The huge brown bear in the pink tunic eventually put Robin down when they were deep in the forest.
Robin squirmed and bucked from her prone position on the ground, but her arms were still tightly bound and the shackle around her neck was digging in.
"Let me out of these ropes…" she cried. "I need to get back and find Alice!"
A red fox, the same one she'd seen fighting the lion who'd arrested her, leapt down from a nearby tree.
"I'll release you." he said striding closer, drawing his sword and pointing at her throat. "When you tell me exactly who you are and why you are here."
Robin sighed and wriggled around to meet his eyes.
"I am here by mistake… and I need to get back and find my friend."
"And who are you?"
Robin met his gaze, weighing up if she should lie or not. In the end she opted for honesty, if he was the outlaw she thought he was he would possibly help her.
"My name is Robin Hood."
The fox laughed and shook his head.
"That, my dear, is an obvious lie."
"No it's not. I travelled here from another realm. I am Robin Hood. I mean I beat you in the archery contest, surely that was proof enough."
"You're a girl…"
"…woman." corrected Robin.
"And sure you can shoot a bow, but we can't both be Robin Hood."
Robin just held his gaze, giving him her best Mills woman stare.
"Try me."
"Well I know you are quite the archer, but what kind of thief are you?" asked fox, wearing a sly smile.
"I can steal within reason. But I haven't have much call to use the skill... until today."
"Are you a master of disguise?"
"Not so much." said Robin, "When I was younger I guess I got good at pretending I was someone I wasn't. These days I try to just be myself."
"Do you champion the downtrodden?"
"I try to. I help where I can."
"Anything else?"
Well if honesty wasn't working then it was time to show off her skills. Robin writhed and twisted for a moment before sitting up, finally free of her rope binds. She then reached up with the key she'd lifted from the guard who'd bound her and unlocked her neck shackle.
"Well I've yet to find a lock that can hold me for long."
The fox stepped back, clearly impressed.
"Well, That's certainly true for me too." The fox gave her a hard stare, clearly mulling over her answers. "Are you really another a Robin Hood from another realm?"
Robin smiled, he believed her.
"Just call me Robin…"
"And to avoid confusion you can call me Hood," said the fox holding out his paw for her to take.
Robin nodded, as with the fox's help, she got stiffly to her feet.
"I need to get back to that castle and find my friend." she said.
"She's been arrested; the one like you." The speaker was a badger dressed in a monk's habit, Robin assumed this was the Friar Tuck in this realm.
For the first time Robin noticed that they weren't alone. The clearing was filling up with townsfolk, the hound on crutches that Alice had stood beside watching the contest, a pig, a couple of elderly owls, and a tall and colourful rooster holding a lute.
With the monk there stepped forward a mother rabbit with a family of young bunnies clinging to her skirt.
"There was a girl who stepped in to save her youngest," said Mrs Rabbit, putting a hand to the head of the small bunny clinging to her side. "She distracted the troops so my little Tagalong could flee. The last anyone saw of your friend, she was led away in chains to the castle prison."
"And Marion," Hood asked. "Did she get away."
The monk shook his head.
"I heard talk of a house arrest until you are caught."
Robin moved abruptly away from the conversation.
"I can't stay here." she said, quickly heading towards the edge of the clearing in the direction of the castle. She reached for her bow, but realised that it, her quiver and her cloak were all lost when she was arrested.
Hood stepped into her path.
"And where do you think you're going?"
"I have to get to Alice."
"Alone?"
"You don't understand. I have to save her. She's been locked up her whole life. I won't let her be trapped for another second if I can help it!"
"You won't get far on your own." said Hood. "We need a plan."
"We?"
Hood gave her wink.
"We will save your Alice and my Maid Marion"
…
The plan was quite complicated, but Hood assured her it would work. The first step was to load up a cart with an empty strong box and leather coin bags filled with stones.
Robin, for her part was sat on a log loading a bag with stones.
Little John, the great bear, approached, doffing his hat as he took a seat beside her, making the log lift slightly.
"So you're really called Robin Hood?"
