The Longest Time - Chapter 3
Title, Chapter: The Longest Time - Chapter 3
Author: kegel84
Summary: When the king returned, everything would be right again. But the day King Richard came into the town of Nottingham, Robin and the outlaws had to notice that things didn't turn out as they had always thought in the back of their minds.
Characters/Pairings: The Outlaws & Marian, Pairings: Robin/Marian, Will/Djaq
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers/Warnings: Season 2 till Lardner's Ring (AU after that)
Disclaimer: I do not own the show or the characters and make no money off them.
Notes: Thanks so much to my betas neaptidea and emmithar, neaptidea especially for pointing out when I contradicted myself or made no sense at all, and emmithar for her inspiration. And thanks to laura_isabel for her artwork! :)
Artwork, by laura_isabel
Previous Chapter
Through the night, nothing happened. Allan had finally found himself a quiet corner, as quiet as it could be in the gatehouse with guards walking around nervously, whispering to each other about the upcoming doom. But Allan had managed to slumber a little. He was only really awoken by the rays of the early morning light, soon followed by noise coming from the gate below.
Allan scrambled to his feet, checking that his sword was still attached to his side. He wouldn't want to be without a weapon in the chaos that he knew would come. Glancing down onto the field outside of the gate, he could see the king's banner again. The man seemed to be an early riser, or maybe he hadn't slept at all. Two riders came forward again then, and Allan listened as the threats of the previous night were repeated. The king demanded the gate to be opened and he threatened consequences to all those who would stand against him.
Allan knew that the other guards in the gatehouse were nervous, and rightly so. It probably wouldn't end well for any of them if the king's army actually got in, and as far as Allan could judge, this was only a matter of time. It was then that he decided that the gatehouse wasn't the place where he wanted to be. Glancing around at the castle guards who were focused on the king's banner outside as a mouse would stare at the snake, he sneaked out, and made his way downstairs, back into the town. There were no villagers to be seen in Nottingham anymore now. Those who had not managed to flee had probably returned to their houses and had barricaded themselves there. Allan figured this was what reasonable people would do - instead of working for a man who worked for the sheriff who worked against the King of England who was now standing in front of the gates of the town.
Allan grabbed the hilt of his sword, running over the marketplace. He didn't know where Gisborne was, but he figured that it would be every man for his own anyway, once chaos would break loose. He hadn't seen the sheriff at all since the day before and wondered if the man had already saved himself and had left the ones loyal to him behind to face the consequences.
Marian was someone Allan hadn't seen either, and he wondered briefly where she was. Maybe she had had the sense to leave and go back to the forest in time. Allan hadn't quite understood why she had come back to the castle at all. He had naturally not bought the whole Robin taking her hostage situation for a second, but he hardly could have told Guy as much without endangering her. Allan didn't know what she had planned, for he knew by now all too well that he would go back to the gang, if he could. It was all too late for these thoughts now, for if he didn't manage to sneak his way out of the town, he would meet the king's ire together with the other sheriff's men.
Allan had barely made it over the market, when he heard thunder. Looking up into the clear blue sky, he knew it wasn't a sign of an upcoming storm. The sound came again and again, and finally Allan was able to locate it to come from the direction of the gate. The king was trying to get inside, or had at least men who were doing that work for him.
Allan wondered if he would be able to talk his way out of it. Maybe he could tell them that he was working for Robin Hood, for the man who had been in the king's private guard. Robin wasn't here to tell them any different, was he?
The sounds from the gate changed then, and Allan knew that it had broken, and it was only a matter of moments now, before the king's men would be in the town. With a last glance at the gatehouse, Allan skirted around the next corner, his mind racing as to where he could go. The building ahead caught his sight, no matter that it was bolted up. It was a cherished refuge. The front door might have been closed and blocked, but Allan hadn't been an outlaw in a gang robbing the sheriff for nothing. By way of the window at one side of the tavern, he entered quickly. Of course, they would come in here, too, but at least it was better to be away from the open street for now, as long as battle would rage. And he figured, he wouldn't even go thirsty until then.
He stopped for a few moments, trying to discern if the inn keeper had really left this place behind. The house had the appearance of it, but Allan couldn't be sure, until he had seen and heard that he was indeed alone. The tavern lay dark and silent, making an eerie expression on him. Outside Allan could hear the sounds of fighting and knew it had been the right decision to leave the open street. He had no place in that kind of war, or in any war whatsoever. There was nothing he could win there, but only lose.
