A happy almost-weekend to everyone! As I was getting ready to post this chapter, I realized that you guys are gaining on me here: the chapter I'm currently writing is only a few ahead of the one I'm posting! So I know what I'm doing with MY free time this week... ;)

LadyKate1: That resentment's certainly coming out now, whether Guy realizes it or not. :P He's having kind of a rough week, has been thwarted by Robin Hood so many times he's lost count, and had a punching bag down below with a remarkable resemblance to someone Robin cares about, unfortunately for Much. :/

DoubleDaggered: Oh, no! I didn't mean to kill off my readers… that's just rude. XD Hopefully this chapter will help you recover – it features the gang and Djaq, so you could always flag her down for medical aid. Please don't sue. o_o

SleepingwithinWater: I kept waiting and waiting for Eve to reappear in the series… :( Apart from the simple, sweet fact that they would have been happy together, I liked her because she gave Much a chance to be the hero for someone. He's already a caretaker figure, relentlessly teased by the gang, and essentially at the bottom of the gang's pecking order; Eve's presence showed the gang (and us) a stronger side of Much that didn't get to surface often.

The relative calm before a building storm... This was a fun chapter to write. I hope you enjoy! ~Si

The hours since dawn had hummed with planning and activity, Robin and all his gang eager to put their strategy into action, but Will Scarlett felt reluctance nagging at his heart. He'd spent the morning in Nottingham, waiting to report back with news of Gisborne's announcement, and now, jogging back through Sherwood at a steady pace, he couldn't shake the apprehension tightening his stomach.

As expected, curious townsfolk had gathered in the square that morning to hear the crier's words, and Will had listened closely, just another hooded face in the crowd. Since Gisborne was counting on word of mouth or actual members of the gang being present to get word back to Robin, Will felt slightly safer than usual, but he kept his head down and didn't press his luck. The Master-at-Arms, the crier had declared, was willing to offer the outlaw Robin Hood a generous bargain: the return of his currently-imprisoned manservant in exchange for the silver the outlaws had stolen. Not only that, but he gave his word that they would be safe from arrest for the duration of the meeting. Will had fought back a smile at these words. Just like Marian had promised. Then the crier read the last requirement of Gisborne's deal: Robin Hood himself must be present at the exchange, or the entire deal was off.

If Will believed for a minute that Robin would quietly agree to this change of plans, he wouldn't feel so reluctant right now. But no – this was Robin they were talking about, and there was no chance of him leaving Much's rescue to anyone else, even one of the gang. Beneath the nettling and exasperation, Will knew the two men were close as brothers, and his heart had gone out to Robin over the past days. He missed his own brother fiercely, but at least he knew Luke was safely out of the Sheriff's reach in Scarborough with their dad.

All heads turned when he trotted up the slope, most of the gang busy at various tasks outside the cave, and Will fortified himself with a deep breath of the cool earthy air. He hated when everybody got their hackles up and started arguing – really arguing, not just messing around. If only Robin could just trust them to get Much out of there… but then again, spoke a little voice in the back of his mind, what if it were Luke instead of Much, trapped and scared in the dungeons? If he were honest with himself, Will knew nothing would stop him from rescuing his brother right away, whatever that took.

"Hey, Will," Allan called over, tossing his armful of firewood in a heap by the cave entrance. "So Gisborne announce the swap, then?" he asked, dusting his hands on his trousers and picking his way down the slope. Robin was already striding down ahead; he'd dropped his knife and a handful of half-fletched arrows as soon as Will appeared. Djaq followed close behind, still holding a few black-banded feathers in her brown hands, and Little John peered out from the cave mouth like a drowsy bear. Robin clapped Will on the shoulder in welcome, saying, "He's set the place and time? No surprises for us?"

Will just shut his eyes and started talking.

Yes, Gisborne had announced the exchange in the square. Yes, he'd promised Much's freedom in exchange for the silver. Yes, he'd named the time and place: an hour before sundown this evening, in a clearing at the edge of Sherwood they all knew well. Robin turned on his heel with a satisfied nod, hands restless, focus already back on the unfinished arrows, and Will had to lunge awkwardly to catch his arm before he got too far.

"Robin, wait. There's just one problem…" Little John ambled down the slope curiously as Robin turned his full attention on Will, satisfaction draining from his features to leave little lines and grooves around his mouth and eyes.

"What problem?" he demanded, settling his hands on his hips.

"Gisborne said that Robin Hood has to be there. He's got to see you there, at the exchange, or the deal's off." In the pause that followed, there was time for one swift glance of apprehension between himself and Djaq before Robin let out his breath in a low growl, glaring at the ground between his boots, and Allan scoffed, "Well, what'd you expect? 'Course he's gonna want Robin there – he's not a complete idiot…"

"It doesn't matter," Robin said loudly, hands still on his hips, head canting warningly in Allan's direction. "We stick to the original plan." His clear eyes flashed up, scored them all with the weight of command. "Will and I will go to Nottingham, and the rest of you will meet Gisborne."

