LVIII

Hiding in plain sight as 'nobility' was only good for so long.

Once through the gates, it was clear that 'The King Richard Appreciation Society' must be disbanded. Fooling the guards was one thing, but even in the finest robes, there would be no fooling Vaisey or Winchester – their faces were too well known for that now.

In this part of the plan they were assisted by Sir Edward, who, with other lords here to warn the king, had smuggled in cloaks for them. They were most grateful for this, not least when Winchester rode in through the main gate, paying no heed to the cloaked figures observing him from nearby.

Weapons was another story though. The guards had been thorough in searching all visitors as befits such an important event, which meant that should they have to fight their way out, all they had was their fists. To remedy this, Allan suggested they pay a visit to the kitchens; he was 'acquainted' with a girl who worked there who would probably help them if they explained the urgency of the situation or at least cause a distraction whilst they helped themselves to the more dangerous kitchen items.

They agreed to give it a go since nobody had a better idea and it was just as they were making their way down there, that it all went a bit wrong.

"You there! Stop! Where are you going?"

Allan froze. He'd gone on ahead to see if the coast was clear and now Winchester had him. He swore under his breath, panic spiking in his veins.

He turned slowly and pulled down his hood. "Why to find you of course!" He was completely winging it here, stalling for time, hoping that the lads were not too far behind.

"Ah Allan, I was wondering when I'd see you again, I hope you've got good news for me."

The outlaw smiled and was about to spout whatever made up drivel came to mind, but was spared the bother because Little John snuck up behind the lord and smashed him in the back of the head.

(Again).

This time with his elbow.

It was glorious.

Grins were exchanged, grateful looks as well - they couldn't hang around though; time was of the essence. They dragged the unconscious nobleman to a nearby pantry, located the correct key on his belt and locked him in. Not before Allan put the boot in though, he figured the snake had earned that much by trying to make him betray his friends.

Having dealt with this hiccup, all went smoothly from there: Allan's lady friend came up good for them, they found Sir Edward in the main hall and the king showed up with befitting pomp and fanfare.

As the monarch then turned on Vaisey, it seemed too good to be true.

As it turned out, it was...


"Do you wish to give evidence against the sheriff?"

"A clue: no!"

It had been a close shave no doubt about that.

The priest had done them an inestimable service. They never would've gotten through security without him and Sir Edward would've been murdered before they could get to him. Nor would Robin have his bow: so important in moments like this, so essential to their fight, so difficult to conceal... but not if you have a holy man, his cart and a length of twine to secure it to the underside.

In the event, there was no search - they could've smuggled in all the weapons they wanted, but that's easy to say in hindsight and it's not wise to put a mission at risk with careless assumptions.

Added to that, they'd put a major obstacle in the way of any further marriage plans: you can't have a wedding without a priest can you? Imagining how upset Gisborne was going to be when he finds out had kept a smile on Robin's dial all the way to Nottingham.

Ah Marian, I should've known you would find a way…

That Gisborne had fallen for it was a surprise though. It must have been incredible acting on her part to convince him. Much had said the same - wondering that the knight had not dragged her to the altar, sick with nerves or not.

Whatever feat of acting it had required, it was an enormous weight off Robin's mind. He'd been faced with an impossible choice – help Sir Edward to warn the king or help Marian and stop the wedding and not even Robin Hood can be in two places at once.

It had been a gamble to help Sir Edward and he'd been well aware that in doing so he could lose Marian to Gisborne but he'd hoped that in recognition of his loyal service he could ask the king for an annulment on Marian's behalf.

As it was, it hadn't come to that and it's a good job too, for whoever this man was in the great hall of Nottingham, King Richard he was not. Much did the honours in letting all in attendance know and put himself at great risk in the process - Vaisey had grabbed him in a last ditch effort to stop their escape, but Robin had outsmarted him with one of his finest displays of archery yet and if the 'king' had been a let down, then the sight of Vaisey dangling upside down from the ceiling gaping and writhing like a fish on a line had more than made up for it.

It was only once they were out of there that Robin and Much discovered what had become of Winchester, courtesy of an amusing demonstration by Allan and Will. Little John himself merely shrugged and smiled as Djaq told him not to be so modest.

They'd triumphed again. Had foiled yet another of Vaisey's schemes and could go home to their forest den as heroes. Luck had been on their side, they were not so brazen as to forget that however invincible they might feel, but for an evening they would allow themselves to enjoy their good work and great fortune.

Vaisey and Winchester would regroup and strike back, that much was certain, but today they would give thanks and be merry.


"Is the king still here or have I missed him?"

If looks could kill, Winchester would be dead right now.

Indeed, in Vaisey's mind, he's already suffered a thousand unpleasant deaths and if the fool keeps it up with the sarcasm, they won't be confined to the realm of imagination much longer.

"I'm afraid you missed him, right about the time you got yourself locked in the pantry."

Now it was Winchester's turn to seethe and fix his rival with a murderous look – it was typical that Vaisey had found out about that – there was no keeping anything from him.