Of course, he would have preferred to be able to leave the town altogether. It would have been safer by far. But for now, he guessed he could deal with being stuck here. Walking around the tavern's backroom, Allan determined that it was still well-stocked with ale. He figured that the king's men would appreciate the stock. Maybe he would even be able to win favour that way. Or at least avoid unfavourable situations.
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It had been chilling to see the flames and the dark smoke rising up into the sky over Nottingham. It had reminded Robin of the threat that the town would burn if anything were to happen to the sheriff. But this threat was void now; the king was here and would take care of Vaizey.
Robin had figured that it would only be a matter of time until Nottingham was safe, once the wooden gatehouse had gone up in flames after the king's army had attacked it, as Robin had watched from the edge of the forest.
Robin wondered what had been happening inside the town, as he had had no way of finding out while the fighting had been going on. It had been clear that they wouldn't be able to get inside at this point. His one source of information inside of Nottingham had thankfully not been there anymore, as he confirmed to himself reaching out for her hand, when she came up to his side.
“I will go and see the king,” he said quietly. “Much is coming with me.”
Marian looked at him. "I will go to Knighton first. Perhaps Nottingham will be safe tonight. I'll find you there, if it is. The Council of Nobles will surely be restored.”
Robin nodded once, remembering that people from Nottingham had gone to the village of Knighton, too. The gang had helped set up a camp for those people there. Will especially had done good work that was appreciated, and Robin liked to think that the young man could already settle into his new life, a life when he wouldn't be an outlaw anymore. Once Vaizey would be gone, they would all be able to have that life.
“You go to Knighton, I go to Nottingham,” he confirmed, squeezing her hand. “And we'll see each other tonight.”
They departed and Robin caught up with Much who had been waiting for him a little ahead, so they could make their way to Nottingham. Robin kept a steady pace, anxious to finally meet the king again, to talk to him, warn him of the plot against him. Vaizey was probably history, but Prince John might still be hoping for his chance to make himself king.
It was still a strange view they got on the town when they came over the fields that lay before it. A considerable part of the king's army was still camping outside of Nottingham. The gates were open, though watched by soldiers. Robin wasn't sure if they were men who would recognize him. Not everyone knew him by sight, just as he didn't know everyone of the king's men, no matter that he had been one of them for five years.
“What do you think the king will say?” Much asked. “And what about the sheriff? The king will surely have him removed, won't he? If he isn't gone already. I never liked him.”
Robin smiled grimly. “I don't think Vaizey is still the sheriff. The king will appoint a new one.”
“Too bad Edward is dead,” Much replied sadly. “He was a fair man. He could have been sheriff again.”
Robin nodded quietly, his thoughts turning to Marian.
“I wonder who will be the next sheriff then,” his friend went on. “I hope someone who doesn't like hangings quite that much as the old sheriff,” Much shook his head, grimacing. “We never would have gotten into all that trouble if he hadn't wanted to hang Will, and Allan and-”
Robin smiled as Much continued talking, doubting that he would have been able to stay out of trouble for very long, even if Vaizey hadn't planned those hangings back then. Sooner or later they would have clashed over another grave issue. It was a good thing, a very good thing for Nottingham that Vaizey would be gone now.
The soldiers at the West Gate looked at them in with mild interest as they came up to them. Robin nodded once, not recognizing the men.
“You cannot go into the town today,” one of them said, before Robin had even said anything.
“My name is Robin of Locksley. My friend Much here and I used to serve in the king's private guard in the Holy Land, and would like to talk to him on an important matter.”
“We cannot let you in.”
“Why not?” Much frowned. “He told you. We were in the King's Private-”
“We have orders to let no one into the town.”
“I need to talk to the king,” Robin insisted.
One of the guards looked at the other, and the man nodded, moving through the gate to talk to another who was keeping watch there. The men talked quietly, and finally the guard returned to where Robin and Much were waiting.
“Follow me,” he said, and Robin nodded, walking behind the men through the gate and into the town. He was slightly confused as more guards joined them, but it was Much who whispered to him.
“I don't like this.”
Robin shook his head briefly. “It's alright. They're taking us to the king.”
