Look everyone; a shiny new chapter!

A shiny new chapter that is rushed and probably riddled with typos, I apologise in advance and take full responsibility because I am too lazy to proof-read like I know I should. I'll fix up any mistakes i come across later, I promise. In all honesty, I'm just posting this because I want to feel like I did something constructive today.

Good news is though that this chapter is longer than the recent ones have been, so is that enough for me to earn forgiveness?

Well, I hope so, enjoy!


The Sheriff of Nottingham was happy. He'd finally done it. Hood was finally captured. Oh, the Sheriff was really, really, really, happy. So happy, in fact he was sing about it.

"I'm so very happy!"

There was a knock at the door and he immediately reassumed a cool, calm demeanour. Gisbourne stepped into the room.

"I brought the prisoners, my lord," he said simply.

"Good, good. What are you waiting for bring them in!" Vaysey replied impatiently, standing up.

"But my lord, there's a small matter…" Gisbourne objected.

"Not now Gisbourne," the Sheriff scolded, "I've got some outlaws to play with, now bring them in!"

"As you wish," Gisbourne sighed resignedly, stepping aside so that the guards could lead the prisoners in.

The Sheriff rubbed his hands together, "One, two, three," he counted and then stopped. "Gisbourne," he said with exaggerated patience.

"Yes, my lord?" Gisbourne replied dryly.

"Why are there only three outlaws?"


It was a strange feeling he decided, almost as though he was floating in water only he wasn't. Maybe it was more like he was floating beneath the surface of the water; everything above was a blur of shapes and sounds. When he looked below him there was nothing but a looming dark abyss, its long tendrils winding around holding him back from the beckoning light from above. He fought toward the light, but every time it seemed he would make it to the surface the darkness pulled him back.

Voices broke through the water. Familiar voices.

He reached towards the surface with renewed strength, "Luke…is…that you?"

The simple gesture had sapped all his strength and darkness closed in around him once again.


"So you mean to tell me, that I sent you, the best twenty guards and twenty of Chen's warriors and you still only managed to capture half of them?"

"They were the only ones at Hood's camp,"

Allan's eyes flicked between his captors as they talked seeking an opening for himself to enter the conversation. He had always been told he had a silver tongue. He'd also always been told he'd amount to nothing if he didn't use that talent of his for good. Allan figured now would be as good a time as any to put his talent to good use.

"What? You think we're Hood's men?"

Gisbourne and Vaysey turned to look at the red haired outlaw.

"We know your Hood's men," The Sheriff told him.

"We left ages ago. Didn't exactly see eye to eye about where our proceeds were going." Allan replied his mind working quickly.

Gisbourne moved forward so he stood towering over Allan and Allan found himself wondering just what drove the man to wear that much leather. Grabbing a handful of hair Gisbourne forced Allan's head back, exposing his neck.

"If you're not one of Hood's men then why do you still have this?" He asked, pulling the outlaw tag out from under Allan's shirt.

"It works wonders on good hearted travellers and the like; they see it and just hand stuff over," Allan answered, he risked a glance at Much and Little John, hoping that they wouldn't give the game away. John's face remained as impassive as always and Much's face seemed to have been frozen into an expression of permanent shock. Poor fellow seemed to still be hoping that all the events of the past few days were just a dream.

"I don't believe you," Gisbourne said, retching Allan's head back further. A knife appeared in his hand and pressed it against the outlaw's throat.

"Ah, ah, now Gisbourne, place nice," the Sheriff scolded, "Even if they aren't Hood's men as he says, it still works the same way. Spread it around the villages that it's Hood's men we've captured and Hood will have to save them whether he likes it or not or face losing his standing among the people. And then the moment he shows his face we capture him," Vaysey couldn't resist one little dig at his second in command and so he added, almost as an after thought; "Provided your men can handle that of course."

Gisbourne roughly released Allan, "Hood won't escape this time, My Lord, let me assure you."

"I'm not going to hold my breath," The Sheriff replied waving a hand.

Gisbourne crossed his arms and said nothing more.

Allan looked down and allowed himself a small smile. He wasn't sure exactly what he had hoped to achieve with his little tale, but the simple fact that it had bought them publicity and some time seemed to be a fairly good result. Things finally seemed to be working in his favour.

"Oh don't be such a cry baby Gisbourne," the Sheriff said, "This doesn't mean we can't have our fun with them."

Or maybe not.

"C'mon Gisbourne to the dungeons!" The Sheriff exclaimed clapping his hand together and jumping to his feet.

"Oh, I'm sure you don't need to come your great Sheriff-ness, I'm sure you have much more important things to do," Allan said suddenly, earning himself a rough blow from Gisbourne and sharp look from Much.

"Oh, I think not. This'll be the most fun I've had in days and I'm not going to miss one part of it!"

The outlaws were pulled to their feet and led out into the hall and towards the dungeons. Allan caught the indignant look Much sent him and gave a shrug in reply as if to say 'it was worth a shot'.

Suddenly the group turned left, away from the dungeons.

The Sheriff saw Allan's look of surprise and smiled sadistically, "Oh don't you worry. We have had special new dungeons made of for the likes of you. No escaping this time."

Much gave him another 'look' and Allan had to fight had with his growing urge to pommel the manservant. The guards and official party continued to lead the outlaws through the castle until even Little John, with his woodsmen's sense of direction was thoroughly lost. Finally they came to a halt in front of a rather unextraordinary looking wall. Gisbourne moved closer to it and the guards closed in around them, obscuring the outlaw's view of the knight's movements.

The clicking and whirring of machinery confirmed Allan's suspicions that the wall was anything but unextraordinary, as slowly a section of the wall moved forward to reveal a doorway sized opening where there had previously been two feet thick rock. Even Allan, whose architectural knowledge did not extend beyond wall plus hole in wall equals doorway, was able to admire the skilled work put into its construction.

The group stepped forward into the gapping tunnel behind the wall and were greeted by a blast of cool, moist air. Whirring and clicking once again filled the air and gears turned and the wall moved back into place behind them. Torches flickered into life into the guards' hands as they raised them high above their heads and followed the Sheriff and Gisbourne as they led the way through the narrow tunnel.

The air grew increasingly cold as they went deeper, Allan could only assume underground. It was obvious that the tunnel was old, but well kept. There was no way such a construction could have been built recently without escaping the outlaw's or Marian's notice.

Finally it seemed they reached heir destination as they passed through a doorway into a chamber. It was similar in size to the regular dungeons and nothing about it appeared special, it was the usual dank, dark and generally unpleasant kind of place you would expect for a dungeon. Allan suspected it had only been built for hiding away special prisoners. The guards shoved them through the doorway and towards a cell.

"China-boy we brought you friends!" the Sheriff called into the darkness as the guards unlocked the cell and shoved Much and John inside, Allan made to follow but the Sheriff stopped him, "Oh no, not you. You can come and play with us since you were feeling so talkative before."

Allan felt his heart sinking, so much for his silver tongue.


Thanks (and cake) to my reiewers: HighPriestessOfTheDreamWorld, Lizhi Anne and Eleroo02 !