Chapter twenty-five:
Robin's POV:
Upon my return, the camp was buzzing with anticipation. Little children ran around, playing games, while the women hung up the washed clothes to dry and started on breakfast.
It wasn't at all that the rest of us thought that laundry cooking was all women could do. It just so happened that they wanted to help out by any means possible, and none of us were good at either laundry or cooking! Except Much of course, he was amazing at cooking and could definitely do laundry, as his mother and father taught him to do both when he was young. The rest of us fully intended to learn how to do both, as well as teach the women how to properly defend themselves and fight. They needed it as much as we did, if the Sheriff or Gisborne found the camp! But, for now, we had to strategize!
Much, Little John, Will and I were supposed to be making a plan for Meg's safe rescue, but so far, we had nothing.
"Why don't we just go in the same way we did last time?" Much offered.
"I doubt the guards will be stupid enough to leave their posts that long again." Will said, frowning.
"We need to observe the patrols, find a weak spot, and get in." I added, wondering how we could do that without being spotted.
Silence held our meeting, until Little John's shaky breathing broke it. He had his head resting in his hands, and he was trembling.
"Little John?" Much asked, kneeling down beside him. "Is everything alright?"
"No, its not." He took a long breath, before continuing, "I just can't stop thinking of what Meg is going through! What if we get there too late, and she's already been executed? What if I'll never see her again? What if… I never get to say goodbye?" Tears were streaming down his face now, dripping onto his legs.
"John, I promise you, Meg will be safe and sound, back in your arms soon!" Grasping his hand, I looked him in the eyes. "We will figure this all out, wont we guys?"
"Yes," voiced Much and Will in unison.
"C'mon Little John, the quicker we get a solid plan down, the quicker we can go and set Meg free!" Will encouraged him, patting his shoulder.
Wiping his puffy eyes, Little John looked up at the three of us, "Thank you, all. I think I would go insane without the three of you keeping me grounded."
"Need me to wrestle you to the ground again?" Will asked, playfully.
"Ooh I'll help!" Much joined in.
"You couldn't if you tried!" John chuckled.
Not letting go of his hand, I smiled, "Thank you, Little John."
After that, we sat down in a circle, with a stick in each of our hands, drawing our route in and out of the castle. The plan was to observe that guard patrol movements from the trees outside of the castle. Then, later that night, we would take our chance and scale the wall. Two of us would head towards the dungeons, while the other two created a distraction to draw away the guards. We all agreed to figure out an escape plan while we were there, exits could open and old ones could close- we had to be alert.
With that, Will and Little John set off to observe patrol, while Much and I chopped wood for the fire.
"I'll be right there, Robin. I'm just heading to get a drink from the river!"
"Okay, maybe take some canteens to fill up while you're there." I hollered back, and headed to get the axes.
Two of Alice's friends, Mary and Charlotte, were hanging up the washing on a make-shift washing line made up of a piece of rope between two trees. I was going to walk right past them, until I heard them mention my name in their hushed conversation.
"…but what about Robin? I must admit, I'm a little worried about him." Mary murmured.
"Why is that?" Charlotte asked.
"Well, did you see the way he looked at that girl he brought back from the castle that night and the way he took care of her all night long?"
"Yes, I think her name was Marian. But I still don't see your point."
"He is so obviously in love with her, but she seemed ever so distant towards him, maybe even resentful!"
"Oh, I see now! I don't see why she's acting that way though."
"I heard Much telling Will that Much, Marian and Robin were best friend when they were growing up. But Marian and Robin grew into more than "just friends"!"
"Do you think they were in love?"
"To be perfectly honest, I think they still are. But Much told Will that their leaving took its tole on Marian, and she still hasn't quite forgiven Robin for that."
"But it wasn't Robin fault for leaving!"
"Well, Marian knows that, but it didn't make it any easier for her. My worry is that she won't return his affections and he will end up heartbroken. I have seen what heartbreak can do to a person, and I don't want that to happen to Robin!"
