- Chapter 95 -
Everything began to settle down over the last couple of weeks. Two new beds were made for Guy and I in the camp, allowing us to be officially part of the family, as Guy liked to say. The gang was slowly warming up to him, which warmed my heart. Every now and then they seemed to close him off and were uneasy, John was the one struggling with it the most. I didn't blame him, they had spent their lives fighting against him and running from him and now they were expected to trust him with their lives. It would be going against their very instinct.
The other week I had snuck back into Nottingham without detection to talk to my old maid. I was relieved to know she hadn't been hurt when they discovered who I was. She smartly had played dumb and oblivious to who I had been and now she had another spy in the castle. I tried to make sure my visits were irregular and never in the same place. I didn't need her to get into any trouble. It helped gaining small bits of information to fill in the missing pieces. I did also manage to steal Guy's horse back from when Archer had taken him. Guy was so happy to have a familiar face at camp he always relaxed around horses. Robin wasn't very impressed with me sneaking off but gave up trying to reprimand me, he knew I wouldn't listen.
I did notice that Robin and Guy spent a lot of time whispering to each other and whenever I was around they would split in the opposite direction. They were up to something and whatever it was they didn't want me to know about it. One by one members of the gang seemed to join their little huddle and they all acted in denial to being apart of anything. I did notice that Much wasn't apart of their secret meetings sometimes and I had to laugh. Everyone knew he would squeal at the sight of a feather. He was the worst of keeping secrets, so I knew I had to be patient at wait. If I could spend months under cover and spying in castles, I could wait until they were ready to tell me what was going on. I did irritate me though being out of the loop.
"I think today is going to be a good day" Robin smiled as we finished breakfast. We all groaned as the words slipped from his mouth as he frowned and glanced at us all one by one.
"What?" He defended.
"Robin! Every time you say that we end up having the worst day!" I groan as he furrowed his eyebrows in my direction.
"No we don't
"Yes we do!" I counter with a smirk as the rest of the gang nodded in agreement. Grumbling under his breath, we all began to spilt up to do our jobs for the day. John was going to be heading to Clun with some money and food whilst Much went to Nettlestone. The rest of us decided we would try the great north road and see if anyone decided to journey his or her way through the woods. Guy and I were perched in bushes hidden amongst the trees as we waited. I felt him ease up behind me as place a kiss just under my ear making me gasp. He had a cheeky grin on his face as I gently pulled him away he only pulled me closer for a soft kiss.
Our intimate moment was disturbed as we could hear the sound of a horse coming, making us snap back to attention. The three arrows sail through the air and land in front of the horse, spooking it. It rears and bucks off its rider as Guy and I dash out from our hiding spot. Guy immediately stands over him with his sword, turns him over and pulls the message from his belt.
"I'll take that." Guy chuckled as he handed the parchment to Tuck who began to unravel the message.
"Tie him up" I instruct as Allan flips the messenger back onto his face, whips out a piece of rope and hands it to Guy. The two of them work together to quickly tie him securely so he can't get away. Kate leads the horse over to Robin as Tuck reads the message.
"It's from Isabella to Prince John. "My Prince, I understand the urgency of your request. Richard returns from the Crusades within the month. Troops loyal to him await his return in Loughborough. We must be ready." Tuck read out as we all paused. I could see the distress fill Robin's face and fear will Guy's. He glanced down at the ground and I know he feared for his future. I stand beside him grabbing his hand in mine and giving it a firm squeeze.
"Richard... King Richard?" Allan stumbled in surprise before he pulled the messenger to his feet and took him towards his horse.
"The King's coming home." Kate whispered in disbelief.
"Read the rest." I tell Tuck as he nods before looking back down at the parchment.
"You asked for three hundred men, food and supplies. I will dispatch them at sunset to join with your northern forces in Doncaster. England will soon be yours." Tuck finished before rolling the message back up. Something didn't seem right.
"So where's Isabella got three hundred men from?" Robin questioned looking very uncomfortable.
"She doesn't have many men at her disposal and neither does Prince John" I warn remembering what I had learnt in my time in the castle.
"They are going to have to get men from somewhere and that's what I'm worried about" I warn as I could see everyone grow uneasy.
