by Tom Jolleys
‘Do you know where your parents are?’ asked Friar Tuck.
‘Well actually, mmm, I do not know whether to tell you this, but I am a princess! I am Princess Lara, the daughter of Louis IX, King of France! I was here to celebrate my 13th birthday, in fact I have visited England on several occasions, and that is why I speak so well.’
‘Oh deary me, this is most dreadful,’ said the friar, ‘I knew the name Lara meant something to me. I am afraid, Lara, that I have some very upsetting news. I am sorry to tell you that both your parents have died! Louis IX of France died in 1270 while away fighting in another country.’
Lara burst into tears at this terrible news, and Diana put her arms around her new friend.
‘I am so sorry, Lara,’ said Friar Tuck, ‘but do you mind telling us when you were imprisoned in the castle?’
‘It was 1269,’ said Lara, tearfully.
‘Lara, you have been imprisoned by the Sorceress Zena for over sixty-five years, but in a way I do have some good news for you. Your father, Louis IX, King of France, was one of the kindest rulers the world has ever seen, and he was canonized by Pope Boniface VIII in I think 1297.’
‘What does canonized mean?’ asked Johnny.
‘Oh I am sorry, well it means Lara, that your father was proclaimed a saint because of his kindly deeds, and in France he is now remembered as Saint Louis.’
‘Please don’t worry,’ said Diana, ‘things can only get better now – you’re only six months older than me, and if you want to, you can come and live with us at our house.’ Johnny and David looked at each other, wondering how they were going to explain a French princess from either the 13th century or the 14th century to their parents.
‘I do not know,’ cried Lara. ‘Thank you but I really do need time to think over things. I am so confused. How can I go to sleep in 1269 and wake up all these years later?’
‘Why don’t you come and lie down for a while?’ said Marian. ‘A little rest will do you the world of good.’
‘No thank you Marian, I should be all right soon, it has just come as a great shock, and I have already slept for far too long.’
‘Yes I guess you have,’ said Marian. ‘Anyway you are young and fair and are among friends, so just look on the bright side, things are never as bad as they first seem. You can even live with me and Robin if you wish.’
‘Thank you everyone for being so kind to me – I just do not know what to say.’
‘You don’t need to say anything,’ said Robin, as bowls of vegetable soup were served, ‘but eat some of this soup, it will do you good.’
‘Anyway you must be starving, Lara,’ said Johnny, ‘this is your first meal for 67 years!’ This comment at least brought a smile to her face.
‘Yes Johnny, it is a wonder I have not forgotten what food tastes like.’
‘Fancy us being sat next to royalty,’ said Johnny.
‘Yes,’ smiled Diana, ‘what shall we call you, Princess Lara or Your Royal Highness?’
‘Oh I am flattered, and I do like the name Princess Lara, but just call me Lara, if you please.’
‘Right then Lara,’ said Marian, ‘will you and Diana be my bridesmaids?’
‘Oh yes, yes,’ they gasped excitedly.
‘And will you both be my pageboys?’ said Robin, looking at Johnny and David.
‘Whizzo, cooey,’ blurted Johnny.
‘That is Johnnyspeak for, yes,’ quipped Diana.
‘We certainly will,’ added David.
‘Little John, how do you fancy being my best man?’
‘Robin, it will be an honour and a privilege.’
‘Fine – now all we need is a man of the cloth to marry us. Friar Tuck, who would you recommend?’ Robin was having a joke at the friar’s expense.
‘Well, err, there are a few you could choose from,’ said Friar Tuck, looking rather disappointed.
‘You big, old fool,’ said Robin. ‘We want you of course.’
‘I will indeed,’ chuckled the friar, ‘you really had me going for a minute.’
‘Well at least everything is now settled. When we’ve eaten, we must go to the castle and make full arrangements with the Sheriff.’
‘What about Erich?’ said Johnny.
‘Oh I am sorry, Erich. Will you be my Standard Bearer?’
‘Certainly, thank you Robin. I feel most humble.’
‘By the way, what are you going to do now, Erich?’ asked the friar.
