To Robin's delight, Alice kept her promise. Robin received weekly letters about Alice's adventures and every one or two months Alice would drop by for a meal and spend time with Robin.

During one such occasion, Robin had attempted to teach Alice how to shoot a bow and arrow.

"Maybe I'll keep my promise after all," Alice joked.

"Which promise is that?"

"The one where I tear your cloak with an arrow." Robin doubled over in laughter at the twinkle shining in Alice's eyes.

"We'll see if you can even aim properly first."

Robin smiled at the memory. Her mother had finally gotten the hint that Alice was here to stay after that day, even though her friend had accidentally shot an arrow through one of the windows. Mother had not been happy about that but she had spared them from a scolding after seeing how much fun they were having.

"Robin! Dinner!" The archer sighed and exited her room to head to the dining room where her mother had already set the table.

"Any letters today?" Zelena shook her head as she brought in two plates of food. "Do you think something's happened?"

"Alice not sending a letter for two weeks is hardly anything to worry about. I'm amazed she's managed to keep it up for this long."

"Mother..."

"Stop worrying. She's probably in the middle of something. Now eat your food." Robin mindlessly picked at her plate.

"But what if-"

"I said eat." The rest of dinner passed quietly and Robin was relieved when she finally finished. She washed the dishes before heading into the living room to read.

At face value it wouldn't seem like it, but Robin adored books. Her favorites were the ones she got from other realms. The words always whisked her away to far off places whenever her own life became dull. For some reason though, tonight was different.

She couldn't manage to focus on the words in front of her and instead found her mind drifting to Alice. The peculiar girl had stolen Robin's heart in a way she wasn't prepared for. It was made all the more worse by the fact that she hasn't received any letters recently. She knew her mother told her she shouldn't worry but that was easier said than done.

A knock at the door pulled her out of her thoughts and back to reality. Robin reluctantly left her spot on the couch and answered it. Robin groaned inwardly at who was standing in front of her. It was Todd, a hunter's son from the village over. "Hello Robin! I don't suppose you've eaten yet?"

"Actually I have and-"

"Great! I'm starved." Robin felt the strong urge to bang her head against the wall as Todd made his way into the house and to the kitchen. Robin quickly followed and called for her mother. Unfortunately for her, Zelena loved Todd. He was perhaps the son she never had, which of course led her to try and set Robin up with him. It wasn't that Robin disliked the young man. He was handsome enough with his cropped black hair and toned arms, but he could be rude sometimes and was far too cocky for Robin's liking. Of course he never acted that way in front of Zelena though, to Robin's dismay.

"Ah Todd! How are you? There's leftovers in the icebox."

"Thanks Mrs. M! I'm doing great by the way. How's life treating you?"

"Oh it has its ups and downs as always. What brings you by?" They had taken their conversation into the kitchen and Todd was chomping away at the remains of the night's dinner.

"Well you see, the forest is pretty lush with critters this month and I'm going out hunting tomorrow for extra stores before the beasts all disappear. I figured I'd come by and ask if you wanted me to stock up for you as well."

"Well isn't that sweet." Robin rolled her eyes and took a sip of water. He was such the suck up to her mother. "I have an idea. Why don't you take Robin hunting with you? I'm sure she'll know what we need and can help you carry what you kill." Robin spit out her water and almost dropped her glass.

"Mother!" Zelena glared at her. "It's just that... I'm capable of hunting myself. There's no need to burden Todd with my company." Todd looked to Robin.

"Oh it's no trouble at all. I'd be delighted to have a hunting partner, especially one so skilled with a bow." When Todd smiled at her, Robin wanted to scream her lungs out. Somehow though, she managed to force out a smile. When Todd had finished eating and had left the house, Robin turned to her mother.

"If he ends up dead, it's on you, Mother."

"Oh Robin, hush. Maybe you'll enjoy it. It doesn't hurt to spend time with someone and we could use the extra stores now that winter is approaching soon."

"I can hunt on my own! I don't need that buffoon trailing me around scaring off everything!"

"He's a hunter's son."

"I hate him!"

"You don't know him."

"I'm not getting out of this, am I?"

"Not if you begged." Robin gave a disgruntled huff and headed to her room. Tomorrow was going to be the worst day of her life.