After Roy and Robin left (thankfully before I gave him a nasty bruise and went over the top) the rest of the gang spent the day hunting, it was a usual day for us outlaws. However I was in no mood to hunt (I was the worst shot anyway) and instead I sat on a single rock wanting to broad for a little.
"Don't let what he said upset you" Allan came up beside me "Budge up" He said nudging me along so he could sit next to me,
"Just what he said made me realize that that's my job, isn't it? To be a woman. I mean just because we have a baby at camp doesn't mean I have to play nanny" I sighed "I just feel left out being the only girl sometimes"
Allan nodded "Well if it makes you feel any better I think Roy's an ass too"
A smile broke out onto my face "Not really but at least you tried" I joked.
We sat in silence listening to the sounds of the wind blowing against the trees. I hadn't even noticed that our hands were interlaced. When had the happened? I removed my hand from his and continued to stare out in front of us aware of how suddenly flushed I was feeling.
"ROBIN!" Much's voice suddenly shouted as he attempted to run up a hill. He fell over his feet. Both me and Allan got up from the rock and saw Much scrambling up regaining his breath "His horse! Its returned without him! He was headed to Knighton"
"He's probably fine" Allan said. It was true, he was probably fine but it was better to be safe than sorry.
"We should go to Knighton, re-trace Roy's and Robin's footsteps" Will suggested and I nodded along with Much.
We began moving instantly, as Much was pushing as all to walk faster. It was adorable really, how much he cared about Robin. I only wished I could have a friendship like that.
"I mean what if Roy has done something to him" Much spoke his thoughts.
"Much shut up" I insisted. I doubted very much that Roy had attacked Robin, he may have been annoying and sometimes outspoken but he was part of the gang, a gang that Robin would trust with his life. Roy wouldn't attack Robin.
"You tell me to shut up now but.." Much's worried tone came through as he trailed off. I rolled my eyes "Or what if he was chased by some guards and caught"
"Much" I began firmly "Robin will be fine. He probably just lost his horse" it was a pathetic attempt at trying to console Much who had taken his hat off and running a hand through his hair.
"That's easy for you to say"
"What is that suppose to mean?"
"It means you have Allan!" Much cried out "You have someone. Me I only have Robin!"
"Me and Allan… were not" I tiried to cover up, I really did, we weren't? were we? Did everyone think we were? Or was it just Much? I dared a look at Allan who had his face looking towards the floor "Robin is fine" I finished confidently.
"That does not-"
"Much shut up!" John demanded as we walked through the thick forest. I didn't really know how the gang knew which direction that headed to knighton. I loved the forest. It just had the small catch of being big and thick and no way to tell where anyone was or was going.
"Are you sure we're heading in the right direction" I addressed John who nodded.
"I've been living in the forest for years" John said "I know which way is knighton"
We walked past a hut, which by chance, Roy was standing outside and was leaning against one of the huts windows as though he was spying.
"Over there!" I yelled out pointlessly as the gang had already ran forward. Roy stood up straighter. Why were they here? Was this where the mother was or were they just stopping on their way to knighton? Whatever it was I was glad that we had found them.
"Master! Master!" Much yelled as soon as he was in earshot of the hut. Robin appeared coming out of the door.
"What is it? I thought I asked you to meet at Long stone" Robin questioned and we all stared at Much who raised his hand defensively/
"I'm sorry! Your horse returned, and I…I thought I… "
"Well I'm perfectly safe. We ran into Marian who was trying to feed Clun" Robin explained to us, pulling up his shirt to show a bandaged arm (which ironically was in the exact spot as mine which still had a bandage covering it)
"Doesn't Clun have a quarantine on it?" I asked.
"Yes" Robin nodded "I was shot by some guards, we came here for cover. I'll be back in a minute"
Robin went back inside which I can only presume was where Marian was, who, seconds later came out storming and rode off on her cart. I cringed. That couldn't have been pretty.
Robin appeared again looking a little bit more beaten than before. I sent him a comforting smile.
