"Hold!" shouted Guy of Gisbourne to his men, reining his horse when he spied a naked sword lying on the forest floor.

"Not bein' funny, but I wouldn't touch that if I were you," Allan warned. "We're gettin' near the camp, and it's bound to be a trick."

"Hood once stole my sword," Gisbourne sneered. "Gave it to you, didn't he? Well then...you, Allan, may have the honor of picking that one up and handing it here. Payback."

Having no choice, Allan breathed out a nervous sigh, wiped his brow, and slid from the back of his horse. Cautiously looking around him, he carefully trod to the sword. He couldn't help shutting his eyes as he reached for it.

Instead of the stream of arrows he was expecting, the only thing that happened was the sword somehow moved of its own accord along the ground and out of Allan's reach.

Gisbourne's men gasped aloud in fear, and many crossed themselves.

Allan himself took a step back, surprised by the unexpected movement.

"GET ME THE SWORD!" Gisbourne bellowed.

"Sure."

Allan took a few short steps, bent down and reached again. Just as before, the sword eluded his grasp and slid a few feet along the ground.

One of the bolder among Gisbourne's men spoke up. "Sir Guy, these woods are known to be filled with supernatural creatures. That's a fairy sword."

"You're a fairy fool!" Gisbourne shouted. "Allan, hand me the sword!"

Allan was thinking that Robin's clever schemes, coupled with Will's brilliant executions, were a dangerous mix. Dangerous to him, at any rate. "It's a trick, Guy! Not bein' funny, but I touch that, it'll set off all kinds of...you don't want to know!"

"Frightened of a sword, Allan?" With a hiss of steel, Gisbourne withdrew his own polished blade, and pointed it Allan's direction. "Now, which sword do you think you need fear most?"

Allan gulped, then made a lightening quick grab for the sword on the ground. It shot past him, out of his reach.

But this time, Allan spied the method behind the trick. A thin cord was attached to the sword's handle, and Allan could picture Much, crouched low on the ground nearby, tugging at the cord, to frighten Gisbourne's men.

Confident now, Allan shouted, "Guy! They gotta string tied on here! Someone's movin' it!"

"What are you waiting for?" Gisbourne hissed to his men. "Get after them!"

Drawing his own blade, Allan led several of Gisbourne's men on foot, following the direction the cord. But their search proved fruitless. All they found when they reached the other end of the cord was an impossibly difficult knot.

"They ran away, Guy," Allan called.

Gisbourne huffed. "Cowards," he sneered, and Allan raised his eyebrows, knowing how wrong Gisbourne was.

Allan figured that little distraction had bought Robin time to put a more hazardous plan into effect. He hated to think what might await them next.

...

Mounted again, Allan continued leading Gisbourne toward Robin's camp. He was careful to avoid the traps he knew were in place. But he hadn't counted on new ones.

All at once, a heavy rope dropped from a tree and caught Gisbourne up under his arms, lifting him forcefully off his horse, suspending him in the air.

Gisbourne's men rode rode a few feet back, but reined their horses when they heard their master uttering foul curses.

One of them had the presence of mind to grab the reins of Gisbourne's horse.

Allan winced. Another one of Will's traps. How many more before they reached camp? What else awaited them? Obviously, from the sword trick, he knew they were being hunted. And with Marian in the camp, Allan knew Robin would stop at nothing to protect her.

Gisbourne had drawn his sword again, and sliced through the rope suspending him. He came crashing to the ground, his armor making a deafening clash when he landed.

"Hood!" Gisbourne called. "I know you're watching! You can't escape me. Your tricks are no match for my blade!"

Although it was not part of the plan, Robin couldn't resist firing a single arrow from his hiding place. Sailing true, the arrow struck the handle of Gisbourne's sword, dangerously close to his hand, and knocked it to the ground.

Quaking with sudden fear, Guy of Gisbourne picked up his sword, all the while looking over his shoulder. "Cover me!" he ordered his men, who were armed with both bows and swords.

"Look, Guy," Allan pleaded, "He's seen us. Remember what happened last time?"

Gisbourne climbed back onto his saddle. Recalling he was wearing armor crafted from Damascus steel, he commanded, "Lead me to the camp!"

Allan shot the rest of Gisbourne's men a look. None of them had the privilege of full armor. God only knew what awaited them next.