Chapter 3-
Four months later…
Anne made her way through the English countryside, virtually unseen while she hunted either boars or deer on her own land. Since she had taken her life in her own hands four months ago, no one had been bothering her. They all thought she was a boy who kept to himself. She had cut her hair and rarely spoke to anyone in any of the villages or even Sherwood Forest where she also hunted boars and a few deer.
For the first time in two weeks she was back on Locksley lands, hunting a deer. The word around the villages and among the outlaws of Sherwood Forest was that Locksley lands were forfeit and didn't belong to Anne any more, but until Anne knew that it was true and not a rumor she was going to behave as if it were still her home.
Anne gently put an arrow to the bowstring and pulled it back. Another arrow hit the deer before Anne could release hers. Anne looked back. A young boy with shaggy, dark hair stood there. Anne recognized him as Wulf Little, John Little's son. John was an outlaw in Sherwood Forest and Anne had eaten with John's wife, Fanny, about once a week.
"Sorry, Anne," Wulf said contritely. He was one of the very few that knew her name was Anne.
"It's all right. You beat me to it, Wulf," Anne said as she followed Wulf to the deer.
"You're not mad?" Wulf asked as Anne cut a small piece of the deer with her hunting knife.
"Should I be?" Anne asked as she wiped her knife on the grass. The deer really was too big for one person. If Anne shared it with others that was better.
"I guess not," Wulf conceded as a dog started barking. Anne looked back. Her face fell. Sir Guy of Gisbourne sat there on a horse, surrounded by dogs and soldiers.
"Run!" Anne shouted, picking up her bow and arrows and running as fast as she could. She heard Wulf behind her. He was breathing sharply as he ran.
X
The boat pulled into the beach. It was the same beach that the Normans had landed on in 1066, but for now it was Robin's path to home. The cold spray of the ocean washed Robin's face. The temperature hadn't changed in five years. England was as cold now as it had been when he left.
Robin stood up, trying to see the coast and trees through the fog and the happy tears in his eyes. His impatience got the best of him and he jumped out of the small boat. He waded through the water and dropped onto the sand, kissing the ground as the waves crashed against him/
"Home. Thank you, Lord," Robin said in relief as he started to laugh and kicked his arms and legs. "I AM HOME!"
"You are strange, Christian," Azeem said, standing over him, his fists on his hips.
"Yes, but I am free. Now I beg you to free yourself of your vow. Return with the boat. I know how it feels to be so far from your home and family," Robin said.
"Because I love them so much I cannot dishonor them," Azeem said.
"I thought you'd say that," Robin said, looking at the boat's men. One of the men tried to hit Azeem with an oar. Azeem grabbed his hand and tossed him into the water. He looked at the other sailors, threateningly, and they backed away.
Azeem turned back to Robin. "No man controls my destiny. Especially not one who speaks down wind and reeks of garlic," Azeem said in a tight voice.
Robin smiled and held out his hand, realizing Azeem was right. Azeem helped him up. "Come, Azeem. Our fighting days are done. By nightfall we'll celebrate with my father and daughter," Robin said as they walked down the beach. "You understand, of course, I had to try," Robin said, looking back at the sailors.
"I would have succeeded," Azeem said, to which Robin laughed.
X
It took an hour to reach Hadrian's Wall. It had been built by the Romans, but was now a crumbling ruin. "Why must you walk in back of me?" Robin asked after an hour of silence.
"In your country, am I not the infidel? It seems safer to appear as your slave, rather than your equal," Azeem said to Robin's amusement.
"You know, for an infidel you have uncommon clarity of thinking. But you tell me nothing of yourself. For instance, your name, Azeem, what does it mean?" Robin asked.
"It means 'Great one,'" Azeem said.
"'Great one?' Really? Did you give yourself this name?" Robin asked jokingly. Azeem looked at him, witheringly. Robin started to laugh. "It's a joke! Azeem, the great one, I am home!" Robin then noticed the tree he was standing under. "Look, mistletoe! I have kissed many maidens under this little plant," Robin said, pulling off a sprig of the tree. (A/N: Not my favorite line in the movie so I changed it and Azeem's next line. Just seemed a little inappropriate to me.)
"In my country we talk to our women. We do not kiss them with plants over our heads," Azeem said, looking at Robin before walking off again.
"What do you know of women?" Robin asked. Azeem stopped and turned back around.
"Where I come from, Christian, there are women of such beauty they can possess a man's mind so that he will be willing to die for her," Azeem said with a bittersweet smile.
"Wait! Is that why you were to be executed? Because of a woman? That's it, isn't it? That's it!" Robin said, following Azeem. Azeem had already reached the top of the wall and was looking around.
"It is close to sunset," Azeem commented, looking at the sky.
"Who was she? The Ruler's daughter, huh? Another man's wife? What's her name?" Robin asked, laughing.
"Is there no sun in this cursed country?" Azeem asked in frustration. "Which way is east?"
"Her name," Robin said.
"East!" Azeem demanded.
"Her name," Robin folded his arms over his chest.
