Robyn Hood: Fight For Freedom

by Shea, K. M.

  “It’s Will,” I finally admitted.

  The three of us were still—silent in spite of the chaos that roamed around us—until Will Scarlet broke ranks by whipping around to disarm a soldier.

  “You’re a good man, Little John, and you’re as necessary to me as breathing, but Will…,” I trailed off, shaking my head.

  Little John smiled, his eyes the only hint that my words did injure him. “I understand. I am your right hand man after all.”

  I looked away, shamed by the fact that I knew my response had hurt my most trusted Merry Man. Will Scarlet awkwardly rubbed his neck as I stared into the swirling fight, my eyes landing on a flabby backside.

  “CRAFTY!” I shouted, spinning around. I flew to my black horse’s side (He was busy ripping apart a soldier’s uniform.) and threw myself on his back before urging him forward as I checked to make sure my quiver was secure.

  Why did I abruptly ride off, leaving my top Merry Men more than a little confused?

  Because while avoiding their eyes I caught a glimpse of the Sheriff fleeing the battle scene, his velvet clad backside was a flaming orange beacon through the green trees.

  Chapter 8

  Capturing the Sherriff

  Crafty tore through the battlefield with disregard. With a single glance I could tell the Merry Men were overpowering the soldiers. Plus with George taken down there would be no one to give them orders.

  “Come on Crafty,” I said, urging the black horse up the hill.

  Crafty snorted and threw himself deeper into a gallop as I leaned low over his back. We were gaining on the Sheriff, who was crashing through the woods like a rabid bear.

  I narrowed my eyes as Crafty pushed forward. Why did I hear three sets of hoof beats?

  My body completely stopped functioning when I noticed that Lord Maxine, on his horse, was riding across from me.

  I swallowed and sunk lower on Crafty. No backup would be coming for me this time. I was pursuing the Sheriff too far for my men to catch up to me on foot.

  “I’ll have to take out Maxine first,” I grimly muttered into Crafty’s mane. I wouldn’t shoot him, there were other ways to trip up a man besides injuring him. Besides, he was still my friend.

  I abruptly sat up on Crafty’s back and directed my horse over.

  We descended on Maxine like ghosts. I tried to shove him out of his saddle before he realized how close we were, but he was too solid.

  Maxine swatted me off like I was fly.

  I waited a split second, my hand feeling along my thigh. I found my hunting knife and I pulled it out of its sheath before reaching out and grabbing the rein to Maxine’s horse.

  My hunting knife was far too dull to ever cut through leather, but Maxine didn’t know that.

  “Hey!” he shouted, leaning forward to yank my hand off his horse.

  Quick as a wink I tucked my knife up my sleeve and yanked Maxine clear off his horse.

  Maxine crashed to the ground with a yelp, and his horse pulled away and slowed down.

  I grinned and urged Crafty again. “We’ve almost got him boy, come on!” I cheered.

  The trees were starting to thin. We were almost out of Sherwood Forest.

  Crafty and I raced after the Sheriff and his mount.

  “We have to make it!” I cried.

  The Sheriff was just about to clear Sherwood Forest when Crafty shot forward and turned, streaking in front of the Sheriff’s horse. The tired animal reared, dumping the surprised Sheriff on the ground.

  Crafty tightly circled the man while I strung an arrow.

  “Sheriff,” I greeted as the fat man glared up at me. “How kind of you to drop by my forest. But you know, you can never leave Sherwood without first paying your respects to me,” I smirked.

  The Sheriff’s glare disappeared as I anchored my arrow, drawing my bowstring to my chin. Instead he began to whimper.

  “You’re in my territory now, Sheriff. You can’t cower and hide behind your precious princeling,” I hissed.

  The Sheriff turned white and started to grovel. “Please, if you release me I’ll do anything! I’ll pardon you, I’ll tell the Prince you’ve been killed.”

  I snorted. “Unlikely. People call you a coward, dear Sheriff, but I know better. I am a coward. You are nothing but a low down rat!” I spat.

  “Please don’t kill me! I beg you!” the Sheriff pleaded, tears starting to spill out of his small eyes.

  “I won’t, and not out of some favor to you,” I told him, cutting off the string of thank yous he was about to utter. “My men and I don’t kill. But we do rob,” I leered.

