[Poggio]

Robin felt he should have woken up, however he was still running in the dream world. It was well past midnight and his subconscious was telling him that he should be awake. When he arrived home he took off the rest of his guise hiding it so that his step family would not find out about it. He started picking the lentils out of the fire, but couldn't see anything behind his blurred vision. He felt foolish for running away. Robin abandoned the hearth and went into another room to set a fire to heat the home for when his step family returned, but inside the room the fire was already lit and some one was rocking in the chair staring forlornly into the fire. He dropped to his knees by the rocking chair and his father tore his gaze from the fire. “My son.” He smiled. Robin nuzzled the hand that had been offered to him before pressing it against his heart. His dream told him that his father had finally returned from his travels since he was a merchant. He immediately started to make him more comfortable. As he resumed sitting near his father he noticed a small bag. Normally the exciting tales were enough to please Robin but he thought perhaps this once he too would have a present like his sisters. His father saw his expectant eyes and smiled. Out of the bag he pulled out a rose with pedals as pure as snow. The flower looked strangely familiar. “For you my son,” He held it out but as Robin's fingers circled around the stem his father squeezed his hand tightly forcing Robin to wince as the thorns pierced his flesh. “My son, times are hard... and in order to pay my debt, you are to take this rose and present it to the prince... other wise.” His voice trailed unable to look at his son any more. In truth it was his foolish pride that had gotten him in trouble. He had boasted about how his son was more fair then any, Lady, man, or creature of nature. It soon turned into a loose loose situation for Robin's father. If his son could indeed hold up to the boast, he would never see his son again, if his son could not his family would be in deep dept. Robin left his home later that night taking only a small bag with him. It contained a few belongings including his one magical shoe. When he arrived at the castle the guards locked him in a room telling him the prince will see him when he saw fit. He did not know how much time had passed while he idly smelled the rose.