by rowantree13
Disclaimer: This is owned by Disney, which is now owned by Mike Eisner...dang, that bites. All they seem to be doing is pumping out sequels. Where's the original stuff, the stuff Disney was famous for?! Oh well...I shouldn't complain, I'm a sequel fanfic writer...but hey, I should try to create my own original stuff...
Finally, after months of waiting, at long last, it was the day of the fair!
Different travelers, archers, fighters, merchants of all kinds selling and buying their wares, royalty with their serfs and the townspeople of nearby villages gathered at the fair grounds, helping to set up the banners and wooden stands.
When the Fitzooths and the Huntingdons arrived at the fair, the merchants were in full selling mode, and the peasants were gathering from place to place, adults looking warily at a seller who might be trying to rip them off, children excited with glee and life, running from each stand to another, eager to buy (or to steal, in some cases) a small toy or treat for themselves or their friends and siblings.
Robin and Marian walked together, both of them amazed at the crowd and the bustle and hustle. It was as if the very air were filled with tension, but of a good kind, that would leave a feeling of satisfaction and joy to everyone if broken.
Robin caught Marian looking at one of the stands and followed her gaze, where a hare merchant was selling necklaces and bracelets made from beads and stones. The hare was holding up a necklace of a soft pink color, with a middle stone shaped like a heart. Robin grinned to himself, determined to later return and buy the necklace for Marian.
Robin felt a hand clap on his shoulder and he turned around quickly, realizing he was looking up into the face of his father. Hugh Fitzooth smiled at his son's expression.
"Robin, you escort Marian and the other ladies to the stands...me and Adam are going to enter the archery tournament! Too bad you can't enter sword fight or ax throwing, but some of the others are for adults, and you should concentrate on your archery skills, son!"
Robin's ears perked up at the words 'archery tournament'. "Father, can I shoot as well?"
"Nay, Robin, 'tis for the elders and adults."
"Tomorrow they'll let you and the other lads try your luck on the green! You'l probably take first prize, you being Hugh's son and all!" Adam grinned at Robin, who smiled modestly at the comment.
"I need some more practice first...Dad says I should concentrate on keeping my eyes open while I shoot..."
"Spoken like a true man, Robin. Now, you watch over these ladies, make sure they don't faint when the other men and me and Adam take our shots at the target!"
"Oohh, you scamp!" Arelyn said, playfully hitting Hugh lightly on his arm. "If women were allowed to compete as well, we'd beat the pants off of you stubborn boys! Isn't that right, Kathleen?"
Marian's mother smiled at Arelyn, nodding. "I believe that is true. Women are able to accomplsih many things, not merely knitting and managing the households."
"Aye, like causing us menfolk grief!" Hugh said, pulling a sad face while Adam laughed loudly at his expression.
The company parted then, with Hugh and Adam making their way toward the firing range, and Robin leading Marian, her mother, Lady Cluck and his mother toward the seating rows, made for those with royal families. Marian tugged on his sleeve, getting his attention.
"Robin, look! In the Royal Box, it's the Royal Family!"
The old king, whose name was Henry the Second, had died a while ago. The Queen Mother and her sons, Richard and John, were sitting in the royal box.
If there were ever two siblings who were nothing alike it would be the two Princes. Richard and John may have been brothers, but they were exact opposites of each other. Richard was strong, with a mane of reddish-brown hair against his golden color coat of fur. He wore the royal crown on top of his head, having been crowned king at the request of his father. He had a muscular build, the warrior's courage and bravery shone from his eyes, even when troubled or merely sitting viewing a crowd. He was a natural leader.
And John wasn't a leader- he was a deceiver. He had not even grown a mane yet, he was slight of build, with slitting eyes and dour expression that was often present, except for when he was happy. He was a coward, fired however with a fixation: amibition. He was determined to succeed his brother as leader of the throne, no matter what occured. He wanted the power. And he had an ace up his sleeve planned for his brother.
A royal knight of the castle, Sir Hiss, slithered his way through the crowds and into the royal box, out of the sight of Richard and the Queen, but sat by John's side.
"Your Highnesss is eager for the archery tournament, I pressssume?" said Hiss, wanting to make conversation.