"You give the sheriff this message: England will never be a slave to Prince John, not while Robin Hood fights for King Richard." Robin shouts at the messenger as the horse walks down the road with the messenger riding backwards, his hands tied to the saddle. Before we even had a minute to gather our wits we heard John screaming out for Robin over the next hill. We ran in his direction worried he maybe in trouble.
"Robin! They've taken them! They took them!" John kept shouting as we saw him come into sight.
"Taken who?"
"I was in Clun. The sheriff 's soldiers. They've taken all the men!" John reported as I felt my blood grow cold.
"How many?" Guy asked as John shook his head trying to catch his breath.
"I don't know. Must have been at least a hundred."
"Robin! Same in Nettlestone! The sheriff 's guard came and just carted them off. Crops and livestock, too." Much shouted coming over the next hill as we all paused realizing what this means.
"A hundred from Clun, a hundred from Nettlestone. She's grabbing innocent men to fight against their king!" I growl.
"They'll go to Locksley next. Get to Locksley!" Robin shouted as we all scrambled running towards our home. If there was one village that would always be Robin's priority, it would be Locksley. I started to feel my blood boil as I really wanted to throw Isabella away into the dungeon and lose the key. As we neared the edge of the forest near Locksley I could hear screaming women and it encouraged us to run faster.
Soldiers in Locksley were rounding up the men, food and livestock. Robin stands over the ridge of a thatched roof, pulls an arrow from his quiver, and shoots a guard on a horse chasing a small group of men and boys. I noticed that the poor men that had have already been caught are chained to the back of a wagon. I noticed that one of Isabella's guards turns his horse around and immediately knows who's to blame for the commotion. He cursed under his breath as Robin continues to shoot another guard coming out of a house with more men. With my sword raised I defend a young boy before being hit as I kick the guard in the stomach. Each member of the gang spilt up around Locksley defending the men against the soldiers.
"Pull back! Get the supplies to the castle! Get the prisoners out of there!" I heard someone shout over the commotion as I began to run towards the prisoners and I saw John coming over to help.
"John! Break the chain!" I shout out blocking a soldier who was about to attack him. Blocking another blow against my sword I spun twisting the soldiers arm causing him to drop his blade and flee. I swear the soldiers have gotten worse. I had a deep grunt behind me and saw John rip the chain from the wagon.
"On the move! On the move!" He shouted as the men scrambled to their feet as we watched the soldiers withdraw from Locksley, either riding or running back towards Nottingham, taking the cart full of supplies with them. At least we had the men as I saw Robin give Isabella's guard a menacing glare.
"They're gone. Let's get these men to Sherwood!" Robin instructed as he lowered his bow. Reaching for a pin in my hair I went along all the prisoned men and released them from their chains. Each one thanking me with a smile and the gang before we began our journey into the forest. I could see some of the villagers keeping their distance from Guy. It was going to take some time before the adjusted to the fact he was on our side. We slowly lead them through the forest and I could see the fear in the men's eyes.
"We have to get the rest of our supplies to Locksley. That'll keep the women and children alive until we return their crops and livestock." Robin instructed as we all paused. I glanced at Tuck and he nodded before stepping after Robin.
"Robin. What about the men?" Tuck asked as I could see the confusion cross his face.
"What about them?"
"Well, when are they going to fight?" Tuck asks as the men continue to file past them further into the woods.
"What's going on?" Guy whispered into my ear as I watched Robin shake his head in Tuck's direction.
"Tuck, these men are farmers, they're not warriors." Robin defended and I had to roll my eyes.
"The Lord helps those who help themselves, Robin. Robin turns with a scowl to look at the men walking past. Your protection weakens them. We are failing in our mission. We're supposed to be inspiring these men to stand up and fight for themselves, giving them real hope." Tuck told him.
"Tuck is trying to encourage the men to fight" I whisper back as Guy raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"These men are terrified for their lives. They've forgotten how to hope."
"Then, my friend... Tuck puts his hand on Robin's arm. ... it's time we lit the flame in them again." Tuck chuckled patting him on the back. As we continued to walk on the skies darkened rumbling before harsh drops of rainfall fell.
"Great" I mumble as I raise my hood over my head. So much for this being a good day Robin.