Robin Hood: The Moment of Truth
Return to the Beginning
By: Shadow Chaser
Author's Notes:
Robin Hood and all of its characters do not belong to me. Robin Hood belongs to Dominic Minghella, Foz Allan, Tiger Aspect Productions, and BBC One. Assassin's Creed belongs to Jade Raymond, Patrice Desilets, Ubisoft Montreal, and Ubisoft. This story is written for fandom and not for profit.
Religious Disclaimer:
As an author, I am by no means insulting or insinuating anything of the religions, Muslim or Christianity, presented in this trilogy, especially in this chapter. I am only presenting the views of the characters through what was expressed/implied in the TV show.
Story:
Part 3 – Artifice
RAIDERS' CAMP, OUTSIDE SHERWOOD FOREST
The hill was a strategic point; Robin had to admit as he shouldered his bow and strung an arrow, making sure that he was well blended into fall foliage that littered the ground on a small plateau that was opposite the hill. The raider camp was just beyond the hill and with two raiders standing on top of that hill; it seemed that he and his gang had found the right camp. A quick scout report by Will indicated that there were at least eight raiders lounging in the camp, but he was not able to discern whether or not Marian was being held there.
The rest of the gang was spread out near the hill, all of them blended beautifully into the foliage as they waited for Robin to down the scouts. He took a quiet breath and sighted down the bow. A calm sense filled him, much like each time he used his bow, but this time, he could feel something different about that calm. He couldn't quite pinpoint it, but nonetheless, drew strength from it. Pulling the string taunt, he let the first arrow go and even before it hit its target, had already strung another arrow and moved his bow slightly to his right before letting that arrow go.
The two men on the hill suddenly jerked as they were hit by the near simultaneous arrows, clutching their wounds before crumpling forward and tumbling down the hill in an almost noiseless clatter.
Grimly smiling, Robin immediately saw the rest of the gang burst out of their hiding spots and ran to join them, leaping over fallen logs and scrambling up on the rocks. His hands drew another arrow, but he kept it on the string as he ran past the dead raiders. There would be no mercy for the raiders, he was shooting to kill for what they had done to Marian and if they harmed one hair on her head...
The rest of the gang burst down the hill, yelling as they drew their weapons and charged into the unsuspecting camp and the screams of the dying filled the air. Robin stayed at the top of the hill, shooting two of his arrows before hurrying down the hill. He caught a raider who was running away from Djaq's sword and jabbed him sharply in the stomach with his bow, folding him in half. Bringing his bow about, he whipped it across the man's face, knocking him to the leaf-covered ground and before he could draw his sword to fend off his surprise attack, strung an arrow and shot it into the man's skull at point blank range. The splash of blood from the arrow's entry point jumped onto his face, but Robin ignored it as he shouldered his bow and drew out his curved Saracen sword.
"Marian!" he shouted, looking around him as he saw the rest of his men killing the raiders, some whom had tried to mount a defensive stance, but they were taken down quickly. "Marian!"
As he looked wildly around, he strained his ears, trying to hear for any muffled cries from her. His shouts were rewarded with the barely audible sounds of a high-pitched muffled grunt in a tent next to him. Lifting the flap open, he took one step in before freezing in place, eyes narrowing as anger filled him. The lone survivor of the camp they had ambushed, probably the leader of the group, was holding Marian close to him, his arm around her, a knife held under her chin.
"Drop your sword!" the man demanded.
Just then the rest of the gang burst into the tent, weapons held aloft. Robin shot a hand out to prevent Much from recklessly charging the man before shooting quick looks at the others and dropped his sword to the ground.
"All ya, drop your weapons!" the man laughed hysterically, a glint of victory in his eyes.
"Robin-"
"Do as he says," he said evenly, keeping his gaze upon the crazed raider. He tried to ignore Marian's muffled cries of help, but it was hard. He needed to focus on the raider if his plan was going to work. "It'll be all right Marian," he tried to reassure her, even though her hands were bound together and a gag was placed over her mouth.
"Fat chance, Hood," the raider sneered, his voice jumping pitches, "I know how you operate, you don't kill. Now you're just going to let me walk out of here with the girl-"
"Oy, she's a lady, not a girl!" Allan cut in.
"I don't give a damn!" the man shouted, waving his knife wildly before holding it back under Marian's neck, and faced him once more, "you're going to let us get out of here safe and sound. You come after us – drop your bow right now!"
Robin had been slowly unshouldering his bow and paused mid-movement before holding his hands out and took his recurved bow off of his shoulders.
"Put it on the ground, slowly. I know how you operate Hood," the raider shook Marian slightly; "don't think I won't slit her pretty little throat."
Robin slowly knelt down, one hand on his bow, the other reaching behind him, but not to draw an arrow from his pack, but rather towards his boot. He made sure that his body was covering the small movement he was making with his right hand and that the raider's eyes was focused on his bow before placing it gently on the ground near his sword. The raider nodded, satisfied with his actions and before he could open his mouth once more, Robin acted.
The dagger nestled in his right boot, near a small pebble-sized lump, flew through the air with the barest of whispers, so blindingly fast, before embedding itself into the raider's throat. Immediately the raider choked and gurgled, dropping the knife he had held to Marian's throat as she pushed herself away and he fell to the ground, clutching at the free flowing blood pouring out of his fatal wound.
Robin watched with dispassionate eyes as the man's frantic movements slowly halted before the deathly rattle of his last breath filled the tent and the raider fell still. Without another word, he crossed over to where the dead raider was and pulled out the dagger, quickly cleaning it against the dead man's clothing and sheathing it once more in his boot. It was only then that he allowed himself to feel the guilt that had been building within him since he had fired those first shots killing the sentries.
He closed his eyes briefly, drawing several deep breaths before opening them once more and turned to face Marian who was in the process of having her bonds cut by Little John. "Are you all right?" he asked quietly as he saw her violently shake the remaining ropes off, staring at them as if it was a poisonous serpent before looking at him. Tears were brimming in the corner of her eyes and she shook her head before a choked sob escaped her lips.
He was immediately next to her, taking the two steps over and embraced tightly as she buried her head into his shoulder, her sobs becoming more frequent, though muffled. He absently stroked her hair, wanting to whisper that it was going to be all right, but knew that the platitudes were nothing but just that. Looking up, he caught the others' eyes and they headed out of the tent, understanding that she wanted to be alone with him in her grief.
"Find Edward, bury the bodies," he murmured quietly to Much was staring at them forlornly, the last one to leave, and saw him nod once before exiting the tent. He had broken their code of no killing, but he had made sure that it was he himself that had started the slaughter, hopefully freeing the conscience of the others from committing such acts.
It would take a while for the outlaws to recover their wits, he knew that for certain, but right now, the most important thing was that Marian was safe. He felt her shift in his arms and released his hold just slightly as she turned her head to let her cheek pillow against his shoulder. The part of his shirt that she had been crying into was stained wet and he could feel it cool against his skin, but he did not mind. He turned to look at her, only seeing a profile of her face, half of his vision obscured by her undone hair.
