Chapter 5

Marian hadn't slept well. Her old room at the castle had still held the same worry it usually had when the sheriff had still been in power. She wondered where Robin was, and what plans the king had. He would hopefully make a good choice with the new sheriff. Of course, all those years ago the old king had chosen her father, and Marian trusted that Richard would make a good decision, too. A wise sheriff would end the reign of terror Vaizey had resided over.

Before leaving for the night, she had been told officially that the king had called in the Council of Nobles for the next day. In the morning she got dressed carefully, nibbling then at the breakfast Ann had organised.

If Robin and Much had been detained, they were probably still at the castle. Or down in the dungeons. Marian swallowed down what she could of the food. She remembered the day when she had tried to free Robin from down there. This wasn't an option now. They were not dealing with the sheriff, they were dealing with the King of England.

She was curious, of course, to see the man she had heard so much about, that had been in the background of so much that had been happening – Vaizey's assembling of the Black Knights, planning to kill the king. Robin's fight to stop him.

When she came into Great Hall, being announced as Lady Marian of Knighton, some of the other few nobles had already gathered in the Hall, and the man for whom they were all there, was already residing there as well.

"Lady Marian," he said, sounding friendly and appearing younger than Marian had expected.

"Your Grace," she curtsied.

"Your father, Sir Edward, was the old sheriff of this town, was he not?"

"Yes, your Grace," she nodded. He motioned her to sit down, and Marian did so.

The king finally turned his attention to all of the assembled nobles. "There are many things we have to address here, as you can imagine. I have come to this town finding it kept by a traitor, holding it against his king. I have learned that it was my brother who set him up to it this time, my brother who has by now fled this land."

Prince John might have fled, but Marian could still only wonder what had become of his local supporters. There was no confirmed word on Vaizey, or Guy. And who knew how many of these nobles here had been working with Vaizey. She and Robin had learned a few names of the Black Knights, but they had never gotten to know all of them.

"A new sheriff has to be installed to this town," Richard went on. "I am personally going to hear complaints against those who are said to have worked against their king. I will further consider dealing with what you bring before me, so far as it shall concern me and England."

Marian wondered if the king would consider anything relating to the people of Nottinghamshire to concern him. Somehow, she doubted it, and she couldn't help the feeling that was coming up in her, that it had been foolish to believe, or hope, otherwise. So far the king had been only concerned by the fact that the sheriff had been a traitor to him. He hadn't lost a word on the plight of the people.

"I am going to leave for France soon," Richard said then, and Marian couldn't believe her ears. "Philip is causing trouble, and now that my brother seems to have joined him, it is time I take matters into my own hand." He looked around the room.

"Your Grace," Sir Ferdinand said. "We had hoped you would grace these lands for a longer time, though we support you in all your endeavours, of course."

Marian didn't much care what the man said. She didn't know much about him, he had hardly ever spoken up during the last years of Vaizey's rule, and had kept away from the Council altogether at the end.

A young man who had inherited his father's title after Vaizey had him murdered stood up. "Your Grace, I support you in any way possible. I also want to show my loyalty to you and bid therefore for the position of sheriff of this town."

It was strange to see the young man proposing this. He was probably even younger than Robin. Marian looked to the king to see how he took it.

Richard nodded with a smile. "Yes, Sir Albert. The position will go to the man who shows his loyalty by giving most for my next campaign."

Marian still didn't like the idea, but she had heard before that the king had sold offices even before he had first left for the Crusades.

"To further finance the campaign," the king went on, "the taxes in this and the other shires are going to be raised by ten percent."

Marian struggled to keep her mouth shut now, knowing she would have tried arguing with the sheriff knowing he despised her anyway, but did she want to get onto bad terms with the king? But then, speaking out was what the council was for...

"Your Grace," she started. Everyone's gaze turned to her. "The people in this shire are poor. Many of them can hardly make ends meet. The previous sheriff used the taxes to press them out even more. They cannot give more now."

