Show: Robin Hood
Title: Emerging from the fog
Author: SciFiDVM
Time-frame: post 209
Spoilers: anything through 209
Ships: RobinMarian, one-sided GuyMarian, and some AllanDjaq vs. WillDjaq love triangle will play out
Summary: When an eerie fog blankets the countryside Robin wants to use the cover it provides to do good, the Sheriff plots to use it to destroy Robin and the King, and Allan sees it as a shot at redemption. Group fic – there's a good helping of pretty much every character planned through the story.
Archiving: if you want to put it somewhere else feel free – just please ask first
Disclaimer: This is purely for entertainment purposes and I receive no compensation for this. No copyright infringement intended. I don't own 'em, but oh my, the things I would do to some of them if I did…
Author's note: I am an absolute sucker for a good redemption story arch, and Allan is just begging for one. I still have a week of finals left, but there were more bunnies hopping in my brain last night than on my veterinary board exams (seriously – I want to be a dog and cat surgeon, were 6 questions on rabbit medicine really necessary???)… anyhoo… This story should reach a solid 6 – 10 chapters and it will be finished before Jan. 5, 2008 since I go back on clinic duty at that point and you'll probably never hear from me for at least 6 months. This is my first attempt at a Robin Hood fic, so any feedback on how I'm getting the characters is deeply appreciated. Enjoy!
Emerging from the fog
Chapter 1
"Master, this fog… it's not… it's not natural."
"Quiet Much! It's just a little fog."
The fog had rolled in nearly a day and a half ago, and it did so with a supernatural quality about it. It blanketed Sherwood Forest, Nottingham, Locksley, and all the lands around and in between. It extended to a height half way up the trees, thick as a wet blanket, yet sometimes hovering in a layer roughly a foot from the forest floor. Contained within the thickness were areas that, when viewed from above, looked like rivers flowing with currents and eddies. If one were to walk through those areas they were met with drastic shifts in temperature – chilled to the bone in one spot, then a single step brought the humid heat of a steamy bath house. From the ground, it prevented viewing of anything above, but a look over the level of the fog revealed an overcast sky that cast a creepy orange glow to the lands. Both summated to block out the sun throughout the entire day in a truly eerie manner that showed no signs of clearing up. And for some reason unbeknownst to most of them, the gang found themselves plodding through the heart of it. They had not traveled far from their camp before uneasy fidgeting gave way to complaining.
"Far be it for me to agree with the lad, but honestly Robin, this weather I do not like." John agreed.
"And that is precisely why we are out in it." With that comment Robin found himself on the receiving end of four mutinous stares. Or at least he thought that's what the stares were implying. It was hard to tell through the densely rolling fog that left visibility little more than a hair's breadth from one's own eyeballs. "If the fearless Robin Hood and his gang are disquieted by the fog, surely Gisborne and his men are curled up by a fire somewhere inside their nice safe castle." The statement did little to quell contempt in the eyes of his men. Robin sighed. It was as if he was having to explain it all to children, "That means we can roam the towne freely, make our deliveries, and possibly refill some of our coffers completely unnoticed."
"Yes, well, that's assuming some sort of fog monster doesn't eat us first."
"Much!" The entire gang chorused.
"I'm sorry, but this weather is quite ominous. It leaves one expecting to find all sorts of heinous and dastardly creatures lurking about."
Robin turned his head to rebuff Much for his comment, but before the words could escape his mouth he ran smack into something, completely unseen through the fog, that hit with a force hard enough to land him on his backside.
"Oye!" The offending object muttered from its own spot on the ground in a voice that was all too familiar.
"I guess Much was right about the 'heinous and dastardly creatures'." Will glowered, as he offered a hand to help Robin up.
The gang closed rank immediately and the sound of taught bowstrings brought a palpable tension to the air.
"Come on now! Is that any way to treat a…"
"Finish that sentence with any word other than 'traitor', and I will show you exactly how we feel you ought to be treated." Robin interrupted as he stretched his arrow back an inch further. "What do you want, Allan?"
