Heloooooooooooooo everybody. See, as I said, the next chapter! Now, this is where it gets confusing yet evvverrr so clever (well for me it is!)
The first four chapters were written in the present day (well, you know, of the story.) The next few will be written in the past. They start from when our two brilliant lovers meet to what was in the last chapter. Or that's what I want to happen. Just so you don't get confused and start ranting I'm confusing you all again. I'm good at doing that.
Anywhoo, enjoy my friends!
She looked outside the window of the carriage. The sun was shining through the leaves that obscured the sky. She had almost forgotten what Nottingham was like. Ten years was a long time to be away. She lent her head back against the soft red coloured velvet which covered the seats. She couldn't wait to see everyone at home. She closed her eyes and sighed happily.
"An attack!"
The carriage suddenly stopped, throwing her forwards.Panicked voices could be heard from outside.
"Gentlemen!" a deep voice from up above in the trees said. "Put down your weapons. You are outnumbered. You are quite safe. May I give you the thanks of your generous visit to us here in Sherwood. What business have you?"
"None at all," she heard one of the men say bluntly.
"Ohh so you were just randomly passing through with a huge carriage?"
"Yes" he snapped.
She glanced quickly out the window. Men clothed in green stood in the trees, bows and arrows at the ready. The leader seemed to be talking to the horsemen. He turned and began to walk towards the carriage. She pulled her head in quickly before he saw her. They were outlaws, intending to rob them for their own good. The sound of footsteps came nearer, despite the horseman's protests.
"There is nothing for you to see!"
"Now come, dear sir, surely with this handsome carriage must come a….."
He drifted off, as he had reached the carriage and peered in through the window. "A handsome object." He gazed in shock at the beautiful young girl in front of him. The sun shone from the window behind her, causing her long auburn hair to glow.
"Hey, Robin, what's in there?" one of the men from the trees said.
Robin. He was quite an attractive man, she thought. He can't have been much older than herself, maybe three or four years. He had a little bit of a beard on his chin, and his large, round eyes seemed to have a constant twinkle in them. Mischievous would have been a good word to describe them. He took her hand and kissed it gently.
"Good day Miss."
"Get away from her!"
He ignored the man and opened the door of the carriage, leading her out. She wasn't sure what to make of him. Her immediate reaction was to hate him. He was a low life, and outlaw stealing to spend on his time drinking ale. Yet there was something about him, which she couldn't put her finger on. She shook the thoughts out and decided to be how Madame Dayson taught her to be all these years. Dignified and proud.
"Why, I have not had the pleasure of introducing myself."
"And you shan't!" the man said, his cheeks turning red with anger. "Leave her alone!"
Robin sighed. "William."
A younger man wearing a scarlet tunic jumped from one of the trees. He walked over and pointed his bow at the servants head.
"Now maybe we can talk without being rudely interrupted."
She did not reply.
"My name is Robert, but you may now me as Robin."
It was hard not to reply. She knew all outlaws were gentleman like at first appearance, but they were all thieves, Madame Dayson had said so. Men werenormallyjust horrible when it came to love.Why was this man so..inviting then? She bit her lip to stop herself from talking.
"And may I know your name Miss?"
There was that twinkle again. It was as if he knew what she was thinking. She musn't give in. She was only sixteen.
"Ahh so you don't have a name? Shame really. I suppose it's something horrible that you're so very ashamed of, so much that you don't want to share."
Oo he was trying, clever man. And she wasn't going to give in. Not yet.
Robin smirked to himself. She was a defiant one. Proud, and clever. He could tell by her eyes. Almost emerald coloured. And that hair. Thick auburn coloured curls tumbling down a slender back. She was one of the most attractive women he'd ever seen.
"Well, Miss Anon, you are invited to join us for dinner tonight. Oh," he added, remembering the coachmen, "your servants are most welcome."
The way he shook his hand at them, such a regal manner, almost caused her to laugh out loud. Almost.
