Disclaimer: I do not own Robin Hood, as it is the property of the BBC
Chapter 32
When the outlaws - plus Allan - reached Nottingham Castle, the crowds were gathered outside, as if waiting to see their saviours.
Allan took charge, striding forward and ordering the guards to open the gates in a way that shpwed that he was settled here at the Castle now, and everyone knew and obeyed him.
The gang then walked in a straight line, side by side as they approached - Djaq, then Will, Much, Ava, Robin and John.
' This is weird,' Will whispered from in between Djaq and Much,' I don't like it.'
' Couldn't we just have sneaked in? ' Much asked from between Will and Ava, his Ava,' we're used to that.'
' After this we go back to helping the poor? ' John asked.
'Yes John,' Robin replied, because he knew he had to.
' There are people waiting, we have four drop offs today, they're relying on us,' John said.
Robin knew he wanted to go and do the drop offs as usual, so he nodded,' Good. We'll do them later on, OK? '
Once they entered the courtyard of the castle, Robin went to speak to Gisbourne - who was organising the whole search for the Sheriff - whilst Allan went off in to the castle to do whatever it was that he did, and the others waited around in the courtyard.
They - that is, Much, Will, Djaq, Ava and John - watched as Robin left and then turned back to look at each other, unsure of what to say.
' Do you think we'll find the Sheriff?' asked Will after a while, to try and break the silence.
' Yeah,' replied Much, although he saw unsure really,' at least, I hope so,'
' With all of us looking, and knowing the forest as well as we do, there is a very high chance that he will be found,' Djaq agreed.
There was another pause before John snorted,' I still can't believe we're here. At Allan's say so,'
Much, who had one arm around Ava's shoulders, felt her tense at the mention of her father in a negative way, and watched as she clenched her jaw, as if forcing her self not so say anything.
Djaq then looked across at Ava in disapproval,' you've been seeing him, haven't you? ' she asked, her voice cold.
Ava shrugged,' It's nothing to do with you if I have,' she replied coldly.
' He is a traitor! ' John snapped,' he betrayed us all, including you. Especially you, so why are you bothering to stick up for him?!
Ava glared,' I don't have to explain my self to you,' she said,' to any of you,'
' Robin will want to talk to you about it ... he won't be happy,' John warned her.
Both Will and Much gave John mean stares. Much turned Ava in to him and wrapped his arms around her, looked over the top of her head at John.
' Just leave it! ' he snapped at John,' leave her alone!'
Grateful to him, Ava lifted her head from his chest and kissed the flesh of his neck gently - the highest point she could reach without moving her head up - so that no one else could see.
Noting this, he brushed her hair gently his his hand and held on to her.
There was no an awkward moment of tension. Ava was now annoyed at John, and Much and Will were too, since they both knew how she felt for Allan. Djaq and John both disapproved of her maintaining contact with Allan, and no one knew quite what to say.
They ended up waiting in silence until Robin came back some 10 minutes later.
' So? ' Much asked promptly, the moment Robin was close enough to speak to them.
' We have to find the Sheriff,' Robin told them grimly, as they all began to walk through Nottingham,' Much, you and I will track him. '
Much was happy enough with this - sure, he'd have liked to have been paired with Ava, but Robin ws his best and oldest friend, and they got to spend less and less time together with Ava and Marian around, so it would be good to have their time again.
' Will, Ava, I want you to stay in the town, search every street and ask around,' Robin continued.
Ava breathed a sigh of relief - between John, Djaq and Will, she had hoped she would have been paired with Will, since the other two might make things too awkward.
' Djaq, John,' Robin carried on, only to stop when he realised that John wasn't there, but had stopped to hand out apples to some beggar children,' John!'
John, very reluctantly, left the beggars to face Robin,' Every day, more beggars,' he said with a shake if his head.
'John, you need to focus!' Robin reprimanded.
' Are we making any difference here? ' John pressed on.
Robin sighed and tossed a bag of coins on the ground, at which the beggars crowded around to gather it up.
