- Children don´t run to far away ok, said Annie, and watched as her two children ran into the yard.
- No mom. You don´t need to worry, said the oldest boy, Robin, and gave his mother a smile.
Robin took his younger brother Simon in the hand and then they ran away as usual to the little creek to play.
Robin was 8 years old and a very pleased young man who his father Richard had big plans for in the future, he would take over the village of Locksley after his father. The Boy's future was already determined long before he was even in prospect.
His parents had tried for a long time have children and one autumn day for 8 years ago they were finally blessed with a little healthy and happy child who was named after his grandfather, Robin of Locksley.
Richard just wanted one child and explained to Annie who always wanted many children that one more child would destroy little Robin's future. Richard had been alone child, just as his father and his grandfather. There was no sense that an heir would have a sibling, it would only lead to problems
But when Robin was three years old one more child came into the world, little Simon. The little child was so small and weak when he was born so no one thought he would survive. Each day during the crisis's time Richard went to the church to pray. But he did not ask for the boy should survive, he prayed to God that the boy should die. But his prayers were not answered and the little boy survived.
The only people who were happy over little Simon was his mother and his older brother. All in the family, the men in the village and Richard did not like him. He would only cause problems. Richard did everything to show his hate over Simon. He was dressed in rags, was eating scraps and when he grew older, he was sleeping out in the barn..
Annie tried hard to protect him but she couldn't do anything so when Simon was three years old she gave up to protect him and he came under Rickard hard torture. But it was not before now Simon began to understand that he and Robin were treated differently. Simon was more treated like a servant, while Robin was more treated like a prince.
When Simon was 4 years old Richard started to do terrible things against Simon. Every night he went out to Simon in the barn and Robin who always stood in his window could see how the shadows was moving in there. He could hear his brother screaming and crying. He just wanted to run out and see what happened but he couldn´t. His father always said that it didn´t concern him what happened in there and Robin should not care about Simon so much. But it was already too late. Robin loved his brother. He could die for him and if he could he should do everything for him.
- Robin. Are we brothers? Asked Simon, when they had sat at the small creek for a while
Robin looked at his little brother and put an arm on his shoulder..
- Of course we are. We will always be brothers. Whatever happens, said Robin and smiled at Simon
Simon looked at him and started playing with his hands in the water again. Robin had noticed that his brother had changed much. He was not that happy and frisky boy that he was a few years ago.
He was more gloomy and shy now. Robin saw that it was something that tormented his brother but he dared not ask what it was. One night, the curiosity took over Robin and he did something he never would have done..
When Richard had gone out in the barn Robin stalked out and watched what he did to Simon
After some hesitation he opened the barn door gently so that he could see into the barn.
There were more people there than Richard and Simon. It was at least 5 more men there and they did terrible things with Simon.
- You will never be loved Simon. Not after this anyway. You are the hell son. You will always be hated, so just let us do this to you, said Richard..
Robin saw how Richard went up and took hold of Simon as he was screaming straight out of pain. The men had surrounded them so Robin could not see so good of what happened but that he saw scared him very much.
He knew that this was not right. Simon was just a child. You could not do that to a small and innocent child. Robin closed the door slowly and ran up to his room and started to cry. That night he was crying himself to sleep.
After that day the atmosphere between Robin and Simon was differently. Robin had begun to be more with his friends instead of his brother. He hoped it would lead to Richard would stop what he was doing but it turned out to only get worse.
A summer day July 2, something happened that would change both boys' lives for ever. Robin was out of the village and played with his friends Marion and Will. They would just start playing hide and seek when Simon came and asked if he could play with them.
Robin gave him a big smile.
- Of course, little brother. Run and hide and I will start to count, said Robin and began to count.
They played the whole day and it was the first in a long time Robin saw his brother laugh so much.
The sun was going down and it was Robin's turn to start counting again.
- Okay, this is the last time then we must go and eat, said Robin, and began to count.
He heard his brother's laughter while he ran longer and further away from Robin and when Robin didn't heard the laughter anymore he stopped counting and begun looking for his friends.
After ten minutes he found Will and soon after, Marion. Together they helped to looking for Simon..
But after one hour, they had still not found him and it had now become dark..
- I must go home now. Perhaps he has gone home, said Robin
- Yes maybe he has. See you tomorrow, said Marion.
Robin ran home and got just inside the door when the food was ready.
It was good that you came now, said Annie, and went out to him in the hall.
- Where is your brother?
Robin looked at her. Had he not come home? He thought while he looked at her.
- I can´t find him mom. We played hide and seek and now I can´t find him.
Annie stood and looked at him and than ran out from the house. She didn´t came back before later in the evening.
- Did you find him, mom? Asked Robin who sat and warmed himself by the fire
The whole villages is out and looking after him. They will find him soon, you see, "said Annie, and stroke her hand through Robins hair.
A moment after Robin had gone to bed he could hear how his mom was crying downstairs. He got up from his bed and opened the door a little so he could hear what was going on down stairs.
He heard that it was his father who had come home and one of the men who were mean to Simon that night in the barn..
- I'm sorry Annie, he is dead. We found him in the creek. He must have fallen in and drowned. I am so sorry, said Richard.
Robin had tears in his eyes. He just wanted to run down but he couldn't.
- No. You are lying. He can't be dead. Not my son, Annie screamed and fell on her knees with her face in her hands
Robin could not stay longer and ran down to his mother.
- You are lying. You are lying, he can not be dead, cried Robin to his father.
- I'm sorry Robin but the fact remains that he has drowned, said Richard and tried to hold on his son but Robin hit him and run to his mom.
- Liar. I hate you. This is your entire fault, he said and began to cry.
- Robin, it is true. Your brother is dead, said Annie, and looked at Robin.
She gave him a look that he never had seen before. It was a new look his mother had.
Robin looked at her and ran up to his room and slam the door.
It could not be true. His father must have lied. Simon could not have drowned. He was afraid of water. He didn't dare to go close the water, just if Robin was with him. If he was by himself or with someone else he staid at least 5 meters from the water and for the second Robin had not heard that someone fell in when he stood and counted, and so close he was the creek, he must have heard if someone was falling in and he didn´t
No, his father lied. Robin was sure of it but he didn't know what he would do to find out what happened. He knew nothing, just that he probably never would see his brother again..
Time passed and they put up a small stone in Simon's name outside the house. There were planted some flowers and on the stone it was written: Simon Allan Robin of Locksley, beloved brother and son.
Annie had got used to her son was dead after a while. But Robin noticed that something was wrong. She did not speak further with Richard and after a month she moved out of the house and out of Locksley.
After looking for his brother day in and day out for several months, Robin put an end of it. His brother was dead and if he was not he hade it probably much better now than he had here in Locksley..
But each day before Robin went to bed, he sat at his window and prayed to God that he would one day get to see his beloved brother again and that he promised that he would take better care of him than he had done. He just wanted to ask his brother what happened and that he loved him so much.