Much nodded. Robin could understand him. If his friend hadn't told him that he himself had seen the king riding up to the gates of Nottingham, he would have considered this to possibly be a trap laid by Vaizey. The years in the forest had made them careful. Robin smiled, guessing that he was probably less than careful, but he had a good feeling about this.
The good feeling was pushed away by a shiver that ran over him as they came to the marketplace. Bodies were lying around in the corners, sheriff's guards as far as Robin could see. And not only there. A row of gallows had been erected, and the dead bodies of yet more men were still hanging on the ropes. Robin didn't know what had happened here, but he didn't like it. What cause had there been to hang all these men? Had they all have to die because they had been working for the traitor Vaizey? Most of them had been just villagers working at the castle for a living...
Robin glanced at Much and saw that the man was pale. Much didn't like this any more than he did. They made their way into the castle, Robin letting his gaze glide over rubble and yet darker signs of recent fighting.
Robin could already hear the king's voice when they entered the great hall. The man was unmistakable. He sounded angry and Robin could understand him, for he was certainly not pleased by the fact that he had to fight his way into what was supposed to be his own castle. Robin wasn't sure how much he knew about Vaizey and the Black Knights, but once he heard about it, he wouldn't be any less angry than now.
The guards that had escorted them in came to a stop and one of them finally motioned Robin and Much forward. Robin stepped up, eager to finally meet the king again. The last he had seen of the man had been right after he had been wounded in the Holy Land, defending the king and his camp against what they then believed to be a Saracen attack. He had found himself in feverish dreams afterwards and when he came to again, the king had gone south, having left him behind with the order to return home.
Now the man himself had found his way back to England. Robin walked forward, glancing only briefly over the other faces that were collected in the room. Some he was familiar with, being men he had fought side by side with.
And then there was the king, standing at the far end of the hall. Robin came to a stop a distance away, knowing Much was a few steps behind him. He went down to one knee.
“Your Grace.”
“Robin.”
Robin looked up and met the man's gaze. It was grave and Robin could understand that the king was troubled seeing England in the state it was in. He didn't know yet what had become of Vaizey and Gisborne, but those were men who had planned to kill the king, and the monarch had to take the castle from them.
“I have heard what you have come to, Robin,” the king said then and Robin only gave the shortest of nods, for he knew this had been coming. “Of all the men who have served me, you were the one I loved most,” Richard went on. “It saddened me to learn that a man I value so highly has fallen out with the King’s Law.”
This time Robin did not nod, though he was sure that Richard understood why he had done what he had needed to do. Still, it was painful to have the king talk of the discomfort he had caused.
Richard had crossed his arms. “Your list of crimes is long, I hear. You not only took up arms against the authority of this shire, kept wrongdoers from facing justice, killed guards in the duty of protecting this town, you also stole the treasure taken from the taxes of the people, money intended to finance my campaign in the Holy Land, a business you yourself fought for years ago.”
Robin frowned at this, thinking of the fact that the king just had to fight his way into the very same town. The sheriff hadn't been working for the king... Still, Robin knew that there was no point in denying that he had done those things. But he had to tell the man the reasons, had to make him understand the plots that were laid against the monarch, as well as the situation the common people had faced in Nottingham.
“Yes, Sire,” he said. “But-”
“As you have been proclaimed an outlaw, you have no right to stand a trial.”
Robin felt light-headed, his mouth dry as the words of the man rung in his ears. The words he wanted to speak to the king, the ones he had rehearsed so often in his mind, were running through his head now, too. He didn't need a trial, the king just needed to listen.
“As I well remember the deeds you did for me in the Holy Land, I will let you speak now.” The king stood tall, looking at Robin.
He was aware that Much was still there with him, as well as the other soldiers in the hall, many of them crusaders. He kept his gaze fixed at the king though, knowing he had to make the man understand. He was home now, but who knew what might happen if Richard did not see the extend of what had been going on here, no matter that the fact that he had to wrestle this castle from Vaizey should have told him enough?
“When I returned to England, I found that this shire had been pressed out to the last, that people were starving, that the people lived in terror of a new sheriff that had been installed in my absence. When four of my peasants, starving as they were, were caught as thieves, the sheriff ordered them to hang. I could not take this injustice.” Robin paused, still looking at the king, but there was no sentiment to be seen in the man's face. “I later found out that the sheriff, Vaizey, plotted to kill you, Sire, had even sent his Master-At-Arms, Guy of Gisborne, to kill you in the Holy Lands. Later he plotted with treasonous nobles, known as the Black Knights, to kill you once you landed in England.” Robin let out a breath. “I am sure your Highness has heard about this. I sent you messages, too.”