"I'm sorry," he apologized, his voice no louder than a whisper.
"W-What for," she took a shuddering breath, her words hiccupping together as she reached out with a hand that was looped around his shoulder and brushed an errant tear away.
"That we did not come sooner," he replied, "that you had to see the man holding you die; that I should have saw this coming." He paused for a second, "For everything…leaving you, not staying here, in Nottingham…not being there for you when you needed me the most…"
"Everything," she whispered, cutting him off and he nodded.
"Yes."
They stood in silence, still embracing one another, until Marian shifted again and this time, he let her step back out of his arms, so that they were now facing one another. "Thank you," she looked up at him, her eyes still red-rimmed from crying, but there were no tears in her eyes anymore, "for everything."
"Not everything yet," Robin knew that it was the most highly inappropriate place to ask such a question, but he did not want to find her only to lose her once more. Though it was impulsive, and he did not even have the proper blessing from Edward, he wanted to make sure that 'everything' did not turn into 'nothing', especially with the King set on returning soon.
She looked up at him, puzzlement in her eyes before he took a deep breath and grasped her hands into his own. "Marian, there are rumors abound that the King is finally returning from the Crusades and Prince John is in Nottingham."
She laughed, a slightly bitter laugh, "That still could mean it's a trap for you."
"I know, just," he released one of her hands and held it up, stopping her from saying anything else, "just let me finish, please."
"All right," she nodded and he grasped her hand again, feeling the softness of her fingers, but also the rough calluses on her palms from wielding a sword. A rueful smile worked its way up his lips as he stared down at her hands, entwined with his own.
"This…is a lot harder than I thought it would be," he commented mostly to himself before looking up at her to see a slightly incredulous, but dubious smile on her face. "Marian, what I'm trying to say is that…I don't want to lose you again. I…" The words on his lips faltered as he glanced around the tent, pointedly ignoring the dead body of the raider that was still in there. This was definitely a very inappropriate place, especially with the body in there.
Shaking his head he was about to speak when Much burst into the tent, a harried expression on his face. "Robin! Raiders!"
Robin was instantly on alert, releasing Marian's hands and scrambling for his sword and bow. He would have to ask her the question later he decided as he pushed past Much and out of the tent. Immediately he rolled forward, ducking under several arrows that landed on the ground where he was standing. "Stay back!" he shouted, seeing Much's feet appear near the entrance. Those feet immediately retreated just slightly and he drew several arrows.
Holding the ones in reserve in between his fingers he quickly drew on the first one and sighted down his bow, targeting the first archer that had taken shots at him. Launching the arrow, he immediately moved his bow firing off the three other arrows that he had. Four bodies tumbled into the camp before he ducked and ran towards a half turned cart where Will was holed up, wincing as several arrows embedded into the other side of the cart.
He slid into the cover just as several other arrows embedded themselves near his feet. "Where are the others?" he asked.
Little John's angry roar to his left made him see the big burly man already on top of the ridge, charging with wild abandon into several of the archers, knocking them over as he pummeled them with his giant staff.
He heard the panicked shouts of the raiders that had tried to ambush them as they sought to concentrate their fire upon Little John. "Shoot them down!" he shouted, drawing on his bow once more and fired several more arrows, felling the rest of the archers as Will, Allan, and Djaq, the latter two hiding behind a tent peered out of their cover and shot along with him.
"Charge them! Charge them!" the shout of the leader of this band shouted, hanging in the back away from Little John's rampage and Robin peered out from his cover to see the raiders abandoning their bows and run down towards them, swords, maces, axes, any weapon they had, yelling incoherently.
Robin drew his own sword once more and leapt out of cover, a war cry on his lips. He met the first blade with a downward smash, breaking the man's guard immediately. Swiftly kicking him in the head, the man tumbled away, knocked out cold as the next raider replaced him just as quickly. Robin ducked as the man swung his mace and reached out, throwing dirt into the man's eyes. He followed with two handed swipe that sliced through the raider's shoulder and dragged him a few steps before throwing him to the ground, the slick blood on his blade releasing the man.
Pain suddenly shot up the side of his leg as he felt his knee give way and gritted his teeth, bringing the curved Saracen sword around in a parry. It was a shallow cut in the back of his thigh, he could feel that, but it hurt nonetheless. The raider that had attacked him pushed against his shallow block and broke it, a triumphant grin on his face. But Robin was quicker and rolled to his feet, ignoring the fiery wound, before slicing the man's sword-arm off.
The man screamed and fell back, clutching at his severed arm, rolling on the ground in agony. Robin raised his sword up to deliver the killing blow before the well of disgust fill him and instead, swiftly kicked the man in the head, silencing him.
"Will!" Djaq's frantic call made him turn in time to see the other outlaws finishing the rest of the band that had tried to ambush them, but Djaq was running over from the other side of the camp to where Will was engaged in a fierce fight with the leader of this band of raiders.
"Will!" Little John hurried down from the ridge and Robin saw both Allan and Much, Marian emerging from the tent behind Much, their bows drawn, trying to find a point to shoot at the leader, but the way the two were trading blows, it was hard to find a point to release the arrow without it having to possibly hit Will.
Just as suddenly, Will managed to get the curve of one of his short axes around one of the blades of the two short swords the leader of the raiders was holding and flick both of their weapons away. He then moved just as fast and slammed his right elbow into the man's face, smashing him across the temple stunning him. With his left hand, he disarmed the other man's blade before holding his lone axe to the man's neck, victory evident in his eyes.
"Yield," Will's quiet but deadly whisper was the only sound in the near silent camp, save for the harsh breaths of the leader that he had just so expertly disarmed.
"I-I…surrender," the leader held up his hands, trying to ward away Will's axe while pleading with him.
"Little John, Allan, check the perimeter, make sure we don't have any extra company," Robin breathed a quiet sigh of relief, cleaning his sword as best as he could before sheathing it and walked over to Will who had taken a step back, but was still watching the raider leader warily.
He patted the young man on the shoulder before gesturing for him to stand down and Will did so without a second glance, walking away to find his missing axe. Djaq joined him, her expression filled with relief and worry, but Robin paid them no attention and turned his gaze upon the raider who was still kneeling on the ground. This close to him, he could see that Will had wounded the man with small nicks and cuts from their fierce and furious battle.
He hadn't realized how good the young carpenter had gotten fighting with his axes. And the sobering thought that Will was probably a much better man than he was to even ask for the surrender of the raider leader instead of just killing him outright like he did. Will was definitely a better man than he…
He knelt down in front of the leader, catching his fearful gaze, "Who sent you?"
"N-No one," the leader's lip trembled in fear and Robin laughed bitterly.
"You're lying," he made a move to draw out his dagger before the man shook his head wildly.
"I swear! We saw you ambush my friends! We needed to-"
"I have it on good word that your particular band kidnaps nobles from around here," he gestured with his fingers to the trees around them, "why come all the way to Sherwood? Why to Knighton?"
