Rosa17 Fan Fiction -
The Show Must Go On
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The Show Must Go
On by Rosa17
PG13
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters.
Warning: Angsty.
Part 1
They said time was a healer but as far as Robin could see time made no
difference at all. He woke up drenched in sweat as another nightmare
which had him reliving Marian’s death, tore at his very
existence. The regular breathing and soft snores, told him that Allan,
John and Much were still sleeping. He shifted in his bed and told
himself to breathe. When his heart didn’t feel as though it
was
about to jump out of his chest, he dared to think about the dream. It
was a usual type of dream and he had had them ever since she had passed
away in the Holy Land. That was months ago. They had been back in
Sherwood for a while now. The whole place seemed empty somehow, just
like him. He was empty, empty of life; his life had gone with Marian,
when she died.
Life back in England was much as it had been before. Black Knights
still frequented the Castle. Robin and his men, such as they were still
robbed those who passed through the forest. Robin had avoided the
Sheriff and Gisborne as much as possible; it was easier to blank out
Marian that way. They had had encounters, but when they did it was kept
to a bare necessity. Vasey was still as ready as ever to see him dead.
And Robin and Gisborne could not stand the sight of each other as it
brought Marian to the surface once more.
Robin knew that things would come to a conclusion soon; he was here in
England to represent the King. Although according to Prince John and
the Sheriff he was still an outlaw. He had a job to complete for the
King, to protect and save England until the King’s return.
But
more than that, he had made a vow to Marian that he would keep
fighting, which was proving one of the hardest things of all.
^^^^^
“NO!” The man shouted and he sat up, breathing hard
as reality took over his dream encased mind.
He slipped out of bed and opened the shutters and the cool breeze of
the summer’s night wafted over him and cooled him. Marian,
she
had haunted him in life and now she was haunting him after her death.
It had been over half a year and yet he could not get over what had
occurred from his brain. It seemed to infiltrate it and stay there.
Silly things reminded him of her, and he hated her for it. Hated, that
he thought he loved her. Hated, that he spent so much time trying to
get her to love him, when it turned out she loved Robin Hood all along.
Hated, that she confessed that she loved Robin, in an attempt to stop
him killing the King. But most of all he hated himself for killing her.
He had thought about the day so many times over the months, tried to
reason with himself that he killed her so that Robin couldn’t
have her either. But nothing, nothing would erase and take the guilt
away. The Sheriff didn’t help; he still taunted provoked him
about that day. Cajoling him to believe it was for the greater good,
that they would receive power and England. But what was power and
England when he was so overcome with guilt, shame and remorse that hung
like a heavy blanket over his soul?
^^^^^
Robin was out of the camp by the time the gang woke, when he returned
they were eating their breakfast. Much pushed a plateful, in
Robin’s direction, he gave his trusty friend a half hearted
smile. The conversation was of the plan for the day ahead, nothing
more. There was no joviality, no teasing, that too had gone since they
had returned from the Holy Land. Robin pushed the food around, picking
at it and trying to make it look as though he had eaten at least half
of the portion he had been given. His men shared a now familiar look of
despair and wondered how this was all going to end.
Part 2
“….A tenth of your money and you may continue your
journey.” Much said and ended their little speech.
The noble woman looked at the gang and shook her head. She was perhaps
in her early to mid twenties, her hair was a rich auburn she was slight
and petite and was not deterred by them in the least.
“Robin Hood and his gang of merry outlaws,” she
said,
surprise registering on their faces that she knew who they were.
“Although from what I hear you have nothing to be merry
about.
And I have nothing. Nothing, that is worth your while to
take.”
“You are rich of course you have something of value to
take,” argued Much.
“I have five shillings, the most expensive thing I own is my
dress and I will not have you leaving me without that.” She
insisted.
For the first time in what seemed like forever a small wry smile formed
on Robin’s lips. “What’s your
name?” he asked
her. “And how did a noble such as yourself fall on hard
times?”
“I’m not being funny but if you are a noble then
why are
you so poor?” asked Allan, still pointing his bow and arrow
at
her.
“Robin Hood here is a noble and he too is poor and yet you
choose to ask me the same question.”
“That is different.” Stated Much. “And
anyway, you are outnumbered four to one.”
She regarded them steadily and then with a sigh replied. “My
name is Katherine of Stoke.”
“Roger’s wife?” Robin said his mouth
agape.
“Roger’s widow. I trust you heard he died, he was
returning
to the Holy Land after bringing back home my injured brother Harold,
but was killed by the Black Knights I would guess.” She
explained
and Allan shifted uncomfortably, setting his bow and arrow down.
“I’m sorry.” Robin told her sincerely.
“Yes well if anyone understands how I feel about it, it would
be
you. From the rumours I have heard.” She said softly, giving
him
a smile of compassion and he looked away. Marian was the one thing he
could not allow himself to face.
There was a silence and no one wanted to be the first to break it.
Finally Little John asked. “So why are you travelling through
Sherwood?”
“Because it is the shortest way to Nottingham.”
“And why would you want to go there?” asked Robin
finding
his voice again, even if it did sound gravelly to his ears.
“To confront the Sheriff I wanted answers.”
“May I say that is not a good idea.” Protested
Much. “There are other ways to get back at
him…..”
“Such as?” she asked.
“Such as helping the poor, like we do.” He
continued.
“You do not even know the questions I wish to put to
him.”
“It can’t be good can it? I mean Gis…I
mean the
Sheriff killed your husband.” Allan added, correcting himself
at
the last moment and hoping that no one had noticed. He swallowed hard
if anyone was responsible for Roger’s death it was himself.
“I was left alone a war widow with two small children to
raise. The Black Knights are rife all over the country; it is
not
only Nottingham which is being destroyed as if a plague of locusts are
attacking it from within. Taxes are high where ever you go. The winter
was harsh, disease was rife and my boys joined Roger in heaven. Then as
the months of this year have passed I gradually lost all I had to the
Black Knights. To confront the man who had the plan to overthrow the
King seemed a good idea at the time, but the further I walked the less
sure I felt. And now, well I do not have anywhere else to go, except to
live with my brother and his family. There I will be an added burden
that they do not require. If it is my money you seek then take it, take
all I have, all five shillings but I do not think it will change a
thing.”
Robin shook his head and said. “No, keep your money you have
suffered enough for the cause of justice as it is.”
“You still going to walk to Nottingham because you know
it’s late and if you are anything like me you’ll be
hungry.
I wouldn’t want to die confronting the Sheriff on an empty
stomach.”
“Much just ask her to stay for supper.” John said
impatiently.
“Robin?” Much said looking to him for approval that
they could bring this lady back to the camp with then.
“As you wish.” he told him nonchalantly.
“What you playing at?” Allan whispered later as
Robin forced himself to talk with Katherine.
“This might just be what he needs.”
“What another woman? He still…..Marian.”
John hissed.
“I am not suggesting he marries Katherine, I am suggesting
that
she might help him to forget even for a little while.” Much
implored.
“She’s not that kind of woman, she is a
lady.” Allan interjected.
“I did not mean in that way. I just meant….never
mind.”
“No what did you mean? ‘Cos he can hardly function
with
life as it is. He’s not going to be able to cope with a
woman; a
lady walking into it is he?”
“Sometimes the best way to make him deal with it is to force
it upon him.” Much reasoned.
“What about her? Her I like.” Said John.
