You've undoubtedly heard the tale of Robin Hood, but what if I was to tell you they got it all wrong?
First of all, Robin is female.
{All characters other than my own belong to J. R. R. Tolkien}
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She was 10 years old when she encountered the white wizard.
The girl giggled as her bare feet padded against the damp soil, a large grin etched onto her olive face as she swung herself around several trunks, a mission set upon her mind.
Treebeard's coarse voice echoed throughout the vast woods, and time began to run out for the girl, however she knew the ent would be in no haste. The trees were incredibly slow with their actions, yet it didn't seem to bother her, as this also meant she could have more time to explore before the tree would begin to grow worried.
However, as the girl had grown to know Fangorn and it's residents, Treebeard no longer grew much concern. After all, he was a tree, and trees do not hold the same perception towards danger as most humans.
"Four..." The ent drew out, his raw voice tumultuous enough for the girl to hear, even at her distance.
She slowed her pace, her amber-rimmed eyes scanning across the foliage, examining the shadows created by fallen logs and twisted roots. This part of the forest was not one in which her mind was fully familiar with, yet she did know that it held the best hiding places.
"Hm, Three..."
The girl's eyes finally landed on the perfect refuge, and she sprinted forward, sliding onto her knees as she slipped into a ditch. Hissing in pain, she looked down to see a line of blood seeping from the joint of her leg. However, the girl didn not take concern, as she was too caught up in winning the game of hide and seek.
"Two..." Treebeard's heavy voice sounded out around the woods, and the girl grinned, confident in her hiding place.
The cover of a fallen log hung above her head, and she lifted her eyes to observe her field of view. However, shock ran through her body at what her eyes had spotted.
A figure cloaked in white roamed through the woods, his strides slow yet assured as his steps were supported by a long staff. An aura of wisdom and light seemed to illuminate the bearded man, and the girl gasped as she realised what he was.
A wizard.
She had heard of wizards before, both good and bad, however she had questioned their existence. There had been stories told of evil wizards who would hurt children, along with grey beards who would assist hobbits on their journeys, however the girl remained tense as she did not know the intentions of this particular entity. Fortunately, her hiding place had caused for the girl to go unnoticed by the magic being.
"One... hoom, now where could you be, little child?" The voice of Treebeard echoed around the old woods, and the white wizard lifted his head, a light grin upon his lips.
The girl could not bring herself to lower her head into the ditch, as her eyes remained glued onto the luminous sorcerer. Out of fear or curiosity, she could not tell, but one would not blame the child for having such a reaction when witnessing a wizard for the first time.
"My child, if you wish to win the game, then it best be you crouch lower."
A wave of panic crashed over the girl as she took in the words of the wizard. Without even turning his head, the being had identified her presence.
And yet, even with this knowledge, the girl could not retreat her eyes, as her body seemed frozen.
"Do not fret, dear child. I have no intention to harm you." The wizard's deep voice assured. "Come out, if you will. I would like to learn the story of how a human child has sought the refuge of Fangorn."
He turned to face the girl, and her eyebrows raised as she examined the hard yet wise features of his face. His expression was stern, accompanied by deep eyes which came across to be rather intimidating, yet her instincts trusted the words of the wizard.
Lifting herself from the ditch, the girl dodged the overhanging log as she fully emerged from her hiding place, her body tense as she slowly stood to her feet. Holding her breath, the girl took a cautious step forward, her eyes never once leaving the gaze of the wizard.
"There is no need to be so tense. I have assured you, I hold no intent to harm." He spoke, a soft smile spreading across his lips as it cracked his stone expression. "What is your name?"
"Eretria." The girl pronounced with pride, regaining confidence as she held her head high.
Suddenly, a loud rustle sounded from the trees standing by the left, soon to be followed by the crack of a branch and a coarse grunt. Emerging from the leaves, Treebeard stepped into view, a grumble escaping his timber lips before his eyes met those of the illuminated being, and his large footsteps come to a hault.
"Ah - ah, the white wizard..." Treebeard drew out, giving a slight nod of his wooden head. "It has been long time since your last visit to this region of Fangorn"
"Like I have told many times, old Treebeard, you are free to refer to me as Saruman." The wizard responded, resting both hands on his staff as he turned to face the ent, his headed tilted.
"Hm, hoom, Saruman. Forgive my aged mind for being so forgetful." Treebeard hummed, the timber of his neck cracking as he turned his large head to rack the forest floor. "Have your sharp eyes possibly spotted a young- oh!"
The ent's matured eyes landed on the girl who stood before the wizard, his reaction time rather slow, although not for an ent, of course.
She breathed out a sigh of relief at the presence of the tree, as he gave her a sense of protection. Reverting her eyes back to the wizard, she watched as his thick brows furrowed upon inspecting her bloody knee.
"You appear to be injured. Come here my child, I will mend your wound." Saruman beckoned, the atmosphere shifting as a warm glow now seemed to emit from the white figure.
The girl took a cautious step forward, her eyes lifting toseek reassurance from the ent.
"Go on, little one." Treebeard spoke with excitment, his eyes wide as he knelt to observe the procedure in one slow, steady movement. "He is a wizard! He holds magic!"
Grinning with a sudden eagerness, the girl rushed forward to witness the enchantment of the wizard known as Saruman. Not often had Saruman gotten along with children, however he sensed the potential and determination in which this one girl possessed.
And for that reason, this encounter was not the last in which the girl shared with the white wizard, for the rogue child brought a reason for the sorcerer to frequently visit fangorn. Each time the pair would meet, Saruman would educate the child on facts of Middle Earth in which her little mind could barely imagine. The time in which the two spent together was far from wasted, as the wizard would teach the child life skills, even bringing her souvenirs from distant lands every now and again.
Not only did the wizard enhance the child's life, she enhanced his. She gave him a sense of youth in which he had not experienced for a long time, along with a father-child like bond which grew to become almost unbreakable.
She was 10 years old when she befriended the white wizard.
