Disclaimer: I own nothing - Robin Hood is all property of the BBC.
Chapter 1
A 16 year old girl rode through Sherwood Forest on her chestnut brown horse, the wind wipping her dark brown hair, as she scanned the trees with her piercing blue eyes.
All she saw were endless amounts of huge green trees.
She knew it was not as easy task to find someone in a forest, but she was determined not to give up.
Her mother had told her, shortly before her death, about the person she should go to. The man she seeked was well known around the area, because of his reputation. Her mother had told her she would find him in the forets, and a traveller had told her to keep away from North Road as it was full of outlaws.
So the teenager was now heading towards North Road. It might sound stupid, but she had logic behind it.
--
In the outlaws camp, Little John - a huge mountain of a man who always carried a wooden staff on his person - was stood on the hill that over looked North Road.
' I see someone coming in the distance,' he called out to the others.
'Brilliant,' Robin - the leader - grinned, ' Time for an ambush I say. How does this person travel? How many of the party are there? '
' It is just one young woman on a horse. She looks young, still a teenager.'
' Then this is a job for only a few of us. Will, Allan, come with me, we'll take this one.' Robin ordered.
--
As the rider approached, Robin, Will and Allan prepared themselves. Robin and Will were to conduct the ambush, whilst Allan stood behind where the rider would stop, hidden in the trees, ready to stop her if she tries to back away.
The girl on horseback grew closer and closer until she was riding right down North Road.
Robin jumped out in front of her horse - Will appearing at his side - causing the animal to rear up with a whiny.
The girl managed to control her horse, as she looked at Robin curiously - she didn't seem too bothered about the situation, the outlaw leader noted, as if she had expected to be ambushed.
' This... is an ambush,' Will announced.
The girl merely smirked in a satisfied sort of way.
' Be honest with us, tell us truthfully what you have and we shall only take one tenth, but if you resist, we shall take it all by force,' Robin told her.
The unknown girl showed no sign of running away, she actually dismounted the horse and walked towards the two men.
' You're Robin Hood? ' she asked him, one eyebrow cocked.
He nodded wordlessly, and she pulled out a small brown purse, and dangled it in front of him.
' You can 'ave the whole lot if you'll just answer me a few questions,' she told him.
Robin rolled his eyes,' Oh yes? '
It was her turn to roll her eyes, ' Not bein' funny, but you really need to work on your manners mate. Anyone would think you didn't want to talk to a beautiful young woman.'
From behind her, in the trees, Allan was also very curious. She had used his catchphrase! and she didn't sound like a local girl. Will and Robin shared this curiousity.
' How old are you? ' Robin asked her.
' 16,' answered the girl easily.
' You shouldn't be riding through here on your own,' he told her, ' it's not safe.'
She smirked, ' Yes - I may be ambushed by a group of outlaws might I? '
Robin eyed her carefully, ' What is such a young woman as yourself, doing in the forest alone. What business have you here? '
' Ah, well that brings me back to the questions I wanted to ask you.'
' So you came looking for me? ' he asked, ' Well, I am honoured.'
' Don't flatter yourself,' she said sharply, ' I am looking for someone whom I have on good authority is in your band of outlaws or whatever it is you exactly are.'
' Who might that be? ' Will asked.
' Allan A Dale,' she replied more shyly than the way she had been speaking before.
From his position, Allan stepped forward a little, so hear what she had to say.
' What's your name? ' Will continued.
' Ava A Dale.'
' I was not aware that Allan had a younger sister.'
' You are right, he does not. I am his daughter.'
Allan was frozen on the spot - he had no daughter. Robin and Will were equally suprised.
' Surely you are not old enough! ' Robin reasoned.
' Yes, he and my mother were but young when I was born. So do you know of him? '
Robin nodded his head in her direction, but slightly over her head.
She whirled around to be faced with a rather tall, good looking man. He had dark hair and the same piercing blue eyes as Ava herself did.
' My daughter? ' Allan asked, looking at her in disbelief.
Ava's eyes welled up with tears as she realised that her own Father could reject her and she ran away, into the forest.