"Oh, it'll probably be a bore, just like all those years before...archers firing arrows at a target aiming for a little circle!" John pursed his lips in disappointment.
"The plan isss ready, however, Sssire." Hiss' tongue flickered between his teeth and tickled John's ear.
"Yeehhhh, stop hissing in my ear!" John rubbed his ear to get rid of the tickling, then glared at Hiss. John grinned suddenly. "The plan is ready then. With luck, he should be going on those crusades within a week!" John kept his voice low, but could not resist chuckling evilly.
"John, did you say something, dear?" the Queen Mother turned to John, looking at him with eyes that were curious and full of motherly love.
John froze like a deer in headlights. He gulped, clearing his throat of the fear that was rising inside of him. "No, no, dear Mother, I was just thinking about something..."
He was interrupting by the sound of the elephant guards blaring a trumpet call. An alligator orator stood up and addressed the crowd.
"The tournament will begin shortly! May the archer acknowledged come and recieve the crowd's applause!"
One by one the archers step forward at the sound of their names.
"Ryan Marbrook of Darby!" The crowd cheered politely for the dog archer.
"Sir Rumble of Sherwood!"
The crowd applauded, but some booed the wolf knight, because he was a tax-collector who cheated the people of their money often. One who did cheer for him was Flint, and for good reason, since Rumble was his father.
"Nate of Lincolne!" The stork was a hometown hero, and was cheered loudly by some of the fans from his home town.
"Hugh Fitzooth!"
The crowd roared their applause, with Robin and his mother clapping and whistling. Marian and her mother did likewise.
"Last but not least, the Earl Adam of Huntingdon!"
The crowd cheered, eager for the match to begin.
The alligator turned to the crowd. "Let the tournament begin!"
The crowd hushed as the archers stood on the mark, raised the bows and took aim...and in the time that it takes to blink once...
Zzzzsssttt!!!! THUNK!!!!!
The archers fired their shots. Arrows flew across the field, all of them smacking right into the targets. In one of them, dead in the bullseye was an arrow with red feathers flighting it. This arrow belonged to Hugh Fitzooth.
In another target, also dead in the center was an arrow flighted with blue feathers. That one was Adam's arrow. Puncturing the space next to it was one with black feathers, Rumble's arrow.
The other archers, Ryan and Nate, were downcast at their luck but won the approval of the crowd as they left the shooting range. The alligator began shouting again.
"The final three archers were the closest to the bullseye will have the final shootout. First is Sir Rumble's shot, then Earl Huntingdon, then Fitzooth. Move the target back thirty paces!"
An attendent moved the target, then ran to the safety of the sidelines. Rumble stepped up the target, drew the string, aimed... The crowd was silent and tensed...
Zsssttt! Thunk!
Rumble had hit the target. He raised his hands in victory and smiled as the attendent checked the arrow. The audience waited for a reply.
"Tis' half of a quarter inch off!!" He shouted to the crowd as Rumble stared in disbelief. Most of the audience cheered in glee at his expression.
"Do you think you can get this?" Hugh whispered to Adam.
Adam narrowed his eyes and grinned at Hugh. "You taught me, Fitzooth. I plan on getting it." He stepped up to the mark as Rumble backed away, frowning angrily.
Adam put his toe to the mark, raised the bow, aimed, pulled the string and...
Zzzzsssttt!!! THUNK!!!!
The attendant ran out and checked it. The crowd watched as he looked at the arrow, when it had landed, and kept looking at it in disbelief. The crowd was getting restless, for he hesitated, but he shouted.
"Dead center! He shot it dead center!!"
The crowd when wild! Cheering, clapping, whooping it up. Marian hugged Robin, who was grinning in spite of himself. Their mothers were cheering as well.
Then Hugh stepped up to the mark.
The cheering stopped and not even the wind could be heard. Robin's grin fell away as he realized the task his father had to complete. He was an expreienced archer, but could he hit dead center?
Hugh raised the bow, putting his toe to the mark...he aimed, looking down the arrow's length, squinting to see it better...
Zzzzsssstttt!!! THUNK!!!!
