Robin Hood. Before the Legend. Chapter Six

Little John shoved the last of the three guards to the ground, and looked around. Many of the men were grappling with the soldiers, but they appeared to have the upper hand. Quite probably from the element of surprise. He heard Robin shout out again. "Do not fight them overlong, get back to the woods. You know them better than these invaders." John looked around and saw that many of the men in the group were taking his advice. incapacitating the soldiers and running for the safety of the trees. Robin himself was slowly climbing don the tree, his bow firmly trained on the Sheriff, who was glaring at him with undisguised loathing.  John edged around the clearing to stand below Robin, "Here," he murmered, just loud enough for Robin to hear. "Looks like we have a lot to talk about, Bandit." He looked up at him, to see a worried expression on Robins face.

Robin slowly made his way down the tree, never moving his aim from the Sheriff. He saw John heading his way, and sighed. They would never forgive him for putting them all in danger, he just hoped John would understand. He heard Johns words and glanced down, "Look," he said, "I didnt mean to put you all in danger, and I know this is my fault but I..." He didnt get any further, as Johns expression changed to one of bemusement. "You think we blame you for this?" He shook his head. "Well it may be your fault he came hunting, but we sure as hell are'nt gonna hate you for it. You're the biggest hero in Nottinghamshire. And only seventeen to boot, eh Rob?" He grinned. "No wonder old Sherry over there is as red a a beetroot." Robin sighed in relief. John didn't hate him, or blame him. He looked down at John momentarily. "Sherry," he asked. "Looks like i'm not the only one who has secrets." His grin was replaced by a look of horror as a sword blade protruded from his side. A look that was mirrored on Johns face as he was grabbed from behind and pinned down.

Robins mind went into a frenzy, and in the few seconds it took him to formulate a plan, John had been dragged further away. He let loose the arrow, once again pinning the Sheriff down, but this time, it would take longer for him to pull loose, as the arrow was embedded fuher into the tree. H looked just onc to make sure that he had struck his target and plucked anothe arrow from his quiver, letting it fly. It skimmed past Johns face, drawing blood, but hit the target. The stomach of the soldier pinning him down. He then ired three more arrows, into the legs of the soldiers before jumping to the ground and running over to John. He was relieved to see that the sword had only skimmed his skin, but the gash was fairly deep. However, there was no way he would be able to walk unaided, especially as he had twistd his ankle when the soldiers dagged him down. Robin glancd around the cleaing, and saw that hardly any of the men were left, he saw only Jason and a few others who were disappearing into the trees. "Jason" he cried. "Help John". He saw Jasons eyes take in the scene, and saw him evaluating the risk, knowing what he was going to do before he did it. "No, Jason!" he cried, "Help me" but it was all in vain. Robin glared at his retreating form, and turned to John. He might not be able to help him walk far, but the soldiers were'nt about to follow him, they were all on the floor, in varying stages of pain. The only real risk was the Sheriff, but he saw that the arrow had in fact cut into the chainmail on his shouders. Thanking the heavens for the ucky shot, he hauled John to his feet, and settled his arm over his shoulder. Thus they started to stumble towards the cover of the trees. They had only taken a few steps, when Robin heard someone behind them. He grabbed Johns knife, preparing to attack whoever it was, but was relieved to see Will. "Thank god," he said to the slightly taller and broader man, "I couldn't carry him far on my own. I asked Jason but..."

"I know," Will interrupted, a screen of hate and contemt clouded his eyes"I saw. You can rest assured, I wont let him get away with abandoning the both of you. I..." He was cut off by a sound behind them, and turnd to find the Sheriff tugging the arrow from his chainmail. Robin shoved John to Will. "Take him, you can help him. I'll distract the Sheriff." Will took Johns other arm, "But..." they both said in unison, "Robin you...", "He'll catch..." Robin shoved them towards the forest. "If we all stay together, we all get caught. This way, you two have a chance." He looked at the dismayed expressions on their faces, and saw the reluctant acceptance of his words. "Go, now." They both turned and headed towards the edge of the clearing, glancing back as they reachd the trees, to see Robin circling the Sheriff, insulting him. They watched as the Sheriff as he chased Robin though the trees. Heard Robin shout, "Dont just stand there! Will, John, Run!" They heeded his words and disappeared into the trees, heading for the previously agreed rendezvous point.