“She is still a grieving widow too.”
“Let’s just see what happens.” Much
insisted as John and Allan shared a look and shook their heads at him.
“Don’t say we didn’t warn you that this
is a big mistake.” Allan said.
“Oh and you haven’t made mistakes, what about when
you betrayed your friends?”
“I will never be forgiven by you for that will I?”
“Maybe not. I have a hard time forgetting what you
did.”
Much retorted their hushed whispers growing louder and Katherine and
Robin looked fleetingly in their direction, breaking both conversations
up.
Robin announced that Katherine was welcome to stay at the camp over
night, before saying that he was retiring.
Much watched as he retreated into his bed at the far corner of the
camp. “I had hoped…..” he began.
“What that they looked at each other and declared their
undying
love? Much that is not going to happen.” Stressed Allan.
“No, I know that. I had hoped he would have talked
more.”
“He hardly spoke at all actually.” Katherine cut
in. Then
adding at their questioning expressions. “He asked me
questions
and I replied. He told me nothing of himself, but by doing that he said
far more than if he had.”
“The night is still young. I for one am not ready to
sleep.” Much announced.
“He likes talking.” Allan told Katherine, rolling
his eyes to the leaf ceiling as John smiled too.
“Yes I like talking. Conversation is good for the soul. What
is wrong with that?”
“Nothing.” Allan told him. “Except you
never shut up.”
“If it wasn’t for me, no one would ever talk. John
rarely
says anything. Robin never talks unless necessary anymore, in fact
Little John is now quite the chatterbox in comparison with Robin, and
you, well you talk, but most of it
is….is…”
“Lies? That is what you want to say isn’t
it?”
“I just don’t know if I can trust you after what
happened.” he told him adding to Katherine “He
betrayed us,
but in the end chose good over evil.”
“That is how is should be, choosing right over wrong. And
don’t you think Much that everyone deserves a second
chance?”
Much thought about it and mumbled, “I suppose.”
“If you want we can talk,” she said almost shyly to
him and he smiled at her, beaming from ear to ear.
“Really? You and me? We can talk?”
She nodded and the four of them soon fell into an easy conversation.
Much and Katherine carrying on far into the night after John and Allan
had fallen into slumber.
Part 3
The following day Robin took the gang to Nottingham and advised
Katherine that she stay as far away from the town as possible. She was
a woman who accepted the authority of those above her, but had been
willing to seek out the Sheriff whose fault it was that she was now
very much alone. After wandering the area by the camp, she set off
walking adjacent to the road but hidden within the trees, should she
run into anyone else. The forest was lush and beautiful this time of
year and for once she took great interest sweeping an approving gaze on
a sea of wild flowers, then feeling sad, that even if she picked them
she had no where to put them, no where to call home.
The crying of a baby caught her attention and she soon discovered a
clean if not poor looking toddler screaming for its mother. The child
was sitting in amongst the flowers, a squashed trail of them in her
wake. Katherine smiled and knelt down.
“Have you lost your Mother, went for a little adventure of
your own in the forest?” she asked sweetly.
The child calmed when she picked her up and comforted her. Not knowing
where to start Katherine backtracked along the squashed trail of
flowers hoping that would lead the child home.
^^^^^
Guy was having trouble keeping up with the Sheriff as they walked along
the corridor back to Vasey’s quarters. He felt so sleep
deprived
he was sure that would kill him alone. The only result so far was that
it had made him more sullen and grouchy than normal.
“Oh cheer up Gisborne.” Vasey told him.
“The girl,
the leper is dead. On one hand it was unfortunate you killed her, on
the other she is no longer messing in my plans and trying to take my
life. You did us all a favour. And what is it they say, the show must
go on? Eh? And that is what it will do. We have a land to conquer and a
little glitch in the Holy Land is not going to deter us now.”
Gisborne grunted an unintelligible reply; he was not in the mood for
the Sheriff right now. In fact he wasn’t in the mood for much
except untroubled slumber. He certainly wasn’t in the mood
for
what greeted them both in Vasey’s rooms.
Robin Hood was lounging in the chair at the Sheriff’s desk,
John
was standing looking big and mean. Much was helping himself to a bowl
of grapes and Allan, the turncoat was looking appropriately sheepish
and nervous.
“Oh how lovely, guests.” The Sheriff drawled
sardonically. Adding “What do you want?”
“Information.” Robin replied.
“And you think I will give that to you? Why?” he
asked as
Much still with a mouthful of fruit, grabbed Vasey and held a small
dagger to his throat.
“Can’t we be civil?” Gisborne said,
wanting them out
of the castle and out of his life as soon as humanly possible.
“Civil! Civil?” Robin spat at him standing, his
cool facade
vanishing and an enraged being taking its place. “Civil! You
killed my wife and you, want me to be civil.”
“Now, now,” Vasey said calmingly. “Let us
not …”
“Let us not what?” Robin said walking round to
Vasey and
shouting in his face. “Talk about how
he….” and he
pointed at Guy. “Killed my wife?”
“I know you say she was you wife but….”
He trailed
off as Much held the knife tighter and Robin’s face grew
darker.
“She was my wife.” Robin hissed so close, Vasey
actually felt he might just be about to die.
“His wife she was.” John said, speaking to clarify
the point.
“We were there, we witnessed the marriage.” Much
added.
“While you and your pathetic sidekick rode off to save
yourselves.”
“You will never save yourselves; your fate has been
sealed.” Robin told them, his eyes and expression still
flaring
dangerously.
“Your wife as you put it does have a name.” Vasey
said with hurtful intent.
This time the roar came from Gisborne. “NO! DO NOT SPEAK HER
NAME. I….I ….I can’t bear it.”
Vasey looked bored and shook his head wondering what on earth these two
men had seen in her anyway. “So, if it is not
Mari…. Your
late wife you have come to talk about what is it?”
“Roger of Stoke and his widow.” Robin said, his
breathing still heavy but his voice and mood sedate.
“Oh the delightful Roger of Stoke, well he met a sorry end
when
he would not join us as a Black Knight.” Vasey laughed as
Much
released his hold, but John closed in on him instead.
“Roger of Stoke was a man who fought for the King.”
Gisborne said. Willing to even admit he had killed him if it got the
conversation off Marian. “You should not look to us for
answers
when the man who can answer your questions is right in your
camp.”
“I didn’t know, he had a wife, children and I
didn’t
know that you would hound her and drive her from her home. And I
certainly hoped you hadn’t killed him. I told you,
remember?” Allan said, defending himself quickly and for once
honestly.
“You must have known I would have killed him?”
“Perhaps I thought you just would have knocked him out, taken
the
letter.” Said Allan feeling he was digging a hole for himself
in
which Much could nag him further of his misdemeanour last year.
“Why run her off her estate?” Much asked throwing
another
handful of grapes into his mouth and swallowing them quickly as Robin
shook his head at him.
“Her estate and money were useful to us. As you may realise
after
our trip to the Holy Land our finds were depleted. She had wealth, we
took it, only doing what you do, but for a better cause.”
“We give it to the poor.” Said Allan.
“Well when Gisborne and I returned we were the poor. Now we
are faring better.”
“While the rest of England wastes away and
starves.” Robin said, anger returning.
“Yes well that is where you come in and feed them.”
Vasey
told them. “Now is there anything else for I am feeling quite
bored now?”
