Lady Robyne

         Will Scarlet is a very strange man, Lady Robyne decided one mild summer afternoon. The first time she met him, he was wearing the abysmally red leathers that gave him his name. The lady later learned that Will was a knight and supposedly wanted to join her band of outlaws to help poor innocent people, but she really didn't believe him.
         He was once disgusted with the thought of getting dirt on his person. Robyne glanced over at him working on some practice arrows. In a few short weeks, he had gotten over his aversion to dirt and traded his red leathers for their more sensible green clothing. Will still had much to learn about the use of their primary weapon, the bow.
         Just as Robyne was getting back to her work, her lead sentry Drake approached. "Lady Robyne, me men have spotted a fat man on a fat pony just waiting to be visited," he informed his leader. "We found a perfect spot for an ambush." Lady Robyne called for a group of her men, including Will Scarlet. They gathered their weapons and supplies as the sentry briefed Robyne on the location of the prey.
         Lady Robyne and her men set off through the woods at a rapid pace. Drake was sent ahead to get his men into place. The day was stifling hot, and Robyne would have liked to sit and relax in the shade of one of the many tall trees, but they had work to do. The forest was undisturbed and silent with no breeze to rustle the leaves. They had to be silent while walking to escape notice. As they approached the ambush spot, Robyne split up her men and gave them their orders.
         Not too long after that, their target rode up on his fat pony. Robyne and three of her men stepped in front of him and unsheathed their swords. "Don't move," Robyne said quietly. "I have four men in the trees with their bows aimed at you. Five more are standing behind." The pudgy man quivered in terror. He wrung his hands as his horse sidled nervously.
         "Take whatever you want," he whined. "Just please leave me unharmed."
         "That is just what I wanted to hear," she replied. Robyne motioned for Drake and his men to move forward. The quickly tied the man up and blindfolded him. The men searched his supplies and money, while Robyne searched for his correspondence. The Prince's letter had to be coming soon and Robyne wanted to get it before Lord Yvan could. Lord Yvan was the worst person she ever had the displeasure to know.
         He takes too much from his people, Robyne thought. They are starving and dying. He wanted my lands but I escaped from his greedy fingers. If he gets a hold of me, he will treat my people the same way. Months earlier Robyne sent a letter to the Prince requesting aid, but had heard nothing.
         Robyne and her men finished their search and packed up the man's belongings. They put him back on his horse and led him to the edge of the forest. When Robyne and her men got back to the camp, they sorted through the treasures. In one pile, they put the supplies they needed. The other pile contained items that would be given to Lord Yvan's villagers. Their messenger Edwin received most of the money to go buy the supplies they could not find in the forest.
         As word of the outlaws' deeds traveled throughout the kingdom, the road through the forest became less popular. The nobility were stupid to think they could avoid Robyne's attentions so they were still ambushed on a regular basis. Each time someone was attacked, Lord Yvan would send his men to find the outlaws. Most of the time, they would bumble around making a lot of noise before leaving without finding a trace of the outlaw band. Other times, there would be a minor skirmish. It became harder to escape these encounters without any serious injuries.
         Robyne decided it was time to give Will a real archery lesson. She grabbed him from another duty and told him: "Follow me." They walked through the dense vegetation of the dark, humid forest. Will blundered through the underbrush like a wounded bear. "You need to walk quieter," she told him in a hushed voice. "Every step has to be taken into consideration. Make sure there are no twigs to snap under your step. Place your foot gently onto the ground." Eventually, they made it to the clearing used for weapons practice.
         The lady retrieved her bow and quiver of practice arrows from their hiding place in the branches of a weathered oak. She fixed a green scrap of cloth onto the tall oak, then knocked an arrow onto the string and loosed it into its swift flight. The arrow flew straight to the center of the cloth. "This is where you want to hit," she told her student. He raised his bow and loosed his arrow. Each time he shot, Robyne watched carefully. His archery was passable for someone who had never shot at a living target. The teacher walked over to the student and kicked his legs out from under him. Will glared at Robyne but didn't say a word.
         "You still have a lot to learn," she told him as he got up. He was still glaring at Robyne and rubbed his backside. "You need to learn how to shoot from unusual places, behind trees and in trees. Standing like that will make you a target. You have to be ready to move at any time," she told him. They went through the different stances many times until Will become more comfortable.
