Chapter Two.

The ground was flooded with small specks of magic. They were not actually magic, but tiny rays of light that had secreted themselves through the tiny pin prick holes of the trees above. The forest had been largely untouched over the centuries, and now ancient branches had intertwined so intricately that most of the sunlight from above was obscured from my view. I knew it must have been around midday, due to the length of time I had been walking and the pain in my belly from want of food. My bag was now starting to become heavy in my hand, and I had to keep transferring the weight of it from one arm to the other.

Even though I was tired and hungry, I admired the beauty of the forest. The green leaves of the trees that sparkles like emeralds, the sound of birdsong constantly gracing my ears, and the wild flowers that grew all along the path. I yearned to pick some, but I knew that they would not survive getting to Milton without going limp. But the colours of them! Each one had a unique pattern and colour, and how they looked beautiful. I knew if I had been any good at drawing, I would have sat down right their and then, never leaving that space until I had captured the image of these lovely flowers. Thankfully for me, I was no good at drawing, in fact I was rather terrible at it. This meant I could continue on my journey with minimal interruption.

I hummed to myself to keep my spirits up, I was not used to being so alone, and the melody found a way to keep me company. My feet kept moving forward in a rhythmical way, to keep my pace up. I knew I mustn't be delayed long, if I was going to reach Milton by midday the next day. I only had enough food to keep me satisfied until then.

The snap of the twigs beneath my feet didn't bother me much, nor did my loud humming.

In hindsight, I should have stopped making so much noise.

Then maybe I could have seen what was about it happen.

I heard no rustling behind me, no footsteps. I heard no noise to indicate that someone may have been following me.

But someone was.

I wasn't aware of it until I felt a sharp pain in my back, and a force pushing me forwards. I frantically pushed my hands out in front of me to try and take some of the impact away from my chest. I felt a cry escape my lips, but it was unconsciously done. The force kept pushing on my back, as I saw the ground come nearer and nearer to my face. I lost my balance completely and my hands hit the hard earth with a crash. The rest of my body soon followed, along with a pain lacing itself up from my hand to my shoulder rapidly. My chest hit the floor with some force and the air was knocked out of me. Before I could cry out again or do anything, the force pulled at me shoulder, forcing me to roll over so I was facing my attacker.

I tried to think clearly, but pain prevented me from doing so. I knew I had to get away, as fast as I could. But all I could think about was how to get air back into my lungs again, and how to make the pain stop.

In corner of my eye, I could see a hooded figure pulling me around to face them. Panic set in. I had no idea what to do, or how to get away.

'Who are you?' The figure asked once they had pulled me around.

I tried to respond but all I could do was gulp down air. The figure noticed this and didn't press the question again for a few more seconds.

'Who are you?' They repeated.

'Marion Brown. I'm just passing through.' I gasped out. I could feel my heart beating rapidly, I thought it was going to fly out of my chest at any moment.

'I don't know of any Browns among the nobility.'

'I'm not noble.' I stuttered.

'Really?'

'Yes!' They had loosened their grip on my slightly so I was able to recover a little.

'Who is your lord then?'

'I live under Duke William Howards, our previous lord was Sir Henry Cecil.' The pain was slightly subsiding now, and my mind was beginning to clear.

'You are truly not a noble then?'

'No!' I noticed that the voice of the hooded figure was becoming higher and higher.

'Then why do you dress like one?'

'I beg your pardon?'

'Your cloak, if you are who you say, you should not be able to afford that cloak.'

'It was a gift.'

The figure paused for a moment.

'So you truly are not a noble?' They asked.

I pulled back a section of my cloak to reveal the dress I was wearing underneath. If that didn't prove I was poor, I did not know what would.

'Does this look like something a noble would ever wear?'

The figure thought for a little while. Even though I could not see their face, I knew they were studying me.

I was desperate to get away. Fear consumed my entire being. I started to worry what would happen if they didn't believe me. I had heard tales of people robbed at the roadside, and a lot of them didn't just end at the robbery.

The figure clearly had decided to believe me, as I felt their grasp around my arm relax, and they slowly began to stand up. I was frozen in shock and relief.

The person stood and wiped off some grass that had attached itself to their clothes. Their hood fell back to reveal long ebony hair pulled back in a braid. My attacker was female!