‘Well I am in the same position as Lara, I have no family, that is, I don’t know where they are. I suppose I will clean out the cottage, throw away everything that belonged to the Sorceress Zena and make it a welcome place for anyone who passes by.’
‘That sounds like a good idea,’ said the friar. ‘In fact, now that the Sorceress Zena has been killed, I feel sure that the birds and animals will return to that part of the forest. You might even have a new village springing up all around you. And later we will talk, we may be able to find your family if they are still in the area.’
‘That sounds most promising,’ said Robin, ‘everything does seem to be working out well.’
‘I just hope that the Sheriff hasn’t turned nasty again,’ said Johnny.
‘No, I think that the Sheriff has finally seen the error of his ways. Don’t worry, Johnny,’ said the friar.
When they had finished their meal, they made their way on horseback to visit the Sheriff, who would hopefully agree to their arrangements, that is, as long as he hadn’t changed back into the despicably evil Sheriff of Nottingham!
Chapter 15:
Future Battles!
The Sheriff greeted them with open arms as they dismounted their horses in the courtyard. He was really pleased that the Sorceress Zena had been killed, because apart from Robin Hood and his men, she was the only other person he had not defeated. She had always been a threat, not just to him, but also to previous sheriffs, although for some reason this threat had rarely been used. However her mere presence had somewhat discouraged the Sheriff’s men from thoroughly searching Sherwood Forest. By now the castle was again under his command. His men had been released from the dungeons, and the knights had gone to fight battles elsewhere. But wherever they would fight next, these mercenaries knew that they would never again come up against such powerful adversaries as Robin Hood, his men and of course, the three children.
‘Welcome,’ said the Sheriff to Robin and Marian. ‘I have heard of the children’s battle against the Sorceress Zena, and of your impending marriage. How may I be of service to you both?’
‘We would like your permission for our wedding to take place in the castle grounds at noon tomorrow,’ said Robin.
‘It has already been arranged,’ said the Sheriff, ‘and I offer you my warmest congratulations.’
‘Thank you, Sheriff,’ said Maid Marian.
‘Thank you indeed,’ added Robin.
‘And you may stay here in the castle tonight if you so wish, for as you now know, I have plenty of guest rooms. You have the freedom of the castle, take whatever you need.’
‘We accept your kind offer,’ said Robin.
‘Think nothing of it,’ smiled the Sheriff. ‘I am happy to be of some assistance.’ He then walked over to a group of soldiers and gave them further instructions regarding the wedding.
‘Do you think we can still trust him?’ said Johnny to David.
‘Yes, I think he really has changed for the better. They say that a leopard never changes its spots, but I think the Sheriff has proved to be an exception.’
‘What do you mean, a leopard never changes its spots?’
‘Oh it’s a well-known saying, Johnny,’ interrupted Diana, ‘it simply means that people don’t change, but I think we can safely say that Nottingham is now ruled by a wiser, kinder and happier sheriff.’
�
��Yes I suppose so,’ agreed Johnny, ‘but I’m still going to keep an eye on him.’
‘It must be the Doubting Thomas in you,’ said his sister.
‘What’s a Doubting Thomas?’
‘Oh forget it,’ said David, ‘we’ll be here all day. When you get back to school you can ask your new class teacher.’
‘Huh, it’s not my fault I don’t know,’ muttered Johnny, ‘you ask a simple question and what do you get?’
David and Diana started laughing at their younger brother’s mumblings. ‘Come on, Johnny, I’ll tell you later,’ said Diana, as they followed the others into the banqueting hall. It was late in the evening when they entered the castle, and a dusky, red sun was hovering above the horizon, casting a red glow across the sky.
‘Can I take the girls to the ladies’ quarters?’ said Marian to the Sheriff.
‘By all means.’
As Robin, Little John, Friar Tuck, the Sheriff, Erich and the two boys walked up the left-hand staircase, Marian and the girls ascended the opposite stairway.
‘Here we go again,’ said Diana, running up the stairs.
