A/N Random comments for reviewees:
Tixylix: I think I have seen the hay cart thing in a film too. It was either that or a vat of water. Or in Aladdin stylee it could have been manure, but then Daniel might not like her anymore! (I know Daniel's love is deeper than that!)
In fact, now I think of it, I think there was manure in the film!

Tdrm: I have been researching (good old google) on hoods for hangings and according to one source they were only used for the last 300 years. Nottingham tourist information says the tale of Robin Hood has been going for 700 years, so I figure they didn't have hoods in his time. When I wrote it though, I was just thinking back to the film (which most the fic is based on) and they didn't have hoods in that.
Also, you're right, it should have been hanged. Soz.

I don't think there were any more query type reviews. If there were, sorry, I shall mention them next time. Thanks for the general appreciation reviews though! And now I have more A/N than chapter, so I'll shut up!

Chapter 12

As far as extraction missions went, it had not been very stealthy, but it been successful. Jack and Daniel were ushered towards the entrance of the castle by a group of six Merry Men, leaving the others behind to fight the remaining guards.

"I'm thinking of adding sword fighting to our training regime." Jack announced to Daniel as they jogged down a large corridor.

"Yes Jack." Replied Daniel, thinking it best to humor him. "Listen, the Sheriff said that Sam was–"
But what Sam was, Jack didn't find out, as he stopped suddenly knocking the man behind him.

"Hey, is that a guard room?"

One of the men looked at him suspiciously. "I believe so my liege. But we must leave. The guards will eventually overpower the villagers."

"Yeah, yeah. Hang on." Jack slipped inside the room and the others stood outside wearily.
"Daniel, T, get in here!"

Daniel and Teal'c swapped looks but entered the room. Jack stood holding their black vests triumphantly.

"No more sword fights!" He said cheerfully, handing their gear back to them. Teal'c did his best not to look disappointed.

"Best take Carter's." Jack muttered, gathering up the remaining gear and exiting the room.

Daniel flicked the catch on his gun and pocketed it, before following. "Jack? The sheriff said that-"

"Quick my liege." One of the men interrupted, looking anxiously behind him. "We must retreat to Lerwood Forest; the Sheriff will be rallying his guards."

The men glanced between Daniel and Jack. Jack looked pointedly at Daniel, who sighed.
"Yes, fine. To Lerwood Forest."

"Robert knows a quicker way to the stables." Said one of the men proudly, pushing forward a man in his early twenties.

"Aye, I do. Follow me." He set off at a light sprint down the corridor and the men followed.

"Err, stables? As in horses?" Asked Jack, already knowing the answer. Great. Hangings, sword fights, and now horses. If (well, when. Jack knew how swiftly the SG grapevine worked) the marines heard about this he would never live it down.

Passing through what appeared to be a large kitchen, they came out in to a quiet courtyard. Jack presumed it was usually guarded, but right now it was empty, save for some horses lazily eating hay in the corner.

"I don't think this is a good idea," Jack faltered.

"My liege?" Questioned one of the men.

"Quit with the liege stuff, ok? O'Neill will do fine." Said Jack, irritated. "I have a bad feeling about this."

Daniel looked at him enquiringly. "Haven't you ever ridden a horse before Jack?"

"I suppose you have Daniel."

"Well, actually…" Daniel looked at the floor. "I spent a lot of time at digs when I was younger. They aren't always easy to reach."

"Well I spent my childhood playing on the streets, and they were easy to reach."

"O'Neill." Daniel and Jack looked at Teal'c. "Please explain what these men are doing." He gestured to the men leading the horses towards them. Jack looked at Daniel with a scowl on his face.

"Well T, they want us to ride those horses."

"For what purpose?"

"Jack raised his eyebrows at Daniel, who took a deep breath and explained. "It's a mode of transport Teal'c. Before we had cars on Earth, we had animals. It's faster than walking."

Teal'c inclined his head. "On Chulak, we have no need for such…modes of transport."

"No, well, it's easy." Daniel said, wondering whether that counted as a real lie. The merry men had mounted the horses, leaving three, and were starting to look at them suspiciously.