She pulled down the handkerchief she wore over her mouth, and pulled off the mask she had around her eyes.

She was very pretty, not in the same way as Ella. Her face had sharp angles to it, and her eyes displayed a determined wildness about her. Her complexion was very pale, she almost appeared white skinned. Whether of not it appeared that way due to the stark contrast of her black hair, I left to debate at a later time.

'I'm sorry.' She said.

It was obvious now her voice was female. It was fairly deep, deep enough to pass for a young mans, but her accent was clear, she was a high born.

'I thought you were a noble.'

'Well, I'm not! Do you usually almost kill people you see on this road?'

'I wasn't about to kill you.'

'You didn't make that clear!' I was yelling rather loudly at her, but to fair she deserved it.

'I apologise, alright!'

'Apology not accepted!' I shouted at her. I pulled myself up off the ground, rather mad at her. She had attacked me for no reason, and just expected me to forgive her!

'I am sorry, my methods are a little harsh, but they work.'

'Your methods?' My voice was still very forceful.

'I only take from nobles, those who have money to spare.'

I looked at her curiously, my anger lessening a little.

'Why?'

'Because there is a starving village nearby. I never take for myself, I only steal to help them.'

'So, you steal from the rich to give to the poor?' This was sounding oddly familiar to me.

'Yes.' She said, brushing the last of the leaves off her clothes.

'Like Robin Hood?' I asked.

She turned to face me square on.

'You've read the story as well?' She asked incredulously.

'It's my favourite book!' I told her.

'Did your parents read it to you?'

'No, why?'

'You said your name was Marion, I just wondered.'

I almost started laughing. Not a minute ago, this woman was attacking me, and now we discussing books.

'No, I read it myself. Why, is your name Robin?' I joked.

'Yes.'

'Really?'

'No, of course it isn't. My name is Blanche.' She offered me a small smile and her hand. I shook it, more out of fear she was going to attack me again if I didn't.

'So, what brings you to the forest Marion Brown?'

'I am on my way to Milton.'

'Any reason?' I had decided subconsciously that she probably wasn't going to attack me again without provocation, so I trusted her with the truth.

'I'm moving away from home, and seeking my fortune.'

I expected her to laugh. Or tell me I was an idiot. But she didn't. She only nodded her head.

'I wish you good luck.'

'So I won't get attacked by another Robin Hood?'

She laughed.

'I don't think that the other thieves in this forest have quite as noble an intention as I have.'

'No, I don't think they will.'

'If you won't accept my apology, let me make it up to you. Are you hungry?'

I was still a little skeptical of her, but my stomach was becoming uncomfortable from lack of lunch, and who was I to turn down free food?

'As long as it isn't poisoned.'

'I give you my word, no food of mine is poisoned, or ever will be.'

I really was very hungry.

I agreed to eat with her. After all, of she fancied herself a modern day Robin Hood, she almost definitely had an interesting story to tell.

She beckoned me to follow her, and we left the forest path and dove deeper into the woods. We must only have been walking for about five minutes, but the apprehension of what this woman could do made the journey seem longer. Even though she appeared genuine in her wis to make amends, she did just attack me.

I could smell the smoke long before I could see the fire. Also, the smell of cooking stew also grace my nostrils, forcing my mouth to water a little.

We finally rounded a tree, and the sight of a small fire with a pot boiling over the top became clear.

The woman, I think she said her name was Blanche, began to place down her small bag, and pull of the extra clothing items she wore, until she was dressed in a plain shirt, tunic and trousers. I thought this was strange in itself, I had never seen a woman wear trousers before. This was probably the reason why I mistook her for a man earlier.

'Please sit.' She gestured to a log close to the fire that had been turned up on its end to create a stool of sorts. I placed my bag down next to the log and perched myself on the end. Blanche busied herself trying to find a bowl of some sort.

I noticed the boiling stew could do with a stir. The liquid was starting to separate a little. So I picked up the small wooden spoon that hung out of the end of the pot and began to move it.

'What are you doing?' She asked me when she returned.

'Stirring.' I responded, I thought it was quite obvious.

'You didn't add anything?'

'No, why would I?'

'Are you sure?'

