Chapter 1

Robin reached toward the ghostly image of Marian, trying to grasp her hand. The poison that had entered his system from the cut on his neck, started to make his body shut down. It was time for Robin to join Marian in Heaven for an eternity. His gang knew that he was going to die. His death was meant to be.

It was a good day to die.

Robin's outstretched hand started to shake in the air as the last of his strength was leaving him and eventually collapsed by his side. As his chin hit his chest, his eyes shutting, a person stepped forth from the shadows. He slipped his arms underneath Robin's body and started to carry him toward the forest. Just as he was about to slip into the trees and disappear with Robin, he heard twigs snapping somewhere nearby, signifying someone's approach. He cursed quietly under his breath and placed Robin's body down next to a tree. He took a vial out of his cloak and forced Robin to part his lips, making some kind of amber liquid slide past his lips and down his throat.

"I will be back in a minute," whispered the man to Robin as he quickly tucked the now empty vial back in his cloak.

He quickly disappeared into the cover of trees and watched from afar as Robin's gang came into the clearing. First into the clearing was Much, who saw Robin and knelt down onto the ground in near tears. Behind Much was Little John, Kate, Friar Tuck and Archer, Robin's newly found brother. They stared at Robin's body and a heavy sadness seemed to come upon them. Kate started to cry rivers of tears while Little John reached down and helped up Much who seemed to be crying as much as Kate. They walked over to Robin's body. Friar Tuck and Little John found a piece of bark nearby that was big enough to situate Robin's body and laid him down on it.

"How am I going to go on in life without him?" asked Much; tears making his voice quiver and weaken as he stared down at Robin's dead body.

Little John placed his hand on Much's shoulder and said, "Even though Robin is dead, his spirit lives on in all of us. We are Robin Hood. Remember that Much?"

Much just nodded his head. Kate came over and adorned Robin's body with white flowers that she had picked from a bush nearby, decorating his body with them. Once she was done, she leaned down and kissed him quickly on the lips.

"I'll miss you Robin," said Kate, a single tear of hers hitting his face.

The man in hiding winced slightly. "Get on with it already," he thought. "Time is precious."

After Kate stood back up straight, the five of them picked up the plank and carried Robin's body off into the forest. The man ran through the cover of trees after them, trying to keep them in his line of vision. He couldn't lose them. He had to keep his eyes on Robin. He could see Robin's face, which should still be pale, glow with the color of health; of reawakening. He couldn't let his gang members know that their leader wasn't dead. His plan wouldn't work then. He would have to get the funeral procession to stop so that he could steal the body away.

He stopped running for a moment and leaned down to pick up a rock. He hurled it at one of the nearby trees; its impact echoing throughout the forest. The funeral procession pulled up short and he hid behind a tree.

"What was that?" asked Archer.

Little John looked warily around the clearing and slowly placed the plank onto the ground. He took his rod off his back and started to examine the surrounding trees.

"Kate, Much, stay with Robin's body. Archer, you, Friar Tuck, and I will scout out the area and see if anyone is hiding anywhere."

The man gulped once. He couldn't let anyone see him, yet he knew that he had to get to Robin's body. When he saw Little John, Archer, and Friar Tuck disappear into the trees, he knew that it was time to run into the clearing and retrieve Robin. He shoved his hand into his cloak and felt around for something that would take care of Kate and Much. He pulled out a small bundle from his cloak and threw it into clearing. As soon as it hit the ground, thick curtains of smoke filled the air. Much and Kate started to choke on it as it clouded their vision.

Now was his time.

The man ran into the clearing and through the smoke screen, straight to Robin's body. He picked up the body and started to run back into the trees that were visible a little ways off. As he ran toward the trees, he could hear Much yell at Kate that they had to stay close to the body. The man ducked into the trees and started to run through the forest. When he finally came to a rest by a thin river, he leaned Robin's body against a tree. He turned and cupped some water into his hands, holding his hands up to Robin's lips. The water slid past Robin's lips and went down his throat. As soon as it did, Robin emitted a cough. He turned his head to one side and coughed for a minute. When Robin was done coughing and opened his eyes, he stared at the man in confusion.

"What happened...what's going on..." asked Robin trying to stand up.

The man put his hand on Robin's shoulder and forced him back into his slumped position.

"I wouldn't advise that now Robin. You just died after all."

"What are you talking about...let me up..."

That was when clarity came rushing back at Robin for the first time since he had awoken from death.

"Wait! I know who you are! I recognize you now! You're..."

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