XXXVII

It happened in the blink of an eye.

One moment Winchester was laying down the law, the next the outlaws were giving the orders.

OK well, not outlaws plural, actually it was more a case of Robin explaining to Winchester how things were going to be whilst the others looked at their leader as if he'd gone completely potty.

You could hardly blame them though; this was their first kidnapping after all.

And even if Robin's quick thinking had tipped the scales in their favour, one had to admit that holding a knife to the throat of Winchester's future bride was a drastic move to get them out of a jam, not to mention brutal in a way that nobody had expected from the former earl, not least his cohorts.

"Oh Master please no! Anything but this!"

Unsurprisingly, Much was not on board with this.

"It's like I said Much, I don't want to hurt her and I won't if his lordship here does as I say."

It was the truth. Robin was no kidnapper, he hadn't wanted any of this but Winchester had backed him into a corner and it had been the only way out. It was desperate he knew, and judging by the horrified faces staring at him, (not a few of which belonging to people he cared about), it was a new low in his struggles against the powers that be, but there was no way in hell he was going to let Winchester arrest him so he'd taken the only chance he had to get him and his men out of there.

And let's face it, it's not as if they were playing fair either was it? They'd taken everything from him: his home, his lands and title, the woman he loved… and now they expected him to surrender quietly? No chance.

"Robin please, this isn't you…" Marian could not let him do this either and it tore at his heartstrings to hear her words but he tightened his grip on Francesca.

"No it isn't but it has to be. This is what they've reduced me to." Robin could feel Francesca trembling under his grip and it made him sick to his stomach. He was sorry to drag her into this for her only fault was that she was of worth to Winchester and therefore an effective bargaining tool but if everybody just kept their cool there was no reason that this confrontation should end in conflict.

Which brings us to one particular individual who was having great difficulty in doing just that. Something that intrigued and alarmed Robin in equal measure.

"If you so much as leave a scratch on her…" Gisborne was livid; anger rolling off him in waves. He didn't finish his sentence but then he didn't have to, his entire being signalled hateful intent.

"Easy Gisborne, keep your distance and she won't come to any harm."

"No, I can tell you that she won't for if she does this will have a very bad ending for you my friend."

Winchester's voice was calm but filled with malice and Guy could not help but be puzzled at this. Having got over the initial shock at Winchester having chosen the woman he loved to become his fiancée, he was now trying to figure out why. She had been nothing to him so how could this have happened? Winchester's interest in younger women was notorious and yet he'd always tended to go for the obvious candidates - renowned beauties such as Marian or Natalia Cavendish – so never in a million years would Guy have thought that Francesca, his quietly lovely, unassuming little mouse, would be the one to entice him. Were there other motives behind his choice? Had her father come to some arrangement with him perhaps?

"Look, as splendid a time as we've had here tonight, it really is time for us to be going so if you all just give us some space, we'll be leaving now…" Robin backed himself and Francesca slowly towards the door, gesturing with a jerk of the head to get his men moving.

Gisborne was spurred out of his thoughts at this and jolted forwards, dagger at the ready, all clumsiness long forgotten. "Let her go!" He hissed, fury bubbling dangerously just beneath the surface.

"Can't do that Gisborne, not until you back off and let us leave..."

There followed a tense lull as the outlaws slowly made their way to the door with Djaq heading up the rear, whispering "easy big fellow" as she passed the agitated knight.

Then all hell broke loose.

It was Vaisey of course.

Who else could it have been? All was going smoothly, just as Robin had hoped and then, as per usual, Vaisey had to go and put a spoke in the wheel.

One look at Gisborne had been all it took.

A fraction of a second later Djaq was taken.

Will Scarlett was a man possessed, lunging forward and screaming her name, it took both Allan and Much to hold him back.

"Not so funny when the boot's on the other foot is it?" Guy jeered holding his dagger up to her throat.

"Let her go!"

Guy tilted his head and then an ugly smirk spread over his face as he realised what Will had unwittingly divulged.

"Well Gisborne, I must say this party is really shaping up to be quite something eh? What have we had so far? Attempted robbery, attempted arrest, two hostage situations, one of which involving a wanted man who is in fact a wanted woman… You should celebrate the king's birthday every year!" Vaisey purred, sidling over to Djaq, his eyes giving her a lewd once over causing Will to surge forwards, nearly pulling over both men holding him in the process.

If Vaisey was concerned at this reaction from the outlaw he didn't show it and Gisborne didn't budge an inch. Winchester looked mildly amused and somewhat bored. The guards however were becoming increasingly nervous and one of their ranks getting too close to Little John resulted in an unequal skirmish between the gruff outlaw and the individual, who swiftly became a bleeding mess upon the floor.

The situation escalated rapidly from there as more guards came to their colleague's aid and Little John found himself fighting off several opponents. Allan rushed to help him, leaving Much to make sure Will didn't do anything stupid. Robin could see that things were getting out of hand and wisely decided it was time to call it a day before they all ended up getting arrested or worse. He whistled loudly to signal it was time to go and thankfully his men were with him, fighting tooth and nail to get out of there.

It was a blur of clashing swords after that, Vaisey yelling, Winchester directing his men, Much entreating Will to leave, Robin promising Will they would return for Djaq as he backed himself and Francesca out of the door…

and through it all Gisborne stood still as a statue, grip tight upon his captive, cold eyes fixed upon Robin, unblinking.

The gang might have been leaving but this wasn't over.

Far from it.