'Yes of course I am!' I was beginning to get annoyed. I told her hadn't added anything to the stew.

She stared at me, and then used the spoon to put a small portion of stew in a worn down wooden bowl. She held out the bowl to me, and I took it hastily.

There was no other spoons, so I lifted the bowl to my lips and began to drink it. It was mushroom, I could feel the small pieces against my tongue. It was a little too hot, and a little flavourless, but I enjoyed it none the less. I hadn't thought I would get a hot meal until I reached Milton.

It was only when I lowered the bowl down, did I notice that Blanche was staring at me, her own bowl empty of stew.

'Are you not eating?' I asked her.

'I will be.' She responded.

Her gaze did not lessen, she appeared to be studying me.

After a minute, she slowly reached over and began to spoon a small portion into her own bowl. She drank it very slowly.

'Do you not trust me?' I asked her.

'I just wanted to be sure.'

'So what, you were going to wait to see if I was telling the truth? Whether or not I got sick?'

'Well...'

I couldn't believe her. She had invited me back to share her food, but didn't trust me not to poison her food as soon as her back was turned.

I stared at her. Who was she to accuse me of trying to poison her.

'I'm not a poisoner, or a killer. And I'm offended you suspect me to be one.'

'I'm sorry, again. But I have to be careful!'

'Why?'

'She is still out to kill me.'

As soon as she said that, I knew my interest was piqued. There was nothing she could say to me that would dissuade me from finding out her story.

'Who? Why is someone trying to kill you?'

'It's a long story.'

'I'm a good listener.'

'And it's not pleasant.'

'Your point is...'

She sighed loudly.

'There is a very powerful woman who is out to kill me. Her reach is far and wide, and so I cannot reveal much.'

'Alright.'

'I was not always a poor thief, a long time ago I was highborn Lady, a noble, beloved of my parents and my people. That was until she arrived.'

'May I ask who she is?'

'It's best you do not know.' Her response was serious, she did not want me to know. I guessed she still didn't trust me completely.

'Anyway,' she continued, 'we had a... disagreement.'

'How so?'

'She killed my father, and blamed me for the crime.'

I say there shocked. To lose a parent is horrific enough, without knowing they were killed. And then to be blamed must have been awful.

'I'm so sorry.'

Blanche only nodded.

'So, I hide out here, trying to bring what relief I can to be village. She has terrorised them enough. And I know I cannot escape her forever, so the idea of pissing her off whilst helping desperate people was very appealing. Hence the Robin Hood philosophy.'

'Oh.'

'So forgive me if I don't trust a stranger who dresses like a noble, but is actually a commoner. She could have sent anyone after me. She already sent a huntsman to track me, but I persuaded him to let me go.'

'Is there nothing you can do?' I asked. Now I knew why she was so distrustful, I felt bad for yelling at her.

'If you have any suggestions, they would be appreciated.'

'Have you just tried hiding, finding a small village far far away and living your life in peace.'

'I very briefly debated that, but I can't. My people are here. Even though I am no longer their lady, I cannot abandon them. And if I am not there to provide for them, they will starve and I will never let that happen.'

I admired her dedication to these people, her genuine drive to help them. She did remind me very much of Robin Hood, and I was starting to like her a lot.

'So, Marion, what's your story. You don't acquire a cloak like that without having some considerable wealth.'

I took a breath, and started to tell her about Ella, Lady Evil and Idiot, the Ball, all of it. A shortened version, of course.

She sat there listening to me for a long time. I described working for the Cecil family for 3 years, the invitation to the ball, the rescuing of Ella and the wedding. My story finished with Ella's visit to my house to give me the cloak.

I reached down into the bottom of my bag and pulled out the small bag of coins she had given me and opened it. Ella had been more than generous with me, there was no way I was going to spend all this money simply setting myself up in Milton. I counted out a small portion of the money and held it out in my hand towards Blanche.

'My contribution.' I told her. 'I can't do much to help, but this is a start.'

She took it out of my hand and placed my few coins in a small pocket on the inside of her tunic.

'Thank you. Your a lot more generous that most of the people I encounter on this road.'

'Your welcome, just make sure it does some good. And I hope if I am ever in the position these people are in, I'm on the right side of your generosity.'

Blanche smiled at me.

'Always.'