         I just do not see how we can do this for much longer, Robyne thought on the way back to camp. The Prince's letter is not coming, but I cannot go back to my former life. There are too many people that depend on me. I have to lead these people, but I do not know what to do.
         Will looked sidelong as Robyne's tense face. "I can tell something is bothering you," he told her bluntly. "Tell me what it is." She looked away. "You can trust me. You have to trust someone."
         Robyne looked into his calm hazel eyes. She was just about to say that nothing was wrong, when she blurted, "Did I do the right thing?"
         "What do you mean?" Will asked.
         "Everything!" Robyne exclaimed. "Was I right to flee my old life? Was I right to lead these men into the forest? I am giving false hope to the men that I can make a difference."
         "At least they have hope," Will replied. "That you have given them. They have the will to stand up to Lord Yvan and his men. They have the hope that they can make a difference."
         "But what if we are captured?" Robyne asked fearfully. "I will be spared when they learn I am a lady, but the men will be hung, or worse. Without me they would have stayed at home where they would be safe."
         "You have no way to know that," Will replied. "Worrying will do you no good. Besides, I have an idea of how to keep Yvan's men from us."
         "What is it?" Robyne asked suspiciously.
         "We need to split the men into a few different camps," Will Scarlet explained. "That will make it harder for Lord Yvan's men to find us."
         "Harder?" Robyne exclaimed. "It will make it easier! With more camps, there is a higher chance of them finding us."
         "Actually, there is a less chance," Will explained. "There will be fewer people coming and going. If one is discovered, only a fraction of the men will be captured. The men left can help the others escape."
         "I can see your reasoning," Robyne answered slowly, "but I don't know if the other men will accept them."
         "Just tell them the reasons," Will replied. "They will see the truth."
         After a few days of heated discussion, the men finally agreed to the new plans. There was a lot of activity around the camp as the men packed their belongings. The men raced back and forth, sorting which supplies would be brought to the new camps. Robyne set herself to the task of sorting through crates and boxes in the storage shed.
         As she lifted the last box, Robyne found a stack of letters and a stationary set. She looked closely at the letters, which were addressed to Sir Willam of Dubris. These letters must be Will's, Robyne thought. I wonder why he left them here. I should go give them to him. She did not want to read his personal correspondence, but for some strange reason she did. She knew so little of Will's past.
         Robyne read each letter and sat dumbfounded at the contents. It cannot be true, Robyne told herself. Will told me that he could not stand politics, so why would he work for the Prince? It doesn't make sense. What am I going to do? I trusted Will, but he is a spy. Robyne felt numb. Will had quickly become her trusted ally.
         She sent Will with the others to set up camp. He was to return the next morning. Robyne decided to confront him when he returned. Late that night, Robyne tried to think of what she would say to him, but nothing came. She eventually fell into a troubled sleep.
         The next morning just before dawn, Drake's hand roughly shook Robyne from her uneasy slumber. "My lady," Drake whispered urgently. "There is trouble in the forest."
         "What is it?" Robyne asked sleepily.
         "There is a large group of Yvan's men headed toward our camp," Drake answered.
         Robyne struggled out of her bedding. "Gather the men," the lady ordered. "I will devise our plan." As Drake left, Robyne grabbed her weapons and waited for her men. She unconsciously looked for Will to give her guidance. She remembered that Will was at the other camp. Her mind leapt to the letters she found. And how do I know if I can even trust him? she asked herself. The Prince told Will to find me no matter what. He stated that he expects Will to keep him informed on this mission. Does he do this often? Robyne wondered. Does he pretend to be someone he is not to become trusted only to betray them?          Robyne was just beginning to wonder if this attack was a result of Will's betrayal when the outlaws arrived. I need to forget about this, Robyne told herself as she faced her men. She tried to sound confident but failed miserably as she revealed her daring plan.
         "This plan is foolhardy and reckless," Little John said quietly after the men dispersed.
         "Will told me that we need to take a few chances," Robyne replied.
         "The men think that you rely too much on Will Scarlet's dubious wisdom," Little John told her. "You depend too much on his judgment. We don't even know that much about his background."
