NOTTINGHAM CASTLE – EAST GATE
"I am telling you John, Much was all over her..." Alan's tall tale was a hiss in the giant's ear.
He grunted, "Quiet Alan."
"I am serious." Alan turned his head towards Will and Djac.
"Much was openly roaming his hands over her chest..."
"He was not!" Marian snapped at him quietly. She did not appreciate having Alan make comments about how she let men treat her, and Robin was annoyed about the man's story and countless renditions of 'when Much had fallen on top of Marian.'
A delightful song Alan had composed on their way into Nottingham.
Much was growing more and more flustered.
"Will you shut up?" He cried too loudly for Robins liking.
"Shush." Robin said firmly, eyes looked dead ahead on the scene before them.
"Come off it Much, you threw yourself at her, wanting a piece of the action..." Alan winked.
"Alan." Marian warned him and turned her head in the same direction as her husband's. She glanced at him and he gave her a small smile, hers growing when she felt his hand slip slightly into hers to give it a squeeze.
Much was mumbling incoherently and Alan was trying not to laugh.
The outlaws were huddled in an alcove close to the east gate, where they had entered with Christophe to rescue his daughter only a few weeks before. It was tight in the small space, but Marian felt sure that Robin had her pressed close to him for a different reason.
They watched as the carriage pulled up close to the gate and saw Vaisey and Guisborne appear a moment later.
"I am not being funny..." Alan hissed, "but surely if it's the king he wouldn't be made to use the tradesman's entrance?"
"It's not the king." Robin said firmly.
The door to the carriage swung open and sure enough, a short bald man with a slight limp stepped out.
"You are right it's not..." Alan whispered as they stared at the man.
A servant stepped out of the carriage holding a cushion with a glittering golden crown atop it.
Vaisey clapped his hands together and approached the man.
"Thomas, it is always a pleasure..."
"Thomas!" Much shrieked quietly, "Master... Thomas..."
"I know much." Robin too had recognised the man, by his limp and posture if nothing else. Robins hand fell from Marians to put his hand on her hip.
She was unsure why he did it, but she wasn't going to push him away.
Djac leant closer to Marian, "who is Thomas?"
"He is the king's jeweller, keeper of the crown jewels." Marian whispered.
Djac blinked, "A man is paid to guard jewels... he looks after them?"
Will nodded and smiled at her, "Is it any different from looking after pigeons..."
"Well Yeh!" Alan cried, "Jewellery has got to be much easier to look after... they don't need cleaning out for a start..."
"Hush." Robin hissed at them over his shoulder, his attention going back to the men before him.
"He is the finest jeweller in all of England." Much said to everyone quietly, nodding his head quickly as he did so.
Robin glanced down at Marian, "he designed your ring."
Marian's eyes snapped down to look at the purple and diamond ring she wore.
"What?"
"I remember that Robin!" Much hissed, "When we went away for the king's birthday and you asked Thomas to make it for you..."
Alan let out a low whistle, "made by the king's jeweller, I am right in thinking that them there stones are the genuine article then, hey Robin?"
"Shush." Robin peered to watch as the crown was shut in a box and handed to a few Guards, who Vaisey gestured to lead them into the castle.
"What could the sheriff want with a crown from London?" Marian whispered in Robin's ear.
"He's probably going to make himself king..." Alan was only half joking.
"Or Prince John?" Will offered.
Robin shook his head, "No. Monarchs have always been crowned in London... and Vaisey wouldn't try and double cross prince John, even he isn't that low..."
"So what is he doing?" John hissed.
Again Robin shook his head, eyes locked on Guisborne's figure as the man stopped in the doorway, looked around before shutting it behind him.
"I don't know... But we are going to have to find out." he turned to the gang, "John, Alan and Much, you come with me, we will go into the castle and see if we can find out what is going on."
He looked to the remaining people, "you three stay here and wait for us... We won't be long."
"And do what?" Marian raised her eyebrows, she knew that this was coming, she had known she would be sidelined, what she didn't understand was why Will and Djac had to stay and baby sit her.
"Hand out to the people." Robin but a large bag of money in her hands and turned to Will and Djac, doing the same to them.
She looked up from it to Robin, "Alright."
Alan grinned as he watched Robin bend his neck to kiss his wife.
He put his hands on his hips and sang.
"Much's hands were a gropin' and the thought of eloping it filled her with joy, 'you see sir I am married', Marian told him with glee," and tiz a shame coz you see you is nicer than he'..."
"Alan Shut up!" Robin pulled away from Marian to glare at him, she too gave him a withering look.
Alan chuckled, only a couple of lines of his song and Robin was mad.
Much was turning a different colour. The poor man radiated flustered from every part of his body. In an angry gesture at Alan he pulled his cap down harder over his head and folded his arms.
Alan only laughed harder.
"Focus alright lads." Robin sighed and kissed Marian quickly before turning and leading John, Alan and Much away.
"The south gate lets go."
NOTTINGHAM CASTLE
"Where are we even going?"
Alan hissed as he and the others crept around the castle corridors.
"We are looking for Vaisey and Thomas..." Robin told him over his shoulder.
"Now you have delivered the crown to me I expect you will want paying."
"Found them." Alan hissed when he heard The Sheriffs voice approaching.
"Quick." Robin shoved open the door to a large cupboard, "In here."
He waited while his men dove in before getting in. He closed the door, leaving it open a crack so he could watch as Vaisey and Thomas walked around the corner.
Robin couldn't understand it. He had no idea why Thomas was in league with the Sheriff.
He had known Thomas his whole life, and spent many an hour with him as a boy, when he had accompanied his father or Marians father to London for court.
"Thank you for bringing this to me."
Robin watched as Vaisey gestured to the crown which a guard was carrying on a cushion past him, accompanied by some others.
"I trust you had no trouble on your journey?"
Thomas shook his head, "we avoided the forest as you said my lord."
"Good." Vaisey sneered, "we wouldn't want all that lovely gold falling into outlaws hands."
There was a stony silence between the men for a moment and Guisborne walked over.
"Ah Guisborne!" Vaisey said, not even pretending to be pleased to see him, "Take our friend Thomas here to his rooms."
"Actually my lord I think I may visit the tavern, enjoy myself after a long days ride..."
Alan grinned in the darkness at Thomas's words, "smart man..."
Vaisey's eyes glinted, "very well."
"Do not stay out to late, you shall want to wide and fully awake to witness tomorrows bounty."
Vaisey turned to walk away but Thomas called after him.
"My lord Sheriff is this wise... should the king find out..."
"And why would he find out?" The Sheriff spun to sneer at Thomas.
"You are as much involved as I am old man so do not think that you are innocent." Vaisey hissed and stepped closer to Thomas.
Robin's ears pricked up.
"There is a barn just outside of Nettlestone. An old friend of mine is going to melt down that crown and hand me the gold coins that it makes."
"If anyone finds out about this I will hang you," Vaisey sneered, "For treason... plotting against the prince no less."
Thomas nodded after a moment, "Indeed Sir."
Vaisey grinned, "Have a nice day."
With that he turned around and walked with Guisborne out of sight. Thomas too turned and walked the other way.
Robin and his men quickly left the cupboard and looked around.
Alan spoke first, "So the sheriff is going to melt down the crown to make coins..."
"Which is he is going to use to buy more men to fight against the king." Much cried but was hushed by John.
"Clever." John said angrily.
"I don't understand it." Robin was confused, "Why would Thomas want to help Vaisey?"
Alan thought for a minute.
"I ain't being funny but why don't we just ask him?"
Robin looked at him, "You are right."
"We need to find him, come on!"