"You haven't brought her back, Gisborne," Prince John snarked as he watched the knight where he knelt before him. "You gave me your word. How should I have you killed, hm? I think a simple hanging would be anti-climactic, don't you?"
Two days after Robin's impromptu visit to him, Gisborne had been summoned back to the castle. Now, he knelt before the prince, waiting for the axe to fall. Had he been careful enough? He would soon see. "It will take a bit more time, my King," he said quietly. "I've gained their trust. It will be simple now to bring them in."
"Yes, well, that's all well and good, my friend," And Prince John came down from his seat to caress Gisborne's hair. The knight had to fight down a shudder of revulsion. "But I've changed my mind about her usefulness. If left alive, she could be a rallying point, for herself or for Richard. Kill her. Gain her lands, gain her gold, and be rid of the troublesome little monster."
Guy nodded. "Might I ask a question, sire?" he said softly. He needed to know what was going on in the Prince's mind.
"Oh, do get up. I like you, Gisborne," John said testily as he minced back to his throne. "You're the most slippery, backstabbing, conniving man I've ever met, excluding myself of course. One could wonder exactly whose side you're really on, hm?"
Guy rose, fighting the urge to stretch the kinks out of his long legs. "I am, as ever, a servant of the King," he said softly as he kissed John's ring.
"What's your question, my slippery friend?" John asked with some asperity.
Guy considered his words carefully. "Perhaps I might have some time with her before she dies?" He seated himself at the table, ignoring for the moment the possibility that all this might be a trap. He was committed to it now. "There is the little matter of her attack on me I'd like to address." He gave a snort of derision.
"Several attacks now, isn't it? Very well, you may do with her as you like as long as she dies. She cannot be allowed to rally support for Richard." John sighed softly. "A pity, really. She's a beautiful girl, or she would be if she hadn't hacked off all her hair. She'd give beautiful children. Unless of course they looked like you." He snorted a bit of laughter.
"Oh, she'll die. I just want to enjoy it." Guy sneered. "And after they're dead?"
"One thing. You keep saying you've gained their trust. How?"
Gisborne lifted his goblet in a mock toast. "I told you Marian would be useful. They think she's haunting me, that she's the reason behind my charitable behavior." He shrugged.
"You are a very, very devious creature, Gisborne," Prince John crowed. "Good. After they're dead, you and I will have a very, very profitable relationship, my friend. I will be King, when Richard is dead, and you will be in a high, high position."
"Then Richard is coming home." Gisborne fought down a visible reaction. "That's the last piece. With that information, I can not only bring them in, I can take their hope. They will die alone and without hope and that, that will be perfect." He raised his goblet again.
Robin gave the signal and they burst out of hiding to surround the rider, who reined in quickly to avoid running them down. "Robin!" he cried as he flung himself from the horse and they fell back, surprise and alarm warring with each other for position.
"Allan A Dale?" Robin's voice was soft as he moved forward to greet the other man. "You stayed in the Holy Land, why are you here?"
Allan gave Tom a wary look. "Who's that, then?" he growled softly. John gave him an answering snarl and Tom put a hand on the big man's chest to calm him. Robin would handle this.
"Tom's one of us, just like you," Robin said softly. For Allan to have come back, something was wrong.
Allan took him by the arm and led him a short way away and Robin's unease deepened. "Richard sent me, yeah? He's coming home but he don't want anyone to know it, not yet. He's got word Prince John's up to no good again, and he's gonna deal with it."
Robin nodded. "There's more than that, Allan, I know you. What else?" He knew something was terribly wrong for Richard to have sent word directly to him. Richard trusted Robin with his life, had for a long time; so he felt he needed protection.
Allan grimaced. "There's a girl, yeah? Thomasina of Sibley." He noted Robin's start of surprise but said nothing as yet. "Richard's afraid John'll try to use her against him. She's got lands and a pretty fortune that'd be a big help for either of them."
"He mentioned her by name?" Robin's mind was turning over quickly. "Why should one woman's fortune be such a big deal?"
"She's his bastard sister or something," Allan replied with a shrug. "But he's worried and he wants her found and protected."
"She's well protected. You can tell him that." Robin gave a wry smile. "Allan A Dale, meet Thomasina of Sibley, and Lady Gisborne." That would put a cat with the canary if what he suspected was true.
"Lady Gisborne? And you've got her with you?" Allan was appalled. If she was the knight's wife, how could they trust her? And Richard hadn't said anything about THAT, certainly.
"I've got a voice, thanks, and he might be my husband but that doesn't mean I even like him," Tom snapped quickly. "Ask Robin. I've already stabbed him once and I'll do it again if I get the chance."
Allan gave a bark of laughter. "I like you," he chortled. "Robin, he's landing at Loughton on Sunday. And he's headed directly here. He wants to confront John right away before he can weasel out of anything."
