A/N I do not own BBC Robin Hood, its plots, and characters. I only own my own characters. I will not be posting next week due to travel, but if I get three reviews, I will post a new chapter before I leave.

Chapter 4

Alex sighed of relief as the horses stopped and she got off. The only experience she has of riding horses was at a birthday party when she was five, and those were ponies. After sliding off she pulled down her skirt and looked through her bag and jacket making sure everything was there. She smiled that everything was where it belonged and the jerk of the Sheriff would not have access to such advance technology and sat down on a rock in the forest breathing deeply and closing her eyes. It took her a few minutes to realize that all the men were staring at her. She could understand why. Alex sat up and looked at them.

"Thank you. I owe you my life, obviously. I can explain everything. Also I do apologize for our earlier run in." she rambled nervously. She could feel the scorn from the men like the heat from the sun.

Robin was the first to speak. "What is your name and where are you really from?"

"Its Alex. Alexandra Hunter, but to everyone its just Alex. I am from London, but studying in Nottingham right now. In 2015." she grimaced at how crazy she sounded.

"Master, she is mad. And a witch!" said Much angry that he had just risked his life for the girl.

"I am not crazy or a witch! And luckily I can prove it." Alex said. She stood up grabbing her phone from her bag and holding the colored side with the Apple logo towards the outlaws and tapped the black screen it. "And if you thought I was such a bad person, why save me? If I just had" she paused taking a breathe, "died it wouldn't effect you at all" She held out the phone so the outlaws could all see the screen and the photo she had just taken of them. They crouched down and squinted and looked at it in shock and amazement, most of them in fright.

"Witch craft." Little John muttered.

"No. Its brilliant. It captures everything like a mirror, but its a moment preserved forever." Djaq said in amazement, completely mesmerized at the picture of her greatest friends and herself.

"I agree with Little John. Its not natural." Much said standing up and walking away from the witch.

"It may not be natural, but it does capture my charms." Allan said smirking at Alex. She rolled her eyes and put her phone in her bag again annoyed. Robin stared at her curiously.

"Ya know, nothing is ever going to convince you because you are so narrow minded. Thank you for saving me for whatever reasons you have. I will just go and try to get home now." Alex said shrugging her jacket on and fixing her hair.

"Don't you want to hear our reason though?" Robin said in his smug way as Alex prepared to walk off.

"Ya know, why don't you enlighten me, Robin of Locksley," she said.

"You do seem very educated about me, my gang, and our endeavors, but I digress. I choose to save you because I know that you aren't a witch and you aren't mad," he said smirking with his bow in hand.

"I claim that I am from the future and I have strange items and clothes. I'll swear in front of God and the Queen that I am not crazy or a witch, but I at least understand why people here are scared of me. Why not you? Why believe me?" she asked crossing her arms in front of her chest, starring him down in attempt to figure him out.

"Because your eyes have clarity and reason in them; they also have fear of the unknown, uncertainty, and confusion in them. Its a look I have seen before and no sure and rational person like you would be mad or a witch. So why don't you come with us to our camp and tell us your story?" Robin said giving her a kind smile.

"Only if your groupies agree," she said giving them the stink eye of skepticism of their character. Her bright blue eyes still gave away her emotions and as the gang looked into them, they finally saw what Robin saw and all nodded in agreement that she could join them for the night and tell her tale. They believed that she was normal, but some were still wary of her peculiar ways and the rest was amazed.

Alex smiled, erasing all traces of contempt, relived that she didn't have to go find her tree in the middle of the forest at night without any resources where she was sure there were men hunting her down. What scared her most was that her pull to the mystical tree was gone, but she decided to ignore it for now and focus at the task at hand of explaining herself to the medieval men.

"Ya know, I better start at the beginning. When I first came to Nottingham… in 2014," she smiled and walked amongst the group. She then felt the feeling she was missing after her first encounter in the forest and with her tree. She had the feeling of being home.

