Sarah embraced the girl and whispered something inaudible to her ears. Marian hugged her tightly back, itching to get on her way. Sarah stood back and took in Marian's trousered legs and cloaked figure. She sighed, and Marian could've sworn that she saw a twinkle of a tear through her eyeholes in her mask.
"Take thyself to refuge at the abbey in Nottingham," Sarah advised, pushing Marian out the door of her cave, "The nuns and Friar Tuck have helped me in the past, god bless them. Thy uncle dare not touch you in sanctuary."
Marian began to hobble down the path, Sarah called out her name. She turned, her chestnut hair falling out from under her disguise. "'Twas not thine uncle that I saw in my vision, 'twas someone else entirely,"
"Who was it then?"
"Remember to look harder, my child, see things that others do not..."
Sarah took one last look at Marian before she disappeared back into her cave, and left her to start on her journey.
Robert stepped back under the shady branches of an oak tree to escape from the heat. His horse stomped away the flies that surrounded his black hooves, also testy in the heat. A bead of sweat trickled down his back as he peered down the road in search for his next traveler to wander into his trap.
He was stationed just outside Nottingham, waiting to plunder unaware merchants and nobles who were too stupid, or too haughty, to travel unguarded. This is where Robert stepped in. He would jump on Horse and demand all of the gold they carried, and if they didn't have the gold...well, he hadn't come across that situation yet. He took a swig of water and looked down the path again, this time seeing a cloud of dust heading his way. He stood, reaching for his sword.
The rider was driving his mount hard and showed no sign of yielding, only when Robert stepped into the middle of the road, and raised his sword did the rider slow his pace.
"What matter is this," the rider spoke with a cool voice, his face shaded by the floppy hat he wore, "That I am halted so rudely on this beautiful summer afternoon?"
"Give me all of thy gold."
"And if I do not comply?"
"I give thee no choice," Robert said firmly, his arm aching from holding the sword so long. The horseman sighed, obviously peeved, and dismounted, drawing his own sword as he did so.
"Then I plan to fight thee for my dignity."
Robert let out a scoff, "Thee...fight me? But thou art only a child!"
"I am no child," the stranger said angrily, "'Tis thee that is acting childish." Robert felt slightly hurt at this weak insult, but nonetheless, raised his sword to meet his opponent's.
"Then we begin," the rider said, and amidst the heat, he could not help the goosebumps rising on his arms.
Without warning, the stranger thrust forward, but Robert blocked him, turning off into the defense he had learned as a child, he circled the stranger with a wide berth.
"What art thou doing?" the stranger questioned mockingly, "Dost thou think thyself a hawk?" He ducked low to avoid the swing that Robert administered, swinging his own sword low, so that it nicked his leggings. Robert looked down, silently cursing himself for his stupidity and failre, receiving the first wounds of the fight. The stranger didn't rest for long though, advancing on him with strikes worth of catlike speed.
"Who--art--thou?" Robert asked, meeting each blow with the same quickness. The horseman let out a low laugh, retreating to a better position.
"I'd rather remain a mystery," he said, running forth at this opportunity and extending his leg, sending Robert flying. He grunted, the propulsion of his attack sent him over Robert's downed body. Robert reached up and grabbed the strangers boot, quickly wrenching it to the left, making him topple to the ground. It was a sudden scramble to get back up, but Robert pushed himself on top of his assailent, pinning him into the dirt.
"Give up?" he asked, staring down at the unshadowed face. The rider's brown eye's narrowed, "Not...even...close." And he amazingly hefted Robert off of him with great strength, for Robert obviously out weighed him, and stood, searching for his sword.
A ridiculing laugh made the rider look up at Robert, who held both blades. The stranger nodded in silent surrender and kneeled ceremoniously before him, bowing his head, "Tha may do as thy wish," he said quietly. Robert just walked to the horse and unbuckled the saddle and bags, then returned the sword back to it's ungrateful owner. Robert did not have to worry that he would strike, for it is a gentlemanly thing to not lift a hand against the winning dueler after he has won. He dragged the saddle back into the woods and left it by his softly neighing horse. He came back and found the stranger already mounted again.
"Thou art an evil man," he accused, and kicked his horse into a gallop. Robert watched as the billow of dust moved down the road, shaking his head as he did so. Then, he went back to inspect the winnings.
His mouth watered hungrily at the thought of fine silks and precious jewels that awaited him inside the burlap bags. He greedily untied the strings and lifted the covers up, the anticipation was suffocating him. Only, his smile faded as he reached into the sack and pulled something out.
