Disclaimer: I do not own Robin Hood because it is the property of the BBC.
Chapter 35
Ava's cheeks reddened and she made a hurried apology to Will's father and brother for the ambush.
Dan Scarlett laughed it off and told her she was only doing her job - and after all, it had been for a good cause.
' Let's get back to camp,' Ava suggested, knowing that Will was eager to catch up with his family, and deciding that they had pulled in a decent amount of money - besides, Much would be back by now. She'd hardly seen him this morning.
Will immediatley agreed, and they began walking down the road back to camp.
' How many of you are in this gang now? ' Dan asked.
Will did a quick count up in his head and replied,' There's six of us. Robin, Much, me, Ava .. you remeber Alice Little? Well there's her husband, who wasn't dead, like she thought, but hiding out in the forest. And then there's Djaq. Saracen woman, who we saving from slavery.'
Ava noticed the way he grinned a little when saying Djaq's name, but didnt say anything.
' So how did you come to be in the gang? ' Luke asked of Ava.
' I was living in Rochdale with my mum, but she died, so I came in search of my father, who I knew was one of Robin Hood's men. Found him - because they tried to ambush me, actually - and then Robin let me stay.'
' Who's your father then? ' Dan asked,' Robin and Much never had any children - they never left Locksley, until it came to the war. Alice's husband wouldn't have gone to Rochdale, and Will's got no children. And what's with the uncle thing? '
Will intervened,' You remember the day we were to hang? There was the two of us, Benedict and a fourth man - Allan A Dale. Ava's father is Allan. Allan was in the gang for a while, but he isn't any more. Allan was like a brother to me and he asked me to watch over Ava, so that's where the uncle thing comes from.'
' I'm so sorry,' Dan said to Ava.
Ava shook her head,' Oh no - he didn't die. He just ... left.'
Will rolled his eyes,' Got thrown out for working with Gisbourne.'
' Moving on ... ' Ava said, glaring at Will for mentioning this,' What brings you back to Nottingham? '
' We've come to take Will back to Scarborough with us,' Dan replied.
' What? ' Will asked quickly,' how about asking me if I want to come? '
Ava decided that this was a family matter, and pulling the lever to open up the camp, entered the camp, leaving the Scarletts to themselves.
As she got to the the main part of the camp, she saw Robin, Djaq and John sat around talking, whilst the person she really wanted to see was stood up with his back to her, fiddling with something on the wooden stand. Probably rearranging the utensils, or the food or something.
She ignored the greeting of the others as she made her way over to Much, and reached her hands around his waist.
Without turning around, Much took hold of her hands and kissed them one after the others.
'I love these hands,' he murmured, before turning around to face her and kissing her cheeks,' but I love this pretty face even more.'
' Alright, get a room! ' Robin called jokingly.
' Where's Will, anyway? ' Djaq cut in.
Will then chose that moment to enter the camp, followed by his father and younger brother.
Will introduced his two relatives to everyone, and Dan was pleased to see Robin - his old master - again, as well as Much.
Dan told them all,' We're taking Will back to Scarborough with us.'
' Uncle Will, you're not going? ' Ava asked, certain he wanted to stay, but worried she might chose his family over them.
' Of course I'm not,' Will said at once.
Dan sighed and merely shook his head at his first born child. Luke decided that he wanted out of any argument and looked around for someone he could talk to. He settled on Ava, since she was his own age. And of course Ava was standing next to Much, whom Luke remembered from years ago - before he and Robin went off for war. Robin stood observing everyone, and John and Djaq stood in the corner silently.
' This craftmanship is good,' Dan commented, with a nod to his son.
' See? ' Will said triumphantly,' I've got a life here.'
' All that says to me is that you could earn a decent living in Scarborough,' Dan shrugged.
Will threw down the rag he was holding,' Dad! I'm an outlaw, I stand up for what I believe in.'
Everyones eyes swiveled to the pair, wondering what was going to happen.
' What, and I don't? ' Dan asked, raising an eyebrow.
' Doesn't matter,' muttered Will, bowing his head.
' Yes it does, tell me,' Dan insisted.
' You let the Sheriff cut off your hand! ' Will cried out.
