Robin gripped the iron grating in the ceiling of his cell and slowly pulled his body up and down, up and down, up and down, in a series of methodical pull ups. The exercise served to pass the time, but mostly it helped clear his head to allow him to think.
Captured again! And he had ridden straight into the sheriff's trap! But how had it happened? How could the sheriff have known his whereabouts?
A terrible thought struck him. He had just come from Marian! If his movements had been tracked, how safe was she? He needed to get out of here and make certain she was alright!
The stillness of his dungeon cell was broken by the sound of a jangle of keys, the click of a lock being sprung, and the creak of the heavy door of his cell opening. He dropped to the floor and readied himself to face the vicious monster, Sheriff Vaisey.
"Welcome to my castle, Hood," Vaisey gloated, strutting into the dank chamber. "Tell me, hmm, how are you finding your accomodations? Everything to your satisfaction, Hood, hmm?"
"The rats are a little on the small side," Robin answered, a smug look on his face. "I seem to remember them bigger on my last visit."
"Oh, they'll grow, Hood! Especially if I decide to leave you here to rot. They'll grow quite large...feeding on your pretty little carcass."
Robin laughed unpleasantly. "There's one more thing, Vaisey," he said, with icy charm. "I seem to be missing something. Don't tell me you stole my tiger tooth again."
"I won't...but I did." He pulled the necklace from inside his shirt and greedily fingered the glossy tooth. "This little trinket of yours interests me strangely, Hood. So exotic! So toothsome!" He laughed at his own attempt at humor. "What is it, Hood, hmm? A love charm? A talisman to keep you safe? What, Hood what?"
Robin stared at him with cool detached eyes. "It's a trophy, from the first time I used my bow. I saved a small child. You wouldn't understand."
"Oh, wouldn't I? Well, la dee dah dee dah! Well, it doesn't matter now, does it, Hood, hmm? Whatever will the helpless little children do now, when Robin Hood is dead?" He altered his voice. " 'Oh, save us! Save us! Save us!' Will Robin Hood come to save you, my tiny terrified tots? A clue...no."
"I suggest you give me back my necklace, Vaisey, or I'll be forced to make an exchange."
"What exchange, Hood, hmm?"
"Ever hear of 'an eye for an eye...?' "
Vaisey finished the phrase. " 'And a tooth for a tooth.' Oh, good, good! Very good! Are you threatening to extract a tooth from my mouth? And just how do you propose doing that, Hood, hmm?"
"Give me back my necklace, and you never need know. Otherwise, I promise you, I will make that exchange one day."
The Sheriff laughed and tucked the tiger tooth back under his shirt. "I look forward to the day, Hood! But for now, I'll just hold onto your little trinket awhile longer... What do you think, hmm? Is it about the size of your...? A bit on the skinney side, Hood, but then, so is the rest of you."
Robin ignored the sheriff's ruthless jibe. Instead, he was relieved when Vaisey waltzed out of his cell, leaving him in peace.
An hour or so passed monotonously. The rank cell stank of stale urine and rat droppings. Robin didn't dare sit, lest his body be coverred by swarming vermin. Instead, he paced, thinking and praying silently.
He was worried about Marian. At least the sheriff hadn't mentioned her! If Vaisey suspected her dealings with him, Robin felt certain the sheriff would had said something against her. But thankfully, her name hadn't come up.
He was jerked from his musings once again, when he heard another key jangle, a lock click, and the heavy door creak open. Who now came to taunt him? Gisbourne? Robin almost laughed. Let Gisbourne come to gloat. Robin might not be armed, but he was ready for a fight.
But it wasn't Sir Guy of Gisbourne. It was a female figure...a lovely feminine form, bending down to place a tray of food just inside his door.
"Last meal," the girl's voice said, in a thick common accent.
A slow smile stretched across Robin's face. He knew the girl instantly...he'd studied her his entire life, both in his waking hours and in his dreams. Marian! She might disguise herself in tattered rags, and vary her voice to sound like a peasant, but she couldn't hide her loveliness. He'd know her anywhere.
Everytime he most needed her, she was there. Robin was extremely moved. The thought struck him that, despite hearing her protests against him, she was actually willing to die for him. It took his breath away.
"Dig the maggots out of the bread before you eat it," she advised, and he moved toward her and took the tray.
A group of guards fanned out just behind her...Robin counted six. But there was no time to waste. He did as she advised, digging his fingers into the bread, and was rewarded when they closed on a small metal lockpick. He used it immediately to free himself from his iron shackles, then hurled himself out of his cell and began fighting his way through the surprised guards.
Marian helped him fight, just as he had taught her. She managed to take on two of the guards, fighting in the careful methodical way she had, while he took on the rest, fighting with his customary zeal and abandon. In almost no time, all six guards and the jailor lay stretched out on the floor. Marian shivered when she noticed vermin begin to swarm over them.
"Thank you," Robin breathed, taking hold of her two hands and kissing them. "You are impressive, Marian. I can't tell you what this means to me."
His voice was thick with emotion, as were his gorgeous blue eyes. Why did he choose a time like this to confess his inner feelings? He was infuriating!
"Go, Robin," she cautioned. "I didn't risk my neck coming to your rescue, just to be captured because you decided it was time to talk! Go! And by the way, Achilles will be fine!"
He watched her face look in all directions, and then, she darted away, out of the dungeons.
She'd rescued his horse, too? She was amazing! The only thing he wanted to do was to follow her...quickly lead her to safety, then take his time kissing her goodnight.
Why not? Ever since he'd seen her in his cell, he'd felt invincible! Laughing joyously, he ran after her.