Chapter Four

Sunlight poured through the window and Savannah rolled over in the make shift bed she was lying on. She wasn't used to be woken up by sunlight, there were no windows windows in her old bedroom as she stayed until nightfall then woke woke up when her body told her to. Savannah (to her parents joy) was still in Nottingham, she did have a plan, really she did, until she realized that there was no way that she could travel to London on the money she left with, so like her mother before her so rode to nearest tavern, to find work and save up enough money to go to London.

She heard a knock on the door and a voice telling her that it was time to start work, she didn't want to work, working was holding here up, she had managed to collect some information about the man her mother had met. He was a Norman and Norman's meant Nobles and people with Titles, at least this man was rich. She knew it was time to go, safe in the knowledge that she had already paid for her room she began packing. Once finished she wrote a quick letter to her parents telling them she was on the move and then left the Tavern behind.

It was nearing midday and the sun was getting hotter, Savannah needed, well a lot of things really a nice long bath, her parents, more food, more water but what she needed most was a nice long rest and to get out of the sun, that however was not possible, she had to try to reach Cambridge as soon as she could and she could not offered to waste time. A few minutes to stop and rest her horse was OK but having a rest like she wanted was out of the question.

Savannah had hated living in her fathers shadow, everyone had expected her to be the prefect daughter. She had (accidentally) proved that she was not the perfect daughter and she had faults just like everyone else. Her father had asked she wanted to go hunting with him, she agreed. How she had managed to it, still confused her, Robin keen to show off his daughters archery skills had asked her to shoot a rabbit about two hundred yards away from her, she had closed her eyes seconds before she let the arrow fly, seconds later and she heard a painful shout. She had hit Alan A Dale, where no man should be it. Alan had never been the same since, she had apologised f course, but there was no turning back time. She had never been asked to go on hunting trips again.

Savannah sighed, she was scared, scared of she might find. What if she found this man and he wasn't he father? it would have all been for nothing, Would Robin still class her as his daughter? What would she do if this man was her father? Then what? What would she say? Would he want her? She decided not think about it, until the time comes when she needed to think about it.

The day was slowly giving way to night and Savannah knew that she had to stop riding,it wasn't safe for her to ride alone at night. Finding a spot to settle wasn't easy and she didn't want to go to a Tavern as she needed the money for food, finally finding somewhere a near by wood that wasn't to far way from the main road, she entered. 'How could anyone cal this clump of trees a wood?' she thought, she found a spot near a pond and dismounted, she had never ridden for so long in her life. Feeling sore and tried she feed her horse, eating a little bread and what she had left of her meat supply she sat down, her back against a tree. Not knowing the area or for that matter the locals, she didn't want to sleep in case anything happened to her or her horse. She missed home, she missed the noise, the people, her parents. She had never thought about what would happen after she left, the things she missed, surviving without anybody's help, maybe she should have brought someone with her, the silence was loud and getting unbearable maybe she should turn back? She was tried, maybe she should give her eyes a rest, just for a few minutes..

Sunlight poured through the tress, Savannah not being used to the sudden brightness woke as soon as the sunlight fell on her sleeping form. She looked around something had changed, her horse was soundly sleeping, maybe she felt uneasy because she had never slept out doors before? Ok she lived in a forest, but she had a room, which had a roof and she never felt like she outside. the morning air was cold and crisp, she hated it, she wanted her nice warm bed, and she wanted to sleep until midday like normal. Sighing she got up and walked over to the pound, she had no idea how deep it was, or how to find out how deep it was, but she knew how find out how cold it was. Carefully she dipped a toe into the water, it was cold and she needed to bathe, she didn't know when she would next get the chance and she wanted to get going soon. after removing her clothes, she walked into the pound, it was fairly deep and it covered her small frame. It was too cold for her liking but she knew she had to make do.

"Savannah!" that was unexpected twirling round in the water she could see no one, she noticed how very naked she was and felt vulnerable

'Friend or foe? be warned i am armed!" She called, that of course was a complete lie, she only had a dagger which she had never used

"I'm a friend! and no you not armed unless you have a sword in that water with you" the voice teased, know she was scared she turned around once more and saw nothing.

"If you are a friend then why do you hide?" Savannah demanded trying to keep her voice from shaking. The voice did not reply, instead a lanky youth jumped from a nearby tree and bust into a fit a laughter

"You swine!" Savannah said outraged, her best friend in the world was bent over laughing his head off "why are you here? how did you find me?" she asked

"Your mother recited a letter saying you were leaving Sherwood and going to london on your own, so she hunted Robin down screamed and yelled at him for not stopping you and Robin knowing how close we are sent me as your bodyguard, in his words he said 'she could not fight of her shadow if he decided to attack her, she needs someone to help her' and as for tracking you down it was easy, you told the Tavern owner you were heading to Cambridge and i knew you would have stopped long before then i followed the man road, it was just a found you in here" Simon explained

"Why did you hide?!" Savannah asked

"It was funny!" Simon said smiling

"Turn around i want to get out and no peaking!" She warned

"I wont, i swear" Simon said holding his right hand over his heart

"Good" Savannah said walking back out of the water and quickly getting dressed, trying to dry herself off as best she could.

"You can turn around now" She informed Simon.

Simon always had a bit of a crush of Savannah but Savannah had never noticed, he had tried everything he could think of to get her notice that he wanted to be moe than just friends. When Robin had asked him to protect her he jumped at the chance, him and Savannah alone together. Staring at her now, the feeling inside his heart grew stronger, she was beautiful, but she had always snorted when anybody called her that and picked faults that only she could see.

"Hey, talking to you!" Savannah said waving a hand in front of his face, dazed and feeling stupid he grinned

"What did you say?"

"Are you ready to ride?" Savannah asked

"Yeah, oh i've got some extra supplies in case you were running low" Simon said

"Great thanks, you're a life saver" Savannah said and kissed him on the check. Blinking he touched the place she had kissed him wishing it were his lips she had kissed.

My Reviewers

miz greenleaf : Thanks for the kind words and no I cant tell you who the father is. Yet. What I can tell you is that he is not one of the merry men nor is a complete stranger.

Kate666: I will try my best to make sure that doesn't happen. Thank you for reminding me about my grammar, I tend to write at 3am and forget to check that my grammar is OK. The "mama/papa" thing. No way, i have tried to do that but as this story isn't written old speak I decided against writting it in.

Coming soon (not in any order)

Savannah meets her real father but doesn't know it yet nether does he.

Savannah talks about her parents

Savannah father finds out out he's her father

Savannah finds out

Savannah and Simon spend the night (or two) in jail.