Avery? Will couldn't believe his eyes. There, right in front of him, stood his childhood friend that he hadn't seen in years. What was he doing here? Oh. After a moment's reflection, Will thought he knew the answer to that question. This is not good. Think, Will, think. Man I wish I had my sword.

"Avery?"

The man had turned to go back inside the cabin when Will called his name: he jerked around, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

"Who's there?" he demanded.

Will took a deep breath; after this, there was no turning back. He stepped out of the shadows, letting the afternoon sun bathe him in its golden light until he was fully visible.

"It's me Avery. Will Scarlett."

Azeem tensed as he heard the unmistakable sound of hooves beating down on the earthen floor. He readied himself and waited for the right moment. Just before the horse was about to pass him, he leapt out and sprung at the rider, grabbing at the saddle. The horse reared and the man, already startled by the painted man, tumbled backwards and to the ground. Azeem instantly let go of the saddle, knowing he would have no control, and the beast thundered off. Thanks for teaching me that, Will.

He pulled out his sword and slowly approached the terrified man. "Perhaps you should start spilling your story, my friend."

Avery stood in stunned silence for a second after what he had just heard. A puzzled frown appeared on his face. "Will? Will!" The frown disappeared and the taller man ran over and gave his long-lost friend a breath-wrenching bear hug that could rival one of Little John's.

"Will," he laughed, releasing his friend, "I can't believe it's you. Look at you! You look great!"

"So do you," Will laughed at his friend.

Avery's brown eyes lighted up with excitement. "Wow Will, you came just in time. Guess who I've got in there?"

"Who?" Will responded to the bait cheerfully, but his insides clammed up as he prepared himself. It was almost time for him to give his sales pitch, and he could only pray that it worked. Otherwise, the only way would be to have John and the others come in and slaughter his friend and his friend's men.

"Robin Hood." He gloated triumphantly. "Oh man, you should have been there when we took him down, it was the greatest…" he droned on, until Will cleared his throat.

"Uh, actually, that's what I came to talk to you about. Uh, well," Scarlett shifted his weight from foot to foot, "well, I wanted to know what you were planning on doing with him?" Will decided to go with an easier question in the beginning.

Avery smiled unpleasantly. "Oh, we're going to let the Sheriff take him off our hands for the full thousand gold pieces. Can you believe that? Some odd years ago he was looking down his nose at me, but I have the upper hand now…and it's full of gold." He laughed at his own joke.

"Do you have the gold yet?" Will quickly asked, seizing the opportunity before he choked.

"Not yet, but I sent Ulric to go tell Nottingham. I suspect the Sheriff will be here by morning."

"Avery, you have to let them go while there's still time!"

"Let Robin Hood go? What are you talking about Will?" the man shook his pleas off in confusion. "And what do you mean 'them'? How do you know there's more?"

"It doesn't matter how I know, but you have to let them go Avery, it's the only way you'll come out of this alive."

"What—come out of this alive—Will, I'm about to make a fortune," Avery sputtered.

"Let Robin Hood go, the Sheriff won't give you the money, the man's corrupt!"

"And you're telling me that this Robin Hood is not! Come on, Will, you know better than me what kind of a man he is."

Will exploded in his frustration. "Yes, I do know better than you! He's a good man, he's helping people! Nottingham won't give you the money, he'll just string you up right alongside Locksley." He spoke earnestly to his friend. "Now help me and help yourself and just let-them-go." He emphasized the last slowly, pleading with his friend. Avery took a step backwards, staring athim as if he was looking at him for the first time.

"What is the matter with you? Will, you're starting to sound like one of Hood's men," he laughed uncomfortably, as if trying to make himself believe that Will was just playing one big, practical joke on him.

"I am one of his men." Will spoke softly but distinctly to his friend.

"You're what? Will how could you, do you remember what he did to us?"

"To me, Avery, to me."

"Fine, to you. But he humiliated you, he mocked you, he—"

"Avery!" Will clenched his fists and his body shook as he fought to control his temper. "You do not know half of what this man has done to me. But I'm telling you he's changed."

"No...no I think you're the one who's changed. Will Scarlett, I never thought I'd see the day that you would honestly defend that spoiled little brat." He stepped backwards as he spoke and his eyes hardened "You want Robin Hood so badly you can have him...but you're going to have to fight me for him."

"Avery, no I don't want to—" Will hopelessly protested, but the other just ignored him as he went to the cabin and signaled for the others to come out. Three of them came, glancing curiously in Will's direction. Avery handed them his sword.

