Chapter One
Sherwood Forest. Many would call it mighty and majestic. Robin simply called it home.
The sun had finally surfaced, gleaming its light across the treetops. This suited Robin just fine. He had never fared well to the cold but no outlaw shied away from a small sprinkling of snow. All the same, he wrapped his cloak around himself, trying to stifle the shiver that crept along his spine. He sat atop a large branch, stretched over the main road, waiting patiently. But time did have a way of dragging. He pulled his legs as close to himself as he dared in a futile attempt to maintain warm. Breathing on his hands, he noted how his breath came forth in a white mist. Rolling his eyes, he stretched as far as he dared and continued to begrudgingly watch the road.
Looking across the trail, he spied his best friend, Allen, seated in an opposing tree. Robin sighed, as he saw the fool had fallen asleep. Whilst barely making a sound, Robin descended from his tree, and climbed.
Allen awoke with a start, certain that he had heard something. Groaning, he realised that he was still in the damned tree, looking out toward the damned road on this damned cold morning.
He looked around quickly but saw no movement. There was nothing around him. Not even a gust of wind rustling the leaves. Until something leapt down beside him, almost causing him to plummet from the branch with fright.
"Robin!" he exclaimed, angrily clutching on to the branch with little more than his fingertips. Judging the fall, he gave way and dropped to the forest floor, landing with a painful thud. "That could have gone a lot worse you know!"
Robin only laughed as he leapt down from the branch. Needless to say, there was a lot more grace in his landing than that of his friend. "Will you stop being so sensitive?"
Allen looked to his friend, once more astounded at the change in him. His transformation over the past year still astounded Allen. For he still remembered his friend before the madness of outlaws and taxes. He had been an ordinary man. And before that, they had been children together. Yet somehow, Robin had grown into the kind of man that made his enemies tremble and women swoon. He was tall and his body considerably toned. His green eyes shone with life. He flicked his head once more to knock back a lock of his dark chestnut brown hair. But it fell straight back. Even his hair was stubborn.
"The trail is dead," Robin said, clearly conveying his boredom. "I've already sent the rest of the men back to camp."
"And yet you leave me up the cold?" Allen seethed.
"I have to amuse myself somehow."
Robin watched his friend stoop to collect the remainder of his fallen possessions. He looked up suddenly, saying, "Do you realise what today is?"
Robin never liked to allow bafflement to show, but he definitely felt it. Flicking back a lock of hair from his forehead, he said, "No but I'm sure that you are about to take pleasure in enlightening me."
"It was one year ago that we first became outlaws."
Robin looked surprised at the answer, quickly thinking it over. He chuckled quietly. "I guess it is."
Allen sighed. "Is that all you're going to say? No, 'that is cause to celebrate,' or 'Thank you to my inspiring friend who stuck with me through it all?"
"It is a cause to celebrate, isn't it?" Robin said with pride, thinking on his past endeavors.
Allen rolled his eyes at his own lack of recognition but had to admit that Robin had reason to be proud. From what they understood, Robin was the fifth man to bear the title of 'Robin Hood.' After the original outlaw was killed, one of his men took over the name. He was slain a few weeks later and another surpassed him. That third man held the previous record of three months. Followed by the man Allen had seen killed. Roger and John had joined the Merry Men during the reign of the second Robin Hood and that was all Allen knew. And that bothered him. He frowned as he thought on this. "Do you ever wonder about who started all of this? About the original Robin Hood?"
"No," Robin shrugged, staring out into Sherwood. But the pair had been friends for a long time and Robin could tell when something was bothering his friend. "Why?" he asked, cautiously.
"I hate to say this. I really do. But I don't trust Roger."
Robin tried his hardest to be supportive but he could not help but laugh. "Oh come on Allen," he said in response to his friends glare. "Roger has proven himself countless times! We can trust him. And besides, he has been at this longer than we have. Why don't you mistrust any of the new Merry Men? Surely they have more cause to betray us. And we have gained a fair few of them."
The act of knowing the other worked two ways. And Allen could instantly tell that there was not an inch of Robin that could mistrust Roger. It was obvious that he was fighting a losing battle. "You're probably right," he said quietly, staring out to Sherwood once more.
Robin sighed. "Hey, what did you say to me on the day we were both rejected as squires? And again on the day we were outlawed?"
"I promise to try and help?"
"Exactly," Robin said with a strong gaze. Allen sighed. He both know how the world works. Promising to help was useless. Because fate is always beyond what they could achieve. Some things are unchangeable through no fate of our own. But the act of trying alone should be good enough.
Allen smiled, despite himself. "You big softy' he said, laughing." "So shall we go?"
Robin looked out the trail. "Actually I was going to head to Nottingham. Wilfred is on duty in the square today."
Allen shuddered at the thought of their old mentor. "Give him my greetings."
"So you won't join us for a wonderful session of reminiscing about the good times?"
Allen laughed. "I think I can safely say that you are very adept at avoiding all memories of the past." He stopped laughing immediately as he realised what he said. Both men were suddenly very quiet. "I'm sorry, I didn't think-"
"It doesn't matter," Robin said quickly, cutting him off.
Allen sighed. "I know that she-"
"I said, I doesn't matter!" Robin said, with sudden fury.
Allen took a few steps back, knowing to finally keep his mouth shut.
Robin recovered himself, forcing a smile. "So you're sure that you won't join me?"
"I have a few things to do back at camp," Allen said with a smile. He did not add what his intentions were.
For it was finally time that he confronted Roger.
