If you like Alan Rickman, you have come to the right place! I'm afraid
this chapter is more of an introduction to the hero and heroine. I promise
you it will get steamy in part 2;) I know this first bit will seem as if I
have merely substituted Robin Hood references with Harry Potter names, but
bear with me. Hope you don't mind me mocking Robin a little.
For those who wish to read this as a purely Robin Hood story, I will be putting up an non-Harry Potter version on the Robin Hood section.
**********************************
Over 800 years ago, King Albus the Griffin-Heart and his Order of the Phoenix led the 3rd Crusade into the non-Magical lands to spread the word of the Wizarding world to Muggles. However, many of his men did not return.
*
Peter of Gisborn staggered into the Great Hall of Nottingham Castle still panting with exhaustion, and severely shaken by his brush with death. His cousin, the Sheriff of Nottingham, turned to face him.
"What the hell happened to you?" he sneered.
Peter drew in a great shuddering breath and leaned against the wall. He longed to sink into the chair in front of him, but he didn't dare do so without the Sheriff's permission.
"We were set upon," gasped Peter, "by a man who warned us against harming his people."
"His people?" the Sheriff inquired.
"He claims to be Robin of Gryffindor,"
"Aah. The prodigal son returns. and yet you return alone, Wormatil, what of your men?"
Peter felt his knees go weak under his cousin's fierce glare. The Sheriff of Nottingham inspired more fear in him than a hundred Robin of Gryffindors.
"They were all slain, cousin, and I barely survived, I -" he trailed off as the Sheriff rose suddenly and strode over to meet him, his face inches from Peter's. Peter could tell that he had aroused that fiery temper of his, and he feared for his life. "He had a companion -" Peter blurted "A Muggle."
"A Muggle?" the Sheriff cried in disbelief, stepping back disorientated. He deliberated for a moment, before waving a hand at Peter. "Get out Wormtail. I wish to be alone."
*
With Peter of Gisborn gone, the Sheriff of Nottingham made his way into the bowels of the castle, below even the deepest dungeons. The stench was awful but he carried on, picking his way through the festering carcasses of dead rodents and the putrid remnants of whatever foul potions the one who dwelt there had been brewing over the years. As he approached the wizened form that hunched over the table at the far end of the room he was greeted by serpents that hissed and writhed at his feet. He longed to kick the foul creatures out of his path, but he was all too aware of what the penalty for that would be.
"Mortiana," he said.
The figure turned its head slowly towards him, and he was faced with the shriveled visage of Salazar Slytherin's only living descendant, his daughter, Mortiana Slytherin. She was over a century old. It was she who had discovered Severus when he was a baby, abandoned at her door by his parents. The Snapes were a Slytherin family, but far beneath Mortiana's esteem. However she took on their son and raised him until he was ready to take on the mantle as the Sheriff of Nottingham.
He struggled against the wave of nausea which always swamped him when confronted with the hideous old crone. The witch was then seized by a fit of coughing, so it was a while before she finally spoke. Her breath wheezed and rattled in her throat, and every word she uttered was an effort.
"I knew you'd come."
The Sheriff sat by her side as she removed a snake from her plate and selected an egg from under one of the brooding mothers under the table. Hissing like one of her reptiles she sliced her long gnarled fingernails into the egg. Thick, dark blood dripped onto the gold plate. The Sheriff gritted his teeth, masking his revulsion. Mortiana Slytherin threw a handful of pre-selected runes into the blood and tilted the plate this way and that to get the best view.
"What do you see?" whispered the Sheriff, careful not to betray his impatience. He shuddered as a snake slithered its way up his calf, but did not dare shake it off.
The witch hissed. "I see the son of a dead man,"
"Gryffindor!" His hands clenched convulsively on the back of the old woman's chair.
"He dwells in the Forbidden Forest, he is gathering companions to him, they are loyal to him, they will fight for him. He must be stopped, he is a threat to you."
Suddenly a terrifying shriek rent the air. The Sheriff stood up in alarm and the plate clattered to the floor. He bit back another violent wave of nausea as the old crone clung to him desperately, babbling incoherently in terror. "I saw the Muggle, he haunts my dreams!" she croaked.
"Gryffindor's companion." The Sheriff mused.
"You must kill him," sobbed the witch "You must kill them all."
