People everywhere tell me stories about Robin Hood, so I wanted to
meet you.’
‘Oh, Robin,’ said Marian, ‘this is wonderful. The king is here in
England! Let's go and find him. We can tell him everything about the
sheriff and Prince John…’
‘I love no man in the world more than the king,’ said Robin. ‘But
what will he think? His brother is a greedy man. I can tell him that. But
Prince John will say I am a robber. I think, for now, that I will stay
quiet.’
The tall churchman stood up.
‘You are wrong, Robin,’ he said. Then he called loudly, ‘To me! To
me!’
Suddenly fifty strong men came out of the dark night and stood
behind him.
‘What is this?’ said Robin. ‘Are you Prince John's man? Are the
prince and his men here ? Are they really so brave ?’
‘Perhaps my brother is not a brave man. But I am Richard, your king,
and I wanted to meet the famous Robin Hood. I hear many good stories
about you, Robin. And other people also tell me bad stories about my
brother. I know that John gave your lands to the sheriff. But from today,
you will be Robin of Locksley again, and the king's friend.’
Chapter 16 The Last Adventure
After his visit to Sherwood Forest, King Richard went back to London.
Robin and his men left the forest. Will Scarlet went to London with the
king, but Little John stayed with Robin and Marian at Locksley House.
♦
34
One day, two years later, Robin visited his old friend, Friar Tuck. They
talked for a long time about their adventures.
‘I eat too well now, Robin,’ said the friar. ‘I am too fat and I cannot
fight. People say that King Richard is ill. I hope that he will live for a
long time. I hope that John will never be king. I wouldn't like to sleep on
a hard bed in the forest again!’
On the way home, Robin walked slowly and thought about Friar
Tuck's words. Then he heard the noise of horses' feet on the road, and
looked up. It was the sheriff and his men.
‘Robin Fitzooth,’ called the sheriff, ‘I have here a letter from the
king. It says that you will come with me!’
‘From King Richard?’ asked Robin. ‘Why does the king send you?
He knows that we are not friends!’
The sheriff came nearer, but not too near. He was very afraid of
Robin.
‘Not King Richard,’ he answered. ‘Richard is dead! I am talking
about King John. Take him, men!’
Robin pulled out his sword and began to fight. At the same time he
moved slowly away from the road to the forest. There were too many
men - he couldn't win. He had cuts on his right arm, and the arm hurt
very badly.
When he got to the forest, he ran. He could find his way through
forest very well, and the sheriff's men lost him.
Robin went through the forest to St Mary's Abbey. In front of the
abbey, he fell to the ground. There, the abbot's men found him.
‘It is Robin Hood!’ said the abbot. ‘I would like to kill him, but this
is a church. Take him to one of the bedrooms. You, man, go to the
sheriff. Tell him that Robin Hood is at the abbey.’
♦
Robin woke up. There was nobody in the room. He was very weak and
couldn't move from the bed. Then he heard a friend. ‘I am coming,
Robin!’ called Little John. ‘Where are you ?’