The three young friends were happy together, escorting Much's cow Claribelle through meadows and pastures, on their way to Old Man Elbert's bull.

To Much's amazement, Claribelle gave Marian not a single spot of trouble, but Robin understood why, admiring the girl's rare gift with animals. For the moment, he forgot all about his grief and burdens, and could relax and be the little boy he was, not the newly orphaned Earl of Huntington, weighed down with responsibilities. There was a swagger in his step, and he longed to show off to impress Marian.

Lifting his bow, he boasted, "Bet I can bring down that bunch of mistletoe in that tree with a single shot."

"That is a waste of arrows," Marian told him, unimpressed, leading the cow by a rope. "Why do you need mistletoe, anyway?"

Chuckling impudently, Robin teased her, "Why do you think? So I can hold it over your head, and Much can kiss you."

"Me?" Much cried out, surprised. "I'm not the one who wants to-OW!"

"Sorry about that," Robin told his friend, having trod on his foot to shut him up. "Can you think of a better target?"

"I could do with some apples," Much suggested. "Or some pears. I'm hungry!"

"I'd need a fruit tree, Much," Robin reminded him, "and we're nowhere near an orchard."

They were approaching Old Man Elbert's cottage, and Claribelle began sniffing the air. "Do you think she can smell the bull?" Marian asked, holding more tightly to the rope.

"Maybe she smells bread baking," Much hoped. "Maybe Old Man Elbert will share some with us!"

"Well, if he won't, you can have some at my house," Robin offered. "Come any time you're hungry. And that offer stands for everyone in Locksley..."

Before he could finish his thought, Claribelle, picking up the bull's scent, lunged forward, and began running toward it, dragging Marian behind her.

"Stop, Claribelle!" Marian cried, stumbling and then falling to the ground.

Robin and Much stopped in their tracks, frozen in surprise. "Let go of the rope!" Robin called out, alarmed to see little Marian bouncing behind the cow as it thundered away.

"I can't!" she called back. "It's wrapped 'round my wrist, and I can't let go! Stop, Claribelle! Please, stop!"

"Come on, Much," Robin ordered, dashing off after the cow. "Run!"

Much ran after Robin, but with Claribelle's head start, there was no way the boys could catch up. Marian had stopped shouting, yet she was still being dragged through the meadow grass, unable to let go.

Robin knew he had to save her. His face was grim and serious as he raised his bow, nocked an arrow and took aim.

"You're not going to shoot Claribelle, are you, Robin?" Much asked, worried.

Robin did not answer, but continued aiming, judging the cow's speed while praying desperately that his arrow would not fly astray and hit Marian.

It was the most important shot of his life, and he held his breath as his arrow sailed through the air, hitting its mark as it sliced through the rope connecting Marian to Claribelle.

Claribelle continued rushing toward Old Man Elbert's, and Robin and Much ran nearly as quickly to Marian's side.

The little girl, battered and bleeding, was lying silently on the ground, knocked unconscious by a blow to her head. Desperate with worry, Robin dropped to his knees beside her.

"Much, get help!" he ordered.

"Who-who-who do I get? Oh, wake up, Marian!"

"Stay here with her," Robin decided, taking off his cloak and placing it over her body. "I'll bring Matilda!"

Before Much could blink, Robin was off running for the forest cottage of the midwife and healer.

Tears stung his eyes as he ran faster than he'd ever run before, tears he'd never let Marian see.

You can't die, too! he was thinking. You've got to be alright, for I don't know what I'll do if you're not! What have I done, letting you pull the cow?