·✧•· 𝑭𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑭𝒐𝒓 · 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒆𝒇 ·✧•·

· ☾ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟔 ☽ · ﴾𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒊𝒕𝒔﴿ ·

Withered leaves crackle beneath the travelers' feet as they trekked.

They ventured deep into the evergreens' eternal depth. Golden daylight ignites the forests with tame luster. Nothing disrupted the solace with the expectation of rustling branches that swayed in the breeze and the harmonious chorus of song sparrows.

There was something so special about wandering the aimless path of the forest.

Then a strange sight manifests around the pair.

The princess furrows her brows at the countless paper faces that hung on nearly every tree on their path. One after the other, they pollute the forest with the identities of outlaws and their remarkable bounties.

One poster, in particular, captured the royal's attention.

"Um... Robin Hood? Should we worry about this?" She asks, pointing at a poster with what appeared to be the outlaw's poorly sketched identity.

His face of course was veiled in the shadow of his hat. What little of his face was revealed somewhat resembled him.

She gawks at the prize for his capture, which held the same worth as a King's ransom.

"There's no need to worry about that ludicrous litter." He spat before gently taking the paper from her hand.

Mangling it into a ball, the criminal then stuffs it into his pocket ─ Holding it there until he was properly able to dispose of it.

"Let's keep going. We're nearly at falls─" Robin Hood swiftly holds his tongue.

His slip-up instantly captivates the girl's attention. Her concerned expression beams with surprise.

"The falls? You're taking me to see a waterfall?!" She questions, her tone radiating with wonder.

The criminal smirks at her enthusiasm.

"It's not just any waterfall. It's... well, you'll see when we get there." Robin Hood resists the temptation to reveal the any further.

His secrecy only fanned the flames of the royal's burning curiosity.

This wouldn't be the only time he had left her in the dark on their outings. For nearly a week now, the thief would keep their destinations a secret, only to amaze her with breathtaking sights beyond her wildest fantasies.

Esmeralda wondered why he enjoyed charming her with grand lands so much.

Whatever the reason, she wouldn't dare deter him.

As time went on, the Princess wondered if the thief genuinely enjoyed their time together.

Unbeknownst to her, Robin Hood was warming up to their rendezvous. Even though traveling with someone else was so foreign, he could think of no one else to have along for the journey.

In their time spent together, the outlaw had inevitably grown fond of the royal and her wide-eyed outlook on the world. Not only that, her spunk was something he never expected. He found himself drawn to the subtle flame in her sweetness.

Esmeralda, too, was charmed and intrigued by the outlaw. His kindness, his composed yet optimistic nature. He seemed so sure of himself and yet he was still a mystery. She had never known anyone like him before.