Nocturne, Chapter 10
Original Post
Summary: Things come to a head.
Characters/Pairings: The Outlaws, Vaizey, Guy, The Impostor, guards, villagers; Robin/Marian
Rating: PG
Spoilers/Warnings: Starts the morning after 1x13 ends; AU from there. Serious brawling within this chapter!
Disclaimer: It's probably just as well I'm not associated with the show Robin Hood in any way, because I would have squeed like mad during the fight scene filming, which probably would have proved distracting for those involved...
Previous Chapter
~10~
It was either destiny, or possibly sheer chance, that brought the outlaws to Bonchurch just as the third Night Watchman found herself cornered by Vaizey's men.
Upon hearing everything that had happened in her absence, Marian had been most interested in the theft and subsequent distribution of the plums by the unknown Night Watchman; she pointed out that, while it was understandable for someone to decide to take up the torch, that action was highly unusual. After she mentioned that, Much brought up the intruder at the empty cottage which had formerly belonged to Eve's mother, and Robin could have kicked himself for not noticing that connection sooner.
It was obvious that Bonchurch was some sort of key, and seeing as how his own Night Watchman had not made a delivery there in several days-- although, he could not speak for the other Night Watchman,-- the outlaws decided to make a drop-off and investigate, in the same trip. Robin was more than happy to have Marian reassume her role, especially as he was far more comfortable with ready access to his bow, which had not been possible with the costume.
As it happened, instead of following the plan to quickly make Night Watchman drops and then explore the vacant house, the gang found themselves crouched along the treeline on the outskirts of the village.
At first, it was because they noticed a shadowy figure darting amongst the cottages. After last night's conflict, Robin was confident that any one of them could best The Impostor. It might take a little doing, but they were all more battle-hardened than she; and since there were seven of them now, she would not escape. "Circle round and watch for my signal," he ordered quietly to most of the gang. "Marian, let's go have a chat with your lookalike."
Just as they began to move, so did several other people. The outlaws halted as a dozen or so of the sheriff's men stepped out from behind various buildings, swords in one hand and torches in the other, surrounding The Impostor. She obviously knew that going for her own sword was fruitless, and raised her hands as Vaizey and Guy rode up.
"Well, well, well," the sheriff drawled. "What have we here?"
"Tomorrow's dawn appointment for the executioner," growled Guy.
"Right," Robin muttered, as the guards moved in on the masked woman. "Same plan. Go."
Marian looked at him as the others disappeared into the forest and villagers started emerging from their homes. "What are we doing?" she asked.
Glancing at her, he shook his head. "It's common knowledge now that he already hung one false fugitive; I doubt he wants to make the same move twice. We plant the seeds of doubt regarding her claim to the title, rescue her, and escape." A thoughtful expression came over her features, and Robin experienced a sense of trepidation. "What?"
"He knows that unless he has me, he does not have the right woman (or man). I can prove that I'm the real Night Watchman. The scar on my belly--"
"No." He could argue that revealing it with an audience would be immodest, but he knew how she would react to that, and his actual argument was more personal, anyway. Partly, he did not like the thought of her exposing any part of herself in front of Gisborne, even if the man would not be aware of her identity.
Partly, he still had not entirely come to terms with almost losing her, and did not want to be so clearly reminded of it in public. If it were just the two of them, it would be different; while he would not reveal much in that instance, either, at least it would be easier to for him to process.
As he could not say any of those things, his protest remained a single word, which Marian easily brushed off. "Do not be a fool. It is the best way to free that woman, who cannot possibly defend herself amongst all of those soldiers."
Robin let out a sigh, unable to debate that, much as he would like to. "Very well. Just make sure to stay out of range of the guards, all right?"
"Agreed. I shall need you to speak for me, though, so as not to give myself away."
