The Jewel Thief pt. 2

Robin Hood BBC 2006 fic

-- Nottingham Castle--

"Gisbourne!" A call echoed through the castle.

Sir Guy of Gisbourne marched to the great hall a little more agitated than usual. It was the weather. If people thought that thefts and atrocities were bad when it was warm, they were wrong. The cold was when the poor create the most atrocities. They break in houses and stores at every opportunity to steal food because they haven't stored enough to get them through the cold months. Fires sometimes get out of hand in the town streets because people had made them too big just to keep warm. Then there were the pickpockets, drunks, and general mischief makers to keep all the guards busy all the time. But this weather this early has made everything worse. People thought it was an omen.

He turned around to his companions just before he pushed the door open. "Do not come in until I tell you to." He ordered. "We don't know what mood he's is in." He said grimly. "Allan, don't let him out of your sight." He said motioning to their visitor before he entered the hall.

"Right, Sir Guy." He heard before he closed the door.

He turned and quickly went to the end of the table across where the sheriff was lounging with his feet up while looking out the window. "Good day Sheriff. You called?" He said politely.

"What's so good about the day Gisbourne? I'm bored." The sheriff replied wryly without giving his lieutenant a passing glance. "Everything is just white like sugar cake. My teeth are starting to ache from the sweetness." He clapped his hands in delight like he had just remembered something. He took his feet off the table and faced his man. "Don't we have any hangings today?" He asked with a small grin in his face.

"No Sheriff. You hanged them all yesterday." Sir Guy answered. "But if you are bored, you probably be happy to know that in two days some silver is "

The lieutenant didn't have time to finish his sentence because the Sheriff was already showing his disinterest by waving his hand. "La di dah di dah. Silver is so 11th century. Are you sure you don't have anyone else to hang?"

"Not unless you want to hang the new Sheriff of Winchester's messenger who won't give the message to anyone else but you." Sir Guy replied.

The Sheriff stared expectantly at Gisbourne for a full second. " Oh? From Winchester?? Come on Gisbourne, don't be a tease. Where is he?"

"Allan! Bring him in!" Gisbourne ordered.

Allan-a-Dale gave the messenger a slight push through the door. "Go on now. Off you go." He unconvincingly encouraged.

The messenger took a deep breath before proceeding. He untied a small black velvet bag from his belt and placed it on the table right in front of the man. "Lord Winchester said it was a gift of friendship, my Lord Sheriff." He said. He gave a deep low bow of respect before leaving the room.

The Sheriff's eyes flickered with delight as he untied the silver string. "Do you know what this is Gisbourne? Do you know what this is?" He said excitedly as he shifted the contents around with his index finger.

"Gold?" Gisbourne guessed unenthusiastically.

"A clue: No. I don't like the tone in your voice Gisbourne. Are you bored with gold? Would you be happier if they were small little Marian dolls you can take along in your pocket everyday?" He replied looking up from the bag. "Gold?" He mimicked. He saw Guy's right hand man smirk.

"Not being funny Guy, but a bag that small couldn't be much gold." Allan commented.

The Sheriff grinned suspiciously at him. "Exactly. That's because it's not gold." He lifted one small polished blue gem up to catch the light. The gem sparkled in his fingers. The other two eyed the gem impressively. "You're right, Gisbourne. Today is a good day."

--

-- Outlaw's Cave--

Will Scarlet slid downhill to the foot of the cave. Camp has been moved from their little spot in the forest to the cave due to the cold and wet snow. It was an obvious move to do. Once it had started snowing heavily, the camp's wooden frame couldn't handle the weight of the snow on top any longer. And if they had melted the snow, the camp would stick out of the forest like a sore thumb not to mention wet. They might as well have invited the Sheriff over for tea.

He spotted Djaq first who was tending the fire alone outside with the firewood she had gathered. There was an extra horse resting and laughter echoing out of the cave. He looked at the Saracen girl slightly confused. "Hello Djaq. Did I miss something? Marian here?" He asked going past her heading for the cave.

"No." Djaq answered as she continued to line the fire area with rocks so it wouldn't spread. "But there's lady from Cornwall who wanted to go to Locksley."

Will paused for a second trying to decipher if he heard that statement right. It wasn't what Djaq said but how she said it. He had detected a slight annoyance in her voice but shook it away. He must have heard it wrong but he wanted to check just in case. "A lady from Cornwall wanting to go to Locksley? Are you talking about Evangeline Stone?" He asked turning to face her back. The girl stayed oddly silent but Will was sure he had said it aloud. "You alright Djaq?" He asked heading towards her.

But before the Saracen could answer, the people inside the cave started filing out with Little John heading the group. "We have a guest waiting for you." He said briefly as he passed by with a sack of food in his arms for their drops.

He heard her before he saw her. "Will Scarlett!" She greeted even before she came out of the cave. "I'm so sorry about your father. I would have come and helped if I knew." She said.

Will couldn't help but smile when he heard the familiar odd way she pronounced his name. The two exchanged a friendly hug. "Lady Eva," he looked at her from head to toe once, "what happened? Why do you look like a boy?" He asked confused.

"It is a long story." She answered with a wide grin. "Although, I need you to make me a special lock box. I've brought new tools, payment and food for you Scarletts. But Robin over here..." She gave the leader a side-ward glance.