“Indeed I have,” the king replied after a moment, but did not tell Robin where he had gained the knowledge. “If you had so much proof, for the sheriff plotting to kill your king, why then, did you not kill him? I know your bow can kill out of a thousand feet, I have seen you do it.”
“The sheriff was under the protection of Prince John. He threatened to destroy this town, if anything were to happen to the sheriff,” Robin explained, not mentioning that he had decided long ago that he had killed enough in the Holy Land. He had not been willing to kill anymore since his return, hadn't been intending to kill Vaizey even when he still had the chance.
“Was this the value of a king's life then?” Richard questioned, but his tone told that he desired no reply. He was silent then, watching Robin who was acutely aware of all the other people in the hall, among them men he had fought with.
“I know I have committed grave crimes, but they were done in what I considered the best interest of Your Highness as well as the people of Nottingham,” he said then. “Therefore I ask for Highness's pardon.”
The king was still looking at him, before his gaze went up and fell on Much, as Robin believed, the man standing a few feet behind him.
“I see your manservant followed you into outlawry,” Richard said.
“He is my servant no longer,” Robin replied. “I made him a free man.” An outlaw, he corrected himself quietly.
The king nodded once, but it seemed more of a thoughtful gesture than a real reply. “I have to attend to other matters now.” He leaned in to one of the guards then and talked to him quietly. The man nodded and came towards Robin, motioning him to follow.
The two outlaws were led out of the Great Hall again and back down the stairs. The fact that they were taken to a room told Robin that the king wasn't quite done with them yet, and apparently didn't want them to leave. When Robin heard the lock clicking, he was confirmed in that suspicion.
This hadn't gone over as he thought. He had expected Richard to be angry, but had hoped that anger would not be directed at him.
“Well, at least he didn't throw us into the dungeons,” Much said, although Robin could see that the man was upset as well.
Robin shook his head slightly. “He learned about the plots against him, about the things that have happened in England in his absence. It is only natural that he is not so easy to pardon what he sees as breaking the king's law.”
“But you-we fought for him!” Much shook his head as well.
Robin gave a smile that didn't contain any humour. “It doesn't look like it out of the king's perspective, does it?”
“What do you think he's going to do?”
“I don't know,” Robin admitted.
“Did you see those men outside? He had them hanged, all of them,” Much reminded him alarmed. “What if he's having us hanged, too?”
“Much.”
“We're outlaws after all.”
“Much, do not worry about that. He just needs time to calm down. Then he will see what has happened in his country.”
“Yes,” Much nodded. “I'm just not sure how that is going to help us.”
Robin shook his head. He was sure the king was just detaining anyone at the moment who he couldn't be sure of. It was painful to be placed in that category, he had to admit, but then he also reminded himself that he had to understand the man. It was hard for him to know whom he could trust.
Robin wondered what had happened to the real traitors, Vaizey and Gisborne. And Allan.
“If...,” Much started. “If he doesn't pardon us, we're not going to just stay here, are we?”
Robin looked up at his friend. He was sure the king would let them speak again. But there really was the question what else they were to do. As Richard had said it, they didn't have the right to a trial, and even if they had, it would only show that they had done what Richard had accused them of, even though it had been for the people, and for the king.
Robin had previously been ready to give himself up to the gallows, even under the sheriff's authority, if it meant that the torture of his people stopped. It was not that he had a wish to die, and he definitely hadn't given in to the sheriff, had always run from facing what was after all the law that had been set. He did not know what he was to do, if the king, a man he felt a personal loyalty to, would want him to face what the law demanded and would not pardon him. Robin trusted in the man, in that he would do the right thing, but he didn't know what he was to do if that was the king's decision.
He was not sure what he would even manage to do with the king's army stationed in and outside of Nottingham now, but he knew that Much's question was concerning the possibility of escape. But where were they to go? They could keep hiding out in the forest, but would they be doing this their whole lives? They had been prepared to stay there for a long time, but still, they had never considered it permanent, it had always been a temporary thing, which was to end when the king finally returned to the land, and the sheriff's reign would end.
“I cannot ask you to stay, Much.”
The other man looked at him perplexed. “You want me to leave? To flee?”
Robin didn't answer.
