Chapter 1
Julia's POV
Julia stumbled over a large stone, running as fast as she could through the field in the hazy twilight. The hooves of her pursuers' horses thundered behind her. She knew that she had to find somewhere to hide or somehow evade the sheriff's men, or she would surely be caught or die of exhaustion. Hitching up her skirts as she ran, she looked around wildly for a way of escape. Ahead of her was a vast region covered in trees and bushes: Sherwood Forest.
Julia bit her lip and ran towards it, hoping that she would make it there in time. She knew that the knights of Nottingham believed that the forest was haunted and did not dare set foot under its trees.
Julia threw herself through a thick screen of branches, gasping as they scratched her face and bare arms. She ducked behind a wide maple tree and peeked around the edge of it, pressing her face to its rough bark. Inhaling deeply the warm autumn air, she saw the knights come to a halt. They argued amongst themselves for a few minutes before galloping away on their mounts.
Sighing in relief, Julia set off down the path.
After walking for about an hour, Julia was tiring and the path seemed to lead nowhere. She stopped and leaned against a tree, resting her aching muscles. Suddenly she started, hearing a strange sound. Grabbing the nearest stick, Julia held it in front of her, scanning the darkening forest in front of her. She heard the sound again, and, realizing that it was coming from above her, she looked up. Wind chimes! Of course, Julia thought. I should have realized that. No wonder people think this place is haunted.
She giggled at her own foolishness, tossing the stick aside and scratching her cheek absentmindedly. Frowning suddenly, she wondered what she was going to do. The forest was getting dark, and she had no food, no water, and no means of protection should she meet a wild animal, or a band of thieves. Sighing, Julia decided that the only thing she could do was keep following the path and hope that she came across a river, or someone who would be willing to help her.
Darkness fell. The moonlight shone dimly through the canopy of trees, casting choppy shadows over the path and everything else. Walking down the blackened path, Julia's heart skipped a beat every time she heard the crackling of twigs that was the wind through the trees, or the rustling of the grass that was a mouse scurrying across the forest floor. Finally, she collapsed under a large pine tree that would bestow some shelter upon her exhausted body. Shivering in the cold grass, Julia fell asleep.
The next morning she was awoken by the sunlight streaming through the trees and showering everything in a bright light. Shielding her eyes, Julia squinted and looked at the forest. It was a whole different place in the daytime, friendly and bright, seemingly full of life. She smiled as she got up, dusting off her skirt and wiping her face with the back of her hand, before setting off down the path once more.
By mid-afternoon, Julia had shed her apron and heavy shawl due to the sweltering heat. She mopped her forehead with her handkerchief, feeling lightheaded and wanting more then ever to find a river, or even a stream.
Is there not even a PUDDLE in this infernal forest? Julia thought angrily to herself, as she swiped a low hanging branch out of her way. She walked on for several more minutes, but stopped when she felt an apparent change in the air. It was crisp and clear, almost cold. Then she heard it: the distinguishable sound of running water, and lots of it by what she could reason. She had come to a dead end in the path and the sound was coming from directly in front of her. Pushing through the branches, she stepped out onto a riverbank.
Julia looked downriver and immediately saw what had been so loud. A tumbling, roaring waterfall. She walked to the stony edge of the falls, and watched the water cascading down the rocks. Remembering why she had wanted water so badly in the first place, she bent down and drank thirstily. She scooped some in her hands and cooled her face and neck.
Getting up, Julia also realized that since the path ended here, she would have to cross the river. Stepping gingerly onto a rock in the water, she swayed for a moment and held her balance. She stepped onto the next rock, and the next. Luckily the rocks were quite large, so they were mostly dry. By the time she had reached the middle of the river, she noticed that there were no more stones.
Taking a deep breath, she sat down on the rock and pushed one foot into the water. Julia laughed as she found that the river was not even knee deep. She smiled and put her other foot into the water.
Will's POV
As he sat waiting at his post beside the rope, he watched her as she dipped her hands in the water. She drank, than washed her face and neck before starting out on the stepping stones, an apron and a shawl slung over her arm. Do I really have to do this? Will wondered to himself, fingering the rope with which he was supposed to trip unwary passers-by, then tax them for passage through Sherwood.
Obviously she's not rich or noble, looking at the state of her skirts. She's not even wearing any shoes, he thought as he saw her cautiously put her bare foot in the water. He watched her laugh as she found that the water was quite shallow, than pull up her skirts to put her other foot in the water.
Will sighed and stretched his stiff legs. He decided that he would not tax her or trip her with the rope, seeing as she was dirtier and in worse shape than he was, and he was living in the forest. He brushed aside the leaves that were hiding him from view and stepped out onto the bank. The girl made her way carefully across, stepping lightly and taking care not to dip her clothes in the water. She was almost across before she noticed Will standing in front of her. She withdrew and stumbled back, inadvertently dropping her shawl and apron into the water.
"Who? What…Where did you come from? How long have you been watching me?" she asked, furiously gathering up her clothes and wringing them out.
"Not long," Will said, cocking his head to one side. The girl narrowed her eyes at him and stepped onto the bank. "Who are you? Why are you walking through Sherwood forest alone?" he asked.
"I was being chased by the sheriff's men," she said.
Will laughed hollowly. "What in the world did you do?"
"I…it's none of your business," she said, drawing herself up.
"Unless you want to go back the way you came, it is very much my business," Will said, eyes glinting.
"What are you going to do to me? You're unarmed!" She laughed, rather nervously it seemed to him.