  The Sheriff stopped looking so thankful and instead grew nervous.

  I was thinking I should perhaps investigate his saddle bags to see why he was so anxious when Will Scarlet charged up, riding George’s chestnut horse.

  “Robyn!” he cried, relief cracking in his voice when he saw me, my arrow still notched and trained on the Sheriff. “You’re okay,” he said, pulling his horse to a skidding halt a few feet away from Crafty and I.

  “Yes Will, I’m perfectly—WHAT ARE YOU DOING,” I shouted when Will slipped off his horse before walking over to Crafty and pulling me off. He hugged me, making me drop my bow and arrow.

  “You said it was me and then you fled. I was afraid you were running off again. What was I supposed to think?” he said. “You didn’t give me the proper time to respond!”

  “Will, as much as I appreciate the hug you do realize the Sheriff could now stab either one of us,” I said.

  Will, who was facing the Sheriff, reached around my body and elegantly tossed two knives at the Sheriff. One of the weapons hit the Sherriff’s cloak, digging it deep into the ground. The other nailed the edge of his tunic into the dirt.

  “One move out of him and I’ll slit his throat,” Will Scarlet said.

  Behind me the Sheriff gurgled.

  Will Scarlet leaned his head against mine. “I was afraid you were completely rejecting me.”

  “What? Where’s the sense in that? I just told Little John it is you,” I said.

  Will Scarlet crushed me against his chest for a moment. “I have very little sense when it comes to you. We will talk about this later.”

  “Oh, certainly. Of course,” I agreed, internally planning no such thing. I was going to have to tattle to Much as soon as possible.

  The only reason I had confessed at all was because Little John was right. It wasn’t fair to him. Just because I knew I loved Scarlet didn’t mean anything was ever going to come of it. He was a member of nobility. He was a lord’s son! I was better off not thinking about it.

  Scarlet finally let me go, and I turned so I could properly face the Sherriff.

  “So, Robin Hood. What shall we do with this flabby Sheriff?” Will Scarlet said.

  “I think we should inspect the saddlebags,” I modestly suggested.

  “Good idea,” Will agreed.

  I pulled away from my Merry Man, who cattily smirked at the whimpering Sheriff, and trailed after the Sheriff’s horse, which was busy cramming clover in his mouth. (Like animal like owner I guess.)

  “Be on the lookout,” I called over my shoulder as I opened a saddlebag. “Maxine chased me almost all the way here—By Mary the mother of Jesus,” I broke off, awed.

  The Sheriff made a whining noise deep in the back of his throat.

  “What is it?” Will asked.

  “My dear Sheriff,” I laughed, hefting my new treasure out of the saddle bag. “What on earth inspired you to bring this all the way out here?”

  Will Scarlet’s mouth actually dropped open when he saw what I pulled out of the saddle bag.

  It was Prince John’s crown.

  “You wouldn’t be stealing from your prince now, would you?” I snickered, wagging the crown while I strolled towards Will and the Sheriff.

  “It was supposed to be bait for you,” Maxine called.

  I glanced up and in two seconds I had the crown hanging from my arm, my
notched bow back in my hands. “Careful sir. I don’t want to hurt you,” I warned my castle friend.

  Maxine smiled and slipped off his horse, holding up his arms to show me he was not armed.

  The Sheriff was starting to look hopeful, clearly thinking his savior had arrived.

  “Sorry Sheriff, I’m in no position to help. There’s must be four scores of Merry Men following me,” Maxine shook his head.

  The Sheriff gasped, surprised at the numbers.

  “Only four scores? What happened to the other three?” Will Scarlet muttered.

  “Guarding the camp. I hope,” I grimly uttered, keeping an arrow trained on Maxine, although I did not pull the string back or anchor it.

  “You have seven scores of men? I’m impressed Robin Hood, 140 men is quite a band,” Maxine said, slowly edging closer to Will and I.

  “140 men,” the Sheriff heaved, turning white.

  “Don’t worry Sheriff, you’ll never see us all at once,” I said, uneasy with Maxine’s closeness.