"Right. Allan, go back to Richard. Tell him we'll be there to meet him, he's not to leave Loughton until we get there. I wouldn't put it past John and Vaizey to send those black knights after him if they get wind of it." He'd told them of Gisborne's apparent change of heart; none of them really believed it but they'd accept Robin's judgment. "Tell him to stay hidden as much as possible. We'll find out what we can and bring him the information."
Allan mounted quickly. "I hope you know what you're doing," he said quietly. "There's not much time. I won't be able to keep him there long, you know how he is. But I'll tell him and I'll tell him she's well protected. But she won't be, yeah? You'll take her with you into the castle. Just be careful. Don't want to hear about any hangings, at least not yours."
He reined around and spurred away, taking only a moment to wave a farewell. "Come on," Robin said quickly. "Back to camp. We've got to get into the castle and find out what we can and for that we'll need more weapons." He was going to count on Gisborne keeping his word; he'd find the knight and see what he knew about this.
He drew Tom aside as the others filed past. "Did you know?" he asked simply.
"That I'm a royal brat?" she spat disgustedly. "Of course not, or this whole thing would have made a lot more sense to me. But if I'd thought about it, I might have. Richard and I have been friends since I was a child, and John always hated me." She shrugged. "It just didn't, and doesn't, matter to me. I'm Tom, that's all."
"Richard might have something more to say about it, but I won't," Robin stated quietly. "But you'll need more protection going into Nottingham now. I should leave you behind."
"I wouldn't stay. I'm one of you, Robin, you said it yourself." Now she was angry. "If you try to leave me behind, I'll just follow."
"I said I should, not that I was going to." He turned for the camp, knowing she'd keep pace with him though her legs were shorter. "Besides, I need you to show me this secret way in. We'll never get past the pickets."
"True." Tom stayed silent then until they were ready to leave the camp. "All right, listen up." She hunkered down in a bare spot, drawing lines with a little twig and knowing they were all watching. "The bartender at the Trip Inn thinks I'm one of the Sheriff's 'couriers' and he won't challenge me, not after what Guy did to get me out the last time. I've got a failsafe, apparently. However... getting you lot in will be a bit more difficult. So. Robin comes in with me, and you others, two at a time, at ten minute intervals. That should let me vouch for you when you come up, and the bartender won't care, really, if I cross his palm with a little silver. That gets us in. Getting out could be a bit more difficult."
"Getting out might be impossible," Will said softly.
"We'll get out." Robin didn't offer any explanations but the others always felt better when he had a plan, and he seemed to. Only Much regarded him quietly, concern in his eyes but unvoiced.
They entered Nottingham town in early afternoon. It was market day, which helped them to blend a bit once they had all come through the tunnel and true to Tom's word, the barkeep had said nothing once he'd been paid. They could have all come through together and he'd have kept silent, Robin thought idly as he led them through some of the streets. "Split up," he said quietly as they gathered near. "Meet back at the Inn at nightfall. We'll discuss everything once we're out of town. Tom, be extra careful, please."
"I won't go looking for him, if that's what you're worried about," she replied tightly. "Information gathering only."
"I go with her." John kept near her then, as they all separated to go different ways. The big man said little, leaving her to do the talking. She asked a few pointed questions and then drew him into a dark corner.
"What's wrong?" she demanded quietly as she put a hand on his chest. "You've been quiet since Allan – oh." Her face fell. "John, it changes nothing. I love you. I always will."
"But you're a princess." His words were equally soft.
"I am not." She touched his cheek, gently forcing him to face her. "I'm me, John. Just me. And I will always love you."
A commotion at the other end of the market caught their attention and she groaned as John hauled out his staff. Will and Djaq had been discovered and were trying to fight their way out. Her sword found its way to her hand and she threw herself forward, as did John.
It was a losing battle. Too many guards, and all of them heavily armed. They had still almost won their way free, were almost to the gates, when the archers came into play and John went down. Tom was immediately at his side with a cry, trying to staunch the flow of blood from the arrow embedded in his side, and the others fell into position to guard them while she tried to get him up.
Too late. Guards surrounded them and demanded that they move, and Tom helped John to stand as well as he was able. They were taken to the dungeons, where they found Much and Robin already in cells. Robin's face resembled a thundercloud and he sprang upward when the others were thrust in with them.
"They knew we were coming," he said as he helped John to sit against the wall. "We have to get out of here to warn Richard. Prince John knows he's coming. They're waiting for him."
John's breathing was raspy and Tom stayed beside him while Djaq worked. "It won't kill him," the woman remarked as she finally was able to withdraw it. "Keep pressure on it, it will slow the bleeding. He is lucky, it hit nothing important."