' That was to save me and you! ' Luke said indignantly, leaving Ava and Much's sides to go and square up to his brother.
Will clapped a hand to his brothers shoulder,' I didn't mean that,' he said gently.
' Yes, he did,' Dan sighed, shaking his head.
Will folded his arms across his chest and looked to his leader,' Robin, will you tell my father that I'm a grown man now and I make my own decisions.'
' Well, a real man listens to advice, Will,' Robin told his resident craftsman.
Will turned to go to another part of the camp.
' Thanks, Robin,' Dan said sincerely.
Robin bit his lip,' But Will does have a life here, and you should see it. Come to Nottingham with us, let us show you what we do.'
Will turned to look at Robin and gave the smallest nod of gratitude.
An hour or so later, they were in Nottingham Town - the gang, plus Luke and Dan. The gang wore their cloaks as usual to prevent being seen much.
' Right,' said Robin gleefully, as they walked,' time to spread a bit of happiness.'
As they walked, every so often one of them would pass some money or a parcel to someone nearby - someone who was on their list - with a few words of comfort.
A woman suddenly ran through the market, approaching Robin.
' Robin, Robin,' she called, handing a small girl aged around 7 into his arms,' it's Jess - she's got something. I think it's the pestilence.'
' Someone go and get Djaq ' Robin called, as they gathered around the girl to take a look. Much had a tight hold of Ava's hand, as if scared that she would get the pestilence too.
' There's no swellings,' Dan pointed out,' how long's she been like this? '
' Just since this morning,' Jess's mother replied.
Their inquiries were interrupted when a fan fare sounded from the castle gates.
Marian stood in front of the townsfolk, with the Sheriff behind her, and Gisbourne and Allan to his right.
' People of Nottingham,' she said,' on behalf of the Sheriff, I make the following announcement.' It looked as though she were being forced to read it.
Ava looked to her father, and saw that his eyes were raking the crowd as if he were looking for something in particular.
Djaq now came to have a look at Jess.
Marian continued,' The pestilence has come to Nottingham. '
' Oh my God,' Jess's mother whispered,' Jess - that's what it is.'
' No, it's not,' Dan replied quietly - the other looked at him, wondering what he meant.
'Do not be afraid,' Marian read on,' It is confined to the houses in Pitt Street. There will be a quarantine placed around the street. No one is to pass through without permission. No one is to pass food, or medicine.'
Dan took a few steps forward and decided to challenge this loudly,' What? There's young ones suffering. They can't be cut off with nothing! '
Ava noticed that her father seemed to have located what he was looking for, because his eyes settled on her own, and he gave her a quick wink., which she returned.
Marian continued to read, although it pained her to do so,' To do so will risk spreading the infection and will be punishable by death.'
The townsfolk began discussing this amongst themselves, in a panic.
' What are we going to de? She's going to die! ' Jess's mother exclaimed in worry.
' No she isn't, that's not what she's got,' Dan disagreed.
Robin handed Jess back to her mother,' Sarah, take your daughter home, Djaq and I will come soon.'
Marian's voice floated over the crowd again,' We will not be hindered by this infection - business will continue as normal. All workers are to report to the market for duty.'
' What's Marian doing? ' Ava asked of Robin, who was stood closest to her.
'She's just doing what she's told,' Robin replied, certain of it.
' ... at their usual hour,' Marian added, before stepping down, and allowing the Sheriff to adress the crowd.
' Now,' he said loudly,' you may hear cries for help, pleas for mercy, medicine ... Help me! Help me! Help me! Word of advice? ' Here he put his fingers in his ears and shook his head,' Now go forth in pleace to love .. and serve ... you sheriff.'
' Robin, we've got to do something,' Ava hissed.
As the Sheriff turned his back on the crowd, Dan bellowed,' Sheriff, this is not right! '
' Dan! Dan! ' Robin called, in an attempt to stop him, only to be dragged away by Much, as they didn't want to be seen. The whole gang moved away a bit, out of sight but so they could still see what was going on.
' What? ' the Sheriff asked, turning to face Dan.
