by Tom Jolleys
‘It does seem a good idea.’
‘I realise that we’re only young,’ said Diana, ‘but we’ve read books about fighting and wars, we’ve seen films on the television of actual battles, and we’ve even written about them, so we can use our vast knowledge of warfare to combat what at first sight appears to be a superior force.’
‘You confuse me and yet I think I understand,’ replied the friar, as the children gave him further instructions. Then he gathered his men together and told them of their plan. Nobody objected, and within minutes they had departed in all directions to villages far and wide, not even knowing if the villagers would actually fight. The children then explained to the friar, how they would gain entry to the castle and hopefully free Robin and his men, that is if they were still alive!
Chapter 8:
Release Or Capture!
The men returned at varying intervals throughout the night, all bringing the good news that the villagers would rally round and give their support to the cause, the freeing of their hero, Robin Hood. In all the villages around Nottingham, men, women and children worked throughout the night, sharpening swords, making even more bows and arrows, and building the shields described by David. Some of them hadn’t slept, but by 6 o’clock in the morning, villagers started to arrive, and by 8 o’clock there were over three hundred men, women and children packed into the campsite, all awaiting their final instructions.
Friar Tuck heaved his great weight up onto the table, which made it bend slightly at the centre, and everyone looked up and listened to his words. ‘Thank you my good friends for coming, and coming so well prepared for this long day ahead. Our good friend and leader, Robin Hood, is lying injured in the castle dungeons, but today with your help we aim to free Robin and his men. We cannot take the castle by force because it is too heavily guarded, but we have a plan, and if all goes well, then we have a chance. News has come from the castle that Robin and his men are to be hanged for treason at noon today, so we must act swiftly. No one will be allowed into the castle, although I should be able to gain entry, being a humble friar. I will take with me three children – Johnny, David and Diana. We will be searched for weapons, but none will be found, and we will be allowed into the castle grounds. This may sound foolish, even irresponsible, but have faith in me, I know it can be done.’ The friar then explained the rest of the plan to the onlooking villagers, although he did not mention the children’s special powers.
Meanwhile in the large banqueting hall at the castle, the Sheriff was celebrating with the knights who had helped to capture Robin and his men. ‘You have done well,’ said the Sheriff, ‘and payment is at hand.’ He clicked his fingers, and two servants entered carrying silver trays on which were leather pouches full of gold coins. They walked around the table and gave a pouch to each knight in turn.
‘You pay well,’ said one of the knights.
‘You deserve it,’ replied the Sheriff. ‘I have been waiting for this day to arrive since I came into office. Robin Hood has thwarted me too many times, but remember, your work isn’t finished until I have seen him hanged. But nothing can save him now. I have given orders that no one enters the castle without my knowledge. Ha ha ha, let us eat this good food, drink this fine wine and celebrate this great day.’
In the dungeons down below were the prisoners. Three of Robin’s men had been killed in the battle, but many more lay injured. Robin had been seriously wounded, and although his men were caring for him, there weren’t any medicines or clean bandages, and Robin was close to death! His weary eyes slowly opened, and he spoke in a very weak voice. ‘It seems that, ch, ch, this will be our last day together. I just want you to know that I couldn’t have led a better band of men. I am proud of, ch, ch…’ Robin’s eyes closed and he said no more.
Back at the campsite, Friar Tuck, Johnny, David and Diana, had gathered together some weapons, climbed up onto a horse and cart, and were on their way to the castle. Diana had changed out of her forest-green outfit into the clothes of a peasant girl. She wore a plain, brown dress that was tied at the waist. The long and bumpy journey took just over an hour, but they went over and over the plan, and when the castle came into view, the children went into action.
‘As we told you last night, friar, this is where we use the Cloak of Mennea,’ said Johnny, opening it out. The soldiers might have recognised David from his earlier encounter, so he decided to hide under the cloak with Johnny. He put several longbows over his shoulder, strapped two quivers of arrows to Johnny’s back, and then sat down amongst the vegetables in the back of the cart.
