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Hey next chapter uploaded, hope you like it I spent longer on this one because I have taken so long to upload...ENJOY!
Archer led his horse casually into the buzzing town of York, one would think that he would make himself scarce, in a place that had once tried to kill him, but here he was walking casually into it's midst, showing no fear of what it had done to him in the past, or what it once meant. He would keep himself on the down low while he stayed here, he had a special and dangerous reason for showing up in York again, he was here to collect the woman who had pleaded to go with him before, Gweneth.
He had not forgotten her the moment he left, and he was almost sorry he left her behind, but now that he was finished helping Robin and Gisborne, he figured that they wouldn't mind his leaving, as he had paid his debt for selling arms to the enemy. Walking casually to the Tavern he secured his horse to a hitching rail and walked inside, bar girls soon surrounded him and made inappropriate gestures, as well as cocky sounds of aw and amazement, as they stared at his fine features.
He soon pushed them away and walked straight to a corner of the tavern, seating himself he then leaned the chair's back against the wall lazily, a more responsible bar maid came over to him, she was more quiet and down to the strictness of business.
"What will you have stranger?" She asked, a foreign accent clearly visible in her tone,
"What does one have to eat around here I have travelled for a while and I am hungry." He replied,
"If anything you should have the venison unless you want anything else to crawl up your throat once you've ingested it." She said, implying that the food was not fit to be eaten,
"Bring me a jug of ale and some venison." Archer said, as he placed a silver crown on the table he sat at,
"Your order will be right with you shortly sir." She said, as she walked back to the bar carrying the money he had given her,
Only minutes later the bar maid returned with his order, a jug in one hand and a wooden bowl with the other, a small piece of bread sitting on the edge of the bowl, when she put his order down she turned to leave but he grabbed her by the wrist, gesturing for her to take a seat with him.
"Can you be bought for a few minutes?" He asked, as he slipped another drown for his pocket, she obviously guessed he was the typical man, so she pulled a few string on her bodice,
"Not that kind of bought." He said, as he grabbed her hand stopping her from pulling any more strings loose,
"Then what did you have in mind?" She asked, as she tied her loose string and straightened herself,
"Is there anyone in this town that knows a few things about it that he will be willing to let slip for a price?" He asked, as he took a sip from his jug,
"Depends on what kind of information you're looking for?" She asked, getting interested, she soon could tell he wasn't the typical stranger,
"Information that would get him killed if the sheriff knew he knew about it." Archer replied, as he stared into her blue-green eyes,
"Well if it's danger you're looking for then you should meet with Jeremiah." She said, as she slid across the table to get closer to him lowering her voice, he then did the same,
"And where can I find him?" Archer asked, glad there was someone in this town like his friend in Nottingham, who had told him about the secret passage into the castle,
"You can meet him down an alley, near the social center it's a rundown building, go there at midnight tonight and you'll find him, just keep walking down the alley till you see the beggars, after that you'll enter a dark side street, that's where he likes to hang out." She explained, snatching the crown from his hand,
"Thank you I'll look into it...midnight you say?" He asked making sure he had everything straight,
"Yep midnight or a few after he'll be there." She said, as she rose from the table and continued about her business, once she left Archer turned his attention to the food that lay before him, it wasn't until he smelt the food, did he realize just how hungry he was, he would have lost his appetite if he knew what was happening in Robin's camp at this present time.
After a frantic journey to different toll houses Robin found nothing so he returned to camp, when he did he found Tuck sitting by the fire mixing different ingredients together, Kate was tending to Gisborne giving him sips of water. The rest of his gang were lounged on their bunks leisurely watching everything that was happening, Robin walked silently over to Gisborne who was in a weak state.
