(no subject)
The Sheriff thought he could keep secrets from the people of Nottingham and the men of Sherwood but he forgot that all walls can listen. A message from a maid to a brother to a woodcutter and soon to Sherwood that spoke of when John was to be hung and the extra guards that had been brought in. It left little time for planning and Will saw no doors but perhaps this fight was meant for the men of Sherwood as his rescue had been.
They gathered what men they could that would risk their lives for a man of Sherwood and as always were amazed at how Nottingham rose up around them to provide weapons and information.
Too soon the time drew near and as the church bells chimed in the deep of the night, they made their way to Nottingham. The extra guards on the walls were silenced with fists and those who cried out to die soon found their wishes met. Then they waited for the dawn with the gallows rising from the market square promising death for any who stood upon it. As the light seeped through the low hanging clouds that spoke of a storm soon to come, all of Nottingham stood in the square and by their doors.
Little John was led out struggling each step of the way and if he knew who waited for him in the grey light, he gave no sign. It took four men to get him upon the scaffold and he looked at the Sheriff and said, “Ye may hang me for bein’ Robin’s man but he willna fall.”
Then he stood before the noose as an arrow flew to strike the beam above his head and the men of Sherwood emerged from shadows and cloaks. Will dealt quickly with the men on the stairs and cut John free so they stood to fight all before them. The Sheriff cried for his soldiers and there was bloody fighting as the people of Nottingham aided as they could, but it was a hard battle and the gates clanged down with Sherwood holding her men safe. Lightning darted across the sky and rain began to fall that would wash away the blood but not what brought it and kept it there. Nottingham’s scars were deep and new ones had been created, but for this day there was a measure of hope as Little John was once more a man of Sherwood.
They gathered what men they could that would risk their lives for a man of Sherwood and as always were amazed at how Nottingham rose up around them to provide weapons and information.
Too soon the time drew near and as the church bells chimed in the deep of the night, they made their way to Nottingham. The extra guards on the walls were silenced with fists and those who cried out to die soon found their wishes met. Then they waited for the dawn with the gallows rising from the market square promising death for any who stood upon it. As the light seeped through the low hanging clouds that spoke of a storm soon to come, all of Nottingham stood in the square and by their doors.
Little John was led out struggling each step of the way and if he knew who waited for him in the grey light, he gave no sign. It took four men to get him upon the scaffold and he looked at the Sheriff and said, “Ye may hang me for bein’ Robin’s man but he willna fall.”
Then he stood before the noose as an arrow flew to strike the beam above his head and the men of Sherwood emerged from shadows and cloaks. Will dealt quickly with the men on the stairs and cut John free so they stood to fight all before them. The Sheriff cried for his soldiers and there was bloody fighting as the people of Nottingham aided as they could, but it was a hard battle and the gates clanged down with Sherwood holding her men safe. Lightning darted across the sky and rain began to fall that would wash away the blood but not what brought it and kept it there. Nottingham’s scars were deep and new ones had been created, but for this day there was a measure of hope as Little John was once more a man of Sherwood.