Like Old Times

Outside the cave

Allan was sitting on a rock, his eyebrow bleeding and his leg hurting from the previous fight with a guard. Djaq, who was supposed to be on the other side of the world, was now standing in front of him and tending to his wound. He had been reassured that seeing her, and the others too, wasn't the result of a serious head damage.

His day had started with an endless searching for Much and now, after some head-spinning turn of events he was witnessing Will explaining to a young French girl the difficulties of the forest life.

No, it was too hard.

He breathed in all of his surroundings and felt grateful for all the good news he had heard. Because of course, Allan didn't miss the great revelation, the true reason they had returned. Marian wasn't dead. He didn't hear how, or perhaps the information hadn't been delivered at all. She just wasn't dead. Very much like her. And she was back in Sherwood. In the cave. With Much and Robin.

And Gisborne. It had all the makings of Allan's greatest fear. For months he had struggled to keep these three apart for Robin's and Marian's sake, but now they were all together.

He moved to sit up to fix anything he couldn't prevent from happening, but the world around him swirled so quickly it made him sick. The head wound might not have given him hallucinations, but it did have annoying consequences.

"Are you sure you don't need to lie down?" the young woman asked him. Rochelle.

"Allan's always fine!" Will winked at him, "and it's time we leave, anyway." He walked inside the cave. The guards they had been watching had just cleared the path. Olaf, the giant Viking gave the report to Will. A Viking in Sherwood.

It was dizzying. Still.

No, he didn't want to lie down. He wanted to crawl into a ball and cry to release the tension. But in the new company he didn't dare. He wanted to take all of his friends, lock them in safety and then sleep for a month.

"I am fine," he finally said.

Allan feared it wouldn't last. It never did.

Before he could finish that thought Allan saw Tuck approaching, his robes torn, his head bleeding and his always stern countenance had reached a new level of seriousness. John was following him, equally worried. And far behind, but very visible, were four guards on horseback, blocking their way.

Huh, he thought. The guards outsmarted us. And he didn't like that.

Inside the cave

"Robin, it's clear outside." Will said, but he focused on Much. It was impossible not to, with the excitement in Much's every word and gesture. The incoherent speech Much was making was staring to fade, though, when Gisborne caught his eye. Will looked at Marian. He was searching for any sings of distress. Earlier, when she saw him in the carriage with Much, she was clearly upset. Now, she seemed calm, all things considered, but he couldn't stop being worried.

"Are you sure it's safe?" Robin asked.

"Olaf is, and I trust him." Will turned his attention to the man he called his leader.

"There's too many of us to move quickly through the woods."

"Should we split?"

"Is that wise?" Much asked.

"Right now, it's our only choice. You and you," Robin pointed at Much and then at Marian, "come with me. I am done looking for you two! We take Gisborne-"

"Olaf can carry him." Will interrupted. It would be better if he kept him away from Marian. While unconscious, Gisborne was no threat, but once he'd be awake who knew what trouble he'd cause.

"Can Allan get the others back?"

"He seems a bit shaken. I will take the lead of the other team. You haven't changed lodgings, I hope."

"Good craftsmanship is hard to come by, Will. No one could build a home like you could."

Any more words of appreciation and affection were cut short when Allan walked in. "Trouble," he said and then disappeared.

Robin, supporting Much with Marian's aid, walked to the exit of the cave. Stepping out, they realised the kind of trouble Allan spoke about. Their escape route was not an option anymore.

Not far from the entrance of the cave high bushes were a natural border of the village. Through the leaves they had clear view of the road to Locksley.

And then the guards were not their only problem. The new one was the size of the Sheriff's carriage, with all that included and it was moving towards the village.

Robin looked from Olaf to Allan and then to Much and John. He thought for a moment. He took a parchment from Djaq, scribbled a few words and then prepared his bow.

"Hold your shield up," he cried to the guard closest to him.

Sheriff's Carriage and Locksley Manor

"Turn around! Now!" Isabella yelled at her guard. "Damn that man!" she said more quietly.

"Clear head, my Lady."

The encounter with Hood's men, provided the information she had missed earlier. Robin was already at the sight of the events, probably finishing his rescue mission. "Is the monk alive?"