My throat closed, and my eyes welled up. I didn't know what to focus on; the fact that they though Marian was still in love with me, or that they thought she was too hurt to tell me so.
I desperately needed to see Marian, only she could clear this up. But first, we needed to rescue Meg.
Marian's POV:
Katy's mouth was wide open, taken aback at my blatant statement. Her eyes darted from me, to the drawing and back again. She opened and closed her mouth repeatedly, searching desperately for the right thing to say.
In the end, she came up with a two-worded question; "He's back?"
"Yes, from fighting in The Holy Land. He brought my other best friend, Much, back with him too." I was still cautious to tell her that they were outlaws, walls had ears in this castle.
"I am so sorry you had to go through this all alone, Marian!" Katherine's voice was shaky and her eyes were glistening. "I completely understand why you didn't tell me, but I really wish I could've helped you!"
"Thank you, Katy, but I just couldn't talk about those things. If I did. I would be…" the words got stuck in my throat.
"You would be what, Marian?" Katy asked, gently.
"I was, and still am, scared that if I admit my feelings towards Robin, I would have to acknowledge the pain of my past. My mother passes away only a few days after Robin left, and I was forced to abandon my father and brother the same day! If I acknowledge all of those feelings of sadness, regret and lost, which I've kept bottled up for so long, I'm terrified something else will happen to the people I care about!" I had to pause for breath, and wait until the room had stopped spinning to continue. "When I stopped thinking about those feelings, it numbed them for a while. I could be someone else, without having to worry about the ghosts of my past, and if they were coming back."
"Marian, I-I am so sorry…" Katy grasped me in another hug, griping my so tight I was scared I would suffocate!
"Katyyyyyyy…" I managed, "need… airrrrrrrrr!"
She finally let go, "Oh, sorry!" she laughed. "I just, can't imagine what it must have bene like for you, bottling up all of those feeling for years! You're so brave, Marian." Katherine's eyes were puffy and red from crying, as, I expect, were mine.
"Thank you, Katy." I genuinely smiled, for the first time in a while. "That felt really good to get off my chest!"
It was true. My body felt a new sense of weightlessness. Feelings like the ones I had been holding in only get heavier with time, once the numbness wears off, you really feel how heavy they are.
"I just want you to know that you can come to me if you every need anything. Like if you ever want to talk, or cry, I'll always be here."
"Funny you say that actually, I have a favour to ask."
She raised a curious eyebrow at me, "Should I be worried?"
"Not if we are careful, follow me."
Robin's POV:
The light was fading rapidly, and the four of us were in our positions. Will and Much were hiding in the trees next to Little and I, ready to go.
"Any minute now," Will whispered to the rest of us.
The old, large guard stood up from his post, by the drawbridge, and moved inside for his break- as did the guard above him. Little John clicked his fingers twice, signalling that it was safe, the four of us jumped from our hiding spots and raced for our opening. Easy enough, we were inside. I had a feeling that escaping wouldn't be so simple.
The courtyard of the castle was deserted as far as we could see, apart from the odd servant rushing past, but they paid us no heed.
"Keep to the walls, stick to the shadows, keep your hoods up and masks on." I ordered Little John, Will and Much.
"Good luck guys," Will nodded.
"Meet you back at camp," concluded Much.
Much and Will headed towards a hall way, to hide until it was time for them to create a distraction. While John and I headed towards the dungeons.
Marian's POV:
I grabbed two cloaks from my wardrobe, after hiding my box of sketches back in there. Passing the dark blue one to Katy, which she took with trembling hands, I began to put on the dark green one myself. Walking past her, I pulled up my mattress, and grabbed four of my eight remaining daggers out. I'd lost the two which were in my sleeves that night I was "kidnapped".
Katherine gasped at the sight of me holding weapons, "Where in the world did you get those from?!"
"I asked Sarah to get them for me, from the market."
"Why though?!" He eyes were still wide.