‘Yes indeed,’ replied Marian, who followed behind with Lara.
On reaching the top of the stairs they again came out onto the long corridor, only this time the evening sun was casting a red sheen through the arched window.
‘I think it’s shadow time again,’ smiled Diana.
‘Err, what is the shadow time?’
‘Oh I forgot to tell you, Lara,’ said Diana. ‘It’s only a little joke. The last time we walked along here, our shadows stretched back to the end of the corridor.’
‘I see what you mean,’ said Lara, looking back at her ever-lengthening shadow.
‘I don’t suppose I need to ask either of you where you would like to start first.’
‘No,’ replied the girls in unison.
‘Look, the rusty, old lock has been replaced,’ declared Marian, staring at the gleaming, gold handle, before opening the door.
Diana and Marian gasped as they entered the room – it was just so very different! It wasn’t that the furniture had changed, just that everything was so clean, no dust or cobwebs anywhere!
‘Well what a difference,’ said Marian, ‘come on in Lara. Do you remember your room?’
‘And your portrait,’ said Diana, but as she turned her head she was faced by the most gruesome sight. ‘Oh no,’ she groaned. The Portrait of Lara had changed, and it was now a picture, a portrait of the evil Sorceress Zena!
‘We’ll have to take it down and burn it,’ said Marian.
‘Oh yes,’ agreed Diana.
‘Is that what I am going to look like in the future?’ said Lara, tearfully.
‘No my child,’ said Marian, putting a reassuring arm around her.
‘No, no, no, don’t worry about that,’ said Diana, confidently. ‘I think I now understand what has happened.’ But Diana just stood there for a moment and pondered.
‘Well tell us then,’ urged Marian, impatiently.
‘All right then. Well while Lara was entranced by the Sorceress Zena, this room continued in time, and so became dusty and full of cobwebs. But for Lara and the Portrait of Lara, all time stood still. Now when the Sorceress Zena was killed, everything reverted back in time. The room now looks the same as it did sixty-seven years ago. Is that so, Lara?’
‘Yes, I remember it well – it looks just the same.’
‘So you see, the only thing that could have changed was the Portrait of Lara, which if you remember, Marian, was completely free of dust and cobwebs.’
‘Yes that’s right.’
‘So don’t worry, Lara. The woman who turned into the wizened, old Sorceress Zena was the young woman who painted your portrait, the same woman who imprisoned you in the secret room all those years ago, and the woman who became the old witch in this picture.’
‘I do so hope that you are right,’ said Lara.
‘I know so,’ maintained Diana.
‘Good. Now let’s decide what you are both going to wear for the wedding,’ said Marian on a happier note. ‘But your dress has been ruined in the forest, Diana.’
‘Yes I know. I really am sorry, Lara.’
‘I have told you not to worry, it is not important. There are plenty more of my dresses in the castle. In fact there should be a few more in this drawer.’ Lara pulled two dresses from the large chest of drawers.
‘Well these are just as beautiful,’ said Marian, holding a yellow dress against Diana, and an orange one against Lara.
‘I think we’re sorted,’ said Diana, ‘if they fit us that is.’
‘They should do, they were all made by the same dressmaker for my 13th birthday. I have not even worn them yet.’
‘Well why don’t you try them on?’ smiled Marian.
‘Of course,’ said Diana, and in a flash they were changed into their new bridesmaid dresses.
‘You both look wonderful, and they seem to fit perfectly.’
‘Yes they do. Oh, and these are yours,’ said Diana, as she passed the medallion and the Ring of Tyros to Lara.
‘Thank you Diana.’
A large log fire was burning in the fireplace, so Marian reached up and took down the painting of the sorceress. ‘Do you think we should burn it?’
‘Yes it’s so ugly,’ sneered Diana.
‘Here you are, Lara, do you want to throw it onto the fire? After all, she did hold you captive for so long.’
‘No I would rather not, Marian.’
‘I understand,’ she said, bending down and placing the portrait onto the fire. As the flames licked their way through the painting, they all thought they heard a faint cry, although no one spoke, and then a blue wisp of smoke, which spun like a tornado, rose up from the flames and disappeared into the red sky above.
