Fic: Better Days Will Come 24
Title: Better Days Will Come
By: Kegel
Fandom: Robin Hood BBC
Rating: T
Disclaimer: Anything that you recognize I do not own.
Summary: A twist of history and an unexpected offer give Robin new opportunities in his fight for both his people and country. It also brings new dilemmas, as he and the gang have to make hard choices to find their way when conflicts come to a head.
Spoilers: Till mid-season 2.
Chapter Summary: Guy is confronted with Robin and Marian, Will goes to talk to Allan, the Sheriff has a meeting with Robin.
Chapter 24: Allies
He woke up slowly, feeling the hay he was lying in poking against his skin. This wasn't a surprise - it wasn't the first night he had spent not in his bed at Locksley, but on the go anywhere he could find shelter. He had been furious to learn that not only did the sheriff want him dead, but the man had also given the estate back to Hood. For a few days now Guy had stayed in Nottingham, trying to evade the sheriff while at the same time keeping a watch on the man.
Guy turned around from where he had been lying, looking up and saw her sitting there in the shine of a small torch. This wasn't Nottingham, that was another thing he noticed. A groan escaped him, as pains in his head and body registered more fully. He seemed to have taken a good beating.
It was nearly dark and only the small shine of Marian's torch illuminated the place.
"What..." Guy started. Slowly sitting up, yet holding his head, he began again, "What is this?"
"We're in Locksley," Marian explained. Locksley. Marian. He had seen her in Nottingham at that inn where he had gone under the presumption that Allan wanted to talk to him. Hood had been there...
"What do you want?" he asked. "Deliver me to the sheriff now that you've turned him against me?" This was certainly Hood's doing. Gisborne had heard that the man was back at Locksley, apparently having regained the sheriff's favour with the promise of delivering Gisborne to him. If Guy only knew why Vaysey had turned against him. But then he did know. Marian. Because he had helped her and betrayed the sheriff's trust. And now she was playing him still.
"We want to help you," she insisted.
"So that is why you take me captive, you and Hood, I presume."
"You are free to go," Robin said from the door of what Guy now recognized to be the barn at Locksley, entering from the darkness outside. Marian glanced at the man and they exchanged a look of mutual understanding that Guy abhorred.
He laughed bitterly. "You bring me here, take away my weapons, yet tell me I am free to go."
"Your weapons are outside, Robin just wanted-"
"Robin," Gisborne spat. "It's Hood now who's making the calls, is it?"
"It was actually Marian's idea to bring you here," Robin said flatly. "Now if it were me, I would have left you in Nottingham for the guards." Marian turned towards Robin and frowned, but Gisborne noticed that the man hardly seemed to care. "So why is Vaysey afraid of you?" he asked. So they had taken him from Nottingham; Guy wasn't sure what had happened there. He remembered the fight at the inn. Why had they brought him here and not to the sheriff... the guards would have taken him from their hands, they wouldn't have needed to bother... But then Hood wanted information, so it seemed.
"I'm not telling you anything," Guy said. "For all I can see, you turned him against me. It was probably your doing," he looked at Marian, "you got me to go behind his back to save you and your father from your own foolishness."
Marian looked at him as if she wanted to say something, but apparently there was nothing she could say, Guy figured.
"Does it have anything to do with Prince John?" Robin went on.
"You'd like to know, wouldn't you, Hood?" Guy smirked. He wondered if his weapons were really outside. He wished he had his sword by his side now and could talk to Hood in a whole different way. He got up, looking from Robin to Marian. "Vaysey's going to see sense and take me back. Actually, once I tell him a few new facts about the both of you, he's going to welcome me with open arms, reward me even for finally discovering who the Nightwatchman is, and that he is in league with Hood."
Marian looked at him, "Guy-"
He pointed at her. "And then the Nightwatchman will pay for his crimes, along with Hood."
He still couldn't bring himself to say it out loud that she was that very person, even as he was accusing her in every other way but out loud at the same time.
"You do not want that," she said.
"Oh, I do," Guy assured her. "You think I will keep you from hanging for what you did?" He looked away from her, staring at the hay instead. "I've lost others, others who betrayed me." He felt the betrayal again that he had felt after the failed wedding. She had felt his rage then, had paid with her home that he had given to the flames. Why did she think he would spare her now after turning against him, betraying him so many times?
