Out Of The Distance
Author: Kegel
Summary: An encounter in the forest takes Robin away from his gang and the way back is not easy. Will serious mistakes lead Robin to make a last, fatal decision?
Disclaimer: I don't own Robin Hood BBC.
A/N: This is my first Robin Hood fic. It's set in the second season, so to say. Thanks to Emmithar for her enthusiasm and for betareading this story. :D Any mistakes still in there are mine.
Chapter 1: Good Advice
He let himself drop and land on the forest ground, moss softening his fall. Looking up into the tree from where he had come, he saw Much still sitting up there. Robin put a finger to his lips, signaling Much to be quiet and stay where he was. Robin moved forward quietly and carefully, keeping an eye on the two guards that were slowly riding towards them. They were restraining their horses from moving through the forest too quickly, knowing that in this part of the woods many things could make you take a potentially fatal fall, if your horse got caught up in it.
Robin hid behind a bulky tree, looking ahead now, along the way the guards would ride through the uneven grounds, and saw John, Djaq and Will waiting there, barely visible in the thick brushwood. They were a fair distance away from their camp, otherwise they would probably not risk the coming endeavor at all, not wanting to enlarge the chance that guards would find the camp incidentally, stumbling through the woods, no matter how well it was hidden.
They were not even sure if the guards carried any money at all, as they did not know on what mission they were. They did not seem to be scouring the forest systematically enough to be on an assignment to find them, instead they were moving rather determinedly, though carefully, in the direction of the nearest village that Robin knew to lie several miles to the north.
The guards were moving past the place where he was hiding now and Robin was completely still, although he knew that the sounds of the forest would be enough to swallow any noise he would make, as long as it wasn't too loud. The guards passed by him and once they were a little ahead, Robin looked up to Much again and nodded. A moment later, Much landed a few paces away from him on the forest ground. The guards did not show any signs of having heard the soft thud.
Robin knew it would take only few seconds longer now. He was not able to see Much, but knew he was there, moving forwards next to him. Then John stood suddenly in the way of the first guard and the horse jumped nervously, the man on it having trouble staying on. The second guard called out and rode forward faster, but then Will was there and Much, Robin and Djaq jumped out of their hiding as well.
The fight was short, Robin did not need to shoot a single arrow and was sitting on one of the horses a few seconds later, the previous rider on the ground. Robin pressed ahead, knowing he was risking his head riding with nearly full speed through the forest, but risking his head was something he was doing almost every day anyway.
Trusting that his horse would run safely for the split second, he glanced back to see Will sitting on the second horse, following closely behind him. Robin returned his attention to the way that lay ahead. His men knew what to do; he didn't need to keep an eye on them and tell them what to do now. He slowed his horse and saw Will speeding past him, while he turned his horse and looked back to where the fight had started. He could see Djaq and Much hurrying away on one side and looked around to see John a fair distance away as well. Trusting that they would find their way back to the camp safely now, he turned his horse again and sped into the direction that Will had taken earlier.
Robin did not intend to follow Will, knowing that Will would bring the horse and any capture he might find strapped to the saddle to a village that could need both money and working animals. Robin chose a different direction instead, slowing the pace once he had gone far enough to be sure that he was fully out of sight of the guards.
He rode along leisurely now and kept the pace for at least an hour until he reached a road that was leading through the forest and that would allow him to ride at a faster speed without risking any accidents. He picked up speed again and found the horse to be a strong and fast animal. He leaned forwards, enjoying the ride for a while, before he decided to stop and search the saddle bag. He rode a little to the side, and got off the horse.
He had just opened the bag and was rummaging through its content, so far unsuccessful in finding anything valuable, when he heard the sound of hooves on the forest road. He wondered for a moment, if Will was following him after all, but decided then that it was better to go into hiding again, even if it meant that he would have to leave the horse behind.
It was too late though, because at this moment the rider came into sight and noticed Robin as well, for Robin could see that the horse was slowing down. He could discern that it was not a guard; at least he was not clad in their typical amour.
Robin pretended to be working on his saddle bag, while the rider was coming nearer. Robin closed the bag and the other man stopped a few paces away from him.
"I would give you a word of warning," he said and Robin looked up, surprised, wondering if the man had recognized him. "These woods are haunted by malicious outlaws, not the least by that scoundrel named Robin Hood."
Robin resisted saying, 'I know' but looked up at the man curiously instead, pretending to listen attentively.
"I would advise you not to stop your horse in this area, least you will be assaulted by those rascals," the man continued, and Robin nodded, wondering what the man thought about the long-bow and arrows he was carrying on his back. Obviously it wasn't enough to tell the man who he was. He had often noticed that people thought him to be a massive, strong man, similar to Little John.
