Chapter Fourteen: Goodbye and Hello

Into the Enchanted Forest

Gerda breathed heavily as she trudged through the trees, her hood pulled over her head. The rain had been pouring for two days without any pause or break, chilling Gerda and the Merry Men to the bone. For fear of recognition, they all avoided taverns and inns throughout the villages, finding caves to take shelter in. Gerda wasn't willing to watch another Merry Men get captured. These men were now like family.

Roland shivered in Gerda's arms. He had become tired from walking, and had fallen asleep. The men offered to carry him, but they had already done so much, that Gerda took the small boy into her arms instead. She had been carrying him for quite some time now, and would soon need a break. They all would.

"Gerda, where are we headed, exactly?" Friar Tuck questioned, wheezing as he tried to keep up with the teenager. Gerda had set a fast pace, and had shown no signs of slowing down. Gerda shrugged. "I don't really know. Far enough out of the Queen's borders to make a plan." Gerda stated. Friar Tuck nodded, and fell back among the other men.

After another hour of walking, Little John spotted a large cave where they could take shelter. It was close enough to a town to buy food, but far enough to stay out of the way of the villagers. Gerda sent three of the men to go and find food, while the rest set up camp.

As Gerda laid Roland down on a mat, the little boy opened his eyes, looking up at her. "I miss daddy." He whimpered, grasping Gerda's hand. She stroked his hair, pushing the bangs away from his eyes. "I know. I miss him too." She admitted.

To her surprise, Roland smiled. "But I'm not worried. I know you'll save him. You're a hero. Goodnight Gerda." Roland shut his eyes, and fell back asleep. His little grasp on her hand weakened, and his hand fell onto his chest.

Gerda's heart dropped. Roland expected her to save his dad. He had that much faith in her. Now what was she supposed to do? Surely she couldn't let the little boy down? As Gerda watched Roland sleep, she tucked her knees under her chin, wrapping her arms around her legs. What could she possibly do?

A couple hours passed, and Gerda had fallen asleep. She felt an arm on her shoulder, shaking her. "Gerda. We found something." Gerda opened her eyes, seeing Friar Tuck and Little John standing over her. "We found something in the back of the cave." As Gerda stood up to follow the men, she couldn't help but look around, and feel that she had been in this cave before. Gerda shook off the feeling and followed the men to the back of the cave, where a sort of camp had already been made.

"These were here when we got here." The men explained, holding out some plates and forks, an old pillow and blanket. But what caught Gerda's eye was the book on top of the other small mat. She picked it up, and looked at the drawings inside. "These are mine." Gerda gasped.

"I didn't recognize where we were with the rain pouring down." Gerda explained, looking around. Little by little, she recognized the cave she and her father had stayed in. Looking outside the cave, where the rain had stopped, Gerda could recognize the faint lights coming from the town, and the hill where Gerda had fallen from, almost getting caught by the Evil Queen.

Gerda had stumbled upon her and her father's cave. Gerda was home.

Michael stumbled through the village, counting the coins in his pocket. He had just enough for a loaf of bread and some milk. He drank the milk thirstily and swallowed the bread in huge bites. Wiping his mouth, he headed up the familiar slope to the cave. His cave. He would soon be home.

He stopped cold. He could hear voices inside. Male voices, heavy and tired. Michael listened from behind a tree, his heart beating rapidly in his chest.

"It's alright. Don't worry. Are these his as well?"

"He has a lot of knives, doesn't he? Very defensive is he?"

Michael listened, hoping not to throw up. The Queen's knights were in his cave. Looking for him. How had the Queen found out already? Well, it wouldn't take too long, he supposed. But still. Sighing, Michael knew he couldn't go back to the cave. Not yet.

The sun came up early the next morning, and Gerda decided to rise with it. She could hardly sleep any longer. She and the men needed to get moving. Now. As Gerda sat up and rubbed her eyes, she couldn't help but think: How does Robin Hood know my father?

Michael had never mentioned Robin Hood, or anybody else, for that matter. Michael didn't even mention his family, who had died in a tragic tornado. Well, Michael's parents had, at least. Apparently his younger brother had gone missing, and was assumed dead. Gerda didn't ask about her father's family, for the obvious reason that she didn't want to make her father upset.

