1198 Words this Chapter.
Chapter Seven, Alive
There was a party going on in the woods. A roaring camp fire burned, lighting up the early night. Robin Hood laughed as Roland sat at the fire, toasting marshmallows with Henry as his former bow looked on.
"What is the purpose of the white cube?" asked Beau. "Does it melt over the wood, creating a hard shell that makes an arrow stick into its prey with greater force?"
Roland looked at the older man, pulled the marshmallow off, and stuck it into his mouth, leaving some of the sticky residue on his chin. "Nope. You eat em!"
Henry laughed hard at the look on the former bow's face. "Trust us, it's delicious," he said handing the doubtful man a toasted white cube.
Beau took it and put it to his mouth.
"Do not, Beau!" cried Tip, the youngest Arrow. "I fear the young ones are playing some merriment on you!"
"I would not chance it," said Flint, another former arrow. "It looks unnatural."
"It's perfectly safe," said Robin, laughing. "I promise."
Beau smiled, nodding at his owner. He then dropped the white cube into his mouth to the moans and gasps of his young arrow friends. "It is quite tasty," he announced. "Of course, I've only had the ability to taste things for a very short time."
The merry men laughed.
"Come, Tip, you must try one," said Beau. He motioned to Henry to help him and they stuck another marshmallow on a stick. He then handed Tip the stick. It was a fairly funny sight: the young Tip, older than Henry and Roland, getting pointers on how to toast a marshmallow.
She held the stick uneasily above the fire. Many times, Henry and even Roland had to shove the stick closer to the fire.
"This is unnatural," she muttered. "I think this stick is far too noble to be used this way."
Little John guffawed. "You wouldn't like the white stuff stuck on you, huh Tip?"
"Indeed not!" she cried. Then she screamed as her white cube ignited in fiery flame. She dropped the noble stick into the fire, ending it's existence.
"I am leaving this death trap!" she cried. She and her fellow Arrows retreated to the archery area at the back of camp.
"I do not think marshmallows agree with the Arrows," said Robin.
"Oh, well, the more for the rest of us," Beau answered, happily standing beside Roland and toasting another cube.
Robin looked at his former bow and smiled. He was adjusting quite well. So were the Arrows, except for this toasting exercise.
Beau took his marshmallow and sat beside Robin to eat it. Robin smiled. "I...uh, made you something. I don't know how you'll react."
"You need not fear, Master Robin," replied Beau. "You know I am your loyal servant. I trust you." He smiled. "I even like you."
Robin laughed. "I am delighted to hear that. You have served me well." He sighed. "I do not know how long you and the others will be like this, if even you can be returned to your former lives. However, I want you to know that you are welcome here with us. Forever."
Beau nodded then smiled. "Thank you, my Lord."
"No. I am not your Lord. You must call me simply Robin."
Beau nodded again.
"I saw you and the Arrows practicing earlier with the lad's weapons."
"We still have skill," said Beau. "Though the young Arrows have better sight and more true aim then I. I have more experience however."
"You are good enough to shoot with me at any time," said Robin. "That is why I have made you your own weapon."
Beau smiled as he was handed a bow.
"I..um, hope you are not offended. It might be strange to handle something that is the form you once were."
Beau shook his head. He looked at Robin and smiled. "Thank you my Lord...Robin. I shall carry it and attempt to use it with half the skill you used with me." He stood and bowed.
Robin laughed, stood, and hugged him. "You need not thank me." He nodded to the other Merry Men who nodded back, smiled, and each picked up a bow and a handful of arrows that they'd each fastened. They smiled and scampered toward the back of the camp.
Beau looked at him for answer.
"They each made a set for the Arrows," explained Robin. "Little John insisted that he make Tip's. He views her almost as a little sister I believe."
Beau chuckled. "It is thanks to you and the lads that we are adjusting to our new lives. You have accepted each of us as if we were one of you."
Robin clapped his hand onto Beau's shoulder. "You are one of us. You always have been."
Beau smiled and nodded.
Their was some commotion behind them and the Arrows ran up.
"Beau, look what Little John made for me!" cried Tip, her cheeks pink and her eyes dancing.
"It was kind of him," answered the bow.
"I know!" cried Tip back. "However, he then went and stupidly challenged me to a duel. I feel torn. I am grateful to him but I still want to make him cry."
The Merry Men laughed heartily and Little John smirked at his little adopted sis. "Who's going to cry, girl?"
She giggled.
The other Arrows showed their bows and arrows to Beau, complementing each Merry Man who'd made it.
Then they all went to the archery area to have a contest.
"How will they shoot in the dark?" asked Henry.
Robin laughed. "We have learned to fight in all circumstances, lad. Besides, we have these new lanterns of this land to make our light." He nodded to some of the battery-powered lanterns they'd acquired since coming to Storybrooke. "Besides, it makes it more challenging." He winked.
"Can you make me a bow and arrow set, Robin?"
"I apologize, Henry. I may be close to your mother but even I would not survive her wrath were I to outfit her son with such dangerous items."
"Nah, she trusts you. She let me sleepover with you guys tonight, right?"
Robin laughed. "Nice attempt to persuade me, Henry but I do not think she would continue to trust me if I disobeyed her."
The boy frowned. Robin put his arm around his shoulders. "But we shall work her into it, slowly, eh?"
Henry laughed and nodded.
"We shall continue your archery practice, discreetly," said the archer, winking at Henry, "then perhaps she will not turn either of us into loathsome beasts if you happened to eventually get your own bow."
Henry smiled. "Sounds like a plan."
"It does. Come my boy, let us go see who wins the current tournament." Robin bent down to Henry and whispered, "My money's on Tip."
Henry laughed. "Obviously." Robin laughed back and they went to join the others at the late night match.
The match ended as many expected: Tip did indeed make Little John weep.
End of Chapter Seven
