Chapter Seven

He never remembered Locksley being that uninviting. Yet he never had been accused as killer before either. Will had pleaded with them, had begged for them to listen to his words. But all had turned a deaf ear and blind eye to him, scowling with remarks and bitter hatred. A few had brought words of remorse, shaking their heads and muttering 'poor fellow' or 'shame, life in the woods must have gotten to him.' After a while, Will pretended not to hear. They had kept him locked up in the barn until their master, Guy of Gisborne had returned.

Even now that he found himself in the dungeons of Nottingham, Will felt himself scoff coldly. Had the people here really forgotten who their lord was? Or was Robin simply a fantasy? Guy might hold power there, for the time being, but Robin would always be Earl of Huntington. Will wondered if the people here even remembered all that Robin had done for them. Will couldn't forget; Robin had saved his life. And with Robin, he and the others and fed and supplied Locksley in the hardest of months, had saved many from torture, from death…now none of that seemed to matter.

It didn't matter what was to happen to him. Robin and the others didn't even know he was here after all, but Will wondered if the people of Locksley would come to tell them. He wondered if their anger at the gang would be over now that they had caught Will, or if it extended to all of Robin's men. And he wondered about the fires; they were not responsible, despite what the people said. Yet if they were not, then who was?

Will leaned back in the dark, coming to rest against the wall behind him. A sound coming from the left side told him that the entrance to the dungeons had been opened again, and so soon after he had been brought here. Will had been taken here from Locksley only a short time ago. He still wasn't quite sure yet if they were aware that he was one of Robin's men. The villagers had probably told Gisborne though. Maybe they had even received a reward for his capture. Will had been hopeful that Robin, or any of the gang for that matter, would have seen him. Maybe it was them, coming for him.

Will frowned deeply as he watched the torch being carried towards him. They were several people coming, but they didn't come to a stop where he was. Instead they moved further along and Will saw that it weren't only guards. Robin and Allan were being dragged with them.

It was a blow to the guts to see them, causing him to wonder how they had been caught, and why they both were down here.

The gang had gone to help Marian after Allan had claimed she was in trouble. He didn't know if they had succeeded to help Marian, didn't even know if she really had been in trouble or if it had merely been a plot to capture Robin, one Allan had been involved in. But if it was a trap, then why was Allan being held prisoner as well? Surely the ploy didn't go that far?

Will watched as Robin and Allan were thrown in the cell together at the other side of the hallway. The guards left, and no sooner then they had, that Will could see Robin taking a swing at Allan. The man went down with a groan, clutching his cheek, moving to get to his feet again. Robin looked as if he was considering to hit him again.

"Robin!"

This stopped the archer effectively. He turned towards Will, but wasn't able to see him until the younger man moved out of the darkness forward into the dim light of the distant torch. The bars were cold against his grasp, but not as cold as the glare that was given by Robin.

"What are you doing here?"

"I was caught in Locksley," Will admitted, knowing already that Robin wouldn't like the idea of it.

"I thought I told you to stay at camp."

"I went to hear about the fire," Will argued, although he knew he could not deny anything Robin was saying. This wasn't the time or the place to point out hurt feelings, or spout of about being left behind.

"I gave you an order; you disobeyed me," Robin replied in the same, hard tone. The man was angry, at him, at Allan, or at their current predicament, Will couldn't be certain.

"There was another fire," he said quietly, trying to change the topic at hand.

"Another?" the change of Robin's tone was easy to hear; it perked his interest. "Tell me?"

"I don't know much about it. I went to Locksley, like I said before, to find out what happened. They were angry, a family was killed. Then they said something about a second one; I don't think the first was from the storm."

"Nor do I," Robin agreed.

"The sheriff doesn't think so either," Allan chimed in, picking up on their conversation. "I mean, he wanted to blame you lot, but he knows you haven't done it."

"Of course he does," Robin scoffed. "Anything to make us look bad."

"Then he wanted to blame the Nightwatchman. That's how it happened, I mean, I didn't mean to give her away, it just came out," Allan confessed quietly.

"What about Marian?"

"She's safe," Robin answered, "the others were able to get her and her father away from here."

"And you two?"

"Caught by guards," Allan sighed. "I almost forgot what it was like on the other side."

The man backed away quickly as Robin turned towards him, fist raised. Will called out again, hoping to distract him. He too was still angry with what Allan had done in these past months, but fighting about it now helped no one.