"I am. I was named after my father… also Robin Hood. I never met him but I think he was more like your Robin."
"Did he have a Little John?"
"He did. He had a whole band of merry men in fact. An army of outlaws robbing from the rich and giving to the poor."
"A band of merry men."
"Yeah."
"It's always been just Robin and me." said the bear, with a thoughtful look on his face.
Robin looked around the clearing where the villagers were all helping with the loading of the cart and gathering the stones.
"Looks like more than just the two of you right now."
He grinned and nodded.
"You may be right…" The bear gave his companion a look as she started drawing the strings on her bag and reached for another. "You never knew your father?"
Robin shook her head, and looked across at the playful Hood, expressively describing the plan with Friar Tuck.
"No. I heard the stories but he died when I was a baby. I'm trying to be more like him… I'm getting better at it."
The bear slapped her on the back, almost knocking from her seat.
"From what I've seen you're doing very well."
"I hope so."
The bear's paw now rested on his shoulder in a more comforting gesture.
"So, do you have a Little John?"
"No, I've got something better…" Robin smiled up at him, "I have an Alice… or I will do if this plan works."
…
Little John was hauling the cart laden with fake coin purses and strong boxes, wearing a pink hooded cape and a fake rhino nose on his snout dressed as a castle guard. Robin and Hood were both hiding their faces, under the deep purple archer's hood, as a pair of weasel archers. Robin, happy to have regained a bow and arrow, was less enamored by the false cardboard snout she was forced to wear.
"Is this going to work?" Robin asked as they approached the edge of the forest.
Hood gave her a grin.
"Of course… Ready?"
"…as I'll ever be…"
They broke into a run towards the castle.
"HELP!" Little John called at the top of his voice, "It's Robin Hood… he's right behind us… let us in…!"
"He's trying to steal the taxes!" Hood called, to add to the ruse.
Robin was surprised to see the portcullis rise and they were welcomed into the courtyard.
The crocodile captain of the guard approached, admiring the pile of full bags loaded on the cart.
"Well done troops." said the crocodile stroking one of the bags tenderly.
"There's still the larger cart." Robin said breathlessly, playing her part, "The rest of the troops are holding the outlaw back but I don't know how much longer they'll last."
The guard captain straightened his back and pulled out his sword.
"Troops to me!" he called.
And with that the crocodile and a dozen guards ran off into the forest clearing the courtyard of troops.
Robin was about breathe a sigh of relief when a large snake in a collar and hat slithered into the courtyard.
"Quick, follow me." He hissed, "We shall bring the gold to the safe… for safety if you will."
Sharing a look, Hood, Robin and Little John pulled the cart through a large stone doorway as the serpent led the way chuckling at his own unfunny joke.
…
The strong room was filled wall to wall with gold coins.
"Unload the cart quickly." ordered the snake before moving out to the corridor. "I shall keep watch for the other cart…" As he left Robin could hear him mutter to himself, "… funny I didn't think there were any more carts due…"
Robin would almost see the dollar signs gleaming in the fox's eyes as Hood moved forward to loot the gold
She grabbed his collar.
"We can't stop." She reminded him. "We're here for Alice and Marion…"
"But the all the gold." sobbed Little John, so overwhelmed at the sight of all the treasure.
"Seriously guys." Robin whispered. "If it's this easy to break into this castle I'm pretty sure you can come back and steal it any time."
A little reluctantly the two outlaws backed out of the room.
…
As Hood and Little John in their soldier disguises went to the guard's room to distract the remaining troops and find the cell keys, Robin crept towards the prison.
Looking through the cell bars, Robin spotted Alice sat forlornly in a dark corner. Her arms were chained to the wall by her head and her ankles shackled to a ball and chain.
"Tower Girl." Robin whispered, her face pressed up against the bars.
Alice looked up, a small frown of confusion on her face.
Remembering her disguise, Robin pulled off her mask and pulled back her hood, giving Alice a wide smile.
"Robin," she exclaimed, surprise on her face. She pulled away from the wall, "How did you…?"
Robin put her finger to her lips and pointed to the guard room above their heads, warning her to keep quiet.
