The old forest was abuzz with talking. At the very center of Sherwood by the old oak tree Robin's camp was in chaos. There were rumors that their leader and friend had been captured. All that their town spies had heard was that the sheriff had a small celebration and a secret hanging in his courtyard and that their beloved leader had been missing for a few days. The few temporary families that were being sheltered by Robin's band were packing their little belongings into sacks made from stolen friar's robes. This was all just a precaution. Because Robin had left four days earlier they worried that he might have been captured and tortured for information so they were all vacating the camp. It was a sorrowful time for all. The question was posed in everyone's mind at sometime, "where do I go now? What will I do without Robin's leadership and support? I'm an outlaw and not welcome anywhere else. What do I do?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Meanwhile~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stretching his arms and legs; Robin crawled out from beneath the bush where he had slept. Ooh, the cramps in his back only got worse as the autumn slowly crept into winter. Well, he had certainly enjoyed his surprise visit to Marion and she had promised to lose the maid that accompanied her on her daily ride so they could meet one more time before Robin had to go back to camp. He never told anyone where he had been going. They would be all right while he took a six-day vacation. He had left on a Monday and he would be back by Saturday night. He always made it a point to be there for every one of Friar Tuck's sermons so that his band could count on him not being gone for more than a week without notice. It was Thursday so he only had one day left with Marion before he had to get back.

Now, he had to find a suitable lunch for his lady. He ducked back into the bush. Footsteps were coming down the small dirt path. One man, small build, and he obviously didn't like being out all by himself in the forest Robin closed his eyes and tried to predict who it was.

"Ha!" Robin thought to himself, "I was exactly right!" The man coming down the path looked more like a mouse than a man and was seemingly scared of his own shadow. "Time for the morning news." Robin thought just before he jumped out from his bush, nearly scaring the timid man out of his mind.

"The news of the day, good sir, I haven't seen a tavern for quite some time." Robin reached a hand out to shake as he spoke warmly. The man, seeing that Rob was so friendly softened at the thought that he now had a friend to stay by in this "frightening forest" began with, "The latest rumors of the town will have to wait to be unfurled, I have bread and wine, will you join me? My name is Timothy, my friends call me Tim."

Robin laughed at this sudden warmth. "Well, I will call you Tim then my friend. I have nothing to add your small meal but a half canteen of ale and few dried strips of venison, the best there is. Come, join me on this rock and share the rumors that we all love to hear" As they both sat down on the large boulder with the hidden cave (it was hidden behind and under the bush that was mentioned before) Tim pulled out a rather large sack with two loaves and a huge canteen of wine. Robin laughed and tossed a medium sized pouch with a small amount of meat onto the boulder next to his new friend.

"The latest news of this morning is that Lady Kathryn might be eloping with her gardener." Tim had a sparkle in his eye when he saw the exasperated look on his companion's face. "I am teasing my good man, the real news of this morning is that the Sheriff of Nottingham finally caught the notorious Robin Hood and hung him in Nottingham's castle courtyard just this dawn!"

Nothing quite catches you off guard like finding out that you died this morning at dawn a two days' walk from where you woke up.

Reeling at this tragic news Robin suddenly burst out laughing. "Poppycock! Robin Hood is not dead! The Sheriff couldn't have a secret hanging of Robin Hood. It has taken him so long I don't even think that if King Richard himself showed up the celebration would be big enough to suit the Sheriff." He again had a sudden burst of hearty laughter. Laughing like that made him feel so much more alive. He decided that he really didn't like being dead.

Robin continued to talk, "Why I heard about a time when the Sheriff was led by one of his servants who was actually Little John, Robin's firsthand man to unknowingly dine with Robin in Sherwood with him…" They continued talking throughout the late morning, Tim never even suspected that it was Robin that was dining with him and entertaining him. He walked off, several hours later sufficiently drunk but completely happy. Although he was drunk he still was a good enough shot to kill one deer while no one was looking. For Marion, of course, only the finest venison would do.