Alex had explained what it was like in the future, why she was studying in Nottingham, getting lost in the forest for the first time and then later finding her place of solace, and she finally told them of the events of the night before and how she fell though time as she deducted. However, she also reasoned that this could be a dream she is having in a coma or she is dead and the after life is just a series of stories. She moved quickly on, not wanting to think about the worst case scenario.

She told them about the legend of Robin Hood and reluctantly apologized to Allan for calling him a rooster (which Much made a quip about how it was an accurate way to describe him). Allan smirked and wouldn't stop crowing, making Alex laugh for the first time in this new world. She also apologized to Much that she didn't know his name, but reassured him that in the legend there was always the loyal servant, her favorite version being the blind one in the Hood parody, Men in Tights. She did mention not knowing about a Middle Eastern woman being apart of the gang. Djaq smiled and told her the abridged version of her own story, and Alex smiled and declared her the favorite of the group. Allan responded to this in a very hurt crow.

That night she had bonded with everyone. Like the food she was offered, the conversation was devoured. She was amazed with Robin being real and told her all the versions of his legend and of course asked about him and Marian. Robin was shocked that she knew about her, but it only made his belief in her story of being from another time stronger. No one outside of his gang knew of him and Marian's relationship, if he could say that they had one. He explained that she was engaged to Guy of Gisbourne out of necessity. Alex reassured him that Marian would never go through with a marriage to "Guyliner" as she mockingly called him (after explaining the pun to her new friends), and he would regain his land and title and get Marian to fall completely in love with him soon.

Will and Alex told each other anecdotes that made them fall over in laughter. Alex listened to Much talk about food and told him about all the amazing foods she had. Much's mouth was watering when she told him about instant, microwave pizza. Even Little John warmed up to her. She told him that even though there was a lot more new things in her world, there were a lot of simple things. He smiled at the girl explaining the beauty of her world and its simplicity and the forest she knew. He even said at one point in the night, "Her, though mad, I like." Djaq and Alex talked about all the new things discovered and the miracle of technology in Alex's world. They also made little jokes about things only shared between them; they became fast friends. Though she was not Lily, she already had a bond with her stronger than some friends she had known since she was a young child.

Allan was probably Alex's favorite and also least favorite person to talk to. From their first words, it was always a huge debate and fight between the two, but no matter what, they laughed together. Alex and Allan were in constant debate of anything or everything. They even debated on things they had no knowledge about. Allan also continually flirted with her and used his charms, but Alex had been exposed to all of these tricks before and denied that they existed and even worked on her. Their banter made everyone laugh. Alex spent the night laughing and talking like never before. As they finished their meal, Alex played one of her favorite songs from her phone. It was a softer, acoustic one and Alex hummed along softly. Everyone was wary at first but joined her; as they did join her, they accepted her as one of their own.

After everyone had long finished their dinner and had gone to bed, Alex remained awake scribbling down the recent events in her journal. Robin had kindly lent her his sleeping mat and blanket for the night and she had graciously accepted. She stayed awake and wrote in her journal about the fear she experienced, the unsureness and nervousness, the lack of trust she felt, and she wrote mostly about how she has never felt happier than this night filled with talk and laughter. She also recorded her plan to get home. She figured the best course of action was to find her tree and wait until it willed her home, though she knew that this strange energy or magic or whatever it is wanted her here and she was going to remain. She had to fight against this fate though.

The next day she awoke startled from a nightmare of actually being burned alive the day before. She was first confused at where she was and who she was with, but slowly the events of yesterday were recollected by her sleepy and caffeine deprived mind. She had only gotten four hours at the maximum of sleep that night. She fell back into her makeshift bed groaning at the fact she was stuck in the dark ages. It was not going to be like a visit Medieval Times dinner and show, but rather being sent off to Siberia with the only a flimsy jacket. She never thought she would miss the sound of her alarm clock before today.