"A storm's coming from the east" The woman who owned the hut told us "A forest is no place to have a babe. You stay here tonight."
"Thank you" Robin thanked her with virtually not emotion. What had happened between him and Marian?
"No, no, no" Roy began "we can't"
"Why not?"
" Well, we've got to get the baby back to his mother!" I rolled my eyes. Before Roy wanted to leave the baby in the middle of a forest with no hope of surviving and how he was determined to get it back to its mother. I would never understand him.
"Do it tomorrow!" Allan proclaimed
"Yes, exactly! Now get inside, all of ya" The woman said "I want you gone before dawn"
Roy looked like he was about to argue back again but decided against it. Instead we turned into the barn. It was getting dark quickly.
That night Allan lay beside me. His head was resting on a large sack.
"Allan" my whisper was barely audible "Are you awake?" I knew he was awake as his eyes stared up at the ceiling above him but I just wanted to make sure.
"Yeah" came his reply.
What should I say? "That drink you mentioned earlier" I said slowly feeling my face heat up again.
"Oh that" he mumbled "Well it was just an idea. Don't worry if you don't-"
"No" I stopped him sharply, a little louder than I had wanted it to be as I saw Much stir across the room "I want to" I finished firmly.
"You do?"
"Yeah"
"Alright"
Our conversation ceased however when Roy bolted up, over to where I remembered Robin was and pulled out a knife. I got up instantly.
"Roy, what are you doing?!" Robin yelled, waking up seconds before and only just managing to fight Roy off.
"Sorry!"
"Master!" came Much's cry.
I went over and grabbed a fist full of his hair pulling him off. "Ah!" Roy yelped out and he swerved around and noticed it was me before diving the knife at me. I dodged. However I fell over and he pinned me down. I wasn't strong enough to hold him off single handily. His knife was in his hands and it was centimetres away from piecing my throat. I attempted at pushing him up, but it was no good. I closed my eyes waiting for him to kill me.
It never came as his weight was lifted from me. I opened my eyes. Allan was standing in front of me looking murderous and angry, even in the dim light I saw his eyes wide with rage.
"What are you doing!" He yelled. I got up but almost fell but was caught, thankfully, by Will before I made an even bigger fool of myself.
"We came to rescue you!" Robin hissed "Everybody here was ready to risk his life for you!"
"I've gotta kill him! I've gotta kill him!" I could only just about hear Roy's faint mumblings over Robin's speech.
"In war, a rescued man owes his life to his rescuers!" Spat Robin who had began pacing. Roy was hunched over in a corner sobbing. What was going on? I was still trying to get over my near death experience with my heart racing so fast I wouldn't be surprised if it were to come out of my chest "He gives his life like that for the men who saved him!"
"What is going on?" John's voice came. I cringed, catching Allan's eye who stared at me worriedly. I shook my head at him.
"This one tried to kill Robin and Elaine!" Much pointed an accusing finger at Roy.
"What? Ro-…Ro…" John's face fell as he ran forward and punched Roy in the face who fell over backwards "you were like my son!" We all ran forward in an effort to restrain him
"Kill me" Roy pleaded.
"John!" Robin's voice echoed around us but John continued to growl at his former friend.
"I'll kill you! I'll kill him!" he spat running at him again but this time was caught my Robin who pinned him down. John instantly calmed but his breathing was still heavy. I myself even feared for Roy (despite the fact he had almost just tried to kill me)
"that's enough! Listen to me! Listen to me! That's enough. Enough" Robin demanded John who got up and went to sit in the corner but not before spitting at Roy who flinched away "I need to think. What have I ever done to you to make you want to kill me?
"My mother!" Roy wept, his face screwed up in defeat "They've got my mother!"
I sighed. So Much was right, it was a trick, to let Roy escape so that he could kill Robin, or otherwise his mother dies.
"And they will killer her...unless you kill me first" Robin said after a minute or two of everyone's silence. I stared down at the floor. This still didn't explain why he had attacked me after going for Robin. Why was I of any importance to the Sheriff dead.