*******
I returned from the village with ill news. The Sheriff of Nottingham, curse him, had designs on my Ladyship's land. He is starving his people, they grow poorer by the day. I know my Lady does all that she can, but there is a limit to what she can do. Her position is compromised, for if she pushes the Sheriff too far, he will take action against her. But now I hear that despite the Maid Marion's discretion, his men are already encroaching on her land, and are taking liberties with what they find there. I hastened to my Lady's quarters to deliver the news.
"Idle gossip from the villagers, Sarah," she said, but I could see in her eyes that she was perturbed by what I had to say.
"But I must advise you to be vigilant, my Lady, they say the Sheriff was raised by one of the most powerful dark witches in England, the kin of old Serpent-tongue himself!"
"Nonsense Sarah!" but she wrung her hands as she spoke. "I am capable of taking my own counsel and I don't take kindly to -"
We were interrupted by a commotion downstairs. There were three men outside the castle door arguing with the housekeeper. I reached the window first, my Lady peered over my shoulder. She put a hand to her heaving bosom.
"Robin of Gryffindor!" she gasped.
I turned to face her. "Robin of Gryffindor? Is that really him? I thought he had been killed in the Muggle world!"
We turned back to the window again, but we were too late. Only two men stood outside the door now. The housekeeper had let Robin of Gryffindor into our home.
"Go in my place Sarah, I beg of you!" she whispered, in considerable distress.
"But surely you wish to meet this man in person this time,"
"We always do it this way!"
"But that was for your own protection my Lady, surely Robin -"
"I can't face him Sarah, not like this."
*
I stepped out into the shadows where I knew he could not see me. He was stood in the middle of the hall with his hands on his hips looking a little foolish.
"What do you want?" I growled.
"I am looking for the Lady of this house, the Maid Marion."
The man looked a prat. I thought I would play with him a little. "Turn around." I said imperiously. He did so. "Do you want me to dance for you also?" he asked sarcastically, obviously irritated. I resisted the temptation to further humiliate him. "Who are you?"
"I am the Maid Marion,"
"Then come out into the light where I can see you,"
I stepped out into the shaft of sunlight and revealed myself before his eyes. His nostrils flared in surprise. I stifled the urge to laugh at his obvious consternation upon seeing this plump wench standing in the place of his childhood sweetheart. I glared down coldly at him.
"The years. have been kind," he stuttered. I had to bite my lip to keep from guffawing out loud.
"Now get out." That would put an end to his amorous quest.
"But the problem is, I have sworn to protect you." Oh Good Lord. Was there no discouraging the man? I saw the glint of a sword tip behind him. Marion! I smirked. Despite her earlier qualms she had resorted to our usual tactic.
"As you can see, we have enough protection."
*
I enjoyed the spectacle of the fight between the arrogant nobleman and the Lady who I served. It was unfortunate that her disguise was discovered by him and our cover blown. I watched from the window as the two talked outside. Robin of Gryffindor was perched on the castle wall in what could only been seen as a blatant crotch-display. He seemed insistent, and my Lady appeared disturbed greatly by his presence and whatever he was saying to her.
Then what I had feared since my visit to the market happened sooner than I had expected. Peter of Gisborn and a dozen men in armour rode straight through the grounds beyond the outer castle wall. Robin and his companions leapt upon two of our finest horses and clattered off to chase them away. They succeeded, but I fear they will soon return.
The Maid Marion flew into my arms sobbing violently. The days' events had all been too much for her. I helped her into her bedroom and handed her a fresh handkerchief. She seemed more concerned about Gryffindor than Nottingham's men.
"All I remember of him was a spoilt bully who used to burn my hair as a child!" She sobbed. "He can never replace my brother, no matter how much he brags about 'protecting' me, I will not have it! He will never take my brother's place!"
"What of your brother?" I demanded, a chill settling on my heart.
"He is dead! Burnt at the stake by the Muggles!"
Alas. It was as I had feared. "My lady, if this man seeks to protect you surely -"
"How do I know he didn't compromise my brother's position out of cowardice?"
"But you must place your trust -"
"His father has been accused of being a Death Eater!"
"But surely -"
Her Ladyship was hysterical. "All the evidence.I just don't know what to believe!"
I let her cry on my shoulder and my mind drifted to more pressing worries. I had served the House of Serdaigle all my life and it was my duty to look out for them. The threat from Nottingham was drawing ever closer."
****
'Serdaigle' is French for Ravenclaw. Marion's surname is French as she is cousin of Richard the Lionheart who was also French.
