SHERWOOD FOREST
The sky was dark, pitch black, and stars shone around it, speckled light a common egg that had been left in the sun.
Marian held Robins hand as the trudged down the mossy bank deeper into the forest towards the river, which rippled in the moonlight.
She could see the gang stood on the bank and she swallowed.
A small fire was burning, and there seemed to be un-lit candles on the floor.
"What are we doing?" She whispered.
He squeezed her hand as they stopped beside the group.
Djac looked at her first, "In my country, every year at the start of the new year people light candles for those they have lost, and pray that they are safe in the next world… we thought that we needed to do this."
Marian stiffened and Robin glanced at her, for her hand had tightened around this.
Djac nodded, "All of us."
She bent and handed an arrow without a head to each member to act as a splint, before each was given a candle.
Robin had to drop Marians hand when both were handed to each of them, and walked with the gang to stand staring out over the shimmering water.
The cool air made their heads feel clear, but made the tears in their eyes sting.
"This is for my brother Djac, my father, and for the people of my country." Djac said in a quiet but clear voice, bending to light her splint before touching it to the candle.
As the flame flickered she crouched and set it on a small wooden boat that Will had carved for each person and their candle.
She gently pushed it out into the water and stood beck up, eyes fixed on it.
Beside her, Will swallowed as he lit his candle.
"This is for my father, Dan Scarlet… my mother, and the good people of Locksley."
AS he crouched to push his candle out over the water, Alan lit his candle and spoke.
"This is for my brother Tom."
That was all he said as his candle drifted.
He had not known his parents.
Much stammered for a moment, "This is for my family, and those we lost fighting in the Holy Land."
On the other side of John, Robin stiffened.
The candles drifted in the water as John set his on course to join them.
John coughed slightly, "This is for my wife and my son…"
For although they were not dead, they felt lost to John.
Robin crouched to set his boat on the water as John's floated towards the others.
"This is for the people of England who died trying to make it a better place… for those who gave their lives in the war… those who fought for justice… for my father… my mother…" His voice cracked and he swallowed.
As he stood he looked to Marian, his eyes shimmering and as moist as the candle lit river before them.
Marian stiffened, her throat hoarse.
But her inside, although grief stricken, felt whole, as though she was about to release a large weight from herself.
She swallowed and stepped closer to the bank.
"This is for my mother… my father, my uncle…" She crouched and set her boat gently on the water.
Robin sunk to a crouch beside her and rubbed her back gently.
"And for our baby." She whispered almost silently.
He sniffed and guided her shaking hand gently to push the boat onto the water.
As they stood, he wrapped her in his arms from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder as they stared out over the water, watching as the candles carried their prayers away.
:( sniff...
SO YEH! Episode over – the first chapter is up of the next episode, so please read and review that as well xxx