Robin Hood [Spin Off] {S2} ~ Chapter Seven - The Long Game *Part Three*

Sir Guy sat in the cart, being shaken by the road. It was cramped in the cart that was designed for one Noble. It should fit about three people in there, due to the space wanted by Nobles, but the Sheriff had managed to make them cram six into the cart.
 
There were more guards littered across the Great North Road, hiding in the shadows. When one of the guards with Gisbourne sent up a flaming arrow, that was their cue to surround the outlaws. They would be caught, Gisbourne could feel it.
 
Suddenly the cart grinded to a halt. Outside Gisbourne could hear the muffled voices of outlaws claiming that this was a raid. Show time, Gisbourne thought with a smirk upon his face.
 
He could now hear Hood asking the noble to step out so he could ‘relieve him of his goods’. The driver opened the cart door the outlaws would expect him to do. The look on Hood’s face when Gisbourne stepped out was one he wanted to remember forever. The mix of surprise and confusion was just right.
 
“Surprised Hood?”  Gisbourne said as one of the guards that had followed him out fired the flaming arrow into the air. The outlaws were cornered within seconds. Merton’s sister mumbled something as she lowered her weapon. An odd glazed look covered her face like a mask, but Gisbourne didn’t care for that. “Arrest them!”
 
This was the outlaw’s cue to fight, every one of them moving. Merton’s sister put up a fight, even if it was half hearted. Gisbourne laughed at their pityful attempt. There were too many guards, the fight was short lived.
 
“Careful with her!” Both Gisbourne and Robin barked when two guards grabbed Marian. Robin looked to his enemy with confusion, but Sir Guy only looked at Marian with cold eyes with a smug little smile plastered on his face.
 
More guards secured the big outlaw, and a few more went to the ones who were acting up. It was mainly Robin’s manservant, though many surrounded Merton’s sister as if she was about to explode.
 
The outlaws were tied up in a long line, and the rope was attached to the back of the cart. Gisbourne confiscated their weapons from them and chucked them into the cart.
 
“Surround them, make sure none get away.” Then Gisbourne realised one was missing. “One’s missing. Where is he?” Gisbourne roared.
 
“Hopefully far enough away to stay away!” Daine screamed back, though Gisbourne did not pick up on the bitterness in her voice. He got the impression the remaining outlaw had escaped.
 
“Scout the area, if you find A Dale, bring him in and join him onto the end of the line.” Whispers came from the back of the line, the Saracen and Merton were talking. “Silence back there!” Gisbourne yelled, with a commanding tone. To the guards he added, “If they talk again, feel free to implement discipline.”
 
Gisbourne looked down the line once more, a snarl on his face. Then he hopped up into the cart. After slamming the door shut he could hear the guards shuffle into position and the crack of the horse whip. The cart jolted into movement, rolling its way out of the forest, back towards Nottingham.
 
***
 
Lord Merton entered the Great Hall and all wonderment to what the Sheriff deemed as ‘very important news’ vanished. He got the all too familiar sinking feeling in the pit if his stomach when he saw seven outlaws lined up before the Sheriff. When he saw their faces he noticed two things. One, that Allan was missing and two, that Adrian Taylor had replaced him, so it seemed.
 
Assuming his ‘Merton’ guise, he said to the Sheriff, “You’re missing one.”
 
He let out a low chuckle that seemed small compared to the large grin upon his face. “Gisbourne said the same thing. No I’m not missing any outlaws. The ‘missing one’ shall be here any minute now.” The Sheriff knew that Merton would believe that meant he was to be captured soon, when really the Sheriff had sent for Allan. He hadn’t been hard to find, he was at the same inn as the night before drowning what could be construed as his sorrows in drink.
 
Behind his façade, Peter was feeling guilty. He’d told them about the cart. He’d led them to their capture, which in turn could lead them to their deaths. He tried to tell the outlaws that he didn’t know with his eyes without making it obvious to the Sheriff or Gisbourne. There was a glint of recognition in Robin’s eyes, but then again he could have imagined it.
 