^^^^^^^
Katherine and the girl child eventually came across a young woman
collecting wild flowers and herbs in a basket. The child called out to
her mother and the mother looked up. Delighted to see her child, then
realising that she had not noticed she had lost the most precious thing
in her life.
“Alice, oh Alice my baby,” cried the young woman
and took
the toddler from Katherine’s arms. After assuring herself the
child was well she looked to the lady and said “Thank you,
where
did you find her?”
“Further along into the forest in amongst all the
blooms.” Katherine said.
“I haven’t seen you in these parts
before.” Rosa said.
“I am not from these parts,” Katherine smiled.
“Robin
Hood and his men went to Nottingham to help me find out some
information today. They told me to stay away from the town. But I
became rather fed up at the camp.”
“I’m not surprised, come. I am going home via my
Mother’s house, come and share some lunch. I know she will
want
to hear of Robin and his men. We see so little of them these days. They
leave money or food at the houses of the poor then as silently as they
arrived they go. My name is Rosa by the way and this is little
Alice.”
^^^^^
“She’s not here.” John declared at they
reached the camp.
“She can’t have gone far,” shrugged Allan.
“Even so we will look for her.” Robin declared and
they
trudged after him, locating and following her tracks to the outskirts
of Locksley.
^^^^^
“If you want to fit in the dress will have to go.”
Matilda
said. “We can fix you up with something more suitable to a
peasant and have you looking the part in no time at all.” She
added, after Katherine had told her some of her story.
By the time the gang arrived at Matilda’s, Katherine looked
like any other villager of Locksley.
“Oh you have chosen to look for you guest.” Matilda
told
them, welcoming them one by one into her home. “Still wearing
that beard I see,” she added to Robin with half a smile.
Using
the time to sum him up and her heart broke in pain for him.
“Did you speak to the Sheriff?” asked Katherine
anxiously.
Robin nodded but it was Allan who replied. “He was killed by
Sir
Guy of Gisborne. He was carrying a message to the King and was stopped
in his tracks. I am sorry.”
“They wanted your money and lands for their cause to help
finance the over throwing of the King.” Robin added.
“Which they have yet to achieve,” Much put in.
“Thank you, all of you. I am grateful,” she replied
sadly.
“What are you going to do now?” Robin asked her.
“Can’t you tell?” Matilda told him.
“She is
staying here in Locksley. There is a little cottage recently become
empty after another family fled. She can live there, we will think of
some way for her to scrape a living and if not I am sure you can add
her to your list.”
“She could stay with us at the camp.” Much said,
his gaze resting on the lady for longer than was appropriate.
“She can not you great lummox. What do you suppose she do
there?
Ruin her reputation? And what does she want to be doing with four,
good but smelly, dirty outlaws? No she will be better off
here.
Rosa and I can keep an eye on her. You can visit her if you so
wish.”
Robin weighed this up in his mind then turned to Katherine and asked.
“What do you want Katherine?”
“I want to stay here. To go and burden Harold would be a
mistake
and to live in the forest….I do not think I am cut out to
rough
it as much as you do. But a small cottage in the village where I can
learn to earn my keep would be ideal.”
“Very well.” He nodded.
“And you will not be alone.” Much told her.
“We will visit and often.”
Katherine looked to her new found friends and smiled, perhaps her life
would be alright after all.
Part 4
Matilda rushed into Katherine’s cottage a few days later
bursting
with news. Katherine was sitting on her haunches by the fire, pleased
with herself that she had finally learnt how to light it and keep it
burning for a substantial period of time.
“Katherine!” Matilda said with enthusiasm.
“I think
the perfect career for you has just presented itself.”
“Pardon?” replied the noble woman, standing and
grasping the wise woman’s hands with her own.
“Gisborne, he needs someone who is literate and he
doesn’t
want to Sheriff to know I think because he is not coping with life but
that is my humble opinion, maybe next time he will think twice about
killing in a jealous rage. Anyway I was thinking you.”
“Me? To work for the man who killed Roger, my
husband?” she
asked, not sure if this was a good plan or if indeed she wanted to be
anywhere near him
“Why not? He will pay you money. You will not get back all he
took from you but I think it will be worth it. Come on it’s
worth
a try.”
“He will not employ a woman, especially a woman like
me.”
“How do you know if you do not try? And you do not have to
say who you really are now, do you?”
^^^^^^
“Enter!” Gisborne said, in a tired but commanding
tone.
Katherine did as she was asked, shutting the door behind her. Gisborne
was in his personal room at the rear of the Manor house, surrounded by
paperwork and his untouched lunch sat alongside. He did not look up,
rather waiting for her to state her purpose.
“I heard through word of mouth that you required someone to
help
you with your paperwork and by the look of it they were not
mistaken.” She said, bolder than she felt.
His attention caught he regarded her with eyes that were troubled and
contained a malevolence intent.
“And who exactly are you suggesting?” he asked,
running his
eyes over her and deciding she wasn’t bad looking for a serf.
“I am suggesting no one. I am here to apply for the position
myself.”
He laughed bitterly and condemningly. “You? You are a woman.
A
poor woman. A peasant. What have you to offer a man like me?”
“I am literate.” She told him.
“Are you now? And where did you learn that?”
“I was not always poor I had a privileged upbringing, but not
everyone gets to keep their lands or their name in this disconcerted
world.”
“Humph.” He grunted. He himself had lost his family
lands;
she it seemed was the same. Roughly he handed her a document and
ordered. “Read this, out loud.”
She did so with thoroughness and expression and he sighed, then
requested she write down a letter he dictated. After reading it he
nodded, quite impressed at her fine hand.
“Well?” she asked.
“Well. I will pay you a handsome wage for this part of the
world.
But I will require you to be here most evenings to make some semblance
of his mess I have created; when you are done you may return home, the
days are yours. You have a home I take it?”
“I live in your village.” She told him and he
grunted, he
had lost count and names of the people within Locksley lately and that
was not a good thing, she could help rectify that.
“Very well come back here mid afternoon tomorrow. Now you may
go.”
“Thank you Sir.” She replied, curtseying to him and
retreating from the room.
“Wait!” he shouted and she stopped dead in her
tracks.
Slightly softer he asked. “What is your name? You have not
told
me your name?”
“My name,” she replied. “Is
Kate.”
^^^^^
A fortnight later Gisborne admitted to himself that employing Kate had
been a wise move. Not only was she literate she was knowledgeable on
the way of life of a noble man such as himself. He could only guess
that her upbringing would have been on an estate such as his. And for
the first time in months he had began to snatch the odd hour or two of
untroubled sleep. Better without the worry of his estate looming above
him, but he still carried the guilt from Marian’s death which
gave him the constant nightmares and threatened to rule his life
forever.
^^^^^
Katherine after the two weeks felt it was time she paid the outlaws a
visit. Working for Sir Guy put her in a position where she felt she
could repay them for showing her kindness when she first encountered
them. Since moving to Locksley she had seen Much on a number of
occasions, sometimes with Robin, sometimes alone.
“Katherine.” Much said enveloping her in a hug when
she arrived at their haven. “You look well.”
She smiled at him and then greeted Allan and Little John asking after
them as she did so.
“Robin?” she asked.
“Over the back, beyond the crest of the hill, he wanted to be
alone, as usual.” John told her with sadness in his voice and
expression.
She took a thoughtful look in the direction he had pointed.