Soon Much, the committed servant got up, the Will, then Robin, Djaq, John, and finally Allan. Alex remained in the bed writing possible theories in her journal about what happened. The gang were confused by her muttering about a "blue police box" and a "flux capacator" and "worm holes". Alex ran her hand through her hair from the stress of the problem and set her thoughts and drabbles down. She resolved to go find her tree and see if there were clues there. If she couldn't get home right away, and she knew deep down she couldn't, she would figure out how to purchase some clothing that helped her fit in this time. Then she would just have to wing it.

Alex stood up and grabbed her things. "Ya know, it was incredibly kind of you to let me spend the night here, but I have to get home. Lily is probably panicked and I have a huge essay due soon. I just can't stay and I have to find this tree, portal thing with a lot of woods to cover."

"I'm not bein' funny but you are on the run. You can't be wanderin' with Guy huntin' you down. You're 'n outlaw now, like us." Allan told her.

"I guess I have to take my chances. Thank you, everyone. Ya know, if I can't get home, I do hope that I'll see you around the forest and stuff." Alex smiled as she put her jacket on and started lacing up her boots, the only practical component of her wardrobe.

"Allan is right. We can't let you go. You will only get caught and captured again. This time your punishment will only be worse since we helped you escape." Robin said staring at the girl.

"Well what do you suggest that I do then? I can't sit around and not do anything. I have to get home." Alex snapped at him.

"Well first you need to get more appropriate attire. While we do deliveries, we will buy some clothing and you will stay here with Much and help him. Then ALL of us will help you find your way home." Robin said.

Alex shouted an objection about being grounded while subconsciously pulling down her back skirt, and Much protested that he wanted to help with deliveries today, but Robin would not take no for an answer, he needed Alex safe and he trusted Much the most. Alex sat down on one of the logs surrounding the fire. She was not going to sit around and do nothing today. She had to get home. She couldn't abandon her father and brother, her friends and Lily, and her studies. What was she going to do here, in the dark ages, as an outlaw?

Though last night was great, she couldn't remain with the outlaws. She could throw a punch and defend herself, but there was no way she could shot an arrow very far and accurately or fight off someone with a sword without proper training and real strength. There was no way they would let her join the gang, she reasoned. Though once she got home, she was going to go to the gym everyday.

She also couldn't pass off as a peasant. She was publicly declared a witch and no one would take her in, and she forgot the idea of living in the forest on her own. There were other outlaws, and not kind like Robin's. The added bonus of the Nottingham guards hunting her down would also limit her ability to adjust to life here.

Everyone had left the camp for the tasks of the days except Much and Alex. Much was busy cleaning while Alex sat on the ground, leaning against the log, thinking. Much was worried about the girl and felt bad that she was so far from home. He didn't believe she was from the future, but somewhere amazing. If she went home, he would have to make a point for her to return and bring this pizza thing back with her.

Much then tried to start a conversation with her, "So of all the food you have, what is your favorite?"

Alex continued looking at the ground and replied smiling, "I have to say sushi. Its a staple in the Japanese diet. It consists of sticky rice, seaweed, raw fish and other seafood, and vegetables. I know it sounds horrible, but its really good."

Much made a gagging, disgusted noise saying that it sounded like the most horrible thing he has ever heard of. Alex smiled and laughed at him as he continued to ramble about proper food as she thought. She couldn't keep waiting around for Robin and everyone. She knew it was risky to head out, but she had to. The only thing in her way was Much, who would not let her leave and he could easily overtake her and tie her up to a tree. Despite his meek appearance, she learned that he fought in the Crusade for five years, and she knew that required a lot of physical and mental strength, a type of strength Alex knew she could never have. Alex stood up and started pacing and came up with a plan. It wasn't perfect, but it would do.