“Well, well, well outlaws. How pathetic. Caught by my dumb guards. How does it feel?” The Sheriff teased as the Great Hall door opened revealing Allan. He instantly felt Daine’s eyes throw daggers at him, who could blame her. “Ah, and here’s the cherry on top of the cake. Our ‘missing outlaw’ actually works for me!” The Sheriff beckoned Allan to his side and put an arm round his shoulder. “Though I have to say, he didn’t do much.” He added to himself, making Allan sigh.
 
“My Lord, should I take them to the dungeon then hang them at first light?” Gisbourne asked. The Sheriff made a reply, but Allan didn’t hear. All he could hear was white noise. First light? That’s all he had until to prove to his friends that he was on their side?
 
Gisbourne started to pull the chain of outlaws up when Allan yelled, “No wait!” The whole hall stopped. The Sheriff looked to Allan, eyebrows knotted together. “I want Daine.” The Sheriff cocked an eyebrow. “Well I’m not being funny but the only reason I joined you was because of her, I think it’ll be a little pointless if I don’t get her.”
 
Vaysey crossed his arms. “I’m not sure you’ve done enough to merit the right to want something from me.”
 
“I did tell you that they were going to the cart.” Allan pointed out, gaining more confidence as he went. All the while he was trying to catch Robin’s attention.
 
“Well it’s my turn to not be funny, but I knew!” The Sheriff snapped back, making Allan smirk. And the majority of the hall. “Merton, what do you think?”
 
Peter remained cool, though he couldn’t believe what he was about to say. But he had to make it so that he didn’t care, then he might not be punished so much later. The Sheriff had fed him false information, he knew he was in contact with the outlaws he had to cover his back. “Hang her. She’s a pain.”
 
Daine protested to that, which was just what Peter wanted her to do. Making his case seem more believable. The scowl on her face looked like it would never leave.
 
“Sheriff. If you let me have Daine, I’ll take her away out of Nottingham, then you have no outlaws in your…” He wanted to say hair, but the Sheriff didn’t have much of that. Luckily Gisbourne cut in.
 
“You are in no position to bargaining!” He went to strike Allan, but the Sheriff raised his hand.
 
“I like it. Fine, take her. Never did much like the brat anyway.”
 
Daine kicked up a fuss, just as Allan knew she would. This was all part of his plan. Robin looked to Allan who winked. The wink told Robin that Allan had planned this and that this was his cue to break free. Daine was a distraction.
 
Somehow a few guards had managed to untie her while she squirmed in their grasp telling them how she’d rather die than spend her life with a traitor. When she’d been shoved over to Allan, Robin yelled, “Now!”
 
The outlaws knew exactly what to do without even having been told. They stood together and attacked in a line. Allan grabbed Daine, now shocked to the point she was actually still. At the same time he threw his small pocket knife to Robin, who cut himself free, then Marian. The knife was passed down the line and soon the outlaws were all free, fighting the guards without weapons.
 
The Sheriff’s jaw dropped then slowly closed as his anger levels rose. He barked to his guards and Gisbourne but the fight was quickly won by the outlaws. The Saracen and the carpenter grabbed the outlaw’s weapons while the big one made sure they all made it out of the door.
 
Allan was the last to leave, and just before he ran through the door he said to the Sheriff, “And just for the record, I work for no man.”
 
***
 
While the Great Hall was being cleared up from the mess the outlaws had left, the Sheriff called Merton and Gisbourne to an emergency meeting in his room where he kept his birds. For the moment he said nothing, he just cooed to a small blue bird he held in his hands.
 
Gisbourne and Merton watched him with wary eyes, waiting for him to explode. The crunch of bones told them that the yelling would come seconds later. He turned slowly, a scowl so deep set in his face that it gave Daine’s scowl earlier a run for its money.
 
