NOTTINGHAM CASTLE- THE NORTH GATE
"He, the prince, has given each of the nobles a casket of gold, too much to carry around on their person." Benjamin was telling Robin as he walked with the gang towards the entrance to the castle through the tunnel that led in from the north gate.
"It will be in their rooms."
Robin nodded, "The sheriff and Guisborne?"
"They have not been seen since dinner."
"Alright."
"There will be five trumpet fan fares." Benjamin told them all as they gathered around the gate that led up into the hall and castle.
"Five?" much queried.
Benjamin nodded, "You have to be ready to leave on the fifth."
Much nodded, growing anxious as he always did, "Five… right… five…"
"I will make a distraction." Robin told them all.
Benjamin opened the gate and ushered the outlaws inside.
"Good luck." Much clapped Robin on the shoulder and Will kissed Djac's cheek.
John, Will, Alan and Much were going to steal the money while the rest of them hid in the back of the hall keeping watch over Marian and Benjamin.
Marian was starting to feel faint again.
But she no longer felt like she may be ill.
She was dressed in peasant's clothes, her hood up around her head.
Robin leant on his bow with Tuck, waiting while Djac handed her a small bottle.
"Drink this; the marks will be gone by morning." She told her.
Marian looked almost unsure, she could feel Robins eyes on her.
"Marian." Djac prodded.
Marian nodded and took the bottle, sniffing it before drinking it in one gulp.
She had to swallow it twice, and blinked a couple of times before she nodded.
"Good." Tuck said and turned to follow Benjamin.
Djac walked past Robin, who was watching Marian.
She lifted one hand to rub at her neck, which felt almost as though it was growing hot.
She glanced up to look at him, and her eyes were vulnerable and sorry.
Robin swallowed and turned to follow the others.
Marian let out a breath before following him.
NOTTINGHAM CASTLE – THE GREAT HALL
The first fanfare blared through the hall as Prince John walked to sit on his throne at the top of the room. He stared down across the cheering and clapping nobles as Benjamin Palmer entered the room with Robin, Tuck, Djac and Marian.
The outlaws were ushered to hide under the stairs near the door, covered and shielded from sight by a large hanging banner bearing the Sheriffs insignia.
They were in the shadows.
Marians breathing had hiked, and she was starting to scratch at her neck.
It burned.
"It will be alright." Tuck told her, and Djac smiled encouragingly.
"Thank you for helping us." Robin said to Benjamin.
The physician swallowed, nervous like Much had been about the plan.
"You are welcome."
"Marian."
His voice made her look up, and her eyes were glassy.
Robin was worried she would faint.
He reached to hold her wrist in his hand, and he felt her grip his wrist back.
His tone was formal and business like, but he was staring into her eyes.
Her breathing started to slow.
Out of reflex his thumb was running across the inside of her wrist soothingly.
She felt her thudding pulse slow at his touch.
His thumb continued its circles across the inside of her wrist as he spoke.
"Marian on the fifth blast, you need to wait for my signal and be ready to leave, alright?"
Marian's eyes glanced down at his hand touching her wrist, and she swallowed.
She lifted her eyes to nod at him.
He did not let go of her wrist as he turned back to Benjamin.
"On my signal you need to follow Marian, don't worry, we won't leave you behind."
Benjamin shifted, "That is comforting."
NOTTINGHAM CASTLE
Deep in the castle John and Will, as well as Alan and Much, burst into the rooms of noble men and woman as tow spate pairs. They had split up, being able to cover more ground and get the gold faster that way.
The still bodies of knocked out guards fell in after them.
They shot around, producing large bags to fill with gold.
Much was muttering under his breath.
"Five fan fares… five…"
Alan and Much were trying to locate their escape trap door.
"Well where is it then?" Much hissed as Alan peered around the dark corridors.
"I think it is down here."
"You think!" Much almost screamed his whisper.
A loud sound ripped through the castle.
NOTTINGHAM CASTLE – THE GREAT HALL
Benjamin looked to Robin.
"Is that the second fanfare?"
Robin nodded and dropped Marian's hand.
It fell heavily by her side as Benjamin walked forwards out into the light before the prince.
The nobles parted to form an almost aisle towards him.
Someone brought a cushion to lie on the floor a few feet before Prince John.
Benjamin bowed to him before turning back towards the door.
"Will the poor afflicted woman please come forward?"
Robin gently put his hand on Marians back, despite all his hurt, and watched anxiously as she walked out into the open towards Prince John.
Her eyes were down, and she looked frail and ill.
Robin glanced at Djac and Tuck, but his eyes soon darted back to Marian.
Prince Johns eyes narrowed and he stared at her as she knelt on the cushion had Benjamin's request.
He reached to remove her hood, and everyone gasped and murmured at the large purple and red blisters on her neck and throat.
Prince John cringed.
She kept her eyes down, for the room did not spin that way.
She hoped she was not falling ill.
She was tired, tired and stressed, that was all this was.
Her hair was up and secured off of her face and neck, and her cream skin was marred and glaring with the blisters.
Even though he knew they were pretend, Robin felt hollow at seeing her ill and maimed.
"This woman has scrofula." Benjamin announced.
"The king's evil and can only be cured by the touch of a king."
More murmuring went through the watching nobles.
Prince John seemed to take a deep breath, before he walked down the stairs to stand over Marian.
She felt small in front of him.
Robins hand tightened around his bow.
Prince John lifted his hands for all to see.
"I shall now lay my hands on the poor woman's neck, cure her of her affliction, and save her life." He declared.
Tuck and Djac quietly scoffed.
Robin's eyes were locked on Prince John, who stood over his wife.
She was taking in deep breaths.
She still felt faint.
What was wrong with her?
"When she is cured, Prince John will be revealed, like his father before him, to be the rightful king of England." Benjamin raised his voice to speak.
Prince John closed his eyes, hands still in the air.
"I command you now in the name off all things holy to leave this body now and never to return!"
His hands fell to rest on Marian's neck.
The third fanfare rang through the air.
