Summary: takes place once Robin and his men are in Sherwood, and they do know about the archery contest. Thank you to Helen for telling me that Legolas would never act like a feeble idiot, and to the nice person who leant me Robin of Sherwood series 1. This is quite long, I'm sorry, but there was no way to get round it.
Chapter 1
"Say hello to Arthur, come on, say hello…." Aragorn was dimly aware of whiskers on his face as he came round, and looked up to find a filthy, dishevelled man forcing an equally filthy rat in his face.
"Ugh! Get away from me!" he pushed backwards to find himself up against a solid stonewall, with his hands in damp straw. "Legolas, Frodo? Where are we?" he croaked as he tried to stand, "LET ME OUT! I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn. And I demand that you release me!" He managed to stand; fighting the dizziness from his head wound, and looked around. He was in a dark, dank pit about 12 foot square, with a straw covered floor, and a large grill covering the top, about 8 feet above the floor. He could see Gimli and the Hobbits, but not Legolas or Boromir.
"Legolas was taken by guards not long ago, and Frodo was not bought in with us, probably escaped with the ring," was the reply he got from Boromir, who he guessed was lurking in the corner somewhere. He was worried for Legolas in case there were Orcs around, that didn't bear thinking about, and incredibly concerned that Frodo was not with them. "And titles have no use here, they just call you a mad man. We have been relieved of our weapons, which I believe are kept near to the grate, and all of us would appear to be in good health," he paused, "apart from your head."
"Which is fine." Snapped Aragorn. "Why don't you come out of the shadows and help me think of a way to get out of here, where ever here is."
Boromir started to say something, but was cut off by the old mans blathering again, "There's no way out," he declared, shaking his head and looking forlornly at the rat. "Feet first, it's the only way, ain't it Arthur?" Then started gibbering at the rat again.
Boromir was rapidly losing his patience with this fool. He grabbed the mans filthy collar and pushed him to the centre of the cell, finally coming out of the shadows. "Crazy fool! Where is HERE?! I refuse to remain a prisoner!" the man continued to gibber, and Boromir shook him, an act of violence which surprised Aragorn a little. "Tell me what I want to know!" he bellowed, finally relinquishing his grip on the man and throwing him to the floor, where he remained, talking to the rat, asking if it was alright.
"You don't know where you are? Travellers then? You're in the castle dungeon. There's no way out. Feet first, it's the only way." he talked to the rat for a while, "But there were those poachers who escaped the other week, odd lot they were." Then resumed his gibbering.
Boromir gave up trying to get sense out of him and stalked over to where Aragorn was standing and smashed his fist against the wall. Aragorn set his hand on the larger mans shoulder, trying to calm him down. "Boromir, there is no reason to get like this, and smashing your hands up will not help us to escape." He looked into the Gondorians eyes and Boromir calmed down a little.
There was a rustling behind them as Gimli got up to join them, "Aragorn, where ever we are this stone," touching the wall briefly "feels strange to me."
The sat in silent deliberation for a while, when they heard a grating noise and looked up. The grill was being pulled away, and a group of soldiers looked over, "Keep it down in there, or we'll tell the sheriff not to be so easy to your friend." Then the grate was pushed back.
"Do you have any food?" came a scarred voice from the Hobbits, "ahm starving." It was Pippin, as usual thinking of his stomach, but was only trying to lighten the situation. His reply was a weary glare.
Will held up his hand in a motion for John to stop, "Did you 'ear that?" as he moved towards a clump of bushes.
"You're 'earing things you are, probably just a deer or summat. Get a move on, we'll be late." John was eager to return to the camp. He was hungry, and had no desire to be caught by the Sheriffs men.
"No, I know I 'eard somethin'" Will was adamant and dived into the bushes, knife drawn. After a few minutes, there was a squeal and a curse from Will, and a small figure came running out of the bushes, straight into John, who placed one hand on its shoulder to stop it.
"Well what 'ave we here? Looks like you were right Will." He turned to the figure and knelt down so he was almost at head height. "Who are you lad, where d'you come from?"
The figure regarded John with large blue eyes, "Are you one of those soldiers who took my travelling companions?" he asked. The honestly thought that he was a child!
"Soldiers? You mean Gisburne's lot? My, either they are a lot better than we thought, or your friends were mighty sloppy!" Wills tone was highly sarcastic, "Come on lad, what's your name?"
