PART 9

Author's Note: We will get back to Alix and Guy in the next chapter, I promise! Also, I'm really sorry about how long it took for me to update this. I've had this chapter written for a couple of months but I just haven't felt like going to the library during the five days a month I'm home. (I ride with my husband who is an over-the-road truck driver if you didn't know.)

That being said, I recently got a laptop and we can buy WiFi on the road plus I can turn my phone into a hotspot so I'm going to try to get back into the writing and updating groove again. :) If you're still reading this, THANK YOU!

"What's the matter Vaisey?" an all-too familiar voice called out from somewhere above them. "Can't control your hostages anymore, eh?"

Marian paled as she looked up to see Robin standing above them. She shot him a glare that was tempered by the worry evident in her eyes and Robin winked at her in what was meant to be a reassuring manner.

"Hood!" Vaisey screamed at the top of his lungs. "Guards! Guards!" He looked about wildly but nobody came.

Robin leaned onto the railing casually, keeping a tight grip on his bow as he called, "Your guards may have taken the day off, Sheriff. It would seem that their loyalty can be bought as easily as yours!" He laughed as the Sheriff bellowed with rage.

Seizing the opportunity that had presented itself, Marian shot him a fierce glare and made her tone as scornful as possible as she called, "You scoundrel! One day soon his men or Prince John's are going to catch you and then you will pay for your crimes."

Understanding, Robin gave a tiny nod. He heard the signal whistle from his gang as he replied, "Oh, I'd love to see the guard who can catch me, my lady! After all... I am Robin Hood!" he finished theatrically as he shot her a cheeky grin and ran away.

Vaisey was still throwing a temper tantrum and Marian made sure that her mask of hatred stayed firmly in place as her heart sang. After a moment Vaisey seemed to remember that she was there and he turned on her. "I want to see someone punished," he hissed viciously. "So never fear, my dear-your precious peasants are safe today. Stay here!" He stalked from the room and Marian bit her lip in worry. She wanted to be grateful for the temporary reprieve but the fear of what might be coming didn't allow her any relief.

xxxXXXxxx

"All right men," Robin said expectantly as he surveyed his gang and noted that everyone was present. "How did we do?"

Will smiled and gestured for Allan to come forward with the large chest they had gone into the castle to retrieve. "I wasn't able to open it in the castle," Will explained as Allan set the chest on the ground. "But give me some time and I'll get it, Robin."

Smiling proudly, Robin clapped the younger man's shoulder. "Good job, Will."

"I'm not bein' funny, but why is he the one who did a good job when I had to carry the bloody thing all the way back?" Allan protested.

Ignoring him, Robin crossed his arms over his chest and surveyed his gang grimly. "While you were doing your job, I found the sheriff berating Marian." His voice was troubled and he held a hand up to stop Much from interrupting. "I'm not sure what it was about, but she managed to get a message to me. Prince John will be arriving soon and we must be prepared."

"Prince John, Master? Prince John in Nottingham? Unbelievable!" Much's voice was filled with worry and incredulity.

"Robin, you said Marian mentioned a visit earlier. Do you think that it has anything to do with what happened to Gisbourne?"

"I do, Djaq. It would seem that Alix told him something he didn't like, something that made him arrange to come sooner." His face was thoughtful, not betryaing his inner turmoil at the thought of Marian at Vaisey's 'mercy'.

The silence was broken by Allan a moment later. "It's obvious, isn't it?" Everyone stared at him and he sighed, crossing his arms over his chest in an unconcious imitation of their leader as he continued. "She took on Robin Hood himself to protect Gisborne before she even knew who he was. The word around Nottingham is the two of them were spending a lot of time together even he went and got himself scourged, and she's been spendin' day and night in his chambers since, nursing 'im back to health. I'm not bein' funny, but it seems to me that would be enough motivation for her to contact her uncle the prince and get him to hurry to Nottingham."

A wide grin spread across Robin's face and he grabbed Allan's face between his hands. "Allan, you are a genius!" Releasing him and turning, he missed the look of pride mixed with despair that crossed Allan's face for just a second before he managed to conceal it. "All right lads. Now we know-"

He was interrupted by the sound of several of the warning bells going off, letting them know that their traps were being sprung. The sound of horses filled the air and they suddenly smelled smoke.

"Robin-" Djaq began.

Robin pressed a finger to his lips and silently crept through the forest until he found the army Vaisey had sent to burn the forest. There were dozens of men even without the several who had been caught in Will's traps. They each carried a flaming torch that they must have just lit since none of the men in the traps were on fire. He studied them as they continued to ride, no doubt trying to find their camp so they wouldn't have to burn down the entire forest. He noted that they were going the opposite direction before rushing back to the camp.

"All right, there are dozens and they each have a lit torch," he told them quietly. "I think they're trying to find the camp but if they don't find it soon I'm sure their orders are to burn down the entire forest."

"The King's forest?" Much sputtered. "They can't burn down the King's forest, that's... unbelieveable!"