Tom kept pressure on the wound and tried to still her tears but they weren't listening. Close, so close he'd come to death.
Robin was pacing again and Much had his face pressed against the bars. "Hey!" he was yelling. "Hey!"
"Much, leave off," Robin growled as he slumped down against the wall to sit near John. "It won't do any good."
Voices sounded at the doorway and they all looked up as Gisborne and Vaizey stepped into the dungeons. "Well, well, well, look what we have here," the Sheriff drawled as he grinned at them through the bars. "A band of outlaws, doomed to swing. Oh, you've done well, Robin Hood, well indeed." He clapped a bit. "There's no hope for you now, none. All your people are in this little room, hm? Where's all that bravado, all that arrogance?"
Robin snarled wordlessly at him. Gisborne sneered. Tom looked up, her face wretched, and gave John's hand a reassuring squeeze before rising and going to the bars.
"Let them go," she said softly, watching Gisborne's face. If he wanted her friendship, he'd have it, if only he'd let them go. "Please. I'll give you what you want, what you need. Just let them go."
John snarled something from where he sat and Robin growled but she ignored them. Gisborne regarded her silently, as though assessing her sincerity. Vaizey watched them both. "Oh, isn't that sweet, Guy, she's trying to win you over with her charms," he oozed. "What are you going to do, hm? She's offering you everything."
Gisborne stepped back away from the bars, still sneering. "Hang her with the rest of them," he said idly.
She went white. Her dagger was in her sleeve as always but she hadn't the strength to throw it, so numb was she from shock. It hadn't occurred to her that he might refuse. He'd been so carefully kind to her, she'd thought – of course. It was part of the trap.
Vaizey turned and stalked to the door, followed closely by Gisborne. One last look passed between the knight and the outlaws, unreadable, and then they were gone. Tom went back to John's side, one hand on his brow and one holding his. "I'm sorry," she murmured.
"I love you," he breathed against her hair. "I have to say it now. Tomorrow's too late." He tried to sit up straighter and groaned. She put a hand on his chest.
"You never had to say it," she replied with a soft kiss. "I knew. It's all right."
Much threw himself down next to Robin. "You're surprisingly calm for someone who's about to die," he grumbled. "I suppose you have a plan. I hope you have a plan. Tell me you have a plan."
"I've got about half a plan, Much," Robin said with a grimace. "I need a little bit more time."
"Yes, well, don't take too long, then," the smaller man snorted. "There's a rope waiting for us in the morning. Not that you've forgotten that, mind you, but it's still there. And I for one don't fancy hanging."
"None of us do, Much," Robin snapped back. "Give me a little more time." But he stayed where he was, apparently lost in thought, until Much spoke again.
"About half a plan, you said?" he asked softly. "Which half, us getting out or us not getting out?"
"Much, shut up," John growled. He lay with his had in Tom's lap and she had her fingers in his hair, obviously trying to forget they were going to die, and soon. It wasn't too many more hours before dawn.
Robin rose when he heard a noise outside the doorway to the cells. The jailer was asleep, down the hall a ways; they could hear him snoring. Then the doorway opened and he breathed a sigh of relief. "I wasn't sure you were coming after all," he said quietly.
"I had to be sure they were asleep," was the calm response. The keys clicked in the cell door and it swung wide. "You'll have to move fast, the guards are making their rounds here in a few minutes. You can't be seen."
"He can't move very fast," Tom snarled from John's side. "He's got a hole in him. It's still bleeding, a bit."
Djaq took her arm and let Will get under one side of the big man and Robin grabbed John's other arm, slinging it over his shoulder. "We'll move as fast as we can. We need horses."
"Inside the west courtyard. The guards there will be called away in about ten minutes, when it's discovered you're not in your cell." Gisborne got them into the corridor. "You need to get word to King Richard. John knows he's landing Sunday in Loughton. Get him to land somewhere else, before it's too late. The black knights are rallying."
"Come with us." Robin's voice was soft but insistent. "You can't stay here now. They'll kill you. You're the only one who could have let us out."
The alarm was being raised and Gisborne's head whipped around when he heard Vaizey shouting for him to be found. "Seems you're right." He got under the arm Will was holding. "I'm taller, we can move faster this way. West courtyard, if they haven't already found the exit."
There were seven horses tethered to a rough picket just inside of the west gate. "Quickly." He helped Robin get John on one of the horses and then lifted Tom to another. She would have hit him if the situation wasn't so dire. She didn't want him to touch her. But he was helping them! She hated being confused.
By the time they were moving, the archers were lining up. Arrows began to fall around them as they galloped away, and more than one grunt was heard when one found a target. But no one fell from the saddle, and no one hinted that it was more than a light strike, so they kept on, until they reached the relative safety of the forest.