"It's irrelevant, and you probably won't need to use them, but take two just in case you do."
"Where do I put them?"
"Here, do this." I pulled open one said of my cape and hid a dagger in the little pocket I had asked Sarah to help me sew in, and did the same to the other side.
Katherine did the same, "What if we get caught, Marian?"
"Then we saw we were out for an evening stroll." I said, grabbing my satchel from the chest at the end of my bed.
She looked at me incredulously, "O-okay that sounds plau- you're smirking! You're enjoying this aren't you!"
Laughing slightly, I couldn't help it! "Look, I haven't done anything this thrilling in four whole years!"
"You and I have very different ideas of thrilling!"
Still laughing slightly, I cleared my throat. "Okay, just follow my lead and you will be fine!"
Walking quickly, I went over to Avery's cage and lent down to his level. He hopped up to a bar to meet me there.
"We could really use your help, Avery. We've got to go into the dungeons to help rescue someone, and we need you to go ahead of us and see is it's safe. Can you do that?"
He whistled softly.
"We'll take that as a "yes", then." Katy laughed, reaching through the bars and tickling Avery's chin.
Taking a little pot from my desk, which was meant for jewellery, I took a handful of Avery's seeds and put them in there. With the bird seed added to my satchel, I opened Avery's cage door and help out my finger for him to land on.
"Alright, how about, if it's safe and the guards are knocked out after the wine, you give one, long whistle. If it's not safe, you give two short whistles?"
He hopped up and down, chirping as he did, so I guessed that was a "yes".
"Alright, let's go!"
We quietly creeped out of by bedroom, with Avery flying above us, and towards the Katherine's bedroom. I hadn't been in here since the night, it was weird to see it again, Katy hadn't said much about her missing stuff, but her room definitely looked emptier. I looked around for the wine Katy had received from the Sheriff, as an apology for her things being taken. She said it made her really sleepy, so I stuffed the bottle along with two goblets and a few slices of bread and cheese into my satchel.
"What are you doing?" Katy asked, looking at me like I was crazy.
"You'll see later!" I told her, heading for the door.
After leaving Katy's room, with Avery still flying above us, we headed to the courtyard. Leaning against the wall before entering, I checked to see if the coast was clear. I held up a hand so Katy would stop too but, unfortunately, she didn't get the signal and bumped straight into me!
"Katy!" I shouted-whispered.
"Why did you stop?" She hushed back.
"I was checking t- never mind, let's keep going."
We were halfway down the steps when I noticed a problem. My flat shoes allowed me, not only to run quicker and be more comfortable, but also to be quiet and stealthy. Katy's heeled shoes, not so much.
Click-click-click! She was too far behind me, "Katy you need to take off your shoes!"
"What, why would I do that?"
"They make too much noise and they make you slow."
"But look how shiny they are!"
"Yes Katy, they're beautiful, b-"
"Thanks, I've only just bought th-"
"But, they make too much noise and you'll get us caught! Just take them off and hold them."
"Fine!" She reluctantly took them off, and padded down the rest of the stairs, barefoot. The slap of her feet on the stone wasn't silent either, but it was better than the clicking.
Once we were into the hallway, leading into the dungeon I looked at Avery and pointed into my cloak. He flew in, and would fly out when I was giving the guards their wine. He would tell Katy and I when it was safe to go in. I began to get out the wine. My plan was; to give the guards some of the wine as a "thank you for looking after us in the castle", and they would fall asleep. Then, we could sneak into cell fifteen, where the girl was being held. But the guards had their backs to us. I cleared my throat to get their attention, but I got no response. Walking up to one, I noticed that he was leaning against the wall, with his eyes closed. The other guard looked the same.
"Someone was here before us," I whispered to Katy.
She looked like she was about to scream, but I covered her mouth with my hand and motioned her to be quiet. If someone had come in and knocked out the guards, this could ruin our plan! We had to be quiet and stealthy.