"It is, Much but I'm sure that Prince John wouldn't mind the loss of Sherwood if it meant our capture and death," Robin replied.

"What's the plan?" Will asked, ready for action.

Robin sighed and ran a hand through his hair before grinning.

"Oh no," Much muttered. "I know that look. That look means trouble!"

"Oh yes, old friend. Trouble for them."

xxxXXXxxx

"All right men!" the leader roared after they had gone as far as they were willing. "When I give the order, send the horses back the way we came and start burning this forest to the ground."

A murmer of complaint went through the mass of soldiers as they thought about having to walk back to Nottingham.

"No complaints!" the captain yelled, turning the horse around and dismounting. He slapped the horse's rump and it took off running. "Everyone!"

The soldiers followed suit relunctantly and waited.

"All right men-"

"What is the meaning of this?!" a nasally voice cried out in anger.

Slowly turning around, the captain gulped at the sight. There was nothing more than a hand heavily laden with jewels dangling from the carriage window but there was no mistaking the royal carriage. "My liege," he murmured as he dropped to his knees and bowed his head, all of his men following suit immediately.

"Stand up and tell me what's going on at once!" John ordered as he sat forward carefully, making sure that he could see and that his face was protected by the sides of the carriage just in case Hood decided to try something.

The captain obeyed. "I am Sir Gregory, the leader of these men. The Sheriff of Nottingham sent us to burn Robin Hood and his outlaws out of Sherwood Forest, your highness."

"Vaisey ordered you to burn down Sherwood Forest?" John's voice was horrified. "This is the King's forest-it's my forest! You are to do no such thing! Abandon this foolish mission immediately and return to Nottingham."

"Yes, your highness."

"And put out those torches at once before Hood shoots one of you and you set my forest on fire anyway!"

The men didn't dare to argue about the dangers of trying to find their way back to Nottingham in the middle of the night without horses or light, but the fear hang heavily in the air as they extinguished the torches at once.

"Continue on," John called to the driver. "It seems that I have more to take care of in Nottingham than I thought!"

xxxXXXxxx

The gang had seen the entire exchange from a nearby hill. "Well, at least they won't burn down the forest," Will said weakly.

Robin's eyes were troubled as he replied, "We've run out of time, lads. John is here and he is headed to the castle."

"Him, we do not like," Little John said gruffly.

Nobody else spoke and Robin didn't dare to voice his greatest fear. Marian had been in trouble with the Sheriff earlier. Who knew what punishment he had concocted for her and how much worse of one Prince John would devise?

Robin had grown up around the royal court and he knew that the prince seemed stupid to some, but he knew the truth. John was a brat and one who had always been jealous of his brother but he wasn't stupid. He pretended to be so that people would underestimate him and Robin knew that he was actually quite cunning. He was afraid that Marian's act, which worked well enough on Vaisey and Gisborne, wouldn't be nearly enough to convince the prince.

And so he worried.

xxxXXXxxx

"Oh, are you still here? Go to your chamber, go on now," Vaisey ordered as he finally returned to the Great Hall. Marian looked at him in confusion. "I'm sorry? But my lord-"

"Your punishment is in place." He sighed in impatience as he plopped back down in his chair. "Go to the dungeons and see for yourself. But then you are to return immediately to your chamber and stay there until further notice."

Marian's heart began to race as she turned and almost ran out of the Great Hall. She suddenly had a terrifying feeling that she knew what Vaisey had done.

She reached the dungeons within moments. "I was told by the Sheriff to come see who was serving my punishment," she told the guards, who parted to allow her passage with sneering, knowing grins on their faces.

Hurrying down the stairs and trying her best to ignore the stench, she hurried down the rows of cells until she found that she had been right.

"Father!" she cried, suddenly terrified by the sight of his frail body lying so still on the sparsley scattered dirty hay that covered the dungeon's stone floor. She noted with horror that he didn't even have a blanket to protect him from the chill of the dungeon. "Oh, Father!"

Edward slowly opened his eyes and he struggled to his feet, crossing the distance to the entrance of the cell so that he could cover her fingers with his own. "I am fine, daughter," he said stiffly, the pain in his eyes belying his words.

"This isn't right! I should be the one down here," she cried, tears filling her eyes.

"But that wouldn't be nearly as satisfying, missy." Marian quickly forced the tears back and turned to find the sheriff standing at the top of the stairs with a satisfied smirk on his face. "You see, I've learned something about you-you suffer most when those you care about are suffering. I was going to punish those peasants you love but then I thought about your dear old daddy here. I couldn't resist!"

Marian was so furious that she didn't dare speak. Instead she turned back to her father and shook her head slowly. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, tears glistening in her eyes once again.

"Don't worry, Marian. I will be fine," Edward replied weakly. "Be safe and well."

"Oh, missy-your time is up. Tick tock!"

Giving Edward's hand a squeeze she whispered, "I'll find a way to get you out of here." She released her hold on him relunctantly and forced her tears back before she turned to walk back to the stairs. She passed Vaisey without comment and just barely made it into her room before the tears began to fall.

TO BE CONTINUED