' You can't just throw money at them! ' John insisted.
' Today we are trying to save every body's lives! ' Robin reminded him,' Now, the Sheriff may be in the forest so I want you and Djaq to go there and check all the regular drop points, somebody might have said or seen something. Now let's get to work.'
John and Djaq walked off, to go and search the forest as directed.
Much grabbed his fiance by her waist and kissed her quickly, before Robin said he needed a word with Will and Ava. Much relented and went to talk to some of the stall owners whilst waiting.
Robin looked at Will and Ava grimly,' I don't know how today's going to end,' he said,' but whatever happens I need to know that Marian's safe. '
' Of course,' Will said, to which Ava nodded. Both of them looked deadly serious, as did Robin.
' Will, Ava, I'm reminding you that she has to live. Even if no one else does, she has to live.
He then pressed a ring in to Ava's hand - a golden ring with an emerald in the centre.
Before he could leave, Ava caught hold of his arm, ' Robin? ' he asked softly, her face paler than usual with worry, ' there's a real chance that if Will and I stay in Nottingham, we could die, isn't there? '
Robin put a hand on her shoulder, trying to make her understand,' I'm not making you stay here, and knowing that you're going to die. If we don't find the Sheriff, we're all going to die.It won't be just Nottingham, it'll be the forest afterwards, and then the rest of the shire ... they won't stop.'
Ava nodded in understanding and sighed, ' If I die today ...'
' Don't say that,' Robin told her sharply.
' No Robin, listen to me,' she told him in an urgent tone that told him not to argue with her,' if I die today, and Much is alright, I want you to promise me that you'll look after him for me.'
With that she slid the sapphire ring from her fourth finger and pushed it into his hand.
' Ava -' he said,' I can't take your engagement ring. '
She cut him off,' Promise me, Robin. If I come out of this alright then I'll take the ring back and Much needn't know anything about it. But if ... if I don't, then I want him to have it. ' looking down at the ring Robin had just given her, she looked back up at him,' you understand, don't you? You just asked us to keep an eye on Marian, and it's the same thing.'
Robin met her tear filled eyes in understading and slipped the ring in his pocket before drawing her in to a hug,' I promise,' he said before clapping Will on the back in encouragement and walking away.
He got a few steps away before turning around and telling them both,' Stay away from Allan,'
When he got no reply from Ava, and just a nod from Will, he looked at then sternly,' I mean it Ava, I don't want you associating with him after what he did to us all. And we'll be having a talk about it later.'
After he had gone, she looked down at the ring Robin had given her and showed it to Will, ' Robin and Marian are engaged,' she said.
' You sure? ' he asked looking down at the ring.
She nodded,' It's quite similar to mine, see? ' she said sticking out her left hand to see it bare.
Will took hold of her hand firmly - refusing to believe that they were going to die - , and as she pocketed the ring, they began to search the streets.
The two of them ran through the various streets looking in every possible places ... in shops, in people's houses ... even on the roofs of buildings, but it was so far proving unsuccesful.
' This is hopeless,' Ava muttered after a while, this is damned hopeless.'
' Don't ... don't say that,' Will told her, although he too, thought it was rather hopeless,' we've only searched about a quarter of the town. We'll do the rest and then we'll do it again and again, and as much as we possibly can until the time's up. He's got to be somewhere .. he can't just have disappeared ... someone'll find him.'
Nodding even though her hopes were still not too high, she held on to his hand tighter.
She had said that they ought to split up to make it quicker, but Will had told her that he had to watch out for her on Allan's orders, and on behalf of Much, just like they were to make sure Marian was safe on the behalf on Robin. He was so insistent that he had kept hold of her hand, feeling insecure about letting her go off on her own with all these people, and all the guards around.
As they passed the gates of the town, they stopped to look out in to the distance.
And out there was the heart sinking sight of a huge cloud of dust ... the huge cloud of dust being made by the huge army that was on their way, on the orders of Sir Jasper, who was currently sitting in the castle, smirking at he way everyone was running around in panic.
