A Picnic in Sherwood

Chapter I: Picnic at the Mere

My most heartfelt thanks to my roleplay partner, to whom I owe a great deal of this fan fiction, whose Facebook name is Guy Crispin Gisborne. Without you, my friend, this story would have never seen the light of day!

Many thanks also to the other two players who helped us, namely Robin Hood and Allan-a-Dale, whom too therefore I partly owe the creation of this fan fiction.

Hence, I dedicate this story to them, and to the whole bunch of the other roleplayers of our Facebook group, with whom I am having great fun!

Chapter I: Picnic at the Mere

Nottingham Castle

On this July morning, Guy of Gisborne, the Sheriff of Nottingham's right-hand man, had organised things so he could have the morning off. Lady Adeliza, Countess of Chetwood, had invited him to visit her and have a taste of the latest production of cider, for which her estate was renowned throughout the county.

Adeliza was a very unusual young woman who had charmed him from the first moment he had met her, a couple of months before, during a party that the sheriff had thrown in honour of Prince John and his mother, the formidable Queen Eleanor. Guy and Adeliza had started at once to flirt in a straightforward and even cheeky way, but always easy-going and witty. They had then met a couple of times alone – the first time it was a ride in the countryside surrounding Nottingham, and the second it was an evening stroll along the Trent, just outside the city walls – and each time he had felt increasingly attracted to her, starting to feel sentiments that went beyond the mere physical attraction.

Therefore, he had appreciated her invitation very much, being it an excellent excuse to go and see her.

Now he was heading for the castle's stables; he was walking so fast on his long legs that his assistant, Allan A Dale, had a hard time keeping up with him.

"I'll be back just after noon", Guy said. "I have already told the captain of the guard that, in my absence, you are the boss. They are waiting for you at the barracks for the inspection. Do not tolerate any infraction, or you're going to answer to me, understood?"

At his superior's frown, Allan nodded hastily. "Alright, Giz..."

Guy glared at him, hearing him using that diminutive, but he had given up protesting. It looked like his complaints about this came to nothing, as hard as he tried. "If something happens, you know where to find me", he simply said. "Chetwood is just half an hour ride away."

"Don't worry, Giz, I'll manage", the younger man assured him, brushing nervously the chestnut-brown goatee adorning his chin.

Guy cast him a dark glance. "You better do it", he growled. Seeing the expression of hurt in Allan's face, he stifled a sigh: Allan was no stupid, but sometimes he acted like one and Guy wasn't able to understand why.

As they reached the stables, Guy found his steed already saddled, as he had ordered earlier. The big warhorse called Thor, whose coat was as dark as his master's usual attire, turned his head when he came near and greeted him with a soft snort. Guy patted him on his neck, then he nimbly climbed onto the saddle.

"See you", Guy took curtly his leave from his deputy, then he shook the reins and urged Thor into a walk.

OOO

Chetwood Manor

Lady Adeliza, shortened to Ada, fastened her sword to her waist and slipped on her leather half-gloves. Her father, Lord William, Earl of Chetwood, looked at her with pride as he was seated at the head of the table, going over the estate's ledgers. His late, stunning Aquitaine wife Adèle, who had been a lady-in-waiting of Queen Eleanor, had borne him this only child; now, Adeliza had succeeded her mother in the title, by the leave of good King Henry II Plantagenet through a decree that had been later ratified by King Richard the Lionheart too. For this reason, she would have no need of a husband to keep her title and land, when William would pass; and she would have no need of a husband even to protect herself and her properties, as since she was a child, she had been trained in the martial arts by Master Chung, who had come from the far Cathay over twenty years ago with a diplomatic and commercial delegation and had stayed in England for the love of a woman he had met in Nottingham. Master Chung had trained her mainly in the Path of the Sword, and Ada had come to wield this weapon with unmatchable skill, a skill made especially of dexterity and speed, because – as a woman – she couldn't count on sheer strength.