Robin felt exuberant as he made his way in the darkness from Knighton back toward Sherwood Forest.
So, Marian had been under the mistaken impression he was Seth's father! He laughed quietly to himself about it again. Is that what had accounted for her scowls, at least partially?
He stopped, his mind quickly taking the next logical step.
Marian had been jealous...jealous of Annie. It didn't matter there was no cause...she had been jealous, which meant she still wanted him for herself!
"Thank you, Lord Jesu," he grinned toward Heaven, crossing himself and almost winking at his Savior.
Erupting into loud laughter, he took pleasure realizing he had uncovered her secret, try as she might to keep it from him. She hadn't stopped caring for him, any more than he had stopped caring for her! They would soon be together again, just as they should be...publicly when King Richard returned, but privately until then. What a glorious revelation!
Euphoria swept through him, causing him to leap and run. His guard was down, and he made all kinds of noise, whistling and breaking through brush, even whooping occasionally. Before he even knew he had been observed, he found himself looking up into the face of a mounted Sir Guy of Gisbourne, surrounded by all twenty-four of Gisbourne's armed guards. Euphoria died instantly.
Instinct made him reach for his bow, but he had foolishly arrived at Marian's house unarmed.
"Put your hands up, Hood," Gisbourne's satisfied voice commanded. "I have you surrounded. There is no escape."
...
Dawn was drawing near, and Little John awoke needing urgently to pee. He reached for his staff and arose, not even trying to tread lightly to avoid waking the others. They were all sound sleepers anyway, all except for Robin, who was often plagued by nightmares.
Returning from some distance away, Little John glanced briefly at his companions. The others were all asleep, but where was their leader?
Robin had left them on a private errand last night, but he should have returned long ago. This, Little John did not like.
"Wake up!" John bellowed, nudging the other outlaws with his staff. "Robin's gone!"
"Gone?" Much cried frantically. "What do you mean, gone?"
"He's no here."
"Not bein' funny, but he's probably off just takin' a piss."
Will shot Allan a glare, indicating the presence of Djaq, wishing Allan would curb his tongue now that they had a woman in their gang.
Much jumped up, anxiously pacing and darting back and forth between the men. "We need to find Robin! We need to look now! I knew I shouldn't have let him go alone! I knew it! Where is he? Where could he be?"
Everyone looked to Little John for leadership. Having once led his own gang, he naturally assumed the role of leader when Robin was gone.
"Split up," he commanded. "Fan out. Meet back here at sunrise. If we no find him...we go to Nottingham!"
...
Sheriff Vaisey could not believe his ears. Someone...some creature was pounding on the door to his bedchamber! In the middle of the night! Oh, he'd see the culprit swing!
He rose angrily from his bed and strode to his door, then unbolted it and yanked it open.
"What in the name of the king is this about?" he shrieked. "Do you have any idea what time it is?"
"Good evening, Sheriff," came Robin Hood's smug little voice in the dark. "Gisbourne thought it might be fun for me to pay you a visit."
"Shut up, Hood," Gisbourne ordered. "The Sheriff doesn't wish to hear your clever little remarks."
"Oh, but Gisbourne," Vaisey breathed in wonderment, "you are mistaken! I do want to hear them! Oh! Oh! This is good! This is good! Bring him in! Bring him in! Welcome to my chamber, Hood!"
Robin, arms and legs bound, nevertheless looked cockily around him. "I've been here once before, Sheriff. Don't tell me you've forgotten our private pillow talk?"
Gisbourne drew back in disgust. Pillow talk? Had Hood and the Sheriff...? He refused to think about it.
"Oh no, Hood, I haven't forgotten, and neither have you, apparently." Vaisey was so excited, he was panting through clenched teeth. He fairly skipped for joy as he closed his door behind Robin and Gisbourne.
"Wherever did you find him, Gisbourne, hmm?"
The Master at Arms sneered. "I found him making a ruckus outside Knighton."
"Knighton! Why, Gisbourne! What do you think Hood could have been doing outside Knighton so late at night, hmm?"
"I don't know, My Lord."
The Sheriff grinned maniacally, and pressed his ugly face right up against Robin's handsome one. "So, Hood, just where do you think I plan to lodge you this time, hmm? The dungeon can't hold you, after all."
Robin looked casually around the Sheriff's room. "Except for the odor of bird droppings, I wouldn't mind bunking here. That is, if you don't mind moving in with Gisbourne. I've heard it wouldn't be the first time you two shared a bed."
With an angry roar, Gisbourne drew his sword and charged at Robin, but the Sheriff stood in his way.
"Give it a rest, Gisbourne," Vaisey sighed with mild exasperation. "I have a better scheme in mind for our friend here than mere brutality. Oh, yes! I have a wonderful scheme! Just wait until Little Robin Red Breast here sees what I have in store for him! Oh, you'll like it, Hood! You'll like it! A clue...no!"
He turned to Sir Guy. "Gisbourne, it is time to unveil my marvelous bird cage!" He snickered wildly with delight. "I am going to display my newest bird for all to see. And what do you think, Gisbourne, hmm? Shall we charge the populace for the opportunity to toss rotten refuse at him, hmm? What shall we charge? A penny a toss? Oh, this is good! This is good!"
Gisbourne sneered and dragged Robin away.