"Yes, my Lady. He suffered only a few bruises."

She sighed with relief. A dead body was all the motivation Robin needed, if Much's safety hadn't been enough.

"Not the whole world's army assembled can keep Robin Hood away from his best friend, my Lady."

Isabella knew it. Robin's love for Much was admirable, but not when it stood in her way. "Damn them all." All she wanted was to keep Robin distracted long enough for her plans to to be executed.

The carriage halted to a stop and she got out so quickly that she hit the guard who ran to help her out. She was received by a speechless Archer who had just gotten word of Robin's presence in the area.

"I will have them surrounded-"

"You," she spat the word, "cannot surround a splinter of wood, let alone Robin Hood. Step aside and try to learn."

"My Lady, Master Godric," Stephen, Godric's lieutenant, had already taken initiative, "five paths lead to the general area of the cave where the prisoners are held. One is blocked with rocks. Of the remaining four only three lead to the specific cave. Now we have them all covered, but the alarming news is that the newcomers seem to be involved."

"Newcomers?" Archer asked.

"Oh yes, while you were flapping that letter in front of me, trying to be impressive, there were people arriving. But don't worry, the deaf old woman with the sight problem in the Nottingham dungeons will tell you all about it, now SHUT UP!"

"Continue, Stephen," Godric ordered his man.

"We cannot know the exact number of the men up there or their weapons. The monk and the big one made it to them and so they are most certainly warned. If past is any indication Hood will not surrender easily."

"Any provisions? How long can they last?"

"I believe they're interested in a quick end, My Lady. He requested a meeting." Stephen gave her a note from Robin, sent with an arrow.

"Let's see if he truly has a leverage." Isabella galloped away with Godric and Stephen.

Outside the cave

"Will it work?" Much asked.

"I can't see why not." Will commented, but had his axes ready. With a side glance, he saw Rochelle stepping closer to Djaq. John and Tuck were staying back but not far from the front-line.

Ahead of them, Robin and Olaf were getting through the details. "You just agree to whatever I say, actually. Just nod. You seem effortlessly threatening."

"I like your ways, Robin Hood!" Olaf smiled and punched him lightly on the shoulder.

"People usually do. Let's hope it's not a mistake this time." He was anxious to see this done.

"I don't have all day, Hood." Isabella called from her horse. "Say your piece."

"It's quite simple, Sheriff." He replied. "You let us go, and you save yourself the trouble of a fight."

"Charming idiocy, Hood. Simple as you promised, and charming."

"I fear you misunderstood me. It's not a fight like the ones you're used to. There's a Viking army close by, waiting for their leader," he pointed at Olaf, "to return before sunset, or they have orders to raid Locksley."

Isabella scoffed. "A viking raid?"

"It's an unfortunate prospect, but..."

"Do you honestly expect me to believe that you will allow the good people of Locksley to suffer, just to save your skin?"

"The guards of Locksley will be the ones to meet the viking blades."

"The people will defend their village!" Stephen spoke then.

Robin recognized him. He was a man from Locksley, but was saved by Godric and he pledged his allegiance to whomever his savior was second in command. It was a shame that a clever man was on the opposite side. But he had other things to worry about. "The people are instructed to stay indoors. Safe. The Vikings will head to the Manor and take it. I assume you have given Archer enough men to defend it. But will he pull up a fight? Can they? Can you imagine how quickly you'll be the laughing stock of all England if you cannot keep a single Manor safe?"

"Is that how the tale will be?"

"It can be."

Godric approached Isabella. "My Lady, let them go."

"He's lying. There's no army."

"There is an army, Sheriff. Vikings do not travel alone. The threat of defeat and ridicule is quite serious."

"So I just let them slip through my fingers?"

"They were supposed to escape."

"Not so quickly, though. Not like this." Isabella said disappointed.

"Is there a verdict, Sheriff?" Robin asked, interrupting the conversation.

"You won this one, Hood. Tell your new friends they're welcome to Nottingham. And also tell them, the noose awaits!"

"Will do!"

"That was easy!" Rochelle laughed.

"Not when she comes to bite the next time." Allan said. "Good bluff, though!"

"Where's Marian?" Robin was alarmed, when he saw her nowhere near. It was too soon to start losing her again! Too soon.