
My Man of the Hood
I watch him from the sidelines, my leader of men. He walks through the camp, touching a shoulder here, bending to better hear a conversation there. He looks over to me and winks, smiling that special smile he saves just for me.
He’s so gentle here, among his people. It’s hard to believe that he’s a high born warrior. He treats them all as equals, showing no airs or graces.
We’d slept around the fires last night, wrapped in blankets. I’d had his warmth at my back as he curled around me, cradling me in his arms. This is the norm before a raid, the need to feel kinship, that sense of family.
He believes his men are loyal to him because of his superior fighting skills. I don’t believe that. I believe that it’s his loyalty to his men that inspires them to fight beside him; to fight for the good of the common people.
Pride swells my chest, just looking at what he’s achieved. They’d been a disorganised rabble, these men of the forest, fighting amongst themselves for every scrap of food. Now they’re a brotherhood, banding together to save their families.
The season’s getting colder though, we need to prepare for the coming winter. We have shelter, hidden within the dense forest, far from the prying eyes of the Sheriff. Fallen branches and peat provide a plentiful supply of fuel, we have meat and fish preserved in the smoke houses, fruit and nuts stored. Water’s abundant here in the river valley. What we are lacking is grain, both for our consumption and for the horses and the few milk cows we keep. And, of course ale. Tuck will bring down the wrath of God if we neglect that!
There’s a commotion at the edge of the camp and Will bursts through the bushes. “Robin! The supply train’s coming.”
He drops a kiss on my nose. “Be safe,” he whispers, my gentle man of the hood. He gathers up his bow and quiver.
We steal to live, so our people thrive. That’s a good enough reason… isn’t it?
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleA familiar story made new. Inspiration can unite and create force for change!

I believe that too, and the legend still inspires even after all these years.
Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest. He was such an inspiration to so many. A lovely story Carrie.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThank you Genya, living in ‘Robin Hood Country’, I had to slip in a story with that theme at some point 🙂
Aha, Carrie, you beat me to the punch! I was just remembering that you actually live in Nottinghamshire. I grew up reading about the Sheriff of Nottingham and Robin and Friar Tuck and Maid Marian and all the Merry Men. I didn’t realize that Sherwood Forest was a real place until I started studying geography! Great story. You had me mesmerized for the entire time.
Thanks Fuji, I love the Robin Hood story too, even when I was little and only came here to visit my Grandma I was fascinated by the legend. I used to hide inside the Major Oak as a child, before it got propped up and fenced off 🙂
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleVery entertaining and inspiring. A very nice story with a Robin Hood theme. It was very easy to understand. I will surely share it with my daughter at bedtime. Good job. I love it.
Thank you Lotchie, I hope your daughter enjoys it too 🙂
Maid Marian gained a different perspective living with the outlaws in Sherwood Forest for sure! Robin was a leader because he played the first among equals and they gained the inspiration and will to fight for something they all ended up believing in. I really loved the story and its wonderful pitch!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleThank you Greene. I thought it might be a nice change to see things from Marian’s perspective. I didn’t want to make it absolutely obvious from the start that it was a story about Robin Hood, so I hope it works.
Who doesn’t love a Robin Hood story Carrie? It’s not easy to bring a fresh perspective but you’ve achieved this perfectly in showing us a gentler side to this leader of men. I absolutely loved every word of this.
Thanks Linda, his has always been one of my favourite legends, the story itself has always been an inspiration to me
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleI enjoyed reading the Robin Hood story from a different perspective. The line “Robin! The supply train’s coming.” creates such a feeling of excitement; then there is that hint of doubt at the end. This is a very captivating story.
Thanks Marianna, I’m glad you enjoyed the story, and picked up on the sense of doubt at the end. I like to think that they still had a conscience!
Ah, the legends of Robin Hood and Maid Marian will never go out of fashion, and if your ‘hood’ is Nottinghamshire…
Great starting point for an ‘inspiration’ story and this one gives an interesting, but more domesticated, slant on the legend. Not the Maid Marian that in my hazy recollection was more often than not admired from afar.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleDefinitely Nottinghamshire Alan, it’s right in my neighbourhood. Thanks for taking the time to comment 🙂
What a great idea to tell the story from Marian’s perspective! I love it that she can see the true reasons why Robin is loved and respected by his men. It reminds me of something I recently read about researchers having discovered that alpha males in animal groups are not the strongest or most aggressive ones, but those with empathy and care for the individuals. A very well told story!
Thank you Christer. That sounds like an interesting study. Glad you enjoyed the story 🙂
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleI often think that for every story there are a thousand more and this is a wonderful example. The Man of the Hood touched many people in many different ways and I enjoyed the way you slowly revealed his identity. Well done 🙂
Thanks for commenting Sandra, glad you enjoyed the story
The central idea is old wine in new bottles, but you’ve made it look like a new idea.
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