"You can help us," she tried again. "And we can help you."
Guy didn't listen. He strode over to the barn door, not looking back. Only when he had stepped outside, did he glance back briefly and saw her and Robin standing close, and with a grim expression he vanished into the night.
He found his weapons outside and picked them up carefully. He hefted his sword to his side. Before leaving he looked back at the barn once more. It would be so easy now. He could trap the both of them. Did he really want her dead? Wasn't she dead already to him, having given herself to Hood?
She had called it help. Maybe it had been help, really, help for him to see things more clearly.
>>>----> >>>---->
The last few days had been quiet. Will had just busied himself with some small repairs at the camp, going out hunting with John and Djaq and going to Locksley a few times to see Robin and Much - and to look at his father's old house. Robin had invited them to come to Locksley, told them that they didn't have to remain hidden at the camp anymore. Still, they had stayed in the forest for now, though Will didn't know when they would make a decision. It would be easier for him than for Djaq and John.
Now Will was making his way through Nottingham, for the first time in years without the need to hide who he was. Though he didn't like to admit it to himself, there was a reason why he had come. He had heard from the other villagers that stories about the outlaws were making their way through Nottingham; not the stories that had always been told, but first-hand tales of the outlaws' experiences. It was Allan who was telling them.
Will had come to the Tripp Inn where Allan was supposed to tell stories for ale and money, had come to see the former outlaw. It was easy to find the man. He was sitting in the middle of a large group of people. They were all listening intently on what he was telling, laughing from time to time.
"So that was the story with the tax man," Allan was saying now, and the patrons clapped. Some were ordering a new round of ale for Allan, willing him to continue.
Will moved forward and dropped a coin into the cup Allan had placed on the table next to him. "Has there ever been a spy in your gang?" he asked coolly.
Allan's eyes widened as he recognized Will. "No, no, there wasn't. Sheriff would have finished us, if there had been, wouldn't he?" he chuckled. "Let me rather tell the story again how we crashed Gisborne's birthday party for the king, shall I?"
The patrons cheered and a few more coins wandered into Allan's cup.
Will sat down. Allan started his story and Will had to smile a few times, as he recalled the happenings. To his eye it was obvious that it made Allan nervous that he was here, but the other guests didn't seem to notice or care.
Once Allan was finished and the clapping had died down, Will said, "Can you tell us the story how you got caught by Gisborne?"
Other patrons looked at him and exchanged uncomfortable glances among each other. They probably knew this wouldn't be a happy story like the ones about the outlaws robbing tax collectors or crashing Gisborne's parties.
"Eh, I'm not sure, really-," Allan started.
"Come on, tell us!" someone said. "We know Gisborne isn't the guy who you want to run in with, but you're here and in one piece, so that's something. Someone who can tell the story!"
There was approving murmur.
"So, eh, that was here actually, here at the inn, where Gisborne caught me," Allan started and a tense silence followed as the men listened curiously. "I had played a few games and then, he was suddenly there, right in front of me."
As far as Will knew, Allan probably hadn't simply played a few games, but had tricked patrons out of their money. It was no surprise it had caught up with him at some point. He had probably swindled the wrong person there and that one had gone to Gisborne.
"I was taken to the dungeons," Allan continued. He glanced at Will, and his expression made Will feel sorry that he was making him tell the story here and now. It wasn't right. It hadn't been right that Allan hadn't told them before, that he had betrayed them even to Gisborne. Will could not let that pass. But still, making him tell the truth here wasn't right either.
Will shook his head briefly, only Allan seeing the gesture.
"It wasn't pretty," Allan went on. "They tortured me."
"Why?" one man wanted to know.
"Because they can," Allan replied, and once again there was affirmative murmur, though more subdued now.
"They finally let me go then."
"Why?" was once against the question.
"Don't know. Maybe got bored," Allan mumbled, without looking at the man or anyone else.
"That was a short story," someone complained.
"Well, don't really want to talk about that, you know?" Allan pointed out, trying to regain the mood.