His words seemed to have an effect on the raider leader, but instead of putting more fear in him, the leader's lips curled into a wolfish smile, "You think you're so high and mighty, don't you Robin Hood?"
"You know who I am?" he asked, his tone mild.
"Robin Hood, the infamous outlaw of Sherwood Forest," the raider sneered, "we have you to thank for keeping the Sheriff and Prince John's attentions away from our dealings."
Robin immediately punched the man in the face, inwardly wincing as his knuckles connected with the jaw bone, but he didn't care. He then pulled the man towards him, half-choking him as he hauled him up by the front of his leather armor. "When the King returns, I'll make sure that men like you are punished, severely. You think you could get away with killing and holding nobles for ransom? You, are no better than those arrogant Crusaders in the Holy Lands!"
He suddenly shoved the man away, making him stumble and fall to the ground again. "Tie him up," he called to Will who was standing nearby, Djaq next to him, "make sure there's a shovel nearby. He can bury his own dead. We'll finish with the ones we had killed."
"Robin, some of the others are still alive and Sir Edward's not here," Djaq murmured quietly and he sighed, glancing at Marian who wore an unreadable expression on her face.
"Do what you can for them, Djaq," he said, knowing that if Edward was not here, that meant either he was at the burner's camp or the other raider camp. "We'll leave as soon as the bodies are buried."
He turned to join Allan and Little John on the ridge when Much's voice stopped him.
"Master, what if…what if he escapes?" his former manservant asked and Robin glanced to where he was pointing to the raider leader who was currently being secured by Will around a tent pole.
"If he does," he made sure that the raider leader could hear him loud and clear, "then maybe he'll learn the ways of his error. If not, then he'll probably meet God sooner than he expected."
The only reply he got back was a baleful glare directed at him by the raider before he turned and headed up to the ridge to relay his orders to Allan and Little John. His only consolation was that Marian was at least safe.
OUTSKIRTS OF SHERWOOD FOREST
Night had fallen as the outlaws made a temporary camp near the outskirts of Sherwood Forest. They had left the raider camp several hours ago, after burying the initial dead and leaving the raider and his surviving comrades to fend for themselves and bury their own dead. He had a feeling that his words had gotten through to the man and did not expect any retaliation of sorts, but nonetheless, had made sure that every three hours; someone was awake, keeping an eye out.
It was also for his own benefit as he himself could not sleep, not after the slaughter of the raiders within the camp and the subsequent ones that had ambushed them. He sat in front of the fire, staring into its dancing flames, his vision marred only by the curvature of the Saracen blade that was plunged into the ground before him. The blood had been long cleaned off, the first thing he had done as soon as they had set up camp for the night. He had also cleaned his dagger before sheathing it in his boot. But the blade was left out, a constant reminder to himself of the deeds he had committed in the Holy Land, especially the ones that had gotten him this particular blade.
It now served to remind him of his penance, his vow to never kill another man unless it was absolutely necessary. He had violated that oath twice already, before today. Once was when he had thought Marian dead from the stab wound Gisborne had given her, the second time… He closed his eyes and shook his head. The second time was because of that cursed object that Altaїr, his assassin friend, had given to him before he had departed the Holy Lands.
Altaїr had placed his implicit trust in making sure that it would be away from the temptations and prying eyes of the Templars, to whom his Hashashin were fighting, and he had betrayed that trust. In his fight against Hadiya's assassins over three months ago, he had used the partial Piece of Eden that was within his possession and ruthlessly slaughtered his attackers. He had also nearly killed his friends, hurt Marian, and even hurt Altaїr before he was stopped.
But even without the Piece of Eden's influence, it was still the blade he wielded that was bathed in blood. It knew defense, but in reality, Robin knew that such a blade was a highly offensive weapon. It was designed to cut into the flesh of others, easily slicing through sinew and bone with its wicked curvature. Crusader longswords were built to stab, not for slicing.
"I accept you, for all that you are," Marian's soft voice startled him out of his thoughts and he glanced down to his left to see her reaching out with a hand from underneath her covers.
He smiled sadly as he reached over and grasped her hand. "You should sleep," he whispered above the crackling of the fire.
"So should you," she replied, "you've already stayed up past the three hour mark."
"Sleep is elusive," he admitted, "too many thoughts."
"Robin, I forgive you," she squeezed his hand in reassurance and he nodded, but still did not feel comforted. The problem was, was that he could not forgive himself, not for each life that he had taken since his journey back from the Holy Land. He had tried to justify it saying that it was because Marian was in danger, but the miracle of it all was that she accepted him, even knowing the blood that he had shed. He was a very lucky man to have her by his side.
"I know," she started quietly, "that it will be hard for you to forgive yourself, but do you think in time, we'll be able to face those demons, together?"
It took a moment for Robin to realize what she was saying and blinked at her, surprised. Was it not the man who was supposed to propose to the woman, not the other way around? However, he had to crack a rueful smile at her, his despondent mood finally broken. "I thought it was supposed to be the man to ask the woman."
"I am not your typical woman," she laughed quietly and he pursed his lips in agreement.
"That you are not," he replied before tugging on her hand and she obliged by crawling out of her bed roll, shivering slightly at the sudden chill. Together, they sat next to the fire, hands held together. "I want to do this properly," he said, staring into her blue eyes, "we'll find your father and I will ask him for his permission."
"Making an honest woman out of me?"
"Of course," how could he have ever left her was beyond him now. He really should have done this even before he left for the Holy Lands; except he had been too stupid, too hot-headed to see through their last argument before he left the next day. "But before anything else happens, Marian, will you marry me?"
"Yes, Robin of Locksley, I will," Marian replied and in those simple words, Robin felt the well of happiness spring to life within him. All of the regrets he had washed away as he leaned towards her and captured her mouth with his in a searing, but surprisingly gentle kiss.
"Finally," the barely audible mutter from Allan broke their kiss and Robin turned towards the resident thief who had been sleeping on the opposite side of the fire to see him staring at them, shaking his head ruefully.
"Go back to sleep," Marian laughed softly before Allan shrugged, sitting up from his bedroll and shivered, rubbing his arms up and down in an attempt to keep himself warm.
"Sorry, taking over watch," Allan shrugged before placing his hands out towards the fire, "you kiddies get some sleep."
Robin shook his head at Allan's antics before scooting over to his own bedroll, which had been unfurled next to Marian's earlier, and crawled inside it. Marian also got into hers and to his mild surprise moved it just ever so closer to his own. "Marian-"
"You'll make an honest woman out of me, Robin of Locksley, but that does not mean that sharing at least some warmth, even in our separate bedrolls is not practical," she pinned him with a mock glare before turn away from him and settling under the furs that they had brought.
Robin had to smile at her feistiness before turning to the other side so that his back was against hers and stared towards his blade, still embedded in the ground before the fire. He had killed several men today, but Marian had forgiven him and her acceptance of marriage to him made it a lot easier for him to forgive himself. The curved Saracen blade would always serve as a reminder of what his past was, but it was Marian who would be its sheath, his future.