"We know Marian wasn't responsible for the fires. So who is?"

Robin paused where he was, watching Allan for a time before finally turning back to Will. "I don't know. And until we can get into Locksley, and speak with the villagers, I don't think we'll ever find out."

"I've tried talking," Will pointed out. "They don't want to listen."

"Because they still think you're responsible," Robin reminded him. "They're not rational, they need time to grieve. That's why I didn't want you there."

"Wait? Why do they think it's you?" Allan asked.

"We can't just sit around and wait while someone burns down the entire village, Robin. Locksley's my home."

"Locksley's my home too."

"But I know the people there, better than you. You went off to war, remember? A lot changed while you were gone."

"That doesn't change anything-"

"It changes everything. They're your people, but they're my friends!"

"Some friends," Allan was laughing. "Tied you up and handed you over to Gisborne. I'd love to meet them."

This time, Will didn't even try to stop Robin as he turned on the man. He would have most likely done the same, had he been with them. Allan was holding his own, dodging from Robin, backing himself into a corner before Will called for him to stop.

"Robin. The others; they don't even know we're down here. Do they?"

The man was silent, but soon he shook his head. Will had figured as much. It meant that they together would have to come up with something. This would not mark the first time they had faced such odds. Already he was trying to think. But he didn't get that far.

The dungeon door above was once again opened. Light flooded the passage, the movement of footsteps sounding through the stairwell. Will took a step back, watching through bars with bated breath. At the other end of the room, he could hear Robin speak, his voice quiet.

"Maybe it's the others coming for us," he suggested.

Will hoped it was, but didn't think it was very likely. Even Robin himself had said the others did not know they were down here. And if they were trying to get Marian and her father to safety, they most likely were occupied. It was confirmed as the torch was seen, the light casting shadows amongst the walls. A group of guards, and at the forefront, were Gisborne and the sheriff.

"A little bird told me that we had company," the sheriff greeted them, coming first to a stop in front of Will's cell, and then moving down to where Robin and Allan were being confined. "Look at that Gisborne. Your little doggie did exactly as I said he would. Now we have him, and Robin. And thanks to your loyal peasants, we have another one of Hood's men. Not quite all of them, but it will do for a start."

"Milord, what about Marian?"

"Are you missing the leper already? Don't fret, Gisborne. I have guards combing the town as we speak. Her and her old man won't get far. They have special reservations at the gallows."

So it was true. The sheriff did know about Marian helping them. Allan had been truthful. Though Will wasn't sure how that benefited any of them at the moment. He didn't like the thought of going back to the gallows, having been there once already. As had Allan.

"While we wait for them, we shall entertain ourselves," the sheriff spoke again after the brief pause. "Take him," a finger was pointed towards Allan who was in the back of the cell, and then the sheriff turned towards him. "And him as well. And don't let Hood escape in the meantime."

"I will guard him personally, milord," Gisborne noted quietly, even as the guards began to move to follow orders given.

"If you harm him, I will kill you," Robin threatened, poised and ready to strike. He was unarmed; he wouldn't stand a chance against the swords.

"Robin, I'll be fine. It'll be okay."

Will was trying to reason with him, wincing as the first two guards worked their way into the cell. Robin did not surrender, but Will hadn't ever expected him too. There were a couple of blows exchanged, but one finally sent Robin to his knees, gasping for air as Allan was restrained behind him. When the door closed the man was alone, watching from where he knelt, shaking his head. He was cursing, trying to distract them.

Will forced himself back into the corner of the cell, unwilling to make this easy. He didn't much like the idea of the sheriff's entertainment, or what would be in store for him when they did get him out of the cell. It would happen, he knew, but he wasn't going to just surrender. Like Robin, he too fought, but soon became overwhelmed, forced on his stomach as his hands were bound behind his back.

Will managed one last glance back towards Robin, who stood now pressed against the bars, watching as the others departed. The last he saw was blocked by Guy of Gisborne, who had stepped in front of Robin, already starting to speak. What he said was lost on him, and Will was forced to keep his attention ahead, for whatever might come.

"Where is she?"

The question caught him off guard. He was too engaged on what was happening on the outside of his cell. The blow to his chest still hurt, he still found himself short of breath. He had to get out of here, had to get back to Will, save him somehow. But what could he do when he was being guarded, and now interrogated.

"Who?"

"You know who," Gisborne answered quickly. He had stepped closer to the bars, lowering his voice. Still he was too far to reach, limiting Robin's options. It was doubtful that anything he did would change anything; Guy was smarter than the average guard.