"Robin." Gisborne greeted, as he saw him step into his line of sight,
"Hey how do you feel?" Robin asked, not wanting to be the one to tell him he was dying,
"Tuck tells me it's not so good...I'm dying Robin." Guy said weakly, his hand rising and falling on his chest as he breathed shallowly,
"I know." Robin said, his head lowered,
"But Tuck also tells me...there might be hope...our brother...Archer." Gisborne said, trying to cheer Robin up after he saw the sudden decline in the features of Robin's face, at the speaking of his own death,
"Yes but I don't know where to look." Robin answered,
"Where would he have gone...why did leave?" Guy asked, wandering why Archer would leave once he fought alongside the only family he had left, and he and Archer had gotten along quite well,
"I don't know I think he stayed because he wanted to make it up to us after he sold byzantine fire to Vaisey, after that I think he wants to be alone." Robin said, because he hadn't fully grasped the reason for his brother's sudden secret departure,
"But I will find him Gisborne I promise I will not let it end like this." Robin said, his voice suddenly filled with a newly found source of determination,
"Robin if you can't do anything...then don't worry...I'll die proud...knowing I helped you save England." He said, finding a new source of bravery after his strength was fast dwindling,
"No." John suddenly said, startling the both of them with his own determination in his voice, "Today is not a good day to die." He added,
"John's right today is not a good day for you to die." Robin agreed,
"Then find him Robin...find our brother...and pray that he hasn't gone back East yet." Gisborne said, trying to find all the strength that still lingered inside him,
"I will and I will be back before it's too late...don't you dare give up until I come back." Robin said, fighting back tears that threatened,
"I will be waiting for you when you get back." Gisborne said, as he lifted his arm as much as he could, Robin soon took his hand and held it tightly in both of his own, He then let go, and went to pack food and water into a saddle bag, after he had he pulled Tuck aside, "Take Gisborne to the Loxley Manor and see to it that you do all you can for him, you can care for him better there." Robin said,
"We'll move him first thing in the morning...and just remember haste is necessary." Tuck reminded, "God speed my friend." He added, as he patted Robin on the shoulder, Robin stood silent for a few moments before he exited the camp, and mounting his horse he rode off into the night.
He knew that he had not been seen at Nettlestone or Clun, and he had not been seen on the road to London either, that only left several more to check, so mounting his horse he rode off into the night. Later he stopped at a toll house; he didn't know which one because he had lost sense of direction in the dark, "Have you seen a man on a white horse, leather tunic, and dual swords, he is average height and he has brown hair?" Robin asked, giving a description,
"Yes I have he passed here today, he tossed me a few shillings and went on his way why?" The toll keeper asked,
"Which toll house is this?" Robin then asked,
"This is the toll house to York." He answered,
"Thank you I need to pass." Robin said, as he drew several shillings,
"Allright I'll just take your toll and you can be on your way." He said, as he reached out to grab the money, he then opened the gate for Robin to pass on to York,
"Why is he going to York?" Robin asked himself in his head, "The sheriff there wants him dead why would he return?" Robin questioned further, this didn't make any sense, Archer was returning to a place that wanted to see him hang, the only thing he knew was that Gisborne was a lucky man, he would be able to find his brother get him to come back as soon as he told him Gisborne was dying, they would hurry back and save Gisborne's life.
If he was lucky he would pull into York around morning, his arrival time couldn't be helped because he needed to keep his horse strong, ready for the hasty trip back to Loxley where their half brother would be waiting.
Archer had finished his meal, and the moon outside was telling him that it was close to midnight, so after finishing of his jug of ale he exited the tavern to go and find Jeremiah, taking the barmaid's advice he walked down the street until he came to the social center. When he did he then proceeded down the side of the building, walking past a window he could hear seduced moans of pleasure, alcohol being poured into separate cups, and wild screams of great satisfaction, he could only imagine the behavior and actions taking place inside. He proceeded down an alley way and stopped when he saw the beggars she had described, he then walked further till he came to a dark side street, after that he leaned against the wall and waited for Jeremiah. She had told him that Jeremiah had an identifying gait, a leg injury he had sustained years ago, finally after ten minutes of waiting, he saw the man he was waiting for.
