Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans
Robin Hood
Part 1
Home at last
(Summer 1192, England)
1
Gotham castle loomed large in front of the travelers. Its towers stretching up high above, the walls were thick and strong. Richard Wayne rode his grey steed forward. To his side walked Raven. She scanned the walls, thinking ´Strange, no people anywhere.` "Is it normal to leave castles unguarded in England?" she inquired. Richard looked at her, then towards the castle, his eyes widened. No guards, no smoke, no sound. Something was wrong. He galloped away, leaving Raven after him yelling "Wait, it could be a trap!"
Richard didn't listen. Gotham was never a busy castle, but this was too quiet. His father knew he was coming, and if everything was normal he would have readied a feast, gathered his nobles, and celebrated his son's return. He rode thru the open gate and gasped. All that was left of Gotham castle was its walls and towers. The rest stood in ruins. He almost fell off his horse in disbelief, as tears threatened forth. That is when he heard it. The creaking of metal and the flapping of wings. Facing the sound, his heart stopped.
Raven ran after her master. She could feel his despair, something terrible had happened. Entering, she saw Richard pushing an old man hard into a wall. He was clad in rags, a blindfold covered his eyes. Over them hung a large birdcage, in it was the remains of a man clad in pitch-black armor, birds picking at his bones.
"Why have you not taken him down Alfred, why!?"
"Is that you Robin?" croaked the old man. She could feel sadness emanate from him. "Run they are coming. He is coming."
Richard screamed: "Why Alfred!?"
"He is blind" answered Raven.
Richard looked at her, anger in his eyes, then towards Alfred. Noticing the blindfold, Richard crumbled to the ground, crying.
Raven was about to comfort him when she heard it. Riders. She looked to Alfred, remembering his words. ´They are coming. He is coming`
2
She spun around, just in time to see six fully armed knights ride thru the open gate. Swords drawn, going directly for Richard who still lay on the ground. Raven refused to let him die.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos" she chanted, hand outstretched. Dark shadows rose from the earth, scaring the knight`s horses, throwing their riders off, before galloping off. Leaving the knights in an unceremonious heap on the ground. The shadows then grabbed the knight's swords and proceeded to jerk them away from their hands, before promptly beheading them. Raven smiled, Richard was safe. Then, she fell to the ground screaming.
Richard looked up, Raven`s scream had pulled him away from the edge of despair. She was laying on the ground clutching her head. The bodies of six knights lay behind her. ´when did they come` he wondered to himself. He looked to Alfred who stood trembling by the wall, face turned to the gate. Towards the man who had just entered.
"Can`t send knights to kill a maiden, they just end up losing their heads." The man monologed, finishing it up with a laugh, walking towards the woman writhing on the ground. His skin shone a sickly pale color, his hair was green, red lips parted revealing yellow teeth. "I don't like it when maidens cry, they are so much prettier with a smile on their face." He bent down, drew a dagger, and forced her mouth open. His eyes glistened with madness and ecstasy, as the blade drew blood.
3
Seeing the man bend down over Raven, Richard attacked. Jumping and kicking him in the chest. The man fell back, landing on his fallen knights. There was no doubt in Richard`s mind. This was the man who killed Bruce and blinded Alfred. He would not let him mutilate Raven. He positioned himself in front of her with a drawn sword. The man stood up, drenched in the blood of his fallen levies, and laughed. "Welcome home Richard, your reputation proceeds you," he said, before scrunching his face and kicking one of his knight's legs. "Sorry the party died," he looked towards Raven, who still shook, a sick smile spread across his face. "You have chosen your lady wisely. Able to cut down your enemies, but also let you come to her rescue. I have to get me one of those."
Richard let out a war cry, as he cut forward, the lunatic dodged, before drawing his own sword. "My lord, have some fun. This is a party." Richard went for another strike. The man`s sword met him. Richard yelled: "Who are you?" "How rude of me," said the man, swinging his sword in a wide arch, aiming for Richards's head. Richard managed to block it "I am the Joker, sheriff of Nottingham and lord of Arkham." "Well, Joker. Prepare to die." Richard promised, before driving the Joker backward.
Years of fighting in the holy land had hardened the boy who once rode out with King Arthur. Seeing himself outmatched, the Joker turned and ran, a furious Richard in pursuit. As he passed the gate, he cut the ropes holding the portcullis open. It came crashing down in between the combatants. Joker turned laughing: "Welcome back. May our next meeting be more fruitful" Richard jammed his sword in between the bars, trying to stab the man true the closed gate. The Joker just laughed, climbed on top of his white stallion, and rode down into the sunset.
4
Raven lay on the ground, pain flooding her system. Her empathic senses had picked up on a mind. A sick, perverted, crazy mind. For a moment she feared her father had come for her, but then. A person appeared, leaning over her. Sickly pale skin stretched around a crooked face and pointy nose. His mouth, lined with yellow teeth, was framed by red lips. Green hair gave him the impression of some mythical creature. But Raven knew, looking at his eyes. This was nothing more than a man.
He brought forth a dagger and stabbed down. Cutting at the corner of her mouth. She could feel the tearing of flesh, as blood ran down her chin and pooled in her mouth. Raven tried to move, to fight, but his aura was too much. She was sure her head would explode. Then suddenly, he was gone from her vision. His mind was still present, but it had another target. Richard! She had to get up, Raven told herself, trying to fight off the man's influence on her, but found only pain. She could only lay back and hope Richard would live, as pictures poured forth, penetrating her mind. Worms chopped up in pieces. Birds with crushed beaks and carved smiles. A woman with red hair, screaming. Her stomach was pierced by a cross bolt. Tears running down a man's face. He was naked, sitting in a cage. The last picture was that of a knight. Dressed in black, surrounded by bats.
Raven sat up, spitting the blood from her mouth, smearing it all over her cloak. Richard was standing by the gate yelling. The portcullis was down. Alfred was sitting by the wall, head in his lap. She tried to stand, but fell to her knees, before puking. Again, she stood and managed to stumble a few steps before she fell to the ground unconscious.
5
Richard turned. Joker could not have come far. He only needed Raven to open the gate so he could pursue the madman. Raven however was nowhere to be seen. He looked around, there! Facedown in the mud, not five meters in front of him. Rushing towards her, he turned her around. She was drenched in mud and blood. Feeling after a pulse, he let out a sigh of relief. She was alive. He looked over his shoulder, in the direction Joker had fled. A dust cloud in the distance. It would have to wait.
Wiping her face clean, he lifted her in his arms and carried her over to his horse, securing her to its mane. Alfred had in the meantime picked himself up from the wall and come over to him. "You have to get out of here sir" the old man pleaded.
"Yes, and you are coming with us. We will ride to London, to queen Guinevere. She will supply me with men, and help me take back my father`s land."
"Sir, you don't understand. Queen Guinevere is in house arrest."
"What!" exclaimed Richard. Alfred continued explaining "After Arthur left for the holy lands, the enchantress Morgana usurped the crown and placed her son Mordred on it. All who rose against her have been torn down, leaving men like Joker in their place."
"What should I do then?" asked Richard, his wits at an end.
"You must flee the country, and find a way to warn king Arthur" insisted Alfred.