I love the legend of Robin Hood, and the Tales of Rowan Hood are awesome, so this story is just me paying homage to that. Since Beau never got her own book, most of this will be from her point of view. This story takes place about two years after Return of Rowan Hood, meaning Rowan, Lionel, Etty, Rook, and Beau are all somewhere around 17 years old. I don't actually have the books with me, so feel free to tell me if I make any mistakes.
Disclaimer: I do not own Robin Hood or the Tales of Rowan Hood. Isn't it depressing?
~brainandheart
Beau awoke to find herself alone in the rowan grove. This didn't worry her overmuch, as she was usually the last in Rowan's little band to rise. Besides, she knew at least two members of the band would be in earshot if she were to whistle.
Lukewarm sunlight filtered into the grove, telling her it was long past time to be up. Sleeping in was a luxury outlaws could rarely afford, but there had been little trouble for the last two years. Foresters still roamed the woods, but the sheriff seemed to have lost his courage since the death of his cruel lackey Guy of Gisborn. Oh, there was always a struggle for food, but the foresters proved little threat against those who lived in the forest and whose lives depended on stealth. Beau would be the first to admit that she had gotten lazy in the lull.
Throwing off her mantle, which also served as her blanket, she stretched like a cat and sat up, relishing the feel of blood returning to her fingers and toes. Last night's air had held a definite chill; it seemed winter was unwilling to give way to spring.
The small fire was nothing more than smoldering coals, the trail of rising smoke so faint that there was no chance of it being spotted above the rocky walls of the grove. All the same Beau used a stick to scatter the coals before searching for something to fill her empty stomach.
She knew there wouldn't be much. As Lionel had loudly announced last night, they were down to the last crumbs of bread. However, when Beau looked under Lionel's mantle, she found a crust of bread wrapped in cloth. Beau snorted. The big baby.
Nibbling on her bread crust, Beau snatched up her bow and quiver and left the rowan grove, her feet immediately following the familiar path to the Nottingham road. Although it was nice not to be hunted, the days seemed much longer when gathering food and practicing weapons were the only activities.
Beau was not one who could be easily content with the mundane. Sleeping in was fine, certainly, but she wanted to find some excitement, and luckily, she knew it would probably be. She slipped between two rough-barked oaks, catching a glimpse of the Nottingham Way through the trees ahead. Grinning as she noticed the half dozen Lincoln green figures crouched in the underbrush, Beau crept up behind a tall outlaw with curly blond hair springing from under his green felt cap.
Softening her footfalls even more, she narrowed her eyes in anticipation. Just a few more steps...
"Beau, lass, have you come to join our sport?"
Beau froze. Robin Hood peered over his shoulder, an impish grin curling his lips. Beau blew out her breath in exasperation. Foiled again. No matter how many years she spent in the forest, she would never sneak up on Robin Hood.
"Robin, you big oaf," Beau grumbled. The grin widened to a fond smile. Beau owed her allegiance to Rowan Hood, but Robin's puckish spirit matched her own. She flopped down beside him behind the hazel bush. "What imbécile bête is about to fall into your trap today?"
He turned to her and winked. "A fine-feathered peacock and his lady, so I've been told. They should be coming around the bend in moments."
Beau stretched her neck to look down the road. Two fine horses were just coming into sight, and Beau turned eagerly to Robin, ready for his signal to ambush the unsuspecting pair, but Robin's expression of merriment had frozen. He looked down the road like he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"Robin?" Allan's whisper broke the silence. Robin remained still. Allan glanced around at the hidden outlaws, meeting eyes with Beau briefly. The minstrel appeared as confused as she felt. It was very rare for Robin to freeze up during a robbery, even rarer for the cheerful outlaw leader to be that solemn.
Robin's face creased into a worried frown, making him look every bit of his thirty-seven years. It was an expression Beau had only seen when Rowan was in danger, except this time there was a bit of anger and something else indefinable in his blue eyes.
The pair on horseback, a knight in chain mail and a woman in a fine gown, was nearly upon their hiding place, still unsuspecting, but Robin didn't move. With one last exasperated glance at Robin, Allan gave the signal, and every outlaw fluidly stood, pulling back the strings of their longbows. Beau stood and pulled the nocked arrow to the corner of her mouth with the others, even though she was no more than an average shot.
Both horses spooked at the sudden appearance of the outlaws, skittering away from the green-clad figures. The knight cursed and reached for the longsword strapped to his saddle.
An arrow sailed from the edge of the road and planted itself in the thick leather saddle a finger's breadth from the knight's hand. With a roar, the man reared back, frightening his horse again and nearly falling off.
Out of the corner of her eye, Beau saw Robin slowly lower his bow. He moved forward as if in a trance, and didn't spare so much as a glance for the knight. His eyes focused on the woman who had not moved again after she had calmed her horse. Beau knew the moment the woman caught sight of Robin, because she went as unnaturally still as Robin had.
Beau saw Robin's Adam's apple bob as he swallowed hard. "Lady Marian."
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