Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Foreword: I apologize for anyone wanting more Clara action like there was in the actual episode. Too many characters and I decided to give her climatic moment to Djaq. Hope I pacified the various shippers (Guy/Marian and Robin/Marian) with the way I wrote Guy. He's a fairly interesting character once you look past the romantic triangle. — M.C.
P.S. The woman aiding the Doctor in the previous chapter is Meg.
4
"I'd rather think you're the revolting one around here…" the Doctor trailed off. "Listen to me, you don't have enough gold content to seal off the engine breach. If you try and take off, you'll wipe out half of England."
"Liar." The Sheriff gestured to the vault, which began to vibrate loudly. "From my precious sky vessel I shall rule omnipotent."
"You pudding-brained primitive, shut down the engines! What you're doing will alter the course of history!"
The Sheriff clicked his fingers, and the knights stomped towards the Doctor. "I sincerely hope so, my friend. Or I wouldn't bother with it at all!"
The familiar hum began to build up as the knights took aim, aiming their purple crosses over the Doctor's face.
"Listen to me! It doesn't have to end like this! Shut it all down. Return Clara to me and I'll do what I can to help you—"
"Return Clara?" The Sheriff was bemused. "As you saw yourself, well, I do not have her."
"Robin's one of yours!"
The Sheriff held up his hand, and the knights' humming ebbed. "What did you say?"
"He's one of your tin-headed puppets, just like these brutes here are."
The Sheriff erupted in laughter. "Hood? He is not one of mine."
"Of course he is!" the Doctor blustered. "He's a robot! Created by one of your mechanical mates!"
"Oh you silly man." A patronizing tone crept into Vaisey, Sheriff of Nottingham's voice. "Why would they do that? If you really are the Doctor, as they say you are, surely you are smarter than that."
"Don't you see? To pacify the locals! Give them false hope! He's the opiate of the masses…" The Doctor tailed off, realizing what he said made less sense the more he went on.
"Why would I create an enemy to fight us?" The Sheriff's tone morphed to bemusement. "That is a terrible idea."
"Then your lackey…" the Doctor looked for an out.
"You dolt," the Sheriff grew more irritated. "Gisborne is no more a robot than Hood is."
"Yes, yes, you're correct. Absolute rubbish idea. Why would you do that, he can't be…" the Doctor trailed off, realizing the utter truth. "NO! No, he can't be! He can't be real, he's a legend!"
"You're too kind, good sir!" A familiar voice rang out. As the two men whirled around, they saw a familiar figure standing atop the huge banner in the minstrels' gallery.
Robin Hood.
"This legend does not come alone!" the outlaw added. As the Doctor moved to get a better view, he could see two figures emerge behind him; one feminine in a blue corseted shirt with gray pants, the other male in black leather.
But no Clara.
All three figures plunged daggers into the boar's head banner and with a satisfying rip, slicing through the material. The effort enabled the trio to slide down to floor level, as if they were on an elevator lift. As their feet hit the floor, Robin spun around and hurled his dagger at the Sheriff with deadly accuracy. But the Sheriff merely batted it away, sending it clattering on the stone floor.
"How appropriate," Vaisey unsheathed his sword and the two robot knights began to power up. "A battle so huge, it comes down to the final few."
His eyes landed on Marian. "And the leper."
Robin's ears heard a familiar yell as Much and the gang charged into the area, followed by human guards. The Sheriff whirled around, rage on his features. He gestured to his remaining robot knights, "Kill the outlaws!"
Undeterred, the two robot knights turned their attention to the rest of Robin's gang. The initial laser blast from the first robot bounced cleanly off Much's shield and into the stone walls. Before it could power up another shot, Little John tackled it from behind, sending it crashing to the floor. Before it could get its bearings again, the head was severed in a shower of sparks and sizzling wires from Will's axe. Allan and Djaq were a whirlwind of destruction as they battled the second knight. Taking a cue from Much, Will scooped up his shield as the robot took several shots at the two outlaws. The first blew a hole in the wall, the other narrowly missed Djaq and the last left a burned patch on Allan's right shoulder. As Will narrowly closed the gap between him and the robot, a final shot bounced off the shield and back into its owner. The robot crashed, rather satisfyingly, on the floor.
