The First Night celebration had started at dusk, torches were lit, and those that could afford a pint of over-priced ale at one of the Sheriff's stalls were enjoying themselves. The rest of the people gathered in the courtyard and waited to be entertained. There was a low roar of chatter in anticipation of the execution. Many were regretful: it would be difficult to survive the rest of the winter without Robin Hood. The nobles smiled with self-satisfaction from their place along the castle portico. They felt validated in their support of the Sheriff by paying witness to the example of what would happen if they didn't. Gisbourne was standing anxiously on the steps. His eyes kept darting over to the nobles' section. He was looking for Marian. His surprise at seeing her in chains, trailing through the main doors behind the Sheriff a few moments later was enough for him to lose his footing and slip down a stair.
"Ah, Gisbourne! What a refreshing night," the Sheriff beamed.
"Sir, what is Marian doing—"
"Oh hush. It's all part of the program."
Guy couldn't take his anxious gaze off her. There was nothing he could do but wait to see what the Sheriff was up to. He grew angry at his helplessness. He immediately turned to Allan, as he always did when he wanted to exert authority, but Allan was not there. Gisbourne grew angrier.
The Sheriff yelled a few words at the crowd and called for the prisoner to be brought out.
Robin looked tired but he was standing tall. Each time he was hunched under a blow by one of the guards, he stretched himself back up and squared his jaw. He would not be bowed, not by the Sheriff or his useless followers.
The guards led him through the crowd. People reached out to him, stretching their hands out over people's shoulders, trying to touch him.
"Yes, yes. Reach for him while you can, before he leaves you—with nothing," the Sheriff yelled out to them. "See what a traitor and a villain feels like," he added meanly.
The gang was hiding cautiously under hoods, watching everything carefully, fingering their weapons lightly, ready to spring. Just as Robin reached their corner of the crowd, Much nodded to them, turned around, shouted: "Long live King Richard! Long live Robin Hood!"
People starting grumbling, yelling, swearing and pushing each other around in agreement or protest of Much's exclamation and in the disorder that followed, John took one swift sweep of his staff and knocked the legs out from under the executioner. He grabbed him on the ground, punched him until he was out, and slipped his black hood on.
The Sheriff was shouting irascibly at guards to seize people, but the chaos settled on its own. The entourage with Robin continued to make their way up to the platform in the middle of the courtyard.
Marian had watched all this with terror. She had recognized Much's voice and yet Robin was still about to be executed. With no knowledge of what the gang's plan was, she thought that it had failed. She felt there was no hope. Robin, and her happiness, would be put to death in a few blinks of an eye. She would be next, she knew, as she twisted her hands in useless objection to her bondage. She started silently weeping, cursing the tears as they blurred her last sights of Robin.
The Sheriff noticed this with glee.
"But wait, what is this?" he announced, holding his hand up to halt the proceedings. "Why, Lady Marian, it looks as if you have something to profess. Any last words for the outlaw? Gisbourne, doesn't it look like she's just aching to declare something?" the Sheriff said loudly, clearly, and with a sting.
Gisbourne blushed in anger and humiliation. He felt completely undermined, not just by the Sheriff's selfish scheme, but by the outpouring of sorrow from the woman he wanted most for the man he hated most.
"Well, go on my dear," prodded the Sheriff.
Marian's tearful eyes met Robin's. He nodded. He didn't need her to say it. She wouldn't say it. She looked at the Sheriff with hatred, but remained silent.
"No? All right then, carry on."
To the drumroll, John raised the heavy ax, paused with it over his head, and swung down hard right into the wood of the platform, just short of Robin's head on the block. He then grabbed Robin and before the Sheriff realized what had happened the gang had pushed themselves through the crowd and out the portcullis. They picked up their horses from Allan who had been waiting on a sidestreet and sped out of town with Robin safely among them. They didn't slow their pace even when they reached Sherwood. Racing through the dry trees and old snow, their horses steaming, the gang reached the cave out of breath and exhilarated.
"We did it!" Much exclaimed. "Master!"
Will was using his hatchet to cut away the bonds on Robin's wrists while Allan hung back the shadows, afraid Robin would wonder what he was doing back with them. Noticing the distress on Robin's face, Djaq tried to hint for Much to calm down.
Robin finally managed a smile for Much who wouldn't quiet until he received his Master's approval and appreciation. But it was clear to everyone that Robin was not as thrilled at his rescue as he should have been.
His heart had sunk when he saw Marian shackled next to Gisbourne and the Sheriff. At that moment, he had feared more for her than he did for his own life. She was in serious trouble and he was to blame. By association with him, by loving him, she was doomed. He had just scraped through what should have been his certain end and he was already thinking how he could get back in the castle to save her. He had to.