"Hood!"
Guy of Gisbourne froze in shock as he spied the outlaw in his room.
"Where is it, Gisbourne?" asked Robin, his voice cold with disdain.
"Where's what?"
Gisbourne pulled out his sword and pointed it at Hood. They began to circle each other menacingly.
"Where is it?"
Gisbourne noticed the raised floorboards. "What? Your little box of junk? You surprise me, Hood. You sneak in here to recover that?"
"I want it back," Robin stated.
"Guards!" called Gisbourne.
There was the sound of stomping boots on the stairs, as Gisbourne's men came running.
"I want four of you beneath every window. You three, wait here. Both of you, by the door. And you four, bottom of the stairs." The guards did as they were ordered. Every exit was heavily manned.
"There's no escape this time, Hood!"
"We'll just see about that!"
Robin took a flying leap and threw the full force of his weight against Gisbourne, delivering a forceful kick to his gut. Gisbourne dropped his sword and fell backward, and Robin was on him in an instant, straddling his fallen body. Robin's eyes glowed with hatred as he pounded his fist into Gisbourne's jaw.
Outside, Robin's men watched Gisbourne's guards with alarm. "Can we take them?" Will asked.
"Not bein' funny, but we're outnumbered. I don't care how useless they are, the odds aren't good enough."
"Master!" cried Much, in alarm.
"Steady," cautioned Little John.
"We've got to save him! I'm going!" Much charged from the group, his sword out, a war cry upon his lips.
The three guards who saw him first were joined by two others, and soon, Much was knocked to the ground, five swords pointed at his heart.
Robin, too, was caught. When the guards saw Gisbourne down, they rushed to their master's defense. Three swords pointed at Hood, and he began fighting them off. His training, strength, and skill served him well, and he actually thought he would succeed in escaping. But other guards heard the ruckus, and soon, Robin was completely surrounded. He had no choice but to surrender.
When Marian arrived, she spotted Will, Djaq, Little John, and Allan crouched low by a fence, their faces somber with worry. She gasped in horror when she saw Robin and Much standing in the yard, wrists bound tightly in front of them, ropes attached to their wrists. Gisbourne sat triumphantly astride his black horse, holding the rope which bound Robin. His Sergeant held the rope attached to Much.
"Let's get these outlaws to the dungeons where they belong," sneered Gisbourne. "We've done this before, Hood, remember? But this time, there will be no escape. As you can see, this time we've captured your little rescuer as well. There's no one to save you now, Hood."
"I wouldn't be so sure, if I were you."
"Boast all you want. The Sheriff will soon put an end your swaggering. I doubt you'll live to see the sun rise tomorrow."
"Sir Guy!" Marian called, pulling her horse alongside Gisbourne's. "What's happening here?"
Gisbourne looked proud. "I've caught Hood. He was trying to sneak about in my house, but he's caught now."
Gisbourne looked intently at the faces of Robin and Marian, trying to see whether he could read anything between them which would indicate their former relationship. Other than the color being drained from Marian's face, he couldn't discern anything unusual. He attributed her paleness to fear. "He can't escape me. You're perfectly safe, My Lady."
"You're taking him to the castle?"
"To the dungeons, unless the Sheriff chooses to hang him immediately."
"May I speak with you first?" She didn't know what she would say…she just wanted to get him away, to give Robin a chance to escape.
"Not now. He's got an appointment with the Sheriff, and for once, he won't be late."
That was the closest attempt at humor Marian had ever heard from Gisbourne's lips. He really must be in an exultant mood.
"May I ride with you, then, to Nottingham?"
"My errand is no place for a woman. And, it cannot wait. Goodbye."
"But I don't want to miss the hanging!"
She nearly choked on the words, but she had to say something! Seeing her two childhood friends, not to mention the man she loved, bound, helpless, and humiliated, was more than she could bear.
"Very well, then, but stay silent. I want no distractions from my mission." He spurred his horse, causing Robin to fall to the ground. Marian watched in horror as she witnessed his body being dragged through dirt behind Gisbourne's horse, dragged through dirt and worse. Much, too, fell, as the Sergeant followed his master. Marian guessed that Robin was in agony over Much's capture. And how Much must be feeling for Robin!
She tried to think of an escape plan as she rode in silence beside Gisbourne. But her mind wouldn't cooperate. Instead, it kept playing a memory from their childhood over and over.
The day had been hot, and the three of them were splashing in the river, drenching their clothing and their hair. Marian didn't even think that she might get into trouble…she was having too much fun. Suddenly, Much lost his footing and went under. His body quickly drifted to the deepest part of the river, and he was calling for help. Robin swam to him and tried to pull him out, but the water was so deep he couldn't get his footing, and the current was strong. Marian climbed onto the bank and tossed them a rope. "Hang on!" she cried, as she pulled them to safety.
If only she could pull them to safety now!
They reached Nottingham. Gisbourne had sent a man ahead to inform the Sheriff, and Vaisey was waiting for them in the castle courtyard. He could barely contain his excitement.
"Well done, Gisbourne!" he crowed. "So," he said, putting his face right up next to Robin's, "paying me a little visit, are you, Hood, hmm?" He strutted a complete circle around Robin, taking in an appreciative gander at his filthy, though quite tight, little backside. "Yes, yes…this is good, good, very good!"
Gisbourne noticed where the Sheriff's eyes rested, and he sneered in disgust.
"Will you hang him now, My Lord?"
"Hang him now? A clue...no. You disappoint me, Gisbourne. Our little Robin Red Breast deserves to pass some time in one of my little bird cages. Lock them in the dungeons! I want to have some fun with him overnight!"