“I am sure if you need to talk to him, he’ll
listen.” Allan said, with a shrug.
“The worst he will say is go away leave me alone.”
Confirmed Much from experience.
She nodded at them and they walked with her until he was in sight. None
of the three men or woman were to know that he was sitting on the
fallen tree where he had once met with Marian, where they had shared a
tender romantic moment last year.
“If you need us yell, we’ll come
running.” Allan said with a smile in her direction.
Katherine sighed and watched them disappear back to the camp and looked
ahead at the solitary figure sitting on the tree. He didn’t
notice her until she sat beside him and then he didn’t speak.
They sat that way for a while, until she could not bear the silence any
longer, if he yelled and asked her to leave him to his memories of
Marian it would be better than now.
“I found a position, a job.” She told him, glancing
at him
out of the corner of her eye. His gaze remained straight ahead.
“It is at Locksley working for Sir Guy of Gisborne. Much told
me
how difficult it is now to gain the inside information you had before
when….when….when Marian helped you. I have not
been there
long but I know things I ought not to already. Things which would prove
useful to your cause.”
When she looked back in his direction, it was to see him regarding her.
His emotions were unreadable but his body taut as if a sudden movement
would loosen up everything within.
“No.”
“No to what?” she asked confused. She had come here
to
help; with a sigh she decided she should not be surprised at his
reaction.
“You work where and for whom you want. No to passing us
information.” He said with finality to his timbre.
“Why?”
“It is too dangerous. You can not risk your life for us, for
me.”
“I do not see how I am risking my life. I see documents, I
hear
conversations and I know they could benefit you. You, and the
King.”
“Because…” he told her, jumping down
from the perch
on which they were sat. “I don’t want you to risk
your
life, it is not worth it. Too many have lost their lives
already.”
He began to walk off but she followed running ahead to stop him in his
tracks. There were some things she felt he had to hear before it was
too late.
“I think you need to hear the truth. I think that your
men’s patience and endurance have been tested to the limit
these
past months. I think you are not so worried for my life. I think you
are worried for yours.” She told him.
“How dare you…” he said softly.
“I dare because I care. I care for you, Much, Allan and
Little
John and I care for England. Roger died for England, Marian too. I am
not afraid to say her name even if they are. Are you going to let
opportunities for success to overthrow the Sheriff and his men pass,
because you won’t listen to what I have to tell you? I did
not
know your wife, but I have heard stories about her, stories which will
encase her in legend until the end of time. Do you think she would want
you to send me away without hearing me out? Do you think she would want
you to ignore what I have learnt? Do you think that she would want to
see you, the living shell of what you were before she died? Do you
think…..”
“Stop! Stop!” he shouted at her. “Just
stop and leave me alone.”
Katherine shook her head. “No I won’t stop. People
who love
you have been walking around on eggshells for far too long. It is time
someone said something and if your men to whom you are close to can not
get through to you, then I will try, not only for you, but for them
also.”
“Fine say what you have to say, then leave me
alone.” He
told her, anger flaring in his eyes and she was glad that she had
managed to evoke some emotion in him, other than the indifference he
usually displayed.
Quietly she continued. “It has been months since you lost her
and
I know grieving takes on many different forms and it affects people in
many different ways. But you have to grieve for her. I can see that you
haven’t even begun to….even cry for her. You
haven’t
cried for her because you are afraid, not of losing her forever if you
do, but you are scared of facing your inner self. How can you save
England until you confront some of these things? Much told me you
promised her you would carry on fighting. Well as I see it you are a
man of your word and to carry out your vow to her, you must let your
heart begin to mourn. You know where I live, if you want to talk about
the information I have. I know that you will make the right
decision.” She said finally giving him an encouraging smile
before doing as he asked and walking away, leaving him alone again.
Robin shook his head, had what she spoken been the truth? He turned on
his heel but did not move, instead he let the words of Katherine
infiltrate his mind, they gradually seeped in until he could almost
hear her repeating them.
Looking up to the sky Robin said, “Marian, my love can you
see me
from heaven? Can you see me wasting away with each day that passes? Did
you send Katherine to make me face my fears? I don’t want
Katherine, not in that way. The only one for me is you. Forever. Marian
I love you.” He cried up to the sky, then bowed his head as
he
fell to his knees.
His hands grabbled at the earth as he tried in vain to cling onto
something solid, but there was nothing there. The tears fell unchecked
down his face, as he continued to yell towards the heavens to Marian
for leaving him. He wept that he had failed her, failed England. He
sobbed that his life was nothing without her in it, that the force
behind his life was gone. He cried that a future together, to live
their lives as one, until they were old and grey was now just a figment
of his past imagination. Finally spent of emotion he was numb. Numb but
ready to fight, for the King, for England but most of all for the
memory of the one woman he would always love, cherish and hold close to
his heart; Marian, his wife.
Part 5
Gisborne had experienced a bad day. He had had a run in with Hood in
Nottingham which had left him feeling unnerved. Something had shifted
in Robin Hood and although the dangerous glint was still in his eye
that dared Gisborne to mention Marian or say anything about her, Robin
seemed to have renewed his zest to see himself, Vasey and the Black
Knights defeated. That Gisborne didn’t like, not when they
were
so close to completing their mission for power. No one could stop them
now, not Hood and not the memory of Marian.
He was pleasantly surprised to see Kate working in the Manor but then
vaguely recalled the agreement they had drawn up. Her presence was
calming. He didn’t know her, she never spoke about herself or
anyone in the village either, except to pass on messages she had been
required to do. Perhaps hiring her had not been such a bad idea after
all.
“Sorry, there is more.” He said to her, depositing
some tenant documents in front of her.
“It is my job,” she replied, pleased that he always
ensured this room was well lit.
“Do you believe in fate?” Guy asked her sitting in
the chair by the fire.
She inwardly sighed, she would much rather be home than here, but it
appeared he was going to detain her as long as possible this night.
“I believe in God. Why do you ask?”
“No reason,” he told her pouring himself another
tankard of wine and gulping it down in an attempt to ease the pain.
She kept her head down and worked diligently, listening to his
continuous half ramblings, of the Sheriff, of the Black Knights, of the
Shire, of Robin Hood, of Marian who betrayed the love he had for her
and lastly of Prince John.
^^^^^
The following day she found herself back at the camp of the outlaws,
she had arrived early so that she would not be disappointed to find
them out and about. They were still breakfasting and although Robin
wasn’t really eating a lot, he seemed somewhat brighter than
he
had been, enough to at least greet her with a warm hello. Much asked if
she had eaten and when she confessed she hadn’t mastered the
art
of cooking and had burnt what little food she had, he produced a
plateful of his own cuisine for her to enjoy.
“News?” asked John and she nodded, unable to reply
with a mouthful of food.
Katherine looked to Robin, she had not been to the camp since she had
spoken with him and he had not frequented her cottage in Locksley
either. The only gang member she had seen had been Much.
“So tell me what do you know?” Robin asked.
“Prince John is on his way to Nottingham, is due to arrive
for a visit within the month.”
“You get that from Gizzy?” asked Allan chewing on a
particularly hard piece of meat and almost choking when he tried to
swallow it. Little John slapped him heartily on the back to dislodge it
and Katherine handed him a drink of water.
“Yes, and it is certain. The Black Knights are to gather. If
I
saw one letter I saw a dozen, addressed to him and not the
Sheriff.”
