did they choose, of all places,
the doorstep of Philip Mark? He certainly wasn't
known for his charity. But perhaps the
biggest mystery of all was why, after a long, disappointing,
and unproductive day, would
that sour, heartless man pick up the screaming child,
and bring her into his home?