Knowing there was nothing for it, Robin gestured for them to go. He unsheathed his sword as the two of them rushed out to where the false Night Watchman was being clapped in irons. When they were visible in the torchlight, Robin signaled for the lads to move in as he called, "Congratulations, Sheriff! You have finally caught one of your adversaries, it seems. Or, have you?" As the uniformed men automatically went toward Marian and him, Robin calmly added, "I wouldn't." The gang had taken up position, Much and Djaq with bows drawn, the others ready to jump into a melee, should one be initiated. While the sheriff's contingent outnumbered the outlaws, every person standing in Bonchurch knew who the victors of such a fight would likely be.
The pair on horseback had a more optimistic outlook on their situation. "Hood," Vaizey greeted him shortly, resting against the pommel of his saddle as though bored. "I see you've found your own pet Night Watchman. Step aside, and we can each have our own."
Beside him, Robin could tell Marian was bristling at the adjective. He did not particularly care for it, either. "You know, I think I would prefer if both Night Watchmen left with me." Vaizey rolled his eyes and pretended to yawn, but Robin got his attention again when he said, "At any rate, only one is the true Night Watchman. Would you not like to ensure you have the right one this time?"
The next moment was interesting; Robin could almost read the sheriff's thought processes. Vaizey knew that Marian was the real Night Watchman, and that she was associated with Robin; so, Vaizey would deduce that Robin knew full well what he was saying. Vaizey also knew that she and Edward had evidently escaped Nottingham. Meanwhile, what he could not know for certain was whether or not it was Marian standing beside Robin. If it was, she would be equally cognizant of what was going on; if not, the Night Watchman with Robin might not know most, or any of it.
There was also the question as to what, if anything, the Night Watchman the guards were currently cornering knew.
And, Vaizey was aware that Robin recognized what he was thinking, judging from the keen way he peered at his foe.
Robin gave him a smug, humorless smile. He was winning, and he knew it. "One way to find out," he declared, glancing over at Gisborne.
Delayed realization dawned on the lieutenant's face. "Check his stomach, his lower right side. There should be a wound. A scar," he barked at the men holding The Impostor, who tried to pull away from the men holding her arms as a couple of other guards went toward her.
"Her stomach," Robin corrected in feigned exasperation, hoping to make the guards pause, and glad when they did. "Her."
"What?" Gisborne snarled.
"Are you honestly that blind?" asked Robin incredulously, secretly pleased to be pointing out Gisborne's oversight in front of his men. Apparently, his pleasure was not secret enough, considering how Marian muttered his name warningly, low enough that only he could hear. Ignoring the chide, Robin said, "The Night Watchman is a woman. She always has been."
Distrustful of the outlaw's claim, Gisborne eyed first the captive Night Watchman, and then the one beside Robin, clearly only now realizing their gender. "You lie. Neither of these is the real Night Watchman. I have fought him; it is a man."
On cue, Marian lifted the hem of her shirt and nudged the edge of her trousers down, just enough to reveal the curved scar they had been concealing-- located on an obviously feminine belly.
Robin kept his gaze trained on Vaizey and Gisborne as she did. The sheriff's eyebrows went up a notch as some of his questions were answered. Gisborne looked shocked, and then furious. Before he could respond, however, Vaizey gestured toward The Impostor. "If that is not the Night Watchman, she's useless to us. Kill her."
Even Gisborne seemed surprised by the casual order, but Robin wasted little time in signaling the gang. "Move in!" he called, and jumped forward, Marian doing the same alongside him, whilst the gathering of villagers ran for the safety of their homes.
The Impostor could do nothing with her hands shackled, and both Robin and Marian set their sights on freeing her. At least, reacting to their attack kept her guards from carrying out their orders. Blocking a blade which was aimed to split his skull open, Robin kicked out, knocking one soldier back. Another came up behind him and swung as he was about to regain his footing, and he ducked to avoid a slash across the back; turning as he straightened, he brought his own sword around, slicing into the armor of that attacker.
Out of the corner of his eye, he was aware of Marian spinning around behind the guard who tried to attack her, kicking the man high in the back, into another who was coming to assist, which took them both down. Little John had plowed into the fray, knocking three guards senseless with a couple mightly swings of his staff, and sending another running-- only to be stopped by Will, who quickly repulsed the man's sword with his larger axe and knocked him unconscious with the flat of his smaller axe. Allan got a surprisingly skilled opponent, and traded several blows back and forth. He only managed to get the upper hand when Will shouldered another guard aside, who ended up next to Allan. The guard had started to drop his sword as he stumbled, and Allan reflexively grabbed it with his free hand; the extra blade gave him the advantage he needed to bring his foe down.