"Frodo." Said Frodo, and then thinking that it had been a damn foolish thing to do, "and I come from the Shire."
John and Will moved over to one side for a moment, unsure of what to do next.
"Which Shire? There's pleny of 'em round 'ere." Will asked.
Frodo looked confused for a minute, then found some courage, "No, The Shire, that's what we call it."
"Where the hell is The Shire? Not a place that I've heard of, and what kind of a name is Frodo?" Will was sceptical, and didn't know whether this was a trap.
"I don't know, but he looks like a kid, and if his friends are with Gisburne, then all of 'em will need our 'elp." John was unsure as well, but he had a kind heart and wouldn't let a child wander through the forest. "Let's take 'im back to the camp and Robin can decide what to do."
They both seemed to agree on this, and started to lead Frodo back to where the outlaws were camped.
Robin and the others were sitting round the fire talking when John and Will returned to the camp, but Robin soon looked up, and when he saw Frodo walked over to enquire what was going on. "Why are you bringing children here John?"
"We found 'im, says 'is friends were taken by Gisburne. Other than that we dunno who he is other than 'is name's Frodo."
Robin leant down, "Well Frodo, who are you and what brings you to Sherwood Forest?" he motioned for them all to go over to the fire, and settled down to listen, as Frodo began his tale.
The room that Legolas had been taken to was dim and cramped, and Legolas was not happy. He had been pulled up to the room by two burly soldiers and thrown on the floor. When he looked up, he saw three men; the one who had captured him, a tall man wearing purple robes and a slightly shorter man who bore a slight resemblance to the one in purple only he was wearing what looked like a ceremonial necklace, and had a moustache. They all glared at him. He stood, and bowed, as he had been taught manners, and as these men looked like authority he thought it might be a good idea to show some of them.
"Why have I been brought here?" he asked, keeping his voice calm and level, using every bit of self-control he had.
The man in purple laughed. "Ha! So your poachers now have manners do they Robert?" he turned to the man with the moustache. "Looks like Gisburne made a fool of himself again, this man is not one of the escaped wolfsheads."
The man who Legolas assumed was Gisburne glared, and stepped closer to Legolas. He grabbed the Elf's chin, "Who are you, and what were you doing breaking the law of venison?" he turned to the other two men, "He and two of the others were carrying bows, and all were carrying swords of some sort."
Legolas flinched back, and pulled himself up to his full height, Gisburnes nails catching on his face slightly. "I am Prince Legolas of Mirkwood. My friends and I were not aware that we had broken any laws, we are strangers to this land."
"A Prince? Of what kingdom? I've never heard of the 'Mirkwood' place, yet you speak English, so you can't be European." Inquired Gisburne, his tone full of malice.
"I assure you sirs, that I am a Prince, though it would appear, I am not from anywhere you are familiar with, which concerns me, and though I understand much of what you say, I find your language strange." Legolas crossed his arms behind his back, and thought for a while. He could understand these men, though they had strange accents, and some of their words made no sense.
"Gisburne! What are you doing arresting a Prince and his consort, we have to free them!"
"Yes my brother, but how, without making complete fools of ourselves?" the Abbott was having none of this, being in a bad enough mood over the amount of money he was losing to poachers in Sherwood.
De Rainault considered his brothers words for a moment, "Gisburne, go and see to the horses or something."
Gisburne looked decidedly peeved at this, and made to protest, but his master waved his hand at him in a manner that told him protesting was pointless, and so he made to leave, giving Legolas a pointless and exceptionally hard shove to the floor as he left.
Legolas picked himself up off the floor and put on his most regal look. "Do all of your subjects act in such a way when given orders?" he asked, thanking Elbereth that he had spent enough time in his father's court to be able to deal with objectionable politicians.
"I'm sorry my Lord, Gisburne is a little, difficult at times. I agree that you must be freed, but I'm sure that you understand that we cannot simply let you go." De Rainault tried his best to appease this 'prince' not wanting the fury of his king to come raining down on him. "We may have a way of setting you free, however, you will have to do something for us."
Legolas did not look impressed, however, he wanted to be free and saw that these men were not going to negotiate. "It is entirely dependant on what you want as to whether I agree, and I cannot speak for my friends." He replied, barely a hint of his suspicions obvious in his voice. "What will I have to do?"