"I came to warn you lot. But if this is how I'm to be treated, I think I'll just run along back to my warm fire in the nice safe castle."
"Warn us of what?" Djaq was the first to relax her fighting stance and had obviously let her guard down. To her side, she could feel that this action made Will become slightly more tense, even though she could barely make out the rough outline of his form through the fog.
"Now that's better. As I was about to say…" the hint of kindness in Djaq's voice let Allan believe that the tension had dissipated. He moved a step forward into the soupy fog, towards the direction of the almost welcoming voice, when he abruptly felt the tip of an arrow poke his chest.
"Take one more step, and I'll release it." Robin warned.
Allan stumbled backward three steps quickly and held up his hands, not that anyone could even pretend to see him through the six feet of opaque fog. "It's the Sheriff. He's got a plan."
"First, the Sheriff has always got a plan. That's no news to us. Second, what makes you think that for one second we would believe a single word that spills out of your deceitful mouth?" Robin had no interest in playing games today.
"You're right. I deserve that." Allan answered humbly. "But you've got to believe me. I'm risking my own skin to come and warn you."
"That I find hard to believe." John added. "Your sorry hide is the only thing you've ever really cared about. If you're here now, it's only because there's something in it for you."
Allan opened his mouth to protest, but quickly decided better of it. He knew he deserved the abuse he was receiving, and braced for the especially caustic onslaught that was bound to come.
"Why don't you run back to your new master and fetch him his slippers like a good little lap dog." Much contributed.
"Just leave Allan. We're better off without you." Will stated coldly.
Hearing the disdain in his former best friend's voice cut deeper than Allan expected it too. He considered acquiescing and ridding the gang of his intolerable presence, but he knew they needed to hear what he had to say. He needed to tell them partially because he didn't want them to die, and partially because he hoped if he could start slipping them information on Gisborne and the Sheriff's plans that maybe with time they could grow to trust him again and there would be a chance that he could return.
Allan felt himself tense as he waited to hear the final gang member pass judgment on him. He had reckoned that Djaq was his best hope. She had seen the torment in his eyes when the events leading to his exile were going down. There seemed a sliver of hope that maybe she understood that his choices were not as black and white as Robin made them out to be, and that maybe she could be willing to forgive him. Normally he would have flashed her some big pleading, soulful puppy dog eyes, but with the impassable fog he knew it would do no good. As the seconds passed in silence the feeling in his gut that he was about to be hung out to dry by his last hope started to grow. All he could do was hang his head. He was just thankful that when the final blow came, either the verbal one from Djaq or possibly literally a fatal projectile - depending on Robin's mood, that the fog would hide the disappointment and the moisture both welling up in his eyes.
Djaq loved her comrades, but honestly, sometimes they let the testosterone get thick enough to cut with a blade. She no longer trusted Allan either, but to this point he had done nothing to directly harm any of them. "Should we not at least hear the information he offers? Judgment of its validity could be best rendered after we have heard the information."
Robin rolled his eyes. Leave it to Djaq to introduce reason into this confrontation. He applied noticeably more tension to his bowstring in frustration. He was riled up and had so been looking forward to chasing the traitor off and leaving him with a few arrows in the heel of his boot. The logical part of his brain took back control, and with a growl he lowered his bow. "Fine. We'll listen to what the traitor has to say, but we're not doing it out here in the open. As we've now seen, with this fog we can't tell who or what might be lurking about within hearing range. Back to camp everyone."
Allan lifted his head and thanked his lucky stars. He almost merrily trotted to catch up with the group. Even though he could barely see them through the fog, he quickly realized that he had been surrounded by them as they walked, more like a prisoner being led to his cell than a friend being allowed to return to the fold. It became obvious that their intentions were far more of the former than the latter when he stopped abruptly and the flat edge of Much's sword pressed quietly into his back. With a small shove, Much sarcastically mumbled, "Sorry friend". Allan swallowed hard and plodded forward through the fog. He reminded himself that it was a long road to redemption, and bound to have some bumps along the way.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
------------ Nottingham ------------
"Marian? Marian?" Guy's voice rang out through the otherwise quiet stable.
