Robin of Loxley and his cousin Much are arrested in Sherwood Forest for killing one of the King's deer. They are imprisoned by Guy of Gisburne in the Sheriff of Nottingham's dungeon where they meet up with a motley bunch of criminals who are destined to become the first of the Merry Men. After they escape into Sherwood Forest, Robin is approached by Herne The Hunter and told that it is his destiny to fight the Norman invaders. The Sheriff knows all about Herne - he holds a silver arrow that is reputed to have once belonged to Herne himself.
The Sheriff and his brother, the Abbot, upset over the activities of Robin and his men arrange a fayre, including an archery contest, in the Castle. He offers the Silver Arrow of Herne to whomever wins the contest, something he is sure will tempt Robin out of the forest and into his grasp. After this fails to end up with Robin's capture their last resort is the Sorcerer, Simon De Belleme, a worshipper of the dark arts, who wants Maid Marion as his bride. He agrees to use his sorcerous powers to capture, or kill, the men of Sherwood Forest as long as the Sheriff and the Abbot promise Marion to him.
The Sheriff, Abbot Hugo and Guy are in the hamlet of Elsdon presiding over the trial of Jennet and Thomas, a husband and wife accused of witchcraft. Robin has a dream that leads him to make decisions that the rest of the Merry Men question the logic of, but his dreams lead them to a disguised tax collector and some hidden taxes. The Sheriff is furious about the loss of his taxes and wants Robin's head on a plate. Loathe to send Guy and his men into Sherwood to die he comes up with a cunning plan to get to the outlaws.
The arrival in Sherwood of seven Templars, heading back to their church in Lincoln, and their gold crested banner is too much for a thief, Siward, to ignore. He steals the banner and runs into Robin and his men as he escapes. The Templars think that they are all together and after a brief altercation the Templars leave, with Much as a hostage. Now Robin and his men have to deal with seven of the most feared fighting men known to man, to rescue Much from their grasp.
While visiting his new love Meg in Wickham, Little John is seen by Guy and the Sheriff's men. The Sheriff punishes the villagers by fining them six months wages. Meanwhile a minstrel, Alan A Dale, is found wandering through the forest on his way to kill the Sheriff. His love, Mildred, has been betrothed to the Sheriff and is being delivered to Nottingham, along with a 10,000 marks dowry. Robin and Marion realise that they can help Alan by rescuing Mildred and get the money to help the villagers of Wickham at the same time. All they need do is find Guy and his men and ambush them.
Robin and his men save a wandering knight from a band of cut throats who ambush him in Sherwood. After a meal and drink together the knight surprises Robin with an offer that could change the lives of all the Merry Men. Could they soon be free men or is Robin being tricked by someone he trusts with his life?
