Disclaimer: Don't own Robin Hood, blah blah blah… we all know the spiel, but we can dream, can't we?
Authors Note: This fic is set initially between Seasons 1 and 2, which is when I actually started planning this (yes, that does mean this has been in planning for more than a year…. I turn procrastination into an art form) and due my temporary lack of school, I decided that I may as well get on with actually writing it.
Rated T because I might get somewhat graphic in my descriptions in future chapters, especially if/when there's fighting.
Prologue
"Stupid, stupid Hood!" yelled the Sheriff to no-one in particular, pacing angrily behind his desk. "Damn that man! I want my money back!!!"
Yet another shipment of tax money had just disappeared in transit, and he was furious. He paused next to his desk for a moment, before picking up a paperweight and hurling it at the guard stationed at the door. The guard expertly dodged the flying missile and sighed inwardly, before picking up the paperweight and placing it back on the desk. The long-suffering guard knew that whenever the sheriff was in a bad mood, the guard on duty invariably ended up feeling the full force of the sheriff's temper. As he turned to return to his post, the sheriff spoke again.
"You. Guard. Go get Gisborne for me. Now."
The guard nodded and moved to exit the room, happy that he could escape the angry little man's wrath. Unfortunately for him, he never got the chance, as the door flew open with a crash and a dark-haired man - possibly the largest person the Sheriff had ever laid eyes on - strode into the room, closely followed by the somewhat annoyed and harassed-looking Guy. The stranger, the guard saw, was a positively terrifying sight - from the scar that ran across his face from left temple to chin and smaller ones that criss-crossed both large, heavily muscled arms, to his sheer size, the long chain of teeth around his neck – wolf teeth, no doubt - and the large sword sheathed across his back. Unfortunately, Vaysey only noticed one of these aspects.
"Gisborne! Who is this man, how did he get in here with that sword, and why has he not been arrested yet?" The Sheriff shouted.
"My Lord Sheriff" began Gisborne, speaking quickly "I was about to say, he is a bounty hunter and-" Guy was cut off, as the giant interrupted.
"I am Marcus. I believe that you may have recently suffered a growth in your, shall we say, outlaw problem? Specifically, one known as the Wildcat? Uses unusual weapons and a distinctive style? "
The Sheriff's bad mood lessened somewhat at the giant's words. Smiling malevolently, he turned his attention to Marcus.
"Ah yes, Nottingham's newest masked menace. If I remember correctly, he turned up about a week or two ago. Your point?"
"Not he, Sheriff. She." The Sheriff and Gisborne both stared in surprise at the bounty hunter, who grinned wolfishly.
"Why else do you think the Wildcat goes around cloaked and masked? My point is, you may or may not be aware that a certain influential person has placed a bounty on that girl's head. I and my team - who are as we speak setting up camp nearby - have been tracking her for some time now. I believe that after arriving here, she met up with the outlaw Robin Hood and his band and is now in their company."
"I see. But I don't see how this concerns me." The Sheriff paused, "Ah, wait, but it does. You need my help, don't you?" he said, his scheming mind already buzzing with plans and possibilities.
"Not help, as such, Sheriff. More of an agreement. You see, you want your outlaws, and I want the Wildcat. They have joined forces, it seems only reasonable that we do too."
"…Go on?" The Sheriff prompted. Perhaps this bounty hunter wasn't all brawn and no brains after all…. he thought, weighing up the offer.
"I simply propose that you lend me some of your guards, and when your outlaw problem is fixed, we go our separate ways – I with the Wildcat and her bounty, you with Hood, his gang and their bounty." Marcus stated, eyeing the Sheriff carefully.
"It would seem to me, Marcus the Bounty Hunter, that you and I might have an agreement." the Sheriff said, nodding. Yes, the giant was definitely smarter than he'd thought...this 'bounty hunter' could actually be useful. He smiled evilly. "Tell me, how many men do you have, and how many would you need?"
Authors note (continued): oooh, who is the Wildcat, and why does she have bounty hunters tracking her? you'll find out, soon enough XD
Anyway, sorry if it sounds a bit confusing or kinda dodgy – I had issues with how I was going to introduce my OCs, and then ended up writing half of this after getting absolutely no sleep the previous night, and the other half while on a massive caffeine high.
On a completely unrelated note, posting the prologue means that I now actually have to stop being lazy and write the full story – good incentive, don't you think:D