This is a story that tells the tale of those who come after the famous Robin Hood and his Merry Men and how they continue the fight of protecting the poor against the rich of England.
"Trystan! Father said you aren't old enough to ride his stallion! Besides, if you fall off, you could get yourself killed!"
"You should be happy about that, Anna, then you wouldn't have to put up with having a brother anymore!" the young boy called down to his sister from the back of the gray dappled horse.
The small girl's pout was exaggerated by the roundness of her pink cheeks and the flashing of her green eyes. "I'm going to tell mother what you're up to!"
"Ah come off it, Anna…you know that we can handle them," another boy goaded from atop a black mare, a quarterstaff in his small hand.
"She's just jealous, Matthew…thinks she should be able to go along…" Trystan continued, his blue eyes dancing mischievously.
"We'll see who's laughing when I tell father!" she screeched at their retreating backs as the horses turned and flew into the trees. "Bloody idiots…"
"What's the matter, Anna Maria?" a young ginger haired boy asked, falling in to walk beside her. His serious blue eyes studied her flushed cheeks and angry eyes. "Trystan and Matthew off into the forest again?"
She nodded, clenching her hands into fists. "They think just because I'm a girl that I can't ride or hunt like they can!" she fumed. "Trystan knows that I'm better with a bow then he is…even father says so!"
Robert Scarlet laughed softly, his boyish face lit. "True enough, Anna Maria. If anyone inherited Robin Loxley's skill with bow and arrow it was you…"
She turned to look at him, expression perplexed. "Why do you call me that?"
"Call you what?" he asked absently.
"Anna Maria."
Robert laughed. "Because it's your name…would you prefer I call you Lady Loxley?"
Anna blushed. "No…but everyone else just calls me Anna."
"I like Anna Maria better…sounds…saint like…"
Her expression melted into incredulous disbelief. "You, of all people, Robbie, should know that I am far from saint like…you need to go to my mother for that…"
"She, I do address as Lady Marion…" he replied.
"Robbie, Anna! Come quick…something's happened!" another voice called from across the glen.
Anna's best friend, Lillian a' Dale stood framed by the trees, her black hair flying in the breeze and brown eyes wide in horror.
"What's going on?" Robert asked, catching Anna's hand and leading her quickly to where Lillian stood.
Lily took a deep breath, trying to catch her breath. "The Sheriff…he found out the plan…our father's…"
Anna's heart plunged into her stomach. "All of them?"
Lily nodded slowly. "They're sentenced to hang at dawn…King John himself has ordered it. They're being taken to Nottingham castle now."
All three children ran for the Outlaw's camp, their feet racing against time and fate as they slipped through the trees of the Greenwood and disappeared into the mists of the forest.