"What, and have Gisborne take one good look around and call it off?" Allan retorted, coming a pace closer, gesturing hand swinging close to Robin's stone-stiff arm. "What good's that gonna do anybody? He'd probably go back and kill Much just to spite us!" Robin pivoted, and Little John's burly arm suddenly appeared between the two lean men, each set like a hound ready to jump at the other. Glaring at both men from underneath his unkempt curls, the older man stated, "We need a new plan. All right? To do that, you need clear heads, yes?" He lowered his arm but kept a distinctly parental eye on both men, who stewed about for a few moments before Robin shook his head and said, "I have to go to Nottingham. It's my fault Much is there at all. I can't just…." He clamped his jaw shut on the words, shaking his head stubbornly, and Will allowed himself a quiet sigh of frustration. A dark, close-shorn head appeared at his shoulder, and he glanced down: Djaq stood there, still absently smoothing the white-and-black feathers in her hand as she studied Robin's rigid frame, the archer's back to them as he shot another hard look at Allan.

Cautiously, choosing her words with the care Will associated with her soothing a fresh burn or cut, Djaq spoke up, "Robin, it makes sense for Will to go to Nottingham. He can unlock the doors and even the shackles. And you wish to go because Much is your dear friend. But in this case, what is there for you to do in Nottingham that one of us could not?" Robin's shoulders tensed visibly, Djaq's point hitting harder than she intended, perhaps, but their leader didn't reply, only shaking his head softly, and Will sent up a silent prayer of thanks. It was a good point, if a hard one, and Robin could hardly argue against it. Now they could get to modifying the plan and making preparations. Probably Allan or Little John would take Robin's place, since all Will really needed was someone to watch his back while he was working on a lock, and then help to get Much out of the castle. Djaq was quick and a startlingly fierce fighter, but there was no telling how badly Much was hurt; she wouldn't be able to support an injured man the entire way out to the gates, nor would it be fair to leave her to defend them if Will helped Much.

Then Robin half-turned to fix narrowed eyes on Djaq, and asked intently, "What did you just say?" Will's stomach clenched, and he nearly stepped forward to deflect Robin's ire from the petite woman beside him. But before he could do anything, Robin was already looking away, eyes gleaming and a peculiar smile lurking at the corner of his mouth. As his hopes took yet another dive, Will reflected that he understood now why Much always looked two seconds away from tearing his hair out when it came to his former master. Robin continued, almost to himself, "You're right, Djaq. There's not a single thing one of you couldn't do in my place…" He trailed off, scanning his gathered gang calculatingly, lingering for several beats longer on Allan, a sly smile tugging at the archer's lips.

"Whatever you're thinkin', the answer's no. Definitely not." Allan stared back at Robin warily, his voice tinged with apprehension. Will could hardly blame him, since the last time Robin had singled him out for a mission, Allan had spent the night trussed up to a tree, incoherent and looking like a week's worth of ale had caught up to him all at once, courtesy of the root Robin had belatedly warned him not to swallow.

In response to Allan's determined statement, Robin only grinned and tilted his head speculatively, circling around Little John to look Allan up and down.

"What?" Allan demanded, now looking genuinely alarmed. Another scan from his hair to his boots, then Robin turned sideways so he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Allan, saying, "Gisborne can't really hope to capture any of us – he knows we'll stay out of harm's way. But I'll have to make an appearance of some sort, just to reassure him…" Allan swatted the other man's hand away from his face, stepping back hastily, and Robin lowered his hand, which had been hovering from the top of his own head to Allan's, and simply smiled, looking disturbingly satisfied.

A quick glance at the others gave Will little insight. Little John, feet planted contentedly, was unabashedly enjoying every moment of Allan's discomfort, eyes crinkled merrily at the corners. Djaq's dark eyes were widening in some mute understanding with Robin's speeding brain. Will could only watch and hope Robin remembered to explain at least part of his new scheme.

"Listen, mate – start talkin' or I'm out of here, you hear me?" Allan said, and took a careful step back, clearly ready to follow through on his threat. Smug as a barnyard cat with a rat between its paws, Robin stepped back into place beside John and said simply, "You are Robin Hood."

"Yeah, yeah – I know 'we are Robin Hood' and all that, but…" Then Allan went quiet, his gaze drifting slightly in realization, and Robin's strange behavior suddenly made sense. Gisborne out of the castle was a perfect chance to get into the dungeons unseen, but Gisborne wouldn't be gone long if Robin never showed for the trade. It wasn't like Robin really had to do anything there, though, nothing that one of the gang couldn't do in his place… Allan was nearly the same height, close to the same build, and was already going to the exchange anyway. With Robin's unique bow and sword, if he kept his face hidden….

Apparently coming to the same conclusions as Will, Allan scrubbed a hand roughly through his hair, making it stick up in front, and looked earnestly into Robin's smiling face.

"You're mad, you know that? This is crazy."

"But it'll work," Robin replied, confidence suffusing his expression and posture, his excitement contagious. Allan let out a reluctant groan.

"Fine… Who's in my gang, then? I can't play-act you lot all at once."

Just a quick question for my lovely readers: How long do you prefer your chapters? I'm fairly new to FFN, and because of how much the format changes after I post, chapters that looked comfortably long to me in Word look frustratingly short once I've submitted them. The upcoming chapters will be significantly longer, regardless - I just want to make sure I'm not driving anyone nuts in the meantime. ;)

Thank you for reading, and have a fantastic week! ~Si