On silent feet, Robin crept furtively down the castle steps, until he reached the entrance to the dungeons. The heavy timber door was locked and guarded by George, a man Robin remembered as a bully from childhood.
Quick as a flash of lightening, Robin leaped from the shadows to land boldly two feet in front of the burly armed guard.
"Locksley!"
"I thought I taught you, years ago, not to bully the meek. Yet here you are, working for a vile sheriff."
"I earn an honest wage. Look at you! No lord now! You're an outlaw!"
"Yes I am. But, I'm an outlaw with a mean right hook!"
With a swift fluid movement, Robin drew back his fist and knocked the startled guard unconscious to the ground.
"That was easy," the outlaw smirked.
Grinning like a fox, he bent and stole the guard's keys. Now, for the real fun!
After three unsuccessful tries, Robin found the correct key, and pushed open the heavy oaken door. It creaked like an old woman's bones.
Trotting down the stone steps leading to the dungeon cells, Robin came face to face with the jailor. The jailor's creepy, eyebrowless death mask face registered surprise, then terror, at the sight of Robin Hood invading his dungeon.
"Help! Hood's in the castle!" He wet himself in his fear.
"The sheriff really needs to give you more privy breaks," Robin muttered, before slugging the jailor and knocking him out cold as well.
"Hood."
A low voice, almost a growl, seethed from one of the dungeon cells.
"Good day, Gisbourne," Robin smirked, teeth clenched. "Thought I pay you a visit. How are you finding your accomodations, by the way?"
"Come to gloat? The sheriff will find you down here, and lock you in a cell as well."
"I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you. Vaisey's busy painting his toenails. Now, you're right. I have come to gloat, and make certain nobody else tries to free you."
"The sheriff will free me, once he comes to his senses."
Robin tsked, mockingly. "That's where you're mistaken, Gisbourne. Vaisey has no sense. So, I'm afraid..." and he smiled, "you're sentenced to die."
Robin's cockiness proved his undoing. Gloating, he drew too near Gisbourne's cell. A black leathered arm shot out from between the bars, gripping Robin around his throat, choking him.
"If I'm to die, I won't do it until I've killed you first!" Gisbourne squeezed, cutting off Robin's supply of air. The outlaw wheezed and gasped, struggling to survive, and might have been strangled to death, if not interrupted by the revived guard, George, leading Sheriff Vaisey down the stone dungeon steps.
"Gisbourne!" the sheriff crowed, clapping his stubby little hands in glee. "You've caught Robin Hood!"
"Do you want me to kill him, my lord?" Gisbourne asked hopefully, sneering at the outlaw struggling under his tight grasp.
"A clue...no! That's my job! He's mine, Gisbourne! All mine! And by the way, you're pardoned! Any man who captures Robin Hood is a hero!"
Vaisey swooped to the ground to pick up the keys Robin had dropped when Gisbourne grabbed him, and unlocked Gisbourne's cell. Then, with George's assistance, Guy of Gisbourne and Robin Hood changed places.
The door closed on Robin with a dreadful clinking sound.
"Oh, this is good! This is good!" Vaisey chortled. "Come along, Gisbourne! You're forgiven! Go home to Locksley and get yourself cleaned up! Change your clothes, for the first time in your life! Then, come back here. I may even host a little party in your honor!"
"Yes, my lord sheriff," Gisbourne said, a slow half sneer creeping across his face. "Enjoy your accomodations, Hood. This will be the last home you'll ever know, until Hell."
...
The outlaws, having distributed the money to the poor, had obeyed Robin's orders and returned to the forest. That is, every outlaw except for Allan.
Young boys who served as heralds, at Sheriff Vaisey's command, patrolled the city streets, proclaiming the news of the capture of Robin Hood. Allan sat bolt upright in the squalid bedchamber of Maggie the Tart.
"Sheriff's caught Robin!" he cried, alarmed.
"He yer friend?" Maggie asked.
"Yeah. More like a brother. Damn! How'd he get caught? Thought he was too crafty for that!"
"Well, don't you get caught! I like you!"
"I like you, too. But listen, Maggie, I'm not goin' back to the forest without Robin! I gotta save him, and you're gonna help me!"
"Me? What can I do?"
Allan grinned. "Robin's always teachin' us stories 'bout heroes. You ever hear of a wench called Lady Godiva?"