ROBIN HOOD


THE NEXT GENERATION
Chapter II
The training
The next morning, Little John and Caleb’s small group of friends went off to Nottingham and the surrounding areas to spread word of a secret meeting in Sherwood Forest. It was to be held by Caleb and to be delivered to every single English soul tortured by Prince Ratsil Sathgone and his followers. Caleb, Robert, and Will secretly entered below into the castle dungeons, in an attempt to free some old friends because they heard they were captured. But so far, no luck in their search.
“Blast,” Robert said quietly to Will and Caleb, “No sign of any of our friends.”
“Don’t give up now, dad.” Caleb said, trying to comfort Robert. “We’ll find some people. Let’s keep looking.”
They continued their search. Luckily for them, there were no guards present in the dungeons.
Just then, Caleb heard a small, gentle voice, coming from a dungeon cell.
“Help!” The female voice said, “Please help me.”
As Will continued on searching, and, with Robert following, Caleb ran down the dungeon corridor to find the source of the voice. Finally, they found it. Inside a cell was a young and beautiful grey she-wolf, with black and white hair that went down to her neck and shoulders, and bright-blue eyes. She was dressed in a soiled, white dress. On her face, and over her body, were black-and-blue bruises.
“Oh, my god.” Caleb thought as the young wolf approached the cell door. A look of shock was on his face. Will continued looking for his and Robert’s friends. “That poor child.”
“Please help me sir,” The wolf said as she stretched her left paw out to Robert.
He took the young wolf’s paw into his and grasped it. Then he looked at her face. Even beneath the dirt and pain, the girl looked very pretty.
“I’ll help you on your search if you’ll help me,” The girl said.
“Who are you?” Robert asked.
“I’m Susan,” The girl answered.
“Who did this to you, Lady Susan?” Caleb asked, noticing the bruises on her face and body.
“My father,” She replied, on the verge of tears. “Guy of Gisbourne.”
Robert growled. Hey knew Guy as one of his enemies, and was known to do harm to the wretched souls of Nottingham. But never did he know Guy had a daughter who he had physically and mentally, hurt and abuse.
“My father has been beating me and hurting me ever since I was a little girl.” Susan said as Robert unlocked the cell door with a key from a set he stole from a guard outside the dungeons. “He put me in this cell two months ago.”
Caleb gave Susan a small smile.
“I’m Caleb of Loxley. This is my father, Robert of Loxley. And don’t you worry, Lady Susan.” He exclaimed, pointing to Robert. “I’ll get you to somewhere safe, once we leave this chamber.”
“Thank you, Sir Caleb.” She replied, a little warmed up now. “Now it’s my turn to start helping you. I can help you find who or whatever it is you’re looking for.”
Caleb smiled at her again.
“I appreciate it,” he said, “And please, call me Caleb.”
Susan was a great help to Caleb and Robert. Within minutes, and with no interruptions from the guards, they found two friends in a large dungeon room; Much the miller’s son, an orange tiger, and Allan-A-Dale, a minstrel. Both had been thrown into the dungeon, four months ago, by Guy for refusal of paying the increased taxes. Also hanging in the dungeon they found the skeletal remains of the Earl of Fitzwalter, Lady Marian’s father, and one of Robert’s old enemies, as well as Sir Hiss. Both had been thrown in the dungeons by King Richard for assisting Prince John.
“Robert, Caleb.” Much said happily. “It’s a miracle.”
“Hello, Much.” Robin replied.
“Bless my soul, Robert,” Allan said with relief. “My prayers have been answered.”
“Much, Allan,” he continued, looking at them “You both remember my sons, Caleb, Josh, and of course my wife, Lady Marian, don’t you?”
Both Allan and Much smiled and nodded their heads. They met Caleb during his 12th birthday at Loxley Castle, and little Joshua one year ago.
After introducing them to Lady Susan, Robert unlocked Much’s shackles, while Caleb released Allan from his shackles with the set of keys, setting them free. The five friends left the dungeon through a secret passage, shown to them by the she-wolf. Then headed back to the entrance of Robert’s camp, where the rest of Robert’s family was waiting.
After entering the camp, they were greeted by Will.
