Robin Hood: Outcast
By Emily Nightingale
Chapter one
Baxter Mansion
We drove up the posh brick drive way that lead to the mansion in complete silence, all of us contemplating the task ahead. Delicate lanterns lit the way, the soft light illuminating the grounds, an orchestra played, elegant, tasteful, and welcoming, with the soft trickle of the fountain as its backing. The black limousine pulled up in front of Baxter's white marble stairs and the driver left to open our door.
"This is it." I said to the others as the door was opened, this was make or break.
I stepped out of the limousine tidily holding the skirt of my dress in one hand and took in the scene, despite all Baxter's welcoming efforts the house still looked ominous and foreboding. The light from the lanterns cast eerie shadows on the mansions walls creating a strange ghostly effect giving me the shivers, none of the other guests seemed to notice this though. The others joined me at the foot of the stairs and we headed up to the bouncer.
"Names?" He asked, no one got into one of Baxter's party's without being on the guest list.
"Robin Locksley." I said "John Little, William Scarlet, Dee Jack and Mathew Much."
The bouncer checked the list and ticked us off, it always helps, when gate crashing a party, to have a man on the inside to slip your 'names' on the list. Well we weren't exactly going to give them our real names were we? Should anything go wrong we didn't want a repeat of what happened to Wendy.
"Welcome to Mr Baxter's summer masquerade ball, enjoy." Said the bouncer changing his tone.
The grand oak doors opened into Baxter's magnificent entrance hall, crowded with wealthy business men and their trophy wives making polite chatter, each nursing a glass of champagne and silently asking 'why?'
I motioned for the others to follow me, it was vital we didn't mess this up, it was far too dangerous. The summer masquerade ball was Baxter's larges and most popular social gathering, anyone who was anyone in the upper class of Locksdale and the surrounding towns attended it yearly, making it the perfect place for a spot of pick pocketing. Actually it was much more than that, every year, once a year, on this very night Robert Baxter presented his most prized possession to his well to do friends, his diamond encrusted solid gold Baxter goblet, bearing the family crest, a pick and pen cross in front of a large letter B, this was supposed to represent the unity between the Baxter's and the working class miners that made his family's fortune, ha! That wasn't all they gave them, the goblet was commissioned by Baxter's great granddad and paid for through tax by the people of Locksdale, the way we saw it we were just returning that money to the community.
The masquerade ball was a perfect cover, and not only because we blended in perfectly with out masks, it ment no sneaking or running we could simply walk in to the biggest social event on the Locksdale calendar and leave with the goblet, providing we didn't get caught. Which brings me back to how this was extremely dangerous, security was tighter than it had ever been, Baxter was taking no chances and the last thing he needed was all of us getting in here and making off with the goblet. After his humiliating defeat two weeks ago Baxter was keen to redeem himself in the eyes of the haves, and to make sure the have not's didn't get it in their heads that he was soft. We walked past yet another security guard and entered the grand hall.
Beautifully decorated in white and gold the hall was a sight to be held, a grand white piano played in the corner and the dance floor was filled with gliding couples. Across the room I spotted George, he smiled at us and made his way over, dressed in a formal back suit and tie he looked very James Bond (as did Will, John and Mark).
"Hi." He said, his blue eyes twinkling behind his black masquerade mask.
"Hi" I replied feeling my cheeks glow, perfect.
"Guys" said Jack, who looked stunning in an emerald green floor length dress; addressing the others "aren't we ment to be over there now?" she widening her eyes meaningfully.
"No." replied John.
"I think we are" she said frowning at the others, I saw what she was trying to do. "Remember that thing we have to do!"
"Oh" said Will cottoning on; I shook my head at them, 'please don't leave me!'
Mark nodded grinning but John still looked bewildered. Will elbowed him and looked from me to George.
"Oh yeah, best be off." Said John getting what Jack ment, at long last.
They walked off and left me standing there with George, completely embarrassed. Jack winked at me as she walked past, I knew she ment well but this wasn't helping, my relationship with George hadn't really taken off over the past few weeks, and I wasn't sure how I felt about that.
