Locksley, 1192
Sir Guy of Gisbourne stormed into his room in Locksley Manor, furious that Hood had evaded capture once again. How did the outlaw continue to best him? Guy bellowed in rage, and stomped his foot upon the floor.
Damn! The force of his kick had loosened the floorboard, and now he would have to get one of the servants to repair it. He lifted the board with the toe of his boot, then dropped it in amazement.
Something was hidden under the floorboard. Guy dropped to his knees and carefully removed the board. He found himself staring at a small wooden casket, intricately carved with the Locksley family symbol…that same symbol carved in his home's mantle pieces… the same symbol used by Hood and his gang on their outlaw tags.
Guy took a deep, slow breath before placing his hands on the casket and lifting it carefully from its hiding place. Gisbourne felt certain that this case had been hidden here by Hood himself years ago. A chill went through him as he realized he was holding Hood's secrets right in his very hands. He stroked the carvings on the box with his fingertips, relishing the sensation of uncovering something Hood had wanted hidden away. His mouth was dry and his palms were sweaty as he opened the mysterious box.
Locksley, eighteen years prior
Six-year-old Robin of Locksley sat high in the branches of a tree, trying hard not to cry. His best friend Much, the Miller's son, stood at the base of the tree, shuffling his feet, quiet for once, not knowing how to comfort his friend.
It had been nearly a week since Robin had lost his mother. She was buried under the ground in the churchyard, beside the stillborn body of what was to have been his baby brother.
Robin missed his mother more and more as each day passed. She wasn't here anymore to hold him on her lap, or brush his hair from his eyes, or tell him stories, or kiss him gooodnight. He missed her voice and her gentle touch. But he wouldn't…he wouldn't cry!
Robin wiped away the tears that wouldn't be stopped as he saw the village carpenter, Dan Scarlet, approach his hiding spot in the tree.
"Good day, Master Robin," greeted Dan warmly.
Robin climbed down from his perch. He had wanted to be alone, but he had already been taught to be courteous and available to his father's villagers.
"I am glad I found you," Dan continued. "I would like you to be one of the first to meet my new born son! "
"Your son?" asked Much.
"Your goodwife Jane has delivered you a son?" asked Robin.
"That's right, she has. A fine, strong boy, by the looks of him. I'd like you boys to come meet him. As he grows, I'd like you to show him all the best streams to fish in, the best hills to roll down, and the best trees to climb. And, in honor of this special occasion, I have a gift for you, Master Robin."
"It is I who should be presenting you with a gift," Robin said, continuing to sniffle, in spite of his efforts to conquer his tears.
"The Good Lord has given me my gift this day! Will you come now, and meet my son?" Dan's voice was full of pride.
The boys accompanied Dan toward his cottage. As they passed the Manor, Robin excused himself and ran inside. He climbed the stairs, and quietly entered his mother's sitting room.
Robin choked back a sob when he saw her chair still placed by her embroidery frame. Baskets placed nearby held skeins of colorful thread, pieces of cloth, scissors, and needles of various sizes. Robin reached into one basket and pulled out what he was looking for. He clutched a small bonnet in his fist, and ran back outdoors to join Dan Scarlet and Much.
Entering the Scarlet cottage, they beheld Jane sitting up in bed, holding a tiny bundle in her strong arms.
"I've brought Master Robin to meet our son," said Dan beaming.
Jane smiled at the boys and beckoned them to climb right up beside her on the bed. Poor little one, to lose his lovely mother so suddenly! Death was a familiar visitor to them all, but that still didn't make it any easier to bear. She held out her beautiful new son for the boys to see, and watched as one brown and one blond head bent over him.
"Congratulations," said Robin.
"Congrad-lations," echoed Much.
"Thank you," smiled Jane. "We're going to call him 'William.'"
"A King's name!" said Robin.
"A King's name!" echoed Much.
Dan and Jane were pleased to see Master Robin's face lose its woebegone expression. He seemed to relax, and take a real interest in their child. Jane was touched when he snuggled right up beside her. She realized how greatly he must miss his mother's touch.
"Would you like to hold him?" Jane asked.
"May I?" asked Robin.
"May I?" echoed Much.
She carefully deposited the baby into Robin's outstretched arms. William cooed, and Robin exclaimed, "He likes me!"
"He likes me!" echoed Much.
"Much," Robin complained, "stop saying everything I say!"
"Sorry!" Much apologized.
As Robin handed the baby back to its mother, he said, "I have a present for him." He handed Dan the baby's bonnet, made from expensive cloth and exquisitely embroidered. It was the bonnet for a Lord's child, and was completely unsuitable for a carpenter's son. Dan exchanged a look with his wife. Her eyes warned him to be careful and not hurt the boy by rejecting his gift. It had obviously been made by Lady Locksley for her expected child.
"Thank you very much, Master Robin," said Dan.
"Thank you, Robin," said Much.
"I-it was supposed to be my brother's," Robin said haltingly.
"We are honored," Jane stated. "We don't want to presume, but we would like you to consider our lad a brother to you, if you would like."
"I would like!" said Robin.
"Me, too!" said Much, proud that he did not echo his friend's words.
"It's settled, then!" said Dan, happily. "And now, our family would like to give you something. While my wife was…busy…I needed something to occupy me…to keep my mind and hands busy. I thought of you, Master Robin, and I made you something I hope you will like." He went to a table and picked up a small wooden box, carved with the Locksley family symbol that only he knew exactly how to carve.
"It's a box for you to keep your treasures in."
"Treasures?" asked Robin.
"Treasures?" asked Much.
"Aye! Anything really special to you. Whatever means most to you in your life, I hope you will store in this box."
As Robin looked at the box in his hands, Baby William began to fuss.
"If you will excuse me, I believe the babe needs to be fed," said Jane.
"Of course," said Robin. "Come on, Much, we need to go! Thank you for showing us your baby. He's really something! And thank you for my box! I will treasure it."
The boys ran from the cottage. As they were climbing over a fence, they were stopped by Much's father. "Where have you been? You were supposed to help me grind the wheat. Get home and get to work!"
"I ordered him to stay with me, sir," Robin lied, trying to protect his friend.
"Very well, Master Robin, but there is work to be done. Much needs to do his share."
"Goodbye, Robin," said Much sadly.
Robin ran into the Manor, up the stairs, and into his parent's room. He took a deep breath and steeled himself to be strong as he opened his mother's jewelry case. He found one of her rings, the one which had been her favorite, and dropped it into his box.
Locksley. 1192
Guy of Gisbourne dug his fingers through the items in the box he had discovered. There didn't seem to be anything of value here...just pieces of junk. At last, he spotted a ring. He lifted it from the box and peered at it carefully. "Yes," he said, satisfied. "This will do nicely." He sneered as he pictured it displayed on Lady Marian's lovely hand. He reached his fingers back into the box, to see what else he might find.