“I’m sorry, you two.” Will said, gloomily. “I couldn’t find any of our friends.”
“That’s all right, Will.” Caleb replied, patting his cousin on the shoulder. “Dad and I found Allan-A-Dale and Much.”
Caleb, however, saw Susan and noticed how very pretty she was.
“Susan, this is my mother, Lady Marian Fitzwalter,” He exclaimed, pointing to Marian. “My little brother, Joshua, and my cousin, Will of Gamewell.”
Everyone, including Lady Kluck and Little John, greeted Susan by saying ‘hello’, shaking her left paw, and exchanging names. Marian was surprised to see Susan was the same height as her.
Marian approached Susan and placed her paws onto the she-wolf’s shoulders.
“Where have you been, Lady Susan?” Marian asked, examining her from bottom to top.
“I’ve been locked up in Nottingham Castle’s dungeons.” Susan replied. “I’ve been there for two months.”
“I’d just finished making bread,” Marian said to her, “Why don’t you eat with us and you can tell us what has happened to you.”
Susan looked at Marian and nodded her head. Then she followed Robert and his family to the camp, where many large pots of stew were hanging over open fires. Susan followed Marian into the kitchen hut and emerged with a wooden spoon and bowl in her paws. Then she filled up her bowl with stew, sat down on a wooden bench, and ate as she began to tell her story to her new friends. At first, the story was very upsetting for her to share, but she had a feeling she could trust these brave people and in a few days, and Caleb. In fact, she was secretly developing a feeling for the handsome vulpine, and Caleb was developing the same thing for her.
“Oh my,” She thought with a romantic sigh as she listened to him talking about his entire plan of action to his parents, “Caleb is so dreamy.”
Hours later, after Caleb received his blessing from his parents, John and his group came back to the camp. Behind them were about more burdened. They were old, young and children. All looked shattered and have been summoned to the forest. Caleb saw this and approached John.
“John,” Caleb asked him, “where did you find all these people?”
“We found them in Surry, Kent, Essex, Loxley, and Nottingham.” John replied. “All were driven out by Prince Ratsil and his men.”
Caleb sighed and gave John a ‘thank you’ pat on the left shoulder. Then he climbed onto a large, fallen-over, tree trunk, to counterplate the next step of his plan of action.
“Excuse me sir.” An elderly male rabbit said to him. “Are you Caleb Fitzooth of Loxley? Robin’s son?”
“Yes ma’am, I am.” he replied.
“Please help us, sir.” Said an elderly turtle, named Toby.
Helping the poor of Nottingham is something I intend to do, my friend.” Caleb said to the old tortoise.
Then he turned to his attention to the large crowd, who were waiting anxiously for what he was about to say. He knew it was time for Caleb to resume his father’s mission, which was to fight to uphold justice, by breaking the law. The only way to do this was to “Rob the rich, to feed the poor”.
“You all are wondering why I’ve called you here.” Caleb began. “Well, I’ve seen what Prince Ratsil, Sheriff George, and this ‘Guy of Gisbourne’ have done to our countrymen. And I’d say they’ve done enough. Do you agree?”
The crowd cheered.
“If you’re thinking there’s nothing we can do to stop this, then you’re wrong.” he continued. “There’s something we can do together to solve this problem. But before you make your decision, ask yourselves this. Would you rather die being a freeman, loyal to our good king? Or die while hiding from danger as convicts?”
The crowd thought of this question for a second, and then answered with a loud YES.
“If you would rather live as freemen,” he resumed, “then are you with me?
“YES!”
“This forest,” Caleb continued, waving his arm, “can provide us with whatever we need to survive: food, wood for weapons, and material for building tree houses.”
“What about our villages?” An elderly crowd member shouted. “Our home? All were taken by Guy of Gisbourne, Prince Ratsil, and Sheriff George.”
Caleb faced the crowd, with a determined look on his face.
“By god,” he replied, “we take them back.”
He had a plan. Every able body would be equipped and trained to steal and fight, while the others would remain at the camp, where they’ll be safe. Throughout the day, everyone was busy. Will, Caleb, Much, Robert, and Little John each trained the young male adults to arrow-shoot and swordfight, while the older adults worked together to build more tree houses. Luckily, Sherwood Forest was large, deep, and big enough for everything they needed to fight back, as well as survive.
