Caged Robin (used to be Untitled)

Chapter Five: Advice, and a Surprise Visit

Will decided to get some advice. He visited Friar Tuck. If anyone could tell him what he should do, it would be him.

“Friar Tuck, I have a problem,” said Will.

“What is it, Will?” asked the friar.

“Well, I have a plausible theory about what a certain individual has in mind for a friend, and I cannot decide if I should inform this friend’s lady, as it is not suitable subject matter for such ears,” stated Will.

“That indeed is a problem,” agreed Tuck, “perhaps I could advise you better if I knew more of the details, Will.”

“Alright,” conceded Will, “I believe my friend is being...perversely assaulted by an evil man. Is that enough?”

Tuck thought it over for a bit, before replying.

“Do you have any actual proof of your theory?” he asked.

“Not really,” admitted Will.

“Maybe you should keep this to yourself, until you know for certain,” suggested Friar Tuck.

“Thank you.”

****

Swidhelm, a man who spied on the Sheriff sometimes for Will-for a price, found him a few days later.

“What is it, Swidhelm?” asked Will.

“The Sheriff has a new prisoner,” said Swidhelm, “I think he might be your friend, Loxley.”

“Thank you,” replied Will, “tell me everything you’ve learned.”

Will told Marian, Much, Little John, and Shamir what Swidhelm had relayed to him.

“Is he certain this man is Robin?” asked Shamir, in concern.

“No, he isn’t,” said Will, “but does it really matter who it is?”

“Do ya expect us to go bargin’ inta Nottingham Castle to rescue someone who may or may not be Robin?” asked John.

“Either way, we can’t just leave whoever it is there,” said Much.

Marian agreed.

“Robin wouldn’t want us to leave anyone in the Sheriff’s dungeon.”

“We need to go to Nottingham, to look the situation over ourselves,” said Shamir.

“Shamir’s right,” said Will.

“Let’s go!”


As the men packed to leave, Marian announced she was leaving, too. Will opened his mouth to argue, thought better of it, and closed it. If Marian had made up her mind to go, there was no way to stop her, save for tying her up or something.

****

Back at the castle, Sir Guy of Gisborne paid the Sheriff a visit.

“I’ve caught him,” said the Sheriff.

“Caught who?” asked Gisborne.

“Loxley. I’ve finally caught him,” answered the Sheriff, excitedly.

“He’s here?” asked Guy, “Loxley?”

He couldn’t believe it. The Sheriff nodded.

“He’s in the dungeon, as we speak,” he said.

Gisborne wouldn’t believe it till he saw it.

“May I pay your esteemed guest a little visit?” Guy asked.

“Not at all,” replied the Sheriff.

****

Robin was currently locked up in a cell, having a brief break from the increasing tortures inflicted upon him via the torture master.

“You really are down here, after all,” remarked an unpleasant voice.

“Hello, Gisborne,” said Robin, “yes; I am really down here, unfortunately.”

“I wouldn’t believe it until I saw it for myself,” said Gisborne, “the great Robin of Loxley, locked up in the Sheriff’s dungeon like the common thief you are.”

“’Common thief’ am I?” asked Robin, dryly, “I believe the Sheriff sees me differently than that, dear Gisborne.”

Gisborne frowned.

“Whatever are you talking about, Loxley?” he asked.

“Like you don’t know,” replied Robin.

“If I did, would I be asking for an explanation?” questioned an irritated Gisborne.

“Maybe,” said Robin, “perhaps you just want to make me say it, so you can gloat even more.”

“Maybe I would, if I actually knew what on Earth you are talking about!” shouted Gisborne.

Robin still wasn’t convinced that Guy was clueless about the Sheriff.