A/N: The climax of episode three……
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The next morning Will had made a fake version of the diamond box, lined with pitch, and they all gathered to see if it would work.
The atmosphere was tense as Will placed it on a far rock and Robin lit an arrow. He fitted it to his bow and pulled back. He let fly, hit the box and the wood caught quickly. Suddenly the flame flared and they knew the pitch and diamonds had caught.
Normally this sort of success would be cause for celebration but they so desperately needed the plan to work they remained grim faced, except Will who looked critically pleased with his handiwork. Robin nodded once, it would work.
"Right, let's go."
They set off for Locksley once more – the coveted black diamonds in the newly built box.
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As they entered the village they had a fine view of the stage the Sheriff had had built so he could oversee proceedings. Also the single scaffold and noose that had been erected to carry out his threat. Daniel was bound in chains and tied with a rope, the end of which the Sheriff held like he was an animal.
"Wait here till I give the signal," they nodded and heard the Sheriff call Robin's name, he stood. "That's my cue."
He held the box in one hand and pulled his hood over his head with the other. He gave a last smile, turned and began to walk through the crowd.
The remaining outlaws had to wait all of a minute before the signal was given but Much began fidgeting almost before Robin had left them. they were trying not to draw attention to themselves but Much's nervous foot tapping was getting louder and faster and making the others feel even more anxious. Ava reached over Allan and placed a hand on his foot, stopping it still, and shot him a silent look filled with meaning. Before he could protest they heard Robin's signal.
" – and if they do fire upon me, my men will kill you."
They stood and strode closer, raising their bows. John announced their presence,
"Out of the way, move!"
The peasants scattered and they were revealed standing tensed and ready with deadly intent.
"Oh, la de da de da," the Sheriff was unimpressed. "Right, let's get on with it."
As Robin moved forward to make the exchange, John issued further instructions.
"Allan, Djaq take the archers on the left. Will, Much with me. Ava straight down the centre."
The six of them shifted positions slightly to cover the archers more effectively. From her stance in the centre, Ava had a fine view of the proceedings.
The two enemies grew closer and the tension mounted, until a shout rent the air.
"Stop!" it was Marian, trying to foil any scheming of the Sheriff's. "You cannot release the child to an outlaw!"
"Someone find me a box and put this woman inside it!"
The Sheriff spoke with such bitter sincerity it was clear he was not a fan of the Lady Marian.
"Release him to me, I'll see that he gets home safely." She spoke calmly and reasonably but as she turned to Robin she produced a fair imitation of a haughty young noblewoman looking down upon a ruffianly outlaw. "Locksley, this makes no difference to you, you have my word."
Robin shrugged.
"I accept these terms."
The outlaws exchanged glances hoping Marian having the boy would make their plan run more smoothly, and that Daniel would not protest.
Finally, finally, the box and key changed hands. Ava's shoulders and arms were aching from tensing a bow for so long and she was worried Much, to her right, was going to burst into speech at any moment.
Then the Sheriff tipped the black diamonds from the pitch lined box to a bag. Robin's shoulders sagged and Much turned to Ava in panic,
"The Sheriff's guessed our plan!"
She tried to quiet him, no need to be quite so transparent.
"Unbelievable," Allan spoke quietly, with irony.
Ava's head snapped to her left, where Allan was standing, in sudden suspicion but she had no time to say anything now.
Worse was still to come however. As the Sheriff turned away the double doors of a barn not far away opened to reveal Gisborne. Not that they would have known it was him if the Sheriff had not announced him. He was dressed head to toe in the impregnable armour and they all felt their arms relax slightly in despair. Will shouted to Robin in warning while Much dived for his master's sword anticipating his need.
"Stay back! My sword!"
Much threw the curved blade and it twirled through the air before Robin deftly caught it and turned to battle.
The two men crashed together, sparks flying and Robin's sword was knocked from his grasp. Even a wooden bench didn't seem to affect Gisborne in that armour. They dived into a hut and there was silence. Suddenly Robin burst through a window, wood splintering and rolled on the ground. Gisborne followed, through the wall, and demanded,
"What now, Locksley?"
"Run!"
It was Much's anguished shout that answered him.
"Much!"
Ava was worried if Much distracted Robin it would make him even more at a disadvantage than he was already. He ignored her though, as blow after blow fell on Robin.
"Master! Robin!"
They had to back away before the battling pair.
"Don't touch him! Stay on the archers!"
Robin's orders were frenzied and John ignored them, going to attack Gisborne with his staff.
"No John! Wait!"
Ava knew John's skill would be no match for that armour and they'd all be skewered by the guards' arrows if they relaxed their cover.
Suddenly though, Robin appeared to have a plan. He was leading Gisborne in a definite direction and allowing him to gloat as he picked up a bucket. He tossed its contents over Gisborne, swiftly bent to pick up a bow and arrow, left by the boys, in the same movement and lit the arrow's end. They could see now, the liquid in the bucket was black. Pitch.
"Oh no," the Sheriff groaned.
"Oh yes," Robin smiled, cocky as ever.
He fired and Gisborne burst into flame.
"Yes!" Much shouted at the victory and Allan looked inordinately relived.
Gisborne staggered before throwing himself into the water but in the centre of the village to extinguish the flames. The fight was not quite over however, Robin jumped in after him, tore off the armour and putting his sword to Gisborne's exposed throat, ordered the Sheriff to make his guards withdraw and hand over the diamonds. The six outlaws tensed their bows again.
It seemed the Sheriff did not value Gisborne's life as highly as the diamonds, apparently not bothered by his henchmen's eminent demise. It was only through Marian employing some quick thinking that anything was achieved. She drew a dagger on the black smith demanding the Sheriff let Gisborne live.
Her gamble paid off. After several moments indecision the Sheriff flung the bag of black diamonds towards Robin, who let go of Gisborne and tossed the bag to Much, telling him to burn them. The diamonds were thrown onto the fire and burnt with smoke, sparks and a sudden flare as had always been planned.
Robin exchanged one look with Marian before she turned and walked away. It was possible she had gone to far this time and Robin was worried.
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Back in the forest they were in a jubilant mood, Much especially as a reaction to the fear he had experienced earlier.
"A toast!"
"Hang on," Robin had other plans. "Djaq, Will," Will tossed him a bag, he reached in and drew out a bunch of tags. "Good work, lads. You are now honorary members of our gang. You are our eyes and ears in the villages. And any time you need us, you can call on us."
"Any time you need us, call on us," Daniel was not letting any chance to be an outlaw and one of Robin Hood's band slip him by.
Robin winked.
"That's a deal,"
He handed out a tag to each of the four boys and was left with one in his hand. He turned to Will in confusion.
"Will, you made five. There's only four of them."
Will was steadfastly regarding his shoes.
"Ava hasn't got one yet,"
Ava, who'd been helping Mark put his tag on, looked up at him in surprise.
Robin was grinning again.
"That's right – Ava,"
He held the remaining tag out to her. She smiled back and slipped it over her head to lie next to the green cross.
John raised his cup to start the toast which they all joined in.
"We are Robin Hood!"
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A/N: There you are – hope you liked it and please review!
