Robin Hood
A long time ago, in Nottingham, England, there lived a king named Richard. King Richard was a wise and generous man. The town of Nottingham loved its king. The kingdom was rich and prosperous.
But one day, as King Richard was traveling to another city, his ship was lost at sea. Days, months passed, but no news was heard of the king or his ship. The town mourned for their beloved king.
In King Richard's absence, his younger brother, King John, took the throne. But King John was nothing like his elder brother. He raised taxes and took all the money from the poor. The town began to grow poorer and poorer with each passing day. Nottingham lost hope.
But, as they say, with every injustice, a hero is born. This is the story of one such man: Robin Hood.
Robin Hood and the Merry Men
Robin Hood was a young man who lived in Sherwood Forest, near Nottingham. He had a group of friends called the Merry Men. After seeing the injustice done by King John, Robin took it upon himself to help his people.
He used to raid royal carriages to steal from the king. He and his men would then distribute the stolen wealth to the poor people. Every time a royal carriage passed through the forest, Robin and his Merry Men would appear out of nowhere.
— Oh, I hope Robin Hood is very, very sleepy today. I hope he doesn't hear me passing through this forest. — Shhh! Odi, why are you making so much noise? Slow down! — Ah, but sir, how can I ask the horses to go slowly? Robin Hood can hear our footsteps too. We're walking on the ground, sir. It can't be silent. — Oh, be quiet!
But the minister was right. Robin and his Merry Men could hear everything, and suddenly...
— Oh, no! Thieves! Thieves! — I am not a thief. You are. This is the poor people's money, not yours. Go tell your king, the people of Sherwood are not alone. Come on! Let's move.
The Sheriff's Trap
— Thank goodness for Robin Hood, Jasmine! We owe him our lives. — Robin Hood? Sheriff! Do you want to keep your job or not? He did it again. All our money and all our gold are gone. That hooligan did it again. I want him arrested right now. — We, we tried, Your Highness. Many times. But they just disappear. — Are you telling me you can't do it then? — No, I will. I will arrest Robin Hood. He is my enemy. Give me one more chance, Your Highness? — Do whatever it takes. I don't care. I want him arrested!
The Sheriff was furious. He decided to set a trap for Robin. The Sheriff knew there was a way to make Robin Hood come to the palace. The only way: Maid Marian.
Maid Marian was King Richard's niece. She was a beautiful and strong woman. Robin once saw Maid Marian as she was crossing Sherwood Forest in her carriage.
Robin attacked the carriage, believing it to hold the king's treasures. But as soon as he saw Maid Marian, he couldn't believe his eyes. He dropped his sword and knelt before her overwhelming beauty.
— I am... I... Who are you?
It was love at first sight for Marian too.
— I am Marian. You, you are Robin Hood? — Indeed.
The Archery Contest
— Robin, have you heard? The Sheriff is holding an archery contest. The winner gets to marry Maid Marian. — Ha ha! This Sheriff is so foolish! This is obviously a trap. Everyone knows Robin Hood is the best archer. We're not going. Are we, Robin?
But Robin wasn't listening to Tac.
— Did you say Maid Marian, Little John? The best archer gets to marry the beautiful Maid Marian? — No, Robin! They'll arrest you if we go to the castle. — But how will they recognize us? I'll disguise myself. — Oh, dear! Wait a minute. I won't let you go alone. I'll disguise myself as the Duke of Chatney, so I can get close to King John.
As decided, both were at the castle gates. No one recognized them, except for...
— Ha! You are Robin Hood! — But why are you hissing, sir? Wait. Aren't you King John's assistant? Wait, what's your name? Oh, yes, Sir Hiss. — Laugh all you want. I'll arrest both of you right now. Guards! Guards!
But Sir Hiss was immediately put into the beer barrel.
— Now you're not just Sir Hiss. You've been promoted to Sir His-ale. Ha ha! Get it, Robin? Hiss and ale? — Shhh! Quiet, John. Let's go. — No! Wait! Guards!
Soon it was Robin's turn to draw his bow. He shot three arrows one after another, and the crowd was shocked. All three arrows hit the bullseye. The crowd cheered for this brilliant archer. Robin took off his hood and began to look for Maid Marian. But just then...
— Arrest him! That is Robin Hood! — Ha ha! I finally caught you!
But Robin wasn't scared. He knew his Merry Men very well.
— Not so fast, Sheriff! Let go of Robin and say goodbye to your beloved king. — Oh, no! — Let them go! Let them go! Sheriff, I don't want to die!
The soldiers immediately released Robin. Robin and Little John headed for the gate. As they exited, Robin saw Maid Marian.
— Marian! I will come for you. Wait for me! — Always, Robin, always!
Robin Hood's Sacrifice
Once back in the forest, Robin Hood and his Merry Men began to plan how to bring Maid Marian back. Just then, a village boy came to Robin.
— Robin, they're arresting my father! — What? Come on! Let's go!
Robin and his Merry Men headed towards the village and saw that the villagers were fighting with the soldiers.
— It's the king's order. He has tripled your taxes. If you cannot pay, then I must arrest you. Go thank your Robin Hood. He angered the king, and now you must pay for it. — Robin Hood is a good man. He cares about us. Unlike your selfish king. He is a bad man! — How dare you? Arrest him! — No! Wait! I am the one you are looking for. Leave these people alone. — No, Robin! We don't want you to go! Run! — No! Let them arrest me. — Robin, what are you doing? — Perhaps I steal for a good cause, but it is still stealing. I don't want all the children in this village to follow this path. You must all stand together and fight. That is the only way. Goodbye, my people! See you soon.
The villagers were sad that their hero was gone. But the Merry Men were not going to give up on their leader. They followed the carriage from the forest, so the soldiers wouldn't see them.
— Ha ha ha! The great Robin Hood, protector of the poor, provider of foolishness. You are a thief! A hooligan! A bandit! — And what are you, Your Highness? You steal from the poor. Where does the tax money go? What does your palace do with it? Just because you sit on that throne doesn't mean you can steal from the poor. I am not a thief. The money I take belongs to my people. I give them back what is rightfully theirs. Let our majesty, King Richard, return. He will see what he will do with you. — Silence! Throw him in the dungeon!
The Return of King Richard
The town of Nottingham was now in real danger. Their savior had been captured. But would the Merry Men let King John win?
— Tac! What are you doing? — Shhh! — Fire! Fire! Run! Save yourselves! — Robin, come quickly! The castle is on fire! — Why do you want to help me? — I don't like King John either. I was wrong about him. Let's go.
Robin didn't trust the Sheriff, but he had to escape the castle. He followed the Sheriff onto the roof.
— And now? Now I win! Ha ha! Where will you go now, Robin? The water below is deep, and there are archers everywhere. — I knew you weren't trustworthy, Sheriff! Goodbye! — Ha ha ha! How foolish! He'll never survive!
But Robin Hood survived. He swam through the channels and emerged from the river into the forest.
— Ah! I hope all my men are well.
But back at the castle, something unexpected happened. King Richard had returned to his kingdom. After the fire was put out, the town of Nottingham gathered at the castle to complain about King John and the Sheriff.
— I apologize to my people. This will not be tolerated. You have disappointed me, John. King John, Sir Hiss, and