' I've just had a look at a lass back there,' Dan continued, moving forward as he spoke,' and it's not the pestilence.I've seen the pestilence before, in Scarborough, these people must have food, and water and medicine! '
Robin whispered at Ava to stay here with Luke - which she didn't appreciate but stayed for the sake of peace, whilst the rest of them went off, crawling behind stalls, trying to get closer to the Sheriff without actually being seen.
' Shut up!' the Sheriff roared.
' I've shut up for you once before, Sheriff! ' Dan gushed on,' It cost me my wife, my hand and the respect of my son, so I'm not shutting up any more.'
' What's going to happen? ' Luke whispered, looking down at Ava, his eyes - indentical to Will's green orbs - wide with fear.
' Why are you saying that this is the pestilence?! ' Dan demanded only for a long, sharp sword to pierce him, causing him to crumple to the ground - one of the gurds had attempted to kill him.
The towsfolk screamed and gasped. Ava saw John restraining Will not so far away, as the younger man looked on in horror and struggled to be with his father.
Much caught her eye and gave a meaningful glance towards Luke, who was staring at his father's form in shock, his face pure white with a mingled shock and sadness.
' Luke,' she said gently, laying her hand on his arm.
He snapped out of his silence and, like his elder brother, made to move forward, causing Ava to try and restrain him - which was no easy feat to achieve.
' You can't be seen! ' she hissed as she managed to pull him away and pin him against the wall of a nearby house, so she could look at him properly. 'If they see us then we'll get the same! '
He then let out a sob, before tears poured down his cheeks. Knowing how it felt to lose a parent, she released him and hugged him, looking over his shoulder to see what was going on behind him.
' Hah! ' jeered the Sheriff triumphantly,' Panic. Any once else has any thing to say, and they'll get the same! I will not tolerate this! '
On hearing the Sheriff's taunting voice, Luke's body stiffened and he felt the desire to kill the man as slowly and as painfully as absolutely possible.
'I'm going to kill him! ' he announced.
He tried to free him self from Ava's grip and suceeded, only for Robin to grab hold of him and pull him back.
' I thought you might need some help keeping him out of the way,' Robin told Ava, still keeping an iron grip on the younger of the Scarlett brothers.
' How's Will?' Ava muttered.
' Being forcibly restrained by John and Much. That's why I thought you'd need some help.'
Then they heard Gisbourne giving orders out,' Prepare those barricades! ' he yelled to the guards.
As the guards got to work doing as they were told, Robin dragged Luke over to where the other were. Will seemed to have calmed down due to Djaq having hold of his hands gently and speaking to him quietly and softly. When he saw his brother, he immediately hugged him tight - his only family ... well, besides Auntie Annie.
' We need to get into Pitt Street,' Robin decided.
' Piit Street? ' echoed Much, as if his former master were mad.
' There are people there ... our people,' Robin pointed out,' and they need us.'
' But Robin, the pestilence! ' John stressed.
' Yeah, I'm not bein' funny but I ain't too sure either,' Ava agreed.
The others all ignored the fact that that was a blantantly Allan influenced sentence.
' But I think Dan was right,' Robin countered,' there is no pestilence. That's why the Sheriff had him killed. '
' But then, why? ' Much asked.
' We don't have time for this! ' Robin sighed,' they're setting the barricades up right now. I'm going ... but as for you lot, I won't ask you to risk your lives, but if you do come with me then do it for Dan. Now come on, I'm going.'
John was the first to go, closely followed by Djaq, then Much and Ava. John stopped first to tell Will to get into Pitt Street through the back way right now.
Once in Pitt Street, Robin and Djaq entered Sarah and Jess's house, whilst the others waited outside.
A few short moments later, Robin reappeared and looked at his comrades,' Right,' he said,' I want clean bed and linens, all in one pleace. Go. And all the herbs and medicnes from every house brought here to Djaq.'
Much and John left to do that at once ... and for one of the forst times, Much didnt wait for Ava. This was too important.
Rather than going as she was told, Ava walked over to Will and Luke who were both sat on a wall outside Sarah's house. Will was silent and pale, whilst Luke cried and sobbed his heart out.
Her heart was wrenched with pity as she looked at the brothers ... she hated to see the sorrow that tore apart families like this, but unfortunately it happened all too often for her liking in Nottinghamshire.