“I cannot do that.” Much shook his head. “I've always followed you.”
Next Chapter
Author: kegel84
Summary: When the king returned, everything would be right again. But the day King Richard came into the town of Nottingham, Robin and the outlaws had to notice that things didn't turn out as they had always thought in the back of their minds.
Characters/Pairings: The Outlaws & Marian, Pairings: Robin/Marian, Will/Djaq
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers/Warnings: Season 2 till Lardner's Ring (AU after that)
Disclaimer: I do not own the show or the characters and make no money off them.
Notes: Thanks so much to my betas neaptidea and emmithar, neaptidea especially for pointing out when I contradicted myself or made no sense at all, and emmithar for her inspiration. And thanks to laura_isabel for her artwork! :)
Artwork, by laura_isabel
Previous Chapter
Through the night, nothing happened. Allan had finally found himself a quiet corner, as quiet as it could be in the gatehouse with guards walking around nervously, whispering to each other about the upcoming doom. But Allan had managed to slumber a little. He was only really awoken by the rays of the early morning light, soon followed by noise coming from the gate below.
Allan scrambled to his feet, checking that his sword was still attached to his side. He wouldn't want to be without a weapon in the chaos that he knew would come. Glancing down onto the field outside of the gate, he could see the king's banner again. The man seemed to be an early riser, or maybe he hadn't slept at all. Two riders came forward again then, and Allan listened as the threats of the previous night were repeated. The king demanded the gate to be opened and he threatened consequences to all those who would stand against him.
Allan knew that the other guards in the gatehouse were nervous, and rightly so. It probably wouldn't end well for any of them if the king's army actually got in, and as far as Allan could judge, this was only a matter of time. It was then that he decided that the gatehouse wasn't the place where he wanted to be. Glancing around at the castle guards who were focused on the king's banner outside as a mouse would stare at the snake, he sneaked out, and made his way downstairs, back into the town. There were no villagers to be seen in Nottingham anymore now. Those who had not managed to flee had probably returned to their houses and had barricaded themselves there. Allan figured this was what reasonable people would do - instead of working for a man who worked for the sheriff who worked against the King of England who was now standing in front of the gates of the town.
Allan grabbed the hilt of his sword, running over the marketplace. He didn't know where Gisborne was, but he figured that it would be every man for his own anyway, once chaos would break loose. He hadn't seen the sheriff at all since the day before and wondered if the man had already saved himself and had left the ones loyal to him behind to face the consequences.
Marian was someone Allan hadn't seen either, and he wondered briefly where she was. Maybe she had had the sense to leave and go back to the forest in time. Allan hadn't quite understood why she had come back to the castle at all. He had naturally not bought the whole Robin taking her hostage situation for a second, but he hardly could have told Guy as much without endangering her. Allan didn't know what she had planned, for he knew by now all too well that he would go back to the gang, if he could. It was all too late for these thoughts now, for if he didn't manage to sneak his way out of the town, he would meet the king's ire together with the other sheriff's men.
Allan had barely made it over the market, when he heard thunder. Looking up into the clear blue sky, he knew it wasn't a sign of an upcoming storm. The sound came again and again, and finally Allan was able to locate it to come from the direction of the gate. The king was trying to get inside, or had at least men who were doing that work for him.
Allan wondered if he would be able to talk his way out of it. Maybe he could tell them that he was working for Robin Hood, for the man who had been in the king's private guard. Robin wasn't here to tell them any different, was he?
The sounds from the gate changed then, and Allan knew that it had broken, and it was only a matter of moments now, before the king's men would be in the town. With a last glance at the gatehouse, Allan skirted around the next corner, his mind racing as to where he could go. The building ahead caught his sight, no matter that it was bolted up. It was a cherished refuge. The front door might have been closed and blocked, but Allan hadn't been an outlaw in a gang robbing the sheriff for nothing. By way of the window at one side of the tavern, he entered quickly. Of course, they would come in here, too, but at least it was better to be away from the open street for now, as long as battle would rage. And he figured, he wouldn't even go thirsty until then.
He stopped for a few moments, trying to discern if the inn keeper had really left this place behind. The house had the appearance of it, but Allan couldn't be sure, until he had seen and heard that he was indeed alone. The tavern lay dark and silent, making an eerie expression on him. Outside Allan could hear the sounds of fighting and knew it had been the right decision to leave the open street. He had no place in that kind of war, or in any war whatsoever. There was nothing he could win there, but only lose.