They were making good progress towards the other raider camp and Robin hoped that within two days, they would arrive there and with any luck meet Forrest and his men at the same camp. If their luck held, Edward would have been at the burners' camp, but otherwise, if he was with this camp they were going to, they would have more men to storm and rescue the old ex-Sheriff. He did not allow himself the luxury of thinking of the two days that were in the opposite direction, going southward towards Nottingham.
They had cut through Sherwood to halve their time and it was also a two day journey to Nottingham town where by now, he was sure that Duke Leopold V of Austria had arrived and was scheming with Prince John and the Sheriff. He had made his choice, a plot against the King or Marian and her father. But that still did not mean he did not feel a slight guilt inside of him for thinking so selfishly. He had sworn to give the King his life and upheld that promise even when he had returned to England, vowing to make sure that the country his King ruled was a fair and just one, not one corrupted by men such as Sheriff Vaysey or Prince John.
"Robin," Allan's voice broke through his thoughts as he turned slightly to see their resident thief joining up with him as they made their way down a particularly rock-filled hill, not steep, but just rocky.
"Allan?" the morning after Marian's acceptance of his proposal, he had noticed Allan was acting quite peculiar, though he tried very hard not to show it. He had wondered if it was nerves the man was suffering from, after all, they did kill a lot of raiders the day before. However, after a day and half of traveling, Allan made no mention of what was bothering him and Robin was one not to pry too much into the con man's life, not after the fiasco with Anna.
He trusted Allan to come and talk with him if there was a problem, hoping that the measure of trust he extended to him since he had accepted him back into the gang after Anna's death would tell Allan that they were on good terms. Perhaps now was the time when Allan was willing to talk.
Slowing his pace down just a bit so they have a bit more privacy, he saw a frown appear on Allan's face as they continued down the hill, seemingly struggling with something. Finally, it looked as if Allan had come to grips with what he needed to say. "Listen, I remember what you said about me staying on with the gang and if anything I did to betray you, you'll personally kill me, right?"
"Allan, you did not even try to shoot at me during the battle a couple of days ago did you?" he tried to lighten the man's pensive mood with a smile, but it disappeared soon after as Allan shook his head rapidly, the frown still on his face. "All right, what's this about?"
"Marian," it looked like it hurt to speak her name and Robin's steps slowed as he grabbed onto a small sapling for more purchase.
"What about Marian?" ideas floated through his mind, but each one of them absurdly rejected. Allan would never have started an affair with her, so that was out of the question. Was it something else? Did Gisborne propose to Marian before she had been kidnapped and he was the one to see it? Was that why he was warning him now?
"I think…" the thief looked down towards the others who were still making their way, and Robin noticed in particular he was staring at Marian who was laughing at a joke Little John had said. "Listen, mate, the Piece of Eden…it does things to your mind…makes you see things…"
The mention of the Piece immediately brought Robin's attention to the forefront. That could not be good and he remembered that Gisborne had tortured and used the partial Piece of Eden in his possession to extract information from Allan and Will. The only information he knew regarding Marian that Allan might have spilled was that she had been secretly helping them and…
"I think I told Gisborne that Marian was the Nightwatchman," the words tumbled out of Allan's mouth in a jumble.
"Are you sure?" he asked, staring at their resident thief intently, but Allan did not shy away from his stare.
"I don't remember much, just," he bit his lip, "I saw Anna…in the fire, reaching out, asking me to save her. Asked everyone to save her, even Marian in the Nightwatchman guise." He looked down towards the ground, his next words barely audible, "I saw her burn…again."
Robin had thought he had known the extent of Allan's feelings towards Anna, the man seemingly rebounding after two weeks of endless silence and no jokes cracked, but when confronted with his nightmares again through the Piece of Eden, it had shaken him to the core once more, ripping open a wound that had just healed. The realization that Gisborne may now know of Marian's work as the Nightwatchman was serious indeed and if anyone else had told him that, he would have been furious, seeing it as a betrayal of the trust that Marian had for them to keep her secret.
But this was Allan; the man who had swore allegiance to him after betraying him once; who had regained his self once more and whose loyalty he had never questioned since the incident with Anna five months ago. As much as he was angry that Allan had let slip the knowledge to Gisborne, he knew that it was also inevitable. Marian and her father would have to live with them in the forest or even in one of the local villages. Perhaps Rowan's family could take her in for the winter before he made preparations to send her and her father to Scarborough or somewhere outside of Nottinghamshire, away from all of the politics.
Marian would not be happy and neither would Edward. Nobles did not give up their lands so easily and Knighton still belonged to Edward Fitzwalter. But if there was the chance that Gisborne told the Sheriff what he knew, then it would be the hangman's noose or worst for Marian and her father. He could not allow that to happen.
"Robin?" Allan looked uneasily at him and he shook his head.
"I'm disappointed, but I understand," he finally replied before clapping the man on the shoulder, "thank you."
Clearly it was not the reaction Allan had been expecting as his eyes widened in shock and he wordlessly nodded. Robin motioned for them to continue down the hill, the rest of the gang pausing as they stared up at the two of them, wondering why they had stopped. As soon as they reached the rest of them he gestured for them to continue on, but sought out Marian, intent on telling her what he had just found out. The others he would tell in due time, probably when they rescued Sir Edward, but right now, Marian needed to know the danger she was in if she returned to Nottingham.
"Marian, there is-"
The sudden trampling of bramble and leaves crunching underfoot stopped him mid-word as he drew and arrow and sighted down his bow towards the source of the sound. It had come from another hill to their left. The other outlaws had also gone on alert, hearing the jarring noise. Just as suddenly a man appeared on top of the hill, waving his hands frantically.
"Don't shoot! It is I, Matthew of Knighton!"
"Matthew?" Robin lowered his bow and motioned to the others to do the same as the man ran down the hill, nearly tumbling into several rocks before regaining his footing and approached them, clearly exhausted.
"Isn't he-"
"He's reformed," Robin said to Marian's inquiry, "he lost his mother when the raiders burned Knighton to the ground."
"Oh," was all she said, and he could tell she was not convinced of his sincerity and sudden reformation to helping Robin after several years of being the Sheriff's spy, but she was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt at this point.
"Robin, you have to, the gang-" Matthew gasped out, trying to catch his breath at the same time as he was trying to speak, "Nottingham-"
"Easy there, Matthew," Robin patted the man on the shoulder as Will handed him a waterskin bag to which he drank from gratefully.
"Nottingham, the Sheriff," the man shook his head, still trying to catch his breath, but was a lot better than when he had ran down to meet them, "I'm so glad I found you. Didn't know whether or not you'd be passing this way…" He shook his head, "Figured I could spy a little for you, you know, help with the cause and everything."
"Don't take any unnecessary risks-"
"Damned Sheriff didn't even help Knighton rebuild in the past few days. Left us to our own devices. Asked Gisborne to send some men, he just said we got what we deserve for harboring criminals," Matthew spat out contemptuously. Robin exchanged a silent glance with Allan who looked as pale as a sheet.
