Part Two

England Two Years Later

Chapter 23

Morning in the Forest

Robin woke to the soft sound of the birds singing their mating call. The sun rose quietly over Sherwood Forest, turning the sky all manner of dusky rose and violet. The trees seemed to shimmer faintly in the dawn light and the air was crisp and clean smelling. For a brief moment Robin thought he could almost see the dawn faeries his mother had told him stories about as a child. Lying serenely on the forest floor, staring in amazement at the dawn, Robin thought "This alone was worth coming back to England for."

Just as Robin had committed himself to starting his day, he heard the dry snap of a twig. Will Scarlett entered the camp and leaned quietly over Robin. "Robin a large caravan is moving down the forest road. Four large travel coaches, forty men carrying large litters, at least twenty wagons carrying all manners of things and behind that, men on tall horses with strangely shaped backs. Their moving toward Nottingham."

Robin rolled over with a groan, another spring, another group of peace emissaries/hostages from Salahadin. Just like last year's peace emissary these had been sent by Prince John to the Sheriff for disposal. "Alright Will, get everyone up. We'll head toward the road to see what we can do about this caravan. Make sure Djaq comes; we may need her to act as a translator."

With those orders Will scampered off to wake the others and Robin gave up his hope for a peaceful day of rest. Rising silently from the forest floor, Robin stretched and picked up his bow. He sincerely hoped this peace emissary would not only be actually sent by Salahadin but also be better than last year's; he hated dealing with assassins and royalty at the same time.

Noor yawned as her litter bearers jostled along the forest road. Separating the curtains a slight crack she peered into the dense green foliage of Sherwood Forest; wondering in amazement at the varying shades of green which surrounded her. Noor had seen these colors in the fabric stalls of the bazaar but never had she imagined they actually existed in nature.

After a slight grunt from her rearguard bearer, Noor allowed her curtain to swing closed and resumed reading. Drowsily she reclined back and began to immerse herself in the poetry of the Rubiyat. In frustration she sighed to herself, the Rubiyat of Omar Khalif was one of her favorite books but like all the others she had read it multiple times since leaving Jerusalem.

Noor closed her eyes and began to dream. Perhaps the people of England were not as bad as they seemed. Even if they were, Salahadin would not keep her away long. Eventually he would forgive her.

As the curtains of Noor's litter had fallen closed Robin and his men reached the ridge overlooking the forest road just ahead of the caravan. Watching the caravan come around the curve in the road, Robin counted its members. 'Will was right. It appears we have at least four and possibly more peace emissaries, their possessions, the tribute intended for the prince and nobles, and five guardsmen on camels. Apparently they plan on being here awhile."

Allan looked at Robin suspiciously. "Why do you say that Robin?"

Much sighed and began to open his mouth. Before he could answer Allan though, Djaq appeared next to him. "Because they've brought a harem," she replied. "These litters contain harem girls."

"What's a hair girl?" Will asked curiously.

"Harem, Will, Harem girls. Not hair girls. They're like extra wives that the Turks keep. They can have as many as they want. Salahadin has 30 alone in Jerusalem and is rumored to have over 100 in his palace at Medina." Much replied with a shake of his head.

As Little John, Allan and Will looked at Robin and Djaq for confirmation the litters passed and the baggage carts began to roll by. As the third from last wagon passed them, they could hear sounds from the last wagon and the guardsmen's camels shied away from it. When the last wagon passed Robin stared into the eyes of a large, tawny colored male desert lion. In the cages adjacent were a large female lion and her cub in one and two hunting cheetahs asleep in the other. Just through the crack between the cages Robin could see the sealed wicker baskets he knew contained snakes. "Noor" he whispered.

"What?" Asked Will.

"Not what, Will, who. Noor is a person, a very important person and a very female person that Robin knows very well." Much explained softly. "Master do you want to intercept them? Now would be the time."

"No, Much, let them go. We'll follow them to the castle and see what's to be done from there."

"Are you sure Master? Do you not at least want to see Noor first?"

"No, Much. I'm sure I'll see her later. Come on we'll need to find Marion so she can spy inside the castle for us." As Robin turned away from the caravan and headed back to camp he couldn't hide his smile. What had possessed Noor to come to England? Whatever her reasons, or Salahadin's, it would be good to see Noor again. Complicated, but good.

"Noor, what kind of a name is Noor?" Allan asked. "Is she a very contrary woman?" Mimicking a falsetto he said "I shall have neither this, Noor that!"

"It means 'light' not crankiness." Djaq explained with a sigh. "Her full name is probably 'light of someone'. She is very wise, very beautiful or very loved by whoever gave her the name. While my brother was still alive he and my father went to the palace mosque to watch as Salahadin took a woman named Noor as part of his harem. My father said Noor al Salahadin was not only beautiful and wise but so powerful as a sorceress that Salahadin kept her from sight so his rivals could not steal her. She was said to be so beautiful that even your King Richard was entranced by her. This Noor was probably named in mimicry of her."

Much and Robin smiled at each other and Much turned to walk backwards so he could talk with Djaq. "Well your close Djaq but not quite right. Is she Master?"

Robin simply smiled. It would be good to see Noor again. That is unless she turned one of her 'pets' loose or poisoned him again. Both were possibilities. Robin remembered the last time he had made Noor cross and she had set her hunting cheetahs on him. Forget dogs, those infernal cats were security enough to set on someone. He also remembered the night he had gotten drunk and unruly and she taught him the evils of drink with her hangover 'cure'. He had never been so sick in his life.

"The woman in the litter is Noor al Salahadin, although why on Earth Salahadin sent her here is beyond me." Much continued.

Djaq stared at Much in shock. Salahadin had sent Noor to negotiate for him? Her only thought was that Salahadin must be serious about peace if he had sent Noor. Quietly Djaq began to daydream about returning home.

"Master?"

"Hmmm, Much?"

"It will be nice to see Noor again. Do you think she'll finish the story she was telling us the last time we saw her?"

"Oh, I doubt it Much. Noor hasn't managed to finish a story yet. It will be nice to see her though." Robin said wistfully and with that as their final word they drifted silently into the camp. Each bandit engaged in their own thoughts.