"A loaf of bread?"
Robert now stood against a wall of a building, watching the Nottingham marketplace with his icy blue eyes. He was looking for someone. Or waiting. His patience wore thin as he glanced down and saw a little girl in braids next to him staring at the harsh scar that marred his cheek. He felt his face grow hot and sidled away from her, returning his gaze to the busy crowd of merchants and people.
There! No, that was someone else... wait...there he was! Right behind the herb stall, his floppy hat pulled down low to shade his eyes. Robert could not contain his excitement at his cleverness, but then the feeling turned to fear as the crowd surged towards him.
His heart was caught somewhere between his throat and his gut. An unnamable fear gripped his insides. Public places oftentimes made him queasy. In crowded urban towns he would suddenly become homesick for the forest, the forest that comforted him no matter the fright. His skin felt seared as two bustling women bumped into him, pushing him back to the wall. Tiny beads of sweat appeared on his upper lip, and he glanced again behind the herb stall, searching for that boy.
No! He was gone! All because of Robert's unnecessary fear of people. A sudden crash brought his attentions to the street, where a wooden cart was overturned spilling it's contents onto the muddy lane.
"Stupid boy!" a red-faced merchant cursed, cuffing the crouching figure over the head, "Me potatoes are all dir'y! Now 'elp me pick this ba' up." The boy complied, though the merchant did not see that for every third potato he placed back into the cart, two potatoes went into the bag that was slung over his shoulder. After the cart was upright, the boy tipped his annoyingly flimsy hat and disappeared back into the crowd.
Determined not to lose him again, Robert followed the boy out of the city gates and to the forest surrounding it. The boy bent down, retrieving two more plump bags and slung them over his shoulder, jumping on his horse with great agility. As he spurred his horse, Robert ran to the other side of the road, mounting Horse, and followed the strange boy with a carefully measured distance between them.
The boy knocked on the church's large doors and was greeted by a fat, jolly monk. They chatted for a while, seemingly old friends, then when he left, he was mysteriously one bag lighter. Robert laughed softly at the boy's adroitness from his hiding place across the street. A guard who was making his rounds turned the corner just as the boy had, bumping into each other.
"Sorry, sir," the boy said, patting the guard's hard metal armor.
"Watch where I'm going," the guard said gruffly, and as the boy pushed past him, the guard put out his arm, blocking his path.
"What's in ye' bags?" he asked, and the hat drooped haphazardly into the boy's eyes.
"Nothing, sir," the boy said, putting his hands out to gesture his honesty.
"Jes' let me look," the guard said curiously, reaching for his sacks. The boy took a cautious step back, and this angered the man, "I order ye' to let me look." Aware of the danger now, the boy turned to run, but was caught in the back of the shirt by the guard, and was dragged back to him, "Obey or die,"
"Death first," he said through gritted teeth, and this was the moment when Robert chose to step in.
"Unhand the boy," he ordered, and the guard complied, turning on him dangerously and half drawing his sword.
"Who says?"
"Robert of Loxley," he said, drawing back his arm and punching the guard in the nose, sending him plummeting to the ground. Robert looked up just in time to see the retreating figure hop onto his horse and trot off. Robert hurriedly jumped on Horse, and guided him out of the small neighborhood and tight next to the boy's own steed.
"Thanks kindly for that help back there, but I would wish tha would quit following me everywhere," he mumbled.
"Aw, shucks kid," Robert mocked, "I just saved thy life back there,"
"Not for the first time."
"What?" The boy turned to look at Robert next to him, and led the horse to cut him off, sending him into the trees.
"What's the meaning of this?" Robert asked, just getting whapped in the face by a thin branch of a pine tree. The boy dismounted silently, coming around his horse and facing him on his left side, away from the road.
"I'd like it if tha'd please hand me back my ring," he said coolly. Robert's other hand covered the emerald ring on his hand protectively.
"Well," he smiled charmingly, "I gladly would, if the ring belonged to thee."
"It does," the lad said spookily, and goosebumps appeared on Robert's arm again.
"For thy information, I got this ring from a girl who was nearly close to death."
"And tha stole her dignity by stripping her of her possessions?"
"Not really..."
"I demand it back-"
"I'll say again, I would gladly-" The boy tore off his cap and shook his head, letting down a length of long, brown hair, which shimmered in the sunlight. Robert stopped, mouth agape, and stared at her in recognition.
"Marian..."