She offered to help Much with the cleaning and he gladly accepted. She started washing a rudimentary, medieval equivalent of a pan and while his back was turned she wacked him on the head with it rendering him unconscious. She felt terrible for doing this, even though it was necessary, so she decided she should leave a note. She rolled Much over on his back and made sure he was breathing, and scribbled on the back if a receipt she found in the bottom of her bag. She wrote she was sorry and she meant no harm, but she had to go and try to find her way back instead of sitting around, waiting. She put the note next to Much and stood up grabbing her things. She knew she was going to regret this, but she had to do what a girl stuck in the dark ages and accused of with craft had to do. As she left the camp, she found a spare dagger and put it in her boot. She thought it was better to be safe than sorry, especially with people hunting her and thinking she was a witch. She quickly left the camp and searched for her tree.

She had been walking for what it seemed like forever, searching for her tree. That pull that had existed in her world, was gone, and she was terrified. She fought against her reason and put her headphones in listening to her favorite playlist. She needed something to calm her down, and even though she wouldn't be able to hear any danger approaching her, or worse, an angry and hurt Much, she would feel safe and at ease.

Meanwhile, at the camp, Robin and the rest of the gang found Much passed out and Alex gone. Robin cursed him self mentally for being stupid. Of course Alex would leave. She was stubborn and smart and desperate. They should have tied her up, even though she would have not appreciated it.

Djaq ran over and started helping Much. She gave him some herbs to smell and he soon regained consciousness. He was confused at first, but his memory returned and he told everyone what had happened. He also found the note she left and gave it to Robin to read, since him and Djaq were the only literate ones.

"She's looking for a way home. How can she be so reckless?" Robin said to his crew.

"She is a smart woman who knows what she wants. I don't think we could have stopped her." Djaq replied.

"She could have waited. She will surely get herself in trouble, or arrested, or even killed." Will said.

"I think that she knows that but decided to leave anyway." Djaq said.

"Well come on! We have to find her." Robin said standing up and grabbing more arrows for himself.

"I ain't bein' funny, but how are we gonna find 'er? Its a pretty big forest." Allan said.

"We will split up and meet back here in two hours. I'll go with Much, Djaq with John, Allan and Will together. We have to find her before someone else does." Robin said heading out into the woods and the rest followed him.

Alex sat down after a few hours of searching at the base of a tree. She wasn't going to find her tree. She mumbled to herself, "Stupid. This tree probably doesn't even exist, but is like some inter dimensional, alien crap. Ya know, you're going crazy, Alex and you are talking to yourself! You even wandered into a forest in the dark ages all alone with only a dagger arming you." She leaned against a nearby tree trying not to let her fear get to her. She was terrified at what she was going to do next. She couldn't show her face in public after her almost execution. She would have to wander into the next town or shire or whatever its called. The she could maybe get a job as a servant, even though she would had no experience. Or maybe join an abbey and devote herself to God, even though she wasn't particularly religious. She had only a few options and none appealing.

Alex continued sitting there and closed here eyes, tired from the limited hours of sleep the night before. She relaxed herself by remembering the view from her dorm window and the view from her window back in her London home. From her dorm, she could see the town with the forest trees in the middle of it. She loved the buildings of her campus, the ancient halls with the new, contemporary ones sprinkled throughout the campus of lawn and trees. Back home in London, she had a view over the Thames and could see some of the more historical places, but the skyscrapers and building also demanded her attention. Closer to her house, she could see many more buildings and house with stores dotting the cobbled streets and the occasional taxi passing by honking. She missed both of her homes. She missed her friends and her family. Her friends were good and kind and Lily was the only person she could trust, which was a very rare thing for her. She wondered what her family would think. It was just her dad and her not so little 17 year old brother at home. Her vanishing in thin air would destroy her father after loosing her mother when she was little.

As she laid down mourning her losses, Allan and Will caught sight of her from where they were standing in the forest, not that far from her, but a good distance where she couldn't seem them. They looked at each other and concealed themselves behind a bush in case Alex woke up and saw them.

"What should we do?" Will whispered to his friend.