Azeem looked around before answering. "Yasmina."
"That way," Robin said, pointing in a direction.
"You are sure?" Azeem asked, rolling out a rug.
"I would know blindfolded. I am five miles from home," Robin said as Azeem knelt on the rug for prayers. "Was she worth it?" Robin asked.
"Worth dying for," Azeem said sadly. The sound of a barking dog got Robin's attention and he turned to see what the commotion was.
6 men and 4 or 5 dogs appeared to be chasing 2 boys across the moor. He saw as the boys climbed the mistletoe tree.
"You're dog's meat, boys," a soldier yelled at them.
"You're not playing by the rules, Anne of Locksley, deer don't climb trees," a man on a horse said. Robin stiffened. Anne of Locksley? Why would his daughter be dressed like that and why would these soldiers try to hunt her down on land that belonged to her grandfather and Robin? "Perhaps they think they are game birds. Shall we teach them to fly? Cut them down," the man said. One of the soldiers pulled out an axe.
"Hold. What manner of creatures is so fiercesome that it takes six men to attack them?" Robin asked, looking up at his daughter and the boy briefly. Anne's face was smudged and she looked entirely too thin as if she hadn't been eating lately. She looked as if she needed both a bath and food.
"Stranger, this is no affair of yours," the man on the horse said.
"Let me see. A small boy and a girl. Truly dangerous animals," Robin said with a laugh as he looked at Anne and the boy again.
"The boy and girl killed one of the Sheriff of Nottingham's deer," the man said.
"We were starving. We needed the meat," the boy protested.
"I advise you to move on, Pilgrim. This is the Sheriff of Nottingham's land," the man said warningly.
"Wrong. This is my land and my tree. Therefore what is in it also belongs to me," Robin said firmly.
"Might I have the pleasure of your name before I run you through?" The man asked arrogantly.
"Robin of Locksley," Robin said. He heard a soft audible gasp and looked up at Anne. Her eyes were glassy and her bone-thin hand covered her mouth as she looked at him. He smiled briefly at her before looking back at the man.
"Well, well, Locksley, welcome home. Kill him!" The man ordered sharply to his men.
X
Anne sat in the tree, watching as her father fought the Sheriff's men and Guy of Gisbourne and calling for someone named Azeem and it was time to fulfill a vow.
The battle ended soon with Gisbourne on his back and her father's sword in his chest. "Now, may I have the pleasure of your name before I run you through?" Robin asked, breathing hard.
"Guy of Gisbourne, the Sheriff's cousin. What are you waiting for, Locksley? Kill me," Gisbourne said.
"I have spilled enough blood for two lifetimes. Now get off my land! And tell Nottingham what happens to the scum who picks on small children!" Robin shouted after Gisbourne as he and his remaining soldiers picked themselves up and ran off in the direction of Nottingham.
Anne was surprised. Her father's attitude was a shock. Usually he ignored Anne if they were in the same proximity. This time he was looking at her with something akin to affection.
Anne's eyes widened as she saw a second man join her father. He was a bearded, dark-skinned man with a huge curved sword. Men like him were not common in England.
"It's all right, Anne, Boy. Come down from there," her father ordered and turned to the other man. And as for you, you travel 2,000 miles and allow me to be butchered?" Robin shouted.
"I fulfill my vows when I choose," the man said in a strange accent.
"That does not include prayer times, meal times, or any time I'm outnumbered six to one!" her father said as Anne and Wulf's feet touched the ground.
"You whine like a mule. You're still alive," the man said, causing Anne to grin slightly at the look on her father's face.
Robin turned to Wulf and Anne. Is it true, boy? Did you and Anne kill a deer?" Robin asked.
"Hundreds of 'em," Wulf said with a smirk before he ran off.
"You scared him," Robin said to Azeem.
"Not really, Father. He just had to get home. He has five brothers and sisters and a mother. There's also another baby on the way. He needs to get that deer home before the Sheriff of Nottingham kills him for poaching that deer," Anne said as her father looked at her.
"Anne. I thought I wouldn't see you again," Robin said, grabbing her by the shoulders and hugging her tightly. It took her a moment to realize Robin was crying. His tears fell into her hair.
"Father, I thought you were dead. We heard by courier that you were captured in Jerusalem. Grandfather even tried to secure your release," Anne said, finding herself hugging him back. She had never been close to her father, but right now her father's arms were strong and made her feel safe.
"I am so sorry, Anne," Robin said, stroking her short hair.
"Really?" Anne asked, looking up at him.
"Yes. I was wrong with how I treated you. Forgive me and let me be your father again?" Robin asked with a smile.
"I forgive you, but when were you ever my father?" Anne asked. Robin flinched slightly.
"Fair point. I guess I deserve that," Robin said as they walked in the direction of Locksley castle. So far her father wasn't asking her why she was dressed in his clothes, why Guy of Gisbourne was hunting her down or why she wasn't in Locksley castle. Maybe this time when she went she could find out what happened to her grandfather. She still didn't know, but had heard rumors that he was.