“He trusts you to read his mail?” asked Allan his
eyes still watering.
“No I usually read it after he drinks himself into a stupor,
it
is safer then. He does not usually leave me alone in the room. If he is
not there one of his men is instead. I do not attempt to read things I
should not then though.”
“Well I’m not being funny but it seems Vasey is
about to
make his last stand, and how are we going to overcome it? There are
four of us.” Allan asked.
“But the King is in the Holy Land, and to overthrow the King
they have to kill him.” Robin replied.
“Unless he is due back.” Reasoned Katherine.
“But then he would have got word to us.” Robin said
shaking his head.
“Unless,” said Much with a mouthful of bread,
accidentally
spitting some of it out as he replied. “Unless he feels it is
safer if we…you, do not know.”
“No, that does not make sense.” Robin told him.
“But is a valid point.” John argued to which Robin
was not convinced.
“He might think we have enough on our hands without
knowing.” Allan said, actually coming round to
Much’s idea.
“No.” Robin insisted. “It has to be much
simpler but more thought plan.”
“How about we send the pigeon back with a message?”
Allan suggested.
“We used a pigeon before to get a message to the
King…” Robin started to explain to Katherine.
“I know,” she said softly “Much told
me.”
“Is there anything you haven’t told her?”
Robin asked
his mouth turning up in half a smile as he shook his head at Much.
“Well some things, there is a lot to tell.” Much
confessed.
“She is far better company than you lot on a good
day.”
“Thanks for nothing,” said Allan.
“You know what I mean.” Said Much. “And
things here recently have not been what they used to be.”
“Things have changed.” Admitted Robin.
“The dynamics
of the group changed.” He added with a heaviness which could
not
be ignored.
“You seem a bit more at peace with yourself, since you
cried.” Much answered cautiously.
“I never said I cried.” Robin told them, pain
evident in his eyes.
“No but your red watery eyes did.” Said Allan.
“And Katherine hinted that you might, that day.”
“I said some things out of turn, and I am sorry.”
She said to Robin.
“No.” he told her with a shake of his head.
“No I
needed to hear them and even if my trusty friends had said the same
things before that you told me that day, I had not been
listening.”
“It is alright.” Said Much.
“No.” said Robin. “It is not alright. The
day Marian
died…….. I …….I promised
her I would carry
on fighting, for her. So that she did not die in vain. So that Edward
and Carter and all those who have died for justice did not die for
nothing. I held her in my arms and I will always hold her in my heart.
As I promised her I almost didn’t know what I was
saying…..after….. I just tried to remember the
words we
said to each other in a promise of commitment and love, of
marriage…… In the midst of all my hurt, anguish
and grief
I nearly forgot my vow to keep on fighting. She would want me to finish
this, what we started, to make England a better place to be for
generations to come.”
He wiped the tears which ran down his face with the cuff of his top.
“We are Robin Hood.” John said quietly.
Katherine sat there observing them as Much and Allan nodded, and Robin
tried to smile through his tears.
In a broken voice Robin declared. “Then let us send a message
to the King, by the pigeon.”
Part 6
Little John was walking alone in Sherwood, he had completed his drop
off of the week. Because their gang number had been reduced to four,
they completed the weekly drop off by dividing up, taking one village
each and distributing to the poor. They only went as a group to hand
out money in Nottingham itself. He came across Katherine, who was
sitting with her back against a wide trunk of a tree and sat down to
pass the time of day.
“You are crying,” he said kindly. “What
is it?”
She wiped her eyes and smiled sadly at him. “Today was
Roger’s birthday.”
“Ah,” he replied in understanding and laid a large
but gentle hand over hers.
“Have you… ever been in love?” she asked.
“I am in love. With my wife. I also have a son.”
“There do not live here though do they?” she asked,
almost knowingly.
“No. Has not Much told you about Alice and Little little
John?”
“He mostly talks about Robin, sometimes of Will and Djaq,
sometimes of Marian, sometimes of the Holy Land and quite often about
food and freedom. I suppose he has not got onto Alice and your son
yet.” She said with a smile.
“Food and freedom together?” asked John amused.
“I think he feels that if he has Bonchurch then he will not
go hungry again. So tell me about Alice and John?”
“They went away, she went to make a new life with the bow
maker
Luke of Locksley. At the time I thought it was for the best. Now I
regret letting them go. When we were in the Holy Land, we were captured
and left to die in the desert. I knew then I wanted to die in
Alice’s arms.”
“And now?”
“Now I still do. Robin needs me, I can not leave him now,
perhaps
when this is over, I will go and find Alice and John.” He
told
her with a resigned smile.
“I think that is a very good idea too.” She replied.
“You two look cosy.” Allan said walking up.
“Robin was looking for you.” He added to John.
“Now?”
“Now.”
“Well he can wait a minute. Katherine needs comforting and so
far all I have done is pour out my own woes.”
Allan sighed and sat facing them. “So what’s
up?”
“It is Roger’s birthday…” she
repeated, for Allan benefit.
Allan shifted uncomfortably and said. “About
Roger….I am
sorry. I am sorry he died and although I didn’t kill him
myself I
might have well of.”
“Because you betrayed the gang?” she asked him.
“Yeah, yeah Robin entrusted me with a note and I was to give
it
to Roger, but I didn’t have a choice. Gisborne had caught me
some
time before and the only way I escaped with my life was to agree to spy
for the Sheriff. I informed Gisborne about Roger and Robin’s
message. I didn’t want him killed you have to believe me, I
just
thought they would take the letter, knock him out perhaps. Not silence
him forever.”
“I forgive you.” She said and he smiled.
“Really, it
is done and to help Robin finish this you do not need to be racked with
guilt.”
“Thank you.” He told her with a sincerity he rarely
showed.
“What will you do when this is over? John was saying he would
like to find Alice and his son.” Katherine asked him.
“I dunno. I have no wife, no son. And it seems pointless
right
now to have one. I could get killed tomorrow and then they would be
grieving like…….like so many people
are.”
“Do you not have any family either?”
“I had a brother, the Sheriff killed him. I have a
cousin….and” he said with a sigh “I
still have a
Mother, or I did last time I saw her which was a while ago now. Perhaps
I should visit her. Perhaps I did not do right by her
either.” He
admitted.
“Then I pray that you will get the opportunity.”
She told
him, covering her hand with his and squeezing reassuringly.
“What’s this? A Mother’s
meeting?” asked Much
visibly jealous as he walked onto what seemed a cosy scene.
“We’re just talking.” Alan explained
standing. “Come on Robin wanted to talk to us ages
ago.”
“Yes well.” Much stuttered offhand, that was until
Katherine gave him a smile which broke through his heart and left him
feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.
She remained sitting but Allan turned and said “You too, I
think
Robin wanted to include you in this whatever it is, he has to tell
us.”
She stood and brushed foliage from her dress and with a smile followed
them through the forest.
^^^^^^
“What kept you?” Robin said as they all trailed
into the camp and seated themselves comfortably around.
“Not much.” Said John in way of explanation.
“We were talking, important stuff.” Allan added.
“Important stuff that I need to know?” asked their
leader.
“No, not unless anyone feels it should be shared.”
Katherine said. As the men shook their heads.
“So you were talking about me?” he said, feeling as
if they were ganging up on them.
“No we were talking about ourselves.” John said in
such a way, ended the topic once and for all.