"I s'ppose that we should try to talk to 'er, and if she refuses, we grab 'er and take 'er back." Allan said briefly pondering about the best course of action to over take and drag her back, despite any force used against her would be the worst plan.

Will skeptically looked at him, and Allan replied, "Trust me mate." and started walking towards Alex before Will could object.

Alex laid against the tree, oblivious to the world around her and the cocky man approaching her. She began drifting into a guarded sleep. She winched at the dream of being stuck in the dungeon again, but this time she was being dragged into a torture chamber by a guard. She was mumbling and tossing her head when she was awoken by a yell.

"'Ey, future girl!" Allan yelled down at her with Will standing a few meters behind him. Alex jumped up startled and scared that it was the guard dragging her to the torture chamber and hit Allan across the face without thinking. Allan fell to the ground with Will looking shocked and Alex stared with big eyes and an open mouth in surprise of what happened.

"Bloody 'ell, woman! Wos that really necessary?!" Allan yelled holding his bruised jaw on the forest floor while trying to hold together his bruised pride.

"I am so sorry Allan. I had no idea it was you." Alex sat onto of he knees by Allan. "I thought you were a guard. I had a dream about that horrible dungeon. Here let me see." She gently took his face in her smaller hands and examined his jaw. "You'll be fine. I didn't think I could punch someone like that. I am sorry."

"Ya I'm fine. Your hand alright?" Allan said, sitting up properly from his unexpected attacker. Alex offered her right hand, and was surprised at the bruising across her knuckles. They were small and didn't hurt, but she had not felt the pain before and becoming aware was making her miss the advil of her century.

"Ya its fine. I suppose I should get used to fighting if I am an outlaw." she said, standing up and brushing dirt off of her person.

"Allan should have not sneaked up one you then, like I thought. Let's go back to the camp." Will said to her. Allan stood up after having finally recovered from the blow.

"I can't I am still looking." Alex said, slightly angry and annoyed that she had been found. But it was better the gang than a guard.

"I ain't bein' funny, but it didn't look like you're doing' much looking." Allan smirked, then winced at the pain.

"Well obviously I am not done. There are a lot more trees. I just need to get home alright." Alex said despite knowing deep down she was stuck here. She was angry and upset at the universe for this. She felt a tear forming in her right eye, and she quickly wiped it away with the back of her hand. The two outlaws saw her wipe away the tear and the fear and uncertainty in her eyes and felt for her. Will and Allan both knew what it was like to be away form one's home and family. Will was forced to flee his father and brother and become an outlaw with Robin. Allan had just watched his brother, Tom hanging from a noose in Nottingham, and had been powerless to help him. They knew how Alex felt, except the part of being separated from everything one knew.

Will was going to say something to make her feel better, but before he could say a syllable, Alex interjected, "Ya know, I don't want your pity... or your help. So please just be on your way." She crossed her arms and silently wished that they would stay and help her.

Will replied, "We can't. Robin's orders. You are going to get yourself killed out here in the open."

"Well, you are just going to have to tie me up and carry me back to your camp. I just need to find my way home. That is all I want." Alex paused trying not to cry, "I just want to be back in a world with the sound of cars honking, obnoxious dubstep or pop singles, and slow wifi, crappy coffee, long lectures and hard essays, and my annoying and lovable roommate, skyping my family, and my fairy lights in my room, and so much more. The worst part is that I feel more at ease here than I ever did at home, and that is terrifying." Alex stopped and tried to hold back her tears. Will and Allan slowly and hesitantly approached her hoping to help the girl some way, whether it was offering her a few words or giving her a shoulder to cry on. Alex was not going to cry though, or at least in front of people. She had a bad habit of hiding emotions, except anger, and not trusting others, and though she liked these men, she barely knew them.

"I guess you are going to take me back now." Alex said looking up at them, offering a fake and unconvincing smile.

"Ya" said Will, with Allan A Dale nodding in agreement, still sore from her blow to his jaw. Alex though for a moment and grinned.