It took a moment, but then the king smiled. "You speak your mind, Lady Marian."

At the same time he said this, Marian could hear a whisper between the men next to her, referring to her unmarried status. She pressed her lips together.

"These taxes are needed for my campaign. Whoever is loyal to their king, will be happy to pay them."

"Sire, Lady Marian used to speak her mind with the old sheriff, too." It was the young Albert that said this, causing her to frown even more. "Standing against the sheriff was what also caused her and the late Sir Edward to lose their home. The sheriff's Master-at-Arms had it destroyed, also detaining Lady Marian and Sir Edward." He paused for a moment. "A yet worse fate befell my father. But you already know of that, your Grace."

Marian felt cold and hot at the same time. She was angry, but she also felt the dread of what might happen if she were to put herself against the king. Nobody could win anything this way. The king was England's future.

"Your home-?" the king started, looking at Marian.

"Knighton Hall, Sire," Marian continued, "It was burned to the ground." It still hurt to think of that night, of the loss of her family's home, of her father, of what Guy had done.

"You should marry, Lady Marian," Sir Hubert suddenly said. "A husband would be able to rebuild the hall."

"Now that I may have the possibility to do so, I will certainly rebuild what I inherited from my father," Marian returned, hoping to end the issue with this.

"You have my support," the king said simply, immediately returning his gaze to Sir Albert. "I will accept the bids for sheriff in the course of the day."

It was a risk, but one she was willing to take. Thus far the mentioning of Robin Hood, the rest of his men, and all of their deeds had not been brought up. How could it be that everyone here had forgotten about what he had done? True, he had stolen from each and every one of them, but all for a good cause. And he hadn't done anyone real harm, unless it was avoidable.

"I was informed that you have Robin Hood detained," she started quietly, trying to figure out how it was best to state her words.

"I will deal with Locksley on my own time," the king was quick in cutting her off, a grim expression covering his face.

"He was supporting you."

The king frowned. "I know." Then he nodded to the other nobles in the room. "The Council is dismissed."

Marian didn't like how quickly the man had cut the topic off, and wondered if she should approach him directly now. However, Richard strode out of the room before any of the other nobles had even left, and Marian could only watch him leave.

It hadn't gone as well as Allan could have hoped for, but then he had also not ended up like those corpses that he had seen hanging at Nottingham's market, so that was at least something.

He was currently being pushed out of the west gate of Nottingham, though not in order to be released to freedom, he guessed. He wasn't alone in this, for other men who had been caught in the town were being told to move along by the king's men as well.

Allan didn't put up resistance, knowing he couldn't gain anything without weapons anyway and his sword had been taken in what hadn't really been a fair fight from the beginning. He hoped the king had satisfied his blood thirst for now, and figured that he would find a way out some time. Someone would be careless and he would use the opportunity. At least he was out of the town now, even though in a most involuntary way.

"Come on," one of the guards called out to him. Allan held up his hands to show that he went along with it. He hoped the king was really as holy and good as Robin had always made him out to be. What had happened to some of Nottingham's guards didn't exactly look that way.

Allan didn't mind stretching his legs by walking after being cooped up for a while, first in the inn, then in Nottingham after the soldiers had found him in the tavern. He hadn't been able to talk his way out of then, but then he had at least avoided a worse fate for now, apparently not too obviously one of the sheriff's men. Well, technically he had never been the sheriff's man, more so Gisborne's, if even that at all. He'd be sure to tell that to anyone that he had nothing to do with Vaizey.

After a few minutes he could make out what the crowd of people he had seen in the distance was doing. They were soldiers, too, and they were erecting fencing that was already enclosing other prisoners outside of the king's camp. Allan appreciated the work they were doing in that they seemed to have at least a plan for them that didn't involve hanging for now.

He looked up into the sky and saw that it was cloudy. If it were to rain, he would certainly appreciate a roof over his head. But this was probably still better than the dungeons.