Of course, he would have preferred to be able to leave the town altogether. It would have been safer by far. But for now, he guessed he could deal with being stuck here. Walking around the tavern's backroom, Allan determined that it was still well-stocked with ale. He figured that the king's men would appreciate the stock. Maybe he would even be able to win favour that way. Or at least avoid unfavourable situations.
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It had been chilling to see the flames and the dark smoke rising up into the sky over Nottingham. It had reminded Robin of the threat that the town would burn if anything were to happen to the sheriff. But this threat was void now; the king was here and would take care of Vaizey.
Robin had figured that it would only be a matter of time until Nottingham was safe, once the wooden gatehouse had gone up in flames after the king's army had attacked it, as Robin had watched from the edge of the forest.
Robin wondered what had been happening inside the town, as he had had no way of finding out while the fighting had been going on. It had been clear that they wouldn't be able to get inside at this point. His one source of information inside of Nottingham had thankfully not been there anymore, as he confirmed to himself reaching out for her hand, when she came up to his side.
“I will go and see the king,” he said quietly. “Much is coming with me.”
Marian looked at him. "I will go to Knighton first. Perhaps Nottingham will be safe tonight. I'll find you there, if it is. The Council of Nobles will surely be restored.”
Robin nodded once, remembering that people from Nottingham had gone to the village of Knighton, too. The gang had helped set up a camp for those people there. Will especially had done good work that was appreciated, and Robin liked to think that the young man could already settle into his new life, a life when he wouldn't be an outlaw anymore. Once Vaizey would be gone, they would all be able to have that life.
“You go to Knighton, I go to Nottingham,” he confirmed, squeezing her hand. “And we'll see each other tonight.”
They departed and Robin caught up with Much who had been waiting for him a little ahead, so they could make their way to Nottingham. Robin kept a steady pace, anxious to finally meet the king again, to talk to him, warn him of the plot against him. Vaizey was probably history, but Prince John might still be hoping for his chance to make himself king.
It was still a strange view they got on the town when they came over the fields that lay before it. A considerable part of the king's army was still camping outside of Nottingham. The gates were open, though watched by soldiers. Robin wasn't sure if they were men who would recognize him. Not everyone knew him by sight, just as he didn't know everyone of the king's men, no matter that he had been one of them for five years.
“What do you think the king will say?” Much asked. “And what about the sheriff? The king will surely have him removed, won't he? If he isn't gone already. I never liked him.”
Robin smiled grimly. “I don't think Vaizey is still the sheriff. The king will appoint a new one.”
“Too bad Edward is dead,” Much replied sadly. “He was a fair man. He could have been sheriff again.”
Robin nodded quietly, his thoughts turning to Marian.
“I wonder who will be the next sheriff then,” his friend went on. “I hope someone who doesn't like hangings quite that much as the old sheriff,” Much shook his head, grimacing. “We never would have gotten into all that trouble if he hadn't wanted to hang Will, and Allan and-”
Robin smiled as Much continued talking, doubting that he would have been able to stay out of trouble for very long, even if Vaizey hadn't planned those hangings back then. Sooner or later they would have clashed over another grave issue. It was a good thing, a very good thing for Nottingham that Vaizey would be gone now.
The soldiers at the West Gate looked at them in with mild interest as they came up to them. Robin nodded once, not recognizing the men.
“You cannot go into the town today,” one of them said, before Robin had even said anything.
“My name is Robin of Locksley. My friend Much here and I used to serve in the king's private guard in the Holy Land, and would like to talk to him on an important matter.”
“We cannot let you in.”
“Why not?” Much frowned. “He told you. We were in the King's Private-”
“We have orders to let no one into the town.”
“I need to talk to the king,” Robin insisted.
One of the guards looked at the other, and the man nodded, moving through the gate to talk to another who was keeping watch there. The men talked quietly, and finally the guard returned to where Robin and Much were waiting.
“Follow me,” he said, and Robin nodded, walking behind the men through the gate and into the town. He was slightly confused as more guards joined them, but it was Much who whispered to him.
“I don't like this.”
Robin shook his head briefly. “It's alright. They're taking us to the king.”
Much nodded. Robin could understand him. If his friend hadn't told him that he himself had seen the king riding up to the gates of Nottingham, he would have considered this to possibly be a trap laid by Vaizey. The years in the forest had made them careful. Robin smiled, guessing that he was probably less than careful, but he had a good feeling about this.
