** A Long Time Ago **

The Enchanted Forest

It had been two years, two horrible long years since he had lost his wife, his beautiful Marian. His heart ached for her in the beginning, but now was filled only with emptiness. It was a bleak grey filled life he now wandered through, save for the fact he still had his little son, his Roland. His boy was the only source of light in the darkness that surrounded him. It pained him though every time he gazed upon his son's face, the olive skin, brown curls and big chocolate button eyes. He looked just like his mother.

In the first few months, he had pushed his son away, the familiarity between his departed love and his child tore at him. Over time, his heart fell into a stoned like state. He'd laugh half heartedly at his playful son, smile small as his men made jokes to lift his spirits. It wasn't any real use though, and they knew it. Heartbreak was a brutal fate to deal with. The Merry Men took over care of Roland during the dark first months as Robin recluded into a shell. He tried to pull himself out of the depression, but it was overwhelming in the beginning and he settled instead for a half life, dull and sad.

This is how he lived, walking empty through a life that seemed to not care about his tragedy. The lived in the forest as always, moving from place to place as they continued to steal from the rich and give to the poor.

"PAPA‼ PAPA CATCH ME‼" Robin turned just as his son leapt into his arms, throwing his little arms around his neck as he hugged him tight.

"Hello, my boy. How are we this morning?" He ruffled his son's hair as he smiled at the young toddler.

"John says we are going on another adventure!"

"Did he now!? And what adventure would this be?"

Roland patted his father's stubbly cheeks "He says you are going to the King's castle tonight, can I come Papa? PLEAAASE!?"

Robin's eyebrows furrowed at his son's words. His eyes flickered up to a shameful looking little John who was leaning half hidden behind a tree.

"Papa?"

Anger built in Robin's chest as he threw daggers at his fellow Merry Man. He slowly lowered Roland to the ground, patting the crown of his head.

"Roland, why don't you go find Tuck. I'm sure he needs help getting supper ready"

"But PAPA!" Roland whined out

"ROLAND I SAID GO!" It came out harsher than he intended and he internally cringed as he saw his son flinch before his little legs carried him slowly away.

His breathed a heavy breath, before stalking over to John.

"A word, Little John" He walked straight past his friend and into the thick of the forest lining.

John followed, his body language slumped forward, ready for the verbal assault he was about about to get.

Robin spun around, his eyes wild in rage as he ran his fingers through his hair.

"How could you tell Roland"

"Robin I –"

"NO! John, he is 3 years old! You can't go promising these things to him when you know damn well how dangerous it is‼ You are putting my sons life in danger!" He spit out his words, his breath panting.

"I didn't mean it Robin, the lad pulled it out of me"

Robin scoffed "The last time one of my family members come along on a raid, my wife died"

John's eyes faltered as his big boots kicked dirt on the ground.

"You are a complete idiot you know that John"

He couldn't help the anger, it festered and bubbled into him as he continued to berate the large man in front of him.

"You want Roland to be taken, kidnapped…"

"Robin no –"

"HE COULD DIE JOHN! IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT!?"

A heavy tense silence fell between the two men.

"Robin, you know I would protect Roland with my life. How dare you insinuate that I would want to put him in harm's way"

"But that is exactly what you were about to do!"

John's own defenses began to fly up "Now stop right there!"

"It's like you want me to suffer John!"

It was enough, and John's reflexes took ahold of him, his fist flying into Robin's jaw hard, sending his leader into the ground.

Robin returned the punch with one of his own, and the brawl ensued. Each landed harsh blows to the other before the were ripped apart by other Merry Men.

He could feel blood flowing from his nose, and his ribs ached painfully

"GET OFF ME!"

Alan loosened his grip on Robin before Tuck placed a hand on both mens chest "This is ridiculous. You are family. We do not fight one another‼ What the hell has gotten into you both?"

Either man said anything for a moment.

Johns voice broke the silence first, harsh through his heavy panting breath "He's different now….ever since Marian died"

"Can you blame me?" Robin spat back

"We have all lost someone Robin! My Brother, Alan's parents, Tuck lost his whole family! Just because you lost Marian doesn't give you the right to sulk around and bring the entire camp into this black hole with you!"

Robin's jaw gapped open as he wrenched his body from Alan's grasp.

"You aren't a leader anymore Robin. You are mean, and sharp to everyone. We are only trying to help you mate" Will placed a light hand on Robin's shoulder, hoping to calm the man.

Tuck calmed the tense air with his wisdom voice "Robin, John is right and he is wrong. You have suffered terrible heartbreak and it's not fair. BUT! You have also let it consume you. We need our Robin back, the leader of the Merry Men, our Prince of Thieves"

Robin sighed heavily "I'm Sorry…."