Djaq and Much were a moment behind the others, having had to trade their bows for melee weapons before charging in. This worked well, since the sheriff's men were already occupied with the other outlaws. Therefore, it was with very little effort that they succeeded in getting to the shackled Night Watchman, who was trapped against a cottage by the battle. A guard noticed their efforts, but Djaq fended him off while Much checked the iron bindings on The Impostor.
"These won't be easy to take off," he told Djaq.
Robin, dispatching one of the few remaining sheriff's men nearby, ordered, "Get her out of here." He would have said more, but had to focus on parrying a rush by another guard.
"All right." Much swung the masked woman over his shoulder, muttering an uncomfortable, "Sorry," to her as an afterthought. It might not have been the best position for her, but it left his sword hand free to defend them; still, between the diminished number of guards and the gang engaging those who did remain, it was not difficult for them to get away, accompanied by Djaq.
Gisborne spurred his mount to pursue them, but Vaizey stopped him. "Get the real Night Watchman. And Hood, while you're at it." That said, the sheriff got his own horse into motion, moving back a safe distance from the fighting.
Swinging around, Gisborne rode toward Marian as she finished off her last adversary. Robin heard the command, yet was facing a rather stubborn soldier, and did not fell him until just before the horse and rider reached Marian. He need not have been concerned, as she cartwheeled away from the hand Gisborne extended to snag her. Her unknowing ex-fiancé jumped out of the saddle, unsheathing his sword and stalking toward her. Robin took one step in their direction, but heard Will call out a warning just as something crashed into him, knocking him forward. Stumbling forward several steps, he pivoted, bringing his fist up in the same motion, which caught the last remaining guard on the jaw. The man dropped like a stone, and Robin went back toward where Marian was adeptly fending Gisborne off.
The sheriff's man-at-arms had size and strength on his side, but the former sheriff's daughter had uncanny agility, and the resulting match was more even than might have been expected. He would swing at her, and she would spin or roll as she parried the hit, diffusing the power he might have put into it. The exchange was moving them away from the cottages; now that the outlaws were the only ones left standing in the road, they rushed as one toward the last remaining combat.
From as far as he could be without actually leaving, Vaizey yelled, "Do something, Gisborne! I don't pay you to dance!"
By then, however, the gang was on the verge of ringing Gisborne in, and he backed away before they could trap him, moving toward his horse. Glaring daggers at Robin and Marian as he retreated, he grumbled, "This is not over. I have nearly killed you once"-- he gestured with his sword at Marian,-- "and your day is coming, Hood."
"I'm looking forward to it," Robin bit out. "We will settle this, once and for all."
Reaching his horse, Gisborne swung up. When he was seated, he replied, "You can count on it. And you." He sniffed derisively at the masked figure beside Robin, more confident now that he was mounted. "It's obvious what's going on here. Hood's whore," he said, making a tsking noise as he glanced back at Robin. "What would Marian say, I wonder?"
Robin was torn between the urge to yank him off the horse and kill him efficiently and painfully for the label he had just used, or laugh at the irony. He rather wished Marian would reveal her identity then, but did not expect it-- and was thus not disappointed. "Run along to your master, before I decide to settle things now," he snapped.
"Do not tempt me," Gisborne snarled.
Vaizey chose then to bellow, "If you're not going to be useful, Gisborne, I will be looking to find your replacement!" With that, he took off toward the Great North Road; and, with one final glare at the assembled group, Gisborne rode off after him.
After a moment of silence where everyone adjusted to the sudden lack of activity, Robin finally said, "Let's find Much and Djaq, and The Impostor." He was still seething over the argument, but needed to let it go.
"I saw them head for that abandoned cottage, the one we were going to check out," Will supplied.
With a nod of thanks, Robin declared, "It is time to learn who the third Night Watchman is."