         "Thank you Little John," Robyne said vaguely as she turned away. Is it true? she asked herself. Could Little John be right? Robyne had no time to think on it; she had to get into place. In the end, Robyne's plan was foolhardy. She had no idea that Yvan commanded so many men. The battle did no last long. Lord Yvan's men quickly tied up Robyne and her men. The soldiers led them single file to Lord Yvan's fortress. I have always despised this place, Robyne thought ferociously. It was a tall foreboding structure. Robyne knew that the tiny windows let in little sunlight to chase away the gloom.

*          *          *

         The soldiers shoved Robyne into a separate cell, far from her men. Robyne had only her treacherous thoughts to keep her company. Little John warned me, Robyne told herself, but I wouldn't listen. I was too worried about those stupid letters. I got too close to Will. He never understood me. Will could not believe that the men are my responsibility. Robyne was still deep in her thoughts when Lord Yvan stalked into the cell.
         "So this is the great and powerful warrior called Robin Hood," he announced. "You don't look very tough to me." He peered for a closer look. "You look familiar, but I do not remember your face."
         "You should know me," Robyne retorted. "You tried to force me to marry you."
         Lord Yvan stared at her, then glared. "I should have known that you would be involved with this," he stated flatly. "You always were a spirited girl and never had any respect for authority. You need someone to teach you how to be a proper, genteel lady." He paused for a moment, thinking hard. "Well, this changes everything," he continued. "I could be persuaded to be lenient…if you agree to my proposition."
         "What kind of proposition would that be?" Robyne asked suspiciously.
         "You agree to marry me; I will free your men," Lord Yvan said.
         Robyne thought about it for a moment. I have to do what is right, she thought. I have to protect my people, but I cannot spend the rest of my life with this monster. "I need some time to think about your offer," Robyne told Yvan.
         "I will give you three days," Lord Yvan responded. "If you haven't made your decision, your men will suffer. I am sure you will be prudent enough to agree. I will have so much enjoyment in teaching you how to be a proper wife." He paused. "I will instruct my servants to move you to a more comfortable room, one befitting a true lady of course."
         Robyne's new cell was not a room that would be easy to escape from. There was one small window and no fireplace. Still, it was a decent room with a real bed. Guards were posted at her doorway. Robyne was assigned a female servant. It was one of her loyal spies, Annalynn. Robyne wrote a message to Will and gave it Annalynn, who sent it through the spy network to their messenger Edwin. Robyne hoped that Will received it. She begged for him to rescue her and the men. I do not know if I can trust him, Robyne told herself, but I have to or I will lose all hope.
         I will never accept Yvan's proposal, she told herself. He is rude, crude and absolutely cruel. He takes so much from his people that they are starving. When they go against him, they are executed as an example to the other dissidents. I could never live with someone like him. If I marry him, I will be miserable. Through our marriage, he would gain control of my lands so my people would be miserable as well.
         The next day Lord Yvan left Robyne to herself. The same thoughts kept repeating themselves in her head. This is all my fault, Robyne told herself. I should not have been so stupid. Why did I allow myself to trust Will? I learned long ago that those I trust would eventually hurt me. Everybody I care for has betrayed me or left me. She knew that if she married him she would be miserable. But his tenants are miserable already, she thought. Maybe I could help them. I could convince Yvan to lower the taxes and allow them to keep more of their crops.
         As the third day approached, Robyne waited for Will's reply, but nothing came. Robyne resigned herself to the fact that Will would not come. She became more desperate, but there was no way to escape without putting her man at risk. Even if I could escape, I will not make my men pay for my mistake. I have to do what is right. I cannot make them pay for my irrational plan, for my stupidity.
         The third day dawned bright and sunny. Robyne looked out her tiny window wistfully. She watched the castle's residents scurrying to and fro going about their business. They were out there living their lives, unaware that Robyne had to make the hardest decision of her life. I still do not know what to do, she admitted to herself. I don't want to say yes, but I can't say no. I have to do what is best for my men and my people. She sat there, gazing out on the courtyard, when there was a disturbance at the gate. Someone was pounding on the ten-foot tall gate, which was made of oak and reinforced with black iron bands.
