THE TRIPP INN

Robin sat on the bench by the wall, Thomas at the head of the table. Unbeknownst to the man in black Robin had not even touched his mead, meaning as the man got slowly more intoxicated and merry, Robin was growing more serious.

"Thomas." Robin knew that time was of the essence.

"I have known you since I was a boy, you are loyal to king Richard you cannot be happy about what Vaisey is going to do..."

"Robin..." Thomas laughed, not really understanding the seriousness of Robin's tone, "what can I do about it? Times are changing my friend."

"Not for the better." Robin tried not to snap and draw attention to the other men in the tavern.

"But changing they are." Thomas drained the rest of his cup.

"This is treason Thomas." Robin leant closer to him, "Going along with treason makes you a traitor."

Thomas almost shrugged, "Better that than a dead jewel guard."

"Thomas..." Robin said firmly, "If you tell me where the Sheriff has hidden the crown I can steal it from him... he is going to use the money to finance weapons against Richard..."

"Robin." Thomas sighed as if disappointed, "the crown is surrounded by outlaws... yet it is where outlaws fear to tread..."

He broke into free laughter and once again tried to flag down the landlord.

Robin's eyes narrowed as he watched the man attempt to pour himself for mead, only to find the jug empty.

"Service!" He slurred his shout and Robin raised an eyebrow at Alan, who was posing as the land lord. At least, that is who Thomas thought he was.

"Oh Robin..." Thomas sighed, "You are not going to cause any problems are you, over this little plan the Sheriff has got..."

"Thomas..."

"Mead for the handsome man in black?"

A jug was set in the middle of the table.

Robin's eyes snapped up when his ears heard the words of someone who was posing the work at the tavern, but that someone was most definitely not Alan.

Marian stood before him on the other side of the table.

She had her hair sweeping down over one shoulder, leaving the over and her neck bare for all to see.

The tavern girl's dress she wore did nothing to hide the curves of her body, and the blue skirt and bodice were of stark contrast to the thin white shirt part of the dress.

"Is this a private party or can anyone join in?" Marian bent forwards slightly as she picked up the jug to pour Thomas a drink.

Robin couldn't help but notice the amns eyes traveled down her neck and examine the lower covered half of her otherwise bare chest.

She was slurring her words so she appeared tipsy like the other tavern girls.

Robin had to grip the edge of the table to stop him from standing up.

Alan gave him a warning look form behind Thomas's back to show that this was part of the plan.

Robin himself could not remember thinking this up, he knew who to blame for this improvised sketch.

Robin glared at his wife, "I thought I told you to wait outside."

Thomas instantly thought that the tavern girl who was currently stroking his neck had been following Robin around, that he had not wanted her to listen to their conversation.

"We are talking in here..."

Robin's firm words were being drowned out by Marians loud giggling as she walked around Thomas to stand on his side closest to Robin.

"I am sorry about this..." Robins pathetic appeal for help from Thomas was just that, pathetic.

It went more or less unheard by the man who was clutching Marians arm now.

"No no... please... please..." He was practically drooling over her as he pulled her closer to him, "join us... Innkeeper!"

"Sir?" Alan appeared almost instantly, playing his part well as he re-filled Thomas cup and shot slightly apologetic eyes at a glaring Robin, who was now having to witness his wife be openly clutched and showered with compliments... by someone who wasn't him!

"More mead..." Thomas snapped at Alan, his eyes on Marian.

"You will make me tipsy..." She tapped his nose and even found it in her to laugh as he smacked her behind.

Robin stood up slightly but she stomped on his foot.

He cringed and Thomas laughed, "One at a time Locksley... one at a time..."

Alan bent forwards and started work on cutting the keys from Thomas's belt.

He needn't have worried about Thomas turning around; the man could only focus on one part of Marian at a time.

"Marian this is private." Robin snapped, "I told you to wait outside..."

Marian swayed and 'tripped', falling to sit beside Robin on the bench, spilling the contents of her jug over his trousers in the process.

Her laughter was genuine this time at Robins angry expression.

Alan pulled the keys from Thomas belt as the man roared with laughter.

"Oh... you are all wet Locksley."

"I will clean this up." Robin snapped and stood as Alan took a couple of steps away.

"And I want to see you gone." He said firmly to Marian who smirked at him before giggling and drinking from her cup. She wasn't actually drinking any of it, Robin knew that, but he was still angry about it.

She turned her attention back to Thomas, so he could not see Robin walk to Alan and take the keys from him.

Alan made to walk away but Robin caught his arm, gesturing to Marian.

"Do not; let her out of your sight." He said firmly and Alan nodded.

Robin threw one last angry glance back at his wife and walked away.