' They're on their way already,' Ava sighed.
As they stood having a moment of silence, several guards passed them by, followed by the familiar voice telling them,' Search all the villages, ask around, just go! '
Allan watched the men go and came to stand next to Will and Ava, who both decided to ignore Robin's command that they were not to speak to Allan - Robin was hardly going to find out.
' I don't think we're going to get out of this Will,' he said, as he wrapped and arm around Ava, pleased that she was there helping out, but annoyed that Robin had left her right in the firing line of the army - Nottingham was the most dangerous place to be right now.
Will stared out in to the distance silently and shook his head.
' There's time, though,' he said, looking at his only child,' time for you to get away,'
She blinked at him as though he were crazy,' I'm not running, if that's what you mean. I'm staying her to help out, and I'll stay here to fight if I have to. I can't leave all these people .. I couldn't, live with myself.'
Allan smiled at her vaguely,' Then we need to be prepared to fight ... Guy's already gathering weapons at the castle, you know. '
' We ought to be carrying on with the search,' Will told Ava, who agreed and stepped back to take Will's hand again.
' Hey, listen,' Allan said before they went,' if we do get out of this, do you reckon I could come back? '
Will scoffed,' It's too late Allan, miles too late.' Ava also looked as though she didn't think he'd be let back in.
' Come on! ' Allan whined,' I made a few mistakes, yeah, but -'
'Mistakes? You deliberately betrayed us,' Will reminded him.
' Alright, strictly speaking that's true,' Allan admitted.
' Yeah,'
' Yeah, but it's not that simple Will, alright? I never told them where the camp is, never let them hurt any of you, I saved your life didn't I ... with the keys, remember? Well? I know a lot about how this place works now, .. that's going to help Robin, right? Come on, what d'you reckon?'
' You're with Gisbourne now, and there's no going back from that,' Will said sadly, although he missed his best friend, and wished things were different.
He then walked away, taking Ava with him and leaving Allan stood there also wishing things were different. Ava turned and looked at him over her shoulder as she walked away, and gave him a look that said "Sorry, I can't do anything about it".'
He merely nodded, in understanding - he knew how it was. She had to do her thing, and he his.
After searchd the rest of the town, it was getting clear that the Sheriff was indeed not in the town.
By the time they'd finished searching, the army had arrived. They were outside Nottingham, and had formed a circle around the town, surrounding it, as they waited for sundown.
The town gates had been shut and Gisbourne had frantically ordered that all the guards should assembled and prepare to fight ... until he realised that all the guards were out looking for the Sheriff.
It was then that it was declared that every able bodied man, or teen would have to fight.
When Will and Ava made their way to the castle, there were many of the peasants and villagers recieving weapons from Gisbourne and the very few guards left.
Allan spotted them coming and approached them, handing them both a sword which was better than the weapons they had already.
' Looks like we're brothers in arms again,' Will said, to the man who had indeed been a brother to him.
'Not exactly how I'd hoped, but anyway,' Allan stuck his hand and Will grinned as he shook it.
' Father, where's Marian? ' Ava asked frantically as she looked around the castle's courtyard.
' She should be just over there somewhere,' was the reply as Allan waved a hand over his soulder, gesturing quite vaguely.
Knowing this could be their last few hours alive, Ava threw her arms around her father's neck, startling him, though he caught his senses quickly enough to catch her at the waist and steady them both from falling.
' You're not wearing your engagement ring,' he spotted- he'd not known her to take it off in months.
She sighed,' I gave it to Robin to give back to Much, in case I don't make it.'
' Good luck, my girl,' he said kissing her cheek, before she rushed off to talk to Marian.
Allan was now alone with Will and glad of it, for he had been wanting to say something to him for a while now, but had never had the chance.
And now they were brothers again - they had made up and although it wasn't proper and they still had a lot to talk through, they were friends again.
' Thank you, so much,' he said honestly, as he looked up at Will.
Will frowned,' For what? ' he asked.