"What thing do they have to do over there?" asked George smiling. I rolled my eyes and walked over to the buffet and picked up a gold rimmed glass of champagne, posh.
"You got in ok then?" George said, making polite conversation and leaning on the buffet table to look at me.
"Of course." I said, great awkward conversation.
"You look beautiful." Said George softly gazing at me, I was so taken aback by the sudden complement I didn't know what to say, fortunately (or unfortunately depending on where your stood) I didn't have to, I tall, thin, stunning blond strut over towards us, well George.
"Hello George." She said tartly, well a man might call it confidently but it was tartly.
"Grace, nice to see you again, I didn't know you were going to be here." He greeted.
"Your dad sent me an invertation, and I wouldn't miss it for the world." She said smiling beautifully taking a step towards him. She wore a cleavage bearing bright pink dress with a matching mask, her blond curls sprayed in place on top of her head along with a silver tiara.
George stood for a moment or two, taking all this in, I coughed reminding him I was still here, men.
"Oh, Grace this is Robin a good friend of mine, Robin this is Grace." He said introducing us, I plastered on a fake smile and said.
"Nice to meet you."
"Im sure it is, im Grace Gisborne of the Nottingham Gisborne's?" she said pompously making it sound like a question.
"Yeah, im Robin, err just Robin." I said unsure how she wanted me to respond.
At my words a big satisfied grin spread across her face, contented with the knowledge she I wasn't a threat, she was obviously far higher up the social ladder than I was.
"So George….." she started and if im going to be honest I zoned out there and then, nothing she said was of any interest to me and I doubt George found it all that fascinating ether. But ever the gentleman he listened while she rattled on about shopping, her friend and her daddy's business.
After fifteen minuets of this stimulating conversation she had to go and powder her nose.
"Anyway it was really nice talking to you again" she said looking him in the eyes "we should do it again some time."
And as soon as she was out of ear shot I said.
"Finally!" I couldn't help myself.
George laughed at me, desperate for him not to get the wrong idea I said.
"Well, have you ever met a more boring narcissistic person? Me, me, me, me."
"You were calling me that two months ago, remember?" He said getting himself a glass.
"Yeah well it's true, I didn't think she'd ever shut up!" I said.
"She's not that bad." He said.
"Yeah and a man eating temptress likes you for your personality." I said how come guys could never see past the pretty faces?
He just laughed at me and suggested that we go stand over by the windows, away from the hungry business men surrounding the buffet table.
"I mean she obviously fancy's you, why else would any self respecting woman wear a dress like that?" I said, going on a little rant.
"You know if I didn't know any better I'd say you were jealous Robin." He said taunting me.
Jealous? Jealous! Whatever gave you that impression? I just spent the last fifteen minuets staring daggers at her, but of course im not jealous. That was what I was thinking, but I wasn't about to say that out loud, instead what I said was.
"Keep on dreaming." He smiled at me and went on to talk about business.
"Everything going according to plan then?" he asked, adopting a look of seriousness.
"Everything's fine, the masquerade cover is working like a charm, the only issue is keeping a low profile and not being found out, its really hard to hide Southside manners." I said voicing my concerns that just one slip up could land us all thrown out or worse, in the hands of Baxter.
"Yeah I don't know many upper class business men too keen to talk about things like football." Said George.
"John, Mark and Will better keep their mouths shut then, and Jack come to think of it." I said smiling.
"It'll be alright" he said taking a sip of champagne "You thought of everything."
He ment it as a complement, but it only made me remember how hard I'd been on the others leading up to tonight, but I just couldn't risk it, I didn't want anyone else being put in danger.
"I just hope its enough." I said playing with my glass.
"You need to calm down" Said George shaking his head at me "stress will be the death of you if you don't give it up you know?"
Yeah like that was going to happen, I nearly cost my whole family their lives two week ago, all because I didn't think they were in danger.
"It's not your fault you know" said George as if reading my mind "your family."
"Hum." I mumbled in reply looking away.