"I know you came for Marian. I know she was helping you."

"What does it matter to you?" Robin was searching the cell, glancing behind, to his side, everywhere for something that might help. There was no telling what was happening with the others.

"The sheriff wants her."

"He can't have her; neither can you," Robin added the last part. He saw the change in Gisborne's eye, the fury that was there. Guy's infatuation with Marian was well known, and Robin hated every part of it. She claimed to have feelings for the man, as a friend, but sometimes Robin wondered if there was more there. Gisborne deserved none of it; what she saw in him, Robin would never come to understand.

"I want…" he began, but fell quiet, struggling with the words. What he said next was quiet, almost so that Robin could not hear what he was saying. "I want to make sure she is safe. I've paid for safe passage, for her and her father, to Kirkless."

It almost caused him to laugh. "You paid for safe passage? Why?"

Gisborne didn't seem the type. After all, he had claimed to do the same for his own son, and had left the child in the forest to die. What was this then that he was proposing?

"Contrary to your belief Hood, I do care for her."

"So you burn down her house? Keep her as a prisoner in the castle? It sounds like you do."

"Those were orders from the sheriff; I could not go against him," Gisborne was quick in defending himself, but Robin hardly desired to believe it.

"Yet you do so now, and you tell me about it. Why?"

"Regardless of how I feel about, Marian will see you before she sees me. She would be a fool to come back here, and I know you'll find her. When you do, take her to Kirkless; she'll be safe there."

"And how am I supposed to do that, when I'm locked down here?"

"You'll find a way out," Gisborne seemed confident as he pulled back. "I have other matters to attend to."

"If you hurt him," Robin warned, but his voice fell short as the man didn't even pause to look back. Instead he wet his lips, shaking the bars in frustration. He was down here alone, unarmed and without even half a plan on how to get out. Will would be counting on him, but Robin knew that he was counting on himself more. He would not forgive himself if the man came to harm while he was locked away here. The quarrel the sheriff had was with him, not Will.

He gave the door another, firm shake, before falling to his knees in frustration. The others, with any hope, would indeed have Marian and Edward to safety by now. He suspected that Much would return, the man hardly ever heeded orders given to him, always confident that something would go wrong. Most of the time it did, and the thought brought a smile to Robin's lips.

Now if only the man would hurry. The longer Robin stayed down here, the more he begun to worry.

They were taken from the dungeons, along the corridors and towards the Great Hall. Why they were chosen, Allan wasn't sure, but he didn't like the concept of it. No, he would much rather have remained behind, while Robin and Will were fetched away. Did that make him a coward? Perhaps, and rightly so. The Sheriff of Nottingham was not one you wanted to garner ill wrath from. And Allan was certain he had done so already.

Not only with Marian, and his attempt to warn her, but in bringing Robin and the others back to help free her and her father as well. He was certain that whatever waited for him on the other side of the door, wasn't a bountiful feast and a large purse of money for his efforts. Now, with every step, he was beginning to wonder if it would have been simpler to let Robin kill him. At least it would have been quick.

The Great Hall had been rearranged. Where the large tables spanned for feasting now sat nothing, the tables pushed to one side and chairs and stools stacked on the other. It left a large, open expanse of space in the middle of the room, to where they were both taken. Will, still bound, was forced to his knees, hands bound in front, and a sword that went through his shackles and into the cracks of the stone below, effectively holding him there. Allan had expected the same, but was perplexed when his bonds were freed, and the grip loosened on his arms.

He pulled away quickly, stumbling into the open area, taking a quick check of his surroundings. Guards blocked the stairwell, the door, the only way of escape. Several more stood at the ends of the room, hands on weapons, waiting for the signal should it be given. The sheriff stood at one end of the room, a proud smile on his face.

"Allan, don't look so glum," the man started, smiling still. "After all you've done; we should be thanking you."

The door above opened, and Allan glanced up warily, noting Gisborne's arrival. He wondered what that meant as far as Robin was concerned. He wasn't certain if he was hopeful if the man was still alive and unharmed, or merely worried at what Gisborne's presence here meant for him.

"Thanking me?" he sputtered, swallowing. "Why, I didn't do nothing."

"But of course you did," the sheriff was quick in countering him. "Why, if it wasn't for you, we wouldn't have a clue who the Nightwatchman is. Now that we know, we can double our efforts into finding her, and bringing her justice. And on top of that, you brought us Robin Hood."

