- Emmalina's Point of View -

"YOU CLIMBED IT?" I asked, astonished by her skills of survival.

"It wasn't the climbing part that was hard," Rowan told us.

"It was the staying still on that cramped tower all night."

Rowan had miraculously escaped from the castle, stayed in the tower all night until the soldiers gave up the search for her, and then somehow found our camp in the woods.

"Well, next time I get captured by a criminal, I'll ask you for advice," Samantha joked.

"Did he ask where Callum was?" I inquired.

There was a pause before Rowan finally answered.

"Yes...He said that he had my mom, and then he asked where Callum was. He said that I took his son away, so he took my mother."

I could see it was difficult for her to handle, and that she was slightly choking up, but she did a good job at trying to mask it and stay strong. It's just that I had done the same thing so much that I knew the signs.

"Rowan, don't you think it's about time you tell us what's going on?"

There was another pause while she thought about it, trying to debate weather it was worth it or not.

"My mother was a slave for Louis De Levon. She was forced into marriage by her parents so that they wouldn't have to pay the mortgage on their land. When I was born my father didn't like the fact that I was a girl, and he beat my mother...He said that it was her fault, no matter how illogical his explanations were. Once I was at least two years old, I was beat as well. By the time I was four Callum was born. My dad was much happier since he was a boy, but when mamma started to tell Callum about the faith, my dad got furious and beat them as well...I vowed that as soon as I was old enough, I'd take Callum and my mother away from there. No matter what it took, I'd get them out. The opportunity came when my dad was down sizing the staff. He was paying less attention to us and more to the work at hand. We got away during the night, but not long after we got away we heard horses hooves chasing after us. Mamma told us to go on ahead and she'd find us later...She didn't. We waited three days at our cave hideout...She never came. Eventually I had to take matters into my own hands. I brought Callum to Castle Landly where I heard they were taking in orphans. He was six at the time and trusted me more then anything. I told him to wait on the steps for me, no matter how much it broke me to tell him. I knew I couldn't come back for him. I knew that this was his only hope. I gave him a note, since he couldn't read at the time, and told him that if anyone asks to just give them that...So he did I guess. He got the good life mamma and me had wanted for him...And I'm still running."

None of us spoke. We didn't know what to say. Everything we'd thought about Callum was different then his true past. And he had remembered every bit of it...Which led me to another thought.

"Is it true that you tried killing your dad?" I asked.

"No," She answered, looking me strait in the eye.

"That's all a lie. I know Callum believes it, and he hates me for it...But I didn't."

"Then what happened?"

"He tried killing my mom...I had to do it. To protect her."

We were all silent again, staring at our hands, feet, fingers, anything to avoid eye contact.

"You have to tell him." 

Surprisingly, it was Joe who said it. He hadn't said a word the whole time, up until now.

"I suppose you're right...But he's miles away from here." 

"That doesn't mean we can't go back. If you'd just tell him the truth, I'm sure my dad will make sure you're safe," I said, not realizing what I had just said.

"Your dad?" She asked, her face twisted in a confused frown.

"What can he do?"

"Well....Uh....I guess I never told you this before...But..."

"Oh for heavens sake Emma, just spit it out," Samantha ordered.

"Robin Hood is her dad."

Rowan looked from me to Samantha, then back to me again.

"Soooooo, Robin Hood - of Locksley - is your dad...And you're out here in the middle of the woods? You do realize how dangerous that could be, right?"

I shrugged.

"I've always gone into the woods."

"But my dad hates Robin Hood. If he found out you were his daughter....Oh man. Bad news for you."

"Well all this time you never knew I was his daughter. Why should it be any different with him?"

"That's a good point."

"But-" Joe started, but Rowan cut him off.

"Shhhh!"

"What?" I whispered.

"Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?" We all asked.

"Horses hooves...Quick! Everyone, climb a tree and don't leave anything behind."

"What about the horses?" Samantha asked.

"They're hidden well enough for now."

We all jumped into the tree nearest us and stayed quiet, listening as the thunk of the hooves got closer. Eventually a small scouting party for Louis De Levon broke through the trees and into the clearing. We all held our breath not wanting to be spotted, but a gasp was ripped from me when I saw who was riding with them, at sword point.

"Callum!" I couldn't help myself from whispering.

I immediately covered my mouth me my hand, but it was too late. The reaction had been involuntary, but it had happened all the same. The officer of the group snapped his head in my direction, eyeing the tree I was in. I didn't breath. I didn't move. I didn't even know I could do it, but I did. I glanced over to where Callum was riding and I could see he was looking strait at me, but I didn't think he saw me. The officer looked a little while longer, then turned to his men and said something. They all immediately dismounted and unslung their cross bows, putting one of the deadly wooden shafts in. My eyes grew even wider when I realized, they were pointing at me. Or rather, the tree I was in. He wasn't taking any risks. I closed my eyes, saying a silent prayer in my head...Something I didn't do very often.

Just then I heard Rowan jump out of her tree and yell, "OVER HERE!"

Oh no!

Everyone immediately swung in her direction and she drew the long stiletto knife she had. Then Joe jumped out of his tree, pulling out his own knife. I knew it was stupid, but I did it anyway. I jumped out of my tree as well, just as Rowan, Joe, and Samantha charged toward the small group. Samantha had hidden in a bush instead, since she didn't have time to find a suitable branch. A man swung his sword at Rowan, but she skillfully blocked and thrust her own knife into him, bringing it out again just in time to block another blow.

Suddenly, a soldier tried an overhand blow at me, but I brought my dirk up at an angel and then elbowed the man in the jaw, pulling out my small throwing knife and thrusting it into his chest. He stared at me blankly, before falling over, and I grabbed the knife. Callum had no weapons and was trying his best with his fists were both tied together. I looked down at my throwing knife, then at the man he was fighting. It would be risky, but Callum would surely die if I didn't at least try. I held my breath, and then flicked my hand forward, sending the knife spinning through the air, finding it's mark in the mans throat. Callum looked at him for a minute, then over to me. I smiled, then turned to block a strait thrust from one of the soldiers. Callum grabbed the dead mans sword, slicing through the rope that tied his hands and then holding the sword properly before thrusting it into one of the soldiers. It wasn't long before they were all scattered on the ground, blood oozing from their dead bodies. My adrenalin was calming down now. Callum looked at me for a second, then walked toward me.

"You okay?" He asked.

Classic Callum question, I thought.

"I'm fine." I smiled.

Just then, a spear of pain went through my right side, and my legs gave out. I fell forward, turning as I fell. I expected to hit the ground at any minute, but I fell right into the protective arms of Callum. He lowered me to the ground and cradled me in his loving arms. The pain was more then I could bare, spreading through my whole body. My stomach was turning and I felt like the world was collapsing around me, the light slowly fading.

"No," I heard Callum say, his voice choking up.

"Em...?"

"I-It....It re-really hur-hurts," I choked out, trying to smile, but when I did a trickle of blood came out of my mouth.

"Please...No," Callum begged.

Everyone else was gathered around, but all I could see was him, his water blue eyes filling with tears.

"I'm dying...Aren't I?"

The thought was bland, but inevitable.

"No. No you won't die. You'll be alright."

I smiled again.

"You're a terrible liar."

He tried to smile as well, but the tears didn't help to mask his emotions. My eyes drifted up to the blue sky above us and I lifted my arm, pointing the sky.

"See? The sky's sunny and bright...Just like I've always known you to be."

"Please...No...Please Em. You're the only girl I've ever loved."

The words echoed in my head, but I didn't comprehend. The light was almost gone, and I fell unconscious.