Marian's heart pounded as she watched squadrons of guards close in on Robin atop the castle battlements. Holding her breath, she waited for Robin to unstring his bow and soar upon a rope to the ground, or pull out his knife and slice his way down through a banner...something heroic. But he did nothing.
Taking advantage of every eye cast upward, she cautiously made her way to Much. Whispering, she asked, "What is happening? He seems to want to be caught."
"He does," Much whispered back. "It's his plan. I hate it!"
"But why?"
"Because I can't stand for my master to put himself at the mercy of horrible men who have no mercy! Men who want to kill him! I hate it ! I hate it!"
"No, Much," Marian said, trying to master her impatience. "Why would Robin allow himself to be caught?"
"We failed to steal the jewels last night. Prince John's jewels. That, of course, and Robin had to compete in the archery contest! I knew he'd be like that when he learned about the competition! I knew it! Why does he always-"
"All this for some jewels? I...I could perhaps take some, without risking Robin's neck."
"He has a way out of the dungeons."
"My lock pick?"
"That, and Allan's key. It's uni...universal." Much struggled speak the right word. "It opens everything here. Wrist irons, leg irons, cell locks, everything."
"Allan gave Robin his key?"
"That traitor? No, Marian, no. The fool who helped us with Lardner...he stole it and gave it to Will. So you see, Robin won't be imprisoned for long. I hope."
"And if they try to hang him first, without imprisoning him? And what of the guards? He's sure to be heavily watched."
Much rocked anxiously back and forth on his heels. "I know it! I know it! I hate this plan! I hate it!"
"And all of you are here," Marian mused, referring to the gang, "in case something goes wrong."
"Yes!"
"I'll help where I can. I came armed as well."
"Oh! A dagger, in your hair! I knew it!"
"I've got to go back to the dais. They're bringing Robin down."
Robin was brought before Prince John and the sheriff, who were both prancing with excitement and delight. Guy of Gisbourne stood behind them, having struggled out of his coat which remained pinned to his seat by Robin's arrows.
To Gisbourne's disgust, Robin got down on one knee before the prince. Gisbourne hated Locksley's sense of breeding, for he himself frequently felt awkward in lofty circles, not having been taught how to act even though his pedigree was high. A drunken, abusive father, now dead, whose Yorkshire lands and holdings were taken away by Prince John's father and given to the church had taught him nothing.
"Oooh!" the sheriff crowed, watching Robin kneel, "This is good! This is good!"
"Huntington," the prince sneered. "We meet again."
"We call him 'Hood,' " the sheriff explained. "He's not an earl any more, you know. He forfeited that title when he became an outlaw."
"My family all call him 'Robin of Locksley,' " Prince John continued, circling Robin and looking him up and down. "They love him, you see. His name, you know, isn't even Robin, is it, Huntington? It's Robert."
"I like his little bird name," the sheriff gleefully added. Eager to begin inflicting pain and suffering, the sheriff asked, "What shall we do with him now? Oooh! Shall we spank him?"
"Your Highness," Gisbourne interrupted, "Hood needs to be secured, before he attempts one of his escapes."
"He won't," Prince John stated. "Not while I, Prince of the Realm, stand before him. Hood here, as you call him, won't even rise to his feet unless I allow it. He may hate me as much as I despise him, but he won't dispense with royal etiquette. It's been too deeply bred into him."
Gisbourne grimaced jealously.
"Observe," Prince John continued. "Locksley here won't lay a hand on me, even if I-" He grabbed a fistful of Robin's hair and yanked back his head.
"Oh, this is good! This is good!" the sheriff crowed.
Prince John continued his sport. "You won't even kick me, will you, Locksley, even when I-" With all the force he could summon, he kicked Robin in his gut, causing him to double over.
"Very good!" The sheriff nearly danced with delight.
"I could spit on him..." Prince John did..."and he still wouldn't drop his respect. So you see, so long as Hood is before me, he'll do nothing to escape."
"Yes, Hood," the sheriff said, pushing his face right into Robin's, "at last I know your downfall! Your own dignity and breeding shall be your undoing!"
"I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you."
"Oh! He speaks! He rather enjoys sparring with me, Your Highness, don't you, Hood? I will miss our little chats when you're dead. A clue...no."
Resenting the attention being diverted from himself, Prince John resumed his abuse toward Robin. "Look at you, Locksley! Hardly the pretty boy you once were, before you joined my brother's glorious crusade! Is that an insect bite on your brow? Hard to tell under all the dirt, not to mention the shaggy hair. And that beard! How scraggly! He once had such a smooth skin, daily shaven by his loyal manservant. And his clothes! I wonder what my sister Joan would think, if she could see you now. Joan was always smitten by the earl here. Former earl," he amended. "Always trying to get him alone, in the moonlight."
This was news to Marian. It couldn't matter now, as Robin's safety was so vital. But her mind filed the information away, for further investigation.
"I have a brainstorm!" Prince John announced. "Sheriff, do you by any chance own a human sized dog collar? Your departed sister probably owned one, yes?"
"I have an iron ring, attached to a rope. I once used it on one of Hood's gang...the Saracen, before I knew she wasn't a he."
"Attach it to a chain, and have it brought here. I mean to drag Locksley around by it, until I grow bored and we decide the most painful way for him to die. You shall be my puppy, Locksley! How do you like that, Hero of Acre?"
Marian's mind raced. Her dagger would be useless to save Robin now, she realized. But it was not the only weapon in her arsenal.
Robin had told her that Prince John fancied her. Very well, then. It was time to dig through her chest of dresses, and resurrect the red gown she had worn for Count Friedrich of Bavaria's visit.