"Yeah, I want to hear a funny story again!" a clearly drunken patron yelled, spilling ale all over the other men as he swung his cup with a grand gesture.
Allan nodded, and Will got up, turning to leave.
"Well, maybe after a short break," Allan said suddenly. Will moved through the inn, making his way to the exit, as Allan caught up with him.
"Will."
Will turned around.
"You want to talk to me, don't you? That's why you came here, didn't you?"
After a moment, Will nodded. It was the truth, though he was not sure what he would say.
"I did come because of that, but I'm not sure what there is to say," he admitted.
"Look, Will, I am sorry. I told you, it was wrong to work for Gisborne. I never should have told him anything. And I would not really betray you, I swear, I would never do anything that would hurt you," Allan went on. "And I'm not just saying that so that you take me back, because really, I'm doing alright here. I've got a roof over my head-"
"Yes," Will said.
Allan rubbed his forehead. "Look, I don't know what else to say. What can I do? Is there a point in doing anything? Would you ever forgive me? Or the others?"
"I don't know," Will said truthfully. At the moment, he wasn't forgiving Allan, but why then had he felt the need to come here? He didn't know what would have been, if their detection of Allan's betrayal hadn't coincided with the pardon. He guessed they would have thrown him out anyway, such a measure even more necessary in such a case, when it might have been a matter of life or death who you could trust.
In a way he didn't want to forgive Allan. It felt wrong. The man had sold them out to Gisborne. How could he forgive him as if it had just been a boyish prank?
A pint of ale appeared in front of him that Allan seemed to have ordered. Will looked up and saw that he had one for himself. Well, maybe they could share at least this for now.
>>>----> >>>---->
Vaysey was tired. It seemed nowadays he had to manage everything he would usually have let Gisborne take care of. It wasn't like he could tell Hood to do some of the deeds that needed to be done. The man was suspicious enough without being involved in the meaty part of Vaysey's doings.
Soon there was more silver expected from Locksley and the other holdings around Nottingham. The nobles all had to pay. Prince John would take the treasure with him when he came to inspect the sheriff's progress with the outlaw problem.
The thought reminded Vaysey that he had not yet decided how to present his success to the prince. Would the prince believe it, would it please him to know that he had made a deal with the now-former outlaw? Or would he expect that option which Vaysey would have both expected and preferred, that Hood would be presented as a captive, ready to hang for the prince's pleasure?
One thing the prince certainly mustn't learn was that the robbing hadn't ended. No silver had been taken anymore, but the storages of the castle had been robbed more than once. Witnesses had laid blame on the Nightwatchman, that man who had also helped Gisborne escape, attacking Vaysey. It seemed the man was in league with Gisborne now, an odd turn of events. Of course, earlier he had been in league with Hood, so it was obviously a good idea to ask Locksley to stop his ally from robbing the sheriff's storages.
Vaysey turned on his heels, now making his way to the chamber where he would meet the very man now. Locksley had agreed to meet him today and the sheriff had plenty of issues to talk about. Once he was there, he settled down in his favourite chair, signalling a servant to fill a goblet. Taking the cup from the man he sipped some of the sweet wine, preparing himself for the confrontation that was to come.
Locksley wasn't late. He strode into the room as confident as usual. He had his Saracen sword hefted to his side, but didn't carry as bow and quiver, as Vaysey noticed. The sheriff hadn't a seat for Locksley readied, but Robin didn't hesitate to just pull up a chair Vaysey had used at other occasions.
"Welcome," Vaysey said lazily.
"Vaysey," Robin returned as somewhat of a greeting, sitting down.
"So how is Locksley? Are all the little peasants happy?" Vaysey smiled.
Robin raised his eyebrows. "I guess you don't want to waste both our times."
"I can't fathom what you mean," Vaysey smirked. "But if you don't want to discuss this, then let us discuss my safety. Any brilliant ideas how to protect me from the likes of Gisborne?"
"Do you think it would help if I stayed by your side at all times, would that keep Gisborne away?" Robin returned. "Or maybe you tell me why Gisborne would want to kill you. It would be easier to stop him if I knew his motive."
