Chapter Six

The execution was to take place early after the sunrise. The crowds gathered with an overall somber feel. No one found enjoyment in the execution of innocent people. Amelia and Lilly were well known and liked in the community. And Prince John had very few loyal admirers to say the least.

No one came to see the women die. They came in the hopes of a miracle.

Prince John stood at his place of honour, atop a high balcony. The Sheriff had promised him that Robin Hood would make an appearance. And he had guards hidden in every possible space in the courtyard. For it was fair to say that Robin Hood was creating an abundance of problems for the Prince. Even the utterance of the name caused hope when he had long since worked to expunge.

To Prince John, it was a flawless plan. Naturally, he knew that the Merry Men would be hiding out in the crowds. But he felt secure in the abundance of guards he had around the gallows, spattered through the crowd, up in niches of the castle with arrows and everywhere around the edges of the square.

Yes, to Prince John it was the perfect plan. But to Robin, it was simply a slightly inconvenient challenge.

Marian stood on a much smaller balcony, located on a difference side of the building that surrounded the square. From there, she could see her uncle, Prince John in his apparent glory. Even from a distance, he was an intimidating man. There was no denying that he had been blessed with handsome features. But his apparent cruelty overruled any positive visuals.

Breaking her gaze, she peered down instead, past the crowds to the gallows. She breathed deeply, closing her eyes and praying.

"Care for some company?"

She turned quickly, angered. "You're late," she muttered as Robin stood beside her. It aggravated her to no end that he did not show one sign of fear when she herself was overcome by it. If one thing went wrong, her friends would die. Little did she know that he did share these feelings, he had simply become a master at suppressing them.

"Everything is going according to plan," he reassured her.

"I see that Leon is an outlaw now," she said haughtily.

Robin allowed a small amount of regret to pass his face. "I had no intention for that to happen. "But be assured, I will keep him safe."

She relaxed her gaze slightly. "And you can be assured that he has secretly wished to join you for an age. Deep down, he always wanted this."

Robin fidgeted, uncomfortable in his stolen guards uniform. But it had accomplished the intended purpose. He had made it through the castle, unseen to be at his position. "You should go," he said. "this area is about to become a tad unsafe."

She laughed coldly. "Trying to keep me away from danger are you?"

He looked to her, unable to contain his regret any longer. "Believe it or not, that was exactly what I was trying to do. I couldn't tell you about the Merry Men because I wanted you away from danger. And it kills me that that is why you almost died."

It had been a year, but he still thought of it daily. How he had initially snuck around with Allen, Roger, Will and Little John. Something deep within him knew instantly that he was doing what he was meant to be doing. He knew that he was meant for a life of becoming an outlaw. But he had still been unwilling to complete immerse himself into that life. And the reason for this had been her. His betrothed.

But no secret of such longitude could be kept hidden. Sneaking around under Prince John's nose would not succeed for long. So he had been found out. And he tried to flee.

But Marian had followed him. She stopped him, betrayed and heart-broken.

A guard had sent an arrow flying. An arrow intended for Robin. But it had not flown true. Marian was the one shot. The force of it sent her falling backwards. Down the grand staircase.

Robin had tried to run after her. Seeing her lying far down on the distant floor, surrounded by a pool of blood had driven him into a crazed rage. But Roger and the other men pulled him away. He had not had the strength to fight all of them. And then she was gone, whisked away to France to recover.

And now she was back.

"Let's just get through this," she said, looking out the crowds. "Then we'll talk."

"Well there's an incentive if I ever heard one."

She glared. "You shouldn't need one."

He began to respond but noted what she was holding, a bundle of dark clothing. Eyes slitted, he simply told her, "no."

She stood defiant. "Why won't you let me help?"

"Why do you think?"

"Come on! You know I am well trained with a blade. You were the one who trained me!"

"And one day, you can help. But not today."

"Because you don't think that I can? You think I'm not good enough."

He just smirked. "Oh contrare. We just have no need. This is going to be far too easy."

She walked away, trying her best to hide the limp. Turning back suddenly, she said, "I'm sorry. About Wilfred. I know what he meant to you."

Robin worked hard to keep his face still. "Like you said Marian; let's just get through this."

...

Prince John looked out onto the crowds. He noted the looks he received. Those of hate and fear. They did not bother him in the slightest. In fact, he relished in them.

"People of Nottingham. Today you shall witness the consequences of opposing me. Robin Hood is a menace. And some still think to show him loyalty. Well… I hope you all learn from this."

The Sheriff stood to the Prince's right. He stepped forward to give the order, "Bring out the prisoners!"