  I was thankful when Little John, riding one of the horses from the tiny band of mounted soldiers the Sheriff had brought with him, and Marian riding Nearly Dead, burst out of Sherwood. Right behind them was Much and Gilbert, also riding borrowed horses.

  I was relieved to see the extra men, and I’m sure it flashed across my face.

  “So this is why you ran off. Is everything alright?” Little John asked, sliding off his horse. He seemed stoic.

  “All is well. Where is Sir Guy?” I asked Much, unstringing my arrow, returning it to my quiver. (Maxine would not try to liberate the Sheriff, whom he didn’t really like to begin with, in such a crowd of outlaws.)

  “Back at camp. I had to drag him the whole way back! It took a long time. I left him with Tom and ten other Merry Men. But it doesn’t matter, he’s out cold,” Much shrugged, dismounting his horse.

  “How?” I blinked.

  “He insulted my chastity, so Ellen slammed him in the head with a stew pot. I hope he wakes up again,” Marian considered, innocently batting her blue eyes and winding a piece of blonde hair around a finger.

  “That man lost his head. I mean really, insulting Marian and wearing a horse pelt in front of Robyn?” Gilbert grimly shook his head.

  I smiled and glanced down at the sweating sheriff. “Much, Gilbert, escort the sheriff back into Sherwood. Strip him before sending him walking back to Nottingham. Leave his horse behind,” I ordered.

  “Yes sir!” Gilbert smartly saluted, hopping off his horse.

  Much rolled his eyes. “Right away,” he said in a mock bow.

  “Marian, would you go with them?” I asked, rubbing my forehead.

  “Why?” Marian demanded.

  “Because I need you to decide what we should do with Sir Guy. Plus you need to pack your bags, you’ll be returning home soon,” I replied.

  Marian shrugged and swung Nearly Dead in an arc, moving back to the forest without complaining.

  I was both pleasantly surprised and suspicious.

  “Come on Sheriff, up you go,” Gilbert pleasantly said, hauling the Sheriff to his feet with Much’s aid. The two escorted the Sheriff, each clamping down on his shoulder, back to the forest, dragging the horses behind them.

  “What are we going to do with this one?” Little John asked, jerking his thumb back at Maxine.

  “I’m not sure,” I admitted, biting my lip. I could always let him go… “Feel free to leave, Lord Maxine. Someone should notify the Prince that the mission has failed.”

  Maxine leaned back against his horse. “Check the rest of the Sheriff’s saddlebags.”

  I shot him a cautious look before walking back to the Sheriff’s horse, flipping open another saddle bag.

  My eyes practically popped out of their sockets. The saddlebags mounded on the backside of the horse were stuffed with gold and jewels, plates, and various regalia.

  I quickly crossed myself as I stared at the vast wealth.

  “It’s part of the collection of the Crown Jewels,” Maxine called, still leaning against his horse. Little John was seizing him up while standing in front of me.

  Will Scarlet peered into the saddle bags of my shoulder. “For the love of—,” he cut off and blinked several times before rubbing his eyes.

  I stalked away from the Sheriff’s horse and waltzed up to Maxine. “Why does the Sheriff have the Crown Jewels?” I hissed.

  “He doesn’t have all of them. Just a few. Prince John gave them to him. He was supposed to use them to lure you out of Sherwood. Instead, by sheer dumb luck, we stumbled upon Will Scarlet and Little John, who worked as an even better lure,” he said, glancing at my Merry Men.

  My thoughts raced. The Crown Jewels. The Crown Jewels?

  “Why does Prince John have the Crown Jewels?” I asked, my mind racing. If I could get them to Queen Eleanor… but no. She wouldn’t hawk the Crown Jewels just to free King Richard!

  “Some of that is inherited from his grandmother. Others are a part of his personal collection,” Maxine shrugged. “The Crown Jewels aren’t just the crowns the king wears.”

  Maxine hesitated as Will Scarlet gaped in the saddlebags. Little John didn’t move an inch.

  “Your orders Robyn?” Little John asked.

  “I don’t know. We need Friar Tuck. We’ll have to transport them,” I said before remembering Maxine was still there and listening. I turned back around to face him. “Maxine, I am not taking you captive. Please return to Nottingham,” I stiffly said.

