Decieving Eyes

'Alright so whats the plan?'

Robin could feel 5 pairs of eyes watching him, they were all sat in a circle at camp, a small fire burning as a few days had passed since the new Sheriff and his advisor had made their way to Nottingham.

'I've had Much and John scouting out all he can, checking out the new routines and when the sentries go past. Everything. Now tomorrow is when the taxes are due to be collected same as normal. However '..

Robin paused lifting up his finger with a small smile playing on his lips. ' A little birdie told me that they'll be planning to do a decoy carriage at the later time and swap the real carriage a whole two hours earlier down the north road. So...we'll intercept at the cross roads the hour before that '

Archer looked to Kate then back to Robin 'Meaning we'd get the taxes 3 hours before its scheduled to actually be here 'A crafty smile rose on his face.

'Thats actually ..rather ingenious. ''

Much shoved Archer playfully 'Robin always has great ideas'

Much behave.. 'Robin shook his head though he was more worried that this new Sheriff would be harder to win over, at least he had apologised to Kate and Archer for the way he'd behaved.

The plan was finalised more over night and they readied themselves early that morning, Robin was already awake 2 hours before they had to move and it was Tuck who found him awake and went to check on him.

'Did you not sleep last night? You know we need to be at your fittest to take this coach'

Robin didn't look round instead he stayed sat on the branch of the tree overlooking camp, already fully dressed and having already broke his fast too. He was chewing his thumb looking deep into the forest around him, but he acknowledged Tuck with a slight shake of his head.

' I slept enough...and last night my dreams were empty so I could sleep without disturbance. It was not that that worries me though, it is this new Sheriff.. Parts of the castle were untouched by the Byzantine fire, so he already has somewhere we can not touch him even though we know the access to the castle like the back of our hand. The work to rebuild it is already on its way to secure the walls again as well as rebuild the town although that will take a while till it is fully back to its glory.. But the Sheriff is one of John's own personal, that makes him dangerous , worse then Guy and Vaisey put together.'

Tuck clasped Robin on the shoulder with a warm smile, he was always optimistic just like Robin had been, Robin was still finding his way to getting back to that but things recently hadn't really allowed him that privilege.

'You've fought against John before, he is nothing but a buffoon and this man is eager to impress him, he is but a man he may be cruel and devious but he is also breakable and has a weakness too.'

'I couldn't strike Vaisey with a arrow or sword, and I daresay I could not allow myself to kill this man too, it would not make things right..and plus he could perhaps be a better man for Nottingham'

Though the last statement he knew to be false, John had brought back news two days past were local lads were being brought before the Sheriff and made to swear allegiance to Prince John and the cause and against Robin himself. If they hesitated or where thought to be in league with the outlaw then they were being held in makeshift cells and whipped on posts.

Even men they had been drinking with and celebrating with not a week gone by had turned to the Sheriff's side as easy as that, Robin felt a little devastated but he knew they had no choice because of fear to stay alive for them and their families.

'Once today is over you will feel like you did once before Robin.. I know it..I can feel it'

'Perhaps you're right my good friend, you've always been wise and I should have listened to you more' Robin finally turned round with a small smile on his lips. 'I just hope it will be enough to bring peace back to our lands and stop this new Sheriff. '

Tuck smiled and sighed gently ' Time will tell, but we have one thing that Prince John does not have, and that puts us at a slight advantage.'

Robin tilted his head looking curious to Tuck 'Oh ..and what may that be'

Tuck smirked and grinned that bright white smile of his' Robin Hood of course.'

Robin rolled his eyes and moved his bow to his side just as Much was stirring from his bed rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Robin notched the arrow with careful precision and aimed a centimetre above Much's nose and let loose so the shaft buried deep into the tree next to Much exactly where he wanted it to go.

Much yelped and jumped away from the arrow as Robin laughed hard along with Tuck as the others slowly woke.

'Master...must you do that!'

