Robin stood alone in a dungeon cell, trying to think of a plan to escape.

He had no idea of Prince John's wicked plan for Marian. He only knew she'd been captured, and that the prince had ordered his immediate demise.

At last, he saw the sheriff come tripping down the dungeon steps, his falcon on his wrist.

"Hood!" the sheriff proclaimed, "have I ever shown you my bird?"

Robin uttered a single, angry laugh, knowing the sheriff was employing a euphemism.

"Here we are again, hmm?" the sheriff gloated. "I hope your stay here will be comfortable, Hood, for it won't be long. Prince John has ordered me to have you killed, immediately. So, enjoying our little chats as I do, I thought of a way to please myself as well as the prince."

"You're going to talk me to death? Show some mercy, Sheriff. That really will be painful."

"I'm disappointed, Hood. Not one of your better retorts. Of course, your mind must be occupied elsewhere, with Marian captured."

"What have you done with my wife? Let her go, Sheriff. She's done nothing against you."

"She's done everything! The king would be dead, if she hadn't gotten in the way of Gisbourne's blade. And speaking of that, I hear she took his other sword into her as well recently. Is that why you tried to torture him in the forest, hmm? Still unable to kill? You've proven yourself weak, Hood, time and again."

"It's better than proving myself incompetent."

"I AM NOT INCOMPETENT! I was successful in EVERYTHING, until you showed up with your little bow and arrows, and ruined all my plans!"

"Like you say, Vasey, all in a day's work."

"Still smug, I see. You can't fool me, Hood. I know you too well. You're toying with me, trying all the time to think of a way out. Do you know what your leper wife's doing this moment, hmm?"

"Probably the same thing I am...trying to think of a way out, like you said."

"A clue... She's entertaining the prince, along with Gisbourne's sister. Prince John has taken both lepers into his bed, in a, shall we say, 3-way festival of lust."

"Marian would never submit to that!"

"She hasn't a choice, Hood."

"Everything is a choice."

"Well, blah dee blah dee blah. This very moment, while we chat, your precious pretty bride is enjoying an orgy, like the Romans were famous for. Did you know, it was my thought of the Romans that gave me my inspired idea to kill you! Oh, yes! Have you ever heard their story of the man who was punished, bound so he could not escape an eagle who came to eat his liver while he was still alive?"

"You mean Prometheus. Get your facts straight, Sheriff. It's a Greek story, not a Roman one."

"Oh! Your tutor would be proud! What a brilliant little student you must have been as a boy, Locksley! Of course, in the story, your Prometheus doesn't die, but has his liver grow back daily, so the bird can return and perform the same torture again and again. Pity we can't do that! Such poetry of pain! But as it is, you'll suffer plenty while we continue our little chat. For I intend to stay and talk with you, the entire time. My bird here is hungry, Hood. Do you know, I haven't fed her in three days?"

"She won't eat my liver, Sheriff. Birds don't attack men, no matter how starved they are."

"Oh, she'll eat it, Hood, after I make a deep incision over it and spread the blood and guts of a freshly killed rat into your wound! Of course, she might go for your pretty eyes first! I'll be so sorry when she pecks those beauties from your head! I may even shed a tear or two! A clue...no."

"Prince John won't approve. I thought you told me he wants my head for his trophy room."

"You obviously haven't a trophy room of your own. The eyes are always replaced by false ones. Look! Look how my bird is eyeing yours now! You can almost hear her stomach rumbling, as she anticipates her meal. Oh, this is good! This is good!"

In an instant, Robin seized the sheriff's bird and threw it in Vasey's face. The sheriff reeled backwards as his falcon flapped her wings and clawed his face with her talons.

"GUARDS!" screamed the sheriff, once he'd recovered from the surprise and subdued his bird. Robin was already gone, having knocked out the sheriff's jailor and dashed up the stairs, fighting his way past every guard in his way.

In Isabella's rooms, Marian took hope as the bells in the castle began ringing. "He's free!" she cried, excitedly, thanking God in her heart.

"Marian!" Robin cried, bursting through the door.

"Robin!"

He stood still a moment, surprised at the sight of Marian chained to Isabella, both dressed in identical white nightdresses.

"I might not object to this ménage a tois," Isabella murmured.

Robin ignored her words. He'd pulled out his lock pick and was trying to spring the shackle around Marian's ankle. "Prince John didn't hurt you, did he?" Robin asked her, his voice full of concern.

"Not yet. Hurry!" Marian urged, but the lock pick got jammed and broke off.

"Looks like it'll be the three of us, off to the forest," Robin said.

"No!" Isabella cried.

"You're coming with us," Robin told her. "Now!"

"Robin, the guards?" Marian asked. "We were just about to poison them."

"Poison?"

"Well, make them sleep. Where are they?"

"Gone from here, my love, trying to find me. Let's lead them on a chase, shall we? You look gorgeous, by the way."

"You're referring to me, as well?" Isabella couldn't help asking.

"Sorry. You're at a disadvantage, standing next to my wife."

"It's my hair, isn't it? Is it my fault she chopped some of it off?"

"We haven't time for this!" Marian warned.

"I'm not leaving," Isabella told them. "I'll fight you every step of the way, Robin, until you're captured and killed."

Marian spoke up. "Robin, the wine! It will knock her out, and you can carry her over your shoulders! I know it's not ideal, but it's better than having her resist us."

Isabella sneered. "You can't force me to drink it!"

"You're right," Robin said, "we can't. Marian?"

Marian used her fist, knocking Isabella senseless.

"Good work! And a good thing the chain is long," Robin said, slinging Isabella's body over one shoulder, "and she's lighter than you. Ready to run?"

"After I do this!" She kissed him quickly, then realized what he'd said. "Lighter?"

"Come on!" Together, they began their mad dash toward safety.