That is when the singing started. It sounded like a full scale musical production going on in the room above; singing, cheering and stomping of feet.
…
"Hey, what took you so long?" Alice whispered, struggling against her chains, still smiling.
"Well you know things happen…" muttered Robin keeping her voice light-hearted, but, unable to stand the sight of Alice in chains a moment longer, Robin looked for a way to get her out without waiting for Hood to retrieve the keys. "…You know, I got arrested... kidnapped by a bear… met myself… things like that?"
"What?" asked Alice confused.
"Doesn't matter." said Robin quickly, trying to dismiss the joke to focus on the plan forming in her mind. The lock on the heavy iron door was large and solid… but the hinges were broad and well oiled. Robin, the master thief, had an idea. Shedding one of her arrows of its feather fletching's and finding a large flat stone on the ground, Robin set about knocking the pins from the hinges. Making sure she timed her strikes with the stomping feet above.
"I'd help if I could." joked Alice quietly as Robin knocked free the first pin.
"I know you're just a little tied up at the moment…" Robin quipped back still focused on her strikes. "I'll fix that in a minute."
It took five strikes to remove the top pin and another seven to knock out the lower one. Then with one foot braced on the doorframe and keeping a firm hold on the bars, she pulled with all her strength. The door groaned in protest for a moment and then with a loud thump, the door dropped from its hinge.
The thump was loud… but the noise of the carousing above was still going on. After freezing for a moment to ensure that no company was on the way… Robin pulled the grill open inch by inch, as it scrapped along the floor, until there was enough room to squeeze through.
Alice was watching Robin's efforts clearly impressed.
Robin hurried to her side, checking her for any injuries before cupping Alice's cheek.
"Are you hurt… did they hurt you?"
Alice just shook her head, but damn it, she was still smiling even in this dark cold cell.
"This isn't going well is it?" she said, rattling her chains.
"It's an adventure. Bad stuffs meant to happen, right? I feel like a proper adventuress now." Robin's eyes drifted to Alice's blonde hair. "May I?"
Alice nodded.
Robin plucked a hair pin from Alice's curls and set about picking the locks of Alice's manacles.
"I'm glad you came!" said Alice as she watched Robin work at her cuffs.
"Of course I came." said Robin, stopping her work to meet Alice's eyes with a worried frown. "Alice, you are never going to lose me."
"No… I don't mean I'm not glad you're 'here' here, rescuing me… I meant here, in this realm. I'm glad you came on this adventure with me."
Robin's grin widened, and she turned her focus back to her work.
"Face it, now you said you love me you are stuck with me, babe! I'm not going anywhere."
Alice laughed.
Robin's face was close as she focused on the lock so Alice leant in and kissed her cheek.
"I do… I love you very, very much."
…
Alice rubbed at her wrists as Robin worked at the final metal cuff on her ankle.
There was a rattle at the door and a triumphant Robin Hood and Little John appeared, their disguises a little dishevelled.
"Got them!" announced the fox holding up the cell keys… and then he stopped at the sight of the gate hanging off its hinges and Robin freeing Alice from her binds.
Robin held up Alice's hair pin as the last shackle fell away.
"It's okay I got it."
Robin held out her hand to help Alice to her feet. Alice finally free, instantly wrapped her arms around Robin's neck and kissed her warmly and deeply. Robin happily grabbed her waist and returned the kiss with relief.
"You saved me." Alice gasped.
"Well, we're not out of here yet." laughed Robin.
There was an awkward cough from the doorway and both girls turned to the outlaws watching them. Little John was averting his gaze to the ceiling and Robin was giving her an awkward grin.
"Oh… um… Alice, this is Robin Hood and Little John… Guys, this is Alice."
As Alice turned her head to Robin in confusion, she grinned,
"Yeah… this realm has a Robin Hood too."
Hood and Little John both bowed deeply, doffing their hats respectfully,
"My Lady."
Alice curtseyed in return.
"A pleasure."
"And now." said Robin leading Alice back out of the cell, "All we have to do is rescue Marion."
…