On seeing her, a very weak looking Will grasped her hand tightly, as if trying to break every bone in her fingers. His other arm was around Luke's shoulders. Ava knet down in front of the two.
' I don't know what to do,' he told her, his voice even quieter then it usually was.
Ava felt helpless ... what could she possibly say that would gelp in this situation.
She was spared having to come up with something by Robin, who had been watching from Sarah's doorway. Robin came and clapped a hand to the sobbing Luke's shoulder.
' Hey, hey, Luke. Your dad wouldn't want this,' Robin told him.
Luke threw the elder man's hand off him,' How do you know what he'd want? ' he demanded to know,' we should kill the Sheriff.'
' We can't,' Ava told him.
' No,' Luke disagreed,' we can. I want to kill the Sheriff.'
' We can't just kill the Sheriff,' Robin agreed,' Prince John will send an army to destroy Nottingham. It will create hell.'
Will released Ava's hand and stood up, looking at Robin,' Robin,' he said,' I'm going to take him home. To Scarborough and back to Auntie Annie. But if you need us here ...' he trailed off.
Robin looked past Will to Luke, who was sobbing harder against Ava's shoulder, as Ava watched he conversation with apprehension.
'No, no,' Robin assured him,' No, take him, And when you return we'll honour your father.'
' Thank you,' Will uttered turning back to his brother.
' Look after yourself, and we'll see you soon,' Ava said into his shirt as he engulfed her in a rib crushing embrace.
When Will pulled Luke to his feet, Ava embraced Luke too, before walking away from them both.
Robin was still standing outside Sarah's house. He caught sight of her downhearted face and cauht hold of her forearm as she passed, pulling her towards him.
' You'll never find John and Much with all these people around, and Much'd kill me if I let you go wandering off on your own. Come on with me,' he ordered.
She agreed and theystrted down Pitt Street, knocking door to door.
' It's Robin Hood!' Robin called through one dooe,' do you have any herbs or medicines that you could give me? '
The door was opened by a short stout man who shook his head,' Robin, please, go away. We have the pestilence here, save yourself.'
The door was then shut, causing Ava to groan,' You'd think they all wanted to die.'
When they turned away from the door, a man with curly black hair was scowling at them.
' What are you doing? ' he asked.
' We're helping the sick,' Ava replied as if it were obvious - which it was, really.
' Leave them alone,' said this unknown man forcefully, earning him incredulous stares.
' We should leave them alone to die? ' Robin asked,' is that what you're saying? '
The man's expression changed from agressive to an odd sort of apologetic smile,' I mean .. um.. you could die.'
' Oh that's a risk we take every day,' Robin shrugged, pushing past the man, Ava follwing close behind.
As they were a few metres away, the man called after them,' No, you're right, forgive me. Let me help. '
' What's your name? ' asked Robin with curiousity.
' Joseph,' replied the man,' I'm only here by mistake. I'm from Leicester. Those guards treated me awful too when I tried to explain.'
' Welcome to Nottingham,' Robin smirked.
Before any one oculd say any more, Robin's name was spoken from behind Jospeh, and John and Much came into view, carrying a stretcher.
' These men are with me,' Robin told Joseph.
He then assisted John in laying the person on the stretcher - a young boy named Colin - on the ground, whilst Ava fetched Djaq and came back with her in extra quick time, and Much went off in search of some medicine.
' These people are burning up,' Djaq said in sadness.
'You know,' began Joseph,' perhaps it would be a kindness just not to interfere, to not prolong the pain.'
Robin silenced him with a glare.
Much then ran into the scene holding up a large wooden box,' This is the medicine chest! Every medicine known to man... and some unknown.'
Djaq laughed and placed one hand on either of his cheeks, kissing him square on the lips for what Ava deemed to be more than enough time ... not that she condoned Djaq kissing Much at all.
Robin couldn't help but find Ava's obviously jealous expression amusing.
When Djaq finally let go of Much, Much wore a foolish grin,' Now, don't do that,' he said warningly.
' Why not? ' Djaq asked, sparking rage in Ava's eyes.