Robin placed an arm around the girl. "Robin here thinks the poor can benefit from it." He finished for her. "In fact, why don't you come with us to the drops and see for yourself where your 'payment' will go and talk shop later. It might just turn you from petty thief to-"

"The Poor's Avenger? You? No, thank you. I do my good deeds a different way." The girl shrugged the arm away. "I do not need the attention." She headed towards her own horse and swung a light bag on. "Besides, there is a rumour I need to- what is that word in English-" She paused for a second. "To ascertain. In Nottingham." She finished with a grin. "Now, if any of you gentlemen or lady would want to point me to the right direction, I will be on my way and will see you later."

"I'll show you." Much offered. "I need to come back and cook after anyway."

"Parfait, Monsieur Much. You can tell me stories along the way." She turned back to the rest of the outlaws and bowed slightly before the two were completely out of sight.

Robin grinned as he faced his outlaws rubbing his hands together. "Alright gang, let's do some drops. Will, you're with me. Little John and Djaq don't forget to cover your tracks. Back here right after." He nodded. "Let's help the poor, shall we?"
--

-- Nottingham Castle--

Evangeline Stone watched the main castle from her seat beside a tavern window. She had been observing the guards' movement for the better part of the hour and decided that now was as good a time as any to stop watching and move. She gave the girl that served her drink a few more shillings for her drink. The girl glanced back at her giggling, undoubtedly thinking that she was a boy. She let a smile of satisfaction show in her face. She had always found it funny that people can't tell that she was a girl. But she was always relieved that her alter ego, Leigh Thornton, has not been discovered yet. She put her hood and scarf on before she set out into the cold and towards the castle.

It was funny. Much had told her how they always needed some way of getting in but she found that it was only down to timing and location. It was even easier in Nottingham because the market and town area extended until castle's outer curtain which was easy enough to climb with some rope and a small branch to lodge in between the ridges. The guards pacing in their part of the curtain never even saw her as she disappeared down the stairs of one outer tower just before they faced her. The castle's inner curtain was just the same. She picked a different side of the castle-- the main living area-- with a slightly open window then timed her climb and checked the occupant of the room before sliding in.

She swung her legs inside the room but stayed a moment sitting at the window sill. She found the occupant fast asleep snoring when she came to stand at the foot of the bed. She grinned at her plush surroundings. "Not bad. But first..." She grinned underneath her scarf as she silently brandished a small dagger from her side and rope from her bag. She put the rope through the ring pommel of her daggers and tied a knot. She threw that end out the window using the dagger as weight and tied the free end on the empty flag pole a few feet away from the window. The she turned and looked at the room again looking for where anything could be hidden easily without being to obvious. Her eyes wandered from the wooden divider, dresser and even to the stone floor. She crossed her arms and stared at the picture framed against the wall and back at the Sheriff. She rolled her eyes in disbelief as she slowly stole the key from the underneath the Sheriff's hand. The Sheriff shifted slightly from his pillow. She quickly swung the the frame open unsurprised by the sight of the safe. She quickly returned the key to the sheriff once the safe was unlocked.

She shook her head at the contents. There were a lot of papers and several coin bags. "Not what I'm looking for but one less will not hurt him." She took one of the coin bags sliding it inside her bag immediately. She saw a glimmer in the far corner from a silver string and quickly grabbed the small black bag with a sigh. She silently closed the safe and the frame and sat on the window sill for a moment just staring at the small bag. She didn't need to open it. She knew what it was. She had been looking for it after all.

Her head shot up when the door to the room suddenly opened. A man clad in black came in with a familiar face right behind him. "I'm sorry my Lord but the messenger...

"It's him! The thief! Leigh Thornton!!!" The messenger yelled pointing at the window.

"Hello, Winchester slave." Eva greeted with a bow. She dangled the small bag just to show what she had stolen. "Goodbye Winchester slave." She said putting one foot on the window sill.

The sheriff sat up fully awake at the onset of the messenger's panic. He grabbed his keys by sheer habit. "Gisbourne! The jewels!" He pointed as the thief jumped out of the window. The sheriff and his lieutenant rushed to the window just to see a rope dangling from the flag pole to the ground below but nothing else. The sheriff faced his lieutenant angrily. "I want those jewels back Gisbourne and I want to see that thief hanged." He demanded grabbing his underling by the collar.

"Allan! Round up the guards." Gisbourne ordered. Alan rushed out of the room in an instant.
--

Marian heard the commotion inside the castle. The knock on her door was expected. She opened the door to let Guy of Gisbourne inside. "Sir Guy, what is happening?" She asked surprised.

Sir Guy entered the room and went to check every corner. "A thief called Leigh Thornton from Winchester just stole something from the Sheriff." He said looking behind the room's divider. "Looks like he isn't here Marian." He said once he was convinced that the lady was the only one in the room. "I'm sorry for the intrusion."

"What did he steal?" She asked curiously.

Sir Guy stopped at the doorway. "The sheriff's jewels." He answered curtly. "Marian, I want you to stay in your room. Call a guard if you see him. This man is dangerous. According to the Lord Winchester's messenger, this Leigh Thornton kills anyone in his way including those who just happen to be there by chance." He gazed at Lady Marian with concern.

Lady Marian nodded. "I will, Sir Guy." She answered and with that reply, the black knight took one last look at the Lady of Knighton before he closed the door. "Later." She added heading towards her closet. She fastened the lock on her cape, pulled on her hood and slipped out her door losing herself to castle ruckus.
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