"She'll hang at dawn"
"and Elaine? Why did you try to kill her?"
I looked up wanting to know the answer instantly.
"Gisborne told me to bring her body to him" He groaned, though his tears had stopped he still held the look of a broken man "He found out she was part of the gang and wanted her dead" I felt all eyes turn to me.
"So that's why you wanted me to come with you and Robin to take the baby home?" I asked and he nodded shamefully.
"and the story about the child's mother? That was a lie too?" Robin demanded off him. Roy nodded his head and I closed my eyes. Why? Why did it have to go and get complicated?
"Gisborne is the father" at that my eyes were open and wide. Gisborne? That can't be right. I hardly saw Gisborne as the fatherly kind.
"The mother's a kitchen girl" Roy explained "She thinks Gisborne's going to take the child to Kirkley Abbey to be raised there"
"I hate Gisborne" Will spat
Much scrunched up his nose "Well, that doesn't mean that this one can go around killing my master and Elaine!"
"Come on" Robin ordered leaving Much staring open mouthed at him
"What?"
"We have two mothers to rescue before sunrise" I looked at Roy who was shivering on the ground. However he had a little bit more hope in his eyes now. I couldn't help but feel sorry for him ,he was only doing it to protect his mother. I would do the same.
"Are you alright? Did he hurt you?" Allan asked coming to my side. I shoo my head and smiled at his protectiveness.
"I'm fine"
*~how to tame an outlaw~*
The plan was simple. We come through in a wine cart with me, Allan and Will inside (it was very crammed. With me sitting between Allan and Will, it wasn't exactly the most comfortable position of my life) whilst John steered the cart. So far, we had no trouble entering the Nottingham castle grounds, it was just getting past the portcullis.
We went around to the gates and peered around a corner as three guards were closing up.
Allan looked at me and Will before nodding. I pulled out my sword. The guards turned at the sound but it was too late for them as the hilts of our swords came crashing down on their heads, knocking them out cold. Will and Allan opened the gate whilst I kept watch, letting in Robin and the others.
Allan ran off to go get the babies mother. I sent him a look that read be-careful. He nodded seemly understanding.
We had to be quite now for fear of waking up any of the castle. We quickly found the dungeon door and Will took out his axe and began taking out the hinges whilst we kept watch. Much was breathing fast deep.
"Much, stop worrying" I whispered just as will got out the hinge and instructed John to kick it down. The door came down with a thud and we crammed inside, climbing over the falling door.
I halted in my steps. This was the dungeons. I hadn't been here in years. This was the place where I had been tortured and almost died. A shiver escaped me just as I felt Robin's reassuring arm on my shoulder.
"Mother! Mother! Mother! Mother!" Roy began whispering as we followed suit.
"Mary! Mary! Mary!"
"Mary, Mary, Mary, Mary!" Came another mocking voice, it wasn't any of ours. We turned pulling out our weapons and pointing it at the Sheriff. We were out numbered. There was no way we were going to get out of this one. I only hoped Allan was ok. I caught my eye on Gisborne who was staring at me, smirking. My lips and the grip on my sword tightened.
"Where is she? What've you done with her?"
"Gisborne, what do you think?" Sheriff addressed Gisborne who continued to pierce his eyes at me "Does that look like the first light of day?"
"Mm-hmm"
"Hmm. Well, I kept my side of the bargain. You can keep yours" Sheriff laughed "So, bring them to see Mary, Mary…swing"
The guards grabbed hold of us, however, for me it was Gisborne who's hand gripped my arm (tightly)
"Gotcha… finally" He hissed in my ear causing me to jump "Thought you could escape did you into Robin hoods gang. Well we caught you, didn't we?"
I decided not to answer back, instead I bit my lip looking to Robin. Maybe he at least had half a plan. I didn't fancy dying. From out on the courtyard we saw Roy's mother being dragged to the gallows. Roy spotted her. He began pulling against his guards grip, but there was no point.
"Mother!"
