Disclaimer: Nope, nothing, zip, nada, nort.
Hey Thanks Caro A Dale for the reviews, here is the next chapter. Hope you Enjoy, R, R, and R.
Robin trotted his horse into York in the early morning, his eyes scanning madly looking for Archer; he had no idea that at this time he was indeed trying to enter the castle, to get to Gweneth. Archer had made his way into the courtyard, leaving his horse hidden in the stables, he walked in when a group of traders walked in, he head and features covered in a cloak, and deep hood, he than cautiously made his way to the garbage disposal, lifting his hood slightly he saw the guard that stood there, armed with a large spike. Walking pas the guard slowly he stopped, "Scraps for the poor please my family is starving?" He asked, transforming his voice to sound hoarse,
"Clear off this is a restricted area." The guard said,
"Please my family has not eaten for days...just a few scraps they have already been thrown out surely no one wants them any more." He insisted with a hint of reason,
"Allright then but you didn't do it on my watch." The guard agreed,
"Sorry I have to do this to you but I have to make sure you're out for a long while." Archer apologized to the guard in his head, as he retrieved a club from his belt and struck the guard on the back of the head with it, "Sorry about this." He apologized, as he hit the guard again,
After he had taken care of the guard he dragged his body out of view, and shed his cloak, he then slid into the garbage chute, he placed a hand on either wall, and pushed against them, he then began to slowly advance up the long chute.
Robin had made his way to the tavern which seemed like the place Archer would have gone, so he went in to ask around, when he entered he immediately got gestures and sounds of amazement from most of the barmaids, except for one, a red headed older looking woman, who leaned against the bar.
Robin chose this one to talk to as she showed him no attention, "Excuse me have you seen a man in here the same size as me or a bit taller, white shirt, leather tunic, and brown hair?" He asked, as he too leaned against the bar next to the woman,
"I might have why?" She asked, without looking at him,
"Well he knows a few things and unfortunately my men don't so if I don't get him to come back with me a friend of mine will die." Robin replied,
"I see well I sent him to Jeremiah last night...the names Margret." She said,
Robin who figured he had a reputation in this town, decided to go with his last name, "Loxley the names Loxley." He replied,
"Well Mister Loxley the man you'll want to see is Jeremiah, just go past the social centre, down an alley way, past some beggars, and down a side street, after that there's a building that has a white cross painted on it, that's where Jeremiah lives, and that's where he would have taken your friend." Margret explained,
"Well thank you for your time." Robin thanked, as he walked out of the tavern,
Archer had slipped twice and had almost slid straight out of the chute, but his determination along with his upper body strength prevented it, finally he had made it to the top of the chute, and the door opened and a woman gasped in shock.
"Sorry didn't mean to frighten you...could you give me a hand up?" He asked kindly, as the woman peered at him still in shock, so another kitchen girl ran to his aid,
"Thank you my good woman." He thanked, grateful he wasn't left to slid back to where he started,
"Allright let's have it what are you doing in the castle...in our kitchen?" The woman demanded, she was a strange one first she helped him, then she was ready to throw him down the chute again,
"I have come to see the woman I love we were separated a while back." Archer said, not telling a complete lie to the woman,
"Allright but if the guards found out I helped you in I will come and kill you myself...because this job is all I have." She said angrily,
"You know some how I believe you." He said, not wanting to mess with the woman,
"You better because I never tell a lie." She warned, as he went off to search the castle,
Back at Loxley: Gisborne is being transported from the camp to the Loxley Manor, they are carrying him in a makeshift stretcher, they take him straight to his bed chamber, and slip him into the bed, Guy is breathing heavy so Tuck examines him.
