Mara had been hiding in a huge oak for two nights when she heard voices. Her solitary loaf of bread had been demolished and she was in need of water. Her fear to leave her cradle of safety halted her departure to the sound of rushing water. It seemed everyone she met seemed to want to harm her. Every turn she made took her into danger. And now the only option seemed to be to wait here in this tree until either a miracle or God came to her.
Though still young her life had been difficult. Her parents killed by the sheriff's men. Right in front of her eyes at the age of fourteen. Then when the men tried to have her way with her, all she could do was take her infant brother and run. Always running. But when her brother got ill there was nothing she could do. To stay in one village for over a month was suicide and he could not travel. Having to leave him with a stranger was the hardest thing she had ever had to do. And now she was sixteen and had been alone for a year. She didn't know where her brother was or even if he was alive. But he was safer without her. She might find him, one day, when things were better.
However right now the future looked bleak, she would die here, in this tree. Lonely as ever. This is what she was thinking when a faint mumbling began coming from the sound of the water, she should have run. But she was far too tired. They had been speaking for around an hour, it sounded as though new company had come into an already established group of men. They had stopped in a clearing around a hundred yards away from where she was hidden. A light and the smell of firewood her know they had a campfire. Although she realised they were all men she was not afraid. The feeling of dread she usually felt when around men was not there. She just thought it would be nice to have company in her last moment. It seemed a happy place.
But then a raised voice came over the mumbles, it was full of contempt. All it said was 'You are nothing like us!' and it wasn't this that almost made her weariness abate, but that the carrier of the voice seemed very close. Footfalls sounded near her tree and she whimpered despite herself. The sound of feet stopped and her tiredness suddenly overcame her. She could no longer hold on to the tree but slipped off and lost consciousness on the fall down.
Will Scarlett knew who this rich boy was, Robin of Locksley. Will was the only living soul who knew they were brothers. That is why when the Rich Boy likened himself to them he couldn't say nothing. He wasn't going to sit there whilst this obnoxious prick came into their lives so he walked off into the forest.
Whilst muttering under his breath about cocky spoilt brats, he heard a strange noise in the tree directly above him. He stopped and looked up just in time to see a rustle of the broads leaves and figure come crashing through them.
His instincts kicked in and he reached out and caught the figure and grasped it close. He felt protective over this unknown entity and wanted to keep it away from the other men. He ran. Holding the figure to him. He ran to his favourite place. The waterfall.
By the time Will reached the cave, he had realised that the figure in his arms was a young woman. She looked close to death. He gently lay her on the ground by the waters edge. He tenderly brushed the long dark strands of hair off her face. She was so beautiful it made him ache. She had delicately sculpted features, long eyelashes and a perfect lips. The colour looked as if it had been drained out of her and she was pale as moonlight. He had to try and help her. How could he wake her? He crawled to the waters edge and cupped some of the clear cool crisp water from the lake fed by a gentle waterfall and brought it to the beautiful creatures mouth. He sat her up and poured the liquid down her throat, some dripping off her chin into the hollow of her neck. He noticed for the first time what she was wearing. It startled him that such a wild looking girl would be wearing something like this. It was a grey light layered dress that made her look like an angel. Will found it difficult to breathe. Maybe she was an angel. She had dropped from the sky into his arms.
When Mara felt the trickle of cool liquid down her throat she she spluttered a little and opened her eyes slowly. Two brilliantly alive eyes gazed down at her. She wasn't shocked or surprised, perhaps due to her exhaustion. She couldn't look away from the eyes. They were so bright, so piercing, so…Alive. She could hear the careful sound of water on stone. It was comforting.
The face looked away from her and she panicked but it was okay, it came back with hand cupped. The hand was brought to her mouth and she opened it obediently, this time swallowing the crisp water. She realised that her head was being held up and tried to bring herself up. She only managed it with the help of this…this man. He aided her and moved his arm to her shoulders to help her into an upright position. She was covered in dirt, bruises and cuts and didn't know what was happening. Who was this stranger gazing down into her eyes so intently? Though she realised she was doing the same. She couldn't take her eyes off of him. He was beautiful. She would say he was in his early twenties. His skin was covered in a thin layer of sweat.
'My lady' he bowed his head, 'how do you feel?'
'Dizzy'.
Will smiled. 'My name is Will. You fell from a tree and I caught you'
'Oh. I remember'
'You cant remember much, you were unconscious, I carried you here. I didn't know what to do'.
'Thankyou, Im sorry…'
With this Mara attempted to get to her feet planning on leaving but she collapsed into Wills arms.
'My lady! Please be careful. You are very weak'.
'Who are you?'
Will planned to ignore the question but when he looked down he saw real interest in her eyes, so he told her everything about himself, right down to Robin and his secret. He knew he could trust her. Mara learned of the men exiled into hiding and the newcomers, one of whom was Wills brother, and how he had walked off and found her.
'I didn't want to take you to the others, don't get me wrong they wouldn't have hurt you but I wouldn't want them to overwhelm you. Pleas now you tell me who you are?'
Mara told him about herself as best she could but talking made her more tired. He listened intently. His eyes glistened when she spoke of her family and she saw him twitch with what seemed to be anger when she tried to subtly mention all the men that had hurt her. When she told him how she had never let a man have her and had killed men trying to have their way he blinked and told her there was no wonder she had been chased so long.
'Mara, none of the men here would ever hurt you. I want you to know that. You will be safe and welcomed here if you wish to stay'.
'I would appreciate time to rest and get strong again then I will set out again. If that would be o-okay?'
'You can take as long as you want.'
Will saw how much pain the talking was so he offered her more water which she gladly accepted. Then Mara dropped her head down on to Wills chest with his arm still around her and fell into a dreamless sleep. Will kept her close and shrugged his cloak off to put around her shoulders as she was shivering. Soon he to fell asleep laying them both down gently.