“What’s so important that we have to have a meeting
now anyway?” Allan asked.
“I have had word from the King.” Robin said gravely.
“What did he say?” asked Much. “Please
say we do not
have to return to the Holy Land. I do not think I could bear
it.”
“We do not have to return to the Holy Land.”
“Good. You’re not just saying that to appease me,
because if you are….”
“Much, my loyal friend. We do not have to return to the Holy
Land. We will fight for the King here in Nottingham.”
“And what’s the King going to be doing while we are
trying to save England?” asked Allan.
“He will be fighting at our side. He is coming
home.” Robin
told them, with a small smile lifting the corners of his mouth but not
reaching his eyes. “We will fight along with his
guard.”
“That still leaves us outnumbered.” Much said
hopelessly.
“The Sheriff and Gisborne have the Black Knights, the
mercenaries
and Prince John.”
“But we have the true England on our side. All the people we
are
fighting for.” Robin answered. “And that is
enough.”
Part 7
“Sir Guy of Gisborne needs you at the castle.”
Thornton
told Katherine as she stepped over the threshold of Locksley Manor.
“He said you may use a horse from his stables.”
“Oh,” Katherine replied and turned on her heel.
She rode into the city, it was busy for the time of day, mainly with
peasants but there were a number of noble folk there too and she sensed
something was brewing within the castle walls. She dismounted and ran
swiftly up the steps announcing to a guard the purpose of her visit.
They led her to the Great Hall where there was more activity; the room
held mostly what she assumed were the Black Knights, mercenaries and
more besides. The Sheriff and Gisborne had been busy she thought as she
scanned the room for Sir Guy, wanting to get this trip to Nottingham
out of the way, so that she was in the safety of her cottage in
Locksley.
After a few moments a man named Ellingham who proved to be the leader
of the mercenaries told her the Sheriff was in his chamber and he would
take her there to speak with him and Gisborne. She held her breath as
he took her by the arm, fear and trepidation filling her at the same
time along with a rush of adrenaline at the excitement of it all and
she wondered if it was this which had spurred Lady Marian on to fight
for her King and Robin Hood.
Katherine was asked to wait outside the Sheriff’s room and as
she
waited she almost lost her nerve and ran back to the steps for her
horse. The Sheriff, Ellingham and Gisborne were talking in hushed
whispers and try as she might she could not grasp any of their
conversation.
Gisborne beckoned her in as Ellingham left and introduced her as a
woman of his village who he though ideal to transport some papers to
Rotherham, the only Black Knight who was not currently at the castle.
“Tell me why it is safer to send the papers with a woman and
not guards?” asked Vasey.
“It is safer to send her through the forest alone. She is a
pauper, Hood will not trouble himself with her and no one will ever
suspect she is the bearer of such important information.” He
explained.
“Hmmmm” Vasey said thoughtfully. “This is
a plan I like. Very well. You. Girl. Woman.”
“She has a name.” Gisborne told him.
“Oh I thought you had stopped calling women by their names I
thought it was too painful.” The Sheriff said, making
Gisborne
glare loathingly at him.
“Not all women just one, who is no longer with us
anyway.”
“Was she ever ‘with us’ Gisborne even
when she was
alive? A clue no, she was with Hood. Alright
missy…”
“Kate.” Gisborne said shortly.
“Kate.” Repeated Vasey. “Kate these
documents need to
be sent to Rotherham, and it seems you will be our messenger, you will
need to wait for a reply and bring it back to me. Do you
understand?”
“Yes my lord.” She told him, meekly, keeping her
eyes downcast appropriately.
“Good, Gisborne I think we have finally met a woman who knows
her
place. Very well. Here you are, now go.” He said, dismissing
her
and she took the sealed papers in the satchel and fled.
^^^^
Rotherham proved to be just as mean and evil as the Sheriff and
Gisborne. She was taken to the adjacent room and sat there with a small
plate of food and goblet of drink, to wait until Rotherham had formed
his reply. One benefit that she discovered whilst she waited was that
the walls were thin. Everything that Rotherham discussed with his right
hand man about the Sheriff of Nottingham’s plan wafted
straight
into the room in which she sat; information and knowledge that she
could use to help the King.
Part 8
Katherine returned to Nottingham and then went on to Sherwood, to the
outlaw’s camp, barely unable to contain the excitement of
what
she knew and how it would help the cause. The outlaws were where she
expected them to be. The scene had not changed really from when she had
first come to know them. Much was cooking and looked to be in his
element. Allan was sharpening some knives, while John was sitting
quietly and Robin as normal was nowhere in sight.
“Katherine!” Much said taking her in a bone
crushing hug
and letting go suddenly, causing her to lose her balance temporarily.
“I have missed you.” He added an explanation.
She smiled a little shyly and replied. “It is nice to see you
too Much.” And Allan and John sniggered quietly.
“What’s new then?” asked Allan as she sat
down.
“Oh, a lot. Where’s Robin?”
“I’ll go and fetch him.” John announced
and sauntered off.
“How is he?” Katherine asked the two men who
remained, of their leader.
“Same as usual really. Bit more focused than he has
been.” Allan replied.
While Much added. “Still needs a lot of time on his own. I
wonder
if he talks to her or something and that if we heard him, he would
think we would not understand.”
“But you do,” she said softly and they both nodded.
The conversation changed then of general life in Locksley as Robin and
John walked down the hill to the camp.
“Katherine.” Robin said with a smile, which did not
meet
his eyes but was pleasant just the same. “News?”
She went on to explain about the previous day when she had been sent to
Foster of Rotherham. Much interrupted her by saying he was a nasty
piece of work and Robin told him to shut up. Finally she got to the
information she had overheard.
“The Sheriff has bigger plans than just to kill the
King.”
She told them. “He wants it all. He wants England.”
“What?” asked Much, not following.
Robin shook his head. “I should have expected as much. Is he
planning on killing John before Richard arrives?”
“No. The plan, as I understood it to be is to force a
conflict
between the King and the Sheriff’s army. Then in the throes
of
battle, Gisborne would accidentally, on purpose kill Prince John as
well.”
“Well.” Said Much lost for words, which was
unusual.
“That is….that is despicable….I mean I
know John is
corrupt but the Sheriff and Gisborne ….”
“Are going too far this time?” finished Allan for
him.
“Robin?” asked Little John.
Robin shrugged and said. “We have to stop them.”
“How? Kidnap Prince John before hand?” Much said.
“I can’t see how that will work.” Said
Allan shaking his head at him.
“Not to kidnap him now, but when the King gets here and the
battle commences, then we can kidnap Prince John.” Robin
replied
with a smirk, that the men had thought they would never see displayed
on his face again.
“What will we do with him?” asked Much.
“We could bring him here. Katherine can wait here.”
“Katherine might not want to, perhaps you should ask
her.” Much answered.
“It is…” She began.
“No, Robin should ask not assume.” Much told her.
“Katherine, please would you help us?” Robin asked
graciously.
“Of course. That is what I offered ages ago, I am just glad
that you are ready to accept my help now.” She told him.
The gong sounded and Robin and the gang looked up. “Stay
here.” Much advised Katherine as he followed the others to
see
who had arrived.
She sat there for a time, she could hear voices, but they seemed quite
jovial, which led her to believe nothing was wrong. Much appeared
eventually with a man and a dark skinned woman in tow.
With a beaming smile on his face he introduced them.