  “Robin Hood,” Maxine paused. “I’m taking a gamble. I really shouldn’t reveal this but… I’m a spy.”

  In an instant an arrow was fixed in my bow again and I coldly faced Maxine.

  “It’s not what you think!” Maxine protested. “I’m King Richard’s man! I’m one of his spies!”

  “Explain,” I ordered.

  Maxine released a whoosh of air. “When King Richard went on the Third Crusade he appeared to take his most loyal men with him. However, he knew he had to leave some behind to keep Prince John in line. My family support King Richard, but none of us could enter the Crusades. My eldest brother is the heir, my second brother had already entered the church, and I was too young to go. Instead I became a spy for King Richard. I am in contact with those who work to raise the ransom to free King Richard. Rumor has it that you work for that very same goal.”

  I tilted my head, considering Maxine. It didn’t feel like he was lying…

  “I have evidence. Written letters from the Queen and letters from knights on the crusades with King Richard,” Maxine said before his eyes lit up. “I know a lass who is one of yours. Lady Mary Gamwell, although I’m not sure if that really is her name.”

  I made a strangled noise in the back of my throat and Little John and Will Scarlet, who had finally finished admiring the jewels, froze.

  “Who?”

  “Mary Gamwell. She was sought out by your men, Little John and Will Scarlet, directly before they were arrested by George and the Sheriff. I had a bloody hard time getting George off her scent. He was convinced she was their court contact in addition to Lady Marian.”

  This made Will Scarlet laugh.

  Little John wasn’t long behind him.

  “Shut up!” I hissed, although I was relieved to hear Little John laughing.

  “You really must have done a stellar acting job,” Little John said, slapping his knees.

  I raised my eyes to the sky. “Thank you for practically giving my identity away in front of a stranger.”

  “He’s no stranger, he’s King Richard’s man,” Little John hummed.

  “Plus you got along with him oh so well at that masquerade party,” Will Scarlet sniped.

  “Wait… what?” Maxine asked, his eyes traveling back and forth between my men and I.

  “ENOUGH!” I bellowed, silencing Little John and Will Scarlet. I turned to Maxine, clearing my throat. “Maxine, if you can indeed procure evidence that you are one of King Richard’s men and you
can be in contact with the Queen my men and I will do everything we can to aid you.”

  “He’s one of the King’s alright,” a voice called out from Sherwood.

  I glanced up to see Friar Tuck waddling out of Sherwood Forest, panting and turning red.

  “Whenever you cause a stir you have to situate yourself as far away from me as possible, don’t you?” the Friar complained, stopping to breath.

  “Hello Friar Tuck, are you a soothsayer?” I teased.

  “No,” Friar Tuck grunted. “Or I would have seen you coming miles away at that river. I heard you blow your horn and went to investigate it. By the time I arrived I was told you went chasing after the Sheriff with some of your best men. I ran into Much and Gilbert on the way back, they told me to continue on,” Friar Tuck shrugged.

  “I’m glad you found us,” I smiled.

  “What did you say about Lord Maxine?” Will Scarlet asked, glancing at Maxine.

  “I put the word out among the church and received several confirmations. Queen Eleanor is confiscating some of the gold and silver church artifacts and is hawking them for King Richard’s ransom. Additionally land taxes were raised,” Friar Tuck said.

  “But what about Lord Maxine,” Will Scarlet repeated.

  “Patience man, I’m getting there!” the Friar huffed. “A friar in Yorkshire confirmed my suspicions. King Richard has men spread through England who act as his spies. Maxine is one of several who shadow Prince John and follow his movements.”

  “How do you know that?!” Maxine yowled, startled.

  “You under estimate the power of the church, my boy,” Friar Tuck chided. “It was two abbots who discovered King Richard’s location in the first place.”

  “Lord Maxine, how far down the chain are you from Queen Eleanor?” I asked.

  “Not very far. I could easily ride to her court if I had to. Why?”

  “My men and I have raised a decent chunk for the ransom. If you could deliver it to Queen Eleanor, along with Prince John’s ridiculous bait, I would be in your debt,” I said.

  “Of course, I would be glad to help in any way I can. Although I might need a day before I leave Nottingham. How much have you gathered?” Maxine asked.