‘Well here goes,’ said Johnny, as he pulled the cloak over David and himself. Friar Tuck looked on in disbelief as the two boys simply disappeared.
‘Well although I have seen it, I really do not believe it. You know, Diana, we really do have a chance.’
At the castle, a soldier burst into the banqueting hall.
‘What do you want, interrupting our meal?’ barked the Sheriff.
‘I beg your pardon, Lord Sheriff, but there’s a horse and cart approaching – it looks like Friar Tuck and a young girl.’
‘Oh I suppose he wants to say a prayer for Robin Hood and his band of cutthroats before they are hanged. All right, lower the drawbridge and let them in, but search them for weapons, and search the cart. Make sure they are escorted to the dungeons, I don’t want any mistakes.’
The drawbridge was lowered, and Friar Tuck drove the horse and cart into the courtyard where they were thoroughly searched.
‘Now may we see the prisoners?’ demanded the friar.
‘Certainly, but who’s the girl?’
‘This is Diana, she has come to visit one of the outlaws.’
‘Come on then, follow me.’
Friar Tuck and Diana surveyed the courtyard and the heavily guarded battlements as they were escorted towards a doorway, closely followed by the two boys, hidden beneath the Cloak of Mennea. As they walked along a dimly lit corridor, which led down to the dungeons, they heard the alarm ringing out from the battlements. Two soldiers ran towards the banqueting hall. Again the Sheriff was disturbed.
‘Lord Sheriff, there may be trouble. Villagers are gathering at the edge of the forest.’
‘Ha ha ha,’ he laughed, ‘what can they do without Robin Hood and his men? Fools, we will finish them for good. Well then, how would you like some extra work? It should be easy for you against these poor, snivelling villagers. Take forty of my foot soldiers, rout them and I will reward you most handsomely.’
‘Now that is an offer we cannot refuse,’ said the leader of the knights, who was a ruthless baron. ‘We’ll cut them to pieces. Raise your goblets and drink a toast to victory!’
By the time the Sheriff had reached the battlements, ten of Robin’s men and ten villagers had formed a V-formation facing the castle, firing arrows from behind their shields.
Inside the castle, the knights had mounted their horses, and behind them stood forty armed foot soldiers. On the battlements, two guards were hit by arrows, and the Sheriff bent down low. ‘Take them,’ he shouted, ‘lower the drawbridge.’
Soldiers were now firing down at the V-formation from the battlements, but the arrows and bolts were either missing their targets or hitting the makeshift shields. The villagers, although untrained as fighting men, were adept with the longbow, which they used for hunting. The knights from afar were about to do battle with an enemy who had been wrongly described as, “poor, snivelling villagers”.
Meanwhile, Diana and the friar were descending the long, dark stairway to the dungeons. There were two soldiers standing guard at the bottom of the stairs, and four guards escorted them – two in front and two behind. Bringing up the rear were Johnny and David, hidden under their cloak of invisibility.
‘NOW,’ shouted Friar Tuck, and in that moment he pushed the first two soldiers headlong down the stairs. The other two soldiers in t
he escort drew their swords, but by now, Johnny had removed the Cloak of Mennea, and with his sword already drawn, David had them by surprise. They were no match for the Sword of Davalon, and they both fell back wounded. Friar Tuck and Diana were now at the bottom of the stairs, defenceless and now confronted by the two armed guards. The first soldier thrust forward with his sword, just missing the friar, who swiftly stepped to one side. This soldier banged into the dungeon wall, but the other guard had his sword poised to strike the friar’s back!
‘Davalon,’ shouted David, and his sword flew through the air, smashing the guard’s sword on impact. The guards were now either unconscious, injured or disarmed.
‘Open the cells,’ ordered David, as he came down the stairs. Although David had bows slung over his shoulder, he had no weapon to hand, apart from Diana’s dagger, which he had completely forgotten about, so one of the guards bent down to pick up a sword. ‘Davalon,’ said David again, and the sword thrust upwards, just inches from the guard’s throat.
‘All right, all right, anything you say,’ said the bewildered guard.