“Katherine
this is Will and Djaq, Will, Djaq, Katherine of Stoke. I have told her
about you,” he confessed.
“And you are the one who has gained the inside knowledge for
us,
for England?” Will asked, from the conversation he had just
had
with Robin.
She nodded; taken aback she hadn’t expected to meet these
absent members of the gang quite so soon, if at all.
“We came back, with the King.” Will explained.
“He is here?” she asked amazed.
“Yes talking to Robin, but he will not stay here. There is a
lodge deeper within the forest. A hunting lodge he will use as his base
for himself and his men.” Djaq told her.
Allan and John returned leaving Robin conversing with the King.
“It is really good to see you both again. I was going insane
with
just Much, John and Robin for company.” Said Allan smiling,
then
going on the tease Much and John by adding. “You can imagine
what
the conversation was like. Much wouldn’t shut up and you can
hardly get a word out of Robin or John.”
“Hey!” Much said feeling indignant. But pleased too
that
the gang had swelled in size, by the reappearance of two people he
loved like a brother and sister.
“How is Robin?” asked Djaq while he was out of the
camp.
“What do you think? How did you find him just now?”
asked Much.
Will looked thoughtful then replied. “He seemed alright, not
quite his old self…”
“He is lacking sparkle that he had when Marian was
alive.”
Djaq answered from her observations. “That is the
difference.”
“Sometimes that day still seems like yesterday, and sometimes
it seems forever ago.” Will said sadly.
“And I wish every day that it never happened at
all.”
Confessed Much. “I mean don’t you all think that if
we all
had done things differently it might have not been….as it
was.”
“Often, but we can’t change it can we?”
Will told him.
“And if Robin could go back and live that day again we all
know he would do it differently.” John put in.
“It was, as it was meant to be.” Djaq sadly sighed.
“And now we have to carry on.”
“Whether he will be able to when this is over is another
thing altogether.” Much said.
“Then we will have to help him.” Katherine added,
concluding the conversation as Robin appeared at the top of the slope.
Part 9
The night was cool but still Gisborne couldn’t sleep. For
reasons
of Prince John and the Black Knights he was spending the night in
Nottingham. They had put him, of all places in Marian’s old
room.
Guy wondered if the Sheriff thought it some cruel joke. There was
nothing, material wise left of her. That had all been taken away and
given to the poor. What was in the room with him however, was her
essence. He did think perhaps he was imagining it, but every now and
then he was sure he caught a movement and could have sworn she was
there with him; taunting him.
Rationally though he knew that wasn’t so. It was just his
sleep
deprived brain conjuring up things that were not really there. She did
not exist and yet within his soul she still did. Not in a loving way
but as a festering sore that wore and eroded away at him. Reminding him
that he had killed the woman he thought he had loved. Killed her as she
declared she loved Robin Hood. He should have known, in fact at the
back of his mind he had always known. He just hadn’t wanted
to
believe it.
In retrospect it all made sense. Things which did not add up at the
time, now clearly all fitted within the picture, the picture of Robin
Hood and Lady Marian. He let out a small frustrated groan and banished
them both from his mind, but within minutes they were both there again.
Smiling and taunting him in a way he knew he would never erase from his
mind.
All those times; the moment she had first betrayed him, the incident
with the necklace. Then there was time he stabbed her when dressed as
the Nightwatchman at Locksley. The time at Locksley when it appeared
she was saving him, but really it was Hood. The time she was
Robin’s ‘hostage’ in the tree. That one
really hurt,
he knew now that when she fled the castle she must have been with Robin
all along and to save him had become his hostage and he, Sir Guy had
fallen for it and ‘rescued’ her.
He shook his head at himself. From now on it would be different. No
more would she haunt his night and day. He would put her out of his
mind as he confronted the King in the morning. When he, Vasey, Prince
John and the Black Knights would kill and maim all of the
King’s
men, including Robin Hood. He swore to himself that he
wouldn’t
see Marian each time he looked at Robin Hood and that the deed could be
done swiftly and without further pain to his soul, for to destroy Hood
would be to destroy Marian forever.
^^^^
Robin sat with the camp in his sights. It felt good but odd to have
Will and Djaq back with him again, even if it was temporary. Tomorrow
was the day that they had all been waiting for one way or another. He
sighed, if it went according to plan he might just have Locksley back.
But what good was Locksley without Marian to share it with?
He looked to the starlit sky and chose the brightest one, to wish upon.
Not that he had any wishes left for himself. But it was worth it for
the rest of the gang.
Robin picked up the little box he had placed beside him. It was no more
than two inch square and he rolled it over and over in his hands before
opening it. Even though it was dark he shut his eyes as his fingers
touched what lay within.
He allowed himself in the privacy of the moment for tears to run down
his face in streams of still unshed pain and heartache. If only she was
here by his side today, instead of buried in a far away place that she
never should have been in, to start with.
He had gone over all the ‘if only’s’ on
the way back
to England from the Holy Land and not one of them had made any
difference at all. Nothing could change what happened out there. And
despite the anguish, the pain, nothing would take away those beautiful
last moments he had with her when they became man and wife.
“Marian!” He cried out in torment.
“Marian!”
His face crumpling as he fought back fresh tears and still his fingers
remained in the box. A box which contained the only thing left of her,
here on earth.
He picked half of the contents from the box sealing the remainder and
setting it beside him. Robin fingered the strands of her hair, lifting
them to his nostrils to see if he could still smell that perfect scent
that had been hers and he was not disappointed and unsullied tears
gathered on his lashes.
“Why?” he cried out to God.
“Why?”
Her voice seemed to reverberate through the stillness of the night.
‘You
keep fighting for me Robin.’
‘I
can’t fight without you.’
‘I’d
love to argue with you but we haven’t got the time. You
promise me you keep fighting.’
‘I
will’
Robin sniffed pushing the memories away. Tomorrow although the King was
entering the Castle in peace Robin knew that there would be a physical
battle too. He knew that he would have to uphold his promise, and just
as he knew that, he also knew to achieve his best in battle he had to
put her out of his mind until it was over. Otherwise he would be a dead
man before it had even started.
Her voice seemed to come back one last time echoing her dying words.
‘I
love you my husband
“I love you my wife,” he replied to the starry
night. “Forever.”
Part 10
“Everybody clear on what they are doing?” Robin
asked the
small group of men, women and boys before him. They nodded their assent
and broke up for a few moments until Robin gave the signal that it was
time to leave.
Much took Katherine to one side away from the hub of the group and
cleared his throat noisily, then wrung his hands together in a great
display of nervousness.
“Once,” he began. “Once when it was
Robin’s
birthday and I arranged for a party in a barn….”
“A Nettlestone, before you followed the Sheriff, Gisborne and
Marian to the Holy Land?”
“Yes that time. We were imprisoned and it was
Djaq’s idea
to share things from our hearts, she had a name for it, which fails me
right now. Well I would like to say something to you. We are going to
fight, not you….not you. I mean me, Robin and the rest of
the
gang.”
“And the King and his men.” She added.
“Yes, yes. Well last time we fought with the King,
Marian….Marian lost her life. And……
well I did not
expect it and I know the others did not either. I know that we never
know what is around the corner and I just wanted you to know I love
you. Not as a brother, not as a friend, but I really love you
Katherine. And I know I probably don’t deserve you and I know
you
probably don’t feel the same way for me, but I just needed
you to
know that.”
