Nottingham Castle

The Sheriff of Nottinham had not slept either. By the time the guards had risen from their stupor and released him from his chemical prison he was apoplectic. He had taken his spite out on the hapless soldiers, slapping the nearest one around the head and throwing the other down the stairs screaming for his lieutenant.

Guy of Gisbourne had just himself been released from the banquet hall and was rushing towards the Sheriff.

"My Lord have you seen the Lady Marian?" he began

"I don't care about Marian!" the Sheriff looked like the veins on his neck would burst he was so angry. "Get me Hood!!!" and he turned to a very frightened alchemist "And you get me black powder!!! A stony faced De Leys remained silent and fuming.

Gisbourne quickly recognised that retreat was his best option and began the search for his lady, calling Allan with him. They had eventually found her trussed in the stables looking none too pleased, but thankfully unharmed.

"Marian, thank goodness. If they had harmed you – "

"I am well Sir Guy, thank-you – although somewhat fatigued by the ordeal. I still feel quite faint, I think I shall retire" She stole a look at Allan, who kept his eyes to the stable floor. She had witnessed what he had done in the banquet hall, and had worked out that he must have been responsible for doping the guards. There was hope for him yet!

"Of course" and he guided her back to her room, the unusually silent Allan in tow.

After depositing her in her room, Gisbourne turned to his own lieutenant. Allan was expecting a rollicking and steeled himself. But instead, Guy of Gisbourne smiled.

"Well Allan, I think that for once I have managed to outwit Hood and his gang"

"What do you mean? They escaped didn't they?"

"Ha, they always escape. But this time they took one of my men with them. We will know where they are camped before the day is over, and I will be responsible for delivering Hood to the Sheriff. Lets go."

That's where he had seen that other one before – he was one of Gisbourne's soldiers. The bottom dropped out of Allan a Dale's world. There was no way he could warn them, and not only that he had to come along for the ride.

This was not going to be a good day.

He followed the black knight feeling despair for his former comrades.

They knocked at the Sheriff's chambers and entered when called. He was having breakfast and still looked none too amused.

"Well, where is he? Where is Robin Hood?"

"Not here my Lord, but I would tell you that – " he ducked as the apple came flying across the room at him, followed swiftly by the goblet of wine.

""My Lord wait. We will have him by sunset today I promise you. I have a man in his gang. He is to meet me at the outskirts of the forest today and show us to his camp."

The missiles stopped.

"Oh very good Gisbourne, very very good."

Outlaws Camp

It was late morning when Much started to stir. He sat up suddenly realising that he was hungry and that he hadn't eaten the night before. Then he remembered why they hadn't eaten and got out of his bunk. The first sight he saw was his master stoking the fire.

"You didn't sleep did you?"

Robin returned a look which gave him his answer.

Much raised his hand pointing a finger and opened his mouth to admonish Robin on the foolishness of not sleeping, when Robin raised his finger to his lips, indicating in the direction of Will's cabin.

Much glanced over at the sleeping form of his friend and dropped his hand, abashed. He sat down beside Robin.

"How is he?"

"Better. Djaq was up earlier and said he would be fine"

"Good!"

There was silence for a while. Not long because Much did not like silences.

"Right. Let's eat" and he got up to start preparing a gruel for breakfast. Not very appetising perhaps, but it would be warm and fill their stomachs. No doubt they would be complaining, but no one else offered to cook did they?

The noise of Much's activities woke the other members of the camp and soon Little John, and Michael were all sitting around the fire, bleary eyed, while Djaq checked on her patient before joining them, confirming that he was still sleeping peacefully.

To Much's surprise there were no complaints at breakfast. But there was little conversation either. Obviously everyone was hungry. He looked round his comrades and his gaze settled on to the newcomer.

"So what are your plans Michael?"

The new man looked up in surprise. "Er what do you mean?"

Much smiled "Well are you going to join us? You'd be very handy in a fight."

Little John agreed enthusiastically. They had both been impressed with Michael's fighting skills and they were sure that the previous days escapades would have ended differently if he had not been there.

Djaq got up at this point. "I am going to wash" she declared "Make sure Will eats when he wakes and drinks more of the tea" and left the camp, heading towards the river. Robin watched her go understanding that she needed a little time on her own.

Meanwhile Michael had looked nervously between them all – "Er well I dunno. I mean if I'm wanted it might be good." Robin noticed that he did not hold anyone's gaze for long.

"What about your wife and family Michael? They must be worried for you" this came from Robin.

"Yeah, well, yeah. I need to go and see them – discuss it with them I suppose. Although I reckon they think I am dead already."

