This is my first attempt at any kind of extended writing, ever. I was lucky enough to live in a wooded area when I was growing up and always played Robin Hood with my friends. Many many stories were born in this time, and I hope you will enjoy this one: okay there are gaps in the story and various other bits and pieces needing improvement, and some seriously laughable language inconsistencies, but I hope you will see past that and enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.

The Plague

After his knighthood by Good King Richard of England, history books would have us believe Robin Hood abandoned Sherwood forest to live the life of a Noble. This is not true. Instead, there was a black period of history which defied all the beliefs of the Robin Hood Chroniclers and they never recorded it for fear of losing their reputations. Now ancient papers written by Friar Tuck have come to light thanks to one of his traceable ancestors. As with much Archaic language, it would be difficult to read were it not for the efforts of my correspondent, who insists on his anonymity. I present the tale here.

Shortly after the exile and death of Prince John, it was rumoured that he had made a pact with the Devil to lay a curse on the land. The once bustling villages skirting Nottingham feel silent as their inhabitants fell to the plague.

A very strange plague this was: For one thing, the victims all sickened and died gradually, some lasting days, others months. Some families lost a daughter only, other families remained untouched. Each victim wasted away, they lost weight, lost energy and sickened and died overnight. It was unlike anything that had ever been seen before, there was no coughing, a minimum of delirium, and a red cluster of spots on the neck. Some thought the end of the world had come to pass, yet they still carried about their lives as best they could.

Robin and his merry men remained well in their forest stronghold, but the atmosphere between them was tainted. They had seen great changes through Robin's knighthood - they were now appointed guardians of the forest - but it was plain to see that they missed their former life and the excitement of meting out social justice. There were more disagreements than usual, perhaps because they no longer had to fight to survive, and great uneasiness about the unknown sickness that had claimed so many around them.

One night, as they lay around the council fire, listening to the sounds of the forest, Will Scarlett brought the news they had long been dreading.

"The plague has reached Long Eaton," he said, and slumped by the fire.

"What, within three leagues of here?" exclaimed Robin, "And thou hast family there, Little John?"

Little John said nothing in reply.

"Would now be the time, leader, to disband the Merry men?" asked Will Stutely, the youngest member of the group.

"Nay," replied Robin. "We shall never disband. Two kings did not separate us, and neither shall pestilence. But preparation must be made for its coming. We must take to the trees, for plague travels on the ground. We must take water only from the Virgin's well, and we must be mindful of each other."

"What of Lady Marian? Has aught been heard of her?"

"Will Stutely, your young tongue dares utter the questions that your elders fear to ask. She tends the sick in Nottingham. There is no danger there."

"Robin," Will Scarlett interrupted. "It has reached Nottingham too. The Sheriff has called a curfew."

It should be explained that the Sheriff was returned to his former post after paying many fines to the crown. His hard methods of government were a thing of the past, yet no-one respected him as a man any more.

"There will be no travelling to Nottingham. Lady Marian has knowledge enough to keep herself safe." No-one present really believed Robin's words, and could see the concern in his eyes, but there were other things to consider.

"Then there will be no more allowance from the king, since Nottingham is where we receive it. Let us return to the old ways. Corruption breeds in a time of need. The paupers of the villages will need us more than ever."

Friar Tuck's suggestion was met with murmurs of approval, yet Robin himself neither agreed nor disagreed. He took himself off to sleep under the trees without another word passing from his lips, and in the morning when they looked for him, he was gone.

"He has gone to find Marian," said Tuck, and the others thought that was probably true. " God knows, when a man marries, his place is with his wife."

They went about rebuilding their tree homes, just as they had done many years before, when they had first come together.