"Guy are you allright?" he asks,
"Yeah I just thought I would never feel this bed again." Guy Replied, as he positions his head on the soft pillow,
"I'll clean and dress your wound...is there a medical kit here?" Tuck asked,
"Yes it's in the servant's quarters." Guy answered quietly,
"You're going to make it Guy." Tuck assured,
"I wouldn't hold my breath." He said, closing his eyes, and shifting slightly to get more comfortable,
"I will be back shortly." Tuck said, as he made to leave,
"Don't worry I'm not going anywhere." Guy said in a yawn,
Tuck's pace slowed before he exited the room, he searched the servants quarters for the kit, up in the cupboard he found it he placed it on the table and opened it, it was quite the sophisticated medical kit, and housed hundreds of different medicines, and herbs. There was a lot for him to work with but without actual knowledge of what the medicines did, it would take careful use, he closed the lid on the kit and walked back into Guy's bed chamber.
He placed the Kit on the bed and opened it, taking out a small brown bottle and fresh cloth he sat them on the bed, he then opened Guy's tunic and shirt exposing the wound, he slowly removed the bandage, the wound was still clean which was good so it would prevent infection. The wound still looked quite painful so dressing it with something that would help the pain, was a smart idea, "I need you to turn on your side." Tuck said, as he helped Guy turn on his left side,
After that Tuck poured some of the liquid from the kit on a piece of cloth, and wiped the wound with it, this was to ensure it remained clean, he then pasted some herbs he had ground together to make a paste on the wound also, this would help it heal and to keep the pain to a minimum. After he had given Guy a sip of water he covered him to the chest with the bed sheets, so he could get some sleep, even if he was dying rest was still one of the best cures to any problem.
Archer had spent only a few minutes in the castle, and already he had nearly run into two groups of soldiers, he must be to confident due to the fact that he had made it into the castle, whatever it was he had to be a lot more careful. But the third time was anything but lucky, because he had nowhere to hide, "Hey you there stop!" The guard yelled,
"Robin where are you when I need you?" He asked out loud, as he ran in the opposite direction, away from the guards,
"Stop come back here!" Another guard yelled, as Archer ran through doors, and winding corridors,
"I don't think so you'll have to catch me first." He said, as he leaped over a banister,
He then ran into a room and closed the door behind him, sliding a piece of wood through a locking mechanism, he then dusted his hands and turned around, but when he did he could have been knocked over with a feather. Because he had run straight into the great hall of the castle, where he was now surrounded my soldiers, and there seated on thrown like chairs were the sheriff and Gweneth.
"So you dare show your face in the castle again, let alone daring to show your face in York again." The sheriff said, and if looks could kill the stare of a thousand daggers would have cut Archer to pieces, Gweneth gave Archer a puzzled expression, but Archer soon suppressed it with a warning glare, "Well I didn't want you to forget me so I decided to come back." Archer said, with cockiness clearly evident in his tone,
"Well I assure you I will soon forget you and you won't soon forget me." The sheriff said,
"Oh I won't forget you; you were truly one of a kind." Archer said, but his gaze wasn't set upon the sheriff it was set upon his wife, as she looked back at him with a warm smile,
"Guards take this man to the dungeons and torture him." He said,
"Torture surely you're a merciful man sheriff?" Archer asked, his willfulness still lingering even as his life was threatened,
"But don't kill him I want to personally watch him die in the courtyard the day after tomorrow...when that day comes I want a pack of wild dogs so hungry that they will tear him apart on sight." The sheriff said, as Archer was taken to the dungeons,
Robin was recovering from a hard knock on the head, after he had walked into a dark side street, he had no idea where he was now and in truth he didn't care because Archer was the only thing on his mind, only now a man named Jeremiah was invading a reserved space. He rubbed his head as he sat on the hard floor, he was engaged in checking for blood until a door behind him creaked open, he tried to rise and face the door, but his head pounded causing his vision to blur for several moments.