So far he didn't see any other of the sheriff's guards. He preferred that it stayed that way, for he guessed it would be in his favour if the king's men didn't learn who he had been working for. He figured that it would actually be for the best, if he could believably tell that he was one of Robin Hood's men. Robin was the king's man after all, and the king would surely consider none of Robin's men his enemy. Alliances were certainly a curious thing.

He looked at one of the guards. "So how long till you'll let us go?" he asked in as jovial a manner as possible, hinting that he considered it a matter of course.

The guard shrugged. "Not sure yet. We've to find out who you lot are first."

"Well, I can tell you. I'm Allan-a-Dale. I'm one of Robin Hood's men, if you know him." Allan smiled winningly. "Now you know who I am..."

The guard looked at him for another moment, but then turned away to listen to what another man was saying without giving Allan an answer. Allan frowned, figuring that it hadn't gone all too badly. He just had to make certain he established his story and stuck with it.

The guard turned back to him. "You lot can settle down over there," he pointed towards where a group of people was already busy placing straw to heaps that were probably supposed to be comfortable.

Slowly, though not really reluctantly, Allan walked over to them. He only came to a stop when one of the men looked up. Then he knew that he could already forget about his story.

Will kept his gaze only for a second, before he continued his task, and Allan wondered what was going on in the man's head, and how he had managed to end up here.

Djaq ducked behind the tree, knowing that John behind her would have a much harder time to vanish out of sight than she did. The two of them had tried to see if they could get into Nottingham, but the army that was camping around the town effectively kept them from it.

They didn't know what had happened to Will, didn't know where Robin and Much were; the only thing that was on Djaq's mind was that they had to find out.

They had been on the way from Nottingham to Clun, when what they guessed to be more of the king's men had caught sight of them. She and John had broken into a run, hurrying deeper into the forest. It was not that the men had taken pursuit, as far as they could tell. The two had not exactly given them any reason to do so, but Djaq being a Saracen and John an outlaw for many years, they had not wanted to take any risks, especially after Will had been caught simply because of just hiding near the king's men.

Now she was watching from behind the tree, seeing no one coming after them.

"What do we do?" she asked, turning to John.

"Go to Clun, as planned," John said. "We look if there are still people from Nottingham who need our help."

"Will?" If only they knew where he was...

After a moment, he shook his head. "We can't get into Nottingham."

She nodded, knowing what he meant.

"We go to Clun, try Nottingham later," he added after some moments of studying her. They couldn't do more now, but she was grateful for the assurance.

It would help if they at least knew where Will was, or if Robin and Much returned. Robin knew the king, would have an idea what they might be able to do about Will.

For now, she and John were to continue their way to Clun.

Marian still felt uncomfortable. It wasn't the same kind of uncomfortableness she had usually felt being at the castle when Vaizey had been sheriff here, but still she felt out of place. It had been some time since the Council of Nobles had taken place in a fashion like this, with most of the nobles of the shire around and attending.

Just the one she had expected to be at the side of the king at this moment wasn't here. She knew that the king had certainly not been happy to see Nottingham barricaded, or to learn of traitorous plots against him, but now the man was punishing not only those who had worked against him, but also those who had been fighting for him, even if by unlawful ways?

She had returned to the Great Hall a little while ago, had talked to a few other nobles, mostly those who claimed a friendship to her father, and had else only been able to watch as several men went up to the king's quarter, certain to make their bids for sheriff, or more precisely to count how much they were able to pay for it.

She had pondered ideas. She should find out where Robin and Much were. She should plan what she could do. It wouldn't be the first time she had helped him escape...

But she couldn't work against the king. It would make her a traitor, wouldn't it? As she watched the young man who had announced his bid for sheriff in the morning leave the hall, she wondered if this would really be the case. If she were to help Robin, and Much, wouldn't she just stop something that was unjust? It wouldn't hurt the king. The man was only concerned about his next campaign; it didn't make a difference to him if Robin was here or not.