She was brought up onto the steps, a hood about to be placed over her head "no hood, I think" Sherriff remarked, smiling from ear to ear. I growled at him as we were forced in a standing position to watch as Roy's mother die. Maybe there was no way out of this. Guy pushed me roughly forward suddenly into the arms of another guard and spat at me.
"You'll rot in Hell for this!" Roy hissed, his eyes not moving from his mothers
"Really? Just for this?" The sheriff mocked showing off his ugly rotting teeth "Oh. Mary, Mary, s'boys contrary, time to see her swing"
"Murderers! I will kill you!" A woman's voice shrill voice came from behind us. We all turned suddenly to find a knife being pointed at Gisborne's neck. I couldn't help but smirk at his situation.
"Annie!" He yelped out defenceless.
"Do not move! You left him in the woods! You said he would be safe! You left him to die! Our son! Our baby!" The babies mother? This was who it was?
"Gisborne, tut-tut-tut-tut" The sheriff said before Gisborne cried out, and knocked the dagger out of the girls hand and striking her down. This was just the distraction we needed. I elbowed the two guards holding me before noticing the mothers distress as Gisborne had her pinned down and was attacking her. I noticed Allan appearing from out of the castle. I ran up to the woman; Annie. And attempted at pulling Guy off of her. He turned around at me and pushed me to the ground. I received two punches before he was pulled off by Allan who kicked him in the stomach and then again in the head. He held out his hand for me which I took gratefully before helping Annie off of the ground. A battle was going on around us. Swords were out and throwing blows. John helped pull Mary down from the platform.
"WALKER!" Gisborne screamed but I didn't turn around. I kept close to Allan. My hand in his. I had lost my sword and dagger somewhere and I couldn't fight without it.
"To the horses!" I heard Robin yelled and we ran down the steps towards the portcullis. Any moment and we would be out of here. Any moment now and we would be back at Sherwood forest laughing about today's events. Any moment.
"Locksley!" The gang turned to find Roy had a knife pointed to his neck. Panicked, I looked at Robin. He had his bow drawn pointed at the sheriff instantly. "Why so much haste, my friend?" The Sheriff yelled out "Sorry to ruin your day, but if you leave, he gets it. Huh, this is our old friend, the dilemma, calling"
"Master, you cannot give yourself up every five minutes!" Much called out to Robin as he stepped forward a few paces
"Robin, no!" Roy shouted
"Robin, yes" The sheriff grinned greedily. I walked forward angrily but a tug on my hand pulled me back again. I looked down. I was still holding on to Allan who's other arm was around Annie's. He shook his head at me.
"Let him go" Robin ordered "or we all die here today"
"Oh, come along, Robin, we both of us know, we've had this conversation many times, and we also know that you're not the killing kind, like me" The Sheriff chuckled to himself. I noticed that Guy had disappeared from the steps behind them.
Roy head butted the Sheriff causing him to double over in pain
"Run! For my mother! For the baby!" He pulled off the tag from around his neck and threw it up in the air for John to catch
"No, Roy!"
"ROY!" I shouted out running forward only to be caught once again by Allan. Roy was stuck with no means of escape between ten or so guards. He fell over to the ground. The guards began stabbing him multiple times as he yelled out "My name is Royston White! I fight for Robin Hood and King Richard!"
Tears pricked at my eyes as we were forced to watch. I had began shaking when hands wrapped around my waist and pulled me away from the scene. It disappeared from sight. I was mildly aware of the amount of guards that suddenly appeared in front of us. We ran. Back into Sherwood forest, one man down.
That night we lit a fire in his honour. I hadn't stopped crying ever since we entered back into the forest. No one really spoke as we stared deeply into the flames. John placed Roy's mace that only a few weeks ago had been pointed at me and he strip me of my possessions. The thought only made me cry harder.
"Him I liked"
But I hadn't like him. I had been horrible to him, the two of us had never got on and I now didn't have any time to make up for that. He was dead. I felt guilty about the time we could have had as friends.
His mother placed a red rose onto the fire. It burnt black.
*~How to tame an outlaw~*
