Disclaimer: I do not own any Robin Hood characters.
Sherwood forest shimmered in the late evening light, as two figures made their way through the trees. One was an elegant, raven-haired ladyatop a white stallion; the other was a red-haired amazon wielding a long claymore. Suddenly, the amazon reached out and took the reains, stopping the horse in its tracks.
"We're bein' watched m'lady." She said, in a thick, Scottish burr. She lifted the heavy sword as easily as one might a twig.
Three men appeared from the trees and stood before the duo. Their leader appeared to be man with short, brown hair and a face that was boyish, despite the beginnings of a beard.
"Good evening M'lady!" He called out. "We're taking donations for the poor. Perhaps you would like to contribute?"
The woman atop the horse smiled. "That is a noble reason for a hold-up, though I am afraid I do not carry a lot of money with me."
"M'lady!" The Amazon sounded shocked.
"Now, Thorn." The woman patted her sword-wielding friend's shoulder soothingly. "Am I correct in beliving that I am adressing the famous Robin Hood?" She asked the brown-haired man.
"You are." He affirmed. "I didn't think I was famous, though."
"Famous or infamous, depending on whom you ask." She said, while removing her necklace and ring. Handing them to one of Robin's men, a man with ear-length blonde hair, she pulled out her coin purse. She pulled out two coins before handing over the rest of the money. "For the inn." She explained. "It's all well and good to donate to the poor, but that doesn't mean I want to sleep in the stables."
"You're not like the rest of the rich folk who come this way." Robin said curiously. "Who are you?"
"I am Lady Rose, and this is my brave friend and protector, Thorn." She motioned to the amazon, who was flirting from afar with the blonde man.
"Oi, looks like that Thorn's taken a likin' to ya, Much" A shifty-looking fellow, probably a pick-pocket, said, nudging the blonde man in the ribs. Thorn immediately stopped her flirting and looked embarrassed. She hadn't meant it to be that obvious.
"Good day, Master Robin. Perhaps we might meet again someday." Rose said, bowing her head graciously to the outlaw as she urged her horse forward.
"See you around, Much." Thorn whispered to the blonde man as she passed him. She thought that she had said it quietly enough that only he would here it, but apparently Shifty had better ears than she thought, because he began poking fun at Much.
"Alan, would you stop that!" Much batted his comrade's arm away as the cockney man nudged him in the ribs yet again.
"Come on you two!" Robin called, already some ways into the trees. "Marion's waiting!"
Much and Alan rolled their eyes at each other. They had been on their way to knightley Hall when they had seen Lady Rose and decided to make an easy robbery. Now it was clear that Robin would be making no more side trips.
Robin, Alan and Much made their way to the outside wall of Knightley Hall, but were on the wrong side of the house to see if their were visitors... like a certain black-clad man who insisted on wooing Marion. While Alan and Much kept watch on the ground, Robin climbed up to Marion's window and peeked inside. Marion was alone, so he tapped on the glass to get her attention.
"Robin!" She grinned happily at him as she pulled him into the room.
"What's got you so happy?" Robin asked, laughing at her enthusiasum.
"My cousin, Rose, just came here for a visit. I hadn't seen her in ages."
"Rose?" Robin suddenly felt very guilty. "Lady Rose?"
Lady Rose and Thorn made themselves comfortable in their inn room. As it turned out, their two gold coins would have gotten them five rooms, but Rose had insisted the innkeeper keep them. Now Thorn spread out a blanket on the floor, despite the fact that she could have had her own room to sleep in.
"So. Wha'did ya think of that Robin fella'?" She asked, flopping down onto the barely-cushioned wood floor as if it were the softest feather-down mattress.
"He was nice enough, but I know better than to go after Marion's man." Rose laughed. "What about you? You seemed to like that Much fellow."
"Aye. He had an honest face." Thorn said dreamily.
"He also looked quite umcomfortable when you flirted with him."
"Well, I'm usually tryin' ta fight the boys off with a steek, not tryin' to make 'em notice me. I don't have much practice with the flirtin' business."
Thorn helped Rose undress, after closing the curtains, and they both lay down to sleep.
"Don't worry, my dear Thorn." Rose said. "I have a feeling you'll see him again."
"Aye. Especially aftar Marion gets a whiff o' whot Robin did." Thorn agreed.