Chapter 6

"We need to rescue Robin and the others." Much said as they headed towards Nottingham. "Who were those people anyway?"

"Celts." John answered. "I've seen them once before when I was younger."

"So what are they doing here?"

"By the sounds of it, trying to start a war in Ireland."

"We need to get to Robin before they move those men."

"We go. Now." John said as the gang hurried towards Nottingham.

"Wait." Allan said. "We will never get into the castle it will be on proper lock down."
"So what do you suggest?" Much asked.

"We do what we do best." Allan said. "We ambush."

The Holy Land

Marian was cowering in the corner as the Saracen held his sword over her head. The Saracen let out a scream and made to move the sword down into her but was stopped when an arrow stuck in his back and poked through his chest. He dropped his sword and fell to the floor next to Marian. She looked up to see Carter stood with his bow, he quickly rushed over to her and pulled her from the floor.

"Thank you." She said shaking.

"It's alright. Are you ok?" she nodded as she held him tight. Carter gently rubbed her back. "It's alright, you're safe now." Carter could hear the sounds of Saracens retreating outside and then the tent opening. Marcus walked in seething his sword.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"Yes, yes im fine." Marian said freeing herself from carter's arms.

"They've gone now and they won't be back tonight. But carter can stay in your room just in case."

"Thank you Marcus."

"Your welcome, try and get some sleep mi'lady, tomorrow is another day." Marcus bowed and then left the tent.

"I'll let you get changed and then come back later." Carter said. Marian nodded and then waited for Carter to leave the tent. She changed quickly into some night clothes and got herself into bed.

Carter returned a while later and set himself up a spare bed near the door. He shed his over shirt and sat down looking at Marian. "Carter I have a request." Marian said.

"What is it?"

"I want you to teach me how to fight."

"You know how to fight I have seen it." Carter laughed.

"No I mean fight well like you and Robin."
"Im not sure Robin would approve."

"Well Robin isn't here and we are. Carter we both know we are not getting out of here if I can't defend myself. I need to be able to look after myself. Carter we need to get home." Marian said passionately. He looked at her and then nodded.

"Wait here." He said before getting up from his bed. He returned a few moments later with two swords which were smaller than a traditional English sword. "These are for you." He handed them to Marian who placed them in her lap and looked at them.

"Why two?" Marian asked.
"These are lighter than a traditional sword, you'll be able to handle 2 smaller one's better than one big one." Carter said. "Now get some rest. Training starts in the morning."

Nottingham

"Right so here is the plan." Robin said as the villagers crowded round him. "We use this to get out of here." Robin held up a lock pick, he undid his own shackles before passing it to Adam. "Wait for my signal and then the first line you'll attack the guards with me and the second you'll storm the gates. Use anything you can find as weapons, use the chains if you have to. Men I am getting us out of here if you'll fight with me." Robin said looking around him, all of the men nodded. The men returned to their line as the Irish man you stopped them in the forest and another younger man emerged at the top of the steps.

"They don't look like much." The younger man said.

"Well I'm giving them to you Tiernan, they are yours to train and lead."

"You expect me to make soldiers out of peasants? No." Tiernan said turning to his brother Finn.

Robin looked around, now was there chance. "Ready now." Robin shouted. Gisborne appeared at the top of the stairs behind the Irish brothers, he saw the fighting and caught a glimpse of a man in the middle. Hood.

"Guards, guards its Robin Hood. Get him!" He shouted as he rushed forward drawing his sword. The villagers fought tirelessly knocking shoulders down ad defending Robin, the second line had almost cleared the gate.

"No weapons and yet they fight like lions for that man." Finn said smiling.

"HOOD!" Gisborne shouted, he grabbed Adam from the crowd of men and held a sword across his chest. Gisborne recognised this boy, he was a friend to Marian. Pain and anger trailed through him and the sight of the boy.

"Wait, wait stop." Robin said holding his hands up.

"Another move and I kill him." Gisborne said.

"Adam." Mark gasped, he rushed forward picking up a sword on the way through and then lunged forward at Gisborne. Guy easily deflected his attack and then ran his sword through Mark's side.

"No Mark." Adam gasped as he shook himself free, he caught his brother as he was falling. "It's alright, look at me. You're going to be alright." Adam said holding his little brother in his lap.

"Your surrounded don't waste anymore lives." Gisborne pointed his sword at Robin, who looked at Mark and then raised his hands in the air.

"Adam." Mark gasped.

"Hey, it alright, I'm going to get you home."

"Sophia needs you Adam and Knighton. Look after them." Mark stuttered as the life started to leave. "And help Robin," He gasped. "It's what she would have wanted." Mark began to shake and tears began to stream down Adams face.

"Goodbye brother." Adam whispered holding his brother in his arms.

"You'll pay for this Gisborne." Robin said.

"Tie the boy up with the rest." Gisborne said. "Say your prayers outlaw."

"GISBORNE." The Sheriff shouted from the window. "You move and you die."
"I will have his blood." Gisborne shouted lurching forward. Two guards grabbed him and held him back.

"Don't be so selfish."
"Get off me, he dies now."

"Come, come. Surely you don't want to miss the slow and painful death of Robin Hood."

Adam had been tied up with the others and stood with his head down. Gisborne would pay for his. He would make sure of that. He used the lock pin her took from Robin and undid his chains.

"Ill be back for you all." He said, he looked around him and saw the guards occupied. He darted from the castle and went in search of Much and the gang.

Robin was dragged into a room with one door and no windows, his arms and legs were changed to the walls and he had a shackle around his waist.

"Good luck getting out of here." Gisborne sneered.

"You know me Gisborne." Robin smirked sounding a lot more confident than he felt.

"No Hood, today you die." Gisborne said and then slammed the door behind him. Robin pulled on his chains and looked around him.

"Think ." He muttered. Robin spotted a mouse and smiled. "Hello little guy where did you come from?"

Further down the corridors of Nottingham castle Finn and his brother were stood hidden in an alcove.

"Remind me again." Tiernan said.

"We are going to break Robin Hood out, little brother." Finn said.

"Are you kidding me?"

"No Tiernan. You saw the way he rallied those men, we need a man like that on our side."

"You've been in England to long brother, you've lost all reason. This is not our fight. We take the men and we leave now."

"No brother, grow a spine. We need him."

"You want to risk your life, then so be it but I will have no part." Tiernan pushed passed his brother.

Tiernan fumed, how dare his brother become involved in these English politics. He was a fool and Tiernan would show him. He walked down the halls in search of the sheriff.

Sherwood forest

"Woah, Woah." Much shouted as he saw Adam riding at break neck speeds through the forest. "You spent too much time with Marian." He said and then his face dropped as he remembered his friend.
"We haven't got time for this." Adam said. "The Sheriff has Robin, he's locked in the castle."

"We need to go to Nottingham." Allan said.

"And what of the men?" John said.
"They are being transported after Robin's execution."

"We need to get to Nottingham."