"I thank you for your warning." He moved to get back onto his horse. Smiling to himself then, he said, sobering up his expression before turning back to the stranger, "I figured I would not be waylaid, seeing that I am wearing the attire of a poor man."
"How do you think this will keep Robin Hood from taking also your last cloth from you?" the man scoffed, while Robin mounted his horse.
"I heard he is taking from the rich to give to the poor," Robin said lightly, riding along slowly.
The stranger let his horse fall into the same pace and replied, "A myth spread by that scoundrel to justify his deeds! That it is!"
Robin chuckled.
"You do not believe me?" the other man said.
"No, I do believe you," Robin assured the man quickly, wondering how many people were actually thinking that him helping the poor was only a myth. "I laughed at my own stupidity that I had not recognized the truth you speak so far."
The man nodded wisely. Robin looked closer at him now. He seemed to be not much older than Robin, but was clad in fine clothes and had a generally well-kept appearance. His horse appeared to be a good one as well, but Robin was not able to make out any bags that could be holding the money the stranger clearly seemed to have.
"I am distressed though," Robin picked up the conversation again, while they were still riding along together, "that my trickery to don the attire of a poor man would not preserve me from assaults by Robin Hood."
"Yes," the stranger sighed. "The noble man is not safe in this country anymore."
Robin nodded sympathetically. "Why are you going through these woods, if you know them to be thus unsafe?"
"I have little choice," the other man replied, shaking his head. "If I want to be home in time, I can not go the roundabout route."
"I have to go through this place from time to time as well, and had so far believed I had done enough to ensure my funds arrived safely," Robin continued. "I had not thought I would be in any danger from Robin Hood."
"Nobody is safe from him. A man can only try to save himself and much of his funds, if he is so unlucky to encounter the rascal." The man looked around, as if to see if Robin and his gang were around anywhere.
Robin nodded. "I am sadly unaware of any other means to save oneself besides brutal force that I believe to be in vain, if the scoundrels come in superior numbers."
"Yes," the other man replied sadly, "One can only hand over one's possessions and hope that any benevolence is still left in those people."
"But your funds!" Robin exclaimed, enjoying himself immensely. How nice such a ride in the fresh forest air could be!
"My funds... my funds are safe," the man said in a lower voice now, but appearing quite proud on his statement.
Robin looked at him earnestly, while their horses trotted along. The other man watched him and Robin believed him to be pondering whether to share his wisdom with the younger man or not.
He looked around nervously again and asked, "I can trust you to not spread what I tell you now?"
Robin nodded. "You can trust that it will stay between the two of us."
The other man lowered his voice even more so that Robin was tempted to lean towards him slightly to hear him better over the sounds of the hooves of their horses. "I have clothes that were inlaid with thin pockets that are padded to make them soft. You will not feel their valuable content should you frisk me."
Robin laughed and the other man looked at him confused.
He rode along though, finally saying, "You seem amused, my friend. You may laugh, but I am convinced my cunning serves me very well."
"Well, it's very smart," Robin answered, indeed amused. He looked around, getting a closer orientation as to where they were. Then he laughed again and rode a little ahead of the other man, pulling out his bow and an arrow, pointing it at the bewildered man.
"You may dismount now," he said, still grinning widely.
"What?" the man exclaimed, his face turning at first white, then red. "You belong to those scoundrels! You are one of Robin Hood's men!" he shouted, but followed Robin's order to get off the horse.
Robin shook his head, laughing. "I'm not one of Robin Hood's men."
"Who are you then?" the other man riled, holding onto his horse.
"I am Robin Hood," Robin replied cheerfully, sliding of the horse now and stepping towards the man. "And now off with the clothes," he motioned with his bow. The man obeyed, darting dark glances at Robin from now and then. "Throw them into my direction," Robin ordered, and the man cast parts of his attire before Robin's feet.
Robin lowered the bow, holding it and the arrow in one hand while he drew his sword that the other man eyed nervously. "Keep going," Robin said, tearing the garment to his feet with the sword. It contained quite a number of coins indeed.
The other man glanced at him again, when he was about to remove his undergarment.
"You may keep that!" Robin cried. "We do not want to spread rumors that Robin Hood takes everything from a man, do we?"
He received no reply. Robin motioned the man that he was allowed to get back onto his horse. When he did not seem willing, Robin put away his sword and lifted the bow again. The man mounted his horse quickly and rode off after some more encouragement from Robin.
"And thanks again for your good advice," Robin shouted after him, while he picked up the clothes the man had left behind, and felt a cloth that he had not opened up yet. He had to agree that he would not have noticed that anything hard was in there, if it was not for the unusual weight of the cloth that gave it away when held in the hand, but would not have betrayed its hidden content, if worn on the body.
Robin stored everything on his horse. The other man was out of sight by now, so Robin mounted the horse and rode off into the other direction, still laughing to himself, beginning his way home – back to their camp.
TBC