The good feeling was pushed away by a shiver that ran over him as they came to the marketplace. Bodies were lying around in the corners, sheriff's guards as far as Robin could see. And not only there. A row of gallows had been erected, and the dead bodies of yet more men were still hanging on the ropes. Robin didn't know what had happened here, but he didn't like it. What cause had there been to hang all these men? Had they all have to die because they had been working for the traitor Vaizey? Most of them had been just villagers working at the castle for a living...
Robin glanced at Much and saw that the man was pale. Much didn't like this any more than he did. They made their way into the castle, Robin letting his gaze glide over rubble and yet darker signs of recent fighting.
Robin could already hear the king's voice when they entered the great hall. The man was unmistakable. He sounded angry and Robin could understand him, for he was certainly not pleased by the fact that he had to fight his way into what was supposed to be his own castle. Robin wasn't sure how much he knew about Vaizey and the Black Knights, but once he heard about it, he wouldn't be any less angry than now.
The guards that had escorted them in came to a stop and one of them finally motioned Robin and Much forward. Robin stepped up, eager to finally meet the king again. The last he had seen of the man had been right after he had been wounded in the Holy Land, defending the king and his camp against what they then believed to be a Saracen attack. He had found himself in feverish dreams afterwards and when he came to again, the king had gone south, having left him behind with the order to return home.
Now the man himself had found his way back to England. Robin walked forward, glancing only briefly over the other faces that were collected in the room. Some he was familiar with, being men he had fought side by side with.
And then there was the king, standing at the far end of the hall. Robin came to a stop a distance away, knowing Much was a few steps behind him. He went down to one knee.
“Your Grace.”
“Robin.”
Robin looked up and met the man's gaze. It was grave and Robin could understand that the king was troubled seeing England in the state it was in. He didn't know yet what had become of Vaizey and Gisborne, but those were men who had planned to kill the king, and the monarch had to take the castle from them.
“I have heard what you have come to, Robin,” the king said then and Robin only gave the shortest of nods, for he knew this had been coming. “Of all the men who have served me, you were the one I loved most,” Richard went on. “It saddened me to learn that a man I value so highly has fallen out with the King’s Law.”
This time Robin did not nod, though he was sure that Richard understood why he had done what he had needed to do. Still, it was painful to have the king talk of the discomfort he had caused.
Richard had crossed his arms. “Your list of crimes is long, I hear. You not only took up arms against the authority of this shire, kept wrongdoers from facing justice, killed guards in the duty of protecting this town, you also stole the treasure taken from the taxes of the people, money intended to finance my campaign in the Holy Land, a business you yourself fought for years ago.”
Robin frowned at this, thinking of the fact that the king just had to fight his way into the very same town. The sheriff hadn't been working for the king... Still, Robin knew that there was no point in denying that he had done those things. But he had to tell the man the reasons, had to make him understand the plots that were laid against the monarch, as well as the situation the common people had faced in Nottingham.
“Yes, Sire,” he said. “But-”
“As you have been proclaimed an outlaw, you have no right to stand a trial.”
Robin felt light-headed, his mouth dry as the words of the man rung in his ears. The words he wanted to speak to the king, the ones he had rehearsed so often in his mind, were running through his head now, too. He didn't need a trial, the king just needed to listen.
“As I well remember the deeds you did for me in the Holy Land, I will let you speak now.” The king stood tall, looking at Robin.
He was aware that Much was still there with him, as well as the other soldiers in the hall, many of them crusaders. He kept his gaze fixed at the king though, knowing he had to make the man understand. He was home now, but who knew what might happen if Richard did not see the extend of what had been going on here, no matter that the fact that he had to wrestle this castle from Vaizey should have told him enough?
“When I returned to England, I found that this shire had been pressed out to the last, that people were starving, that the people lived in terror of a new sheriff that had been installed in my absence. When four of my peasants, starving as they were, were caught as thieves, the sheriff ordered them to hang. I could not take this injustice.” Robin paused, still looking at the king, but there was no sentiment to be seen in the man's face. “I later found out that the sheriff, Vaizey, plotted to kill you, Sire, had even sent his Master-At-Arms, Guy of Gisborne, to kill you in the Holy Lands. Later he plotted with treasonous nobles, known as the Black Knights, to kill you once you landed in England.” Robin let out a breath. “I am sure your Highness has heard about this. I sent you messages, too.”