"Some Duke from Austria's arrived; don't know his name," Matthew continued, taking another gulp of water and shook his head, "things got worst, Robin. A lot worst. They're now saying that the King is dead and that you've abandoned us to our fate. Sheriff's got his town criers saying that Robin Hood was the one to burn Knighton and are now taking protective tax money from the other villages to prevent such a thing from happening again."
"I really hate the Sheriff," Will muttered angrily.
"What's worst is that somehow, half of the villagers are accepting it! Like they've known it all along! It's like they've been bewitched somehow!" Matthew looked frantic, his hands wringing the neck of the waterskin bag. "You have to come back Robin, all of you! Prove to them that you're still our champion!"
When he had been recovering from his near fatal wound defending the King in the Hashashin fortress of Masyaf, he had learned a little more about the Piece of Eden from Altaїr and knew that the Pieces could put people under its thrall. That was what Gisborne had probably been tasked to do after burning the outlaws' winter quarters down, use it against the populace to turn them against Robin Hood.
It wasn't the question of why he had not used it until now, but rather he knew well the reason why. Prince John's presence in Nottingham lit a metaphoric fire under the Sheriff to do what he had promised to do, capture Robin Hood and his band of outlaws. He had to stop the Sheriff from even using the Piece and then send a hasty message to Masyaf, notifying Altaїr that Hadiya's lost Piece had been found.
As much as Matthew's plea resonated deep within him, he had already made his decision and bit his lip. "I will return, in six days time-"
"That's not good enough!" Matthew shouted his voice in near hysterics. "A lot can happen in six days!"
"I know," Robin replied, his voice firm, "but Sir Edward's life is already precarious and he will be the guiding force that can overthrow the Sheriff once he is rescued!"
He had made his decision. There was no going back, there could not be. He had sacrificed the temporary freedom of the populace of Nottinghamshire to make sure Marian and her father were alive and safe.
"Robin," Marian hand was soft against his shoulder, seemingly melting the frustrating tension that had been building within him and he turned to see her looking at him with half a smile on her face. "Go to them. We will continue to find my father."
"But…"
"There are three things in this world that I've seen you care about more than your own life. You've already saved one of them. Now it's time to save another. We'll join you as soon as my father is safe. Until then, go, make your plans and reassure the people of the shire," she looked at him with loving eyes and he found his decision a lot easier to make.
"I promise," he squeezed her hand tightly, "that I won't do anything rash until you return."
"Really," she laughed lightly, "such a promise from Robin Hood?"
"A promise from Robin of Locksley," he had to crack a small smile at her sarcastic joke.
"I'll hold you to that promise, my love," she kissed him gently on the cheek before stepping away from him.
He could feel himself blush from the public display of affection, but took it as it was and turned to the rest of the gang, noting the smirks that they all wore. "When you find Edward, make sure he is safe and hidden, you too Marian, before you join me in Nottingham. I'll be waiting on the sixth day at the local pub on Pine."
"Robin, I won't sit out-"
"Marian, Gisborne knows you're the Nightwatchman," he shook his head, stopping her protest mid-sentence.
"How?"
"Something I'll tell you later, but the fact is, is that he knows. And if he sees you, he'll have the grounds to arrest you as an outlaw, your father too. I want the two of you safe before anything else, all right?"
She looked as if she was going to protest his command, but instead, nodded accepting his authority. "Be careful."
"I will," he replied and nodded to the rest of the gang. He saw Much moving closer to Marian, unofficially taking his role as her protector and smiled slightly at his ever faithful former manservant and best friend. He could trust Much to keep Marian safe. Turning to Matthew, he looked at the man who hand handed the waterskin bag back to Will and looked considerably calmer. "Let's go."
NOTTINGHAM CASTLE
Robin arrived back in Nottingham two days later and immediately made his way into the castle, Matthew providing him the necessary distraction to have him slip unnoticed by the castle guards. To his dismay, he had noticed an increase in the garrison that had formed while he and the rest of his gang had been away from the shire and Sherwood. Gone were some of the regular castle guards and in place was more of the Prince's own men who were keeping an eye on things.
Instead, on his way in, cloaked and keeping a low profile, he had noticed some of the former castle guards had been reduced to begging for scraps like the others of Nottingham town. But others were wandering around aimlessly, as if under a spell of sorts. A few of the townsfolk had attempted to cajole them, but there was no effect. Disturbing was the least of the words that Robin had managed to think up as he saw the aimless guards. It was as if their very lives and souls had been replaced by something unnatural and sinister.
The odd thing was that he noticed no banners signifying Leopold's arrival and wondered if the Duke of Austria had wanted to arrive much like Prince John had, secretly and without any pomp and circumstance. That was why he had made for the castle as soon as he had arrived in the town. He needed to know what the truths were to the rumors that Matthew had told him a couple of days ago. Their journey had been nearly silent, save for the wringing of hands the man was prone to do, a nervous tic of sorts that he chalked up to frantically looking for him and the rest of his gang. Matthew had told him that he had set out as soon as he had heard the news and spent his time searching Sherwood for the past few days. It was only by luck, he said, that he had found them that day.
Voices from down the hall where he had been trying to reach the Great Hall where hopefully the Sheriff was, made him snap out of his thoughts and he pressed himself against the side of the door to the kitchens, having slipped in from there. He strained his ears as the jangle of booted feet came closer and closer. The feet were of an uneven pattern; not precision marching as he had thought guards on patrol would have and wrinkled his brow.
Perhaps a servant? But the feet were too numerous to sound like a single servant running down the hall. Just then the voices belonging to the feet got louder and louder as they approached his hiding spot and he could make out two voices, one which belonged to Prince John, another he did not recognize, but judging by the muffled sounds of deference, he could tell that the other voice was probably a servant or lower noble that had arrived with the extra guards the Prince had called for in the days that they weren't in Nottinghamshire.
"-the preparations complete?" the Prince asked, his tone simple but commanding.
"Yes sire," the noble replied, "I've already informed the Sheriff of what's to happen and he says he will make his formal announcement within the next two days."
"Make sure that the bonds will hold. I want Edward executed swiftly, but quietly. We don't want a ruckus to occur in the populaces that aren't affected," the Prince said and Robin frowned.
He could not be talking about Marian's father Edward, not that Edward…
"What about Lord Fitzwalter's lands after he is dead?" the noble asked as their voices and footsteps faded away, moving down the Hall. But Robin did not move from his position.
They were talking about Marian's father, he realized with dread. And the way they were talking about him told him everything that he knew and more. It had been a ploy to lure Robin and his men out of Sherwood and Nottinghamshire so the Prince could enact his plan to subjugate the rest of the populace under the Piece of Eden's thrall. That way, when the Duke of Austria signed the treaty splitting the lands and giving total royal support to Prince John as the new King of England, Nottinghamshire would be the first of many of the shires to obey him.
And if the populace, held under the Piece's thrall, pledged their allegiance to Prince John, then it would kill whatever rebellion the other nobles, who had secretly supported the downfall of the Prince, planned. The Sheriff and the Prince had figured out he would go after Marian no matter what so they had dangled that part of the inch of truth in front of him, probably hiring the raiders to attack and burn down Knighton Hall. They had also not informed the three spies within the town so to make their reactions genuine.