The dueling quartet was no less frenzied, as the combatants were a whirl of motion. As Robin made the first counter with his Saracen sword, Vaisey neatly pivoted and intersected the jab, slicing a deep gash in Robin's right hand. Marian twirled her saber, cutting a sudden downward arc but barely missing Vaisey. As the older man parried back, sending the young woman down to the floor, Guy's broadsword came under his guard, leaving a red line across the Sheriff's chest.
"Aaaah," the man reeled back in pain, one hand going to the blood seeping from his wound. Marian slashed at the Sheriff's uninjured arm, temporarily disabling him. Both distractions allowed Robin to slash his sword against the back of Vaisey's legs, crippling him. The bald man let out an ugly grunt as he slumped to his knees.
"Three against… one," he gasped, as the trio held their swords near his face. "Such an unfair advantage."
"Since when do you fight honorably?" Robin riposted. "Men like you have no honor." His sword grazed the older man's throat.
"Robin," Marian broke in quietly. "We do not kill in cold blood."
"He killed your father." Guy broke in, to Robin's agreement.
"His crimes are numerous and unforgivable." Marian composed herself. "Especially my father's death. He will have to go through the courts and answer to King Richard for what he has done."
She lowered her saber. "This man has enough blood on his hands without dirtying our hands with his."
"Well if you're not going to do it…" Guy pulled his broadsword back, aiming it at the Sheriff's jugular.
"Typical Gisborne," Vaisey muttered, beady eyes locked on Guy. "You spread your legs willingly for her like any common whore, and yet she doesn't do the same for you."
Guy began to seethe with anger.
"Whereas Hood..." the Sheriff let out a dry chuckle. "Makes me wonder who's the actual man in this love fest."
"SHUT UP!" Guy bellowed. His blade dug deeper into the Sheriff's neck, drawing a drop of blood.
"Guy, if you do this, you put yourself on equal ground with the Sheriff," Marian pleaded. "Think about it."
"Oh please do," Vaisey added mockingly.
Guy paused for a few moments. With great reluctance, he turned around and sheathed his broadsword. At hearing Vaisey's self-satisfied chuckling, he turned back around.
"I always knew you were we-" Vaisey's comment was cut short by Guy's fist to the face.
Guy exhaled slowly, then turned back around to the lingering scuffle between the outlaws and the remaining human guards. The skirmish dissipated as a deep mechanical rumbling and metallic thrumming began to grow louder within the vault.
"We don't have much time!" the Doctor yelled back. "Run, all of you! Run!"
Robin, his gang, the surviving guards and the Doctor narrowly cleared the castle gateway. Even Vaisey had made it to safety, after being thrown over Little John's shoulder like a rug. As their feet cleared the portcullis, the ground behind them crumbled and gave way. They turned to see the keep of the castle rising into the air, its engine pods gushing with steam.
"That's not enough gold!" the Doctor yelled. "It'll never make it into orbit!"
He whirled around, looking for something. "Where? Where is it?"
"Where's what?" Robin was exasperated.
"The golden arrow!"
Robin smiled, turning to the reddish-haired man.
"Allan?"
The Doctor was befuddled. "You took it?"
" 'Course we took it," Allan replied, handing it to the older man. "We're outlaws."
"I love you boys!" the Doctor exclaimed.
"Doctor, what are you suggesting?" Djaq was perplexed.
"The golden arrow might just have enough gold content to get the ship into orbit and out of harm's way."
"It has to be you," Robin held up his bloodied right hand. "My arm is injured."
Taking Robin's bow, the Doctor placed the arrow on the string but it fell off. He tried again, only to fail miserably two more times.
"But you're good at this, mate!" Allan put in. "We all saw it. You won the tournament."
"I cheated."
"What?"
"I made a special arrow with a homing device."
"A what?"
"Let me help you," Djaq offered.
"My friends," Robin broke in. "Let's do this together."
