It was a quiet night in Nottingham: everyone was asleep in their beds, and no one for the roads. Even the inn had to close within four hours after the Compline (thus, around our 11:00 P.M.), as a compromise with the authorities which didn't want to ban the pastimes altogether, but either didn't want rebels and brigands to stir up further rebellions: they have had the Robin Hood problem, and that had been enough.

Little did they knew, their "problem" was back, and stronger than ever before: he still had Little John on his side, but now most importantly Maid Marian was back, and their four kits wanted to prove their value. Right at the entrance of the city, the chateau which were property of then-Sir Robert of Loxley and Maud Marion Dubois awaited them.

The night hours weren't a problem for Robin and his family, given the good night vision of foxes; the problem was it was clearly visible the chateau was now abandoned and in ruin, left to rot by the Sheriff as a sign of disparagement towards the former owners, he had long given for dead.

"And that was it, kits" whispered Robin. "Let's give him a visit, I might need something… Johnny, go ahead and mount the guard."

While he was guarding the entrance, the Hood family, which would have been by now the House of Loxley wouldn't had been for that fateful day, got into what remained of their mansion. Robin's target was the bedroom, the one in which him and Marian spent their first night of marriage, and then a few years more. "That's it, kits… Is it truly the first time you see a bed?". For them, which hitherto always had slept on the bare ground of the Sherwood Forest, it actually was a first. "Wow… How can you sleep on something so soft and cushioned? I wouldn't be able to take even a nap, it's like… Laying on quicksand, here what it is!"

"You need to get used to it", told them Robin while him and Marian were looking for a particular item, "but don't do – Stay wild and wit! Those luxuries turned me from the king of knight errands, into a chubby softie uncapable of seeing any danger even for his beloved ones…".

As he was saying that, he found what he needed: the quiver with his custom-made arrows.

"Would you believe me, Marian? They still were here since the day we settled here… It was one month before the marriage!"

"Thus, have you fought with makeshift arrows all of this time?"

"Yes, but… Hard training, easy game: now that I also have my good, old custom arrows with me, it will furtherly improve my aim."

"Unless your pains will fire up…", muttered Roxanne.

"Don't worry, I can stand them… Now on to the Castle. Oh-de-lally?"

"Oh-de-lally once again…" said Marian, covering her head with a cloak.

They went out through a window, than jumped onto the surrounding wall and eventually were on the road again; no problems at all, if not for Robin whose once-sprained ankle returned to fire up in pain.

"So, the mission is over?...", asked Little John.

"Over? It wouldn't be some minor physical pain to stop me – My heart had ached so much more in these years, what can this be?"

And while he was saying these words, his eyes went on the two graves: "his one", actually emptied, and "Marian's", or that of her friend instead.

"What was her name?", asked Robin.

"Annabelle – Shortened in Anne" answered Marian, in tears.

"Ok, then we need to take over the Castle, also in Annabelle's memory". They kneeled in front of the grave of the one which sacrificed her life for them, as a sign of respect, and then went forward, looking for the castle.