Little Johnny, Merlynna and Esme watched as dozens of apparitions charged into the horde of redcaps, the chorus of evil laughter turning to frightened squeals.

'It's Robin Hood's good fellows,' bellowed Esme, as the three, plus Fury, were quick to pick up the fight again.

More stunning charms flew through the air, Little Johnny's staff batted more of the tiny beasts, the yo-yo continued its wrecking procession and black wings swatted and swatted some more. And the ghosts? Well, they were just too strong, too quick and too undead.

Then, and as if a strong wind came through and started to carry them off, the remaining redcaps began to flee.

'We did it,' Merlynna cried with a huff, as she, Little Johnny, Fury and Esme rushed to huddle together in celebration.

Putting his arms over the girls' shoulders, Little Johnny replied, 'We sure did. We fought well.'

'Indeed, you fought extremely well,' came a voice.

The children turned and saw a ghostly woman carrying a spectered wisping sword. And behind her were the other phantoms.

'Thank you,' Merlynna replied as the woman floated over. 'And thank you for coming to our rescue.'

The woman bowed, her red transparent hair falling over her lucid charming face.

'So you're the ghosts of Robin Hood's good fellows?' Little Johnny asked.

'Indeed,' the woman answered. 'My name is Marian.'

'Marian?' snapped a shocked Little Johnny and Merlynna together. 'As in Maid Marian?'

The woman smiled. 'That's correct.'

'Well, it's a pleasure to meet you,' added Little Johnny. He then introduced himself and the girls.

'It's a pleasure to meet you, too.' Marian then spied Robin's horn that Esme was carrying. 'My, my. I haven't seen that for a very long time. You know, it once called the good fellows into battle when Robin was still alive.'

'Did it really?' breathed Esme.

'Yes, and maybe it should be used for that purpose again.' Marian nodded with approval. 'Robin would have wanted such, and especially now that his forest is growing dark. So, young ones, if you ever find yourself in danger once more, sound the horn and we will come.'

Little Johnny, Merlynna and Esme were quick to thank her, talking over one another with stunned delight.

'Well, we must be off,' said Marian, 'to train as always, to keep the fire of courage and justice burning.'

'Thank you again,' said the children together.

'Before you go,' Merlynna added quickly, 'have you seen our friend? He's Robin's–' But she hadn't been fast enough. Maid Marian and the other good fellows had already vanished.

The children then stood in silence before Little Johnny eventually said, 'Come on, let's go.'

Merlynna, however, didn't move and was staring down at her hands.

'Did your magic just strengthen again?' Esme asked her.

'It did,' Merlynna replied.

'See how high you can raise the broomstick now,' said Little Johnny.

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And she tried. Merlynna waved her hand and muttered the spell. The broomstick didn't wobble this time but shot up to her waist before dropping back down.

'Incredible,' said Esme. 'You'll be flying in no time.'

'Let's hope,' said Merlynna.

With that, the children and Fury started off again through the forest. But as they were nearing the Babbling Brook, they heard another disturbance.

'Not again,' squirmed Little Johnny, yet he raised his staff in preparation.

'Esme,' Merlynna said eagerly, 'get ready to blow that horn.'

'Will do,' Esme replied, and she ripped it from her belt. And as she placed it up to her mouth, about ready to call Robin's good fellows, out from the undergrowth came the figures of men and women shaped by branches, leaves and bark.

The beings didn't seem wicked but Little Johnny wasn't swayed.

'Stay away from us,' he bellowed, 'or else.'

Merlynna was eyeing them as foe too but Esme was quick to drop Robin's horn.

'It's okay, you two,' she said. 'They are the Green People, the stewards of Robin's Wood. They're good.'

'Are you sure?' asked Little Johnny.

'Yes,' said Esme, 'they're friends. Trust me.'

Little Johnny and Merlynna relaxed as the beings glided towards them, morphing and changing, collecting and discarding matter as they walked. And one of them, a man who had a face of papery sheath and a beard of fuzzy white moss, came right up and peered down at the children with an inquiring look.

'Ah, Esme,' he said heartily, 'it's good to see you.'

'And you, Bredbeddle,' Esme replied.

The green man's face then turned grim. 'It may not be wise to be wandering the forest right now.'

'I know. And we know what's happening to it but we must. We are trying to find a boy. A new child to the forest, like these two.' Esme had gestured to Little Johnny and Merlynna. 'His name is Arthur Hood. We think he was heading towards the Wild Children's territory.'

'Yes, I heard whispers amongst the trees about such a child.'

'And?' Little Johnny and Merlynna asked keenly.

'He indeed entered the Wild Children's territory and was captured by them and two others who go by the names of Morgana and the Sheriff.'

The children gasped.

'So it must have been them that led the Wild Children astray,' Esme stammered.

'Do you know where they're taking Arthur?' Merlynna asked.

Bredbeddle bowed, 'To the druid stones.'

'The druid stones? What are those?' Little Johnny said.

'A place of magic. Strong magic.'

'That doesn't sound good,' said Merlynna.

'Do you know why they're taking him there?' Esme asked.

'Whispers of such haven't reached my ears,' Bredbeddle replied, 'but I will keep them open.'

'Being that you're the stewards of this forest,' said Little Johnny, 'could you stop them from reaching these druid stones?'

A look of shame flitted on Bredbebble's papery face. 'As you can see, the Green People are but made mostly of this forest's remains. We are only custodians. That is it. I truly wish we could help. I'm sorry.'

Little Johnny was disappointed. Merlynna too.

'Although maybe,' Bredbebble continued, 'I can send word out there, for the many other Green People to make a path to the druid stones that will take you away from the danger that has infiltrated Robin's Wood.'

'Would you really do that?' Esme asked.

'I've already sent word on the wind.' Bredbeddle turned and waved his twig hand. And where there was once just undergrowth was now a narrow path winding amongst the trees. 'And don't be alarmed if it changes before your eyes.'

'Thank you so much,' the children said together.

'May your journey be fruitful.' Bredbebble bowed before he and the other Green People disappeared back into the forest.

Little Johnny glared down the new path now before them and said, 'Maybe I should go ahead and catch up with Arthur. Scout it out or something.'

'I know it's me saying this,' said Merlynna, 'but we should stick together. Morgana has magic and powerful from what I've read. Who knows what she's capable of.'

Little Johnny was about to reply with a nod when a whooshing sound filled the air and which was followed by blurs of red flashing towards them.

'Are those–are those–' Merlynna started.

'Robin's feathers,' Little Johnny announced before the plumes zipped above his head like dragonflies, stopped and floated down, landing in his open hand. 'They must have escaped or something.'

'And maybe they came to find us,' said Esme.

'Umm, Little Johnny?' said Merlynna, turning confused. 'Why is it that I can still hear a whooshing noise.'

The children craned their necks up at the sound and saw something else flashing towards them.

'What's that?' shrieked Esme.

Whatever it was, Fury was having none of it. And before Merlynna could send off a freezing spell, he shot towards the object and grabbed it out of the air with his mouth. He then flew back and landed on the young witch's shoulder.

Taking the object, Merlynna announced to the other two, 'It's an arrow. A silver arrow.'

'Who do you think it belongs to?' asked Little Johnny.

Before anyone could wonder, the arrow broke free from Merlynna's grasp and zoomed off, disappearing before anyone had a chance to react.

'Well, whoever it belongs to,' said Esme, 'it wanted to get back to them fast.'

'Come on,' said Little Johnny, 'let's go.'

Now with Robin's feathers, the children entered the path that Bredbebble had carved out and headed off.