‘Ooohh, that was a little scary,’ shuddered Lara.
‘Don’t worry, hopefully that will be the last you ever see of the Sorceress Zena,’ said Marian. Meanwhile the Sheriff had shown the others to their very own rooms. Erich had decided to go straight to bed. He wanted some time on his own to think about his future and the following day when he would be Robin’s Standard Bearer.
‘Now I have a few rooms that have been specially prepared for the children,’ said the Sheriff.
‘And it’s getting late,’ said the friar, ‘so I will have to go and prepare for the wedding.’
‘But what about the secret passage?’ urged Johnny, intensely. ‘Don’t you want to know where it is?’
‘Do you know about this secret passage?’ said Friar Tuck to the Sheriff.
‘No I do not, but I would like to see it. Lead on, friar.’
‘Megawhizz,’ screeched Johnny, who was so very excited.
‘We’ll have to go into your bedroom, Sheriff,’ said David, ‘and we will need some torches.’
Little John reached up and took two torches from the wall, handing one of them to Robin. They walked up a flight of spiralling stairs and turned into the Sheriff’s changing room. Friar Tuck noticed that there were no longer any scrolls of paper on the desk, and the children were quite surprised that the room was so tidy. Johnny ran in front, opened the connecting door and went straight over to the fireplace. Fortunately no fire had been lit. ‘I don’t think we’ll all be able to go through at the same time, there won’t be enough room,’ he said, looking up at the huge figures of Friar Tuck and Little John.
‘I’ll breathe in,’ chuckled the friar.
‘And I’ll bend down,’ grinned Little John.
‘But seriously,’ said Friar Tuck, ‘if Johnny leads the way with Robin and Little John, then I will follow with David and the Sheriff.’
‘A good idea,’ said Robin, as he joined Johnny and Little John in the fireplace. Johnny pulled on the lever, and immediately they w
ere swung round into the dark passageway. They were followed in only a matter of seconds by the other three.
‘Well I never knew of this hideout,’ declared the Sheriff.
‘You may as well lead the way, Johnny,’ said Robin. ‘Here you are, take this torch.’
He led them up the dark and dusty staircase to the corridor.
‘Which way do we go from here?’ asked Little John.
‘Well we turned left the last time, in fact we haven’t been down the other way,’ said Johnny, who turned left, walked along the corridor, climbed a few stairs, turned a corner and went into the room where he was joined by the others.
‘What a wretched place in which to hold captive the Princess Lara,’ remarked Friar Tuck.
‘Yes, that sorceress was truly evil,’ added Robin.
David came forward to show them the secret way out, but Johnny turned to show them the frame on which he had read of Lara’s plight and the Magic Tyros Ring of Green. ‘Look, look,’ he gasped, ‘the writing, the verse, it’s changed!’ Johnny stood up on the bed, raised his torch and read out loud the new verse.
‘The Princess Lara freed at last
From the imprisonment of her long, lost past,
By the Magic Tyros Ring of Green
And the Sword of Davalon’s silver sheen.
But two kings lie in deep despair,
Tyros and Davalon are the pair.
Others you may free as well,
From the wizard’s black magic spell.
They can be reached in a far off place,
By Jodadi, Master of Time and Space.
A message he will give to you,
But great dangers await the few,
Who venture on this hazardous trek,
To find and fight the Wizard Zenotek!’
While Johnny was reading the verse, the Sword of Davalon shone brightly in the dimly lit room, and in a nearby room, Lara felt a strange sensation as her ring and medallion glowed and flickered. As Johnny read the last line of the verse, the light from the Sword of Davalon gradually faded and so too did the writing within the gilt frame, leaving behind a painting, the Portrait of Lara! David knew what would have to be done in the near future, but he said nothing. He now knew that the Sword of Davalon and the Magic Tyros Ring of Green were once owned by two kings, King Davalon and King Tyros, and it seemed that they were both in desperate trouble, somewhere in outer space!