De Rainault looked around the room, then at the man in front of him, he wasn't sure what this group of misfits could do, that was until a soldier came bursting through the door, covered in hay and red in the face. Legolas started and the Sheriff just looked immensely annoyed.
"Weren't you taught to knock?" he looked at the soldier, "No, of course you weren't." he realised that the man was simply standing there, "Well, spit it out man."
The soldiers eyes cleared, "My… My lord" he stumbled, "It's Flambert my lord."
De Rainaults eyes went wide, "What about him you imbecile!" he hollered, stepping closer to the trembling soldier.
"My lord, Sir Guy's horse kicked him and knocked him out, he cannot be revived my lord." He stammered, backing as close to the door as he could.
The Sheriff lunged for the man, and at this point, Hugo, who up until now had been seated at the table, got up and grabbed his brother by the collar. "Have him taken to the monks." When the soldier failed to move, de Rainault glared at him, "Now!" he ordered. The soldier merely bowed shakily and left.
Hugo turned to his brother, "He wasn't to blame, and we have guests." He said, seating his brother and gesturing at Legolas who had watched the exchange with interest.
He walked towards the other two men, his arms folded across his chest, a cautious look in his eyes. He stopped a few paces from the brothers. "Who are you, and who is this Flambert man?" The caution in his eyes had merged with curiosity as he bent his head to one side and waited for a reply.
The two men looked at each other. Hugo's expression full of paranoia, Robert's full of suspicion. Robert stood and took a step closer to Legolas. "I am Robert de Rainualt, High Sheriff of Nottingham, and this is my brother, Abbot Hugo de Rainault," he gestured at his brother and Legolas bowed slightly. Robert continued. "Walter Flambert is the finest archer in Norman lands, and he was to shoot for me in the archery contest to be held tomorrow."
At this comment, despite all the manners that he had been taught, Legolas could not help but laugh.
The Sheriff glared, "Do you find something amusing?"
Legolas matched the glare, "No my lord, but no man has ever matched my skills with a bow, and I was thinking it a shame that I could not challenge this man."
At this comment, both men's eyes lit up, and Hugo whispered something in his brothers' ear, who eyed Legolas with intense curiosity.
"I believe that we may have come up with a way of freeing you," he said. Legolas raised an eyebrow. "As I no longer have an archer, and you claim to be skilled with a bow, I ask that in return for yours and your friends release, you shoot for me in the archery contest. And if you win, you will return the prize to me."
Legolas considered this. He didn't trust the man one bit, but this could be the Fellowships only way out. That and this was a challenge that his Elven pride could not refuse. "Very well then, on the condition that my friends are allowed to watch, and our weapons are returned at the contest."
It was the Sheriffs turn to think, but the horror at not having a representative archer at his own contest was fogging his brain. "Agreed, Prince Legolas of Mirkwood, wherever that may be." He put his hand out and Legolas took it in a warriors grasp, sealing the deal. He was the escorted back to the cell.
"So, this Sheriff is willing to let us go if you enter an archery contest?" Boromir's tone was more than incredulous "May I ask why?"
Aragorn had to admit that the tale that Legolas had just repeated was strange, and why anyone would be willing to let them go, with weapons returned in return for winning an archery contest all sounded rather suspicious, but if it got them free then he was willing to listen.
Legolas was lumped against the wall looking exhausted. He had a few bruises from the beating the guards had given him on the way back, and desperately wanted people to stop talking to him. "All I have to do is enter this competition, and hand over the prize if I win, whatever happens, we will have our weapons back, so even if they try to force us to stay we can fight our way out."
"And what is the prize, master elf?" asked Gimli, who, as a Dwarf, never really trusted Legolas.
"I have absolutely no idea, I took the opportunity to get us free, but if you would like to remain here, then I will go and tell the Sheriff that I have changed my mind." Retorted Legolas, who was in no mood for petty arguments, he truly believed that he had done the right thing.
Aragorn rested a hand on the Elf's shoulder, "No Legolas, 'twas the right thing to do. It will be good to be free." And with that, ended the conversation for all of them.
Authors note: Well that's that chapter. It's had a few tweakings, namely to explain a few things, and to make Gisburne and Robert de Rainualt more IC. Constructive Criticism is always VERY welcome, so please, hit the little 'review' button below.