' Ava. For looking after her, all this time, while I've been here at the castle.'
Will looked down rather modestly,' Well, you know, it's not just me. Much is always there for her, and Robin is too. And the others I guess.'
Allan shook his head as he clapped a hand to the younger man's shoulder, ' But you ... you've been there for her like I should have been. Thank you for looking out for her.
' It's nothing, really. I love her like a niece, of course I'll always be there ot look out for her,'
Allan nodded gratefully and they both knew they hd to get down to business.
Will rushed off after Ava.
' Marian! Marian!' Ava called as she darted through the crowds.
' Ava! Any word from Robin? ' Marian asked hopefully.
' No, but I know he will die before he stops looking,'
' I know, but that's not good enough, is it? ' she cried, in distress.
' Marian - the one person who can't die, is you,' Ava said, echoing what her leader had earlier told her.
' But there's no way out,' Marian pointed out, just as Will came over and caught up with them.
' We promised Robin you'd be safe,' Will said, as Ava pulled out Marian's ring and passed it to her before leaving her alone to her thoughts.
' We have to get in to the hall,' Will said, cutting through Ava's thoughts - how she might never see Much again,' we have to make sure that everyone has gotten some weapons,'
' Right, yes, of course,' she mumbled as they strode on.
Once inside the hall, that was exactly what they did, making sure eveyone was prepared to fight for their Nottingham.
Ava was stood at the bottom of the staircase of the hall checking everyone for a weapon of some sort when they entered, when Gisbourne passed her.
He stopped and looked at her and nodded,' Good work,' he said,' carry on,' he siad before he passed by and went to speak to Marian.
Ava exchanged a look of suprise with Will, who was stood by her side, and shrugged as she continued her work.
Through the crowds, a very short few minutes later, both outlaws saw Gisbourne knelt down before Marian, clasping her hand.
' He's proposing? ' Ava asked in shock,' at a time like this? '
Will rolled his eyes in exasperation at her, ' If she marries him, she can have safe passage out of here. He's a Black knight, isn't he ... he and his family will be let out.'
Both knew then that they had to talk Marian in to it.
' There's no other way,' Ava told her a few minutes later, when they had gotten her on her own and were stood outside.
' There must be,' protested Marian.
' Marian, there's a ring of steel around Nottingham, ' Will tried to reasoned with her,' even if we got beyond the walls, we'd be cut down.'
' Then we will have to fight as best we can,' Marian said firmly.
' Marian you can't save all these people,' Will told her sternly,' as much as I hate Gisbourne, you have to marry him,'
' No,' Marian insisted.
Ava sighed,' Marian,wherever you go, wherever you go, Robin will find you. He will move heaven and earth to find you. Just stay alive.'
Marian tutted and walked off.
Will stamped his foot in frustration,' Why is she so headstrong? ' he demanded,' can't she see that she's going to die if she stays behind? We're all going to die unless some miracle occurs.'
They went back to the hall together, to await the time for whence they would have to fight.
Ava stood in the hall, flanked by her surrogate uncle and her father.
Sir Guy had already left, as he woujld be given safe passage out of the castle - but he was without Marian, who had told him that she could not, and would not leave - no, abandon - the people of Nottingham in their time of need.
The doors to the hall suddenly burst open and there was a cry from the people gathered within as they raised their various weapons, only to lower them when they saw who had entered.
' Marian! ' Gisbourne called, running in and stopping at the top of the staircase to look down at her.
' You came back!' she cried, with a smile, as she realised that he was not all bad, and if it were not for the Sheriff, then he could be a good man.
' If I'm going to die,' he said seriously - as if he were fully prepared to,' then I'm going to die by your side.'
Marian offered him a wider smile, before he looked around at the other people and nodded in approval, ' Charge! ' he bellowed, to which they obeyed and began to run out of the hall.
Ava ran out in to the courtyard where she saw that the beginnings of the army were just entering the town gates, each holding a flaming torch in one hand.
Feeling someone rustle next to her, she turned to see that both Will and Allan had followed her out of the castle.