"Would it?" Vaysey wasn't keen on telling Robin that Prince John had offered his post to Gisborne if the man managed to kill him. At the end, Robin might be tempted to help the man to get rid of him. And it would be of great disadvantage if Robin even knew that Prince John was ready to have him replaced.
"Yes," Robin emphasized. Vaysey decided the closest truth would be the best here.
"Well, I think he wants to be sheriff," he said as if it was a hardly important point.
"But as you said, Prince John threatened to destroy Nottingham should anything happen to you. How could Gisborne be sheriff then?"
Vaysey smirked. "We both know that Gisborne isn't the cleverest boy." He was sure that Robin would only too readily agree there.
"And what about Prince John," Locksley suddenly changed the topic. "I heard he comes to Nottingham soon?"
Vaysey didn't know how Hood had learned of that, but then the man had often had knowledge he shouldn't have had. "Yes," he confirmed testily. "He will arrive here in a few days." He took a sip of his wine. "And come to talk of it, Prince John is naturally very concerned about his dear brother the king, and we want to assure him that both you and I will be working together hard to bring the king home, don't we?" It wasn't exactly what the prince needed to see, but how he would manage to show that Hood wasn't a problem anymore he could think about later, for a decision needed to be made there.
"If you think so," Robin said, appearing thoughtful. Naturally, he didn't believe Vaysey, but was surely wondering what the man was up to, and rightfully so. Vaysey wondered if Robin would ever pull back from the deal they had. Would he decide to go back to the forest? Would he condemn his outlaw friends to do the same? Would he risk the leper's life, now that the sheriff knew all too well that they were in league with each other? And not to forget, would Locksley throw away the chance to take care again of his pesky peasants?
The conversation did not turn much more fruitful and Vaysey was soon tired of it. At the end of the day, he wouldn't make decisions together with Robin anyway, but about Robin - without the man's knowledge and consultation, naturally. He could decide how to handle the situation with the prince.
When Robin finally got up to leave, Vaysey waited until he was almost out of the chamber, before he called after him, "Oh, one more thing: Please tell your friend the Nightwatchman to stop robbing my storages. That would be most helpful."
Robin neither turned around nor stopped in his tracks, but left the room without another word.
TBC
By: Kegel
Fandom: Robin Hood BBC
Rating: T
Disclaimer: Anything that you recognize I do not own.
Summary: A twist of history and an unexpected offer give Robin new opportunities in his fight for both his people and country. It also brings new dilemmas, as he and the gang have to make hard choices to find their way when conflicts come to a head.
Spoilers: Till mid-season 2.
Chapter Summary: Guy is confronted with Robin and Marian, Will goes to talk to Allan, the Sheriff has a meeting with Robin.
Chapter 24: Allies
He woke up slowly, feeling the hay he was lying in poking against his skin. This wasn't a surprise - it wasn't the first night he had spent not in his bed at Locksley, but on the go anywhere he could find shelter. He had been furious to learn that not only did the sheriff want him dead, but the man had also given the estate back to Hood. For a few days now Guy had stayed in Nottingham, trying to evade the sheriff while at the same time keeping a watch on the man.
Guy turned around from where he had been lying, looking up and saw her sitting there in the shine of a small torch. This wasn't Nottingham, that was another thing he noticed. A groan escaped him, as pains in his head and body registered more fully. He seemed to have taken a good beating.
It was nearly dark and only the small shine of Marian's torch illuminated the place.
"What..." Guy started. Slowly sitting up, yet holding his head, he began again, "What is this?"
"We're in Locksley," Marian explained. Locksley. Marian. He had seen her in Nottingham at that inn where he had gone under the presumption that Allan wanted to talk to him. Hood had been there...
"What do you want?" he asked. "Deliver me to the sheriff now that you've turned him against me?" This was certainly Hood's doing. Gisborne had heard that the man was back at Locksley, apparently having regained the sheriff's favour with the promise of delivering Gisborne to him. If Guy only knew why Vaysey had turned against him. But then he did know. Marian. Because he had helped her and betrayed the sheriff's trust. And now she was playing him still.
"We want to help you," she insisted.
"So that is why you take me captive, you and Hood, I presume."