"You're about to witness a thrashing, boys, of one of Robin Hood's men." Laughter stirred around the group as them men gathered to watch the fight. Thepoor menthat had gathered farther down in the village were urged to come and watch and they eagerly complied.

Avery turned to his old friend and drew out his dagger. Looking into his friend's eyes, Will saw that he was serious, and he reluctantly pulled his own dagger: the fight had begun.

Avery took a sideways step to the left, Will countered with a step to the right.The dark-haired man advanced with rapid steps, and Scarlett inched his way away from the other man's dagger, his own held secure but relaxed in his right hand. Avery waved his dagger threateningly in the air, Will sidestepped to avoid several close swipes and then he lunged, his dagger out with Avery mirroring his own defensive movements—no wonder, when they learned how to fight together. The man's eyes hardened as he waved the dagger almost to Will's eye level…and then he kicked out knocking the outlaw's blade to the ground!

Will jumped out of the way as Avery's blade slashed through the air. His old friend smiled as he started to circle around, Will desperately countering every move. Suddenly Avery lunged, his dagger arm thrust forward; Will grabbed the arm, and shoved the man in the same direction he had been moving, throwing the man completely off his balance so that he crashed to the ground. But Scarlett stood still a second too long, and Avery kicked him, sending him stumbling. They both got up at the same time, but as Avery ran to make up the several feet of distance, Will dropped so that his back connected directly under Avery's shins, flipping the man over. In the precious few seconds it took for Avery to recover (still holding his dagger, with which he miraculously hadn't nicked himself), Will quickly found and grabbed his own knife.

They went at each other, each thrusting his dagger out, only to be met with empty air. He wasn't making any progress this way, so Will quickly switched the blade to his left hand. He swiped once, twice, three times at the other's head; each time the cuts were evaded. Will swung his blade up just a little over Avery's head once more and as the man ducked, Will pelted him solidly in the face with his right fist.

Avery fell back, and Will leapt on top of him. After a moment of struggle, Will's blade was pressed against Avery's throat.

"I'm taking Hood and the boy, and none of your men are going to stop me. Are they?" He pressed the dagger a little closer to the neck, and Avery quickly—and carefully—nodded his consent. Will released his hold on Avery and clambered to his feet. He marched past the threesome and headed into the cabin, only to be stopped at the doorway by a fourth man, his sword out and ready.

"Avery!" he barked.

"Let him pass," Avery called out. Will shoved his way past the guard and strode over to the two prisoners, sitting on the cot in the corner, their hands tied behind them.

"Will!" Noah cried happily. Scarlett roughly pulled the boy towards him so he could cut the boy's hands free. He gave the same rough treatment to Locksley and then he muttered an angry "let's go" before he spun around and strode out the cabin, not bothering to see if they followed. They did.

Avery was just outside the door, the tall, imposing figure angrier than he had ever been. He stalked after the party, and in a hurt, seething rage at his once best friend, he began to hurl insults and threats.

"Fine, go ahead and throw your lot in with Locksley. See if I care! You'll be crawling back in no time. Either that or you'll be dead! You hear me! Locksley's a fool-" (Locksley for his part, didn't seem too interested in any of the insults Avery had for him, he just wanted to get out of there. Scarlett walked stonefaced, giving no sign he was even aware Avery was anywhere near him.) "and you're a fool to go with him. You're a fool, you hear me Will Scarlett!" His blood churned as Will ignored him and in a blind rage he shouted the rest, anxious to hurt his friend as much as he himself was hurting now.

"Will Scarlett. Anybody here know why he's called Scarlett?" he turned, his rage giving his movements an almost drunken appearance, but his eyes were sober and hard as he surveyed the crowd--his men, the villagers, and Locksley and the little boy were listening to him. Will had stopped short at Avery's question, but he kept his back to him, breathing heavily as he fought for control.

"Anybody know?" he questioned again, laughing as he pointed. "Nobody? Well, I'll tell you. They call him 'Scarlett' 'cause his mother was what they call a scarlet woman, a little harlot, a whore who probably didn't know who his father even was!" Except for Avery's derisive laughter, the village was deathly silent as Will turned around to address his antagonist. He was silent for a full, long, moment, and then he spoke, quietly and slowly, his voice even.

"Avery, I suggest you pack up and leave before Nottingham arrives in the morning and strings you up for wasting his time."

With that, he walked away, Locksley and Noah trailing after him. Just outside the village Azeem met them with the wagon and they climbed on for the ride back to Sherwood forest.