"Jack…" Daniel hated it when his voice went whiney, but whiney it went.

Jack gritted his teeth. Military bravado, that's what he needed at a time like this.

"Come on Teal'c. Just climb on, it'll be fine."
He slowly approached a big, brown horse near him. It snorted and shook its mane.

"Hi. Colonel Jack O'Neill. United States Air Force."

The horse stamped its foot impatiently.

"Oh well, here goes," he muttered to himself. He gathered the reins, put his foot in the stirrup and climbed, not very elegantly, into the saddle. Settled, he turned and looked at Daniel as if to say 'see, that was easy'. Daniel smiled and looked at Teal'c.

"Like that Teal'c."

Daniel gathered the reins of the two remaining horses and led them to Teal'c, who stood staring at them.

"Which one do you want?" Daniel asked politely.

"Does it matter, Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c asked, raising his eyebrow. The Tau'ri never ceased to amaze him.

"Well, err, not really. But, err," he scrabbled, trying to think of words that Teal'c might relate to. "This black one is, well, a mighty beast. Here." He handed the reins to Teal'c, who took them cautiously.

Jack snorted. "Mighty beast? Seriously Daniel."

"Shut up Jack" Daniel replied, not taking his eyes off Teal'c. "Just swing those over like that, yeah, and then put your foot in there, yeah like that, then pull yourself up, and swing your leg over, yeah, and there you are." Daniel smiled and Teal'c looked down at him.

"This is easy Daniel Jackson."

"Well T, it'll get much more exciting in a mo." Jack stated as Daniel climbed on his own bay horse.

"Are you ready?" Robert asked, slightly sarcastically. Everyone was behaving really strange today.

"Sure. To Lerwood." Declared Daniel, patting his horse on the neck.

Robert turned his horse and led the way. Daniel was disconcerted to see that he still held his sword aloft. Surely they wouldn't be required to fight on horseback? Then he remembered that the walls surrounding the encampment mean that there is only one way in and one way out; via the market place.

"Ahh, Jack? Hold tight, I think we're gonna go through the market place."

If he hadn't been afraid of scaring the horse, he would have shouted. Instead, Jack replied in a controlled voice, "What?"

"There's only one way out." Daniel stated apologetically.

"Oh."

The market place was in a state of controlled chaos. The Sheriff's men were overpowering the villagers, and debris, feathers, blood and bodies covered the ground.

"Oh dear" Daniel whispered, his eyes filling with grief for the trouble they'd caused on this planet.

"Hey, Daniel." Jack rode next to him. "This wasn't our fault. The Sheriff ruled by fear. They would've rebelled eventually."

Daniel looked at Jack curiously, and Jack shrugged.

"Jack. The Sheriff said that Sam is dead. Is it true?"

There was a shout as some guards near by saw Robin Hood's not so secret escape from Nott' am.

"Hey!"

"Don't let them escape!"

"Get the gate down!"

"Get the horses out!"

Jack saw a guard run along the top of the fortified walls, heading towards the portcullis.

"Daniel, tell me that isn't one of those gate things that drop down."

"It is. Hang on tight Jack, and you Teal'c." He shouted to the Jaffa in front.

The group broke into a gallop and made it under the archway just before the portcullis lowered down.

Galloping down the dirt track towards Lerwood Forest, Jack let out a cheer. The man beside him grinned and rode ahead.

"I am not sure I like this O'Neill." Teal'c shouted to Jack, bouncing up and down uncomfortably on his black horse.

"Nonsense T, it's great! Riding wild and free. Feel the wind in your hair!" He glanced across at Teal'c's bald head and unhappy face.

"Or not."

A/N #2:I'd like to thank my beta wench Kelly for the horse type information, and for general information regarding the Stargate universe I went on gateworld. I had to presume that Chulak has no large animals, as there was no mention of any, and I presume Jack hung around on the streets as a child. All I know is that he grew up in Chicago and Minnesota, and bunked school a lot. A bit of creativity was used regarding Daniel as well. I mean, one of them had to be able to ride right?

Also, I am away next week so I won't be updating again till Monday 12th at the earliest. Sorry!