Wild flower

Home sweet home

Two men travel a long narrow road full of wild flowers and tall grass. Robin of Locksley Earl of Huntington accompanied by his beloved man Servant Much return to their rightful home from the holly land a Great War against the Turks. Creasing a hill the two look to their right and see the town just ahead smiling the men embrace one another happy to finally be home after five long years. Much starts to walk ahead down the steep slope eager to get some food. Robin looks around his land taking in the flowers that grow freely along the feild not a care in the world and he smiles leaning down creasing a petal before jogging off to catch up with his friend. As they walk into town the discover it is empty with only a handful of tired week looking men around. Confused the two look to one another before walking deeper into the town. "Hey there! " Much calls out to a older man bringing in pails from the well but as soon as the catch his attention he drops the heavy buckets to the ground causing water to spill everywhere before running off into a small house. Much watches in confusion before turning to his master and asking where everyone was though he was not paying attention. "Dan Scarlett? Dan it's me, Robin!" He yells out walking over to his old friend who was outside his home cutting wood. "Robin?" The man questions looking up with a large smile on his face "is it really you?!" He asks holding his arms out. Robin looks down and notices his hand is missing wrapped in cloth, smiling Robin pulls the old man into a hug patting his back affectionately. "An accident?" He asks gesturing to the Bandaged arm in concern. Dan scarlet pauses uncomfortably grabbing his stump before stuttering out a that it wasn't an accident but what was was done trying to move on. Robing pried intent to find out the truth of what happened to to his dear friend while he was away. That was the thing about Robin to him the whole village were his friends and he felt what happened to them was certainly his business especially if he could fix it. "Guy of Gisborne runs your estate, and the sheriff.We have one tide after another for the king in the Holy Land. Making ends meet, it's... It was wrong, but my boys, they took some game. I went to stop them, but so did Gisborne's lot. They got caught. Me too. Someone had to lose a hand. Better me than Will, or little Lukie. I'm old. They've got years ahead of them." He explains with a Grimace looking back to his home where his two boys were hiding. "Does he?, This is madness. You are a skilled man. You built half this village. I won't have this. You will be compensated." Robin promises temper heating up at the thought of Gisborne running his estate so carelessly, that is not how Robin nor his father led it made him sick. Dan assures him that as long as his boys are alive and healthy he was fine to which Robin agreed still not liking the situation but not pushing the matter. The boys walked out of the cottage and were talking and showing off their bow when the clatter of horse hoves could be heard coming from the road into town. The eldest boy will grabbed the weapon out of his little brothers hand hiding it behind himself just as a noble looking man and a handful of guards came riding into town. The horses stopped in the middle of the town and the men got off rounding up villagers as the did catching Robins attention. He walked to the back of the crowed to watch what was going on when the man got off his horse a skinny tall man in all black leather and long black hair. " sugar has gone missing, we are here to take the thieves back to Nottingham to be punished for their crimes." He announces to the crowd of commoners who were standing in a half circle huddled into on another cowering from the screaming man. Two Guards  come storming out of a house one carrying two bags of sugar and the other pushing a younger man out who looked scared to death. "Who helped him? Hmm he couldn't have done it alone." Gisborne yells threateningly holding the man by the shoulder tightly. Robin having had enough of this steps between the crowd walking to the front and standing before the other man. "Wait. Guy of Gisborne." He calls trying to talk some sense into the man before he is stopped by a guard "Sir Guy of Gisborne to you, and bow before your master!" The guard yells out causing robin to stop and bow mockingly before saying ."Sir Guy of Gisborne. My name is Robin, Earl of Huntington and lord of this manor. Your services here are no longer required. " Robin tells him in a dismissive tone smirking as the mans face drops. Much walks up behind him placing a cloak of pelts upon his shoulders and bows respectively behind him as the peasants also bow as they whisper of how their master is home. Gisborne nods dropping the matter " I shall see you home then." He bites out biterly as robin nods in approval. Gesturing for the townspeople to stand Robin and Much follow Gisborne to Robins house. Leaving the man to tie his horse up Robin and Much walk into the home greeted by the keepers who are awaiting his arrival. After hugging and saying hello to his servents guy walks in and walks over to Robin. "Welcome back, Locksley. Now, I have kept your lands for you. I have managed your estates to the best of my ability under the guidance of the sheriff. And I would appreciate more respect in front of the populous." Guy demands staring Robin down who looks unfazed. "Tell me how long have you been here?" Robin questions searching guys face and circling him. "Three years and four winters!" Guy calls back arrogantly as if he was one upping Robin. "And you still haven't the respect of the populous?" Robin chides Shaking his head at Gisborne as He grits his teeth. "Well my men and I will leave directly for Nottingham." Guys nods turn around and heading to he door only to be stopped by robin spitting out "MY servents will help you pack." Gisborne turns around and squints his eyes. "How was the holy land? "He asks trying to get a reaction out of Robin. "Blood thirsty" Robin replies not looking at the man as he says it thinking back to all he had killed in the last five years. "I understand the king is winning , thanks Be to god." Gisborne says watching robin as he turns around to face him. "He is killing more people." Robin says distastefuly which makes Gisborne snort "so that's not winning?" He asks as robin steps closer. "Show me and argument that is settled by bloodshed, then I will call that winning. " Robin declares nobliy starting guys in the eyes as he says it. " Do not pretend that you do not love war. I have seen you fight." Gisborne challenges before looking away." When?" Robin demands with suspicion "I do not recall." Gisborne dismisses looking out the door not making eye contact with Robin "I have changed." Robin settles it done with the conversation. "Aw. Council of nobles meets tomorrow at Nottingham. I have no doubt the sheriff will call a feast to celebrate your safe return." Gisborne informs before walking out the door with a goodbye thrown over his shoulder. Robin wipes his hands across his face before shaking his head and walking up the stairs to the bathing room. Walking in he sees Much in the bathtub with a huge ham leg. Nodding he walks over to a dish of water and washes his face in it. " come Much we have business in Nottingham!" He calls thoughtlessly as he grabs clean clothing throwing it on. "I uh much preferred a bath and food." Much says holding up his meat. "Oh yes, I forgot my promise. You stay here I'll be back." Robin appolgies walking out the door with Much trailing behind throwing on clothes "master wait!" He yells out.