' Because I might forget who I'm engaged to,' he replied, as Djaq went off to tend to someone else.
Much placed the chest on the ground and straightened back to up find his annoyed looking fiance stood in front of him, whilst an amused looking Robin stood looking on at the couple.
' Well ...' Ava began.
Much looked around at Djaq and back at Ava, gulping nervously,' I .. um .. it was all Djaq,' he assured her.
She raised her eyebrows.
He sighed and took a step forward, wrapping both of his arms around Ava's waist and pulling her in so she was pressed right up against him.
He looked into her bright blue orbs, the corners of his lips twitching into a smile,' These lips of mine belong to you and they always will.'
' That's all I need to know,' she replied smugly, pulling his head down and claiming his lips with her own.
As they broke apart he licked his lips,' Mmmnnn. Perfect,' he declared, causing her to giggle a little, before catching sight of Robin watching them, and pulling away from Much to get on with some work.
' I'm going to go and help Djaq with Jess,' Much told Ava.
' No without me you're not,' she replied, linking her hand into his.
' Oh I love it when you get so possessive,' he murmured, leading the way towards Jess's bedside.
Djaq was sat taking Jess's temperature, and looked up when she saw Much and Ava entering the medical tent that had been set up for all the sick people who needed help.
When she saw Ava, she felt a little guilty - not that she even liked Much like that, she had just been caught in the moment.
She avoided Ava's eyes as she asked her to mix up a certain medicine, but was put at ease when Ava gave her a warm smile and was shown that she had not hindered Ava and Much's relationship by the way the couple kept exchanging glances as they worked.
' She'll not die, will she? ' Sarah, Jess's mother, asked Djaq fearfully.
'Not if I have anything to do with it,' Djaq replied determined.
As she mixed up the medicine, Ava paced up and down, Much doing the same whilst mixing something else for someone else.
' She's getting hotter,' Joseph said, as he approached, looking down at Jess,' Looks at her cheeks and her lips.'
' Are you trained in medicine? ' Djaq asked with some interest.
' Me? No,' Joseph admitted,' I'm just hoping that this poor child recovers.'
A loud series of sobs broke the otherwise rather quiet atmosphere, and they all rushed to the section where it was coming from to seee that an old woman was sobbing whilst the elderly man whose bed she sat beside seemed not to be moving at all.
' There's nothing we can do, I'm so sorry,' Djaq told the woman, sad to have lost another person to this illness.
Robin sighed and paced up and down the short aisle in between the beds that had been made up,' So,' he said in his best voice that indicated he was trying to figure something out,' you're all from different families, and you haven't eaten together.'
' We've all eaten the pies, though,' Sarah told Robin as she dabbed her child's forehead with a wet cloth,' Our Jess eat ours.'
' What pies? ' Robin asked, eager to gte any information that might tell them what had caused this illness.
' He Nightwatchman's pies. He brought them all last night ... every house in the street.' Sarah explained.
' Soup! ' Joseph suddenly exclaimed,' I'll make everyone some nice hot soup.'
The others exchanged looks of confusion and wonder - the Nightwatchman? Surely not?
A short while later Joseph appeared again, and looked around at the outlaws, ' Why don't you all come and have something to eat before any one else? ' he asked,' you must be starving from all this helping everyone.'
Robin looked around at his comrades - and Marian, who had also appeared to tell Robin something,' You lot go, I'll stay out here.'
'But you should eat,' Joseph told Robin quickly.
' And I will,' Robin said,' after the rest of my gang have. '
Jospeh nodded and led Djaq, John, Much and Ava to an empty barn where he had managed to prepare something for them all. As theysa down on the ground, or on bales of hay, he handed them a bowl.
' Smells rather good,' Ava told Joseph.
Joseph nodded,' Come on then you lot, eat up. For the Lord said "Take this and eat it, do this in memory of me." '
' You make it sound like the Last Supper,' Much remarked drily.
As the four of them began to dig their cutlery into their bowls, arrows shot each spoon that they were about to eat out of their hands.
' Robin! ' John yelled in much annoyance as his entire bowl of soup was tipped down his front.
' This is The Last Supper,' Robin said, his bow and arrow at the ready, and Marian stood behind him,' for you, Joseph.'