“Indeed I have,” the king replied after a moment, but did not tell Robin where he had gained the knowledge. “If you had so much proof, for the sheriff plotting to kill your king, why then, did you not kill him? I know your bow can kill out of a thousand feet, I have seen you do it.”
“The sheriff was under the protection of Prince John. He threatened to destroy this town, if anything were to happen to the sheriff,” Robin explained, not mentioning that he had decided long ago that he had killed enough in the Holy Land. He had not been willing to kill anymore since his return, hadn't been intending to kill Vaizey even when he still had the chance.
“Was this the value of a king's life then?” Richard questioned, but his tone told that he desired no reply. He was silent then, watching Robin who was acutely aware of all the other people in the hall, among them men he had fought with.
“I know I have committed grave crimes, but they were done in what I considered the best interest of Your Highness as well as the people of Nottingham,” he said then. “Therefore I ask for Highness's pardon.”
The king was still looking at him, before his gaze went up and fell on Much, as Robin believed, the man standing a few feet behind him.
“I see your manservant followed you into outlawry,” Richard said.
“He is my servant no longer,” Robin replied. “I made him a free man.” An outlaw, he corrected himself quietly.
The king nodded once, but it seemed more of a thoughtful gesture than a real reply. “I have to attend to other matters now.” He leaned in to one of the guards then and talked to him quietly. The man nodded and came towards Robin, motioning him to follow.
The two outlaws were led out of the Great Hall again and back down the stairs. The fact that they were taken to a room told Robin that the king wasn't quite done with them yet, and apparently didn't want them to leave. When Robin heard the lock clicking, he was confirmed in that suspicion.
This hadn't gone over as he thought. He had expected Richard to be angry, but had hoped that anger would not be directed at him.
“Well, at least he didn't throw us into the dungeons,” Much said, although Robin could see that the man was upset as well.
Robin shook his head slightly. “He learned about the plots against him, about the things that have happened in England in his absence. It is only natural that he is not so easy to pardon what he sees as breaking the king's law.”
“But you-we fought for him!” Much shook his head as well.
Robin gave a smile that didn't contain any humour. “It doesn't look like it out of the king's perspective, does it?”
“What do you think he's going to do?”
“I don't know,” Robin admitted.
“Did you see those men outside? He had them hanged, all of them,” Much reminded him alarmed. “What if he's having us hanged, too?”
“Much.”
“We're outlaws after all.”
“Much, do not worry about that. He just needs time to calm down. Then he will see what has happened in his country.”
“Yes,” Much nodded. “I'm just not sure how that is going to help us.”
Robin shook his head. He was sure the king was just detaining anyone at the moment who he couldn't be sure of. It was painful to be placed in that category, he had to admit, but then he also reminded himself that he had to understand the man. It was hard for him to know whom he could trust.
Robin wondered what had happened to the real traitors, Vaizey and Gisborne. And Allan.
“If...,” Much started. “If he doesn't pardon us, we're not going to just stay here, are we?”
Robin looked up at his friend. He was sure the king would let them speak again. But there really was the question what else they were to do. As Richard had said it, they didn't have the right to a trial, and even if they had, it would only show that they had done what Richard had accused them of, even though it had been for the people, and for the king.
Robin had previously been ready to give himself up to the gallows, even under the sheriff's authority, if it meant that the torture of his people stopped. It was not that he had a wish to die, and he definitely hadn't given in to the sheriff, had always run from facing what was after all the law that had been set. He did not know what he was to do, if the king, a man he felt a personal loyalty to, would want him to face what the law demanded and would not pardon him. Robin trusted in the man, in that he would do the right thing, but he didn't know what he was to do if that was the king's decision.
He was not sure what he would even manage to do with the king's army stationed in and outside of Nottingham now, but he knew that Much's question was concerning the possibility of escape. But where were they to go? They could keep hiding out in the forest, but would they be doing this their whole lives? They had been prepared to stay there for a long time, but still, they had never considered it permanent, it had always been a temporary thing, which was to end when the king finally returned to the land, and the sheriff's reign would end.
“I cannot ask you to stay, Much.”
The other man looked at him perplexed. “You want me to leave? To flee?”
Robin didn't answer.
“I cannot do that.” Much shook his head. “I've always followed you.”
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