Looking around, Gerda saw all the other men, most of them still asleep. Friar Tuck had headed into town to get some food, while Little John and one of the other men were entertaining little Roland. He laughed and giggled while watching the two grown men goof around. Gerda couldn't help but smile.

Her heart sank. I can't let these men die. Gerda loved the Merry Men, and they could die if they try to get to the Evil Queen. Gerda was the only one with magic, and therefore the only one who had a chance. No, she wouldn't let the Merry Men get hurt. But how could she stop them from coming along?

As Gerda tried to think of something, she heard Roland giggle, his laughter stirring something inside her. He was counting on her to save Robin Hood, not anybody else. If all of them went to try and save the leader of the Merry Men, many of them might not survive. Then who would watch out for Roland? He had already lost his mother, and Gerda did not want the small boy to become an orphan.

It is decided then. Gerda arose from her spot, right as the Merry Men started to wake up. Friar Tuck returned from the village, passing out food to everyone. Gerda took her share and tucked it into her travel bag, which was made of worn leather with patches of cloth. She looked down at the men and sighed.

"I'm leaving for Rumpelstiltskin's manor." She announced. The Merry Men looked up, surprised. Even Roland looked away from his food, his brown eyes wide.

"What about daddy?" He asked, putting down his bread. "You said you were gonna go get him."

"And I will." Gerda assured the young boy, patting his head. "But I found something at my old house, and I think it can help me. I just need Rumpelstiltskin to tell me so." To prove this, Gerda held out the necklace for the Merry Men to see. Many gaped at the jewel, and Gerda couldn't blame them. Such fine jewelry hardly came into the grasp of peasants. "It might help me save Robin and my father."

"You?" Friar Tuck questioned. The other men looked around at each other, as if confirming what they just heard. Gerda sighed, and sat down. "I'm going to the Queen's palace alone. It would be far too dangerous for all of us to go."

The whole cave was silent, and for just a moment, Gerda believed that the men might not argue. She thought wrong.

"You can't face the Evil Queen alone! She'll kill you!"

"He's our leader! Why should you go get him?"

"You know the Evil Queen could rip out your heart, right?"

"Gerda, think rationally."

"She does know the Evil Queen could rip out her heart, right?"

"What about if you're surrounded, without any help?"

"Right out of the chest! And it's still beating!"

"I have already thought through it." Gerda stated calmly. The men grew quiet. "I care so much for each and every one of you, I just know I couldn't live with myself if something happened to any of you. Also, it's my fault Robin got captured in the first place. And my father is in that prison with him!"

The men started to argue and try to reassure Gerda, but she held up her hand to silence them, and surprisingly they listened.

"I'm also thinking of Roland." Gerda explained. All heads turned to Roland, who was playing with one of his father's arrows. "If we all go, he'll be all alone. And if we don't make it back, neither will any chance of Roland being safe again."

"We could take him with us!" One of the men suggested, standing up. Gerda didn't know his name, but she knew that his line of thinking wasn't always straight. "And what if the Queen caught him?" Gerda countered. "She could hurt him very badly, or worse. And I don't think we would be doing Robin any favors by getting his son captured."

The man thought about this, and sat down shamefully. Little John gave him a right knock to the side of the head, muttering 'idiot' under his breath. Gerda sighed. "And yes, I know Robin Hood is your leader, not mine. But I owe him. He saved my life, and I will save his, as well as my father's." Gerda finished, and looked down at her boots. She waited for the men to start arguing again, but no one spoke a word. A few moments passed, and Gerda felt a hand on her shoulder. Looking up, she saw Friar Tuck, smiling.

"Robin did tell us to listen to you." He stated. "And listen we will."

The goodbyes were the hardest part. As Gerda stood outside the cave in the early morning light, making sure her sword was strapped to her side tightly, Roland came to her, holding out Robin's bow and arrows.

"He'll want these when he's free." Roland explained, giving Gerda the weapons. Gerda looked at them, then nodded, strapping them into place. Roland tackled her with a hug, and wouldn't let go. Friar Tuck pried him off, and the little boy buried his head into the man's leg.