“Thank goodness John also found lots of help,” Marian thought as she brought in a large basket of roots, “or else doing the cooking would be the end of me.”
Outside the kitchen hut, the boys continued their training. The archers had set up fake target dummies for practice. Even Susan joined Caleb’s group of fighters. Her own plan was to make her father pay for what he had done to her. She was also determined to be the first she-wolf in Caleb’s group of fighters. She, along side of her fellow archers, practiced firing their arrows in hopes of scoring a bulls-eye. At first, the arrows bounced off the targets, but with practice, determination, and help from Robert, Caleb, and their friends, the arrows struck into the targets.
Their sword-fighting was also perfected. The swords were cast from steel, while the bows and arrows, which were 5’6”, were made of strong, long pieces of wood and thin, but strong, cords of leather. Even little Joshua and Skippy were being trained to become outlaws. Skippy was enjoying his training by Robert Fitzooth, in hopes to become a fighter, also all his life, Skippy had looked up to Robert.
Two months later, the outlaws were ready to fight, and the camp was an expanded size. Each family had a home in the trees. Susan and Caleb also found they worked well together as a team, and little Joshua looked up to Susan as an older sister.
Later that night, everyone gathered around a large bonfire, and listened as Will Scarlet played a soft song on his lute. Everyone calmed to the song’s lyrics because it was played so beautifully. Even the children stopped their playing to listen, especially little Joshua, who sat on Caleb’s lap. Caleb wrapped his strong, muscular arms around his little brother and embraced him.
Little Joshua looked up and smiled at his older brother, who looked down and returned the smile.
Soon after, most of the camp had retired to their tree houses for the night. Everyone, except Susan. Right now, she was looking around the camp for an empty tree house to sleep in, but all were occupied.
Sighing, Susan walked to the lake and sat down.
“Susan?” A voice asked from behind her. “Are you all right?”
She turned her head to find Caleb approaching her. He sat down beside her.
“Yes. I’m all right.” Susan replied humbly. “I’m just tired and looking for a place to sleep, but they’re all taken.”
Susan smiled because she was glad that she became was free from the dungeon. Guy had no power over her, in the forest, away from the castle.
Caleb wrapped his arms around the young she-wolf’s shoulders, and then thought for a second.
Then, instantly, an idea popped into his head.
“Susan,” Caleb started to say, “You can sleep in my house. I’ll bunk up with the other boys.”
Susan looked up at Caleb and smiled.
“Really?” Susan asked, gazing into Caleb’s bright-blue eyes. His mother’s eyes.
“Yes,” Caleb replied as he took Susan’s paws into his. “Now, come on. It’s getting late.”
The young anthros headed back to the camp and borrowed, from Marian, a nightgown for Susan. Then, after saying goodnight to his parents, Susan climbed the rope up to Caleb’s tree house. Caleb watched her from below. Inside the tree house was a small cot. Hanging over the cot was Caleb’s sword, which once belonged to his cousin, King Richard, which was now given to Caleb by his mother. Below it was his bow and batch of arrows, gift from his father.
“Thanks and goodnight.” Susan said softly as she turned to look down at the young vulpine, standing below.
“Anytime.” Caleb replied as he left to go find an empty cot. Susan stayed in the treehouse and changed into her nightgown. Then she laid down on this cot and sighed happily. Love was on her mind because she was in love with the son of England’s most famous outlaw, who turned out to be very kind, sweet, brave, charming, and the most handsomest guy she had ever met. Not to mention having a muscular chest Susan could just drool at. Even just thinking about Caleb’s chest made Susan want to drool. And the best part she liked about it was that Caleb also had feelings for Susan. In fact, she was sure he loved her.
“My goodness.” Susan thought, sighing with a small, romantic smile on her face. “Caleb is the most incredibly handsomest guy I’ve ever seen and met. And his mother, Lady Marian, is very pretty and kind.”
Minutes later, Susan closed up the tree house and went to bed.
End of Chapter II
The fight for freedom will begin in the next chapter.