Tuck smiled as he patted Robin's chest "I know lad. But you need to find a way to be happy again"

"I can't be happy without her Tuck" Robin's eyes glistened with tears as his gaze fell from the old man down into the dirt

"Yes you can. You deserve a happy ending Robin. It will happen, you just have to open yourself up to it"

Robin sighed and shook his head, it was impossible, his heart belonged to Marian and Marian alone. His happy ending was gone.

"Let's eat, before the stew gets cold"

The men murmured in agreement.

Robin leaned against a tree, exhaling hard. His eyes flickered up to the black sky, the stars dancing like diamonds

Marian….I miss you so much my love…..but they are right….I can't live like this….it's tearing me apart and it's ruining our son's life. Please help me, let me release my guilt over losing you, I need something.

..

...

...

A few months passed, and Robin did his best to lighten his mood, but he still felt empty. They had decided against going to the King's vault, it was to heavily guarded by knights. Instead they made do but stealing from easier targets, mainly those from the road. It gave Robin some semblance of peace, and his body began to take over his brain, putting him into auto-pilot on each mission. It seemed easier this way.

The fire crackled low as Robin stoked the last few burning embers. The night was chilled, as his breath fogged out in front of him. Suddenly the hairs on the back of his neck stood straight and a strange sensation overtook his body. On reflex he grabbed his bow, anchoring an arrow as his eyes flickered around into the darkness.

"Robin of Locksley" a woman's voice coasted around him from behind and he spun, arrow notched towards the voice.

"Show yourself"

A light red glowing bubble began for form in front of his eyes and for a moment Robin thought maybe he was going crazy as he watched a woman slowly come into form. Her hair was chocolate brown and curled heavy on the top of her head. She had a warm smile that parted on her ebony skin, eyes soothing and soft as her red dress ghosted along the forest floor.

"Who are you?"

She smiled softly at him "My name is Rosetta, and I am here to help you"

"I don't need help from a witch"

The fairy laughed lightly before walking up to him "I am no witch, I am a fairy"

His eyes widened, he knew of fairies, and their magical power, something he wasn't exactly fond of. His eyebrows creased as he raised his bow higher, aiming straight at the woman's heart. "Do not come closer…what is it you want?"

Rosette scanned his tired face, her hand ghosted over his chest and she closed her eyes heavy as she felt the sadness that emanated from him. His heart was barely living, beating only to keep him alive, but not letting him truly live.

"Oh Robin, you need more help than you can barely know"

"I need nothing from you or your magic"

"You sure are stubborn aren't you"

With a wave of her hand, red smoke glided around Robin's hands and his bow disappeared, leaving him defenseless. He scoffed and dropped his hands to the ground.

"Fine. What do you want from me?"

The red fairy glided up to Robin, placing her hands gently in his cheeks "What do you want Robin, that is the real question"

He shook his head and closed his eyes heavy "I don't know what I want"

A light giggle followed his heavy statement and he was about to tell her off but he was taken aback as her magic pulsed through his body, warm and comforting as his basked his heart in a glow he hadn't felt in a long time.

"I think you know exactly what you need"

A stray tear dropped from his eye "That is something you cannot possibly give me. My Marian in gone, there is no love left in this life for me"

Rosette patted his cheeks gently as the last of her magic thrummed in his heart "That is where you are wrong. It's true I can't make people fall in love, but I can show you a happy ending that is within your grasp"

His eyes flicked up and Rosetta's heart broke at the despair she saw swimming in the blue eyes.

"You just have to want to be happy again Robin. You can love. There is a woman out there who needs you just as much as you are needing her right now"

He let a breathy exhale out before putting his hands on her that were still placed on his cheeks.

"I am just not certain"

Rosetta stepped back a touch and twirled her fingers and a red vial appeared in her fingers, golden flakes dancing in the ruby red liquid.

His hands closed around the the glass tube and his eyes stared up in wonder at the red fairy who was beaming at him.

"This will lead you to your soulmate, and what you decide to do at that point is up to you. But I ask that you try to open your heart to the possibility of love again. It is in you"

Robin nodded and the fairy kissed his cheek before she began to fade

"Thank You, Rosetta"

"You are welcome, let me know how it goes!"

He was left with a lasting light laughter and the lingering effect of her magic that bloomed in his heart.

He twirled the bottle in his fingers, and his mind wandered….far out to the potential woman that was waiting for him, maybe she needed him to….but a lick of uncertainty bubbled in him. He was a thief, he couldn't provide a stable home being nomad with his band of mismatched men and his toddler. What woman would want to fall into his life….he grimaced at put the red vial into his jacket pocket. He would deal with it later, his future could wait, but his past was about to catch up.