' You poison people, and then you keep a record of their suffering? ' Marian asked in disgust.
' What? ' Much asked incredulously,' that is revolting.'
' My poison has no taste,' Joseph said,' no colour, no odour. It's a beautiful thing.'
Much, Djaq and Ava quickly put down their bowls, which had the poison in, and glared at the man who had attempted to poison them and all of Pitt Street.
' What's the cure for the poison? ' demanded Robin.
Josph merely looked defiant, which earned him an arrow that grazed his arm.
Robin was now angry,' There are people out there dying. Children! '
Joseph sighed and relented,' It's made from an extract of the Alominu mushroom. The Angel of Death. The Devil's Cap. There is no cure.'
As the outlaws excanged looks of dismay, Joseph took advantage of their delay in reaction, and shoved past Robin for the window, diving out of it and into the street, as the outlaws ran for the door and followed him in an attempt to stop this disease.
As they ran through the streets after him, they reached the barricade thinking that they now had him cornered, but the guards quickly let him through - they knew who he was since he was been liasing with the Sheriff.
Joseph stood triumphantly on the other side of the barricade, before turning away and walking off, leaving the gang feeling very annoyed.
' He tricked us! ' Much cried.
' He was clever,' Djaq said.
' Clever? ' Ava repeated,' he nearly poisoned us. And what about all these people? '
' Bella Donna,' John said.
' Bella what? ' asked Much.
'Bella Donna,' repeated John,' for mushroom poisoning.'
Djaq frowned,' Bella Donna is deadly. It is a poison.'
' It works,' John countered,' woodman's remedy.'
Djaq suddenly understood,' A poison to fight a poison.'
With that Djaq ran off to the tables to mix something new, whilst the rest of them returned to the tent, and gathered around Sarah to see how Jess was doing.
' Djaq! ' Sarah yelled out,' I think Jess is going.'
Djaq was there in a flash, holding the mushroom paste she had prepared, ready to try it on Jess.
The saracen administered the paste onto the young girl's lips, as they all hoped it would work.
They then waited a moment.
A moment longer.
Jess's eyes flickered open, causing them to all cry out in joy and grin with relief.
' It worked! ' Ava announced with glee, as Sarah hugged her daughter tightly.
Robin then took his gang aside,' We have to stop Joseph before he poisons any one else,' he said,' He could be in the castle. We need to get in after him.'
Marian nodded,' Well how did Will get in? '
Everyone's faces were masked by confusion.
' Will? ' Ava echoed on utter confusion - Will had gone to Scarborough ... hadn't he?
Marian frowned wondering why they didn't understand,' He's in the castle,' she told them all. 'Didn't you know? '
Robin sighed as he began to realise what Will was going to do,' Oh no,' he breathed.
' What's going on? ' Marian asked.
Ava cottoned on, her face darkening, and on meeting Robin's eyes, she knew her suspicions were true,' He's going to kill the Sheriff,' she said.
' But what about Prince John destroying Nottingham? ' Marian asked,' he knows that - it nearly happened the other day.'
' Oh he knows,' Much nodded,' but he's so upset that he doesn't care.'
' That man the Sheriff had killed in the market place was Will's father,' Robin informed Marian.
A short while later, a plan had been formulated.
Ava walked up to the guard at the barricade, holding a piece of cloth over her mouth - partly as an aid to act as though preventing disease from spreading, but mainly to disguise her face.
It was decided that she would speak to the guards because Much was busy pretending to be dead, whilst John and Robin carried the stretcher, and Djaq and Marian were following behind, carrying empty baskets, under the pretence that they carried important things.
' No one comes through,' one of the guards told her.
' Master Joseph asked us ter bring t'body t'castle,' Ava replied, putting on a Yorkshire accent, making sure not to use the word "the", since people from Yorkshire tended us miss that word out.
' Why? ' asked a second guard.
Ava shrugged,' I don't ask questions of me master,' she said,' would you rather carry t'body? '
' Very well,' the guard said,' you may pass through.'
The barricade was opened enough for the gang to get through, making them pleased that the plan had worked and actually indirectly thankful for Allan for once. At least, they were thankful for Ava's abilty to lie, which they all knew had come straight from her father.
