The Scarlet Cap
(Based on Nancy Springer's 'Rowan Hood' series)
"What is it, Rowan girl?" Will Scathelock stood next to the spring of sweetwater in Rowan's Hollow, regarding Rowan with curiosity.
Why had she asked for him? He shivered as a chill wind blew down his neck. Winter was coming fast to the greenwood.
Rowan Hood, healer and Outlaw Girl of Sherwood, sat just outside the mouth of her cave, sorting late herbs into bundles for drying in preparation for the coming season, her wolf-dog, Tykell, lazing in the sun by her feet.
"I have something for you," she said without looking up, "it's in there." She gestured toward a roughly woven basket just inside her cave. Will moved into the cave and picked up the basket, taking it back out to the sunshine, where Rowan sat.
"What is it?" he asked again, sitting next to the slim girl.
"Look and see." Robin Hood's daughter said.
Will reached into the basket and pulled out a cap of the type favored by the outlaws of Sherwood Forest, but instead of the usual Lincoln green it was knit in a cheerful russet red, trimmed with a single, long, scarlet-dyed feather.
Will looked from the cap, to Rowan, and back.
"You made this?" She nodded.
"Etty taught me." Will glanced at her bemusedly,
"Why'd you make this for me, Ro?"
She looked at him for the first time that day,
"I'm in charge of making sure you lads keep healthy, Will Scathelock, and it'll make my job that much easier if you all wear proper clothes to keep the chill off." She sighed. "I'm going to have to make one for Lionel next." Will grinned, thinking of her enormous, though mild-mannered, young friend.
"Better get to work on it then. Winter will be here sooner than not. Many thanks, young Rowan." And Will Scathelock, later known as Will Scarlet, ambled out of the rowan hollow, whistling the latest verse of the Ballad of Rowan Hood, Outlaw Girl of Sherwood Forest.
AN: More info about this on my Blog.