Summary: AU. "Folklore tells the story of one man who became a legend. In the year of our Lord, 1192, Sir Robin of Locksley fought against poverty and corruption for the welfare of this country." RobinMarian. Non-canon storyline.

RougeDoll

Goodbye Apathy

A village was alive with excitement as they celebrated with the annual Harvester feast, the village had been decorated in bright colours that represented Autumn; golds, oranges, and reds. Even the peasants of the village wore similar colours and many of the women had woven wreaths of barley in their hair. Long tables with benches had been set out in the middle of the village square, and now that the feasting was finished adults were helping each other clean the space and complimenting each other on what they had cooked and brought to the feast.

The celebrations lasted long into the night with minstrels playing music and couples dancing in the light cast from the large, roaring fire which had been built. The oldest, wisest man of the village sat by the large pond with children clamouring at his feet, all pleading with him to tell a story.

"One that you were told when you were young," a small child requested.

The man thought for a moment before smiling softly, his thin, papery skin crinkling at the corners of his eyes. "Very well," his voice was soothing and all the children shifted their positions until they were more comfortable before listening intently.

"Folklore tells the story of one man who became a legend. He gave up everything, his lands, title, even the woman he loved to fight for the welfare of this country.

'In the year of our Lord, 1192, Robin of Locksley, the young Lord of Locksley and Earl of Huntingdon, returned from the Holy Crusade in Jerusalem to find England in a state of despair. Poverty, corruption and evil had reduced the once prospering, once floruishing country to it's knees. Under the pretence of needing funds for the war chest, greedy Sheriff's taxed the poorest of the country until they were penniless and starving.

'The greedy, most sadistic Sheriff of them all was Sheriff Vaisey, the Sheriff of Nottingham. In favour of killing the then-King, King Richard the Lionhart, Sheriff Vaisey wanted to put his brother, Pince John on the throne. Which would have completely ruined England.

'The only person brave enough to stand in the way of this plot was Robin of Locksley and his band of followers. After defying the Sheriff, Robin was branded an outlaw and was forced to live life as an Outlaw in the Forest.

'However, this is where Robin's life really began."

Sherwood Forest, 1192

Locksley. It was beautiful, it was calling to him, it was home.

"Master, come down from there, you'll do yourself an injury!" Much, the manservant to the Master of Locksley called anxiously.

Robin of Locksley breathed in the sweet scent of Sherwood forest; pine wood, bark and grass. Home.

He smiled contently, it was good to be back. "Come join me," he called down to his friend. "You can see Locksley from here, it's beautiful."

Robin was stood twenty feet above Much in a large tree, he stood on a thick branch whilst clinging to the trunk so he could easily pivot. Locksley was beckoning to him over the treetops, he could see the large pond which lay beside the village full of small houses and the large manor house with a thin trail of smoke wisping it's way out of the chimney and into the deep blue, cloudless sky.

Robin felt so free, like a bird about to soar. In a moment of foolishness, he was about to leap from the tree to see if he really could fly when Much spoke again. The magic was lost.

"It'd do you no good getting this close to Locksley only to fall from that tree and break your neck." Much huffed loudly.

"Fine," Robin sighed before swiftly climbing down the tree and dropping lithely onto the balls of his feet. Robin grinned triumphantly at Much before walking towards where his sack and bow was dumped beside a rock.

"And you can wipe that smirk off your face," Much scolded as Robin shouldered his possessions and resisted rolling his eyes. "You know you should be resting after your injury sustained in the Holy Land."

"But Much I've rested enough, I feel fine now. No pain, no fever. Fine."

"Hmm," Much huffed again.

"C'mon, I've seen Locksley, it's in a South Easterly direction." Robin began walking and Much jogged to get back in time with him.

"You saw Locksley? What was it like?" Much asked.

"What d'you mean 'what was it like'?" Robin laughed. "It was the same as when we left."

"So no nasty surprises waiting for us then?" Much asked, frowning. Robin smiled crookedly and Much grinned too.

"None that I could see."

So, there was chapter one.
I hope you enjoyed, and if you could review, that would be awesome :)
I know it was a rather short chapter with barely anything happening, but that was just the starter.