The Road to Middle-Earth

A fanfiction by MushrooomsPTook

Disclaimer: I own nothing. You might as well say it owns me!

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Descent into Deliverance

I couldn't sleep that night. Every which way I turned, my body became increasingly uncomfortable, and every time I closed my eyes, I saw a noose with my name written on it. I had been in difficult situations thus far, and I tried to find comfort in the fact that somehow I made it out of those situations unscathed. But my only recent comfort was Will, who was slumped against the wall of our prison cell, mouth gaping open in a melodious snore. I couldn't understand how he could be so relaxed in this time of horror. He hadn't even showed any expression of worry after the Sheriff and the guards left us alone that night—well, except when I tried to beat him for giving away Robin's identity. The fact that he evaded my questions about Alice's and Tom's safety didn't dampen my temper.

I sighed and sat up from my sleeping position. What was the use? I was going to die anyway. I mean, the odds were looking pretty good, and although I couldn't see the sky outside, I knew dawn was fast approaching. But then I remembered Aslan's words to me: "Courage, dear heart." Where was he, though? Was he not powerful enough that he couldn't save me? It seemed like he cared a good deal for me when I was a sea monster, but now, in the face of death, it seemed like he had abandoned me. But for what? Was I meant to die?

"Aslan?" I whispered. "Where are you? Why won't you save me? Don't you care?" I pulled my knees tightly to my chest and rested my chin on them. "Don't you...love me?"

Nothing.

I started when I heard a particularly loud snore erupt from Will. I frowned, angry how he could sleep so soundly without a care in the world. I wanted to punch him, and I was very tempted to, but I couldn't bring myself to do it, not while he was vulnerable. It wouldn't be fair, even if he did betray Robin to the Sheriff.

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

I looked around me for the source of the voice, for I had heard that nonsensical song before. It didn't take me long to find the crescent moon that hung on the upper wall of the cell, just as if a window had been there and the moon was just part of the display. But there was no window, no night sky to look at, and the moon was really...

"Cheshire cat!" I cried, a little too loudly, for Will mumbled something and shifted in his sleep. The pink cat, as if right on cue, faded into view and bowed his head politely, lifting his ears with his tail while doing so.

"It is I," he said. "It would appear you have made it far in your travels, although..." He chuckled as he looked around in the cell, "it would seem you have made a wrong turn somewhere. I didn't know this was part of your road."

"It wasn't," I protested. "I was taken prisoner by that...horrid Sheriff. And now I—I mean we—are to be executed in the morning!"

The cat giggled, rolling over on his back in sheer delight. "Oh, that's marvelous! Glad to know his temper hasn't been tampered with. Get it? Temper tampered with?"

"Cheshire cat!" I scolded, crossing my arms. "You're supposed to be on my side, not his!"

"Side?" The Cheshire cat looked seriously at me. "I don't take sides. Too much conflict, you see. I'd rather be on my side, where there are no rules. Oh, but that old Sheriff, he's a sly one, he is. Always has something new up his sleeve." The cat cleared his throat and clasped his hands together. "Tell me, what is the crime?"

"I didn't commit any crime. He's just out to get Robin Hood is all. And he's going to say that we stole the Galdorcarr from the king."

"Robin Hood?" The cat giggled again. "Oh, I know something about that."

"About what? Robin?"

"Oh, but I can't tell you. I'll spoil the surprise."

"No! No surprises. Tell me, what is it?"

I gasped and turned my head when I heard keys jingling against the door. "Oh, too late," said the Cheshire cat. "Toodle-oo!"

1"Wait, Cheshire cat!" But it was too late, the cat had already disappeared, grin and all. I looked back at the door just as it swung open. The silhouettes of three guards stood in the doorway. I shrunk against the back wall as they approached. Their heads were hidden by helmets, and the dark holes that framed their eyes made them look astonishingly frightening.

"Let's go," said one of the men gruffly. "It's time." They pulled me up roughly and nudged Will awake, despite his groggy protests. "Right now, move!" Will and I were bounded at the hands before we were pushed out of the jail cell. We were forced to walk ahead of the guards, and I took a moment to look into the room where I had seen the painting from which I had heard Aslan's voice. The painting was still there, but no words of comfort came from it. I came to the realization that I was indeed meant to die, but this new information did not take to me kindly, and I looked at Will for comfort. He did not meet my eyes, but stared ahead with an unfocused gaze.