"Well I am not going to make it easy of you." she brushed off the dirt on her and with it any signs of distress. "I might as well have fun before I am scolded by "Master" Robin."

"'irst of all, only Much calls 'im that. Second, do you really have to make it hard for us?" Allan said.

"Ya know, I really do. Now catch me if you can." she said and ran off into the woods, grinning and laughing at making the grown outlaws play tag with her.

It was an hour and an half later when everyone except for Will, Allan, and Alex were back at their makeshift camp. Robin paced, thinking and hoping that Will and Allan had found her, since they had not retuned yet. There was the worst case though. Worst case is that they were captured by the guards and waiting interrogation from the Sheriff. Robin wasn't in the mood for another grand rescue.

Just as he thought this, he saw Will and Allan carrying Alex over his shoulder walking towards them. Allan set her down and Robin saw that her hands and arms were tied in front of her and her legs were all tied up. She smiled up at him and said, "Nice seeing you so soon. I figured that I would have a bit more time before you missed me."

Robin smirked, "Do you need any help?" He nodded towards her binds. Alex rolled here eyes and lifted up her feet and put them near her hands. She then wiggled and jerked so a dagger fell into her lap after much maneuvering. She then proceeded to cut through the rope binding her wrists. She studied the task and bit he flip in concentration. As she freed herself, she said coyly after the much longer than intended pause, "I guess Mr. A Dale doesn't trust me much, after accidentally punching him. I did was fine with me walking freely, but Allan insisted that I was tied up. I don't think I am that big of a deal, but I suppose I am the most important person here." She then freed her arms after a few more minutes of struggling to cut through them and started untying her legs and placed the dagger in her bag. "Sorry about your head, Much. Are you alright?"

Much stood up and crossed his arms, angrily. "Well next time you need to escape looking for this ridiculous tree, I will appreciate not being knocked out. It is very un lady-like." Alex rolled her eyes and playfully stuck out her tongue at him. She always hated it when her father or grandparents said that to her.

Robin added in, "Speaking of un lady-like, we got you some clothes." He tossed Alex some trousers, two shirts, and a hood to go over her jacket. Alex held it up too look at it. She was genuinely surprised that they got her size right, though the trousers were very crudely made. She sighed and wished she had only worn some of her jeans to the party. "Thanks, I suppose I should change. Is there a designated tree or shrub or something for this?" She raised her eyebrows.

Djaq laughed and offered to show her a secluded area not too far away from their camp, and its seclusion made sure that none of the boys spied on her despite being the very gentlemanly for outlaws. Alex grabbed her bag and walked over to the secluded area. She set her bag down and sighed. She silently thought, "I really am stuck here, aren't I? And wearing the clothes that a thrift shop wouldn't even sell." She took off her boots, socks, and skirt and then wriggled into her new trousers. They were a bit tighter on her thighs and bit loose on her bum and were surprisingly high waisted, but they fit better than some of her jeans she left behind at her dorm. They weren't as itchy as she expected, but she would still have to adjust. She wondered how on earth they managed to pick a somewhat accurate fit for her trousers. She put her socks back on ruffling the at the end and put her boots on. She then looked at the shirts. There was a red and green one with short sleeves and had a more cropped style, and though they were darker and crude, they weren't actually that bad and she really needed to wash her current blue shirt. She took off her shirt and thanked God that she had the sense to wear a sports bra to the party. Lily begged her to wear a more "slutty" bra, but as Alex liked being able to dance more and hated the attention her beasts got her from all the painfully straight boys.