"You are free to go," Robin said from the door of what Guy now recognized to be the barn at Locksley, entering from the darkness outside. Marian glanced at the man and they exchanged a look of mutual understanding that Guy abhorred.
He laughed bitterly. "You bring me here, take away my weapons, yet tell me I am free to go."
"Your weapons are outside, Robin just wanted-"
"Robin," Gisborne spat. "It's Hood now who's making the calls, is it?"
"It was actually Marian's idea to bring you here," Robin said flatly. "Now if it were me, I would have left you in Nottingham for the guards." Marian turned towards Robin and frowned, but Gisborne noticed that the man hardly seemed to care. "So why is Vaysey afraid of you?" he asked. So they had taken him from Nottingham; Guy wasn't sure what had happened there. He remembered the fight at the inn. Why had they brought him here and not to the sheriff... the guards would have taken him from their hands, they wouldn't have needed to bother... But then Hood wanted information, so it seemed.
"I'm not telling you anything," Guy said. "For all I can see, you turned him against me. It was probably your doing," he looked at Marian, "you got me to go behind his back to save you and your father from your own foolishness."
Marian looked at him as if she wanted to say something, but apparently there was nothing she could say, Guy figured.
"Does it have anything to do with Prince John?" Robin went on.
"You'd like to know, wouldn't you, Hood?" Guy smirked. He wondered if his weapons were really outside. He wished he had his sword by his side now and could talk to Hood in a whole different way. He got up, looking from Robin to Marian. "Vaysey's going to see sense and take me back. Actually, once I tell him a few new facts about the both of you, he's going to welcome me with open arms, reward me even for finally discovering who the Nightwatchman is, and that he is in league with Hood."
Marian looked at him, "Guy-"
He pointed at her. "And then the Nightwatchman will pay for his crimes, along with Hood."
He still couldn't bring himself to say it out loud that she was that very person, even as he was accusing her in every other way but out loud at the same time.
"You do not want that," she said.
"Oh, I do," Guy assured her. "You think I will keep you from hanging for what you did?" He looked away from her, staring at the hay instead. "I've lost others, others who betrayed me." He felt the betrayal again that he had felt after the failed wedding. She had felt his rage then, had paid with her home that he had given to the flames. Why did she think he would spare her now after turning against him, betraying him so many times?
"You can help us," she tried again. "And we can help you."
Guy didn't listen. He strode over to the barn door, not looking back. Only when he had stepped outside, did he glance back briefly and saw her and Robin standing close, and with a grim expression he vanished into the night.
He found his weapons outside and picked them up carefully. He hefted his sword to his side. Before leaving he looked back at the barn once more. It would be so easy now. He could trap the both of them. Did he really want her dead? Wasn't she dead already to him, having given herself to Hood?
She had called it help. Maybe it had been help, really, help for him to see things more clearly.
>>>----> >>>---->
The last few days had been quiet. Will had just busied himself with some small repairs at the camp, going out hunting with John and Djaq and going to Locksley a few times to see Robin and Much - and to look at his father's old house. Robin had invited them to come to Locksley, told them that they didn't have to remain hidden at the camp anymore. Still, they had stayed in the forest for now, though Will didn't know when they would make a decision. It would be easier for him than for Djaq and John.
Now Will was making his way through Nottingham, for the first time in years without the need to hide who he was. Though he didn't like to admit it to himself, there was a reason why he had come. He had heard from the other villagers that stories about the outlaws were making their way through Nottingham; not the stories that had always been told, but first-hand tales of the outlaws' experiences. It was Allan who was telling them.
Will had come to the Tripp Inn where Allan was supposed to tell stories for ale and money, had come to see the former outlaw. It was easy to find the man. He was sitting in the middle of a large group of people. They were all listening intently on what he was telling, laughing from time to time.
"So that was the story with the tax man," Allan was saying now, and the patrons clapped. Some were ordering a new round of ale for Allan, willing him to continue.
Will moved forward and dropped a coin into the cup Allan had placed on the table next to him. "Has there ever been a spy in your gang?" he asked coolly.
Allan's eyes widened as he recognized Will. "No, no, there wasn't. Sheriff would have finished us, if there had been, wouldn't he?" he chuckled. "Let me rather tell the story again how we crashed Gisborne's birthday party for the king, shall I?"
