Chapter Two

"Tristan, concentrate," Brother Hugh sighed as he spotted the young boy staring out of the window at Sherwood Forest. The boy spun round quickly and grinned sheepishly at his teacher. His bright blue eyes sparkled just as Brother Hugh remembered when he had found him on the doorstep ten years before.

"Sorry Brother Hugh," Tristan apologised but Brother Hugh could tell he did not actually mean it and his mind was else ware.

"You are supposed to be praying to the Lord yet you obviously aren't. It is disrespectful. Have you not learnt anything from me?" Brother Hugh grumbled.

"Yes, of course I have Brother Hugh, you are an excellent teacher. May I go now?" Tristan looked hopefully at his teacher. Brother Hugh grimaced, he could never say no to Tristan even though they still had time left praying.

"Yes, I suppose," Brother Hugh nodded reluctantly.

"Thank you!" Tristan was off in a flash.

"That boy has too much energy," Brother Hugh muttered.

Tristan sprinted down the stone corridor, his boots pounding the floor. He leapt down some steps and skidded round a corner. He nearly crashed into Brother Gilbert. "Sorry Brother Gilbert!"

"Where are you going Brother Tristan in such a hurry?" Brother Gilbert asked amused at the young boy bouncing up and down.

"Nowhere Brother," Tristan said, "I am just very hungry and wish to get some food soon."

"Alright," Brother Gilbert did not believe him but did not pester. Tristan continued his fast pace until he got to the courtyard. He saw the bay horse as it entered the Abbey and grinned. He ran over.

The man upon the horse leapt down when he saw Tristan. "Good day Tristan."

"John, do you have it? Have you fixed it?" Tristan said excited.

"Yes, yes calm down," John opened his saddle bag and pulled out a bow. Tristan whooped and took the weapon.

"How did you fix it so soon?"

"I have my contacts," John smiled at the young boy he had known since a baby. He was forbidden to see him but he couldn't help it. He had bought him his first bow five years ago.

"It's amazing," Tristan grinned, "I will go into the forest and test it. The Brother's do not allow me to use it in the grounds." John patted Tristan on the back.

"Off you go then," he pushed the boy towards the forest, "Go practice, who knows maybe one day you'll be as good as Robin Hood."

"You really think?" Tristan said awed, "Have you ever met him?"

"Yes, many a time," John said, "But don't ask me more, just go."

Tristan pulled a handmade arrow from his quiver and placed it in the bow. He aimed for the target cups he had placed on a tree branch and let an arrow go. It hit the target dead centre and knocked the cup onto the ground. Tristan smiled to himself. He could join Robin Hood's outlaws soon. That was his dream. He knew he didn't belong in the Abbey, Brother Hugh had told him that before. He was an orphan who had been dumped there but he didn't want to become a monk, he wanted to do something exciting. Something he could use his archery skills in. He had found he was very good with a bow and thought he would be a great outlaw.

Tristan sometimes wondered who his parents were. He always imagined his mother as a sweet woman with blonde hair and his father as a strong, hard-working man, tanned by the summer sun. But he hadn't a clue really. None of the Brother's knew where he was from and although Tristan suspected John knew something he never said anything.

There was a soft thud as one of Tristan's arrows stuck in the tree branch. He would have to climb the tree to get it because they were too valuable to him to waste. Getting a grip on the rough bark Tristan scaled the trunk and climbed into the bough of the tree. He was about to reach for his arrow when he heard hoof beats. Suddenly scared Tristan retreated into the shadow of the tree's leaves. He watched as seven horses galloped into view.

"I win!" One of the riders jumped down from his horse's back and grinned.

"No Allan," another guy shook his head and scrambled from his horse, "I think you'll find I did."

"I'm not being funny Will but how could you've won if you were five feet behind?" Allan raised an eyebrow.

"Ok, ok calm down girls," a brown haired man climbed off his horse and laughed at them.

"Do I look like a girl to you Robin?" Will asked him. Robin squinted at Will as if inspecting him.

"Yes, I could definitely see you with long hair and a pink dress," Robin smirked. Tristan stared at this man. It just had to be Robin Hood!

"Oi, watch it," Will growled.

"Hey, look what I found," a man with a bandana picked up one of Tristan's cups with a arrow in it. Robin took the cup off the man and looked surprised.

"Someone's a good shot," he whistled. Tristan couldn't help swell with pride at praise from Robin Hood.

"Yeah but where is he?" A giant man came up and looked at the cup. He had greying hair and a huge bushy beard.

"Oh, I'm sure he's long gone John," Robin said.

"Are you sure?" the man with the bandana looked around.

"Yes Much, stop being paranoid," Robin slapped him on the back. Tristan suddenly realised Much was about to look straight at him. Shuffling back on his perch Tristan tried to get out of view but the branch behind him snapped and he tumbled out of the tree.

All the outlaws jumped back except Robin who stepped forward. He looked at the heap on the ground, surprised. The heap eased itself up and rubbed its head.

"Ouch," he mumbled and stood up. Robin looked at the boy; he had light brown hair, startling blue eyes and was very tall. He was dressed in a brown tunic and trousers and had a silver cross around his neck. The boy reminded Robin a lot of himself.

"Look Robin, it's a mini you," Allan said. It seemed Robin was not the only one who thought the boy looked like him.

"Who are you?" Robin asked.

"Er…" the boy struggled to speak, "Tristan."

"Hello then Tristan," Robin smiled at the boy.

"Are you…I mean you are… the Robin Hood?" Tristan gaped.

"Yes," Robin grinned broadly.

"Oh kid, please lay off the praise," Allan sighed, "You'll make his ego even bigger!"

"Shut up Allan," Robin said, "So what are you doing out here in Sherwood Forest?"

"Um…practicing," Tristan gestured to his bow and quiver, "I'm from the Abbey."

"You're a bit young to be a monk ain't you?" Allan asked.

"Er…yeah but I'm an orphan, I was left at the Abbey when I was a babe," Tristan replied.

"Oh right, how old are you anyway?" Tristan thought quickly. He wanted to join the outlaws now and they wouldn't let him join if he was ten.

"Fifteen," Tristan lied. Fortunately his height seemed to add to his maturity and the outlaws believed him.

"Could I join you?" he asked abruptly.

"Er…" Robin paused and looked round at his fellow outlaws, none of them seemed bothered, "Yes, if you really want. But I should let you know being an outlaw's not that amazing."

"Yeah, we get no food cos Robin gives it all away," Much nodded sourly.

"No home, we live wherever," Will put in.

"No money because someone gives it to the poor," Allan looked pointedly at Robin.

"And we are always running for our lives," John added. The outlaws looked at Tristan but he was not even fazed, in fact he looked even more excited than before.

"Awesome!"

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