Next Chapter
*
Summary: Things come to a head.
Characters/Pairings: The Outlaws, Vaizey, Guy, The Impostor, guards, villagers; Robin/Marian
Rating: PG
Spoilers/Warnings: Starts the morning after 1x13 ends; AU from there. Serious brawling within this chapter!
Disclaimer: It's probably just as well I'm not associated with the show Robin Hood in any way, because I would have squeed like mad during the fight scene filming, which probably would have proved distracting for those involved...
Previous Chapter
~10~
It was either destiny, or possibly sheer chance, that brought the outlaws to Bonchurch just as the third Night Watchman found herself cornered by Vaizey's men.
Upon hearing everything that had happened in her absence, Marian had been most interested in the theft and subsequent distribution of the plums by the unknown Night Watchman; she pointed out that, while it was understandable for someone to decide to take up the torch, that action was highly unusual. After she mentioned that, Much brought up the intruder at the empty cottage which had formerly belonged to Eve's mother, and Robin could have kicked himself for not noticing that connection sooner.
It was obvious that Bonchurch was some sort of key, and seeing as how his own Night Watchman had not made a delivery there in several days-- although, he could not speak for the other Night Watchman,-- the outlaws decided to make a drop-off and investigate, in the same trip. Robin was more than happy to have Marian reassume her role, especially as he was far more comfortable with ready access to his bow, which had not been possible with the costume.
As it happened, instead of following the plan to quickly make Night Watchman drops and then explore the vacant house, the gang found themselves crouched along the treeline on the outskirts of the village.
At first, it was because they noticed a shadowy figure darting amongst the cottages. After last night's conflict, Robin was confident that any one of them could best The Impostor. It might take a little doing, but they were all more battle-hardened than she; and since there were seven of them now, she would not escape. "Circle round and watch for my signal," he ordered quietly to most of the gang. "Marian, let's go have a chat with your lookalike."
Just as they began to move, so did several other people. The outlaws halted as a dozen or so of the sheriff's men stepped out from behind various buildings, swords in one hand and torches in the other, surrounding The Impostor. She obviously knew that going for her own sword was fruitless, and raised her hands as Vaizey and Guy rode up.
"Well, well, well," the sheriff drawled. "What have we here?"
"Tomorrow's dawn appointment for the executioner," growled Guy.
"Right," Robin muttered, as the guards moved in on the masked woman. "Same plan. Go."
Marian looked at him as the others disappeared into the forest and villagers started emerging from their homes. "What are we doing?" she asked.
Glancing at her, he shook his head. "It's common knowledge now that he already hung one false fugitive; I doubt he wants to make the same move twice. We plant the seeds of doubt regarding her claim to the title, rescue her, and escape." A thoughtful expression came over her features, and Robin experienced a sense of trepidation. "What?"
"He knows that unless he has me, he does not have the right woman (or man). I can prove that I'm the real Night Watchman. The scar on my belly--"
"No." He could argue that revealing it with an audience would be immodest, but he knew how she would react to that, and his actual argument was more personal, anyway. Partly, he did not like the thought of her exposing any part of herself in front of Gisborne, even if the man would not be aware of her identity.
Partly, he still had not entirely come to terms with almost losing her, and did not want to be so clearly reminded of it in public. If it were just the two of them, it would be different; while he would not reveal much in that instance, either, at least it would be easier to for him to process.
As he could not say any of those things, his protest remained a single word, which Marian easily brushed off. "Do not be a fool. It is the best way to free that woman, who cannot possibly defend herself amongst all of those soldiers."
Robin let out a sigh, unable to debate that, much as he would like to. "Very well. Just make sure to stay out of range of the guards, all right?"
"Agreed. I shall need you to speak for me, though, so as not to give myself away."
Knowing there was nothing for it, Robin gestured for them to go. He unsheathed his sword as the two of them rushed out to where the false Night Watchman was being clapped in irons. When they were visible in the torchlight, Robin signaled for the lads to move in as he called, "Congratulations, Sheriff! You have finally caught one of your adversaries, it seems. Or, have you?" As the uniformed men automatically went toward Marian and him, Robin calmly added, "I wouldn't." The gang had taken up position, Much and Djaq with bows drawn, the others ready to jump into a melee, should one be initiated. While the sheriff's contingent outnumbered the outlaws, every person standing in Bonchurch knew who the victors of such a fight would likely be.