I promise you, the next chapter will have some action in it! Brace yourselves! It will be going onto R-Rated next time, so adjust your settings before checking again.
For those who wish to read this as a purely Robin Hood story, I will be putting up an non-Harry Potter version on the Robin Hood section.
**********************************
Over 800 years ago, King Albus the Griffin-Heart and his Order of the Phoenix led the 3rd Crusade into the non-Magical lands to spread the word of the Wizarding world to Muggles. However, many of his men did not return.
*
Peter of Gisborn staggered into the Great Hall of Nottingham Castle still panting with exhaustion, and severely shaken by his brush with death. His cousin, the Sheriff of Nottingham, turned to face him.
"What the hell happened to you?" he sneered.
Peter drew in a great shuddering breath and leaned against the wall. He longed to sink into the chair in front of him, but he didn't dare do so without the Sheriff's permission.
"We were set upon," gasped Peter, "by a man who warned us against harming his people."
"His people?" the Sheriff inquired.
"He claims to be Robin of Gryffindor,"
"Aah. The prodigal son returns. and yet you return alone, Wormatil, what of your men?"
Peter felt his knees go weak under his cousin's fierce glare. The Sheriff of Nottingham inspired more fear in him than a hundred Robin of Gryffindors.
"They were all slain, cousin, and I barely survived, I -" he trailed off as the Sheriff rose suddenly and strode over to meet him, his face inches from Peter's. Peter could tell that he had aroused that fiery temper of his, and he feared for his life. "He had a companion -" Peter blurted "A Muggle."
"A Muggle?" the Sheriff cried in disbelief, stepping back disorientated. He deliberated for a moment, before waving a hand at Peter. "Get out Wormtail. I wish to be alone."
*
With Peter of Gisborn gone, the Sheriff of Nottingham made his way into the bowels of the castle, below even the deepest dungeons. The stench was awful but he carried on, picking his way through the festering carcasses of dead rodents and the putrid remnants of whatever foul potions the one who dwelt there had been brewing over the years. As he approached the wizened form that hunched over the table at the far end of the room he was greeted by serpents that hissed and writhed at his feet. He longed to kick the foul creatures out of his path, but he was all too aware of what the penalty for that would be.
"Mortiana," he said.
The figure turned its head slowly towards him, and he was faced with the shriveled visage of Salazar Slytherin's only living descendant, his daughter, Mortiana Slytherin. She was over a century old. It was she who had discovered Severus when he was a baby, abandoned at her door by his parents. The Snapes were a Slytherin family, but far beneath Mortiana's esteem. However she took on their son and raised him until he was ready to take on the mantle as the Sheriff of Nottingham.
He struggled against the wave of nausea which always swamped him when confronted with the hideous old crone. The witch was then seized by a fit of coughing, so it was a while before she finally spoke. Her breath wheezed and rattled in her throat, and every word she uttered was an effort.
"I knew you'd come."
The Sheriff sat by her side as she removed a snake from her plate and selected an egg from under one of the brooding mothers under the table. Hissing like one of her reptiles she sliced her long gnarled fingernails into the egg. Thick, dark blood dripped onto the gold plate. The Sheriff gritted his teeth, masking his revulsion. Mortiana Slytherin threw a handful of pre-selected runes into the blood and tilted the plate this way and that to get the best view.
"What do you see?" whispered the Sheriff, careful not to betray his impatience. He shuddered as a snake slithered its way up his calf, but did not dare shake it off.
The witch hissed. "I see the son of a dead man,"
"Gryffindor!" His hands clenched convulsively on the back of the old woman's chair.
"He dwells in the Forbidden Forest, he is gathering companions to him, they are loyal to him, they will fight for him. He must be stopped, he is a threat to you."
Suddenly a terrifying shriek rent the air. The Sheriff stood up in alarm and the plate clattered to the floor. He bit back another violent wave of nausea as the old crone clung to him desperately, babbling incoherently in terror. "I saw the Muggle, he haunts my dreams!" she croaked.
"Gryffindor's companion." The Sheriff mused.
"You must kill him," sobbed the witch "You must kill them all."
*******
I returned from the village with ill news. The Sheriff of Nottingham, curse him, had designs on my Ladyship's land. He is starving his people, they grow poorer by the day. I know my Lady does all that she can, but there is a limit to what she can do. Her position is compromised, for if she pushes the Sheriff too far, he will take action against her. But now I hear that despite the Maid Marion's discretion, his men are already encroaching on her land, and are taking liberties with what they find there. I hastened to my Lady's quarters to deliver the news.