Marian rolled her eyes, sighed, and then steeled herself for the charade she was about to be forced into continuing, "Yes, Sir Guy?" She continued brushing the horse in front of her, hoping that the lack of attention would convince him to go away.
"There you are. I was worried. It's not safe to be out in this weather." He walked over to the stall and rested his crossed arms over the wall.
"It is just some fog Sir Guy. I am perfectly safe."
"Why do you insist on wandering about against mine and the Sheriff's wishes. You know he has ordered all non-essential personnel to stay in their homes until this fog has lifted. For their own safety, of course."
Marian fought hard to suppress the burst of laughter that threatened to erupt from her throat at the statement. The Sheriff was far more concerned with which bejeweled false tooth he should choose for the day than the safety of his people. Something was amiss.
"That is precisely why I am out here." She attempted to flash him a smile. The truth was that she was trying her hardest to avoid being trapped alone with Gisborne somewhere in the castle, and hoped that the stables would provide refuge from his advances. Apparently she had been wrong. "With the restrictions in place, I wanted to ensure that my father's trusted old horse was tended to appropriately. It is all that I have left of him now." It wasn't hard for her to get a few tears to well up in her eyes at the statement. It was true after all. However, if she truly allowed herself to think about that now, it would be a distraction. Grieving could wait. Now she needed to know what the Sheriff was up to.
"Why don't you return inside? I will personally send a servant to care for the creature." He entered the stall and placed a hand gently on her shoulder.
The intimate touch made her shudder. Of course he misinterpreted it. "Marian, you're shivering! I insist that you must come back inside. The reading chamber has a large fire burning in the hearth that will keep out the chill from this inclimate weather. You are welcomed to join myself and the Sheriff there." He stepped closer to her and was about to attempt to pull her closer to him for warmth. "My attentions may be divided, as the Sheriff and I must discuss some important matters, but you are truly welcomed."
Sensing the impending inappropriately tender gesture and having heard what she needed, she quickly turned to him, the movement preempting the embrace, "That is most kind Sir Guy. I believe I will accept your invitation. Please just allow me a few more brief moments alone to remember my father. I will join you shortly."
"Very well. I will await your arrival." He gave her a longing glance and then left to return to the inner castle.
Marian exhaled deeply, not realizing that she had been holding her breath. She regretted being forced to mislead the man yet again, but it was necessary to keep herself safe, to keep Robin safe and informed, and to hopefully keep the King safe. A nagging conscience was a small price to pay for protecting England.
She quickly scribbled a message on a small scrap of paper. She then lifted the horse's right front foot and dislodged the thin metal plate placed between the horse shoe and the bottom of the horse's hoof. The intention of the plate was really to provide extra protection after the animal received and injury stepping on a loose nail years ago. With a slight alteration, it became an excellent place for her and Robin to pass secret messages to each other. She put the paper in place and replaced the metal plate. As she began to lead the horse out of his stall a servant approached.
"Sir Guy has sent me to care for your horse my lady." He acknowledged.
"Thank you. Please turn him out in the south paddock. I feel a graze and chance to run about will do his old bones good in this frightful weather."
"Yes Lady Marian." The servant replied and led the horse off towards the relatively unmonitored pasture on the edge of the towne property closest to the forest.
As Marian made her way to the castle, she noticed Allan apparently sneaking back past the gates. For a brief second her heart raced. Spotting one of the gang sneaking into the castle had always meant that Robin was somewhere nearby. It was an instinctual response that was quickly quashed as the memory of Allan's current allegiances replaced the initial reaction. But why was he now sneaking about? Just then, as he looked around to see that his return had gone unnoticed, his eyes met Marian's. He gave her a quick half smile. She returned a look of suspicion before he quickly dropped the smile, brushed himself off, walked around a corner, and barked some orders at a soldier, trying to make it appear as if nothing was out of the ordinary. Puzzled, Marian entered the castle.
TBC…