The pair on horseback had a more optimistic outlook on their situation. "Hood," Vaizey greeted him shortly, resting against the pommel of his saddle as though bored. "I see you've found your own pet Night Watchman. Step aside, and we can each have our own."
Beside him, Robin could tell Marian was bristling at the adjective. He did not particularly care for it, either. "You know, I think I would prefer if both Night Watchmen left with me." Vaizey rolled his eyes and pretended to yawn, but Robin got his attention again when he said, "At any rate, only one is the true Night Watchman. Would you not like to ensure you have the right one this time?"
The next moment was interesting; Robin could almost read the sheriff's thought processes. Vaizey knew that Marian was the real Night Watchman, and that she was associated with Robin; so, Vaizey would deduce that Robin knew full well what he was saying. Vaizey also knew that she and Edward had evidently escaped Nottingham. Meanwhile, what he could not know for certain was whether or not it was Marian standing beside Robin. If it was, she would be equally cognizant of what was going on; if not, the Night Watchman with Robin might not know most, or any of it.
There was also the question as to what, if anything, the Night Watchman the guards were currently cornering knew.
And, Vaizey was aware that Robin recognized what he was thinking, judging from the keen way he peered at his foe.
Robin gave him a smug, humorless smile. He was winning, and he knew it. "One way to find out," he declared, glancing over at Gisborne.
Delayed realization dawned on the lieutenant's face. "Check his stomach, his lower right side. There should be a wound. A scar," he barked at the men holding The Impostor, who tried to pull away from the men holding her arms as a couple of other guards went toward her.
"Her stomach," Robin corrected in feigned exasperation, hoping to make the guards pause, and glad when they did. "Her."
"What?" Gisborne snarled.
"Are you honestly that blind?" asked Robin incredulously, secretly pleased to be pointing out Gisborne's oversight in front of his men. Apparently, his pleasure was not secret enough, considering how Marian muttered his name warningly, low enough that only he could hear. Ignoring the chide, Robin said, "The Night Watchman is a woman. She always has been."
Distrustful of the outlaw's claim, Gisborne eyed first the captive Night Watchman, and then the one beside Robin, clearly only now realizing their gender. "You lie. Neither of these is the real Night Watchman. I have fought him; it is a man."
On cue, Marian lifted the hem of her shirt and nudged the edge of her trousers down, just enough to reveal the curved scar they had been concealing-- located on an obviously feminine belly.
Robin kept his gaze trained on Vaizey and Gisborne as she did. The sheriff's eyebrows went up a notch as some of his questions were answered. Gisborne looked shocked, and then furious. Before he could respond, however, Vaizey gestured toward The Impostor. "If that is not the Night Watchman, she's useless to us. Kill her."
Even Gisborne seemed surprised by the casual order, but Robin wasted little time in signaling the gang. "Move in!" he called, and jumped forward, Marian doing the same alongside him, whilst the gathering of villagers ran for the safety of their homes.
The Impostor could do nothing with her hands shackled, and both Robin and Marian set their sights on freeing her. At least, reacting to their attack kept her guards from carrying out their orders. Blocking a blade which was aimed to split his skull open, Robin kicked out, knocking one soldier back. Another came up behind him and swung as he was about to regain his footing, and he ducked to avoid a slash across the back; turning as he straightened, he brought his own sword around, slicing into the armor of that attacker.
Out of the corner of his eye, he was aware of Marian spinning around behind the guard who tried to attack her, kicking the man high in the back, into another who was coming to assist, which took them both down. Little John had plowed into the fray, knocking three guards senseless with a couple mightly swings of his staff, and sending another running-- only to be stopped by Will, who quickly repulsed the man's sword with his larger axe and knocked him unconscious with the flat of his smaller axe. Allan got a surprisingly skilled opponent, and traded several blows back and forth. He only managed to get the upper hand when Will shouldered another guard aside, who ended up next to Allan. The guard had started to drop his sword as he stumbled, and Allan reflexively grabbed it with his free hand; the extra blade gave him the advantage he needed to bring his foe down.
