Over the next few days, Alexia helped around the woods. She gathered firewood when it was needed, hunted for food when the occasion rose, or helped the women cook (which was a very different experience). Robin showed her how to use her bow and arrow more efficiently. In return, she showed him that the gun was not magic and took it apart for him, explaining the mechanism to it.

"This is amazing..." Robin said breathlessly.

"Just simple physics." Alexia replied. He gave her a blank look. "Never mind..." she mumbled.

"Robin..." someone said behind them. Alexia turned to see who it was.

Robin turned also. "Will...what do you need?"

"Bull needs you to help him with the ropes."

"Alright." Robin stood and walked into the wood.

Will sat down. "So...what's your name anyway?" he asked, making it a point to poke the ground with a stick.

"Alexia Burton..."

He looked up at her. "That's...an odd name. Where are you from?"

Alexia had been dreading the question, knowing she would run into it sometime or another. She tried her best. "Far away from here. Past where the crusades are."

Will glared at her but the it only lasted a moment.

"What about you?" Alexia decided to try at a conversation.

Will looked away. "Been here most my life..." he muttered. Alexia could tell he didn't really want to talk about it. "I gotta go help Bull. See ya around..."

At that Will walked away.

~

Robin pulled the string back, aiming carefully. He shot, hitting the target perfectly. Alexia sighed hopelessly.

"I know what you're thinking. It's not impossible. You have to practice."

"I...I...I..." Alexia was at a loss for words. It was going to be so difficult to be as a good as that.

"Now you try."

"Alright...now you get to watch me make fool of myself."

"Just do what I did."

Alexia sighed once more and stepped up. She aimed carefully and shot her arrow. She hit the target from her own targeting practices but was way off from Robin's.

"Urg..."

Robin glanced at her then turned back to the target. "You need to practice your aim. And your form. See, you—"

He was interrupted by a shout. They both went running to the source of the noise. Men and women wearing ripped and torn clothes made their way up the road. Edges of their hair and clothes were singed.

She heard Robin mutter, "Not again..."

Alexia knew what happened as soon as she saw a red haired lady. Franny Little was John Little's wife. They embraced, as it was the first time they had seen each other in months.

Alexia saw Will walk over to a man beside someone shouting something about his children. Will pointed at Robin. Alexia stepped away from him, to where no one would really notice her. Will started walking toward Robin. He pulled out a dagger.

"I hear that the sheriff now values your neck at five hundred gold pieces." Will said, pointing at Robin but directing his voice to everyone. "I say we turn him in."

There was a murmur of agreement in the crowd. Alexia's stomach churned. She knew now that she was here that the chain of events could change.

Robin smiled and nodded.

"Will, do you think that the sheriff will give everything back once you turn me in?"

"He'll give us the reward and our pardons."

"Wrong. He will stretch your necks, one by one."

Will glared. Robin turned and started walking away. Will lifted the dagger, aiming straight at his head. Wolf, John Little's son, shouted a warning. With lightening speed, Robin turned and shot an arrow right through Will's hand. There was a gasp from the crowd and they all dropped their weapons. Will gave Robin an evil look and ran into the woods.

Alexia gasped. But...why was she surprised when this happened? I did happen in the movie...or what she had thought was the movie for most of her life. Robin started some speech but she didn't stick around to listen. She silently followed Will into a small hut similar to the one she woke up in.

He sat down, face contorted with pain.

"Go away," he murmured. He tugged the arrow but only accomplished in causing more pain.

"You're never gonna get that thing out like that..." Alexia sat down across from him, taking his injured hand into hers.

"And what do you propose?"

"Break off one end. It will hurt to pull it out though..."

Will nodded for her to proceed. He didn't like the idea of having to pull it out himself. Alexia grabbed on end and attempted to break it. It was a strong arrow and she struggled. Will winced every time she moved his hand in a different direction.

"Sorry..."

"No problem..." he grumbled through clenched teeth.

The arrow finally gave. It snapped and she tossed it aside.

"Now for the painful part. Hold still, k?"

Alexia took it at the unbroken end and pulled slowly. He recoiled in pain.

"Hey!"

"I told you it would hurt...I am sorry...but it's the only way to get it out."

Will reluctantly agreed. She took his hand and once more tried again to pull it out. It was a slow and slightly painful process but it at last, the arrow lie on the ground.

"He only thinks of himself and his riches..." Will complained about Robin. "Greedy and selfish..."

"Will, he isn't really doing this for himself..."

"How would you know?"

"...Well...I don't. But think about it. Why get all this stuff using you guys...I mean, men and then just keep it all for himself?"

"Because he is greedy and full of his own greedy thoughts."

"No..." Alexia sighed. How could she word this and not give anything away? "Look, think of it this way. You know an ant follows the trail of the other ants. But sometimes it can get off course. When it does, it has to find its own way back carrying all this food. Without the help of its fellow ants and when it does get there, the other ants don't welcome it home from its long journey or have a celebration. See what I am getting at?"

A blank look sat on Will's face. "Not really..."

She felt a little frustrated.

"Wait..." he answered. "Are you comparing him to the lost ant?" He laughed. "I see now. I thought you just thought up an ant story to tell me and was really have to think about what it meant."

Alexia chuckled. "Sorry...I meant to make that more clear but its hard to explain. But you understand?"

"I think so. Still...he's not very nice to me anyway, so what difference does it make?"

Alexia shook her head and leaned forward, putting her face on her hands and her elbows on her knees. It was too hard to explain in good terms and she said so. Will gave her another one of his suspicious looks but it quickly faded away into a smile.

"What?" she asked. "What's so funny?"

"You have this really concentrated look on your face...almost like your trying so hard to think of what you have to say."

Little did he know...

"Yeah...hehe."

Will suddenly leaned in closer. "Where are you from?"

She gulped.