Disclaimer: I don't own Robin Hood or other related characters. These characters belong to the BBC and Tiger Aspect companies and are their properties. I'm not getting anything from this except a lot of enjoyment and hopefully you are too.
Author's notes:
Set: during the first series between Roy's departure in 'Parenthood'and Djaq's arrival in 'Turk Flu'.
Achilles' Heel
Chapter 1: It Begins
"Today's the day, Gisborne." Said the Sheriff. He stood in his favorite room in Nottingham Castle, the one that faced out over Nottingham so he could monitor the comings and goings of the castle better. Behind him on the other side of the vast table, in his usual leather garments, was Guy of Gisborne.
"What day, my Lord?" he said.
"The day that the solution to my outlaw problem turns up." He rubbed his hands and glanced at Gisborne. "You remember that you said it would be foolish for me to send for an assassin and a waste of time and money."
"I do." The Sheriff looked towards Sherwood Forest.
"Luckily I ignored you completely and sent for an assassin recommended by Prince John himself less than a week ago. He's 100 efficient. And I received word that he will arrive today."
"But my Lord, I told you my men have the situation under control."
"And I told you, I ignored you. It was clear to me that your men don't 'have it under control'." Stated the Sheriff. He turned to Gisborne. "In fact the only way it could be under less control is if they were just to stand aside and let the outlaws do anything at all in my castle. And it's not as far off from that situation as you claim." The Sheriff walked round the table and towards Gisborne. "No Gisborne, I've given you enough chances. What we have, is an outlaw infestation." he rubbed his hands together gleefully. "This assassin is the exterminator that I need."
"I still believe that it would be cost-efficient to use my men." Gisborne said stubbornly.
"True, his rates are quite high and we may have to raise taxes again." He walked back round the table as a smile played across his lips at the thought of having to squeeze the local villagers, metaphorically and literally, to keep his money reserves well-stocked. "Your men may be cost-effective but that is the only thing they are effective at." His anger rose at the reminder of his previous defeats. "Constantly Hood has slipped through my grasp all because of the bumbling of your men!" He strode back to his throne-like chair and sat down, putting his feet up on the table. "You may go." Gisborne bowed his head slightly before making to leave. He almost reached the door when the Sheriff spoke again. "I want to be informed the moment he steps foot inside the castle, Gisborne."
"Yes, my Lord." And with that Gisborne left.
A man wearing a long grubby hooded cloak hobbled towards the inn making sure his hood concealed him from any passing guards. He particularly headed towards a table at which a young man sat. The young man's name was Peter and was there to deliver a crucial message. At least that's what his letter had said. The hobbling man sat down and took great care to hide his face.
"What is it Peter?" said the cloaked figure.
"Robin? Is that you?" Peter was startled but smiled as he glimpsed Robin's contagious grin beneath the hood. "I'd never have guessed."
"You said that you had an urgent message." Robin reminded him. Peter gazed around to make sure they weren't being watched before lowering his voice.
"When I was in Rochdale, a messenger arrived from the Sheriff of Nottingham. He claimed to be looking for the assassin that goes by the name Achilles."
"Achilles?"
"Yes. It is said that Achilles can kill anyone with a single blow and is an expert swordsman. He has never come across a man he cannot defeat." Peter leaned closer in as a guard drew close by. He lowered his voice even more. "It is believed that the Sheriff wishes him to kill you." Robin laughed. Peter sat back. "It is no joke. Your very life could be in danger."
"Peter," Said Robin cockily, "The day I am beaten by a man who works for the Sheriff is the day I hang up my bow."
"But you don't know Achilles." Peter warned. "You must be on your guard, Robin. He is due to arrive this morning and he works quickly."
"Alright," he said with a smile, "I will keep a look out for a murderous man with an eye for killing me. Do not worry yourself Peter." He added seeing the anxiety on his friend's face. "He will not kill me. And if you don't mind I need to return to my men in the forest. I promise you, no harm will befall me. So long Peter." With that he stood up and after shaking hands with Peter he hobbled in the direction of the forest
"I just wish I could have your confidence." Peter mumbled.
Robin arrived back at the camp. The camp was just a clearing where they had temporarily set up camp until somewhere more…comfortable became available. Although they did have doubts that that would be happening anytime soon for them.
"Master!" Much called upon seeing Robin. He rushed up to him. "Where have you been?"
"I went to see an old friend called Peter. I had received a letter from him asking me to meet him in Nottingham."