When he regained his sight he saw an elderly man standing in the doorway, slowly the man approached Robin, "This is the second visitor I've had in a long while...what is it you want?" He asked, getting straight down to business,
"I want to know if a man named Archer came to see you?" Robin asked, steadying a swimming room by grabbing a small table that was in the room,
"What's your connection with him?" Jeremiah asked,
"So he came to see you?" Robin asked, becoming suddenly interested,
"He might've why?" He asked,
"He's my brother and I need him to save our brother back in Loxley he'll die if I don't get back in time." Robin said truthfully,
"Well in the event that you're telling the truth I told him how to get into the castle by now he should have made it in." Jeremiah said,
"Did he tell you why he wanted to get into the castle?" Robin asked,
"No but I asked him about it I asked him if he was going to kill the sheriff but he said his motive wasn't that dark." He explained,
"How long ago did you tell him how to get in?" Robin asked,
"Just this morning." He answered,
"I need you to tell me how to get in." Robin said, realizing that he had to get his brother out of the castle, he knew now why Archer had gone back to York, he had gone to get Gweneth the sheriff's wife,
So after Jeremiah had let him go Robin rode towards the castle, and as if he had followed Archer's exact route he hid his horse in the stables too, but on his way out he noticed another horse it was the one that Archer had stolen from Gisborne.
"Hey big fella where's your new master huh?" Robin asked, the white horse as he stroked hit's head, the horse replied with a nicker of pleasure, Robin then walked around to the saddle bags and quickly ran through them, he found several pieces of cloth tied tightly together protecting something inside. He raised one to his nose, and briefly began to choke; they were mustard bombs, "Why does Archer's knowledge cease to amaze me?" Robin asked himself as he stuffed the bombs in a hip bag he carried, there were about a dozen of them and he knew that somehow they would all come in handy.
Carefully Robin made his way to the disposal chute, he suddenly put his hand on his sword when he saw a guard, "Archer was definitely here." He muttered as he saw the guard was indeed out cold, carefully like Archer had done he climbed up the chute, Robin was more experienced in this field so it was easier for him to climb up.
When he was at the top he opened the small door, he peeked in the Kitchen and found nobody, which was a good thing because the less people saw of him the better things were, carefully he made his way down a slender corridor, but he was forced to hide behind a flag when he heard a group of guards coming.
When they passed Robin saw Archer, and Archer saw Robin, Robin gave him a 'what the heck are you doing here' look and Archer shot Robin a 'you need to leave now' look, neither knew if either one had heeded their silent questions or orders, but one thing they both knew was neither was going to do as they were told. Because after their encounter Robin made his way into the great hall unseen, where he was hoping to get some answers, when he had entered the sheriff stood at the head of the table as if he was going to make an announcement, Robin suddenly became intent.
"Well my Lords and Ladies it appears we have some added entertainment on Saturday." He began; Robin knew he was referring to Archer, "The man who has managed to interrupt our business gathering will be executed in the name of sport." He added,
"How shall we watch him die?" Robin called out, changing the sound of his voice to make it seem like one of the men who were seated at the table,
"I'm glad you asked because this death is for the cause of Sport, he will be caged in an arena then we will fill it with vicious dogs that will tear him to shreds." The sheriff replied,
"And will he have a chance to defend himself?" Robin asked,
"Of course he will he will have his two fists to protect him but don't ask me if that will do any good against the beasts." The sheriff answered,
"I'll be looking forward to it then." Robin said, before he carefully remained out of sight and slipped out of the room, this was not good Archer was a prisoner, and this time he had no idea how he was going to break Arc her out of the castle.
If he couldn't get him out of the castle then he would have to get him out of the execution somehow, someway he would have to risk the crowd, the life of both his brothers hung on his shoulder, save the brother about to be executed in York to save the brother waiting in Loxley Manor who is slowly dying. "Damn why does everything have to be so complicated life is a cruel mistress." Robin cursed to himself, things were not going his way,
A lot of things had changed between Guy and Robin, first they were mortal enemies, then they had found out they were a family, then they had saved England together, Guy being severely wounded in the process, but he had given up his selfish gain to fight alongside Robin.
How could he let the man he now loved as a brother die right before his eyes without doing a thing, he couldn't do it even if it was to save England, things had changed now and guy was family, and no matter what it was up to him to save him.
Hey thanks for reading hope you liked it. :)