Robin remained staunch as he watch guards dragging Amelia and Lilly forth. He forced himself to watch, even though he wanted nothing more than to tear his eyes away. He felt such guilt. Both women were clearly terrified. Amelia seemed to desperately search the crowd for her husband. All she wanted was a single glance. To look into his eyes one final time. But he was nowhere to be seen. So instead she gave into her sobs. Lilly however, did not shed a single tear. Her body appeared to have given out as she was completely dragged forth. Robin thought it to be her final protest, the only way she could think to spite them. If she were to die, she would at least put them through extra effort first. Finally, she was thrown on the podium. Her long black hair fell in front of her face and she did not bother to brush it back. Instead, she continued to act limp so once again she had to be picked up. They ran into problems with making her stand over the trapdoor as she chose instead to crumple. Finally an angered guard approached her. He forcibly dragged her up. His nails cut into her tanned skin as his hands clenched tightly upon her. Putting his face close to her, he muttered, "listen up you little bitch. You have two choices here. Stand and take your easy death. Or, I can continue to cut off body parts until you are a little more helpful. So which will it be?"

"It's alright Lilly," Amelia said, holding back a sob. "It is time."

Lilly broke her hated gaze to look lovingly at her friend. Finally, her feet pushed against the ground as she stood on her own.

Prince John once more addressed the crowd. "These two woman have sympathized with outlaws! Helped with the schemes! Betrayed their King! And today, they pay."

Robin clutched his bow tightly, watching as the executioner raised nooses over each woman's head.

Finally, it was time. Prince John held up his arm, enjoying the anticipation of the wait. The crowd held their breath. A single tear ran down Amelia's cheek.

And then the arm dropped.

The lever was pulled and the trap doors opened.

No sooner had the arm fallen than Robin raised his bow.

All he could see was the suddenly taunt rope that hung. There was no sound elsewhere. All he could hear was his own breathing. Closing one eye, he looked on into the silence.

Releasing his breath, he let go. The arrow flew straight and sure to cut through the rope of Amelia's noose. She fell with a yelp through the trapdoor. She expected the hard unforgiving stones. Instead, someone caught her. "John!" she exclaimed wrapping her arms around him.

He wanted nothing more than to hold her but there was work to be done.

The second arrow shot down and Lilly too fell through the trap door. John caught her too before she even realised what was going on. She was still bumbling in confusion as John forced a cloak around her, fumbling with the bindings. Amelia already bore a dark brown cloak although she was a at a complete puzzlement regarding to why this was.

Will fought his way to the front of the crowd. Satisfied, he stood tall and called, "for Robin Hood!"

Almost every Saxon in the crowd looked to each other knowingly. And then, unanimously, they raised the hoods upon their cloaks.

Allen laughed at the sight as he leapt atop the gallows, bow at the ready. Archers lined the niches above Prince John's balcony and all of them had arrows nocked. Benny leapt beside him, bow in his hand.

"Now!" Will yelled.

John kicked at the loose wood of the gallows with a mighty crack, creating a large gap. "Go with Matthew," he told them urgently, pulling up their hoods as he spoke.

And everyone did as they promised.

They all ran.

Prince John silently cursed as a mass army of hooded heads all bolted away. It was complete chaos. He searched desperately but in the fray, he instantly lost anyone of importance. There was no telling who was who. The guards had no way of knowing whom to attack. And besides, they did not have the means. For if they tried, they would have been trampled by the madness.

John smiled in the knowledge that his wife was finally safe. There was no way they could find in the running crowd. And the guards focused their attention elsewhere regardless. For Robin was still trapped up on the balcony. "Time to return the favour," John said as he furiously swung his quarterstaff as the nearest guards. Three of them went flying backward from this single swing. And he was only warming up.

Benny and Allen worked as quickly as they could. It was difficult, moving to evade arrows whilst continuously shooting out their own. There was a long line of archers attacking from above and they needed to keep them away from Robin's escape route. Luckily, they only needed to look to the central archers. Those on the edges mysteriously stopped shooting after they disappeared. Later, they would speak in terrified whispers of a man in black who fought like a demon. Marian was notably absent.

The Sheriff had done well with his numbers as guards had been clustered throughout the square. Hence, the remaining Merry Men awaited them with swords. John, Will, Much, Luke, Roger and Thomas held off as many guards as they could, fighting with reckless abandon. It was never their tactic, they were only meant to distract them temporarily until the others could join in with the crowd.

Meanwhile, Robin had nocked one final arrow, one that had a thick rope tied tightly to it. This always made it harder to shoot but naturally, it flew the straightest of the lot as it landed with a thud onto on of the planks of the gallows. John struck one final guard with his own shield as he saw it. Triumphantly, John pulled back the arrow, wrapping the rope around the plank a few times and holding it tight. "Now!" he bellowed.

Robin looked skyward as he prayed that it would work. He pulled on a pair of gloves, tightly gripped the rope and leapt.

And of course, with a flourish, Robin leapt down beside Allen. "I know what you're thinking and yes, I am a legend," he said, grandly.

"Let's just go," Allen said, rolling my eyes.

Robin pouted slightly. "You know I hate to run from a fight," he said, looking wistfully out to the masses of guards.

"Right then," Luke huffed through his panting. "You can stay and fight around fifty of the Sheriff's best men and we will go for pint. Sound good?"

Robin rolled his eyes and turned to Prince John. They looked to each other, Robin with victory and Prince John with hatred. "Until next time!" Robin called, sinking into a low mocking bow.

Turning, he called to us, "Let's go men!"