Part 22
The Black Knights assembled in the hall of Buckingham's manor. There were eight in all and they sat in a circle as they often did to meditate before the meeting began. The meeting was chaired by Buckingham as he was the host of the event. Gisborne sat in his chair nervously wanting the whole thing to be over. The fear of the Pact returning into Hood's hands was one which haunted him constantly. That and a vision of Marian telling him she loved the blasted man. He scowled to himself, when he had last seen her, he had seen the effect his dagger had had on her person and a sick feeling crept up his body that he was capable of such violence to one he loved.
It was as if thinking about her had created a vision of her and Hood. He blinked several times but no they were still there, looking as real as Rotherham did by his side. Hood was aiming his bow and arrow directly at them all and Marian stood behind him. Why did she do that? His puzzled mind asked and his vision travelled around the perimeter of the room to see not only Locksley and Marian but all the other outlaws as well, including Allan.
"What do you want?" asked Durham standing up. "I thought I had seen the last of you in Durham."
"You thought I would let everything rest?" Robin asked.
"Hood does not let anything rest," Gisborne spat out, a vehemence filling him with an uncontrollable rage that Marian was here with Robin and not himself.
"I can not let you carry on what Vasey Sheriff of Nottingham began." Robin said coolly to the group of gathered Knights.
"What is your proposal?" laughed Rotherham. "You could not save Nottingham from being destroyed; you are half the man you claim to be."
"I do not claim to be anything that I am not." Robin replied.
"Why are you here Hood? Let's not waste any more time." Guy snarled at him, ready to pounce from his seat and take what he believed was his.
"I want the Pact." Robin said bluntly, the sooner they were out of this volatile situation the better.
A swell of snide laughter ran round the group of men like a Mexican wave.
"That my friend you can not have," interjected Spencer.
"I am not your friend." Robin told him, his face a mixture of masked emotions and distaste for them men before him. "And I will have the Pact even if I my friends and I have to kill each and every one of you."
The Black Knights shared a look, they could have retorted that Robin Hood did not have it within him, but they were all there that day he had tried but Winchester had warned them and so they survived.
"Where is the Pact?" asked Little John, stepping closer to the Knights and Robin shot him a look and shook his head, but John had enough of waiting, biding their time.
Marian moved a fraction her hand resting on the hilt of her sword as she waited for the signal which was imminent. Meanwhile the rest of the gang kept one eye trained on the knights and one on their leader.
Buckingham rummaged through a heavy wooden casket and produced the Pact waving it in the air, teasing, provocating Robin Hood goading him for a reaction. John was on the verge of reaching forward to grab it but Robin shot him a warning glance.
"Come and get it," Buckingham said to Robin.
Robin took a tentative step forward and Gisborne barked out. "Put your weapon down first."
With care and precision he lowered it to the ground and stood back up, moving into the centre of the group of men. Marian and the outlaws almost forgot to breathe the atmosphere was so tense. Robin stepped closer and closer to Buckingham and the Pact and when Robin was almost upon him Buckingham threw it into the fire. The flames engulfed it instantly and the roar of anguish came from Gisborne who launched himself at Buckingham with a force that sent them both to the foreground of the hearth. With a simple nod from Robin the outlaws made their move and soon the whole room was a fighting mass of bodies. The outlaws fought the Black Knights and the Knights fought the outlaws and each other, their ambition for power so great they were willing to go against their fellow man.
The clash of sword met the clash of mind as the melee began to reduce as one by one the Knights were felled. After overpowering Rotherham, Gisborne saw that he might not escape with his life had a sudden plan. He locked himself in a battle with Allan, who had learnt from the best and was soon blocking his every move. When Allan was attacked from the side by Spencer, Gisborne took the opportunity to move towards the door.
Guy came across Marian in his bid for freedom and his sword clashed with hers. He watched as she took her left hand to give herself a better grip and strength. But he knew, he had seen what little ability her left hand had and it wasn't going to give a lot of back up to her right. The next stroke he sent her way proved him right and the sword almost fell from her hand altogether. He watched as this time she wrapped her left hand round the sword with her right, making sure all the fingers were clasped round it. Then her right hand rested on top and she took a swing and caught him off guard, catching him on his arm between his elbow and shoulder. Guy gave a yelp of pain and she looked at him as if to say 'that was for my hand'. He stumbled back clutching his arm, watching as the fight wore on, Marian now occupied with Buckingham's manservant who had a good skill with a sword and Gisborne retreated to the door.
Once outside he breathed deeply before going to the nearest horse and mounting him quickly. He turned at the sound of his name and there was Robin Hood watching him try to escape.
"You will not catch me this time Hood," Guy rasped out.
"There is always next time and the Black Knights have been destroyed, all except for you."
"We will rise again. I will succeed along with Prince John to overthrow the King. England will be ours and you can rot in hell after I have sent you there." He spat back pausing when he noticed that the outlaws and Marian had joined Hood's side. "And as for you Marian…" he hissed. "You will be mine someday when I have disposed of Robin Hood."
She had the audacity and confidence to laugh and reply. "Never. I will never be yours for I already am Robin's."
Guy looked down to her hand but it was void of a ring, as he looked back up to her face his gaze caught the two rings and tag about her neck. He let out a noise between a snort and one of disgust, and then kicked the horse gently riding off and building up pace as he fled.
0o0
"We have to get out of here." Will said eyeing up the family of Buckingham and the hostility which seeped from their stares.
Allan slithered to the ground and Robin and John hauled him up. "It's nothing a flesh wound," he muttered.
"Even more reason to get out of here, let's go." Robin said.
"But what about Buckingham's family?" asked Marian.
Robin looked at her steadily and sighed. "They can take care of their own."
They went a safe distance from the estate, sitting Allan down to assess the damage. It was as he said a flesh wound, but one which was deep and bled a lot requiring stitches.
"Well now what?" he asked, when he was feeling better if not still sore and bruised.
"Now we return to Nottingham." Robin told them.
"And do what?" Allan asked with a shrug that left him wincing.
"Help the people rebuild their lives."
"They all died," Much put in.
"The destruction of Nottingham did not only affect the town but the outlying villages too," Marian explained.
"I knew that," Much snapped in response.
"Nottingham it is then." Robin said with a nod at the others and they all agreed.