When he saw him he slowly walked up to him calling him by name, "Jeremiah mind if we had a talk." Archer asked,
"A talk who are you I don't remember you?" Jeremiah asked,
"I'm Archer and I want some information I'm sure you can give for a price." Archer said, getting straight down to business,
"Yeah...Well I never heard of ya how come you know me so well?" He asked; weary of the man, who stood before him,
"Margret the barmaid sent me." Archer said, but just then there was a sharp pain at the back of his head and everything went black, and the cobblestone walkway soon came to greet him,
The next day found him in a dimly lit room, the first thing he noticed was that everything was the wrong way up, then the second thing he noticed was that it was he who was the wrong way up, and he soon realized that he was hanging by his feet from a beam in the center of the room. His hands were also tied but he couldn't see anyone, it wasn't long until and elderly man walked into the room and over to him, "Well I'm Jeremiah Margret tells me she did indeed send you." He said finding him no longer posing a threat, but that could have been because he was bound hand and foot, and hanging upside down from the ceiling,
"Funny she didn't seem to mention you had a gang." Archer said,
"Forgive the precorsion as you can probably tell I know some secrets that a hazardous to my health, so I have to play it safe one can't be too careful." Jeremiah said, as he began to cut the rope that held Archer off the ground, he cut it, and Archer came crashing head first to the ground,
"So what can I do for you Archer?" He asked, as he seated himself in a chair,
"I need some information that I am quite happy to pay for." Archer answered,
"And what kind of information do you want from me?" He asked,
"The kind that let's me get into the castle without having to be invited." Archer said, with implication,
"Wait now I know you I went to see your execution back a few but you escaped." Jeremiah said, finally realizing who the man was infront of him,
"Yeah almost got my neck stretched then don't care to go there again any time soon." Archer said,
"So you want to get into the castle...what for you want to kill the sheriff?" He asked,
"No, no my motive is dark but not that dark." Archer replied,
"Well since I already have your money I'll tell you how to get into the castle." He agreed as he grabbed a pouch from the table, showing Archer that he had his money,
"But that information isn't worth that much." Archer protested,
"And keeping the secret is worth more than this so be grateful I haven't slit your throat already." Jeremiah warned,
"By all means do keep the money I'm sure I will find some more in my travels." Archer agreed, when his life flashed before his eyes for a second time,
"Now if you can get into the courtyard head straight for the garbage disposal, once there you need to get rid of the guard, when you do you need to climb inside the chute, you'll need a lot of strength to make it all the way or you'll slide straight out, after that you'll be in the kitchen if you're lucky the kitchen servants won't tattle on you and after that I think you know how to get out too." He explained,
"What that's it?" Archer asked,
"Well what did you expect?" Jeremiah asked,
"Maybe like a secret tunnel or something along the lines." Archer replied,
"Sorry if I knew something like that don't you think I would have tried to sneak into the castle, and steal some loot so I wouldn't have to live on the streets stealing from the people Margret sends to me?" He asked in a chuckle, Archer merely shifted his head in an understanding gesture, Jeremiah then started to walk away,
"Wait where are you going?" Archer asked, as he held out his bound hands,
"Back on the street before the nights through Margret would have sent someone else down this alley." Jeremiah replied,
"But what about me?" He asked,
"What about you?" Jeremiah asked,
"Aren't you going to untie me?" Archer asked,
"Why would I do that?" He asked,
"Because I'm not trying to kill you." Archer replied,
"Doesn't matter you're on your own now." He said as he walked out of the building,
"Last time I trust a barmaid." He mumbled out loud, as he hopped over to the table where his dual swords lay, he managed to pick one up awkwardly and slice through his ropes; he then cut the ropes around his feet, which were causing his ankles to rub together in his boots painfully.
Hey sorry not much about Guy just enough to let you know he's still on his way out might be more in following chapters. R, R, and R.