“You let them get away.” His voice was dangerously calm, and they knew that soon he’d be roaring the roof down. “They were in our grasp, we were this close to winning.” The Sheriff indicated how close he’d believed them to be by making a small gap between his first finger and thumb. “And now they’re gone and it’s all your fault!”
 
There we go. Peter thought as he jumped from the volume the Sheriff produced. For a small man he could produce a hell of a racket. He pointed an accusing finger at Merton.
 
“Me my Lord? I told you to hang the stupid girl. Gisbourne let them slip.” Peter marvelled at the calmness in his voice, and the arrogance. But he had to make it so that the Sheriff didn’t accuse him of passing information on, because he might not have such a lucky escape from the gallows as the outlaws had.
 
It worked for now, the Sheriff turned to Gisbourne and started to verbally pound him. Peter took this as an opportunity to slip away unnoticed. He needed to tell the outlaws he couldn’t pass on information anymore, or at least for a little while.
 
***
 
Robin sent the messenger on his way, understanding full well why Lord Merton couldn’t pass on information at the moment. He was lucky to still be alive now, the Sheriff had proved that he was leaking information out. Robin turned his attention to Allan, who was sat under John’s watchful eye.
 
“Now what do we do with you?” Allan hung his head in shame.
 
“Look if you want to get rid of me then I’ll go.” He started to stand, but found John’s heavy hand push him back down. “Ah, torture me first, fair enough.”
 
“No Allan. I want to thank you. If it hadn’t have been for your quick thinking we’d have been in a dungeon waiting for the first light.” Allan nodded, a small smile on his face. “Now does anyone have any problems with Allan staying?” Robin asked the group.
 
They all shook their heads and Allan’s smile turned into a grateful one. He went to talk, but Will cut in before him. “But I think he needs to apologise first.”
 
“Yeah, fair enough. I’m sorry guys. If it makes you feel any better, I didn’t tell him anything he didn’t already know.” Allan stopped when he saw the smirk on Will’s face.
 
“That’s not what I meant. There’s someone you need to apologise to.” He nodded to the rest, and they evaporated from the area, to where ever it was they went on moments like these, leaving a sad eyed Daine.
 
“I’m sorry Daine. I really am.” He took a cautious step towards her, which she mirrored.
 
“I know. I can see when you lie remember.” A smile flickered and faded like a flame at the end of a candle wick. “But Allan…” She looked down, the shadows covering half of her face and the fire light illuminating the tear track on her cheek. Allan braved closing the gap and wiped it away. “It’s going to take a while for me to trust you again.” She took hold of his arm, moving his hand away from her face.
 
He looked down the opposite direction. “I understand.” He murmured. “I just want you to know that I still love you, no matter what you decide.” And with that he turned away, with intentions of moving out of their tent. Last thing she’d want is to share a tent with him.
 
“Allan!” She called. He turned in time to have Daine fly into his arms, hugging him fiercely. He hesitated a moment, as if when he put his arms around her too she might explode but she didn’t. Instead she spoke softly. “Life’s too short to not trust the ones you love. Especially with our lifestyle.”
 
The next thing Allan knew was that Daine had unburied her head from his chest and pulled him into a kiss as every bit as fierce as the hug. It was a quick kiss, but it told Allan all he needed to know.
 
She loved him still, but she couldn’t quite trust him fully yet no matter how much her heart wanted too. Daine was governed by her head, always has been, always will be. There was no changing that.
 
The two walked back to camp, arms round each other’s waists. Things were slowly getting back on track with the outlaws. And when they next struck the Sheriff, there’d be no stopping them.
 
***
 
When Peter got home, he'd finally crashed. The words just kept spilling out of his mouth. He told Maggie of how he’d told the Sheriff to hang his sister and the fight they’d got into. And how he thought Allan was a traitor, but then he saved the day. And that Adrian was back.
 
“What?” Maggie had to cut in. “My son is back?”