Taking my hand away from Katy, I mouthed:
"She is in cell fifteen."
She nodded, and all I could do was hope she understood me. Avery flew slightly ahead of us, to warn us of any danger, Katy walked close to me, holding her shoes heel-out. My hope was to get this girl out as quickly and safely as we possibly could.
I had a feeling it wouldn't be as easier as I hoped.
Robin's POV:
The guards weren't paying much attention anyway when Little John and I hit them over the head with the hilt of our dagger. We didn't hit them very hard, just enough to knock them out for a while. We would have brought our swords, we didn't think the dungeons would be a very big place to fight, should one occur, so we opted for a sword's smaller companion; a dagger.
We didn't know which cell Meg was being held in, and we forgot to ask the guards before knocking them out, so we had no choice but to check each one.
Looking at the number of keys on the ring we had taken from the guard's pocket, I estimated there to be around thirty in total. All the prisoners had was a tiny room, sometimes with other people in it too, a piece of mouldy bread and some hay. They were kept as animals- it made my feel physically ill.
One day, I would come in and break every single one of these people out.
The first few cells had only men in them, and when we asked if they had seen a girl of Meg's description, one replied with:
"Wouldn't you like to know? Bet you two are some of Gisborne's cronies, just waiting to chop all of our heads off!"
"No, we are here to rescue someone!" John replied desperately. "Now, please, have you seen her?"
"If you want to know so bad, free the rest of and I'll tell you!"
"Why you litt-" John went for the cell, about to reach in and ring the man's neck, but I stopped him.
"John, c'mon. We're wasting time, let's find her ourselves."
The next few cells had dozens of women in them, but no luck there either. Just when our chances were starting to dim, I saw a woman, sitting in the corner of a cell. She was all alone, and I motioned for John to follow me, but as we were heading for her, we heard voices.
Panicking, we both jumped into an empty cell, at the end, and hid in the shadows. Two women wearing hooded cloaks counted the cells as they walked past them. They got to Meg's and stopped. The one in the green cloak was holding another set of keys, they must have got it from the other guard.
She went to unlock the door, but looked up when she heard footsteps in the distance. The footsteps faded however when there was shouting in the distance.
Well, there goes our "distraction"! Will and Much must have seen the guards coming towards us and panicked.
She unlocked the door, and motioned for the woman in the blue to follow in. The key woman held out her hand, and took off her hood, but the other woman moved behind her, blocking her friend's face. The unhooded woman said something to Meg, which caused her to take her hand and stand up.
All three women were now heading towards the exit, the one wearing blue had her hood up again.
"Rob! Those women are taking Meg!" Little Joh squeezed my arm so hard; it was going to leave a bruise.
"Come on, let's go find out what's going on!"
Quietly, we tried to sneak up behind the women but a bird we hadn't seen previously began to go berserk! It flew around and chirped, until the women in the blue turned around and saw us coming!
"Watch out!" she cried.
"Run, Meg! Wait for us at the end," the other shouted.
The woman in the green pulled two daggers from her cloak, and the other woman held out a pair of heeled shoes! Meg ran away behind them.
Who were these women and what did they want with Meg?
Marian's POV:
I was about to unlock the door of cell fifteen, when we heard footsteps coming towards the dungeon! It must be guards switching positions! Frozen in shock, both Katy and I stood there, doing nothing. The footsteps stopped abruptly though, when they heard shouting in the distance.
Taking our chance, I quickly unlocked the door, and stepped inside with Katy.
"Hi there, you don't know us, but we are here to rescue you!"
"How do I know you're not lying?"
"You don't. You'll just have to trust us." Katy said, hurriedly.
The woman didn't show any sign of compliance.
"Look, you can either stay here, or come with us where we will get you out. If you go with the second option, you'll have to be quick!" I held out my hand, and pulled down my hood so she could see I was smiling. Katy moved behind me.
The woman took my hand and stood up. "Thank you, my name is Meg!"