The guards led us to a door opposite from the main entrance. As one of them opened the door, we were greeted by a jeering crowd. The Sheriff was standing on a balcony and shifted his gaze from the crowd momentarily to look at me. His victorious smirk was evident. He turned back to the crowd and beckoned to us. "And here they are now! Look at them, you can see the guilt on their faces." The people booed at us and threw spoiled food in our direction. I tried to dodge the attacks as best as I could, but the numbers were too great. "If any of you should spot that vicious Robin Hood, he is to by kept alive, so that he can meet his judgment!" There was a loud cheer from the people and I shivered at how well the Sheriff had manipulated the story. Surely, some of them knew the good Robin had been doing for them. How could they take all that and slam it right back in his face?

Suddenly, I was roughly pushed to the center of the crowd onto a great platform. There it was. The noose that called out to me. As we neared, I looked at Will again, hoping to see his expression change. But it was blank, just as it had been the entire time. But then, something in his face changed. The slightest smirk formed on his lips. He knew something that I didn't. He turned to me and the hint of a wink passed as he nodded at me. What was going on!
We stepped up on two stepstools and one of the guards put the rope around my neck and tightened it. It itched terribly and I swallowed nervously, skating my eyes across the crowd for Robin, or even one of his men. A voice from within the crowd caught my attention and I followed it until I saw the source. "Ale! Dark, light, take your pick! Enjoy the show! Ale! Dark, light, take your pick and enjoy the show!" A plump man was sitting in a horse-drawn cart and handing out mugs of beer to the people that swarmed around him. Tuck? It was indeed! Then, I saw him. Robin. He was coming forward in his Gamble disguise, head low so that his face was shadowed underneath his hood.

"Rob—" I was cut off when the guard behind me muffled my voice with his hand.

"The Sheriff stepped forward, smiling in victory. "Ah, Gamble. You're just in time. I was hoping you could tell me where I might find Robin Hood."

A movement behind me caught my eye as one of the guards stepped forward and let his sword rest on the Sheriff's shoulder, right next to his neck.

"He's right here." The guard removed his helmet and I was overjoyed to see that it was Robin. The other guards removed their helmets and the faces of Allan-a-Dale and Little John were revealed.

"Robin!" I cried. The crowd gasped. The Sheriff turned around and looked just as surprised as me.

"You!" he scowled. "But how could you—" The Sheriff stepped toward the disguise of Gamble and he pulled back the hood of the mysterious person. At once, the crowd fell silent and the Sheriff's face went white. For a moment, all I heard were the chirping of the birds. "Your...Your Majesty!" The Sheriff at once humbled himself before the person and he curled up into a humiliated ball. Alan-a-Dale released Will and I and I ran to Robin's side.

"Sheriff!" said the man. His beard was greying and in his eyes I saw two things: Wisdom...and fury.

The Sheriff chuckled sheepishly. "Well, you see, King Richard, I um...these prisoners, I had to see to it that...well, I wanted to give them a tour, you see. Yes, a tour." The Sheriff suddenly stood up from his crouching position and looked at me with a very worried smile. "And this is the gallows. This is how we execute people." He chuckled again nervously. "Our next stop is—"

"Sheriff!" the king bellowed. "Hold your tongue, I know exactly what happened here!"

"Then you'll know that I was only trying to carry out justice. They stole the Galdorcarr, Your Majesty. I had to do what's right for my—for your kingdom."

To my amazement, the king opened his hand and in his palm was the key with the jewel. I sighed in relief, knowing that Alice had inadvertently delivered the Galdorcarr safely. He looked at the Sheriff grimly. "And may I ask how?" The Sheriff swallowed and I watched as he looked at the crowd warily. They were staring back, but now their faces were fixed upon him, and they were not happy. "I should have you put to death for this, Sheriff. But I'm in a good mood and do not wish to spoil it by shedding blood."

The Sheriff fell to his knees and grasped the king's cloak. "Oh, thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, thank you!"

The king pulled his cloak out of the Sheriff's grasp roughly. "Do not thank me yet, for what I have in mind for you will not be pleasant." Then he looked at Allan-a-Dale and Little John. "Get this creature out of my sight!" The two men nodded and pulled the Sheriff roughly to his feet, and tugged him back to the castle. I had a feeling they were taking him to the prison cells, but I didn't have time to find out, for in that very incident, a small shadow had snuck past my eyesight and moved himself in the doorway before the men could pass.

"Sheriff?" said the boy. It was Tom. "I have a partin' gift fer ya!"

"And what would that be?" the Sheriff asked miserably.

Tom picked up his foot and brought it back down swiftly onto the Sheriff's, to which was received with a scream of pain. Little John pushed Tom gently aside and said, "All right, all right. Don't worry, young man, he'll get what's coming to him." But Tom continued to glare as they entered the castle, and then he turned to look at me. I ran forward and pulled him into my arms.