They carried the stretcher to the castle under the pretence of being Joseph's men and maids who had been asked to bring a body to him.
The castle guards let them into the courtyard.
Once inside the castle and to a part where they didn't think they were likely to be caught, Much was untied from the stretcher and allowed back up - allowed to move and act like he was alive again.
' Ok,' Robin said with authority,' Much, Ava, you go down that way. John, Djaq, that way. And Marian, back to your room to be safe.'
' What if he won't come quietly? ' Much asked.
' Whatever it takes,' Robin replied readily.
' Yeah, but what if he won't? ' Much pressed.
' Whatever it takes,' Robin repeated.
' Anything? ' Much asked.
' We have to stop him,' Robin agreed.
' But to kill one of our own ... ' Much trailed off. They all suddenly realised how serious this was.
As Much and Ava walked away, Ava wondered what would happen if it were she and Much who found Will and he wouldn't come without force. She wasn't going to kill him ... no way. And she doubted that Much would either.
The engaged couple walked around the corridors slowly, looking this way and that.
Ava turned a particular corner only for the blade of a sword to be pointed straight at her neck, she inhaled sharply, but on looking at the owner of the sword, she sighed in relief.
Allan rolled his eyes and lowered his sword,' What are you two doing in 'ere? ' he asked,' don't you know it's bloody dangerous, my girl - I nearly had your eye out! '
' We're looking for Will,' replied his daughter evenly.
' Why? He 'asn't been caught has he? ' Allan asked in concern.
' No,' replied the young woman,' but he's going to kill the Sheriff.'
' What? After all that chaos the other day? ' Allan asked incredulously.
' He doesn't care,' Ava replied,' the man the Sheriff killed in the market place was Will's father, who had come to take him back to Scarborough.'
' Blimey,' Allan blinked.
Ava nodded,' I know. So then he told us he was taking his brother back to Scarborough, but it turns out he's here in the castle because Marian saw him earlier. He's going after him for revenge in his grief. And the disease in Pitt Street is due to a batch of poison pies that one of the Sheriff's new aquaintances had delivered under the pretence of being the Noghtwatchman.'
Much nudged Ava and muttered,' Are you sure you should be telling him this? He's on the other side.'
Ava laughed,' Don't be silly Much, Father won't tell any one. '
Allan grinned and hugged his daughter, glad that she had so much faith in him despite what had happened. Much sighed, wishing that his beloved wasn't such a Daddy's girl. It didn't matter that she's only known him two years, she was devoted to him and had blind trust in him.
As Ava kissed her father's cheek, Allan heard footsteps down the next corridor, followed by Robin calling out Much and Ava's names. Allan sighed,' We'd better go our seperate ways. Robin won't be happy.'
' I guess so. I'll see you soon,' Ava said, reluctant to cut short what little time she already had with him.
Allan looked at Much - his future son in law - briefly and told him to,' Look after my girl.'
' Always,' Much merely replied - he and Allan had never gotten on in the first place, even after Much and Ava started up their relationship, so nothing had changed really.
Allan hurried away just as Robin and John reached them.
' Where's Djaq? ' asked Robin of John urgently.
' We split up,' John shrugged.
Robin groaned,' Will's poisoned the Sheriff. Djaq's got the remedy.'
Just after Robin said that he caught sight of a figure passing the top of the corridor that joined to this one.
'Will! ' he called out, causing the carpenter to stop and stare at the gang,' I know what you've done.'
' Justice in a bottle,' Will said holding up a small bottle.
' Djaq's got the remedy,' Robin told him.
' I know, she told me,' Will nodded.
'Where is she, Will? ' Ava asked,' what have you done with her? '
' I've done what we all should have done a long time ago,' he rpelied, referring to the Sheriff.
' What if all of Notttingham dies? ' Robin challenged.
'Then that's not my fault,' Will merely shrugged.
Robin darted forward and grabbed Will by the throat, snatching the bottle from him and swigging a large proportion of the poison, despite his followers pleas and cries after him.
Robin glared up at Will,' If more people are going to die, you might as well start with me,' he said.