They did not care that their spies would feel betrayed. After all, they knew that they could win their minds over once more with the Piece under their control. Such a clever plan…
Whatever they had planned for Edward, they did not count the fact that Matthew had double crossed them, turning to spy for him, and it was only just in the nick of time that he had returned to hopefully right the wrongs that was happening in his absence. Judging by what the Prince and his lackey noble were saying, Edward was probably being held in the dungeons of the castle. He had to rescue Marian's father that was the first thing, especially since his execution was probably to happen within the next two days, maybe even tonight. The Prince wanted it done quietly, so that Edward would not become a martyr and hardened the minds of the others, making them more resistance to the Piece's command.
After making sure Edward was safe, Robin would then attend to the situation at hand and destroy the Piece of Eden, or at least make sure it was not in Gisborne's possession anymore. He needed to send a message to Altaїr by fastest courier and he needed his gang back in Nottingham. One of those things, he could do right away. Matthew knew the general direction that the rest of the gang was headed to and he could provide him with more specific directions. His message to Altaїr would wait until Edward was safe, probably with Rowan in Treeton.
He slowly backed away from his hiding spot and made his way back out of the castle. As soon as he was beyond the castle's portcullis, he headed over to the tavern where hopefully Matthew would be waiting for him. Pulling the hood of his cloak further down towards his face as he entered in, he found Matthew sitting with Terence and George, the other two former spies of the Sheriff mugs of ale in front of them.
Matthew spotted him and discreetly waved him over and he joined them, after taking the pint of another bar patron who was too busy flirting with one of the bar maids to notice it disappear. Sitting down, he nodded his grim greetings to them and turned to Matthew who looked no worst for wear. That was good; at least the man had escaped unscathed, though several chicken feathers were still stuck in his hair.
"You were right," he started without preamble, "things have gotten a lot worst since we have been away. I need one of you to find my men and bring them back as soon as possible."
"I'll do it," Matthew volunteered quietly, "what is it?"
"The raiders' attack on Knighton was planned by the Sheriff-"
"That bastard," Terence looked livid, "I'll kill him, make him pay-"
"Not yet, Terence," Robin placed a hand on the man's wrist, seeing his eyes blaze with fury. "You will get your chance."
"Good," the man slumped back in his seat before taking a large swig of his ale.
"Terence, can I count on you to stay in the town and make sure that no other man, woman, or child is affected by this spell of sorts?"
"You mean there is really a witch in the castle?" Matthew looked frightened.
"Not exactly," Robin did not want to tell anyone else about the Piece of Eden, "I'll explain it later."
"I will. Do you need me to rally the people together to storm the castle?" Terence asked his voice still gruff with fury.
"Not a bad idea, but for now, no. We don't know how this spell is being used against the people so I will not risk anyone else just in case. Just make sure that no one else is affected," he said.
The gravedigger who had lost three members of his family nodded once before taking another swig of his ale, thumping the cup down a bit harder than necessary.
"George," Robin turned to the last of the three, "what I'm asking you is the hardest of all the jobs I have for the three of you. I need you to pretend that you are still the Sheriff's spy and report back to me all of his dealings, especially the whereabouts of the Duke of Austria. I did not see him while I was in the castle."
"I don't know if he's even arrived, no noble-"
"That's because you didn't see him when he came at night!" Matthew cut the man off, shaking his head, "the two of you were already sleeping."
"Good point," George conceded and Robin held a hand up, trying to calm them down.
"Can you do this for me George?" he asked, staring at the man.
"Yes, I will," George looked a bit frightened, but nodded bravely.
"Good," Robin could see at least half of his plan forming. Now he needed the other half, "do you know where Rowan is?"
"Rowan from Treeton? Lady Marian's squire?" Terence asked, surprised.
"Yes. I need to find him."
"Laddie's been staying with a lady friend somewhere I think on, uh, Eleventh Street, number twenty-one," Terence looked sheepish and Robin blinked in surprise. He did not know that Rowan was already calling on a girl, though he was nearly the proper age to do it. In fact, Rowan was about Robin's age when he left for the Crusades, the age when men were expected to call on women they fancied or already had arranged marriages in the case of nobility.
He knew that some in his village had been disappointed that he had not married anyone before he left, but it had also left some of the girls of the village hopeful. Little did they know he only had eyes for Marian ever since he had challenged her to find a literal needle in a haystack during her birthday party. Still, Rowan calling on a girl he fancied…time flew real fast.
He thanked Terence for his information and outlined quick directions to Matthew to find his gang before bidding them a quick goodbye and left the tavern, depositing the untouched drink he had stolen from the flirtatious patron who still did not notice it was missing until he accidentally knocked it into the bar maid's dress, immediately inciting a huff of annoyance from her before she flounced away to clean herself up. The guffawing laughter of the patrons within the bar echoed in Robin's ears as he made his way carefully to Eleventh Street, all the way across the other side of town.
This area of Nottingham Town was a little less affluent and contained mostly residential homes, but it did not stop him from occasionally hiding in an alley way and pretending he was a beggar when several patrols wandered by. He finally made it to the numbered house and knocked on the door, furtively glancing to his left and right to make sure there were no patrols within the vicinity.
Several second passed before the door was unlocked and a young woman, her dark hair flowing loose in a thick braid answered, looking at him with puzzlement in her eyes. "I'm sorry," her voice was kind and she had freckles dotting her cheeks, "I don't have any money to spare, good sir. If you could just-"
"Wait," Robin realized that from the tattered cloak he had borrowed, she had mistaken him as a beggar, "I'm here to see Rowan-"
He saw her eyes narrow imperceptibly, "I do not know whom you are taking about, sir."
Robin glanced to his left and right before pulling the cloak of his hood off just slightly, enough so that his face was showing and opened his mouth to speak before Rowan's youthful voice interrupted him.
"Robin? Is that you?" it came from behind the girl and he peered into the slightly darkened hall of her house to see Rowan emerging from the shadows, sword in hand, ready to strike.
"Rowan," he grinned as the girl stepped to the side to let him enter before closing the door behind him. He embraced the young man heartily, slapping him on the back before releasing him. "Why are you-"
"Been staying at my aunt's place while she's visiting family in Boston," Rowan shrugged, sheathing his sword, "Bridget here's helped me escape from the kitchens after the Sheriff didn't exactly believe me and wanted to throw me into the dungeons."
"It was the Sheriff's plan to burn Knighton to the ground and have the raiders kidnap Marian and her father," Robin explained.
"Bloody bastards," Rowan swore, adding a few more choice words that Robin did not know where the man had learned it, but made a mental note that if Marian kept him as a squire, to occasionally reprimand him for using such language. "Sorry," he apologized, realizing that he and the girl, Bridget, were staring at him.
"Listen, I need your help and the rest of the gang are on their way back as fast as they can. I've sent Matthew, one of the Sheriff's former spies in Knighton, to fetch them, but we need to act now."
