Page 44 of Queen of Sherwood

Ada raised her head. Her voice was soft, like an angel, though stern. “She means that you fancy men. And Robin. But also men. Just like we . . . fancy each other.”

“And is that something I’m supposed to be ashamed of?” I asked the girl.

Ada’s mouth opened and closed, face twisting with confusion. “Erm. No? I don’t—it’s a sin!”

I blinked at her, letting her words sit between us. “What’s sinful about love, Lady Ada?”

“I’m not a noblewoman,” she snapped, throwing my words about being a knight back at me. “It’s not sinful to love, Alan-a-Dale, but it’s sinful to love like that.”

I snorted, shaking my head. My arms folded over my chest. “Well, that sounds a bit silly when it rings in the air, doesn’t it? Love is love, love. Is it not?”

She struggled to find her words again. When she looked over at Gracie for assistance, Gracie just shrugged. They were at a loss.

I let out a heavy sigh and stepped a bit closer to both of them. My hands came out to touch their shoulders, to bring the three of us closer so I could speak candidly to them. They didn’t flinch away—their eyes lifted to mine, their faces a mess of confusion, regret, shame, and fading desire that they held for one another.

I know all of those feelings well, lasses.

I spoke softly. “Listen to me, girls. Don’t ever be ashamed of who you are. Understand? Hold your heads high and proud. Be ready to defend yourselves from the shame, guilt, and ridicule others might try to thrust upon you.”

“But how?” Gracie asked incredulously. She threw her arm out, past the foliage hiding us in this little nook away from camp. “Anyone finds out, we’ll be—”

“Chastised? Teased? Beaten? Killed?” I shook my head sternly. “Not here, Grace. Here, in the forest, we are free. The woods are our protection. And you have a growing army of men and women who will defend your honor and lives. Remember that. The Merry Men are a family, loves. I can guarantee you that with Robin at the helm, she doesn’t give a single shit about who you kiss, which means the others won’t, either. Frankly, she has bigger things to worry about. We all do.”

Their necks bobbed as they gulped and shared a quick glance. Their shame had shifted into fear, and unfortunately I could only do so much to discourage that.

Cautious fear was understandable. Shame about who they were, in my opinion, was unacceptable.

I took my hands off their shoulders and wagged a finger at them. “Don’t be scared and meek. With our freedom in Sherwood comes responsibility to ourselves—to learn to understand ourselves. Otherwise we’ll never be content. You can’t live your lives in shame, Ada, Gracie.”

I nodded firmly to them, to indicate I was finished with my spiel.

I could feel the questions in their souls and on their faces. Questions they didn’t know how to ask.

In time, they would learn. This was only the beginning of their journey, and it made me smile as their faces shifted from fear to something like understanding.

“Who says it can’t be Lady Guinevere and Lady Iseult, eh?” I asked, bumping Gracie’s shoulder with mine to try and lighten the heavy mood.

She snickered. Ada flushed.

I flapped a hand at them and said, “Carry on,” then turned to leave the small clearing.

“Thank you, Alan.”

I froze and looked over at my shoulder. Gracie bowed her head as she finished her thanks, fingers laced together in front of her.

I gave her and Ada a nod and a sad smile. “Feel free to explore yourselves here, loves, behind these trees.” Then I sighed. “Because God knows people like us can’t do it outside of them.”

Chapter 12

Will Scarlet

Istaked off by myself before Alan finished his song, but made sure to stick to a nearby shadow to watch him reach his bombastic ending. When he was met with applause and cheers from the camp, I grunted and moved on, disappearing deeper into the woods.

I was glad my dandelion had found his place among the people. He could be fierce and protective like the rest of us, yet his strengths lied in empowering them. Similar to Tuck in way, except with wholly different ways of going about it.

Tuck held the people’s souls in his hands. He was undoubtedly the smartest of us, and the most learned. Alan had their moods and admiration. When Tuck brought spirits down with dour talks of God and conflicting beliefs, Alan raised their spirits with song and fantasy.

I supposed there was a place for both of them here.

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