Djaq and Much were a moment behind the others, having had to trade their bows for melee weapons before charging in. This worked well, since the sheriff's men were already occupied with the other outlaws. Therefore, it was with very little effort that they succeeded in getting to the shackled Night Watchman, who was trapped against a cottage by the battle. A guard noticed their efforts, but Djaq fended him off while Much checked the iron bindings on The Impostor.
"These won't be easy to take off," he told Djaq.
Robin, dispatching one of the few remaining sheriff's men nearby, ordered, "Get her out of here." He would have said more, but had to focus on parrying a rush by another guard.
"All right." Much swung the masked woman over his shoulder, muttering an uncomfortable, "Sorry," to her as an afterthought. It might not have been the best position for her, but it left his sword hand free to defend them; still, between the diminished number of guards and the gang engaging those who did remain, it was not difficult for them to get away, accompanied by Djaq.
Gisborne spurred his mount to pursue them, but Vaizey stopped him. "Get the real Night Watchman. And Hood, while you're at it." That said, the sheriff got his own horse into motion, moving back a safe distance from the fighting.
Swinging around, Gisborne rode toward Marian as she finished off her last adversary. Robin heard the command, yet was facing a rather stubborn soldier, and did not fell him until just before the horse and rider reached Marian. He need not have been concerned, as she cartwheeled away from the hand Gisborne extended to snag her. Her unknowing ex-fiancé jumped out of the saddle, unsheathing his sword and stalking toward her. Robin took one step in their direction, but heard Will call out a warning just as something crashed into him, knocking him forward. Stumbling forward several steps, he pivoted, bringing his fist up in the same motion, which caught the last remaining guard on the jaw. The man dropped like a stone, and Robin went back toward where Marian was adeptly fending Gisborne off.
The sheriff's man-at-arms had size and strength on his side, but the former sheriff's daughter had uncanny agility, and the resulting match was more even than might have been expected. He would swing at her, and she would spin or roll as she parried the hit, diffusing the power he might have put into it. The exchange was moving them away from the cottages; now that the outlaws were the only ones left standing in the road, they rushed as one toward the last remaining combat.
From as far as he could be without actually leaving, Vaizey yelled, "Do something, Gisborne! I don't pay you to dance!"
By then, however, the gang was on the verge of ringing Gisborne in, and he backed away before they could trap him, moving toward his horse. Glaring daggers at Robin and Marian as he retreated, he grumbled, "This is not over. I have nearly killed you once"-- he gestured with his sword at Marian,-- "and your day is coming, Hood."
"I'm looking forward to it," Robin bit out. "We will settle this, once and for all."
Reaching his horse, Gisborne swung up. When he was seated, he replied, "You can count on it. And you." He sniffed derisively at the masked figure beside Robin, more confident now that he was mounted. "It's obvious what's going on here. Hood's whore," he said, making a tsking noise as he glanced back at Robin. "What would Marian say, I wonder?"
Robin was torn between the urge to yank him off the horse and kill him efficiently and painfully for the label he had just used, or laugh at the irony. He rather wished Marian would reveal her identity then, but did not expect it-- and was thus not disappointed. "Run along to your master, before I decide to settle things now," he snapped.
"Do not tempt me," Gisborne snarled.
Vaizey chose then to bellow, "If you're not going to be useful, Gisborne, I will be looking to find your replacement!" With that, he took off toward the Great North Road; and, with one final glare at the assembled group, Gisborne rode off after him.
After a moment of silence where everyone adjusted to the sudden lack of activity, Robin finally said, "Let's find Much and Djaq, and The Impostor." He was still seething over the argument, but needed to let it go.
"I saw them head for that abandoned cottage, the one we were going to check out," Will supplied.
With a nod of thanks, Robin declared, "It is time to learn who the third Night Watchman is."
Next Chapter
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