"I know; Terence and George helped me escape. I thought they were going to turn me in for a second there, but the two said that they realized the Sheriff doesn't give one lick about them and their families when he let the people of Knighton rebuild without his help," Rowan gave him a slightly wolfish smile.
"Sheriff has Edward in his dungeons, I'm sure of it. It was a very clever trap with them holding Marian and Edward separately. The inch of truth," he muttered, still kicking himself for not being able to see through such a simple ruse. He had been expecting an elaborate plot, but the Sheriff had tricked him by using the simplest of all.
"Then I'm your man," Rowan stepped forward, "Sir Edward's been like a father to me since I buried mine months ago. I won't let the Sheriff kill him like he had Gisborne do to mine."
"Good," Robin glanced at Bridget who looked worried yet infinitely proud of Rowan at the same time. Already she seemed like a strong woman and he was glad that the young man had found someone to compliment him. "Bridget, do you know if there's some parchment and ink around this house?"
"Yes, I'll fetch them for you," she quickly disappeared and returned a few minutes later, materials in hand.
"All right," Robin unfurled a roll and began to draw a hasty sketch of the castle and its halls, "here's what we'll do…"
2nd RAIDERS' CAMP, OUTSIDE SHERWOOD FOREST
Marian had picked up a bow and several arrows along with a longsword from the body of one of the raiders that Robin's men had killed when rescuing her and now kept her bow strung and ready at a moment's notice as they approached the location of the second raider camp where hopefully her father was. There had been no sign of Forrest or his men, but Little John was confident with a fatherly sort of pride that Forrest would join them soon enough.
It had taken a moment for Marian to figure out who Forrest was; having barely seen him with the other outlaws before Royston White had perished and remembered that she had disliked the mousy-looking man. It wasn't because he was an outlaw, but rather he was a bit more callous towards other nobles and even other members of the gang before he had left them. Marian had said good riddance to such a man like he, but now was surprised and touched to hear that it was he who had figured out what band of raiders had taken her and her father and he was the one who was also coming to their rescue.
"That's the camp," Will whispered as they emerged from the woods, slowly walking towards the seemingly empty camp. The embers of a dying fire still glowed, but as Marian looked around, training her bow warily towards the rock face on one side and even towards the woods where they had emerged from, there was no one here…
"The lights are still on, but no one's home," Allan cracked and Marian rolled her eyes at the joker's sense of humorous timing.
"Shh, it could be an ambush," Djaq hissed, also training her bow warily above and around them.
"Wait," Little John suddenly halted, stopping everyone as they froze in place, "do you hear that?"
"Hear what-"
"Shh!" Marian also thought she heard something and strained her ears. She frowned, puzzled, "It sounds like…laughter…"
She followed the sound of laughter to a nearby tent where she paused and stared. In front of her, tied to the shallow tent pole itself and sitting on the ground was a man wearing the remnants of a raiders' armor. His hair was disheveled and he was laughing uproariously.
"H-Hello?" she ventured, lowering her bow slightly.
The man's eyes, pointed towards the heavens suddenly looked towards her and his laughter abruptly stopped, leaving him gasping for air. "You are all too late…so very late…"
"This guy's off of his rocker, that's what he is…" Allan sounded worried, but tried to make it into a joke.
"Too late," the man sang.
"Too late for what?" Djaq moved just a bit closer.
"Your precious Robin of the Wood, Robin Hood's walked into a trap!" the man pointed his eyes skyward once more and resumed his insane laughter.
NOTTINGHAM CASTLE
Night had already fallen for several hours when Robin made his second attempt within the day to enter the castle, Rowan swiftly behind him. The two had launched their plan with a little help from Bridget who played the damsel in distress, having fallen and tripped in front of the portcullis in an effort to carry two barrels of wine to the kitchens. She had also been willing to entice the guards by the portcullis by showing a little of the skin of her legs and they had been happy to help her carry the wine barrels in.
As soon as they were deposited into the kitchens and Bridget had thanked them heartedly, kissing each of the four guards on the cheek, before they left, blushing like ripe tomatoes. She had then helped them out of the barrels, carefully lifting the top half which was filled with wine in case the guards had inspected the goods, and letting them out. Rowan had told her she enjoyed her role a little too much to which she blushed prettily and said she would wait for him to return before making her way out of the castle, her role in their plan to free Edward done.
Robin did not want to take any unnecessary risks, especially with Rowan's woman, and so made sure that she was well aware that she was not to linger as soon as her role was done. She had fully understood his meaning and even reassured Rowan who had tried to order her to stay, but failed.
Rowan's role in their plan was to be his lookout and Robin made sure that the young man followed his instructions to the letter. He did not want to risk Rowan becoming an outlaw in the Sheriff's books, even though there was suspicion upon him already; better for him to have no evidence of his dealings with Robin Hood than to have any association with him at all. If at any point it looked like Rowan was about to be caught, he would quickly escape and return through an alternate route they had discussed for emergency use, the sewers. It was highly unpleasant, but it was the path that Robin had planned to use to help Sir Edward escape.
The only hitch he could foresee was Edward was too sick to move, probably having been without his medicine for several days now.
So he left Rowan milling about at the entrance to the dungeons, dressed as the castle guard that had been left to guard the entrance. At least they had not replaced the dungeons with Prince John's own men, that was one thing he was grateful for. It had been easy to knock the poor man unconscious and stuff him into a broom closet where it was assured that he would not wake up for several hours, especially with all of the supplies piled upon him.
He himself kept his cloak about him, as he quietly knocked several of the guards out and checked to see the jail keeper nursing a bottle of ale, already quite drunk and half asleep. So far, everything was going according to the plan. The next guard Robin knocked out he took the keys from and made his way deeper into the dungeons. He turned a corner and nearly dropped the keys he had acquired as he saw Edward in one of the cells.
"Sir Edward?" he ventured cautiously, noting how deathly pale and gaunt the man looked, even with his eyes closed, lying on the straw mat he had for his bed. There were purple and red bruises from whatever skin Robin could see. "My God, what did they do to you?" he could not keep the horrified whisper from falling out of his lips as he slowly approached. "Sir Edward?" he tried again, unlocking the door, but the man made no movement or sound to indicate that he heard him.
A sudden spike of fear filled Robin as he wondered if Edward had died. He immediately wrenched the door open and hurried in, placing a hand on the man's neck to feel a pulse. Breathing a quiet sigh of relief, he could feel a steady, strong pulse from Edward and was glad that the man was still alive.
"You should not have come, Robin," the barest of whispers emerged from Edward's mouth and Robin stared at the man, puzzled until he suddenly leapt back, narrowly avoiding the deadly swipe of a sword that cut through the air where he used to be. However, he did not leap far back enough; clanging onto the cell bars and the tip of the sword raked a small shallow cut into his stomach.
Robin hissed in pain as he ducked to avoid the swipe of the longsword once more, Edward leaping to his feet, attacking him with vicious abandon. "Edward! It's me! Robin!"