Outside, the knights were galloping over the drawbridge, followed some way behind by the foot soldiers. But by now, Robin’s men had retreated to the edge of the forest, undercover of their shields, and still in the same formation. Then at Will Scarlett’s command, the V-formation opened out, so that now the knights were galloping into an open funnel that led to a wide dirt track, the entrance to the forest. Here, stood over one hundred men, women and children, all shouting and waving their arms in defiance. But when the knights neared the entrance to the funnel, the villagers started running along the dirt track, away from the castle. ‘Cowards,’ shouted one of the knights. ‘They are retreating, running for their lives.’
As the knights rode through the funnel, arrows rained down on them from both sides – they were caught in a classic pincer movement. The knights struck out with their swords and lances, but all they could do was strike at the upright shields. Four of the knights fell from their horses with the first wave of arrows, but they galloped on relentlessly, and by the time they had reached the end of the funnel, another three had fallen. Now they were riding along the dirt track, catching the fleeing villagers at tremendous speed. Then a young girl slipped and fell in front of the oncoming riders. It was too late for her to get back to her feet as the leading knight positioned his long lance to strike out at her. The rider was just about to jab down on the girl when suddenly, large ropes concealed under leaves, were hoisted high, straight in front of the oncoming riders, most of whom were thrown from their horses. At the same time, arrows flew out of the forest, and within only a few minutes the knights were forced to surrender.
By now, the foot soldiers had reached the entrance to the funnel, and they charged, swords drawn, towards the men behind the shields, who quickly fired off another arrow before drawing their own swords. Several of the Sheriff’s men fell injured, but now swords clashed as metal struck metal. Robin’s force was now outnumbered, but at another command, thirty armed riders came galloping out of the forest. Half of them galloped straight into the battle, while the others cut off any possibility of retreat. At the same time, nearly two hundred villagers came running down the dirt track, wielding all manner of weapons. The Sheriff’s men had nowhere to go. They were in a hopeless position and quickly surrendered.
‘Idiots,’ screamed the Sheriff. ‘They call themselves soldiers. Raise the drawbridge.’
While this battle had been raging, Friar Tuck and the three children had entered the squalid dungeon cells. David and Johnny passed their bows and arrows to some of Robin’s men, and they stood guard at the bottom of the stairs, just in case of any attack from above. Fortunately the Sheriff knew nothing of what was happening down in the dungeons. Friar Tuck went over to Robin, who was unconscious.
‘I think he may be dead!’ said Little John, who had also been badly injured in the ambush.
Friar Tuck bent over Robin and checked his pulse. ‘Thank the Lord, he’s still alive, but only just.’
‘Can I have a look?’ said Diana.
‘There’s nothing you can do,’ sighed the friar, ‘he’s lost too much blood.’
Diana asked David for her dagger. She had given it to him so that the guards wouldn’t find it when they searched her. For some reason she shook the dagger, not knowing why, but just out of habit, like shaking a bottle of medicine. She unscrewed the cap, placed it on the floor, and then took out a pinch of the pollen. Having never used it before, she didn’t know what to expect or even how much of the pollen to use. Diana pulled the makeshift bandages away from Robin’s wound and then sprinkled the pollen over it. Although there wasn’t much light in the dungeon, the pollen glittered like tinsel as it fell upon the wound.
‘What are you doing?’ asked Friar Tuck.
‘Hopefully friar, this is my special power.’
Nothing happened, and Friar Tuck shook his head, but then he gasped as slowly the bleeding stopped and the wound became clean. Then new skin began to grow over the wound. The whole operation took less than a minute, although it seemed to take ages. The Pollen of the Odessa Tree had worked, leaving no trace of any injury, but it did have a short-lived side-effect.
Robin’s eyes flickered open and he sat upright. ‘Oh my head, I feel as though I’ve been hit by a fallen oak. What’s been happening?’
‘Oh praise the Lord,’ said Friar Tuck. ‘You children are certainly wonderful, yes, certainly wonderful indeed.’
