The dark figure kept to the shadows in front as Arthur was led through the forest by the Wild Children. They had been walking for ages.

'Where are you taking me?' Arthur asked as he stared at the looming silhouette and his backpack dangling from the man's hand. He could still hear Robin's feathers buzzing inside.

Right behind, the boy with the bowler hat planted a stick into Arthur's back, making him stumble forward. 'Keep moving.'

Despite his predicament, Arthur was feeling bold. And he asked loudly so that the man was sure to hear, 'Who are you ? I think I have the right to know.'

The man came to a halt, making everyone else stop too. Then slowly, he walked into the light from the Wild Children's torches and right up to Arthur, who gulped at the sight.

The man was grizzled and stared down with the blackest of eyes. Scars covered his sinister and brutish face, and a brown robe flowed down his bulging frame.

'You want to know who I am?' the man gruffed with hatred. 'I am the enemy of outlaws and the one that went by Robin Hood.'

Arthur gulped again. He wasn't feeling bold now. 'You're...you're...you're the Sheriff?'

The man gave an evil smile before a shrill laugh drew everyone's attention.

'Mother's here,' the boy with the bowler hat said.

Arthur peered around the Sheriff and saw another silhouette looming beyond the light.

'Is this him?' the figure then rasped softly.

'It is, mother,' the boy with the bowler hat answered.

'Good.'

The figure appeared, making Arthur gasp this time. With skin that cracked and flaked, thin and scraggly hair cascaded over the crooked shape of a gaunt-faced woman.

'Ah, yes,' she brayed, wrenching over. She bent down, grabbed Arthur's chin and yanked his head up. 'I see the resemblance to the villainous king.'

'Morgana?' Arthur breathed.

'Morgana le Fay you will call me,' the woman shrieked before snapping her gaze at Arthur's backpack, where she glared at it hypnotically. 'I sense Camelot.'

The Sheriff ripped open the bag, where Robin Hood's feathers suddenly flew out and up into the air. And realizing what they were, the man stared, enraged.

Yet, Arthur's heart filled with hope at their sight, that somehow they would help him escape, but that very instance, they took off and disappeared.

The Sheriff snarled. And as he sent his silver arrow after them, Morgana grabbed Arthur's backpack, reached inside and pulled out the crown.

'I knew this day would come,' the woman hissed with delight, making her skin crack and flake even more. 'It's finally in my hands. My magic may be weakening, the Lady of the Lake cursing it before I rid this world of her, but with this crown, the power of Camelot is mine for the taking. I will be as powerful as I've ever been.'

Arthur went numb, but anger boiled. 'You killed the Lady of the Lake?'

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'Indeed, boy. Only fitting for the one that imprisoned me for too long.'

'You will never get Camelot's power.'

'I will. And you will help me. You will make me the Queen of Camelot.'

'I will never help you. And you will be stopped.' Though Arthur had no idea what had become of them, not knowing if they were still alive, he added, 'Outside of this forest, there are people, the Merry Knights they call themselves, the protectors of the legends of King Arthur and Robin Hood. They fight for justice and they will stop you, along with me and my friends.'

Suddenly, Morgana and the Sheriff howled with maddening rage. It was so terrifying and loud that it felt like the ground was about to gobble up the entire world.

'They must be destroyed,' Morgana finally shirked.

'And this forest can join them,' bellowed the Sheriff. 'I want to finally rid Robin Hood's name from existence.'

'Mark my words, my ally,' Morgana's voice now sounded dreamy, 'the legends of this land will wither, perish under us.'

Arthur was about to tell them otherwise when the boy with the bowler hat piped up.

'Will you really destroy this forest?' he said, cruelty now missing from his tone.

Arthur turned around and saw that he looked afraid. All of the Wild Children looked afraid.

The boy with the bowler hat continued, 'I thought you were going to help us take it all, make it ours, take it from the Children of the Forest.'

The Sheriff's forehead creased sharply and he replied with force, 'We have no time for child's play.'

'But you promised. And where will live if the forest is destroyed?'

'ENOUGH! THAT IS NOT MY CONCERN!' The Sheriff had raised his hand, ready to strike.

The boy with the bowler hat cowered to the forest floor and cried, 'Please don't. I'm sorry.'

The Sheriff lowered his hand and smirked. 'You will do as we say. Do I make myself clear?'

'Y–y–yes.'

The Sheriff then looked around at the other Wild Children. 'All of you will do as we say. Yes? If not, you'll meet the same fate as this forest.'

There was silence.

'ANSWER ME!'

'W-we'll do as you say,' came a chorus of frightened girls and boys.

'Good,' the Sheriff gruffed.

The boy with the bowler hat now looked at Arthur, his face filled with guilt and regret. And Arthur felt sorry for him. He felt sorry for the Wild Children.

Just then, Morgana cackled, 'The crown can take us to Camelot. I can see the path entwined in its layers and seams.'

That is not what Arthur wanted to hear.

Morgana placed the crown onto the forest floor before muttering something under her breath. The next moment, leaves and twigs lifted into the air, making the Wild Children cower back. The debris then started to swirl until a violent vortex sputtered with bolts of light.

Soon, and through all the disorder, Arthur saw an image. It wasn't as clear as when he saw it at the Isle of Avalon, but there was no doubt it was Camelot.

Morgana shrieked with pleasure. However, her delight was short-lived.

The castle disappeared in a shimmer, the churning stopped, and the leaves and twigs fell back to the ground with a sudden whoosh.

'My magic is not strong enough,' Morgana howled. 'But maybe–' she turned to Arthur. 'Yes. I'm sure it will show you. Boy, take the crown.'

Arthur didn't budge.

'Boy, take the crown,' Morgana demanded once more.

Again, Arthur didn't move, but straightaway, his body began to shift all by itself like he was a puppet on a string. And no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't stop it. He wrested over the crown and picked it up, his entire body flushing with energy as it had done so before. But that was all. Nothing followed. Nothing stirred.

Morgana howled in defeat again, breaking her spell on Arthur. 'I need more power. And I know where we can get it.' She snapped her fingers and a loud plodding filled the night.

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP was all Arthur heard until he saw four colossal trolls with enlarged and grotesque heads tramp into the light. Larger and more frightening than the ogre, they were carrying a carriage made of slithering bramble of which sat Pridwen and the Sword in the Stone.

Arthur was so relieved to see them, and to see them intact.

With heavy rumbling huffs, the trolls were quick to their knees. And after Morgana snatched the crown from Arthur, she climbed onto the carriage, the Sheriff right behind. The crooked woman then snapped her fingers again and the trolls got back to their elephant-sized feet.

'ONWARDS!' she commanded and the trolls began thumping away.

'Move it,' the boy with the bowler hat said before Arthur felt a sharp poke in his back.

Arthur turned around and saw the boy, his stick raised. 'You don't have to do this. Let me go. If you do, I'll try my hardest to not let them destroy Robin's Wood. I promise.'

For a second, the boy with the bowler hat seemed to contemplate his words, but after the Sheriff yelled for the Wild Children to follow, his face turned grim. 'Don't make me tell you again. Move it or things will go from bad to incredibly worse for you.'

Arthur turned back around and began to trudge after the lumbering trolls.