Robin crouched next to Little John, hidden in the bushes. The sun seemed to be rising achingly slow this morning as the band waited anxiously for Tuck's expected arrival.

They had worked for most of the previous evening, preparing several events designed to delay the sheriff and the Austrians until Tuck's arrival with the archbishop.

Since the foreigners had set off with Alfred and their escorts that morning, Robin and the band had been following them, unnoticed, tracking their progress through the forest.

It took the guards nearly half an hour to remove several heavy branches that were tangled together and lying across the road, blocking their path. Shortly after they had gotten through, the horse's harnesses, thanks to Archer's stealthy preparation last night, had snapped, bringing the Austrian's carriage to a halt.

Robin had grinned when one of the guards was sent back to Nottingham to get a replacement harness, but now with the guard back, the carriage well on its way of being repaired, and no archbishop, Robin's features were solemn. If Tuck didn't get here soon....

The Austrian's conversation with the sheriff drifted to the outlaw's ears. "This entire trip has gone poorly, and we've hardly gone anywhere. Such bad luck today. We are already delayed by an hour."

"Oh, yes. Bad luck. I suppose you could call him that." The sheriff replied.

The Austrian sounded confused. "Who are you referring to? You think someone planned all of this?"

Robin slowly glanced around a tree, watching the sheriff take a quick look around, as though checking for eavesdroppers, but missing them completely. "There is an outlaw in the forest. Robin Hood. He is very greedy for gold and snatches any he can find. I fear he has an eye for the king's deposit money."

"And this...Robin Hood...you believe he is setting traps to stop us so he can have a chance to steal our gold?"

"I suppose it was inevitable. I had hoped it wouldn't happen at all, but he seems to have eyes and ears everywhere."

The Austrian's eyes were cold with fury. "Why did you insist on us coming through the forest? Obviously if this outlaw has unlimited resources, it will not be hard for him to get this gold! If you had told me, I would have insisted on more men!"

The sheriff appeared indifferent. "We've heard he doesn't have many men. I have had several encounters with them, but you can never be sure if you've met the whole band, especially with his type. He can charm anyone into believing anything."

A smile quirked at Robin's lips, but he was not amused. Some people believed as the sheriff did, and thought Robin's life as an outlaw was merely an attempt to gain glory. The love he received from the locals was hard earned, and it chafed when his personal feelings were underestimated.

The band continued to follow the entourage through the forest, and when they reached the next trap that had been set, Robin strung his bow with an arrow, ready to fire as soon as the sheriff's group was correctly positioned.

He released the arrow, and it struck a rope that held up a net, freeing it to fall on the soldiers who walked unsuspectingly below.

Their reactions were unexpectedly slow, and it was some time before the sheriff's party had their horses calmed and the guards were untangled.

"It must be this Robin Hood! Nets do not fall out of coincidence!" Both Austrians were purple with rage, and the sheriff looked slightly nervous.

Tuck still hadn't arrived, and Robin was beginning to feel anxious himself. What if he hadn't been able to see the archbishop? Was he coming at all?

Robin took a deep breath and sent up a prayer. If this didn't work, he didn't know what he would do. He set off at a run, quickly and silently, until he reached a point far ahead of the sheriff. He slowed to a stop and paused, hands resting on his knees, to catch his breath before stepping onto the main road.

As the Austrians traveled, their eyes kept flickering from side-to-side, searching for the moving shadow of an outlaw or the sign of another trap.

The travelers turned around a corner and quickly halted the horses as they stared warily.

Several yards ahead stood Robin, grinning, with his hands resting comfortably on the end of his bow.

"Are you this Robin Hood we have heard about?" One of the Austrians asked.

"The one and only. And you are the Austrians that are holding our king for ransom and are here to bring back extra gold that you do not need."

"We are trying to anyway." The Austrians looked around, seeing nothing but trees. "Where are your men?"

"What men?"

"Do you expect us to believe that? Do you think we are fools?"

Robin paused for a moment, portraying a look of careful consideration.

The Austrian released a cry of anger as he drew his sword. Robin smirked and didn't move. Before the man could step towards Robin, the second Austrian quickly thrust out an arm to stop his companion.

"Wait! This is just what he wants. Look!" On the ground there was a square layer of leaves between them and Robin. "There are no leaves anywhere else on the road. It is a cover to hide a pit! Very good, Robin Hood, but not good enough!"

Robin bit his lip and took a hesitant half-step back. Now the sword bearing Austrian smirked. He looked back at the guards. "Get him!"

The whole group crashed through the bushes lining the road. There was a crack and a thud as a hidden pit next to the road collapsed, taking everyone with it. Robin chuckled and kicked the leaves that covered the road, unearthing the dirt path.

He walked right across the covered square and approached the massive hole that had caved in.

"Good afternoon, sheriff. Are you going to properly introduce me to your friends?"

The sheriff stood and dusted his clothes off. Earthen walls rose above his head, and Robin appeared only as a silhouette, blocking the sun from his eyes.