At this moment she noticed that Sir Hubert was smiling in her direction, and a few moments later he walked over to her.

"Lady Marian," he nodded.

"How are the sheriff's bids going?" Marian asked, tired of the topic really, when she could just hope that a reasonable man would be found, figuring at least that he couldn't be worse than Vaizey had been, whoever would be chosen.

"There are a number of bids," Sir Hubert replied simply. She wasn't sure why he didn't say more, but maybe he thought she didn't care, or he thought she wouldn't understand.

"The king's just collecting money for his campaign," she said. Sir Hubert claimed to be a good enough friend of her family to allow her frankness.

The man nodded. "There is something just about that I wanted to tell you."

Marian frowned. "And that is?"

"You have inherited Knighton and its lands, Lady Marian," he started.

"Yes."

"Yet, you are unmarried."

"Yes," she replied simply.

"You know-"

"I know that this is my personal matter," Marian returned.

"It is the king's matter," Sir Hubert contradicted her.

"The king is leaving for France."

"He hasn't left yet. Your family is one who has sworn fealty to the king, and you have inherited your father's-"

"I know I have. I will choose a husband in time."

"You have been betrothed before, twice as far as I know. After your father's death it has become the right of the king to have a word in this."

"The king has other matters to attend to," Marian returned this time. The man hadn't even taken the time to care about the matter of one of his most loyal men yet; the monarch wouldn't be bothered about anything like her marrying anyone, no matter what the nobles thought.

Sir Hubert nodded. "Yes." He smiled. "The sheriff's bids will be done by tonight."

Marian appreciated that he at least seemed to have turned away from the topic of marriage for now. Considering how often Guy had started the topic, she had hoped she wouldn't get to hear it again in this castle at a time like this. The thought made her wonder where Guy was. Nobody had seen him since the siege had begun. Rumours were going around enough, but Marian wasn't sure which to believe. It could very well be that the man was dead, and she would be sorry about that. Despite all the bad things he had done, she had always hoped he might find a better way in life. Maybe it was true that he had fled, with Vaizey, or alone more in likely. Marian didn't believe that Guy would stay with Vaizey if there was no promise of power anymore, and Vaizey's was most certainly gone. At least in Nottingham, for she couldn't know what kind of ties the man might have with his so-called Black Knights.

A few minutes later, she excused herself from Sir Hubert and left the hall, knowing some of the gazes on her. She guessed the king was still upstairs, collecting bids and promises of payments. Thinking of what Sir Hubert had said, she had the sudden disturbing idea that the king might even accept a payment for the right to Knighton, a right to her. She shook her head.

She walked upstairs, but didn't get far as she saw the king's scribe coming down at the others end, two guards and then the king himself following behind.

She stopped. Richard had already caught sight of her.

"Your Grace," she said.

"Lady Marian?" he smiled. "Have you come to make a bid for sheriff, too?" he laughed. "I know you are your father's daughter."

"I've come to make a different kind of offer."

Richard grimaced. "Will it give me funds for Normandy, too?"

"It might," she replied.

"What is it?"

Marian wished that she wouldn't have to ask this on the steps of stairs at the castle, but then she couldn't be choosy when it came to talking to the King of England, especially one who apparently did not intend to spend much time in his country.

"I want to make an offer for the release for Robin of Locksley," she said firmly. There was silence, and she knew how crazy it had to be for her to ask this.

The king's previous jovial manner was gone now. He looked at her seriously.

"Robin of Locksley is my own concern," he said then. "I cannot accept any pledges for him," he shook his head. "And he is an outlaw, by which he has forfeited the right to a trial."

"He has been loyal to you," Marian insisted. "You need money for your campaign-"

"That I do," the king nodded. "The bid for sheriff will be decided tonight. If you want to make an offer for that, Lady Marian, my scribe is ready to take it."

The man walked past her then, and Marian watched him and his companions go.