She quickly kissed both of them on their cheeks before she was fully prepared to fight to the death.
But that moment never came because there was the thunderous shout of 'Gisbourne! Gisbourne! ' coming from a loud, rather unpleasant, but at this moment very welcome, voice.
The Sheriff stumbled in to the courtyard, where Allan, Will, Ava, Marian and Gisbourne were stood side by side, ready to lead the battle.
' You're alive! ' said Sir Jasper.
' Don't you just stand there! ' the Sheriff bellowed,' give me the damned seal to stamp! '
Sir Jasper obeyed, and the Sheriff stamped the seal that he was required to sign every monday to prove that he was safe.
' One day! ' snarled the Sheriff,' I'm away for one day! And this happens! ' he snapped, glaring at Gisbourne then back at Jasper,' are you still here?! '
' No my lord,' Jasper gasped rushing out of the castle's courtyard and yelling at his men,' you heard the Sheriff! Stand down!'
' My Lord, what happened? Where did you go? ' Gisbourne asked, rushing forward to meet the Sheriff, who was dressed in rags.
' This is how you cope without me for a day? ' the Sheriff growled.
' Hood found you,' Gisbourne told him, after they had all seen Robin drop him off on his horse.
' And? ' asked the Sheriff, while the others looked on in amusement.
' He could still be here, we could still get him,' Gisbourne reasoned.
' No, no I don't need him any more, because I single handedly managed to infiltrate Robin Hood's secret camp, and retrieve the great pact of Nottingham. The pact,' he laughed, searching his pockets for it, only to realise that it was gone,' the pact! The pact! The pact! No! Get him! Get after him! '
Will looked down at Ava, thankful that the Sheriff hadn't turned a blind eye to either of them and muttered that it was time to get out of here.
Agreeing, she bid Marian and Allan farewell and she and Will took their leave.
When they arrived back at camp, Robin, John, Djaq and Much were sat around the camp fire.
Their friends cheered at having them back, knowing that they had come so close to their deaths today.
Ava flew in to Much's arms, and broke down in to tears as she was held tightly ... tears as she thought of what might have happened, how she almost would have never seen him again, and tears of relief that she was now safe.
Much was close to tears himself, but kept strong for her, and simply held her and whispered in to her ear, and he rubbed her back and stroked her hair.
A short while later, John asked for a word, and they went aside. He apologised and told her that he had been having a bad day today and that it was none of his business what she did. She also apologised for shouting and that was the end of that. She knew he didn't approve of her seeing Allan ... none of them did, including Much and Will even, but he dropped it knowing there was nothing he could do about it.
Finally, as it was growing dark, and they were still up talking, the moment Robin had promised came - he wanted to talk to Ava.
Sighing, she followed him to the edge of the camp and took a seat on the ground beside him.
' You've been seeing Allan, since his departure from here,' he said - a statement, not a question, but she answered anyway.
' Yes,' she said, hanging her head and hoping that he wouldn't say too much about it.
' How often? ' he asked, sounding not mad, but curious,' and when? '
She knew there was no point in lying,' Three times a week. After I bathe, he comes down to the stream side to talk to me for a while.'
' And you've forgiven him? '
'Yes,' she replied,' and I'm .. I'm sorry,'
Robin's lips twitched in to a slight smile,' Why are you sorry? ' he asked.
She shrugged, she had been unsure of why, but it seemed like the right thing to say. Finally, she answered,' For having contact with him behind everyone's backs. For having contact with him when I know you wouldn't approve. For having contact with him when I know you all hate him. For making you mad at me.;
Robin looked at her and said cooly,' I'm not mad at you, you know.'
' You're not? '
' No, I'm not. I know that you're not stupid, and you wouldn't meet with him unless you knew that you were safe, and unless you knew he'd had good reason to betray us all ... or what seemed like a good enough reason.'
Ava breathed a sigh of relief, but Robin had more to say - he had been thinking about it all day, trying to come around to her point of view ... to put himself in her shoes, so that when this moment came, they could have a proper conversation.