Robin and much ride into town passing through the empty market place which Robin has never seen empty before. Riding up to a larger estate home robin jumped off his horse and walked along the yard taking in the memories as he did so.

                            *    Flashback *​​​​​​

"Robin! Robin no fair!" A little girl dresses in a white flowing gown with bright blindingly blonde hair calls up to a little boy with light brown hair who was mischievously hiding on the branch of a tall oak tree. "Climb Camellia, Climb! " the boy laughs out as the girl grips onto a low branch trying her hardest to make her way up to the top to where the boy was lounging. Sighing the girl gives up and lets go plopping back to earth on her feet her dress flowing around her. Looking up the tree blocking the sun out of her eyes she sees that the boy has climbed down a few branches and is holding his hand out to her. "You won't be able to support me!" She cry's out not taking his hand as he smiles a soft boyish smile "I will always support you Cammi, it is my destiny!" He calls grabbing the blushing girls hand and pulling her up the tree as she giggles and pushes his chests softly embarrassed by his loving words.

                          End of flashback

Robin walks passed an old oak tree with the letters R and C scribbled into it intertwining into a heart. Running his hands into the deep groves he smiles a pained smile. "Can I help you!" A lovely voice rings out from the door of the home a young blonde woman stands at threashold her arms crossed over her chest and a brite red gown own hugging every curve of her body. "Cammi it's me Robin!" Robin calls out happily starting to walk to the girl only to stop seeing her glare unmoving. "You have lost the right of such formalities Lord of Loocksley!" The girl snaps out as her father am older lord of hatchwitch steps out the door besides his daughter. "Ah, Robin to what do we owe the Pleasure?" The man asks smiling up at the man he had hoped to call his son. "Nothing papa he was just leaving " Camellia says softly grabbing hold of her fathers arm turning to walk inside with him. "Fascinating." Robin muses as much stands flabbergasted at the exchange. "Business in town, I should have know!" He shakes his head in disbelief looking to Robin who is deep in thought. "If she still lives with her father then she has not married." He thinks out loud causing Much to scoff "Yes , and I didn't see a ring." He replies looking at Robin who looks down in shame for a moment before turning to Much "well, let's go talk to the old sheriff then." He says as if nothing had happened. The two men climb on their horses and set off in the direction of Nottingham which is not that far form hatchwitch.

(Top photo is what Camellia looked like in the flash back)