Part 11

King Richard returned the next day with his men and Little John, which were small in number but Robin knew could fight as if an army of thousands. Djaq approached the King alone and explained about Greek fire, of which he had heard of, seen even but not of course used himself. After enquiring of the components he nodded to one of his men and sent him on an errand to locate such substances for Djaq. Djaq not trusting anyone to acquire these things by themselves ended up accompanying the soldier.

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Allan groaned and opened his eyes; he felt weak from lack of nutrition and ached from the cramped conditions he was forced to live in. Along with the stench of other unwashed bodies and bodily fluids that had nowhere else to go. He flexed his neck, blinked a few times before inspecting his weeping sores; a direct result of being tortured for information of Robin Hood after a guard recognised who he really was. But because of that he was sure was the reason they had kept him alive, if he had been who he claimed to be he would surely be dead now. He truly believed that Gisborne was still hoping that he would talk, but they were wrong, no matter what they did to him he would never betray Robin Hood.

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That evening saw two unexpected people reach the mushroomed camp after greeting the King as was correct for the day they went to see Robin, Marian and what remained of the gang.

"Eve!" Much exclaimed and went to greet her with an embrace which she returned, almost as eagerly as he. "What are you doing here?"

Eve looked at Tuck who frowned and grimaced at the manservant's question.

"What?" Much asked nervously.

"Much has happened," Tuck said, sitting down and Eve and Much did likewise.

""Tell me," replied Robin.

"Eli remains at the house with a few servants and many Nobles. Anya has left with the children.…London to Eli's family home, in preparation of the elevated status they are convinced that will be bestowed upon Eli after his bravery in the forthcoming battle. Eve, myself and a number of other servants were released and told to find another master to serve. I will always serve God first but you come in a close second," he told Robin.

"So if you will have us, we would like to join your number," Eve added nervously.

"Like?" said Much beaming like the Cheshire cat. "Like…I mean…I for one….of course you can remain here with us….I….." he trailed off realising that this was not his decision.

Robin unable to prevent a smile replied. "Yes, stay, both of you are more than welcome here. Any more news Tuck?"

He nodded and Robin called for Richard to come and listen too.

"The Wolverine movement are getting restless, but Prince John and Vasey are not yet ready to give the order. There has been some gossip that Richard is not in France, but in London. The Sheriff thinks perhaps they should lure him to Nottingham under false pretences. There are perhaps fifty nobles that have been forced to fight with the Sheriff and only a handful who have come willingly. The Wolverine Movement are not all nobles, some are freemen, a handful are peasants who ran away to join the fight in the Holy Land and have returned as freemen also. The Wolverine movement is far stronger than the Sheriff and Prince John's army because they want to be there and they are willing to fight, many of them experienced in battle."

"But some of the men the Sheriff has forced to fight with him must have been in the Holy land too," Much commented.

"A handful yes, but many are also older nobles whose sons perhaps went to war instead and never returned."

"Have we time to wait for Djaq and the creating of the Greek fire?" Richard asked Robin.

Robin shook his head. "Your Majesty, I do not know."

"Eleanor," said Marian, when the men and Eve looked at her she added "We have not spoken with her for some days now, she will be our best source of information"

"She was not at Locksley last time we went there," Little John added.

"That is because she is at the castle," Eve told them.

"What she doing there?" asked Will.

Tuck informed them. "Guy thinks that she will be safer there, safer from you."

"Me?" asked Robin and Tuck nodded.

With a look in the King's direction Robin said "Right we will wait for Djaq, we need the Greek fire to get us into the castle, not only do we have to rescue Allan and a number of nobles we have to ensure Eleanor is safe too."

"If there is time," said Much gravely.

"Oh there will be time, I am sure of it," Robin said. "The Sheriff will not begin his war until he is more certain of the King's location."

"I can keep myself hidden a while longer," smiled Richard and they all smiled in response, except Marian and Eve who shared a look of concern of foreboding disaster.

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The morning was bright and warmer than it had been since the late summer the previous year. The gang had ventured to a little known glen deep within the heart of the forest. They stood in a circle, Richard had been invited but since the conversation with Tuck and Eve he had hardly ventured from the safe haven of the cave. It seemed that they were still depleted in their original numbers for Djaq and Allan were not present, but Tuck and Eve were.

Tuck cleared his throat and begun the ceremony, dedicating the infant Alexander Edward to God. It was a solemn affair, one which should have been a time for joy a time for looking to a pleasant and happy future. But was now the complete opposite, with the exception of the joy child had brought into the lives of those who were in attendance