         "Open this gate in the name of your lord, the Prince!" a familiar voice called. It was Will. The gates opened to reveal Will at the head of a legion of soldiers. "I carry a message for Lord Yvan. Tell him that the Prince is not pleased with his actions and wants to make things right."
         Yvan emerged from the main doorways to the keep. He stood at the top of the steps and proclaimed, "The Prince has no influence over what I do on my lands. I don't recognize your Prince as my lord. I will not be ruled by his laws."
         "It is my sworn duty to enforce the prince's laws," Will announced.
         Lord Yvan snarled a curse and ordered his men to attack Will's soldiers. The two forces collided. Robyne turned to Annalynn, who sat sewing by the fireplace. "Go distract the guards," Robyne told her. "I need to get out to free my men." Annalynn sauntered out the door to flirt with the guards.
         Robyne slipped out of her room and ran to the dungeon. The dungeon was empty of guards. Apparently the soldiers abandoned their posts to join the melee. Robyne quickly found the keys and freed her men. Drake found the armory and grabbed the others.
         "Will and his men are going to need all the help he can get," Robyne informed her men. "You must fight for him like you would fight for me." The men agreed with a loud cheer and set their sights on properly arming themselves. Robyne grabbed as many knives as she could carry and shoved them into her belt and boot tops. They ran down the corridor and emerged into the bright sunlight and melee of the raging battle. Will was still seated on his horse and clearly had an advantage over the foot soldiers employed by Lord Yvan. Lord Yvan's men were clearly losing their will to fight. Eventually every one of them surrendered to Will's well-trained soldiers. The battle was over, but Lord Yvan was nowhere to be seen.
         "I saw him escape into the castle," one of Robyne's men exclaimed.
         Robyne ran into the castle and glanced back to see that Will was following close behind. "I thought you would never come," she remarked, breathless from the exertion.
         "I needed to find some reinforcements," Will replied. "As good as we are, I thought that we might need a little help to get out of this mess."
         They continued to run through the castle until they came to Lord Yvan's private chambers. Will cautiously opened the door while Robyne looked around his shoulder. They crept into Yvan's luxuriant private quarters. Robyne held a dagger in each hand while Will adjusted the grip on his sword. The sitting room was empty and silent. They stalked through the doorway into the bedroom and found Lord Yvan cowering behind his bed.
         "Lord Yvan of Redmark!" Will exclaimed. "I have orders for your arrest from the Prince. You are being charged with misuse of royally granted power and cruelty to your tenants."
         "As I said before," Yvan snarled. "I do not recognize the prince as my lord. He will not hold power over me. He is a weakling."
         "Whether he is weak or not, he is your sovereign lord," Lady Robyne chimed in. Lord Yvan disregarded her and leaped toward Will, his sword drawn. Will parried as Robyne jumped out of the way. The two men fought wildly and fiercely. They stumbled over furniture from one room to the next. Robyne watched for an opening so she could enter the fray. Yvan turned his back to Robyne. He struck wildly at Will and was disarmed. Yvan stumbled back, right into the point of Robyne's dagger. Robyne held the dagger to Lord Yvan's neck as Will worked quickly to tie him up. Lord Yvan had lost all will to protest and did not make a sound.
         Will and Robyne emerged from the castle with Yvan staggering between them. Robyne's men cheered, glad that the evil Lord Yvan was finally gone. Robyne turned to Will. "What is going to happen now?" she asked fearfully.
         "The prince will allow you to keep your lands if you agree to stay on the right side of the law," Will replied. "He also informed me that if Yvan is convicted he would be exiled. If that happens, I will be given these lands and the castle to run as my own."
         "I guess we will be neighbors," Robyne replied.
         Will nodded. "I have to take Yvan to the Throne City," he replied, "There he will be brought before the Prince's courts. I will be back as soon as possible. It will take a lot of work to renew these lands." Will held out his hand. Robyne shook it firmly. "It has been good working with you." Robyne nodded. Will turned to inspect his injured men and look after their prisoner.
         Robyne gathered her men and mounted her horse for the short ride home. I will look forward to getting to know the real Will, Robyne thought as she rode back to her home for the first time in many months. Her loyal outlaws, whom she had promised a new life, escorted Robyne home to her castle.