John gave Tuck a knowing smile, Robin was known to play tricks and be a bit mischievous around camp to lighten the mood sometimes when times were hard, seeing him like this was a good sign, even if he then lowered the bow and massaged his shoulder gently.

'Robin you alright?'

Robin nodded to Tuck' Just a bit sore, I'll be fine getting back to normal ,I've had worse.. and you've healed me through that just as you have with this..anyway...everyone start getting ready, get some food down you too...The day is here.. and we've a whole lot of taxes to relieve the new Sheriff of'

A little while before the real cart was supposed to be passing through the North road, Robin and his small band of men were already there crouching and hidden, Robin himself was in the trees, arrow notched on his bow and aimed ready, Much on lookout to whistle the signal. The routine was a familiar one which they had done many a time, but this time they were more cautious just incase the cart was more heavily guarded or that to was a decoy and they were going to be tricked etc.

Finally the signal Robin was waiting for came, as Much gave a little bird whistle that echoed through the trees back to Robin and his men below. Not long after that a cart could be heard rumbling through the forest but as Robin went to loosen the arrow, Much whistled again.

Two whistles?

That meant something was wrong.

Eyes widened he looked down to where John, Tuck, Archer and Kate were hidden, shaking his head as he knew one of them would be looking to him for directions 'Hold back' He desperately whispered as he waited to see what the new situation was, he would not be putting his men in unnecessary danger.

It was just as well as shouts rose from the men guarding the carriage, and the sound of steel biting steel could be heard ringing out. John made to move forward to help but Robin gestured with his head to stay put.

From where Robin could see the guards placed to guard the carriage were being attacked by an unknown assailant...No not one, not even two, but ...three.

Trouble was he could not make out who they were, their faces hidden behind masks and cloaks, but they fought expertly well.

A few of the guards scattered tails between their legs as they disappeared back off the track, no doubt they'd be punished for it later, but it would be better then staying round for an attack at the hands of these three newcomers.

Just who were they?

Robin jumped down from his hidden place with ease as the cart was finally abandoned and the robbers running off.

Robin no!' He heard John hiss after him as Robin ran after those who had attacked the carriage, and no doubt taken the taxes.

He quickly ran past Much's hiding place, chucking him a sword 'Much, with me!'

Robin heard his men follow after him, but thats not what mattered now, all that mattered was getting those who had taken the tax money, running past the unconscious and lightly wounded guards as well as the surprised driver who held his hands up in the air.

Robin pushed his way through the bushes out into a clearing where he saw the three thieves making their way to their own carriage most likely stolen, the two way up ahead were carrying the chest, but the third one was not too far up ahead, he could possibly just about reach him if he carried on running.

His legs ached and his heart pounded in his chest, he was not as fit as he should have been thanks to his recent recovery, and he knew he would not be able to catch them up. So he drew his bow aimed for the thief in the olive green cloak still running for the carriage.

'STOP...IN THE NAME OF KING RICHARD, AND THE NAME OF ME...ROBIN HOOD!

He let fly the arrow but only as a warning he still stood by his word he would not bloodshed unless absolutely necessary. The second he fired hitting the wooden chest the other two thieves were just placing on the cart. Though he was still a good few hundred yards away from them.

The single one on his own turned round, though Robin could still not see his face he felt as though his heart had stopped and he heard Much gasp astonished beside him. The cloak and the jerkin, even the trousers were an exact match.

'The Night Watchman?!' Where the words that escaped Much's lips at exactly the same time Robin had dared to breathe.

'Marian?'

Author's note:...Well what a cliffhanger for that one dun dun DUNNNNNNN! Marian is dead so who the hell is posing as her alter ego, and who the hell are the other two masked people with the new Nightwatchman. How will Robin react to it? . Don't worry if you can't wait too long for the next chapter I have already begun it and will be back with it as soon as I can. I know you must have so many questions. Feel free to ask me anything in private message etc and I hope you enjoyed this new chapter.