A/N: Some revelation/plot furthering in this chapter! Don't assume anything too early! Read and review, s'il vous plaît!
Chapter Twenty-Six—Sherwood
It was midday as Robin sped back to the camp, feet treading swiftly and lightly over the familiar paths of Sherwood.
It was times like this—under the still, silent guardianship of the ancient trees, with the wind at his back and the thought of camp lending him speed—that he took a few moments for himself, to think.
In his quick-witted mind, there were many compartments…allotments of space to separate matters. Sometimes they converged, as they did now—his concerns over the Sheriff and Prince John's activities, his visit to Kirklees, and his new arrangement with Rose, the spirited servant girl…all were connected in twisting threads.
He hadn't told his men—or even Marian—of what had occurred during his conversation with the Abbot; he intended to, surely, but sometimes he felt the need to work out the details before he could disclose the plan. He'd learned long ago that having a half-formed plan did no one any good.
The smell of roasted venison beckoned him to the camp, and he raced down the last hillside to meet his band, who were still rejoicing over the rescue of Kate.
A significant silence fell when he arrived.
"Well, then?" he asked.
"Did she say yes?" John asked, getting straight to the point as usual.
Robin grinned, hanging up his bow and quiver. "Unequivocally."
"That means without hesitation," Tuck supplied.
"That sounds foolish of her," Much sniffed.
"That sounds loyal," Djaq interjected. "Why should she wait, Much? We did not wait, when Robin asked us."
"But we had nothing else," Much rejoined stubbornly.
"Perhaps she has nothing else either," Marian broke in, her sweet voice brooking no argument. "The castle is not a place where one wishes to stay—and to have some escape from the cage…even within it…would be welcome to anyone."
"I liked her," Will put in quietly. "She showed spunk."
"I think we should trust her," Allan agreed.
"You think we should trust anyone, including yourself," Much retorted. "I suppose she'll do. She certainly showed 'spunk' as Will said. However, I still think it's wrong of us to make someone cozy up to Gisborne."
"I'm not making her do anything of the sort," Robin defended himself. "I told her to keep as clear of the Sheriff and Gisborne as she can. We don't need to repeat history." He wrapped one of Marian's hands protectively in his.
After a respectful pause, Kate said, "Robin, what happened at Kirklees?"
Robin smirked—he'd been expecting the question. "I'm hungry." He expected argument, but there was none. Much only said, in a strangely forced voice, "Go get your bowl. We set it out for you."
"Get it for me, I'm tired!" Robin teased, but he sauntered over to where his dish was set out on a rock. As he picked it up, it tugged at a string—and too late he realized his mistake. Amid shouts of laughter, a net of his own making fell over him, effectively trapping him with nothing more than a bowl of roasted venison.
"You're not getting out of there until we've heard about Kirklees," Much informed him.
Allan chuckled. "Sorry, mate."
"Who did this?" Robin demanded, feigning indignation.
"We all know who," Djaq laughed, pointing at Will, who only smiled pleasantly.
Robin appealed to his wife. "Marian, as my second-in-command, it is your duty—"
"To ensure that you do yours, Robin Hood," she teased. "And so you will not be released until you have told of us what passed at Kirklees. No pretty words and smiles will help you—we are united in our hardheartedness."
The Master of Sherwood observed the faces around him and sighed resignedly. "Alright, I give up! Let up the net!"
"We're not the Sheriff, Robin," Will reminded him.
"Yes, we know you'll run off as soon as we lift it," Much said. "So, out with it!"
Robin ate his venison with a wry smile—though he was entirely amused—and assented to tell the story. "It's serious, men."
Even though their leader was rather ignominiously tangled in a net, chewing on cold venison, the Sherwood outlaws listened with the utmost respect.
"I spoke with the Abbot, and he told me that the King has begged sanctuary for a person of national importance."
"Is it like when we saved the Queen?" asked Djaq.
"Even more so," Robin said, with a nod. "Apparently, the person in question is also related to the King. I don't know how. King Richard kept their whereabouts a closely guarded secret, but worried especially when he went to war. He knew that his brother would seek to remove any and all connections to the royal family who might win the people's loyalty, and incite a rebellion against his brutal regime."
"But now," Tuck put in, quickly connecting the pieces, "Prince John has found out that this person exists and is doing everything in his power to eliminate them."
"He's enlisted the help of the Sheriff," Marian added. "Because Vassey always seeks opportunities to improve his credibility with the prince."
"Who is the person, though?" Much asked.
"We don't know," Robin answered slowly. "But I've a good idea."
"Their whereabouts have been kept secret," Marian said. "That must mean that—they must be an illegitimate child of the King."
"I thought better of the King!" cried Much, horrified at this thought. "Kings ought not to behave in such a way."
"Hush, Much," Djaq admonished. "Very few of your Kings have been good men; fewer still have been Saints. Do not admire your Kings too much."
"An illegitimate daughter," Robin agreed, ignoring Much's outburst. "The Abbot believed that she has been living with a noble family—perhaps in London—but he did not know for certain."
"If such a person could be found," Tuck rejoined, "Though they would not be an heir, they could challenge John's charismatic authority over the people. They could rally the populace, even gain the respect of nobles and armies. They could be powerful."
"Her, the Prince and the Sheriff do not like," John remarked gruffly.
"Exactly." Robin ran a hand across his short beard. "The question is, how do the Sheriff and the Prince propose to draw out this girl? If she has been living with a noble family, she will not be easy to find."
Djaq started to her feet in excitement. "Robin, this is it! It makes sense now!'
"What makes sense?"
"When we were rescuing Kate—I overheard a servant speaking about the great banquet the Sheriff is holding in a month's time…he is calling together every noble family, to present their daughters to society, in the hopes of marrying eligible knights." She shrugged. "I thought nothing of it, but now—"
"Aye, she's right," Will put in. "And there's rumor about town of the Prince himself coming."
Robin pressed his lips firmly together, shaking his head. "How like the Sheriff. He and the Prince will do their best to discover which of these young women are not naturally born of their noble 'parents,' and then—"
He paused grimly.
Much whispered, "Then they'll kill her."