"Idle gossip from the villagers, Sarah," she said, but I could see in her eyes that she was perturbed by what I had to say.
"But I must advise you to be vigilant, my Lady, they say the Sheriff was raised by one of the most powerful dark witches in England, the kin of old Serpent-tongue himself!"
"Nonsense Sarah!" but she wrung her hands as she spoke. "I am capable of taking my own counsel and I don't take kindly to -"
We were interrupted by a commotion downstairs. There were three men outside the castle door arguing with the housekeeper. I reached the window first, my Lady peered over my shoulder. She put a hand to her heaving bosom.
"Robin of Gryffindor!" she gasped.
I turned to face her. "Robin of Gryffindor? Is that really him? I thought he had been killed in the Muggle world!"
We turned back to the window again, but we were too late. Only two men stood outside the door now. The housekeeper had let Robin of Gryffindor into our home.
"Go in my place Sarah, I beg of you!" she whispered, in considerable distress.
"But surely you wish to meet this man in person this time,"
"We always do it this way!"
"But that was for your own protection my Lady, surely Robin -"
"I can't face him Sarah, not like this."
*
I stepped out into the shadows where I knew he could not see me. He was stood in the middle of the hall with his hands on his hips looking a little foolish.
"What do you want?" I growled.
"I am looking for the Lady of this house, the Maid Marion."
The man looked a prat. I thought I would play with him a little. "Turn around." I said imperiously. He did so. "Do you want me to dance for you also?" he asked sarcastically, obviously irritated. I resisted the temptation to further humiliate him. "Who are you?"
"I am the Maid Marion,"
"Then come out into the light where I can see you,"
I stepped out into the shaft of sunlight and revealed myself before his eyes. His nostrils flared in surprise. I stifled the urge to laugh at his obvious consternation upon seeing this plump wench standing in the place of his childhood sweetheart. I glared down coldly at him.
"The years. have been kind," he stuttered. I had to bite my lip to keep from guffawing out loud.
"Now get out." That would put an end to his amorous quest.
"But the problem is, I have sworn to protect you." Oh Good Lord. Was there no discouraging the man? I saw the glint of a sword tip behind him. Marion! I smirked. Despite her earlier qualms she had resorted to our usual tactic.
"As you can see, we have enough protection."
*
I enjoyed the spectacle of the fight between the arrogant nobleman and the Lady who I served. It was unfortunate that her disguise was discovered by him and our cover blown. I watched from the window as the two talked outside. Robin of Gryffindor was perched on the castle wall in what could only been seen as a blatant crotch-display. He seemed insistent, and my Lady appeared disturbed greatly by his presence and whatever he was saying to her.
Then what I had feared since my visit to the market happened sooner than I had expected. Peter of Gisborn and a dozen men in armour rode straight through the grounds beyond the outer castle wall. Robin and his companions leapt upon two of our finest horses and clattered off to chase them away. They succeeded, but I fear they will soon return.
The Maid Marion flew into my arms sobbing violently. The days' events had all been too much for her. I helped her into her bedroom and handed her a fresh handkerchief. She seemed more concerned about Gryffindor than Nottingham's men.
"All I remember of him was a spoilt bully who used to burn my hair as a child!" She sobbed. "He can never replace my brother, no matter how much he brags about 'protecting' me, I will not have it! He will never take my brother's place!"
"What of your brother?" I demanded, a chill settling on my heart.
"He is dead! Burnt at the stake by the Muggles!"
Alas. It was as I had feared. "My lady, if this man seeks to protect you surely -"
"How do I know he didn't compromise my brother's position out of cowardice?"
"But you must place your trust -"
"His father has been accused of being a Death Eater!"
"But surely -"
Her Ladyship was hysterical. "All the evidence.I just don't know what to believe!"
I let her cry on my shoulder and my mind drifted to more pressing worries. I had served the House of Serdaigle all my life and it was my duty to look out for them. The threat from Nottingham was drawing ever closer."
****
'Serdaigle' is French for Ravenclaw. Marion's surname is French as she is cousin of Richard the Lionheart who was also French.
I promise you, the next chapter will have some action in it! Brace yourselves! It will be going onto R-Rated next time, so adjust your settings before checking again.