She picked the green shirt to wear, in honor of the forest that dragged her to this era. As she picked it up to pull over her head, she noticed a rudimentary necklace fall from it. She bent over and picked it up. She must have not seen it before when Robin gave the clothing to her. The chain was really just some simple twine tied together and the pendant was a small thing of dark wood. On the wood was a unique symbol: a circle with a bow being strung by an arrow. She figured it was some type of dark age ID for the gang. She smiled and also felt a pain in her chest. This was clearly Robin's way of inviting her into the gang. It was a kind offer, and it was obvious to them that she had to take it, but she was just so unsure about everything. And besides, she knew nothing about fighting other than watching old kung fu and Marvel movies, and she doubted watching a super solider hitting aliens with an invincible shield made her skilled enough to take on the trained and armed guards of the Sheriff. Though her punch to Allan was impressive, it was not something she wanted to have to repeat. She reached to put it in her pocket, but then realized she had none. She made a mental note to fix that, and she put the tag next to her bag. She began stuffing her bag with her skirt, shirt, her jacket, and new shirts and hood. She tied the tag around her wrist carefully. She finally grabbed her shirt and as she was about to put it on, she heard the obvious sound of twig snapping and someone watching her. She quickly turned around and saw Allan A Dale staring her with a guilty and scared face.

"Oh I suppose you wanted to see a modern girl's breasts, did you? I will punch you again and on purpose this time!" Alex snapped quickly putting the shirt on and grabbing her bag. She began to storm off to camp. which was a ways away unfortunately, and Allan followed her like a guilty dog.

"I was just checkin' on you to make sure you wasn't gonna run off again. You 'ave been gone for a while." he explained.

"That doesn't make it better. I just take awhile to change! Is your trust in me that small?!" she said spinning so she could face him, "And why are you such a unnerving trickster and playboy? I thought you were some lovesick singer and mandolin player with a feathery hat!"

"Luvsick 'inger? I ain't in love and never will be. And I don't 'ave any hats or a good singin' voice." he said displeased and putting his hands on his hips.

"Shame. I love singing. I even had a band, well not really. My ex had a band. But lets forget about that. I should yell at you for spying on me!" she said punching him in the arm.

"'Ey! Robin was the one who told me to get ya. Don't shoot the messenger." Allan rubbed his arm where she had punched him.

"Unless the messenger is a pervert." she raised her eyebrows and walked off to the camp, slinging her bag over he shoulder.

She walked in ruffling her hair and fixing her headband and threw her bag on the ground next to the logs surrounding the fire. Everyone stared at her. If they had not seen her before and had not known her bizarre origins, they would have thought she was just another outlaw in the forest making a living, but a beautiful female outlaw. She looked like she belonged to the forest, this era, and the gang.

She put the dagger in her boot and carefully took the tag from her wrist. She walked over to where Robin was staring at her and held out the tag so it was dangling from her open palm.

"I appreciate the offer, but I can't. I can't fight and kill, and I can't sit around and do nothing. Also I cannot cook or clean to save my life, so forget that sexist idea. Thank you for everything… again. But I guess I should head over to the next city or town or shire or whatever." She held out the tag for him to take.

Robin came closer to her and grabbed her overstretched hand offering the tag. "Nonsense" he said, "Just because you can't fight, does not mean you are fighter. You have spirit and courage. You bravely stood there at what you thought was your inevitable death and still used your wit to annoy the Sheriff. You also took that sword and fought the guards off, when you could have just stood there and waited for us to finish the job. You have a natural bravery. That cannot be taught unlike shooting arrows, swordplay, and wrestling." He took the tag and hung it over her head and let go so it rest just above her breasts. "We want you to join us. It was a group vote and all of voted yes. Now I will not stop you if you leave and I understand your loss, but we can be your new family and friends. We can teach and train you and bring you an adventure you could never have with your internet, microwave pizza, and Google."

Alex looked around at the gang surrounding her. She smiled knowing that this was where she belonged. "Well, I guess I better learn how to hold a sword then." She smirked as everyone sighed of relief and cheered. They went over and patted her on the back and gave her what she assumed was an alcoholic beverage. She raised the flask in a toast. "To new, or well technically old, beginnings." She smirked and took a drink. "Damn but also bless that tree," she thought, "I'm where I am supposed to be."