Gerda gave hugs to the other men, shaking hands as well. She then turned, and breathing in deeply, walked away. Down the hill, she looked back at the cave, seeing Roland wave. When the little boy saw her look, he started to run for her, wanting to go with her. Friar Tuck held him back, and Gerda watched, heartbroken, as the sweetest little boy on earth was carried back into the cave.

"Bye." Gerda coughed, letting the tears fall down her face. She turned away, and headed towards town. She didn't hear the even breaths of her father, sleeping only a couple yards away.

A few hours had passed, and the tears had stopped falling. As Gerda headed down a steep slope in the forest, she heard a rustling sound.

Instinctively, Gerda pulled out her bow, notched an arrow, and pointed towards the sound. Gulping down her fear, Gerda edged toward the bush, hearing nothing else.

That's why the sound of the net snapping shut above her caught her by surprise. Gerda didn't even have time to scream as she was pulled through the air, dangling twenty feet off the ground.

"Help!" Gerda cried, struggling to reach for her knife. She grunted and struggled, not noticing the hooded figure coming towards her. But Gerda heard his footsteps, and looked down at her captor, who pulled out a knife.

"Ah-ha! Told you fellas I heard something!" Michael fell onto the hard cave floor as Little John tossed him. The other Merry Men immediately jeered and taunted the man, checking him for weapons. Only when he lifted his face did they all go quiet.

"It's him!"

"Uh oh, Little John, I hope you didn't hurt him."

"He's too late! She's long gone by now."

Relieved that he wasn't captured by the Queen's knights, Michael felt the courage to speak. "I'm sorry, but who are you talking about? And how do you recognize me?"

The men merely backed off, staring at Michael. Then they quickly huddled, muttering out ideas. Young Roland peeked out from behind a corner, looking at Michael with bug eyes. "So you're Gerda's daddy."

The Merry Men grew quiet, looking at Roland. Michael felt his heart drop. "How did you know?" He asked softly, sitting up. Roland sat down beside him. "She told me who you were. She even showed me a picture." Roland reached into his pocket and drew out a picture of Michael, beaming as he held Gerda as a baby.

"You met Gerda?" Michael asked, taking the photo. Roland nodded. Michael jumped to his feet.

"Where is she? I can see her again? Tell me where she is!" Michael was frantic, but Friar Tuck laid a hand on his shoulder, looking into the father's eyes sadly. "Gerda has left us, I'm afraid. She has headed to Rumpelstiltskin's manor, to find a way to save Robin Hood, our leader. And you."

Michael felt his heart drop. "No, no no! She cannot trust that, that monster! He will use her for his own plans, or worse. And she cannot face the Evil Queen alone! How could you let her go?" Michael demanded.

"She wanted to go alone." Friar Tuck stated more harshly, causing Michael to grow quiet. Friar Tuck softened.

"Gerda is no fool. She would have us come with her if she thought the task was too great. She was thinking of our safety, as well as the boy." Friar Tuck pointed to Roland. "She knew something could happen to us, and she didn't want the lad left alone, with no one to look after him."

Michael looked at Roland, and sighed. "So, looks like I am going back to Rumpelstiltskin's manor." He slouched down onto the ground. Roland patted him on the back.

"But this time, you will not be alone." Friar Tuck stated, smiling widely. "Gerda did not want us going with her to fight the Evil Queen, but she didn't say anything about going to Rumpelstiltskin's."

Michael looked up at the men, and smiled. "You all really care for her enough to risk your lives?"

One by one, the men nodded.

Michael stood up, and grabbed one of the satchels he had left in the cave, as well as a cloak and a long knife. "Then let's go."

Gerda's heart was beating faster and faster as the hooded figure drew closer to the net. Gerda kept struggling, until she felt the hilt of her hunting knife. She pulled it out and started cutting at the knotted cords. She finally cut through and free fell to the earth, landing in a heap.

Looking up, Gerda started to retreat back, putting as much distance between her and the hooded figure.

"Stay away from me!" Gerda cried, smacking into a tree. She dropped her knife, which rolled away towards the hooded figure. The man stooped forward and picked up the knife.

This is it, Gerda thought, as the man held out her knife…and dropped it in front of her.

Gerda looked up, confused, as the man pulled of his hood. Her hood. For standing in front of her was no man. Gerda sat in front of her captor, the runaway princess, Snow White.