The praise was unexpected, and at this point, unwanted. He could swear by the look Gisborne was giving him that the man wanted to throttle him. And Will looked none to please either. So far, he had held his tongue, but Allan could only imagine what he might have to say when he decided enough was enough.

"Well…I'm glad, glad that I could be of service. If you don't mind, I think I'll leave now," he started for the stairs, but backed off quickly when Gisborne stepped in his path. "Or maybe I'll just stay here, for a bit."

"You see, Gisborne and I are having some difficulty in figuring out where your loyalties are. There are instances where you have lied, and if I didn't know any better, you helped Hood and the others free the leper, and her father. We can't have that going on."

"I-" he found himself short on words, unsure what exactly the sheriff was getting at. What did the man want him to do?

"So tell me, where do your loyalties lie?"

That was an easy one to answer. "With you, of course."

Vaysey seemed to think this over, hands pressed together, just below his chin. He made a small humming noise as he circled the room, passing near him. Allan could feel the hairs on the back of his neck sticking up, a shiver running down his back as he tried not to flinch.

"Perhaps you can prove that you are indeed loyal," the sheriff laughed suddenly, and Allan liked the sound of that even less. Vaysey came to a stop on his right, no longer looking at him, but instead towards Will, who had until now, been ignored.

"This man here, one of Hood's vermin, was arrested in Locksley earlier today. He was burning down houses; killing poor, innocent villagers. He was, shall we say, caught 'red-handed'?" the man laughed at his own joke. "What do you say to that?"

"I…I don't think it was him," Allan answered quickly.

"You don't think?"

"I mean, not bein funny, but, why would he, what does he have to gain from it?"

"We don't care why," Vaysey informed him quietly, the coldness apparent in his voice. "What we do care about, is that he is properly punished. These 'crimes' cannot go unchecked. He will be hanged, but first he must be made an example of."

"I'll not kill him," Allan answered quickly. That wasn't what he had intended when he first came here. To make a little money, to have a place to sleep, food to eat, and not to mention the mead. He would collect taxes, take care of business, order guards around…certainly. But the sheriff was mad if he expected him to start killing. He wasn't like that.

"Oh don't worry your pretty head about that. We know you don't have what it takes to be a real man. Just think of it as a little…practice. Yes…you're just doing a bit of a chore, that's all."

Vaysey had walked around him again, had gone to one of the guards who stood off to the side. Something was exchanged, and when the sheriff came back around, he was unfurling a long piece of leather, shaking the handle to get out the rest of the kinks. It was cold as it was pressed into his hand, the whip a little heavier than what Allan had expected. He felt his heart quicken a little, pounding inside his chest. They couldn't be serious.

"Don't go too easy; you'd be surprised on how much effort you can put behind each stroke before they start screaming."

Allan shook his head, handing it back quickly. "I don't do torture."

"You'll do torture, or you'll be tortured," came the warning. The whip was held back out towards him, the meaning clear. Allan glanced towards Will, unable to read his face. The man hung his head, avoiding any contact, but he could see how tense he was. Allan slowly grasped the handle, lifting it, testing the weight.

"Just a few will do, at least for a start. Once you get going, it's hard to stop," the man laughed. He had stepped back, hands clasped behind his back, a large grin on his face, waiting for everything to start. Allan felt positively sick. He turned towards where Gisborne stood.

"Guy, you can't-"

"You heard the sheriff," the man cut him off. Allan hadn't thought there was much of a hope, but he still tried. He glanced around, trying to read the faces of the guards. Some seemed eager, others disinterested.

"We can always let Gisborne take over," Vaysey suggested, "and you can join Hood's rebel in his fate."

His grip was so tight in almost hurt. He didn't want to do this, but the alternative was not a comforting thought. Again the question of cowardice came up, the thought of what Robin would do to him when he found out. And Will…he still considered Will his friend, even if they did have a falling out. Most of that was on his part, not Will's. And Will was not to blame, but that hardly mattered. The sheriff simply wanted his fun. Allan began to wonder that if he did do this, if he would even be allowed to go free. It seemed unlikely.

"I'm waiting," the warning came. Allan lifted the whip, just slightly, his heart still pounding. He couldn't do this, he just couldn't-

"Just do it, Allan," Will snapped angrily, breaking the tense silence. It spurred him into action, without thought. He raised the whip above his head, and brought it down quickly.

TBC