"Oh Tom," I cried, "I'm so glad you're okay." He smiled and hugged me again. "Where are the others though?" He pulled away and gave me a nod in the direction behind me. I stood up and turned around to see Alice standing behind me just a few feet away. Next to her was Charming. Alice's eyes watered as I approached and she threw herself into my arms before I picked her up and gave her a firm embrace.

The tears were flowing freely now, for both of us, and I paused long enough to plant a loving kiss on her cheek. It was the touch of Robin's hand on my back that made me turn and face him. He put his arms around Alice and I and pulled me close.

"You shouldn't have left," he whispered.

"I know, but I didn't want you to get hurt." I glanced at Will sheepishly for a moment. "Will, I'm sorry I doubted you."

He waved his hand at me. "No harm done."

Tom and Charming gathered around me as I set Alice gently down, and it was so good to have my friends back at my side. I now turned my attention to the king, who was watching us. A friendly smile was on his face as he stepped forward. I quickly remembered my manners and bowed before him, nudging Tom and Alice to follow suit.

"Thank you for saving us," I said.

"My child," he began softly. "It is I who should be thanking you. You and your friends have restored the Galdorcarr to me and have in doing so, stopped a tragedy from happening." Then to my amazement, he knelt on one knee and bowed his head. Robin and the crowd followed suit, and I stood perplexed as we were exalted. I turned to my friends and took their hands in mine, Charming lifting a wing to grasp Alice's hand..

When the king finally rose again, I asked him, "How did Robin find you just in time."

"Oh, you know," he said smugly. "I had help from a lion."

My eyes widened. "Aslan?"

"I told you he was real," Alice said, pointing a finger up at me.

I looked down disappointed. "But why didn't come? I was kind of hoping to see him again."

The king put a comforting hand on my shoulder. "He comes and goes. We haven't seen him too often in these parts, but I wouldn't be surprise if you see him again before your return journey."

I looked up. "Return journey?"

"Aren't you from somewhere called Chicago?" he asked. "That's what your friend, Robin, said."

Friend. The word stabbed me in my heart as I looked at Robin, in whose eyes I saw the same disappointment. But that word could and would never evolve to mean anything more than that. I couldn't allow it, and so I simply smiled at him knowingly and gripped his hand, squeezing it slightly. "Yes," I answered softly. "I am from Chicago."

The king eyed us with suspicion before placing a hand on each of our shoulders. "Well then, we must not waste any time, although I would delight in having you stay a little longer with us before your departure. I've heard precious little information about you and I'd welcome your full story. You and your friends." He looked down at Alice, Tom, and Charming and winked. "Perhaps we can provide some accommodation."

I smiled warmly at the king's invitation. "Thank you, Sire. I would appreciate that."

"Then it is to be settled. We shall have a great feast tomorrow night, honoring you and your friends' courage." Alan-a-Dale and Little John returned momentarily and the king hit his head with the heel of his palm. "Oh, I nearly forgot. Robin, will you and your men please see to the prisoners?"

The men went toward the cart, where Friar Tuck had been sitting, eating an apple and watching the scene. As he saw Robin approach, he immediately struggled out of his seat and went round to the back of the cart. When he opened the door, I could help but laugh as I saw four of the Sheriff's guards, stripped down to their undergarments, hands bound behind their backs and gagged. Their worried faces only increased when they were pulled out of the cart and led into the castle. As they passed Alan-a-Dale winked at me and that only caused me to breathe out more giggles. I smiled to myself as I relished the moment of a wonderful ending to our adventures. Though it was not over yet, a part of me yielded myself to the thought of going home, and I wondered if I actually wanted to.

Next chapter – Okay, I have to admit I'm on the verge of tears, for the next chapter is the last in Nottingham! ::sniffle:: We shall finally see the mystery of the Galdorcarr unveiled. Btw, I have to thank all of you! Last chapter received the most reviews, 8 in fact! You guys are awesome!

Mwang – thank you, and updated! ;)

Diana Fay – Don't worry, all is well. :)

jojopeaches – Thank you much!

The Author in the TARDIS – It's always good to have a backup plan. ;)

seafarer – I like it too. I'm especially drawn to writing scenes with baby Alice. :)

Calemireth – Very soon. Very soon. But get the kleenex ready, for the last chapter will stir a lot of emotions. In fact, I'm listening to the Grey Havens for inspiration.

GoldenStarlight – Thank you greatly.

Crazyelfchild – Thank you for the kind comment! Yes! I was going to wait for the extended, but it looks like it won't come out until close to the next installment, so I'm going to save myself the heart attack and just buy it.

1Soundtrack Transformers 3 Dark Side of the Moon (Steve Jablonsky) "Sentinel Prime" *Yes, I love Steve Jablonsky. How did you guess?