' However,' he pressed on,' I will ask that you only meet with him once a week from now on,'
' You're - you're not banning me from seeing him? ' she asked in suprise.
' No, I'm not because that would only make you resent me. I understand that he is your father...your only living relative, and you want to remain on good terms with him. I know that if I banned you, you'd only go behind my back, and we don't want that now, do we? '
' No,' she uttered.
' So, I hope that by me allowing you to still see him once a week, even though he's one of Gisbourne's lot, you'll respect that decision and not go behind my back to see him more than that. Because if I find out that you are, I'll not let you go anywhere alone ... including to bathe. If needs be, I'll start sending Djaq with you.'
' No, no, I won't see him more than once a week and I'll tell him next time I see him to only come once a week ... I promise.'
' Good,' he said,' and be careful, won't you? I know you think he's a good man, but until I hear the full story from him myself, I still have my doubts.'
With that he stood up and pulled Ava up after him with one hand, they share a quick embrace before heading back to the others.
' Sweetheart, I'm going to bed,' Ava told Much swooping down to kiss his cheek tenderly. 'Good night Uncle Will,' she said, kissing his cheek, then Robin's, and saying good night to John and Djaq.
' I'm going to go to bed too,' Much announced, which suprised no one - when it came to the couple, once one went, the other followed closely behind.
After leaving the others and heading off for their sleeping area, Much sat down on the bed and pulled his shoes off, as he watched Ava scrambled under the bed and pull out a blanket.
She was about to clamber in to bed with him, when he sat up and leant over to catch hold of her hand - her left hand.
' Where's your engagement ring?' he asked, raising his eyebrows in suprise, as he lifted his gaze from her bare hand to her face.
Frowning, before her eyes lit up in remembrance, she cleared her throat and looked over her shoulder,' Um ... Robin has it,' she said, avoiding his eyes.
' Robin? When did you give him your ring? And why? '
But Much's questions were unhear because Ava had rushed off back to Robin.
' Robin!' she called approaching the fire side once more.
' I thought you were going to bed? ' he asked.
' Yes, but Much pointed out that I'm not wearing my ring,' she said looking at him and waiting for him to remember that he had it.
' Oh,' he said after a moment of staring at her blankly and then reaching in to his shirt, he pulled out the treasured token of love, and pressed it in to her hand.
' Back to its rightful owner,' he said with a smile, as the both of them ignored the others - Will, who was looking on with a smile after recalling what had happened earlier that day, and Djaq and John, who had no idea what was going on.
' Thanks for ... for... thanks,' she said, trailing off with a wry smile.
' I know,' he replied gently, ' and it looks like I didn't have to keep that promise, eh? '
' Not this time,' she agreed,' but if anything ever happens to me, then the promise still stands. '
Robin looked serious, but then cracked a smile,' I'll always be there to look out for Much .. and you, and don't you forget it. '
' Thanks,' she nodded, before rejoining Much.
' Got it,' she said as she threw back the blanket, lay down in the bed beside him, and curled up in to his side, getting as close as she could until she was comfortable.
' So why did Robin have your ring anyway? ' asked Much, as he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed the top of her head tenderly.
' I gave it to him this morning, in Nottingham,' Ava said, her voice muffled by his shirt, as she breathed in the scent of his chest, so thankful that she had lived to do this.
' Care to explain why? ' he sighed.
' When Robin assigned the pairs, he took me and Will aside, you remember? He asked us to make sure that Marian got out alive, and then I asked him a favour. I made him promise to watch out for you if anything happened to me ... if I died today. Then I gave him my ring so that if I did die today, he could pass it on to you, and you'd have something to rememer me by. '
' My love, I could never forget you, ring or no ring, ' he told her,' you are the most perfect, beautiful, incredible creature I have ever laid eyes upon, and I love you, for now, for always, and for ever.'
Ava gasped, ' You're so romantic! ' she smiled, as he shifted his self so he was hanging about her, and lowered his lips to hers.