Will pulled out his gold-handled knife and unsheathed it in front of her, twisting the blade so it caught the sunlight and shone in her face.
"All right, fine," she said, covering her eyes. "My name is Julia Harrows. My family...my family was killed in a raid. I barely escaped."
Will's face softened slightly. "When was this?"
"Yesterday," she replied, sucking in a deep, shuddering breath. "They killed them all. My mother, my father, both of my brothers. I was out in the garden when the knights came, so I was able to get a head start. They chased me to the edge of Sherwood and turned back, seeing as they think the forest is haunted. Wind chimes," Julia said quizzically, giving Will a suspicious look. "I don't suppose you had anything to do with that?"
"Maybe," Will said cockily. "Where are you headed now?"
"I-I don't really know," Julia stammered. "I don't really have anywhere to go."
Will debated this for a moment, before saying, "Why don't you come with me?"
"W-with you?" Julia stuttered. "I've only just met you! How do I know you won't slit my throat as soon as I agree to come with you?"
"If I was going to murder you, I would have done so already," Will said, sheathing his knife, and turning and stalking off into the forest.
"Wait! I didn't refuse!" Julia cried, jogging to catch up with him.
They walked in silence for several hours, the sky starting to darken once again. It was then that Julia asked hesitantly, "I've told you my name, but you haven't told me yours. What should I call you?"
"Will," he said, after giving her a sidelong glance. "Will Scarlet."
"All right, Will, where are you taking me?" Julia asked, smiling a little.
"To the camp," he replied, his face expressionless.
"A camp? You mean it's not just you?" she gasped.
"That's right," Will said simply. Why does she insist upon interrogating me? I should never have invited her along. What's John going to say? Especially considering our other guest, he thought with scorn.
He heard Julia let out a small gasp as they entered the camp. Crude wooden huts littered the clearing, small campfires set in front of them. Two men stared at them as they passed, one stopping and whispering to the other, while pointing an accusing finger at Will's back. Will kept walking to the center of the camp, where John Little sat, skinning a dead rabbit. He looked up as Will approached him. "Who is that?" he asked, not missing a beat.
"I found her in the forest. Her family was killed by the sheriff's men, and she has nowhere to go," Will explained.
"And you expected what? That she be allowed to stay here?" John asked blatantly.
"Yes," Will replied honestly.
John sighed. "Since when have you gone out of your way to help someone else, eh?"
Will remained silent, staring resistantly into the older man's piercingly blue eyes.
"Well, I guess she can stay, but you're the one who's got to take care of her," John said, wagging a finger at him. "You've got to make sure that she knows where the water and food is, and that she has somewhere to sleep. You've got to teach her the ways of our life, and the rules."
Will inclined his head slightly, then turned and walked in the opposite direction.
"Welcome to Sherwood, missy," John said, extending his hand.
Julia shook it and muttered her thanks, then turned and hurried after Will through the shadowy trees.
Will lead her to his hut, which was a considerable distance away from the others, and much smaller. He leaned against the doorway and motioned for Julia to set her things down inside it.
"You can sleep here. I'll make a lean-to until we can build you a house of your own," he said bluntly. "Come with me. I'll show you where things are." He stalked off again at a brisk walk, and Julia had to jog to keep up with him.
"We get water from the river. It's down that way," Will motioned with his left hand towards a clump of birch trees, "For food, we hunt, or set traps. Do you know how to find a rabbit's trail, and set a snare?" Julia nodded silently.
"Good. There is only one rule. Never let anyone know about us, this camp, or where it is. All of us here are wanted by the sheriff, with prices on our heads. If we want to keep the sheriff's men at bay we need to keep this a secret. Do you understand?" Julia nodded again.
"That's all I can tell you. The rest you'll have to figure out for yourself." Will spun around and left her staring after him, looking lost.
He wandered back through the array of houses on the way back to his own hut, but noticed a large bonfire and changed his mind, heading over to see what was going on.
All the men of the camp were gathered around the fire, talking to the newcomer of that day, Robin of Locksley and his companions, the old blind man, Duncan, and the Moorish man, Azeem. Will felt hatred boiling up inside him so fast he couldn't control it, stopping and leaning against a tree a short distance from the men, he stared at Robin. The man he loathed so completely, just so happened to turn up in his camp, where he'd thought he would be safe, where he'd thought he could live the rest of his life in peace.
"You know your ghosts, they'll only keep the sheriff's men at bay so long," Robin said to no one in particular.
"They've worked so far. Do you have a better idea?" Will snapped, glaring at Robin icily.
"You could fight back," Robin said, lazily tossing a piece of bark into the fire.
"I reckon I must've cracked your head, eh?" John laughed, referring to their fight in the river earlier that day.
Will stared at Robin, astonished. Fight back? They were peasants!
"What does the son of a devil worshipper care about a bunch of outlaw peasants?" Will asked harshly.
Duncan then started screaming about Locksley not being a devil worshipper, but Robin hushed him and replied, "My father was no devil worshipper. And I'll have words with any man who says otherwise. But he's right. I was a rich man's son. But when I killed the sheriff's men, I became an outlaw like you."
Will stood up, anger coursing through him. "You are nothing like us," he spat. All the men were staring at him, their eyes unbearably cold. With one quick look around the circle of outlaws, Will did the first thing that came to his mind: he fled. He ran into the forest as fast as he could, jumping over a narrow stream and only stopping when his calves began to ache. He leaned against a tree and slid down its trunk, closing his eyes and rubbing his throbbing legs. There he fell asleep, letting his confused mind rest and recover from the days events.