Disclaimer: I DO NOT Own any of the Robin Hood characters.
Summary: What if Maid Marian wasn't sweet and nice? What if Robin Hood found another girl? A girl who lived the same life he did. But she didn't have any faith in men. Will Robin Hood steal be able to steal her heart?
Lady Of The Forest
The Beginning
Flames surrounded the floor I stood on. I opened my mouth to scream but I only choked on the smoke as it entered my lungs. I had to get my little brother and me out. I got on my hands and knees and crawled on the hot floor. "Robert!" I yelled out as loudly as I could but all I did was choke on the thick smoke. I heard the King's men outside yelling. In any normal situations they would save us but they were the ones behind my house and my village burning. It was their swords that had run my mother and father through just hours before this. I crawled on my hands toward the direction I thought the door was in when I began to feel light-headed. I fell on my stomach and made no effort to get back up. "Arabella!" I heard a strong male voice yell. I couldn't respond. "ARABELLA!...ARABELLA!" I heard once again and I was being shook. I opened my eyes to see my friend Rosie standing above me.
"What is it?" I groaned sitting up. "You're were dreaming again" Rosie said. 'Oh...sorry' I said to her as I rubbed my eyes. "Fire dream again?' she asked. I nodded, not feeling like discussing it. 'Well if you ever want to talk about it...' she said standing up. ' I know where you are' I said as I stood up. 'The sun's rising. Do you want me to wake up the other women?' Rosie asked. 'No let them sleep a little longer' I said as I put my blanket back on my cot. Rosie nodded and left. I put on my light brown tights and slipped my pleated leather hunting skirt. I put on my corset type shirt to hold everything in place and slipped my white cotton sleeveless shirt. I put my loose leather belt on and made sure my daggers were all in place. I slipped on my deer-skin boots. They didn't have any hard padding on the bottom so they didn't make noise and barely left tracks. I ran a crude brush through my straight black hair. I walked out of my hut and out into the center of our hide-out. You may be thinking, why am I dressed like this? I am Arabella. I am an outlaw here in England. I am in charge of a group of women who have been wronged and decided to fight back. We try our best to do good and do what's right, even if it means going against the King and his favorite Maid Marian. She is beautiful and alluring. She had bright blonde hair and crystal blue eyes. Most men eat out of the palm of her hand, including the King and the Sheriff. I openly disagree with her and what she does. That's why there is currently a reward out for my capture. King John the tyrant is on the throne in place of his brother Richard. King John is cruel and taxes every living thing. He would tax the animals if they had money of any type. I make my way over to a creek and splash the cold water on my face, feeling more awake now. I used to be happy. Sadly, things have changed. When I was little, King John's men rode into my village demanding the taxes we owed John which were outrageous amounts of money. My father, the village leader, and my mother refused to pay him. The village was in poor condition and everyone in the village needed food. So, they fought. I watched my mother and father die by the swords of the men who were supposed to protect. I had a young brother too, named Robert. I took him back to our hut after what happened to mum and dad. We were in the house, and it began to get dark I put Robert to bed in the back and went into the front part to sleep. Robert liked to sleep by himself because he had hit an 'I'm a big boy' stage. So, I fell asleep in the front. I awoke a little later to the smell of smoke. I woke up to see the house in flames around me. I tried to get to Robert but I couldn't. Just as I was about to pass out, the farmer who lived beside us, he was also one of my father's good friends, came in and saved me. Robert was already dead.
So here I am now. I lived with the farmer until I was old enough to be on my own. I am 22 now. I am a rogue and a disgrace to the crown as I have been called. I've taught these women to be strong and fight. We are no longer victims. I sit beside the creek and relax as the sun rises higher into the sky. Today we are patrolling the forests. The King's men like to stop peasants in the forest and rob them of what little they have. I stand up and walk back to camp. I greet the women who are under my command. We sit to eat breakfast and discuss plans for the upcoming day.
A/N: Please review and tell me what you think. I really want feedback on this story. It's an idea I've been playing around with for a long time. Reviews, good or bad, are welcome.