Robin danced around the Sheriff, taunting him. "Come on then Sherry. What is that all about then Sherry? Whats with the name." He saw the Sherff eyes flicker between him and the two outlaws heading out of the clearing. "Come now Sherry, are you so much of a coward that you would run after a wounded man, but not chase the one you know you can't catch?" He saw the insult reverberate around th Sheriff's head and knew that he had hit a nerve. "Is that what you have to hide? That you are a coward?" He had a moments notice, just the twitch of a boot, to start running. He glanced aound at where he last saw Will and John and was dismayed to find them still standing there. They disappeaed from his line of sight and he dared not stop, instad he cried "Dont just stand there, Will, John... Run!" Focusing more on his friends, he mised his footing, stumbling over a root and falling to the floor. He immediately hoisted himself to his feet and started running again, but he knew that he had lost his head start. He would be hard pressed to escap the Sheriff now. Never the less, he pounded through the forest, not paying any heed to the scurryings of creatures around him, o the sound of the birds, he ws not the hunterm he was the hunted. Robin ran, but realised that for all the Shriffs size and the weight of his armour, he was fast. Too fast. Robin knew that he would not be able to outrun him so turned and stood his ground. He pulled the knife from his belt, and prepared to grapple with the Sheriff. He may be going down, but by god, he was going to give the Sheriff something to remember him by.

The Sheriff stopped only a few feet from Robin, glaring at the youth. He may respect the guts of the young man, but he was damned if he was going to acknowledge it. However, he did tread cautiously, knowing that if Robin threw the knife, it would hit its target... unless... He never normally faced an opponent with intent to use trickery, but then again, an outlaw demanded no courtesy, so why not. He took a step towards Robin, shifting his weight to one foot, puttng his sword at the angle he needed. "Come on then boy, show me what you got." he said, in a taunting voice. Pleased when Robin lifted the knife to throw it.

Robin's heart sank. The Sheriff had a plan. He didn't know what  was, but he had one. And that meant Robin had lost. He knew that the knife would never reach his target, but all the sam, he knew he woud throw it, if only to spite the Sheriff. He changed the angl of the blade and let it fly. It caught the Sheriff's cheek, leaving a bloody gash that Robin knew would scar. He only had time to reflect that the Shriff would have something to remember him by after all, before a searing pain made him cry out in agony, before falling to the floor, and slipping into a dark world of pain and fire.

The Sheriff moved to dodge the knfe, but the angle of it meant that it caught his face. He felt a searing burn flare across his cheek, but still managed to swing his sword in the intended direction. H felt a suge of satisfaction as the blade sliced into Robins side, making him cry out and fall to the floor, unconscious and with blood pouring from the wound. Finally, the Hooded Bandit would hang.

Will was half supporting, half carrying John, and they were making slow progress. He had to accept that Robin was right. Without the diversion, they never would have escaped. They had enough away to begin thinking that Robin had actually evaded the Sheriff, even though they knew it was stupid to get their hopes up. Sure enough, that hope was dashed as they heard a strangled cry echo through the forest. John stopped,, trying to pull away from Will, but Will held him in place, wincing at the strain of it. "Le' me go, we have to help him. We have to... " Will cut him off, "We cant John, he's too far away. We cant." He heard John fail to  hold back a strangled sob, and felt tears pricking his own eyes. He knelt to face John, "We'll get him back. John, do you hear me. I promise you, no matter what it takes, we'll get him back." He felt the conviction in his words, and realised he meant it. Even if it was just the two of them, they would get him back.