Hello! This is my AU S3 and I started writing it a while ago before the series had aired so I wasn't originally going to include the S3 characters into my piece. But in the end the end I did so, Kate and Tuck are already in the gang and Isabella and Prince John in the castle. Vaisey is not dead and there is no R/K.
I do want to apologize for the length of the first chapters. It's a little embarrassing. Please don't be put off though, I've written the next few chapters already and I promise that they do actually get a lot longer, I just need to set a few scenes before I get going. Please stick with it.
DISCLAIMER: I make no profit from writing this and as much as it pains me to admit it, I do not own Robin Hood (but I can dream I do, right?). However, I do own the character the Girl in the Hood so please don't steal her, just ask instead =]
Here we go then:
The Girl in the Hood
Prologue: in which we meet the girl in the hood
Night hugged the streets of Nottingham tightly as the short, masked and hooded figure crept from house to house, with little thought that they were being followed. They would, however, have been wise to give it some thought as a broken, ghostly Robin Hood was creeping after them in a dream like state. He followed, about a minute behind the figure so they would not see or hear him. The beige and monotonous symmetrical streets barely stirred as the figure passed from door to door each seemingly empty. The inhabitants were used to the elaborate routine. It had, of course been going on for around five years and tonight seemed the same as usual. Only now, Robin knew, it was different.
The masked figure left a loaf of bread and a large pie on each windowsill and trained as they were, nervous hands took it, terrified that they might be seen by the Sheriff's men – his spies were all around these days – but not too scared to quietly mutter,
"Bless you, nightwatchman," as the figure passed quickly and silently, barely more than a shadow in the moonlight. They were definitely stealthy and seemed to have adapted to creeping around and lurking in the shade, just as Robin and his men had. They were all well able to become one with the shadows.
Robin, by comparison to the villagers, was not scared at all. He was infuriated. How could the people be so ignorant? Even if he had not held her lifeless body, had not felt the warm flow of her red blood, had not seen her eyes close a final time in everlasting rest and even if Marian was still alive it was obvious this impostor was not her. They were shorter, for one and, yet, they had her clothes. Not recreations, the clothes. Robin knew exactly what her clothes looked like and if, indeed, they were not the ones they were damn good copies. The unnamed man may not have him fooled but the rest of the gang would not know the difference between this nightwatchman and the nightwatchman Marian had been.
His fury built up at the thought of his dead wife and his hand crept automatically to the cold, hard marble hilt of his sword. No matter if this person's intentions were good, no matter if they knew nothing about Marian, they would not impersonate her. No-one would take her place. No-one would scorn her memory and take the glory that was rightfully hers.
He narrowed his eyes as he watched them turn a corner, paused for a moment and mimicked their actions.
Author's Note: I know where this is going in some aspects but I would still love any new fresh ideas so if want to have an input into where this is going just PM me and I will have a think about your idea and credit you if I use it.
Please, please review, I need them to improve and to have an incentive to post more. In fact, scrap that I'd love a review just to know someone's reading =P. Thanks in advance for reading and if you do review, MaidenStar xxx