"Very well." With an effort, Djaq and the Doctor positioned themselves alongside Robin, helping him pull the bow string taut. The young man grimaced at the pain in his arm as he adjusted his grip, but his legs on the bow helped take some weight off his arm. As the ship continued to rise in the air, Robin's blue eyes narrowed and he let go of the arrow. The small golden missile flew into the sky, hitting its target squarely in the ruptured engine pod. With the engine at full capacity, the ship shot up in the atmosphere and out of the Earth's orbit, spinning wildly for a few seconds before exploding.
The Doctor and others couldn't see the full explosion, but from their vantage point, a sudden surge of color burst through the sky — exploding like fireworks. As the explosion faded, a large crowd of people gathered to witness this new spectacle.
"You really love him, do you?" A familiar voice broke through Marian's train of thought. She could see Guy also watching Robin teaching Clara the finer points of archery in the clearing a dozen yards away.
She nodded. "I do. I love Robin Hood. I'm going to marry him."
Those words pained Guy, but didn't cut through him like they would have months ago. The recent events and revelations had put more distance between him and his ex-fiancee. Even after Locksley had gone to the Holy Land, she still had feelings for him years couldn't erase upon his return. Guy wondered if he had confused his longing for Marian for something more platonic. Maybe they weren't destined to share a life together as man and wife, but surely there was a kinship somewhere.
"I am happy for you." It almost hurt him to say that.
"Guy… I'm sorry." Marian's tone was regretful. "With Robin, there's honesty and understanding between us. With you, there's excitement and uncertainty. But... whenever we are honest with one another, we push each other apart."
"Can't imagine you and Hood getting along all the time," Guy pointed out.
"Guy..."
"Apologies," Guy was a bit contrite. "I meant Locksley."
"You're right, we don't," she agreed. "Guy, if life has taught me something… it's that people deserve second chances. You included."
"What about friendship?" The latter word sounded strange on his tongue. "Does that not deserve one as well?"
Marian's tone was thoughtful. "I believe it does."
She approached Guy and hugged him, giving him a sisterly kiss on the cheek. "Thank you."
Twaakk!
After several tries, Clara finally hit the bulls-eye in the target. Cheering, she gave Robin a hug, aware that Marian was watching.
"I'm going to miss you," she smiled. "You're very naughty."
"I know," Robin smiled broadly. "Whoever he is, he's a very lucky fellow."
"Marian is very lucky too," she replied.
"Yeah," he gave a wistful smile. "She is."
Clara gave Robin a peck on the cheek. "Always be amazing. Goodbye, Robin Hood."
Robin nodded. "Goodbye, Clara Oswald."
Marian approached the group. "'Bye, Clara." She hugged the younger woman. "Thank you for helping Robin out."
"It was a pleasure," Clara beamed. "Pleasure meeting you all!" Giving a final wave, she entered the TARDIS. The Doctor remained outside, saying his final goodbyes to Robin's gang.
As the Doctor wiggled out of Little John's bear hug, Robin approached him. "So is it true?"
"Is what true?" the Doctor was only paying half attention.
"That in the future, I am forgotten as a real man. I am but a legend."
The Doctor shrugged. "I'm afraid so."
"Well… history is a burden. But stories do make us fly."
"I'm still having a little trouble believing yours, by the way."
"Is it so hard to believe that a man born to wealth and privilege should find the plight of the weak and oppressed too much to bear…"
"—I know," the Doctor cut in.
"… till one night he is moved to steal a TARDIS and fly among the stars to fight the good fight."
The Doctor was befuddled for a moment.
"Clara told me your stories," Robin chuckled.
"Well… she shouldn't have told you any of that…"
"Once her stories began, I could hardly stop her," Robin gave the Doctor a pointed look. "You are her hero, I think. Not me."
"I'm not a hero," the Doctor scoffed.
"Neither am I. But if we keep pretending to be, others will be heroes in our name. Perhaps we will both be legends." Robin extended his hand to shake the Doctor's, a genuine smile on his lips. "May those stories never end."
The Doctor gave Robin's hand a firm shake.
"Goodbye, Doctor, Time Lord of Gallifrey."
"Goodbye, Robin Hood, Earl of Huntington and Lord of Locksley."
"Just remember, Doctor. I'm just as real as you are." The two men shared a smile, feeling a level of understanding between one another.