WE MEET THE SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM

Just as in all the comics, the outlaws adapted to tree warfare as though they were born in the branches, there were ropes in strategic places allowing them to act like a band of Tarzans in the trees surrounding all entrances to the forest, a great engineering feat for people with so humble an upbringing.

About ten minutes later, my heart was racing as the first two soldiers acting as lookouts slowly passed beneath the branches we lay along, some ten feet above the tops of their helmets and you could tell they were extremely nervous; they must have had encounters with Robin and his men before. Seconds after that the sight of a troop of soldiers and the very grand Sheriff of Nottingham was mightily awesome and I for one was not amused that I might have to perform with the sword and dagger, Jack did not look to happy about the situation either.

Robin gave the signal, which was an arrow that killed a soldier instantly; his prowess with a bow was a great inspiration to everybody but this was going to be a fair old battle. Flashing blades glistened in the morning sun and it was not long before the trained soldiers were getting the better of the woodsmen, I looked at Jack who in return turned himself into the mighty horse he is and it was not long before he had the soldiers on the run. He was not like an ordinary horse, he was meticulous when he attacked, hitting the enemy at pivotal positions of the battle.

In the confusion that followed, Red disappeared and it was not long before Jack was back by my side. Robin and the rest of the outlaws were jubilant pushing the Sheriff and his men out of the forest, but we had not gone unnoticed by Robin who turned to us and with a serious voice said, “I will see you two later, I think you have some explaining to do”.

There was great feasting throughout the rest of the day and into the night, the forest was a fortress without walls and the possibility of repercussions from the fighting were nil, it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack and they were far too experienced to try another attack when the odds were completely against them.

Robin beckoned us to join him and came straight to the point, “Tell me all, I was watching you because I could tell you had no experience in battles such as these and then the impossible happened; Jack was there one minute and then he was gone and a big red horse was in his place, I don’t understand it all, whatever happened saved our lives so I can’t chastise you but I have to know the truth.” Jack looked at me and shrugged his shoulders with a blow of the lips for good measure; he could not care less, he knew he was the boss in these situations, so it was down to me again to try and convince Robin that I was a young lady who had a Magic Horse called Red. This could be harder than the other times when I had to explain, but Robin was a good man as far I could see.

I sat down on a log and said, “Well Robin, this is our story, please wait until I have finished and then you can decide whether you want us to stay or go.” All the time I was telling him our story, Robin’s dark brown eyes never looked away, as I was talking to him it made me so uncomfortable, but he could tell I was not lying by his tender attitude towards us. “Well tomorrow morning you two can come for a walk outside the camp so we are on our own, I need to see this for myself, but for now go and get a good night’s sleep. I wondered why that mutt of a dog liked you, now I know why. Well good night both of you and thank you for the help”.

After a surprisingly peaceful night, the morning sun peeped through the tree tops and Robin was there bright and early, this situation must have been playing on his nerves to forget breakfast. I was not happy my bacon butties would have to wait, hopefully they’ll leave us some; ha ha I am a pig, and forgive the pun.

Robin took us way past the boundary of the camp and stopped in a clearing with plenty of space, turned to us laughing and said, “Over to you my so called magicians.” In turn I smiled sweetly at him and replied, “Now Robin do not be alarmed at what you are going to see and if you’re good, Red will take you for a quick ride or maybe even a journey if you are extremely good.” I could see Robin was losing his patience, so I gave Jack the wink and never have I seen anybody move so quick as Jack turned into the magnificent Red. Robin was suitably impressed but was now standing some ten metres away after the shaking up he had, I turned to Robin, “Now do you believe us? Would you care to take Red for a ride? He can take you anywhere you wish.” Robin shook his head, “Not now Vicky I need time to think, it’s not every day I see a magic horse, let’s have some breakfast and I can think it through, phew magic horse whatever next!” In a flash Jack was standing there grinning from ear to ear and he even had the cheek to wink at Robin, this brought a smile to the famous man’s face, but now we had to wait to see what he decided, were we to move on, or could we be of assistance for these down but not out people?

I was glad of the chance to have another of these bacon sandwiches at least, the smell of the food and dew on the grass mingled together gave a smell you could die for, let’s hope the latter does not become a reality as the Sherriff will be thinking of a way of getting back at the band of outlaws and I don’t think Jack and myself are flavour of the month after the last battle, let’s hope they didn’t realise what actually happened, because if we were caught we would be singled out for very special treatment, there again who could catch my mighty Red, what a bodyguard to have!

I had a lovely breakfast and it was the first time I managed to grab an egg (who’s a lucky girl then!), the poor old chickens, however many eggs they laid they could not keep up with the army of peasants swelling in number every day.

This Robin Hood may be a bit of a crook but there is a lovely temperament itching to get out at every opportunity and the service he was doing for these peasants was remarkable, I was inclined to think that I might have been one of them had I had been born in this era.

Robin caught my eye and beckoned me to come over to him, I shouted to Jack, he nodded as usual and ambled behind me, if he was a woman he would make an excellent diva, he has a very bad attitude problem.

“Well my magic friends how do you propose to help?” Robin grinned, as usual Jack who seemed to be in a stroppy mood, bit back and said, “You tell us Robin we are here to help you”. Robin hesitated for a split second then sighed, “Well there is a matter even with all our men we can’t put right. Two of my special friends are to be hanged tomorrow; they were hunting and got caught with a deer they had killed. There is no way we can get close to the castle and even if we could, how do we get them out of the deep dungeons Nottingham Castle has got?” Jack did not say much he just looked like he was in a dream with the occasional nod of the head, but he is so clever he will come up with something from the great memory bank of a brain he has achieved over the past centuries. After a while he nodded his head again, “Can we find out what time the hanging is?” Robin nodded back which made me burst out laughing, I know I was naughty but it tickled my sense of humour because I thought with all the nodding going on Big Ears would appear, you know Noddy and Big Ears the children’s comedy puppets. I held my hand to say sorry, again a nod from Robin to say alright, that did it, I had to face the other way, one day my sense of humour will get me into a lot trouble and the way I am going it could be today. I composed myself enough to have a proper conversation, although I was getting dirty looks from Jack and Robin, neither knew what I was laughing at and probably thought I was cracking up with the strain, never mind I find life very tedious at times and if something happens that I think is funny I have to laugh.

I had to be good, Jack gave me a very stern look, I had better watch out I don’t fancy living in Sherwood for the unforeseeable future. He explained what he intended to do; the plan went as follows and would only work if the timing was perfect.

Robin was to be on Red’s back and at the precise time of the hangings, they would fly over the walls of the castle shooting the immediate soldiers closest to the hanging party, Robin would have to be a perfect shot but who was better? Then Red assured us he could fly the three of them back over the walls to safety, it sounded very near impossible but I did not think so as I had seen Red before and he has lived for such a long time without getting so much as slightly hurt. I wondered what Mum and Dad would think to the danger we put ourselves under, just one small mishap and there would be no more daughter.