Bright and early the following morning, Marian happily stepped outdoors to gather berries, but stopped in exasperation when she saw Sir Guy of Gisbourne approach her house. Hadn't she endured enough of his company the previous day? What did the man want now?
"Lady Marian." His tone was formal...almost searching, with a slight hint of threat behind it. Marian put up her guard.
"Sir Guy." She hoped her voice didn't sound too disappointed by his presence. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"
Gisbourne sneered slightly. He had come for several reasons.
Late last night, the sheriff's spies had arrived at Locksley with news they had spotted Robin Hood roaming in the vicinity of Knighton Hall. Gisbourne had immediately summoned his men, and they had successfully apprehended Hood on the fringe of the forest. The outlaw was now in the sheriff's custody, yet Gisbourne was tortured by doubts.
What had Hood been doing near Knighton? What, if anything, were his dealings with Lady Marian? Gisbourne needed to know.
He wasted no words. "Hood was seen snooping around here last night."
Studying her face for traces of emotion, he saw little he could effectively name as betrayal.
"Hood?" Marian gulped. "Around here?" She registered alarm. "He didn't come here to steal my horse, did he? Vesper?" Without excusing herself, she ran to where she could see her horse grazing in the pasture, and sighed with relief when she spotted the white mare.
"Forgive me, Sir Guy," she apologized, rejoining him. "I've been so worried about Vesper, since Hood almost made off with her in Nottingham."
Gisbourne breathed easier. "Have your horse shod with an identifying mark. That is what I did. Then, should Hood strike, you can track him."
"How very clever," Marian approved outwardly. Inwardly, she felt a mixture of relief at fooling him, dread for his presence, and apprehension for Robin's safety. But mostly, she was angry at being forced to lie.
"But there is no need for that, after all," Gisbourne continued. "I captured the fiend, and this time, there will be no escape."
"Captured him?" Marian asked, trying for all the world to sound calm. "You caught Robin Hood?"
"I did. Sheriff's planning to show him off. You should come see, milady. It promises to be entertaining."
Marian took deep breaths, trying to still her wildly pounding heart. "Entertaining? I don't understand."
Gisbourne almost smiled. "A play on words," he answered. "His name...'Robin.' " The word was seeped in loathing. "Sheriff's displaying him in a giant bird cage in the town square. Letting people throw buckets of refuse at him."
Marian's mouth dropped open. "That is humiliating," she objected, not being able to stop the words from escaping her lips.
Gisbourne turned on her. "It's no more than he deserves. The sheriff says it will hurt him more than torture, though I don't agree. Something about how Hood wants to be 'loved.' " Again, he sneered in disgust. "Once he's completely broken, the sheriff will execute him."
Marian summoned all her powers of deception, and smiled charmingly at Gisbourne. "Sir Guy," she said, "would you mind terribly escorting me to Nottingham? I must confess, it does sound like a sight I don't wish to miss."
Gisbourne was completely fooled, won over by her beauty and her charms. "I will take you there directly."
"Just let me tell my father first. Excuse me please, Sir Guy?"
Once inside the manor, Marian ran up the stairs to her room, found her dagger, and hid it in her boot. It lodged uncomfortably there, but she had a feeling she might need it.
How she would help Robin, she did not know. But she couldn't stay home and do nothing! She prayed an opportunity would present itself, and she would be ready to act. She'd always been before.
She returned outside and smiled at Gisbourne.
"Shall we?" he asked, his blood rushing through him. She had requested her horse saddled, and now, she rode beside Gisbourne, toward Nottingham.
...
The outlaws were already in the town. They had arrived early and had spread out, but weren't sure what exactly to do. Allan and Will had gone to the Trip to listen for gossip about Robin's fate, but hadn't learned anything except that Gisbourne had caught him, and the Sheriff had a scheme to hurt him.
Much and Djaq paired up, with Djaq doing her best to quiet Much's rantings. He continued to upbraid himself for not accompanying Robin last night, and worried constantly about his master's impending death.
"You cannot help him by being so upset, Much," Djaq advised. "Robin needs you to have a cool head now. Can you try?"
"I'll do it. I'll do it. But I hate this! I hate it!"
Little John stayed on the town's outskirts. His massive size made it hard for him to blend in with the town's citizens. His job was to ensure the gang had an adequate escape route, and to jump into the fight, when necessary.
When Marian arrived on horseback beside Gisbourne, Allan shot Will a knowing look.
"Not bein' funny, but they look friendly. Robin's not gonna like it."
"She's just doing what she has to to survive."
Trumpets blared, announcing the beginning of the day's "entertainment." The populace gathered eagerly in the town square.
"Shouldn't one of us be up high, to shoot?" Will asked.
"And which one of us would that be?" Allan was growing nervous. He couldn't forget the feel of the noose tightening around his neck. "You go right ahead and be my guest. Climb to the rooftops or the battlements, like Robin does. Just see how easy it is for you get trapped up there, when they catch you."
"You're frightened," Will accused.
"Damn right I am," Allan admitted. "So are you."
"What's that?" Much asked Djaq, on a different side of the square. They were looking at something suspended from the gallows, something huge and covered with a cloth, swinging slightly in the breeze. Djaq only shook her head in ignorance.
"My friends," the Sheriff was crowing happily, "today marks the end of violence...the beginning of justice! A new glorious age in Nottingham is about to begin, under me, Vaisey, your sheriff. Hidden under this cloth, awaits your enemy Robin Hood, captured last night, while he was stealing from one of our most respected citizens, Sir Edward of Knighton! But before Hood could make away with his ill gotten wealth, my Master of Arms, Sir Guy of Gisbourne, captured him and brought him before me! So, what do I do with the vile thief, hmm? Chop off his hand? A clue...no. The thief shall not roam free to steal again! He shall be locked up, like a bird in a cage! Behold! The latest bird in my keeping, Robin Hood! Oh, yes!"
He signalled for the cover to be removed, and Robin stood exposed, locked in a giant iron bird cage, his wrists, ankles, and mouth bound and gagged. The crowd gasped to see the former Earl of Huntington brought so low. Yet Robin's eyes continued to glow proudly.
"Now," Vaisey continued, thrilled beyond measure, "before we execute him for his dastardly crimes, I say we feed our little Robin Red Breast, hmm? A final meal is in order, certainly. So, come, who would like to go first?"
Gisbourne stepped forward. "I would, My Lord."
The Sheriff almost jumped up and down in glee. "Gisbourne! Yes! Of course! I think you'll find a bucket of slops over there. Have a go, Gisbourne, but step back...it's bound to splash, and it's quite nasty!"
Gisbourne turned his face away from the filthy thick liquid in the bucket. The stench was overpowering.
"Ready, Hood?" Gisbourne asked. "Here's a taste of what you deserve!" He hurled the contents of the bucket toward Robin, who turned his back so that it received the worst of the dousing.
"Oh, very good, Gisbourne! Who's next?" the sheriff called.
"I want to try, Lord Sheriff!" Marian glared at Martin of Aylesbury when he volunteered. He was robed in elegant finery, and eager to pay Robin back for mocking him earlier.
Robin turned pleading eyes on Aylesbury. Surely he wouldn't douse him with sewage! But Martin couldn't wait.
The noble grimaced when he lifted the bucket, but put all his strength into his throw. Unfortunately for him, it wasn't enough. The slops missed Robin, hit a wall, and splashed back at Aylesbury, covering his brand new clothing.
"No!" he screamed, and burst into angry tears.
Marian could not waste time being pleased. She looked over the crowd, eventually locating all of Robin's gang. She hoped one of them had a plan, and she stood ready to help, if she was needed.