His hands were shaking as she took them within her own, his dwarfing
her petite ones but she stilled him and said. “After Roger
and my
boys died….I thought I would spend the rest of my days
alone.
But you walked into it one fine day and changed everything.”
“You love me too?” he asked, not quite able to
believe that she actually reciprocated his feelings.
“I love you too.” She whispered and he laughed with
the little jump his heart did for joy.
She stood on tiptoe as he met her in a kiss, a soft sweet moment that
heralded the beginning of so much more.
^^^^^^^
“Stay here until Little John, brings Prince John out. The
King
can decide his fate later.” Robin said to Katherine and the
two
young lads who were honorary members of the gang; Daniel and Mark. They
stood at the East Gate with horses. “Then you take him to the
designated place and meet with Thornton.” The trio nodded and
he
added to his remaining men. “Come on lads.”
From the shadows they watched until the King and his procession arrived
in the town, then they joined the ranks at the back, walking into the
castle to meet with the Sheriff, Gisborne and the Black Knights. The
mercenaries were far enough away not to cause trouble as they had been
seen on the Great North Road ready to intercept the King who had chosen
another route and in all likelihood were still waiting to ambush him
there.
The King, Robin, Prince John, Vasey and Gisborne conducted their
meeting at the far end of the Great Hall, while the gang and the
King’s guard watched keeping an eye on the Black Knights as
they
did so. Raised voices escalated into, angry men and angry men turned
into fighting men. The first man to draw his sword was Rotherham
followed swiftly by Durham and then all hell broke loose, just as Robin
knew it would. Vasey called his own guard in, outnumbering the
King’s force by at least three to one.
The room resounded with the clash of steel. Robin swiftly dealt with
one guard before moving on to a Black Knight, another guard and
another. He slowly but surely made his way to his target; Gisborne. He
kept Prince John and the King in his vision at the same time. His only
focus was the battle, nothing more than that.
“Hood!” spat Gisborne with malice as they finally
came face to face.
“Gisborne.” Robin replied, blocking his
opponent’s sword with his own.
“Going to kill me?” Gisborne taunted. “To
avenge Marian?”
“I think,” said Robin, as they clashed swords and
out
manoeuvred each other. “That your guilt is slowly killing you
on
its own.”
Gisborne laughed, in a pained manner and Robin knew he had hit the nail
on the head.
“What about your regret?” Guy fired back. It was a
clash of emotional warfare as much a physical one.
“My only regret Gisborne, is not killing you
sooner.” He said forcing each word out.
“But you didn’t have the guts.” Jeered
Guy.
“I had the guts; I just didn’t have the
opportunity.”
“You lie.”
“Whether I am or not, it doesn’t matter now. You
are going to be dead very soon anyway.”
“I wouldn’t count on it, not if I kill you
first.” Gisborne answered.
“Go on then, kill me.” Robin taunted, lowering his
sword
momentarily. “You can’t can you? You see Marian
every time
you see me. I can kill you, but you can’t kill me?”
“No he can’t,” said a voice behind Robin.
“But
I can.” And the Sheriff plunged his sword into his enemy who
dropped like stone to the floor. “You think Gisborne I was
going
to let you kill Hood? He was mine to destroy.”
“Master!” cried Much running to his side, and Allan
held
his sword to Prince John’s throat as the King turned to the
group
of men.
Much looked at Vasey and said.
“You….you….Robin……I
will kill you for
this,” and without thinking he thrust his own sword into the
Sheriff with a sob.
Gisborne didn’t move and that was his downfall as the King
took
the opportunity to ram his weapon into the leather clad man, saying.
“For Robin of Locksley and for Marian!”
“Robin, Robin!” Much said kneeling down. The battle
was
over now and the rest of the gang and surviving King’s men
gathered round Robin Hood. “Robin?”
Robin looked up at the outlaws surrounding him acknowledging them with
a tormented smile and said. “Goodbye my trusty friends, you
have
served me well, now go and live in peace with those you love.”
Tears fell down Much’s face; he could not contain his
feelings as
the others were managing to do. “Master?” he said
one last
time.
“For every man……. there is a purpose
that he sets
up in……. his life, let yours be
the…….
doing of all good deeds.” He said through pained breaths.
“Robin?” said Djaq softly as she knelt at the side
of the
still form of their leader. She examined his injury and shook her head
at everyone with a sad regret that she was unable to save his life.
Robin’s eyes fluttered closed and he could see Marian before
him,
in white surrounded in an ethereal glow and calling him home. The last
words he uttered fell from his lips in a gossamer whisper.
“I’m coming, my love, I’m
coming.” And he gave
up his earthly life and joined her in eternity.
^^^^^
At Locksley there gathered a group of men and women who had survived to
live another day; Much, Katherine, John with Alice, Allan, Will and
Djaq, along with their children. They had promised ten years ago that
they would meet to commemorate their freedom, if the fates allowed it.
Of course ten years had changed and aged them all, some more than
others. They had been pardoned and still remained free men and women.
They stood in the newly stone built church of Locksley that the current
Lord had commissioned.
“You should do the honours?” Little John said to
the present Earl.
“Yes….. well.” The Earl stuttered.
“I can read the inscription.” His wife told him,
placing a gentle hand on his arm.
“We did not bring it all the way from the Holy Land to remain
under a cloth for all time.” Said Djaq, who stood beside Will
and
smiling at the remainder of the group.
“Go on then.” Added Allan. “I have places
to be things to do, even if you lot haven’t.”
“Bonchurch a hard estate to run?” asked Will with a
smile.
“I didn’t say that,” Allan hastily added.
“Much just get on with it.”
“Alright!” Snapped Much.
“I think there should be some opening words.”
Katherine, his wife suggested.
“Words?” Much replied.
“I have never known you to be lost for them
before.” John told him.
“Words….yes….very well.” Much
finally agreed
and cleared his throat. “I Much, Lord of the Manor of
Locksley am
very pleased to see you all again. I am glad that you returned for this
special day to remember ten years free from Sheriff Vasey’s
and
Sir Guy of Gisborne’s, torturous rule. We are here to unveil
the
memorial stone to the man who will always be the true Lord of Locksley
in our hearts. My wife Katherine will read the inscription.”
“As you never bothered to learn to read.” Smiled
Djaq.
“Yes.” Much said quietly embarrassed, removing the
cloth.
Katherine stepped forward and read. “Here lies Robin of
Locksley,
who died fighting for the injustice of the poor and for the King. Also
we remember Marian his wife who died for the same cause in the Holy
Land. Let God not separate those who truly love one
another.”
“That is perfect, just what I would have written.”
Much
said, wiping a stray tear from his eye. “And now I have only
one
more word to say on the matter.”
“What?” they chorused.
“Let’s celebrate, let us eat.” He replied
with a
beaming smile through his tears and laced hands with Katherine who gave
him the support he needed.
They filed out and went back to the Manor where a feast had been
prepared not only for the guests but for the entire estate of Locksley.
And Marian and Robin, smiled down from heaven, together for all time.
The End.
Author's Note : I wrote it this way, to come to terms with the way
series 2 ended. For me this is the only way series 3 can end, or
something like it. I can not pair him with someone else. No matter how
nice a person the woman might be. Anyway I hope you are all not to
upset by it. Maybe I will attempt the other ending with a story
sometime to make you all smile. :)
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