Part 19
The outlaws rode into Sherwood Forest a month after the hand fasting ceremony, and made directly for the camp. It was dusk and barely mid afternoon and they all felt the winter wind cut across their faces. When within walking distance they tethered the horses and went the rest of the way on foot. It had been nearly two months since they had been home. They rounded the corner to descend the steep but short hill to the entrance of their lair and noticed that it seemed inhabited.
Robin drew out his sword, then reached for Marian's hand, signalling to the gang to draw their weapons too. They surveyed the camp visually from their distance. Hues of light filtered through the leaf roof but despite that the only sounds came from the animals that dwelt beneath the canopy of the trees.
Robin signalled with a wave of his arm and they all slowly and silently ventured down the slope listening for anything untoward. When there was nothing Robin signalled again and Will pressed the secret lever hidden between the rock.
The roof rose to expose a very startled Allan who dropped the ladle and his supper spilt across the floor. He stared open mouthed as they walked back into their home, making themselves comfortable and helping themselves to the soup from the cooking pot.
"Allan," Robin said greeting their ex-comrade.
Allan who had finally found his tongue replied. "I'm not being funny but I was beginning to think you all had died."
"I almost did," Marian answered faintly, and he looked at her hoping she would elaborate but Much cut in and spoke to Robin.
"Master! I mean surely….I mean…Is he staying?"
"I don't know Much," Robin replied, looking to Allan. "Are you staying?"
"I'm with you now. If you will have me back. I've changed, I was wrong. Robin please don't banish me from the gang. You're all I have," he pleaded.
"Gisborne, wasn't all you had?" asked Much scathingly.
"Much!" exclaimed Djaq. "Let Allan speak."
"I am sorry alright." Allan continued. "I know I can't change what I did. I know you probably won't be able to trust me like before…but please. Let me come back. It won't be like it was last time, I promise." And he looked at each of them in turn, willing them to believe him and give him the chance he craved.
Looking to the gang Robin said, "we discussed this at the cottage," they nodded, he added. "And we agreed right?"
"You agreed," whined Much. "I didn't agree to anything."
"You are leaving then?" asked Will to Much while Allan looked for a passing moment as if Will was talking to him.
"I did not say….." Much started.
"Yes you did," Marian stated quietly. "In the cottage."
"I did not think you were conscious when we had that discussion." He shot back.
Robin intercepted the conversation; it was going round in circles and said. "Allan you can stay, but you have to earn your tag all over again." Then to Much he said. "Are you leaving?"
"You know I am not," Much huffily replied, setting his empty bowl down and stomping off to his old corner where he slept in a sulk.
"Good that is settled," Robin concluded. "So Allan, what has been happening here in our absence?"
"Well," Allan began. "Cornelius, that's Jasper's cousin is rebuilding Nottingham. His men are still clearing what was the castle, but they are hoping rebuilding will start in the spring. Gisborne comes and goes. At the moment as far as I know he is at Locksley. I don't go there if I can help it, except for drop off's. Pickings in the forest are slow. There are more travellers since word is out that you have disappeared but I can't manage to hold up a large party of travellers on my own."
"We are back now; you don't need to worry about that." Will told him with a smile.
"No I suppose I don't. So what I want to know is where you all have been for nigh on two months."
"Ah," said Little John slowly. "Now this is rather a long story."
"We have all night; I am ready to listen,"
Robin sighed and nodded to the others who all made themselves comfortable and it did not escape Allan's attention that Djaq chose to sit next to Will, or that Robin and Marian seemed closer than ever. When they were all settled, Robin began to tell their tale.
0o0
Much walked lackadaisically back to the camp swinging a brace of pheasants in one hand and his bow and arrow in the other totally unaware that he was being followed and that a bigger plan was in place. He reached the camp and set the meat down, ready to prepare it for supper when Will came racing back and stopped on the threshold of the camp, trying to catch his breath. Djaq arrived as Robin began to speak.
"Will?" Robin asked standing waiting for Will to do more than breathe.
"Clun…"
"What about Clun?" asked Little John reaching for his staff and coat.
"Cornelius's men…."
"And?" Marian asked softly, joining Robin as she stood by his side.
"They are attacking the villagers until they tell which of the babies had been the ones that survived the razing of Nottingham." Djaq added, catching her own breath finishing off the explanation.
"Let's go," Robin ordered.
"But…dinner," stuttered Much.
"Dinner can wait, this can not," John replied.
"Robin!" called Marian. "A weapon. I need a weapon."
Robin looked at Djaq for answers and she lifted Marian's hand to the light. The intruder who was stationed on the rocks above swallowed with revulsion at the sight of her hand and bit back a cry of anguish as he continued to watch and wait.
"Bend your fingers," she commanded Marian. Marian did as she was asked and all but her middle finger curled to some degree. Djaq nodded and said to Robin. "Give her a sword, we need as many hands as we can muster, she will be able to grip a sword well enough if she needs to use both hands, if not she will have to just use her right."
Robin nodded to Allan who handed Marian a sword and hoped what Djaq said was true.
When they had gone the intruder slithered down from his hiding place, he surveyed the camp with watchful eyes wondering where Robin Hood had hidden the precious Pact of England. But that was not all of his worries, Marian was back with Hood. He had to retrieve the pact for Prince John and the Black Knights and he had to steal Marian away from the eyes of those he loathed. He did stop and ponder why life never ran smoothly for him, but then he started to throw things from one corner of the camp to the other. He had to find the Pact today and when he did Robin and his gang would track him down, with any luck bringing Marian with them.