Gypsy of the Hood

Atla and England

 I took my time walking down to the settlement taking stock of its population and layout. It looked like it was a good size, full of bustling people and surrounded by fields for its inhabitants to grow their crops. It was without a doubt, a flourishing and happy place.

Soon, I had reached the end of the fields and the start of the houses.

“Excuse me,” I asked a passing woman who carried a large basket of bread “Is there an inn I could stay at around here?”

She nodded and pointed me to what looked like the largest building sitting squarely in the center of town that she explained was the local tavern.

I turned and thanked her, trying not to stare too hungrily at the delicious looking loaves she carried. I snapped myself out of it before I could start drooling, but she had already seen the gleam of hunger in my eyes.

“On second thought dear, you come back to my place. It’s much warmer though I wouldn’t go as far as to say it’s less rowdy if you don’t mind a little noise. But I can cook just fine and me family would welcome the company.”

I quickly agreed, and I got the sense she was just being modest about her cooking finesse.

Her house turned out to be a quaint, low ceiling building with a simple thatched roof and four rooms. The front room, the bedroom, a storeroom, and a room that I didn’t even get to look inside because I was suddenly engulfed in a wave of small children.

I was tall for seventeen and therefore, those surrounding me came to my waist in height. But no matter how much height I had on them, they overwhelmed me in sheer mass and tugged on my clothes, almost bringing me down.

That was when my comrade walked in, barking something at the children and they disappeared back into their room as quickly as they had come.

I was still in shock, adjusting my clothes back in order from where they had been mussed.

“Sorry ‘bout that,” She said, “I sort of feel like an idiot, introducin’ meself now but my name’s Atla Breecher an’ those little animals are my children.”

I laughed; it all seemed sort of funny now, getting attacked by a horde of children.

We started talking and Atla started getting the things needed for dinner out.

“Damn it, we’re out of everything but grain.” She said, coming back from the storeroom. “Keep this up and the whole of England won’t make it through winter besides the York and London upper class.”

I didn’t know what to say to comfort her so I asked, “But don’t you have food? I saw it growing by the field when I got here! How come you don’t have-”

“It’s those goddamn tax collectors!” Atla wailed, “All the food you saw is to be shipped out to York and London. I have six children. Six! How the bloody hell am I supposed to feed them on nothing but grain for an entire winter? I can’t hunt!” She seemed to have forgotten that I was even in the room.

I quietly waited for her to continue, figuring it was best to just let her yell it out.

She leaned heavily against the wall, “We’re the lucky ones too. Even though I can’t hunt and hunting deer is forbidden anyway, we have others to take care of us when we most need it.”

I was deeply intrigued by this and leaned forward on my stool, “Who?”

“Did someone say Robin?” A male voice called from the window, followed by a figure vaulting through the open window, grinning wildly.

There came screams of “Robin!” From the children’s’ room and I made sure to stay back as the kids swarmed around the new arrival, whooping with glee.

Unlike my panicking at the sudden assault, Robin laughed and handed a dead quail to Atla over their bobbing heads.

He gave me a nod like he had known I would be here and then turned back to Atla.

“Miss Breecher, I have a proposition for ya, if ya wouldn’ mind hearin’ a little advice from a criminal.” He said it lightly, but there was nothing light in his eyes that clearly spoke of urgency.

Atla nodded, but failed at peeling her children away from Robin.

“Oi!” Robin suddenly called, demanding their attention; “The first one to make it to the edge of town and back gets an archery lesson!”

The crowd fled the house as quickly as they could through a narrow doorframe.

A sigh escaped my friend, “You have them all wrapped around your finger Robin.”

“Oh I know,” He said, sitting on the windowsill, “But I’m sorry to say that I don’t bring particularly good news for yer family, Atla.”

Her face went white, “Surely yer not leavin’ us Robin… I-I can’t bring ‘em through this comin’ winter without yer help-”

Robin shook his head, “I’ll do nothin’ of the sort. On the other hand, me men an’ I have an entire village on the edge of starvation to feed an’ there may be times comin’ where you’ll have to go hungry for a bit ‘fore we can get more food to ya.”

I watched the conversation silently; trying myself to take up the courage to say what I was beginning to think needed to be said.

Atla held herself together, breathing deeply and said, “I can never thank you for all you’ve done-”

“I’ll do it.” My face was bright red as I said it, but I held on to the fact that I could help these people.

Robin tilted his head to the side, “Do what? Hunt?”

I nodded shyly.

“Are you a fair shot?” He asked eagerly.

Atla inturupted him, “Don’t be ridiculous Robin! She’s a girl! The Hood is for men!”

Robin raised an eyebrow, “Then what of the Lady Marion?”

Atla fumed, “Just because your wife has chosen that path doesn’t mean it’s suddenly proper for-”

“Now would be a good time to point out that my aim sucks and I would need to be taught anyway-”

“We’ll have someone in the Hood teach you.” Robin dismissed, “Oh, and yer children are gettin’ older Atla. You may still want to let yer boys get some archery lessons. That is my proposal. Think on it.”

He turned to me, “When yer ready to learn, ya need only visit the woods.”

And with that he jumped out of the window and was gone from sight.

Atla started plucking and gutting the quail, muttering about unfair taxes, yet I remained frozen.

“Are ya alright?” Atla eventually asked me. I nodded slowly, but inside my brain was spinning.

I’d figured out who Robin was.

I’d heard stories back in London of course, but for some reason it hadn’t sunk in until now.

Robin of the Hood, otherwise known as Robin Hood.