The attendant ran out to check the shot. His mouth fell open in surprise. He turned to the crowd, trying to speak, but couldn't! He punched himself in the stomach, getting the air out in a whoosh, and cried:
"DEAD CENTER!!! HE SPLIT ADAM'S ARROW IN HALF!!!"
The crowd was shouting to the heavens in joy. Adam clapped Hugh on the back, with Rumble grabbing his bow and leaving in a huff. Robin and Marian were hugging each other tightly, their mothers were giddy, screaming like schoolgirls. Richard, the Queen, even John stood and clapped for the archers and their handiwork.
It was said in later times that that was the best archery match ever held in that town.
Later, in a tavern set up for the fairgoers, Robin and Marian were sitting together, talking about the tournament. Both of their fathers were to receive a commendation from King Richard, and since he also remembered the battle when he had been saved by Hugh and Adam, he also made Adam his brother and therefore had Marian as his adopted niece.
"Oh, I nearly forgot," said Robin, as he put his hand into his pocket and pulled out the necklace he had seen the hare merchant wave around. "This is for you."
Marian gasped at the gift, and held it in her hand, smiling. "Oh, it's beautiful, Robin. Will you help me put it on?"
Robin unclasped the necklace and put it around her neck, clasping it again. Before he realized it happened, Marian had leaned in and kissed him. Robin was dumbstruck.
"I...um, er...I...eh, ha ha! Oohdalolly..." Robin grinned sheepishly at her. She smiled back, and they both leaned in this time. Their eyes closed, it was him, her, and the universe. They were together, in that place and time and nothing was to keep them apart.
At least, that was what was intended. But life is never a smooth road.
The next day, Robin and Marian, as well as their parents, were walking around, enjoying the
sights of the fair. Suddenly Robin felt a hand clap on his shoulder, roughly pushing him forward.
He turned and looked into Flint's eyes, which were narrowed and filled with hatred. Robin made
sure that Marian was behind him, not wanting her to get hurt.
"Back off, Flint. I'm just here to have fun at the fair, alright?"
"Your father cheated, Fitzooth! I know that he did, my dad's the best in town at archery!"
"Hah!" Robin looked right into the eyes of his enemy and grinned at him. "Your father couldn't even hit a barn door if he were standing in front of it!"
Flint's lip curled angrily as he swung his arm back to punch Robin, but was halted by a heftier paw stopping it's flight. The paw that belonged to his father, Rumble. Flint's look of anger was replaced by one of shock.
"Flint, how many times have I told you? If I catch you fighting again..."
"But father, he insulted you! Said you couldn't even hit a barn door standing in front of it!"
Rumble turned his gaze toward Robin. He grinned nastily at the young fox, giving him a nod.
"Well, well if it isn't the son of Fitzooth. Where's yer father at, young'un?"
"Right behind you, Rumble!" Hugh's voice rang out, loud and clear. Rumble turned around and faced Hugh, Adam, Arelyn and Kathlena, all of them looking suspiciously at Rumble. He changed his nasty grin to a toothy one and tried to appear kindly. It didn't fool them for a second.
"Well now, the two stout hearted bow pullers who whomped me yesterday. And their charmin' wives!
This is a pleasure, I'm sure."
"You're wrong, Rumble." Hugh said, tensed. "I hope that you'll take your son and train him up to shoot like you, if he'll have a chance in the archery tournament for the younger boys today."
Robin started in surprise. He had clean forgotten about the tournament, getting that necklace for Marian! He hid his shock quickly, not wanting anyone to see. Only one person noticed, and that was Marian. But she kept silent.
"You should train up your own boy, from what I hear, he still closes his eyes to shoot!" Rumble
guffawed at his last statement. Hugh's eyes became as cold as ice, yet he managed to grin,
appearing not to be worried.
"We'll see at the end of the competition, Rumble."
"Aye, that we will!" Rumble clapped a hand on his son's shoulder. "Flint, let's go. We need to train so's you can beat that fox into the dirt! See you later, Hugh."
The unsavory duo made their way through the crowd, leaving behind an irate Hugh, an angered Adam,
two worried housewives, one maiden who was concerned, and a young Robin, who was rapidly becoming
dismayed.
Marian frowned decisively. She had a plan...
Part 4 due soon! Please R&R!