George stood beside me placed a hand softly on my shoulder, I turned my head and looked into his eyes, and he stared back at me and opened his mouth to speak when, a waiter carrying a plate of food appeared and interrupted.
He offered forward the tray and George shuck his head.
"No thank you." I said politely and turned back to George, he had removed his hand and was now looking in the opposite direction, great, whatever George was about to say forgotten.
Sensing nothing more was going to be said I looked for the others, I spotted them over by the piano talking and holding sheets of paper, what were they up to? I tried to catch someone's eye; with no luck I took out my phone about to text, this wasn't important enough to use the ear pieces. The song ended the couples on the dance floor came to a stop and waited for the next song. When the music stared up again I jumped a mile, the opening notes of Brian Adams Everything I do.
I looked up at the others still stood over by the piano, they all gave me thumbs up and smiles and I shuck my head, no, no! They had joked about it earlier, how it would be the perfect song to play at mine and George's wedding (like that was ever going to happen!) such rotten sods!
I looked around, nearly everyone in the room was on the dance floor waltzing, someone tapped on my back and I turned round to see George standing there holding out his hand.
"Shall we?" He asked with a smile, oh the others were so going to pay for this.
I smiled awkwardly and took his hand.
"I really can't dance you know." I said as we stepped onto the dance floor.
But George just laughed and put me into the waltz position, this could not end well. As we danced I watched my feet, unsure where to step I followed George and hoped for the best. A little into the song I found the courage to look up, a massive smile spread across my face as I saw George singing along to the song.
"Anything interesting down there?" He asked with a grin, I shuck my head at him at his attempt at a joke.
As our confidence grew the dancing just came naturally, showing off George spun me round and soon we were laughing and joking in the middle of the dance floor. A few prim couples stared at us disapprovingly, but we didn't pay attention to them, lost in our own world everything seemed to fade away to us, it was like a dream, like none of this was real. The song began to end and our movements slowed, stopping in time with the music I found myself looking up, once again, into George's mesmerizing blue eyes. He looked down into my eyes and opened his mouth to speak, but before he could tell me what he wanted to say a voice echoed through the hall, such a familiar, potent voice it caused us to spring apart.
"Welcome guests!" said Robert Baxter from a small stage to the front of the hall "I hope that you are all enjoying yourselves, and im sorry to interrupt your dancing but it is time for the ceremonial drinking of the goblet."
What?! That wasn't supposed to happen yet. I looked at George his face mirrored my own; he wasn't keeping to the schedule. We slipped to the back of the room away from anyone who might over hear.
"Guys! Baxter's starting early." I whispered into my earpiece.
"Way ahead of you" answered Will.
"Don't worry" said Mark "we saw them bringing the goblet in and figured he was starting early, everyone's at their posts."
"Ok so you're at the mains now?" I asked him.
"Yes." He replied.
"And John you're to the side of the doors?" I asked.
"Yeah." John replied.
"Jack your by the doors as well?" I asked her.
"Yes." She replied.
"And Will you're…" I started but Will interrupted.
"By the stage, we know, calm down Robin everything's fine." He said bored.
"I best get to the front." Said George, the others agreed and he set off.
I worked my way towards the front of the crowd to the other side of the stage to George and listened.
"….. But of course we are all aware of that. And with out further ado" he said taking the jug of wine from the table on stage and pored it into the goblet "please raise your glasses in a toast."
Every one took a glass from the waiters working the crowd; I held mine tightly and waited.
"To the prosperity of Locksdale!" He proclaimed.
"Prosperity!" the crowd mimicked and suddenly the lights went out.
There were a few murmurs from the crowd but strangely none from the stage, I thought nothing of it and assumed it was Will getting a head start on his job which was gagging Baxter. I hoped onto the stage and felt for the goblet Baxter put down when the lights went off, using my modified masquerade mask, night vision goggles, I found it in no time. I reached out for the goblet, wanting to be quick so we could get out of here, when a hand reached out and grabbed mine, still holding the goblet I struggled for freedom. The lights flicked back on revealing my captor to be Baxter, well that didn't work.