Chapter 13
Robin was sneaking around the castle on his own he had left the gang outside when they had spotted the Abbott arrive. He had grown to know the castle well during the time Marian had spent here and he had visited. He still missed Marian sorely, and wondered whether he'd ever be able to move on. Robin reached the Abbott's room and hurried inside.
"What do you want?" The Abbott gasped when he saw Robin.
"I am not here to hurt you." Robin said holding his hands up. "I want to help."
"You cannot help me."
"Why? What does the Sheriff have over you?"
"Something bigger than even you can imagine Robin." The Abbott sighed.
"Tell me and I can help you." Robin said. "There was a time when you would never let yourself be so intimidated. Why have you lost your stomach for what is right?"
"Not so, I have merely chosen a different battle ground."
"What battle ground?" Robin scoffed. "You translated works of great men, your words have always brought enlightenment to people, myself included. Why has that changed now?"
"Because dear Robin, some words are more dangerous than others. Some words are deemed to holy to be translated." The Abbott confessed, Robin stared blankly at the man.
"No I can't be." Robin gasped.
"It is true my son."
"You have translated the holy bible into English?" Robin questioned. "But the pope…"
"Now you see why I must tread carefully." The Abbott interrupted.
"This could be a revolution."
"It can, but I have to stop the Sheriff from burning my book."
"So this is why you are the Sheriff's slave."
"He will burn it unless I can make the people turn you in or you turn yourself in."
"I can help you. Without doing either." Robin said.
"What do you suggest?"
"I have a plan." Robin smiled.
Nottingham Town
"Robin," Much whispered. "Robin over here." Robin spotted his gang hiding behind the stalls of the market. Robin rushed across the market place to the stall where his gang were.
"Well what did he say?" Allan asked.
"You are not going to believe this." Robin said. "The Abbott has translated the Bible into English."
"The holy bible." Adam gasped. "In English." Robin nodded.
"Adam and eve, the flood, Moses." Much gasped. "All in English?" Robin nodded.
"Is that even allowed?" Allan asked.
"No." John roared, "Its blasphemy."
"No John, its progress. It could enlighten a nation." Robin said.
"So what is your plan Robin?" Adam said.
"We find his book that the Sheriff is keeping and then we provide the Abbott with a safe passage out of Nottingham." Robin said. The gang all nodded. "Adam and Allan, you go into the castle to find the book. It's going to be big."
"The rest of you with me, we will go to the Abbey and after the service is done we lead the Abbott to a place of safety."
Kirklees Abbey
"Robin, Robin did you here that?" Much gasped. Robin, Much and John were stood outside the abbey listening to the Sheriff speak.
"Yes Much."
"Master what do we do? We cannot let him burn the village."
"I know Much." Robin sighed and pulled an arrow from his bow.
"What are you doing?"
"We have to go inside. We need to trust that the abbot will tell the truth."
"But it's suicide." Much stammered.
"We have to do this Much." Robin said, John nodded and so did Much.
Inside the Abbey the sheriff stood before the people of Locksley. "Well where is Robin Hood? I don't see him?"
"Well you'd better open your eyes." Robin stepped into the aisle with his bow drawn.
"Oh look he's come to save the village. How noble? What are you going to do Hood? Kill me and risk bringing the wrath of Prince John down on Nottingham. Well I don't think you really want that do you?" The Sheriff said walking towards Robin and his gang.
"No your right. I don't because I love Nottingham and its people." He put down his bow and began to walk further into the Abbey. "I want to see them freed from your greed and your corruption."
"What about your greed and your corruption. You tried to steal from the abbey."
"No, I didn't. And nor did I tax these people till they bled and brutalise them when have nothing more to give."
"Yes, but you did break into the Abbey and try to steal."
"I did not break into the Abbey, ask the Abbot."
"Yes let's ask the Abbot, come on then tell them." The Sheriff said walking towards the abbot.
"The truth is always the truth, you can't change that with an edict. 3 innocent men will die, if you do not tell the truth right now." Robin said looking to the abbot who had his head bowed facing the floor.
"Yes and they deserve to be told the truth." The Sheriff stood next to the Abbot "And your reputation will be ground into the dirt." He whispered.
The abbot swallowed. "By the holy power of the church, I decree that these men did try to steal from the church."
"Arrest those heretics." The Sheriff shouted. Guards swarmed around the gang and they held their hands in the air.
Sophia who was standing in the crowd looked at Robin, with tears in her eyes. Robin looked to her and then hung his head to the floor. The guards grabbed him and dragged him along with Much and John out of the abbey and towards Nottingham.
Nottingham castle
The Abbot was stood in the castle watching the fire be built ready to burn Robin and his friends.
"This is some book you got here." Allan said. The Abbot turned around to face him.
"Give me that."
"What do you think Adam? Is the world ready for it?" Allan asked his friend who was stood behind the Abbot now.
"You know what Allan. I don't think it is." Adam said walking to his friend, taking the book.
"What are you going to do with it?" The Abbot gasped.
"Unless you save Robin and our friends we are going to burn it." Allan said.
"No don't be so stupid boy."
"Yesss, don't be so stupid book burning is my job." The Sheriff appeared behind Allan and Adam. "Give me the book." Adam turned and handed him the book as more soldiers filtered from the woodwork.
"Throw these two on the fire with the rest of them." The Sheriff said and the 2 men were dragged away to were Robin and the rest of the gang were. "I win." The Sheriff said to the Abbott and skipped away with glee.
The gang was dragged into the courtyard tied together in a line with Robin at the front. Sophia ran in front of him, "You did not deserve her." She shouted and slapped his cheek. She placed an arrow head in his hand at the same time, knowing he would be able to escape. Robin had knew she had not meant her words, yet the thought of Marian still filled him sadness but he knew he had to save his gang. They were pulled on the podium and then tied to the stakes. Adam had spotted the arrow head and was tied next to Robin. Robin was working his way through his rope.
"Come on Robin." Adam urged.
"The ropes to thick, I can't get through." Robin said, just as he tried to pull his ropes tighter the arrow head slipped and fell to the floor.
"We're toast." Much said.
"Burn them." The Sheriff shouted. The fire was lit beneath them and the flames started to rise. Sophia looked to Robin in panic as she watched him pull on the ropes. The rest of the villagers were shouting "Burn them, Burn them."
"STOP!" The Abbott shouted walking forward. "People of Nottingham you have been betrayed."
"Stop him." The Sheriff shouted pointing at the Abbot. The Abbot raised his cross to the soldiers approaching him.
"Stop or your souls will be dammed forever." The soldiers stopped and backed away. Whilst everyone was distracted by the abbot Robin managed to break his ropes and bent down to pick up the arrow head. He handed it to Adam and then stood back in his place.
"These men did not try to steal from the Abbey." He said. "And I stand before you full of shame. This man." He said pointing to the Sheriff, "Is the real devil. He steals your hopes and he steals your souls. He is the spawn of Satan."
"I warned you." The Sheriff growled. "I warned you." He grabbed the book from the solider. "I WARNED YOU." HE shouted as he threw it into the fire.
"Is everyone ready?" Robin said as John broke through his ropes. "Now." HE ordered and they all jumped over the fire and safely to the ground. "Let's go." The gang sprinted away from the fire and out of Nottingham.
Outlaws camp
"Well I will never look at a pig on a spit the same way ever again." Much said turning the spit with the pig on it.
"It was certainly a close one." Adam laughed. Robin from his seat and rose his tankard of ale.
"To the Abbot." He said.
"To the Abbot." The gang repeated.