The patrons cheered and a few more coins wandered into Allan's cup.
Will sat down. Allan started his story and Will had to smile a few times, as he recalled the happenings. To his eye it was obvious that it made Allan nervous that he was here, but the other guests didn't seem to notice or care.
Once Allan was finished and the clapping had died down, Will said, "Can you tell us the story how you got caught by Gisborne?"
Other patrons looked at him and exchanged uncomfortable glances among each other. They probably knew this wouldn't be a happy story like the ones about the outlaws robbing tax collectors or crashing Gisborne's parties.
"Eh, I'm not sure, really-," Allan started.
"Come on, tell us!" someone said. "We know Gisborne isn't the guy who you want to run in with, but you're here and in one piece, so that's something. Someone who can tell the story!"
There was approving murmur.
"So, eh, that was here actually, here at the inn, where Gisborne caught me," Allan started and a tense silence followed as the men listened curiously. "I had played a few games and then, he was suddenly there, right in front of me."
As far as Will knew, Allan probably hadn't simply played a few games, but had tricked patrons out of their money. It was no surprise it had caught up with him at some point. He had probably swindled the wrong person there and that one had gone to Gisborne.
"I was taken to the dungeons," Allan continued. He glanced at Will, and his expression made Will feel sorry that he was making him tell the story here and now. It wasn't right. It hadn't been right that Allan hadn't told them before, that he had betrayed them even to Gisborne. Will could not let that pass. But still, making him tell the truth here wasn't right either.
Will shook his head briefly, only Allan seeing the gesture.
"It wasn't pretty," Allan went on. "They tortured me."
"Why?" one man wanted to know.
"Because they can," Allan replied, and once again there was affirmative murmur, though more subdued now.
"They finally let me go then."
"Why?" was once against the question.
"Don't know. Maybe got bored," Allan mumbled, without looking at the man or anyone else.
"That was a short story," someone complained.
"Well, don't really want to talk about that, you know?" Allan pointed out, trying to regain the mood.
"Yeah, I want to hear a funny story again!" a clearly drunken patron yelled, spilling ale all over the other men as he swung his cup with a grand gesture.
Allan nodded, and Will got up, turning to leave.
"Well, maybe after a short break," Allan said suddenly. Will moved through the inn, making his way to the exit, as Allan caught up with him.
"Will."
Will turned around.
"You want to talk to me, don't you? That's why you came here, didn't you?"
After a moment, Will nodded. It was the truth, though he was not sure what he would say.
"I did come because of that, but I'm not sure what there is to say," he admitted.
"Look, Will, I am sorry. I told you, it was wrong to work for Gisborne. I never should have told him anything. And I would not really betray you, I swear, I would never do anything that would hurt you," Allan went on. "And I'm not just saying that so that you take me back, because really, I'm doing alright here. I've got a roof over my head-"
"Yes," Will said.
Allan rubbed his forehead. "Look, I don't know what else to say. What can I do? Is there a point in doing anything? Would you ever forgive me? Or the others?"
"I don't know," Will said truthfully. At the moment, he wasn't forgiving Allan, but why then had he felt the need to come here? He didn't know what would have been, if their detection of Allan's betrayal hadn't coincided with the pardon. He guessed they would have thrown him out anyway, such a measure even more necessary in such a case, when it might have been a matter of life or death who you could trust.
In a way he didn't want to forgive Allan. It felt wrong. The man had sold them out to Gisborne. How could he forgive him as if it had just been a boyish prank?
A pint of ale appeared in front of him that Allan seemed to have ordered. Will looked up and saw that he had one for himself. Well, maybe they could share at least this for now.
>>>----> >>>---->
Vaysey was tired. It seemed nowadays he had to manage everything he would usually have let Gisborne take care of. It wasn't like he could tell Hood to do some of the deeds that needed to be done. The man was suspicious enough without being involved in the meaty part of Vaysey's doings.
Soon there was more silver expected from Locksley and the other holdings around Nottingham. The nobles all had to pay. Prince John would take the treasure with him when he came to inspect the sheriff's progress with the outlaw problem.