"You're such a snake, Hood."

"Don't you mean a snake charmer? I didn't know you thought that much of me," Robin alluded to the sheriff's earlier words.

"So what do you think you're going to do? Charm us into handing you the gold?"

"Now, you're a snake that doesn't have to be charmed. If I take the gold, I lose my head. If I don't, Nottingham goes hungry. A clever plan, sheriff."

The sheriff paused for a moment, then called back, "Then you're not going to take the money? What are you going to do, keep us down here until someone frees the king?"

"If I have to."

"I have no time for this, Hood. My wife is expecting me for dinner." The sheriff stood still, looking up at Robin.

"Oh la de da de da," Robin called out, mostly for his amusement and for his band's. A muffled snort from where Much was hidden proved that his attempt at humor had been well received.

"Has Prince John already gone back to London?" Robin questioned.

"He decided that it would be better to stay in Nottingham today."

Robin leaned on the end of his bow and laughed. "Probably."

"I know what you're trying to do, Hood, and it won't work. I know you haven't the heart to kill, so how can just you stop us? We'll be leaving now." The sheriff turned and motioned for a guard to bend down, becoming a step for him to climb out of the pit.

The sheriff stepped up and poked his head over the top of the hole. His nose barely missed the large staff that was pointed at him. His eyes traveled the long way up to Little John's face. He rotated his head and saw that the rest of the outlaws had circled around the edge of the pit.

The Austrians also appeared intimidated as they glanced around, and, though the struggled not to show it, Robin could tell they were surprised to see Marian standing before them.

Marian gave a small smile as a creaking and rumbling sound came from behind them. A wagon turned around a corner, Tuck at the reigns and an older man in the seat behind him. Three others were in the wagon, arrayed in armor that flashed in the sunlight.

"What is this?" The archbishop called out as Tuck pulled the horses to a halt.

Robin gave a small nod, signaling for John to step aside and let the sheriff climb out of the hole.

"Thank you for joining us today, my friend! Allow me to introduce you," Robin gestured with a sweeping arm, "To sheriff Alfred of Nottingham."

The sheriff glared at him, but Robin ignored him and continued with a smirk. "And this, is the Archbishop of Canterbury."

The sheriff's glare disappeared in an instant.

"The Archbishop of Canterbury? What is he doing here? I mean…." the sheriff quickly changed tones at the Archbishop's look. "To what do I owe the…great pleasure of your arrival?" Robin shook his head in silent laughter.

"I have heard about what you have done, sheriff," the Archbishop glanced at Tuck before continuing. "Robbing the poor of Nottingham for this. Perhaps it would have been better if you used your own gold." The old man shook his head. "This money cannot be used for such acts! I will not allow this to continue!"

Though the sheriff's face was passive and tightly controlled, his eyes blazed with fury. He was backed into a corner; there was nowhere to go. If he refused the Archbishop, he would suffer condemnation from the Church, and that was certainly the last thing he needed. He needed to look good for Prince John. There was no option but to follow the Archbishop's command.

The sheriff finally put on a false smile. "Of course, your excellency." he looked down at the Austrians still in the hole. "Give him the money. We'll pay you the whole ransom when we have it."

"At the risk of your king's life?" The Austrian looked smug.

"I forbid you!" The Archbishop declared. "This money is not part of the original ransom; you cannot kill the king because of it."

As the gold was passed up from the Austrians and into the Archbishop's carriage, Robin turned to the sheriff. "Well, with the money off of your hands, I suppose you'll be home in time for dinner after all."

The sheriff watched as the Austrians started their long journey home empty handed. He turned to Robin.

"You may think you're very clever, getting the Archbishop to do your work for you," Alfred sneered, "But this isn't over until the king comes home." He turned his horse around to leave, but before leaving, he looked back at Robin with a smirk of his own, "Or, at least until your dangling from the gallows." He signaled his guards and they rode off down the forest path.

"Sheriff!" The Archbishop called after Alfred. "Perhaps I might impose on you and stay in Nottingham for a few days?"

Rage contorted the sheriff's face, but he nodded, however grudgingly.

"Carry on. I shall follow in a moment." The Archbishop said.

Robin watched the sheriff ride down the path, then turned back and headed towards the Archbishop. "Thank you. If you weren't here, I don't know what we could have done."

The old man smiled kindly. "It was no trouble. I am glad to see you again, Robin."

Robin nodded, "The feeling is mutual. Though, I would have been happier to see you a little earlier."

He looked over to Tuck, who was still sitting on the wagon bench. "What took you so long? I almost had to start filling in the hole to stop them!"

Tuck chuckled, shaking his head and leaning back, relieved that the race to arrive in time was over.

The Archbishop laughed as he settled himself back into the seat.

"I must be go and be with my…gracious host." He gestured with his head towards the bag of money. "Take it. I know that you will make the best of it."

Robin took the money and smiled, feeling its heavy weight.

The Archbishop nodded his goodbye, and the gang was soon standing by themselves, celebrating another victory.