"You went to Nottingham?" came a worried voice from the side of the clearing. It was Will.
"What if you'd been caught?" said Allan who appeared at Much's side. Robin strode into the centre of the camp.
"I wasn't caught." Said Robin indicating his body. "I'm here with all my limbs, aren't I?"
"So what did Peter want?" asked Little John as he rose from where he had sat unseen by Robin.
"He wanted to catch up with me. See how I was doing, you know." Robin sat on a log near the fire and helped himself to a remaining scrap of meat.
"Really?" Said Allan. "How did that conversation go? 'How's things Robin?' 'Well, Peter, I'm an outlaw and currently the most wanted man in Nottingham and I live in the forest with four other men.' I don't know why but I don't think I believe that."
"What was it really Robin?" said Little John. Robin sat uneasily. He knew what their reaction would be.
"He wanted to tell me that an assassin…well that the Sheriff has hired a very successful assassin to kill me."
"What?" cried Much.
"How successful?" asked Will. They began to panic
"I don't remember."
"How successful?"demanded Little John. Robin hesitated with his answer.
"Well I think Peter might possibly have said something about him never having lost a fight with anyone."
"No way!" Said Allan. Robin stood up.
"Look I think you're overreacting a bit." He said.
"Overreacting?" Exclaimed Much. "Overreacting! It's not safe for you to be going into Nottingham as it is. But if there's going to be an assassin there as well, it'll be suicide to leave the camp let alone help the poor."
"I'm not going to stop helping the poor just because there's someone who wants to kill me." Said Robin. "It hasn't stopped me before." The others calmed down a bit. "We'll just have to be a bit more careful when we're thieving." He looked at all their faces and could see the fear they had for his safety. "Don't worry," he said, his contagious grin slipping into place, "I'll be alright."
A horse-drawn carriage bumbled over the cobbled streets of Nottingham. The driver avoided whipping the horses as he had been instructed by his passenger. It was odd because as he had explained to the passenger, whipping the horses resulted in shorter journey times which made many people alright with the whipping. Yet this passenger was adamant.
"I would sooner reach Nottingham late with healthy horses than turn up early with ones on their last legs. I find they last longer that way, don't you?" They'd said. Yet as it was they who would have to pay for the extra time he didn't care much. It was his pocket being lined after all.
Not a word had been said by the passenger since they'd left Rochdale. They were very quiet and didn't complain about the bumpiness of the road like many passengers did, or the length of the journey but simply sat in silence, brewing over what was likely to lie ahead.
People gazed at the carriage in bewilderment. Usually when a carriage such as this one rumbled into town then pain and suffering usually followed for the population of Nottingham. It rumbled up to the gates of the castle where Guy of Gisborne stood on the other side of them. The driver got down and approached slowly.
"What is your business?" barked Gisborne.
"I bring Achilles," stuttered the driver, "from Rochdale." Gisborne glanced at the carriage before turning to the guards and nodding at them to stand down. The driver clambered back onto the front of the carriage. The gate was opened and the carriage passed silently through before it was shut again.
"Inform the Sheriff that his assassin is here." He instructed a guard. Less than a minute later and the Sheriff came through the door gleefully rubbing his hands.
"At last. Now Gisborne you can see what a real fighter looks like. And see how he gets the job done." He sneered at Gisborne. "Welcome, Achilles!" he boomed as he approached the carriage. "Welcome to Nottingham." He opened the door and saw inside the carriage. He saw what he assumed to be Achilles, draped in a long cloth cloak. "Please step out." Achilles stood up and stepped out onto the courtyard. A hood was drawn over Achilles' head so that it hid his face. It turned almost directly towards the gallows.
"Perhaps you would like to talk further inside." Suggested Gisborne. The Sheriff led the way and after a while Achilles followed him into the castle.
The Sheriff led Achilles directly to his favorite room. Upon entering he made straight for his favorite chair and immediately sat down, making a point to fill the chair as much as possible so as to seem more commanding. Achilles simply stood in the middle of the room.
"Am I allowed to see your face?" asked the Sheriff, trying to sound commanding and yet polite at the same time. He wanted Achilles to do what he said but he didn't want to anger the assassin.
"I must warn you, many who see me for the first time are shocked. Severely." Achilles warned.
"I assure you there is little that can shock me."
"You'd be surprised."
"Please." Achilles relented and reached for the fold of cloth to pull down the hood. The trained killer did it slowly and eventually Achilles face was revealed. "My God!"
Next Chapter: Robin!