The thought reminded Vaysey that he had not yet decided how to present his success to the prince. Would the prince believe it, would it please him to know that he had made a deal with the now-former outlaw? Or would he expect that option which Vaysey would have both expected and preferred, that Hood would be presented as a captive, ready to hang for the prince's pleasure?
One thing the prince certainly mustn't learn was that the robbing hadn't ended. No silver had been taken anymore, but the storages of the castle had been robbed more than once. Witnesses had laid blame on the Nightwatchman, that man who had also helped Gisborne escape, attacking Vaysey. It seemed the man was in league with Gisborne now, an odd turn of events. Of course, earlier he had been in league with Hood, so it was obviously a good idea to ask Locksley to stop his ally from robbing the sheriff's storages.
Vaysey turned on his heels, now making his way to the chamber where he would meet the very man now. Locksley had agreed to meet him today and the sheriff had plenty of issues to talk about. Once he was there, he settled down in his favourite chair, signalling a servant to fill a goblet. Taking the cup from the man he sipped some of the sweet wine, preparing himself for the confrontation that was to come.
Locksley wasn't late. He strode into the room as confident as usual. He had his Saracen sword hefted to his side, but didn't carry as bow and quiver, as Vaysey noticed. The sheriff hadn't a seat for Locksley readied, but Robin didn't hesitate to just pull up a chair Vaysey had used at other occasions.
"Welcome," Vaysey said lazily.
"Vaysey," Robin returned as somewhat of a greeting, sitting down.
"So how is Locksley? Are all the little peasants happy?" Vaysey smiled.
Robin raised his eyebrows. "I guess you don't want to waste both our times."
"I can't fathom what you mean," Vaysey smirked. "But if you don't want to discuss this, then let us discuss my safety. Any brilliant ideas how to protect me from the likes of Gisborne?"
"Do you think it would help if I stayed by your side at all times, would that keep Gisborne away?" Robin returned. "Or maybe you tell me why Gisborne would want to kill you. It would be easier to stop him if I knew his motive."
"Would it?" Vaysey wasn't keen on telling Robin that Prince John had offered his post to Gisborne if the man managed to kill him. At the end, Robin might be tempted to help the man to get rid of him. And it would be of great disadvantage if Robin even knew that Prince John was ready to have him replaced.
"Yes," Robin emphasized. Vaysey decided the closest truth would be the best here.
"Well, I think he wants to be sheriff," he said as if it was a hardly important point.
"But as you said, Prince John threatened to destroy Nottingham should anything happen to you. How could Gisborne be sheriff then?"
Vaysey smirked. "We both know that Gisborne isn't the cleverest boy." He was sure that Robin would only too readily agree there.
"And what about Prince John," Locksley suddenly changed the topic. "I heard he comes to Nottingham soon?"
Vaysey didn't know how Hood had learned of that, but then the man had often had knowledge he shouldn't have had. "Yes," he confirmed testily. "He will arrive here in a few days." He took a sip of his wine. "And come to talk of it, Prince John is naturally very concerned about his dear brother the king, and we want to assure him that both you and I will be working together hard to bring the king home, don't we?" It wasn't exactly what the prince needed to see, but how he would manage to show that Hood wasn't a problem anymore he could think about later, for a decision needed to be made there.
"If you think so," Robin said, appearing thoughtful. Naturally, he didn't believe Vaysey, but was surely wondering what the man was up to, and rightfully so. Vaysey wondered if Robin would ever pull back from the deal they had. Would he decide to go back to the forest? Would he condemn his outlaw friends to do the same? Would he risk the leper's life, now that the sheriff knew all too well that they were in league with each other? And not to forget, would Locksley throw away the chance to take care again of his pesky peasants?
The conversation did not turn much more fruitful and Vaysey was soon tired of it. At the end of the day, he wouldn't make decisions together with Robin anyway, but about Robin - without the man's knowledge and consultation, naturally. He could decide how to handle the situation with the prince.
When Robin finally got up to leave, Vaysey waited until he was almost out of the chamber, before he called after him, "Oh, one more thing: Please tell your friend the Nightwatchman to stop robbing my storages. That would be most helpful."
Robin neither turned around nor stopped in his tracks, but left the room without another word.
TBC