Chapter 1: Homecoming
The wind rustled the leaves above Gwen's head as she rode beside her father through Sherwood Forrest.
"Nearly home now," Will spoke up from the other side of Robin. "A few more turns and we'll be at the abbey."
Gwen nodded silently, her gaze never leaving the dirt path before her as it slowly passed by. Nearly a year had passed since she left London to start her new life devoted to defending England beside her father. Nearly a year since she had laid eyes on Phillip.
She sighed and closed her eyes, scolding herself for loosing her control. He had entered her mind far too often lately. She was the one who chose to walk away from his. So, why did he constantly occupy her thoughts? She knew the answer far too well. It sat etched into the back of her mind like a shadow. Her place was beside her father, saving England. There was no place for love in her life. Was there?
"Tuck!" Robin called as they reached the gates of the abbey.
"Robin! Will!" the balding monk rushed over with open arms. "What? No white birds?"
Rob embraced him kindly. "We thought that we would surprise you my old friend."
Tuck nodded and shifted his gaze to Gwen as she stood silently beside her horse. "Why Gwen, you look as radiant as ever."
"Thank you, Uncle. Now if you'll excuse me gentlemen." She blushed slightly as she walked toward the wash room. Compliments were still hard to her to take, even from Tuck.
When she had finished washing up, she headed back town to the courtyard. As she neared the steps, she could hear frantic muffled voices. Quietly, she trotted down the stairs, catching a glimpse of her father and Will speaking to a man in a dark cloak. Suddenly, the hood of the cloak fell to reveal a familiar head of dark hair.
"Froedrick!" Gwen darted to him and he puller her into a tight hug. "How was Spain?"
Only when she pulled away looking for an answer did she notice the grim look on his face. She turned to see her father gathering some horses. "What's wrong?"
"The King would like to speak with all of you. He has sent me to retrieve you," Froedrick replied in a voice as professional as he could muster as he climbed onto one of the horses.
Gwen followed in suit along with the men. "Froedrick, what has happened?"
"Come on, if we leave now, we'll make it to London by daybreak." Rob gave his horse a sharp kick and the group was off.
As they rode away, Gwen could hear Tuck yelling from the gates. "God's speed to you."
The wind rustled the leaves above Gwen's head as she rode beside her father through Sherwood Forrest.
"Nearly home now," Will spoke up from the other side of Robin. "A few more turns and we'll be at the abbey."
Gwen nodded silently, her gaze never leaving the dirt path before her as it slowly passed by. Nearly a year had passed since she left London to start her new life devoted to defending England beside her father. Nearly a year since she had laid eyes on Phillip.
She sighed and closed her eyes, scolding herself for loosing her control. He had entered her mind far too often lately. She was the one who chose to walk away from his. So, why did he constantly occupy her thoughts? She knew the answer far too well. It sat etched into the back of her mind like a shadow. Her place was beside her father, saving England. There was no place for love in her life. Was there?
"Tuck!" Robin called as they reached the gates of the abbey.
"Robin! Will!" the balding monk rushed over with open arms. "What? No white birds?"
Rob embraced him kindly. "We thought that we would surprise you my old friend."
Tuck nodded and shifted his gaze to Gwen as she stood silently beside her horse. "Why Gwen, you look as radiant as ever."
"Thank you, Uncle. Now if you'll excuse me gentlemen." She blushed slightly as she walked toward the wash room. Compliments were still hard to her to take, even from Tuck.
When she had finished washing up, she headed back town to the courtyard. As she neared the steps, she could hear frantic muffled voices. Quietly, she trotted down the stairs, catching a glimpse of her father and Will speaking to a man in a dark cloak. Suddenly, the hood of the cloak fell to reveal a familiar head of dark hair.
"Froedrick!" Gwen darted to him and he puller her into a tight hug. "How was Spain?"
Only when she pulled away looking for an answer did she notice the grim look on his face. She turned to see her father gathering some horses. "What's wrong?"
"The King would like to speak with all of you. He has sent me to retrieve you," Froedrick replied in a voice as professional as he could muster as he climbed onto one of the horses.
Gwen followed in suit along with the men. "Froedrick, what has happened?"
"Come on, if we leave now, we'll make it to London by daybreak." Rob gave his horse a sharp kick and the group was off.
As they rode away, Gwen could hear Tuck yelling from the gates. "God's speed to you."