He was about to remark that perhaps Vaisey should've got himself locked in the pantry as well since getting strung up from the rafters by his shoe could hardly be considered a triumph, but Gisborne has just walked in and his demeanour is hardly that of a glowing newlywed.

"Good lord Gisborne, has she thrown you out already? That must be a record..."

The knight does not respond to Vaisey's quip, merely slumps into his seat and brings his fingers to the bridge of his nose. This must be a code amongst the servants to bring alcohol because one of the serving wenches promptly places a goblet of wine before him, which he downs in one pull.

"Trouble in paradise?" Winchester quips, unable to resist putting his oar in.

"You could say that." Gisborne remarks bitterly.

Lord Cavendish storms in, clearly in a temper and Guy wonders what on earth could he have to be so upset about. The answer arrives in the form of Francesca, who enters the dining hall looking for all the world like a kicked puppy.

"Tell me Vaisey; are your guards completely incompetent?" Cavendish barks whilst pulling his daughter by the elbow and shoving her into a chair.

Vaisey's expression darkens considerably. This is a sore subject. The pathetic display of resistance against the outlaws earlier is an open wound for the sheriff and Cavendish is sticking his finger in it. He deals with the failure as he always does and passes the buck.

"Ask him." He points to Winchester. "He was the one 'dealing with it'."

Winchester was about to round upon Vaisey in the same manner, but it seems Cavendish is not yet finished with venting his frustrations.

"I was looking for her everywhere..." He gestures furiously to Francesca, who shrinks in her seat, "None of those buffoons could tell me where she was and so I was forced to go on a wild goose chase round the villages..."

Guy rolls his eyes at the nobleman's 'plight' and has an uncontrollable urge to deck him. 'Try having a day like the one I've just had' is what he's thinking and as he looks at his master, he can tell he's thinking along similar lines.

"And where do I find her? Mother-henning the Knighton girl! Not a guard in sight!" He jolts the back of her chair round to face him and she almost falls off. Guy springs to his feet with every intention of decking him, but is held back by Vaisey's hand upon his shoulder.

"I told you last night how you are to behave, but it seems that you are determined to defy me..." Cavendish hisses in her face and she keeps her head bowed to conceal her rising temper.

"I don't care that she was ill. I don't want to hear about how she collapsed. Her nerves are of no consequence to me nor the aborted wedding. Where her father is or is not does not interest me." He grabs her chin now, forcing eye contact. "You are my concern. Not anybody else and I will have you obey me. From now on, you will go nowhere. You will stay in this building. I can't trust you to go out so you will not. You will have guards with you morning, noon and night and if I hear that you have gone off alone again, I will beat you black and blue so help me god. Do you understand?"

She nods, her anger expertly concealed behind a mask of meek obedience. He nods in return, satisfied he's gotten the message across and then storms out of the room slamming the door behind him.

There is a moment of silence amongst those who remain, broken only as Vaisey begins to laugh.

And boy does he.

It is a cruel laugh, long and loud and the target of his amusement is obvious.

"Oh Gisborne, I handed her to you on a plate and you still couldn't do anything with her..." The sheriff shakes his head in disbelief but this is merely put on - he's eating this up, "Short of tying her down, I'm not sure what more I can do for you."

"She didn't go through with it!?" Winchester was obviously not up to speed with all that had happened since his departure from the church.

Vaisey merely shoots him a withering look before continuing with mocking tones, "Did she stub her toe was that it? Or break a nail? Was it because daddy dearest wasn't there to hold her hand? I gave you King Richard, and yet you still couldn't get her to the altar!"

Nobody interrupts to point out that actually it wasn't King Richard because Vaisey is in full flow and it's beside the point anyway.

"Whatever shall I do with you? I indulge you in your ambitions, I tolerate your mopey patheticness, I give you everything you need to marry her and yet you still mess it up! You are beyond hope ..."

Guy does nothing to defend himself, knowing it is pointless. Vaisey will not tolerate interruption and certainly not now that he has something so juicy to sink his teeth into.

"How does it feel that she's humiliated you again? and in front of all your peasants too! I bet that was wonderful having them look down at you... I'm sure they'll be taking a leaf out of her book and playing ill when you next collect their taxes!"

Francesca watches Guy in his misery, terrified that he is going to try and redeem himself by spilling the beans about Marian. He takes the verbal blows with practiced forbearance but she knows how they sting, how much Vaisey's opinion means to him and she's not so foolish as to assume that what she said earlier will change that.

"You seem to forget that as my Master of Arms, all that you do reflects on me, so I ask you: do I wish to appear weak? gullible? a soft touch? a bleeding heart? A clue: no! I have a reputation to uphold and that means that I cannot tolerate your blundering any more. So tomorrow morning you will go into the woods where we last saw Hood and his men and you will burn every bush, every tree, every leaf... I don't care if you have to burn down the whole forest and you won't come back until you have them."