Diana then went around the large dungeon cell, healing everyone’s wounds, including those of the guards. At least twelve of Robin’s men had been injured, but after only ten minutes they were all fit and ready to fight, apart from the pollen’s side-effect, a very bad headache. All the pollen had now been used, but it had been used sparingly, as Jodadi had suggested.
Robin now had nearly a full complement of armed men at his command. Some of them had longbows and arrows, while a few wielded swords, which had been taken from the guards. With Robin leading the way, they cautiously ascended the stairway to the courtyard. As they came out into the open, a guard spotted them, but there were only a dozen or so soldiers now guarding the castle.
‘Fire,’ ordered the Sheriff, but Robin’s men already had their longbows at the ready, and they fired first. Three soldiers fell from the battlements.
‘Surrender,’ shouted Robin. ‘Six arrows are aimed straight at you, Lord Sheriff.’
A few crossbow bolts flashed down towards Robin’s men, but then the Sheriff waved his arms, ordering his soldiers to surrender. He realised that he too was in a hopeless position. While the Sheriff climbed down from the battlements, Friar Tuck noticed that Diana was lying on the ground – she had been hit by a crossbow bolt! ‘Oh my poor child,’ he said as he bent over her body.
‘What’s happened?’ asked Johnny.
‘Diana’s been wounded,’ said David. ‘Quick, the Pollen of the Odessa Tree, it’s in the dagger around her waist.’
Friar Tuck pulled the dagger from its sheath. ‘It’s empty,’ he said sadly. ‘There isn’t even a top on the handle. She’s saved so many lives and now we can’t save hers. This is so, so very unfair. Oh Lord, please help our little girl?’
‘We’ll have to do something,’ said Robin. ‘At least pull the bolt out and try to stop the bleeding.’
As Diana was being treated, Johnny ran off into the castle.
Tears were welling-up in the friar’s eyes. ‘She will be remembered in these forests for all of eternity!’
David knelt down to wipe her brow, just as Johnny came rushing out of the castle, breathing heavily. ‘Let me through.’ He was holding the cap to the dagger’s handle. ‘It’s just a small chance,’ he said as he bent over his sister. Very carefully he turned the cap round and tapped it directly over her wound. In the morning sun, a small amount of the pollen was dislodged from the cap, and as it fell it spa
rkled like rainbow dust. ‘Let’s just hope that this is enough.’ But nothing happened!
‘It should have worked by now,’ said the friar.
Then ever so slowly the bleeding stopped, and new skin began to grow over the wound. The Pollen of the Odessa Tree was working yet again, saving the life of Diana, who had been given the pollen in order to save the lives of others.
Diana opened her eyes and shouted, ‘Ouch my head.’
‘Oh don’t worry about that,’ said Robin. ‘Your headache will soon go away.’
‘Well done my boy,’ said Little John, thrusting him into the air.
‘Remember my dream?’ said Johnny. ‘In the end I really did save your life!’
‘I know,’ replied Diana, who hugged her younger brother.
‘How did you think about the cap?’ asked David.
‘Well I saw her shake the dagger and put the cap on the floor, but Diana was so busy she forgot all about it. I suppose you could put it down to sheer genius,’ he said, smiling to himself.
By now, the Sheriff’s men had been rounded-up and were being taken down to the dungeons. Then one of Robin’s men shouted down from the battlements, ‘Victory is ours, lower the drawbridge,’ to which there was a great cheer. They could now hear a noise growing louder and louder as the villagers neared the castle, and this doubled in volume as the drawbridge was lowered. At the head of the procession as they marched into the courtyard were the defeated knights, followed by the Sheriff’s bedraggled foot soldiers. They were followed by three, possibly four hundred men, women and children, all shouting in victory and waving weapons and banners. At this point, Robin climbed the battlements so that he could be more easily seen and heard by his followers. As he was about to speak, the crowd gradually hushed.
‘Today has seen a great battle, and thanks to yourselves and our three little friends, we have been victorious.’ The crowd all cheered. ‘The Sheriff’s men and the knights from afar are at this moment being safely held in the dungeons down below. So what shall be done with the Sheriff?’