"You should not have come!" the old man roared in fury before attacking him once more. Robin did all he could to avoid the swipes and wondered what had gotten into the old man when he looked so pale and fragile lying in the cell. Surely Edward recognized him!
"Edward!" he yelled, trying to see if there was any way to regain the man's sanity as the longsword cut across the bars above where his head used to be, sending a shower of sparks flying.
"Leave me be!" the man yelled and this time Robin caught the note of desperation, of a plea in his voice. He rolled to his feet and held his hands up defensively, knowing that they were useless, but nonetheless tried to build a semblance of a defense. He would not draw his sword to attack Edward, not a friend nor ally.
"Edward snap out of it! It is me, Robin of Locksley! Robin Hood!" he shouted again and shifted to his left, barely avoiding the inhuman yell of rage as Edward with impossible strength nearly split him in half. The wound in his stomach still pulsated its pain, even though it was a mostly shallow cut, but he deftly ignored it. He had survived worst…
"Son of a cur! You deserve no less than a hangman's noose!" Edward charged at him, his sword held high before Robin pushed off of his body and sent him towards the cells where he crashed against it, but managed to keep his footing.
Robin circled warily, wondering what kind of madness was Edward under before the realization belted him around the head. Edward was suffering what some of the peasantry above was suffering from; he was under the influence of the Piece of Eden, except… He recognized this, the fury and the anger. It had been his own, except his had become an almost unstoppable rampage, once in the bowels of what he had thought was Jerusalem but was really Acre, the other time, at Marian's house, facing off of Hadiya's assassins.
"No…" he shook his head. If they had corrupted Edward, if they had twisted his mind with the Piece of Eden, he dared not think of the ugly thoughts anymore.
"You abandon everyone to fight for your glory, you are no better than the dogs of Saracens you slaughtered in the Holy Lands!" Edward shouted and Robin was taken aback at the furious words the man was spitting out. "My daughter," Marian's father charged at him, stabbing wildly, but Robin danced left and right to avoid his blows before pushing him towards the other side and landed behind him, still unwilling to draw his own sword, "does not deserve you. You have abandoned her!"
"Edward!" Robin remembered each of his own 'episodes' under the deadly influence of the Pieces of Eden as if it was yesterday, and knew that the only way to break the spell was to either kill the person or speak of reason to said person, both of which was infinitely hard. "Edward! I did abandon Marian when I left for glory and for the King! You are right!"
The almost unintelligible roar of hate from Edward nearly drowned his words out as he received another shallow cut, this time on his shoulder, but he pulled forward on Edward's stabbing momentum and pinned him against the cell bars, staring deep into the man's eyes which were colored completely black. "I did abandon her, you were right."
He could feel Edward fighting against the pinning grip he held him in, surprised at how much unnatural strength the old man had within him. It had to be the Piece's doing, amplifying whatever strength he had left and using it.
"I abandoned you, abandoned everyone in Locksley, and should have stayed to make sure Nottinghamshire was in good hands. I regret that ever since and now it's come to this, but Edward!"
The man snarled at him.
"She said yes! Your daughter, your beloved daughter told me that she forgave me and she accepted my proposal!" He thought he saw the flicker of the man's blue eyes appear from under the blackness and knew he was getting through to the man. "Marian's safe, Edward. Your daughter is safe…"
More flickers of the blue eyes under the black when suddenly Edward slammed Robin into the same bars he had been pinning him again, making stars explode in front of his eyes and stunning him. He felt his grip on the man's arms slacken as he fell to the ground, trying to regain his footing. But the painful blow had done its job and as soon as he was able to clear the stars from his eyes, he looked up to see Edward, pointing his sword at his throat, his face a conflicting mask of pain and of furious anger.
"R-Robin…help me," Edward's voice cracked with the effort it took him to hold the sword at his throat and he realized his words had gotten through the man, but there was barely any strength left in him to fight off the Piece's influence that was swirling within him.
"Sir Edward," he held a hand up, trying to ward away the sword, "just put the sword down…no one needs to die today."
The flickering pain filled smile almost broke Robin's heart, "I…I'm sorry…"
"It's all right, it's-"
Robin did not get to finish his words when the sword that was held to his throat disappeared as Edward reversed the grip he had on his weapon and plunged it deep into his own chest. "No!" he shouted, half crawling over to Edward as he fell to the ground and managed to catch the man's head before it could hit the stony floor.
"No," he whispered, as he saw the blackness fade from Edward's eyes, replaced by the clear blue irises of his own, "Why?" Blood was already forming at the corners of Edward's mouth as he smiled sadly, his eyes blinking rapidly along with his breath, the wound he gave himself a fatal one.
"Because," the man drew a shallow breath, "I would have killed you, my future son-in-law. And…" He drew another shallow breath, "for that, it would have broken Marian's heart."
Robin wordlessly shook his head, unable to understand why Edward did what he did.
"R-Robin," the man's breaths were getting shallower and a sense of urgency filled his eyes, "Robin you have to…have to listen to me. The K-King…he is a prisoner of Leopold V, D-Duke of Austria."
"But…Leopold's here?"
"Lies," the man hissed quietly, "all lies... Leopold arrives soon, with Richard as his prisoner to bargain the division of Richard's lands with his brother, John. You must…" Here, he struggled to breathe and Robin nodded urgently, "You must s-save him, Robin. S-Save the King…"
Edward suddenly relaxed and Robin thought the man had died when the corners of Edward's lips twitched up in a sad smile, "You…would have made me proud as a son."
His eyes drooped closed and this time Robin felt the man's last breath fall from his chest as his whole body became limp. A profound sense of sorrow filled him as he barely heard the jangle of booted feet running towards the cell. As the feet drew closer he turned his head to see a multitude of soldiers, both Sheriff's guards and the Prince's men approaching the area.
It had all been a trap, Matthew's lies, the raiders' attack on Knighton, rumors of the King's return; they had an inch of truth to them, but were all lies. The only truth he knew was the one that Edward had told him, because in the end, he was sure that he had been told by Prince John himself the real plan, the Prince knowing that Edward was going to die in this cell to trap him.
"Well gentleman," Prince John emerged from the multitude of soldiers surrounding his cell, the Sheriff and Gisborne behind him, "this, is how you capture an outlaw."
And what a fine and elaborate plan it was.
~END OF PART 1~
Author's Notes:
So ends the first part of the trilogy. Next part to be posted starts the middle half of the trilogy, subtitled Return to the Moment. With Robin captured and the outlaws facing a traitor in their midst, more lives will certainly be lost before this whole trilogy comes to an end. And what of King Richard, a prisoner of Duke Leopold V of Austria?
For those who are Assassin's Creed fans, Altaїr will make his appearance in the next part (this first part was just a cameo of sorts to set him up for the middle half of the trilogy). Once again, I'd like to thank my beta reader Algae09 for checking my spelling, grammar, and inconsistent plot points. Also for making sure that Robin and company stay in character. I would also like to thank the readers for continuing to read this story. I will see all of you in the next half of the trilogy. Comments are always appreciated and welcomed! 9/7/10.