Several hours later, Marian was sat beside a large fire. She was wondering why the hell she had allowed herself to be led deep into Sherwood Forest when she felt a tug at her sleeve. She turned to see a pair of large, round blue eyes gazing into hers. They belonged to a little girl with blonde hair, so blonde it may have been white.
"Miss," she said quietly, "would yeh like to make daisy chains?"
Marian smiled. "I'm terribly sorry, but I have no idea what they are. Perhaps you could show me?"
The little girl nodded eagerly, and taking her hand led Marian to a large patch of the white flowers.
"Yeh see Miss," the girl said, picking a daisy. "You's 'ave to make an 'ole in the stalk wiv ye finger nail." She demonstrated with expertise. "An then you 'ave to put another one through the 'ole." She did so and showed Marian. "See Miss, it's dead easy once you get the 'ang of it."
"I see," Marian said, picking a daisy from the grass. She made a slit in the thin stalk and then slipped another daisy through. "Is that right?"
"Yeh," the girl said inspecting it closely like a teacher with a pupil. "Now Miss, if yehs carry on, you'll make a chain. You could make one to go on your head, like a crown."
"Well, if you make one of those for me, I can make a necklace for you." Marian said.
"Yeh that'd be grand miss!"
Marian laughed at her funny phrase. Why couldn't she have had this much fun when she was younger?
The little girl chatted to Marian as if she was a little one like herself. She tucked her thin blonde hair behind her ears as she worked.
"So what's your name?" Marian asked.
"Beth," she said. "I'm gunna be seven on Friday. My brothers 'oldin a big feast and everyone's invited!" She looked straight into Marians eyes and said, "would you like to come?"
She blinked in surprise. "But you've only know me since today."
"Yeh," Beth said. "But I likes you and I wants you to come."
Marian couldn't help smiling at the little girl. "Of course I'd like to come."
Beth grinned, and something in her eyes seemed extremely familiar. They were so round.
"Yeh finished yer chain, Miss?"
"You can call me Marian," she replied, " and I have finished yes." She slipped it carefully over the blonde hair and pulled it over the top.
"Marian," Beth said thoughtfully. "That's a nice name. Here's yours." She stood up and placed the daisy chain on her head as if it were made of gold.
"We both look like princesses," Marian said.
"Yeh, we do!"
They both giggled until Beth's face lit up at something behind Marian.
"Robin!" she cried, running towards the tall, lean figure walking towards them. Marian felt a strange emotion as the girl jumped into his arms. She saw the twinkle in both of their eyes and then realised. They were brother and sister. It was almost a sense of longing, wanting to remember being loved by her father when she was six. And ten years later, nothing had changed. She was still unwanted and unloved. Tears pricked her eyes as Beth and her older brother walked over, smiling and laughing. She rubbed them quickly before they reached her.
"Robin, Robin, Marian's coming to my birthday!"
"Marian," Robin said quietly, exactly how his sibling had said previously. He was currently gazing at the girl sitting on the grass in front of him. "What a beautiful name."
"Isn't it!" Beth said. "Dinners ready now Marian, do you want to come sit next to me?"
"Yes alright," Marian replied, eager to leave Robins gaze. His eyes were staring at her with such intensity it made her feel uncomfortable.
"So your names Marian?" he said as she walked past.
"Yes," she called back as Beth dragged her away. "Maid Marian."
So there it is guys! Hopefully I can type up the next chapter soon, but my brother is chucking me off the computer at the present moment. Some self advertising here.
1-Harry Potter and the Beacons of Red Light-written by me
2-Doctor Who and the Beacons of Red Light-written by my friend-Kates Masters Sister.
3-Harry Potter the Musical-written by Kates Master
4-The Misadventures of Sirius and Directory Enquiries-Co written by the two beacons but under Kates Masters Sister.
Please read them, I hope to see you all again very soon! Thanks once again!