"A pleasure to meet you, Meg! But don't thank us yet!" I said, pulling my hood back on.
We were into the hallway and out of the cell, ready to get our, when Avery noticed two men sneaking up on us! I told Meg to wait for us at the end of the hall, while we got rid of the two men.
I could tell from their uniform that they weren't guards, but they were both wearing masks. In the dim light, we couldn't have seen their faces even if they weren't.
What were they doing here?
The slightly smaller one of the two began to walk towards Katy, while the other went for me. I held my daggers out, ready to attack, when I heard a groan come from the man fighting Katy! She was holding her shoe out in front of her, but her hood had fallen down!
The taller one, distracted, asked the other man; "Are you alright?"
The hurt man, wheezed; "Fffffine… goo… Megg!"
The tall man rushed forward, to run past both of us, but I held my leg out and he tripped over! We weren't letting them get to Meg!
This was absolutely brilliant!
"Run, Katy!" I shouted, and we both sprinted for the exit, where Meg was waiting for us.
We waited at the end of the hall, for Avery to check if the courtyard was deserted or not. He let out one long whistle, telling us it was safe. There were no guards at the exit, which could have been due to the shouting we'd heard earlier. The four of us, including Avery, shot out of the exit and towards the forest.
Once we were covered in a secluded area, Katy and I both took off our hoods. Meg suddenly came forward and hugged the both of us.
"Thank you both, so much! I would have died if it hadn't been for both of your braveness!"
"You're welcome sweetheart!" Katy hugged her back.
"It was our pleasure!" I beamed, hugging the both of them.
"What can I ever do to replay you?" Meg asked, pulling back.
"We need nothing, apart from knowing you are safe!" Katy smiled, stroking Avery, who had landed on her outstretched finger.
"Oh, that reminds me!" I exclaimed, holding open my satchel and giving Meg the bread and cheese, I had taken from Katy's bedroom. "I know it's not much, b-".
Meg tackled me in another hug, "Thank you!"
After a moment, we both released each other and bid our fare wells.
"Thank you both again!" Meg called, walking into the forest.
"You're welcome!" Both Katy and I called back.
A lot happened today. I told Katy about my past, rescued a woman from the dungeons, and even fought two people! For the first time in a very long time, I went to sleep with a smile on my face.
Robin's POV:
The woman stabbed me with her shoe!
It was a pain like no other, and she hit my square in the stomach too! I had told Little John to go ahead and get Meg, while I stood there, clutching my stomach. John got about four steps until he tripped over.
Today was definitely not my day!
We caught up with Will and Much, who were running away from a group of guards. Looking back quickly, I heard a voice shout: "LOCKSLEYYYYYY!". Gisborne was standing at the top of the stairs leading into the courtyard.
Turning to him fully, I ripped off my mask and gave him a choice gesture before catching up with the other three. As we were running into the forest, I heard him scream for the guards, like they were going to do anything!
"Why are you two in servants' uniforms?" John asked Will and Much, with a raised eyebrow.
"Long story." Will and Much said in unison, looking at each other. They looked both exhausted.
We were about to head back in, when we saw a woman walking in our direction.
Little John broke into a desperate sprint towards her, shouting, "MEGGGGG!"
Meg turned around, only to be picked up and swung around. She screamed bloody murder, and thumped poor John's back. "Who the hell are you?!"
"Hey, Little John!" Much called.
"You might want to take of your mask!" Will finished.
Putting Meg down, John ripped of his mask with great enthusiasm and held his arms wide open.
"John?!" Meg leapt into his arms, and they both crushed each other in a hug.
"Lads, let's leave them to it!" I chuckled, running back into the forest, just before spotting two cloaked women walking back into the castle gates. They were the women from the dungeons, they must have only been trying to free Meg too!
Who were those women?
I had pulled down the hood of the one in the blue cloak, but I didn't recognise her. Guess it was left for me to wonder.
Now that Meg was rescued, there was only person thing on my mind.