Chapter 3
'The Band'
As I followed Gil deep into Sherwood, I started to wonder what I'd gotten myself into. It wasn't as though outlaws were really the most reputable people in the world, and what would happen if they found out I was a woman? Suddenly it seemed as though every story about outlaws forcing themselves on women seemed to come to mind at once and I stopped. Gil did as well.
"Aren't you coming?" He asked impatiently. I nodded, my mouth dry.
"Y-yes." I replied and he started walking again. After what felt like an hour, but was probably only a few minutes, he stopped next to a large rock.
"We're here!" He announced cheerily. I looked around. There wasn't anything that looked like an outlaw's hideout, just the rock, dead leaves, and trees.
"I don't see anything." I said cautiously. He looked slightly embarrassed.
"You're gonna have to close your eyes while I open the door." He said hesitantly. I shrugged and did so. I had no idea how we'd gotten there anyways, so it didn't really matter.
"Now which one is it?" I heard him mutter and smiled. Apparently he was worse at remembering things then I was.
"Aw, here it is!" He exclaimed, then I heard a creaking noise.
"All right, you can open your eyes now." He said cheerfully. I did so and saw that part of the ground in front of us had actually lifted up, revealing a rather cheery camp with about ten men seated in various places.
"Who's this, Gil?" One of them asked. I recognized him as the third man that had broken into the dungeon. Gil smiled.
"This is..." Then he looked at me, dumbfounded. "I don't even know your name." A few of the men groaned at that.
"Gil, why'd you bring him here if you didn't even know him?" The same man asked. Gil shrugged.
"Well, I saw him take on fifteen of the sheriff's soldiers and thought he might be a welcome addition. It's not my fault we were never properly introduced." He said, then looked at me expectantly.
"Um, my name's Sydney. But most just call me Syd." I said hastily. The man who had been talking stood.
"Well Syd, you're welcome here. Let's see, you already know Gil and James, then there's Alan, Jack, Will, John Jr., Matt, Ben, Logan, and for a short time, Huck and Frank. And of course, I am Robin Hood." He said with a sweeping bow. I just gaped at him for a moment.
"You're who?" I said disbelievingly. He glanced around.
"I'm Robin Hood." He said again, a little louder. I shook my head.
"That's impossible. Robin Hood is dead." I said. He glanced at his men, then back at me.
"How about we explain that over a bowl of stew?" He said and the rest of the men agreed heartily.