An Apple A Day ((OPEN))

[marian]

For all Guy of Gisborne’s self-proclaimed glory as being the new Lord of Locksley, the village remained largely unchanged. Of course it was a little bit leaner and meaner under his so-called guidance but the villagers lived with a perpetual gleam of hope in their eyes that Marian could only imagine irked their new master more than words every would. The good people went about their lives as best they could, paying the taxes when they were able and Marian admired them for the steely resolve with which they accepted their lot in life. She dare not approach the village as Robin and the others so blatantly did. She feared being caught by Guy and what he might say or do to her.

Instead she was almost bent double, covered over with an old and patched cloak and a white wig the only tendrils of hair that escaped the protective hood. She carried a covered basket on her arm with fresh apples from Merton; the orchards at Locksley were not for the peasants to use. Secretively she wandered through the village, recognised by all and approached by none. They knew as well as she what would happen if her identity was discovered. Wandering to each and every house and conversing in hushed tones with the occupants before leaving them with four red apples Marian quickly went about her work.

[Robert Williams]

Roe was quite confused and even frustrated. He felt as if he was being pulled in many different directions. He thought that he had been developing a good relationship with the girl he had seen in his youth. Upon his return it had seemed to be developing quickly, maybe too quickly. She had apparently decided that she needed to leave and then she was gone. She had had no family, so there was nobody to contact. Roe shrugged his shoulders and decided that the best therapy was work. He still had the bundles of beech fronds that he had gathered a few days before, and he decided that it would be best if he used them to repair the many holes in the roof of the hut and shop. After he had repaired the ladder he used it to climb on to the roof, but to do it carefully.

Mira, though, was only one of his concerns. He had learned from that thief in the forest, Patrick or whatever his name was, that Dan and Jane had died, Dan violently and JAne through starvation. How could he just move into their home? Was it being disrespectful to them; what would Will and Luke think of him, if they even remembered him. Maybe it would be best for him to go somewhere closer to the edge of the forest. He was unsure though, and he had nobody to asked for advice. "Too many questions ..... questions without good answers," he said to himself, as he climbed the ladder.

Soon after he finished the 3rd hole in the roof, he took of his cloak because of the heat of the day and leaned back and took a sip of water. He was up at a good height above the village and saw and old lady, bent over from her years, wandering from house to house. "That cloak must be quite warm on a day like this. I wonder if she would like a drink of water?", he said to himself. "Old woman, would you care to rest your feet for a spell and have a drink of cool water? I have more than enough to share. If not, I understand that you might not trust a stranger, but I'm worried that you might overheat on a day like today," and he waited for some kind of response.