' Robin, I can't let the Sheriff live,' Will protested.
' Yes you can! ' Robin yelled.
' My Dad,' Will shouted,' he did it for me. He stood up to the Sheriff to prove himself to me.'
' Then prove yourself to him,' Robin stressed,' prove that we are better men than the Sheriff and -' he broke off spluttering and doubled over, as Much ran forward and helped Robin lower himself to the ground.
' Why did you have to do this? ' demanded Will of his leader.
' To prove my point,' Robin said cooly,' Will Scarlett still believes in the right thing. ' he added, now choking on his words.
Ava looked to Will with pleading eyes out of fear for Robin - her dear friend and mentor - and put her hand on Will's shoulder.
Will looked down at her hand, along the arm connected to it, and then up at her face and vaguely heard her words,' Will, please. Just get the remedy. Get Djaq, Uncle Will.'
It was the Uncle that did it - he thought about how he has loved by his friends and how it wasn't worth it - he couldn't see Robin, and then the whole of Nottinghamshire die just for that one man.
' Go! Go all of you! ' Robin yelled.
The gang did just that, following Will at top speed to the place he had locked Djaq, before charging into the Sheriff's quarters, weapons drawn.
' We have the remedy! ' Much declared.
They saw that Robin was stood up, forcing the Sheriff to make an announcement to Nottingham via his window. He seemed in perfect health.
' Prove to me that Will Scarlett does the right thing,' said Robin, holding his hand out for the remedy.
' You didn't take the posion at all did you? ' Will asked quietly as he took a few steps toward Robin.
The others looked at him in suprise - he lied to them! He looked around at them apologetically,' No, though I think my point still stands.'
Will looked at the Sheriff, who was now lying on the ground looking close to death, and nodded,' Yeah it does,' he confirmed, before kneeling by their enemy's side to administer the potion,' and this is to the memory of my good father, Dan Scarlett.'
The potion had no effect, causing them all to look at each other in alarm.
' He can't be dead,' Much said in horror.
' This is just getting weird now,' Ava sighed,' I wan' him to live .. but I don't wan' him to live.'
' Come on! ' bellowed Robin, shaking the Sheriff by his shoulders.
The Sheriff sat up with a cackle,' Worry you, did I? ' he sneered.
' Finish the speech! ' Robin demanded.
' Now I've had the remedy? I don't think so. Guards! ' he roared,' Guards! Guards! '
' Go! Go! ' Robin shouted at his conrades,' get yourselves out safely! '
The gang did as they were told, knowing that Robin would be able to handle himself.
They ran to the courtyard where they waited by the outisde of the gate for Robin, hoping he would appear soon, which he did - in a way of great difference as usual.
This time, he ended up jumping out of the window of the Sheriff's chambers, stabbing a knife into the hanging that fell from the window to the ground, and sliding all the way down it, before running to meet his friends at the gate, and leading them away from the castle., where the streets were filled with people cheered for them.
Later on, they were back in the forest, when they met Luke at the entrance to the camp - Luke had not gone back to Scarborough alone, but waited by the entrance of the camp for them all to return.
A short while later, Luke had led them through the forest, where he told them Will had something to show them/
' It's good to have you back, Lukey,' Robin grinned.
' What's going on? ' asked the ever impatient Much.
Djaq spied Will on top of the cliff that towered over one side of the nearest clearing,' What's he doing up there? ' she asked with great curiosity.
' I thought you said Will was going to build something to remind you both of your father? ' asked Ava.
' He is,' confirmed Luke,' just wait for the light.'
' The light? ' asked Much looking around,' but there is light.'
Will had now joined them on the ground, and both he and Luke were staring up at the sun through the trees, so the others did too.
' Now,' Will said, then turning around to look at something else.
They looked at the rock Will had been carved out of, and watched as it shot a ray of light directly across it onto a larger, wider, flat rock. This larger rock bore the light up image of Dan Scarlett's face.
' That is ... ' Much began, though he failed to find the right words.
'Beautiful,' Ava finished for him.
Will clapped a hand to his brother's shoulder in support as they gazed at the image.
' He was a good man,' Robin assured them.
'Yeah. Yeah he was,' agreed Will proudly.