John sympathised with this sentiment, and Much nodded smiling. Robin thought it strange that he did not want to rush back to his family and was about to ask more questions when a movement to the left of him caught his eye.

Will Scarlett awoke and wondered when he had been run over by a cart. He heard the sound of voices and wanted them to go away. But they persisted and he lifted his hand to his head.

He opened his eyes, blinking in the late morning light. As he looked out of his bunk he saw Robin, Much, John and a stranger all sitting round the fire looking back at him. No wait – he had seen him before – yes with John and Much during the rescue. There was no sign of Djaq.

He tried to sit up, grimacing in pain. His ribs felt like they were on fire, but he could at least take a breath. He became aware of the bandaging around his chest and had vague recollections of coming back to the camp, somehow making the flints spark into a fire and collapsing in a heap on his cot. Then shadows of memories, Djaq's voice urgent, then authoritative, then soft in his ear, John and Robin reassuring him, Much anxious as ever and pain in his chest, pain like lances.

John was beside him, helping him to sit and he nodded his thanks.

Then Much was there bearing a bowl and cup. "Djaq says you have to eat this and drink this and I won't be the one to tell her that you didn't" he joked.

Will took the proffered cup and sniffed it before taking a sip. "Where is she?"

"At the river" said John and he nodded. He understood.

"How are you feeling Will?" Robin had walked over to him and smiled.

"I'm alright" came the typically short response. It was as much as they would expect from the usually tight lipped man who would be embarrassed by too much attention.

"Good" he replied and walked away, picking up his bow and quiver.

"Where are you going?" Much called

"For a walk – I'll be back soon" Robin had to think and that thinking was best done alone.

Will looked over at the new man, who had been intently watching Robin leave.

"Does he do that a lot – disappearing?"

"All the time. Don't worry about it you'll get used to it" chirped Much. Will frowned as he picked at his breakfast. Something didn't sit right with the man, but Much and John seemed to like him.

For the next few minutes the camp was alive with activity. Much cleared up the cooking pots, Little John checked the food store and the supply of arrows. Michael watched them all from his spot by the fire, all the while chatting to them about life in the forest and what it was like. How did they know when there were travellers on the road? Did they really give all they took to the poor? They must have some secret stash somewhere.

Will listened quietly to it all, thinking that John and Much were being a little too open with the stranger. They seemed to trust him, but he wasn't so sure that he was trustworthy, even though he knew that he had helped with the escape.

"I see Djaq didn't take the water pot with her - typical. Right I suppose I should be the one to fetch it." Much made a show of picking up the water vessel and trudging down to the river side, taking pains to take a different direction from Djaq!

John smirked at his retreating back then noticed that the kindling pile was down.

"Fire's low, I'll get some wood." And John walked off leaving the two men alone in the camp.

Will was feeling better. The brew that Djaq had made was refreshing and had lifted his spirits somewhat. The gruel was, well gruel, but his empty stomach had welcomed it. He experimented with moving and found that it was painful, but bearable. But he decided against getting up just yet, for some reason he did not want Michael to be the one who helped him should he need it.

Michael was staring into the fire, obviously lost in his own thoughts. Will preferred it that way. He leaned back and closed his eyes, just for a few minutes.

"You feeling better then?" Will jumped and looked up at the friendly face of the new man. At his nod he offered his hand. "Name's Michael."

"Will." He acknowledged. "Where are you from Michael?"

"Locksley"

"Yeah? I don't remember you.."

"Just got back from fighting. I'm an archer. When I got back the family was in bad shape so I took umbrage with Gisbourne" he spat this out.

Will Scarlett thought that he knew everyone in the village of Locksley. He was also surprised that Michael had lived to tell the tale after attacking Gisbourne, who's justice tended to be swiftly dealt.

"What's your wife's name? I probably know her"

The man moved away, not liking where the conversation was heading and headed for the fire. No-one had told him that one of the outlaws was from Locksley!

"Er Jane"

"There's only one Jane I know of in Locksley" replied Will. He sat up further, wincing at his protesting rib cage and reached by his bed for his axe, thankful that they always had spare weapons after having had his taken from him the day before.

"That'll be her then" he poked at the fire with a heavy stick.

Will let the silence hang for a while, debating about what to do. He was not fit to fight the man and the others had to be warned. Jane was his mother's name.

"She's got two boys." Will prodded, knowing the fact to be true.

"Yeah that's her"

He turned and looked over at the injured man, who was looking at him intently.

The time for pretence was over he had to act now. He grabbed the stick and charged, expecting to knock him out in one swift blow. He did not expect the defenceless man to defend himself with an axe.