Post by Robert Williams on Aug 3, 2008 1:10:30 GMT
Robert Williams had finished with the most of the repairs that he needed to make the Scarlett’s old place livable and someplace he could work out of as a carpenter. He stepped back to admire his work, and although there was more to do, he was satisfied that he had made some good progress. He thought that it would be a good time to take a stroll through the heart of Locksley, see who and what was in the rest of the small village of Locksley. At the end of his walk he thought that he would go out in the adjoining forest for good samples of beech that he could use to reinforce parts of the thatched roof, so he picked up a mid-sized hatchet, and began to walk through Locksley.
As he began his walk he began to reminisce about his past. He had been born into a noble family, his father had been a baron, but when he was very young, both his parents had died and the title and lands were seized to pay debts and back-taxes. Fortunately, a local nobleman, who had been a friend of his father’s, agreed to take on Robert as his young ward, and raise him in his household. They quickly gave him the shortened nickname of Roe. When he was seven, a grandson was born at the manor, and Roe was like an older brother to the young man. He helped the boy learn to shoot the bow, ride a horse, and learn the ways of the forest. He smiled recalling the memory of the Earl’s grandson nicking one of his bows and Roe taking the punishment. It had hurt, but the boy was like family to him.
Despite being raised in a noble family he was not going to inherit any titles or lands, so it was determined that he would have to learn a trade. He seemed to have an affinity for wood, so when he turned 12 he was apprenticed to a carpenter in Locksley, Dan Scarlett. He served him for 5 years, and in that time, grew to know Dan’s 2 young sons, even carving them wooden figures as toys on occasion. Unfortunately, at the age of 17, his life was turned upside down, as he fell in love, and his love had a son, but he was not permitted to marry her by his guardian. As a result, he had a falling out with his guardian and he made the decision to leave for Iberia, eventually participating in the Crusades in the Holy Lands, fighting with Frankish forces. He helped lead forces at the defense of Jerusalem in ’87, but lost his taste for the fighting and the bloodshed after the carnage of that battle.
He decided to once more come back to his home village, but not realizing that Dan and Jane Scarlett were no longer living, the youngest son was elsewhere, and the oldest son was with the outlaw Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest. Discovering that, Roe thought now he could help Locksley, his old village, through the provision of his carpentry skills. It had been 15 years, many had probably died or moved away, and he had changed quite a bit, so nobody would ever probably recognize him. It had been a full life so far, but now he desired some peace and productivity, in contrast to the fighting that had been his experience in the last decade-and-a-half. Even though he would probably be considered to be an outsider he hoped that the villagers would eventually accept him and what he could do for them. Only time would tell, he thought, as he continued walking down the lane through the village.
As he began his walk he began to reminisce about his past. He had been born into a noble family, his father had been a baron, but when he was very young, both his parents had died and the title and lands were seized to pay debts and back-taxes. Fortunately, a local nobleman, who had been a friend of his father’s, agreed to take on Robert as his young ward, and raise him in his household. They quickly gave him the shortened nickname of Roe. When he was seven, a grandson was born at the manor, and Roe was like an older brother to the young man. He helped the boy learn to shoot the bow, ride a horse, and learn the ways of the forest. He smiled recalling the memory of the Earl’s grandson nicking one of his bows and Roe taking the punishment. It had hurt, but the boy was like family to him.
Despite being raised in a noble family he was not going to inherit any titles or lands, so it was determined that he would have to learn a trade. He seemed to have an affinity for wood, so when he turned 12 he was apprenticed to a carpenter in Locksley, Dan Scarlett. He served him for 5 years, and in that time, grew to know Dan’s 2 young sons, even carving them wooden figures as toys on occasion. Unfortunately, at the age of 17, his life was turned upside down, as he fell in love, and his love had a son, but he was not permitted to marry her by his guardian. As a result, he had a falling out with his guardian and he made the decision to leave for Iberia, eventually participating in the Crusades in the Holy Lands, fighting with Frankish forces. He helped lead forces at the defense of Jerusalem in ’87, but lost his taste for the fighting and the bloodshed after the carnage of that battle.
He decided to once more come back to his home village, but not realizing that Dan and Jane Scarlett were no longer living, the youngest son was elsewhere, and the oldest son was with the outlaw Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest. Discovering that, Roe thought now he could help Locksley, his old village, through the provision of his carpentry skills. It had been 15 years, many had probably died or moved away, and he had changed quite a bit, so nobody would ever probably recognize him. It had been a full life so far, but now he desired some peace and productivity, in contrast to the fighting that had been his experience in the last decade-and-a-half. Even though he would probably be considered to be an outsider he hoped that the villagers would eventually accept him and what he could do for them. Only time would tell, he thought, as he continued walking down the lane through the village.
