Disclaimer: Never in a million years will I own Robin Hood or the BBC. And no one expects me to, considering that Robin Hood was canceled after the third season.
Luna stopped. I kicked her stomach for her to continue, but there was no response. I dismounted and walked over to see her face. She was sleeping. Luna needed rest and so do I. I've decided to sit underneath a tree and eat what I've packed-three apples, a loaf of bread, a set of men's clothes, a needle tucked away in thread (if I tore my clothes or cut myself), a knife and a blanket. I could have baked a meat pie but once I ate part of it, I would have to eat all of it, therefore it wouldn't spoil. That's also the reason why I didn't bring any meat or cheese, like most travelers do. Three pence was all I had to my name and I took precaution not to lose them.
I had become oblivious of my surroundings, and soon realized that I had sat beneath a tree beside a road. Dirt, hoof prints, footprints, carriage tracks- a simple country road. I tossed my bag over my shoulder and crawled closer, to see if anyone was coming. I leaned against a tree and listened. Silence. I didn't hear any hoof beats, so I suspected that no one would be out in a carriage this early. I had left at sunrise, traveled for quite a distance, but the sun has not reached the center of the sky and it is not as bright as it is at midday. So it was still morning.
I pulled the loaf of bread and an apple out of my bag. I tore a piece off the bread and tucked away the rest. I ate the bread and the apple, and threw the core against the tree facing me. The core hit a branch and a fresh apple fell on my skirt. I picked it up, examined it to make sure there was no rotten spots-none. I looked up, laughed and whispered, so softly that only God could hear me, "Thank you."
I leaned my head back against the bark and drifted into a dream of memories.
July 15, 1190
We sat eating supper. Mother had cooked meat and vegetables and I bought a loaf of bread.
"I'm leaving." James said.
"Leaving? But where?" Mother asked. Her face was stern and concerned.
"To the Holy Land, I want to make peace and put an end to the bloodshed. Convince King Richard, so all the men can come home to their families."
"That's very kind of you. Kind, bold-"Father started.
"Are you mad!?You'll be killed!" I interrupted.
"Eleanor Llewellyn! You know not to interrupt your father! If you do that to the Sheriff-" Mother scolded. She couldn't bring herself to say the consequences. Lose a hand if you hunt on the Sheriff or a knight's property, or if you speak out of turn. Lose your life if you steal. Lose your tongue if you refuse to give information.
"I know the consequences, Mother! Morbid, brutal, immoral, unjust-intolerable! Someone has to do something about it!"
"Eleanor! Never speak ill of royalty!" Father shouted.
"But he doesn't deserve to be called royalty! He's an old toad who sits on his backside all day, taking money from those who need it most!"
"You will hold your tongue for the rest of the night!" He continued.
"Fine, then!" I sat fuming. "But when you see a family begging on a street for money, and you have nothing to give, you will know how it feels!"
"When are you leaving?" Mother asked. Her tone was suddenly more cheery. She was always good at changing her mood-unlike me.
"Sunrise tomorrow," he swallowed. "We're leaving for Portsmouth. Fifty men and I are staying at taverns and inns nearby and then the next morning we leave by ship for the Holy Land."
Sunrise, July 16, 1190
"Goodbye!" He shouted. "I will have the tavern owner return him tomorrow morning. I will see you again when there is peace in the Holy Land!"
"Goodbye!" Mother and Father shouted.
"I'll write to you!" I shouted.
He galloped off into the sunrise as we stood outside and saw him off. But none of us ever saw him again.
December 29, 1190
"Mother, how are you feeling?" I asked.
"Fine, fine," A smile spread across her face. She began to cough again.
"Mother, please, has something to drink." I sat beside her and poured her a cup of water. I reached out to give her the wooden cup. "It will make you feel better."
"No. I don't need anything. I only ask you for one request," her eyes closed, but her smile remained. I put the cup down.
"What is it? Anything," My eyes were pleading.
"Name her Addie, for when I'm in Heaven, my little Ellie, she will have a name." She sighed her last breath.
"No, Mother! Please! Don't go! I need you- Addie needs you! Please! Don't go! Mother!" I cried.
Father stood behind me. His face was solemn and hopeless. He kept his face down and shook his head. He walked over and put his arms around me.
"Once James returns, we will be a proper family again- I promise." He said.
Unknown
A dark, hooded figure rose above me. I kept a solemn, stern, angry face.
"So this is Death?" I asked. "You are nothing-nothing but a common thief, stealing from children, mothers and fathers. You leave them with empty hearts, empty souls and nothing to live for. So you take them and punish them for eternity. So how does that make you feel?"
"I feel nothing." He answered in the most demonic tone.
"You do not scare me. I have lived my nightmares many times over. And you are not afraid? Of course, not, you feel nothing. You see nothing. You are nothing."
He lowered down and disappeared, leaving nothing but his cloak.
"Ha! I have conquered Death!" I laughed. But then I looked around me. There was nothing. Then I finally understood. Death is all around me. But Death is never permanent-there is always Heaven.
R&R please!
